Huayang walked out of the tent.
It was already dusk, the setting sun was bright and gentle, and a wind blew from the north, sweeping the dust raised by the army southward, as if the tide of the battle was about to turn.
Wu Run and Zhou Ji guarded the princess on her left and right, accompanying her to welcome the triumphant soldiers.
Not to mention the soldiers like Ling Rucheng who went out to fight, even the soldiers who stayed behind in the camp had been exposed to the scorching sun all day. The sweat mixed with the falling dust stuck to their faces, making those with yellow faces darker and those with white faces turned dirtier.
The eldest princess walked calmly past the soldiers in a white dress. Even though she was not wearing any makeup, her fair cheeks made her look like a white peony blooming in the mud, beautiful and graceful, someone who could be admired from afar but not touched.
Wherever she walked, the soldiers could not help but hold their breath, not daring to be rude and offend the princess, yet at the same time they could not help but glue their eyes to her cheeks and skirt.
The eldest princess walked calmly. Generals such as Ling Rucheng, who had just dismounted from their horses, discovered that the eldest princess had come out to greet them in person, so they quickly quickened their pace and walked over, bowing in salute.
Huayang's eyes swept past Chen Jingzong, who was standing at the back, and then fell on Ling Rucheng's face. He raised his hand and said, "Generals, please don't be polite. I wonder how the battle went today?"
All the generals stood up straight. Ling Rucheng smiled modestly and replied, "Princess Bing, we have fulfilled our mission. The rebels underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly. They were ambushed by our army in Huer Mountain. Their morale was crushed and they fled in panic. They were then chased by our army. The casualties and surrendered soldiers have resulted in a loss of at least 30,000 soldiers and horses."
Hua Yang said sincerely: "It's all thanks to General Ling and the other generals who are so good at using the troops."
After a brief conversation, Huayang asked the generals to rest first and she returned to the tent.
After two or three quarters of an hour, when night was just falling, Chen Jingzong arrived.
The tents are divided into inner tent and outer tent. The former is used for resting and the latter is used for entertaining guests.
Huayang met Chen Jingzong in the outer tent, and ordered Chaoyun and Chaoyue to lift up the door curtain of the outer tent, and Zhou Ji and Wu Run guarded the door.
Soldiers often patrolled by, and if they looked inside, they would know that the eldest princess and her husband were just talking.
Chen Jingzong arrived at a convenient time, as Huayang was just preparing to eat. Naturally, he had to add an extra set of bowls and chopsticks.
Before the meal began, Chaoyun and Chaoyue brought over a copper basin, wet a towel in it and handed it to the prince consort, asking him to wipe his hands and face first.
Chen Jingzong took the towel, turned to Huayang, and wiped it while staring at her. His eyes were as if Huayang was the dinner he was about to enjoy.
Huayang glanced and saw that the white towel had turned into a gray towel, so he withdrew his gaze and only looked at the table full of food.
She and the generals ate from the big pot in the military camp. The soldiers had meat to eat, but Huayang had to mourn for his father, so in the end, all they served was porridge, vegetable-stuffed buns, and two vegetarian dishes.
But she brought a set of tableware, and the simple meal looked more colorful against the backdrop of those exquisite bowls and plates.
Before Chen Jingzong came over, he took off his bloodstained armor, revealing a scarlet commander's official robe underneath, with a white belt around his waist, as if the son-in-law was wearing mourning for the late emperor.
Knowing that Huayang liked cleanliness, Chen Jingzong did not get close to Huayang. He asked Wu Run to get a small table, and sat a few feet away from Huayang to his lower right, looking more and more like a disciplined prince consort.
Hua Yang looked at his exposed skin and asked, "What did you do today?"
Chen Jingzong was hungry, so he took a big bite of the bun, swallowed it, and drank some water. Then he said, "At first, we were just ambushing on the mountain. When the rebels came, we threw stones down. When the rebels escaped, we went down to chase them. We fought for half an hour, and then General Ling called back his troops, so we retreated."
Huayang: "How do you feel?"
Chen Jingzong: "There are too many mosquitoes on the mountain. Fortunately, I don't attract mosquitoes. The people around me all have bites all over their faces and necks."
Huayang: "How many casualties did you suffer?"
Chen Jingzong glanced at her and said, "It's okay, eat first and we'll talk after you finish eating."
He was afraid that if he said those bloody things, she would not be able to eat a single bite of food.
Huayang nodded and took a spoon to scoop up the porridge.
She ate slowly, while Chen Jingzong ate quickly. After he finished, he continued to stare at Huayang.
After dinner, Chen Jingzong invited Huayang to go for a walk outside, as they would be more cautious if they stayed in the tent to talk.
Huayang agreed.
Chaoyun took out the sachets containing insect repellent powder and hung two of them around the princess' waist. She also took out two smaller ones made of white satin, shaped like silk flowers, and pinned them in the princess's hair.
At this time, most of the soldiers were resting in their respective tents, and the soldiers on night duty also kept their distance so as not to interfere with Huayang and Chen Jingzong's whispered conversation.
The couple walked side by side, Chen Jingzong held a lantern in his hand, and Wu Run and others followed behind from a distance.
Huayang: "Your face looks fine, are you injured?"
Chen Jingzong: "I was poked in the waist by the handle of someone's knife. It still hurts a little now. Maybe it's bruised."
Huayang was a little scared, but also didn't quite understand: "Why is it the handle of the knife?" If a real fight broke out, the enemy would also point the blade at him.
Chen Jingzong sighed, "When we were carrying stones up the mountain, I was walking up and the soldier was walking down. His foot slipped, and I went to help him up, but unfortunately I was stabbed by the handle of the knife on his waist."
Huayang: …
Seeing that she looked choked, Chen Jingzong took a step closer to her: "Why, are you really hoping that I will get hurt?"
Huayang glared at him.
Chen Jingzong: "It was much more dangerous when we went down the mountain to fight the enemy. There were people everywhere, some swinging knives, others playing with guns, and some shooting arrows in the distance. I was thinking, I can't get into trouble, otherwise you will be happy..."
Huayang could tolerate his outspokenness in other matters, but not in this matter. She was really angry, stopped and said coldly: "If you say another nonsense word, don't even think about getting within three steps of me again."
Chen Jingzong raised the lantern in his hand.
The dim light illuminated her frosty face, and after seeing it clearly, Chen Jingzong lowered the lantern and promised, "Okay, I won't talk about that."
Huayang looked behind him: "Anything else? If not, I'll go back and you should go to bed early."
Chen Jingzong blocked her way with a lantern, looked at her and asked, "I have another question, but you must answer me truthfully and not lie."
Huayang: "What's the problem?"
Chen Jingzong: "You swear first, lying will make you gain ten pounds."
Huayang: …
Chen Jingzong: "Okay, okay, no need to swear, just answer me."
Huayang didn't say anything.
Chen Jingzong: "I want to ask, did you miss me when I was on the battlefield?"
Huayang said without hesitation: "No."
Chen Jingzong: "See, I knew you wouldn't answer honestly."
Huayang: "You know it, but you still ask."
Chen Jingzong: "I've worked hard all day, and I want to hear you say something nice."
Hua Yang: "Be content. Other soldiers have gone through life and death but can't even see their relatives. At least you can see me."
Chen Jingzong: "You are not a relative."
Before Huayang could glare at him, Chen Jingzong suddenly moved closer to her face and whispered in her ear, "You are my wife."
Huayang turned his head away.
There was a light on in the tent next to them, and someone inside was taking off his clothes. The movement and the broad shoulders and narrow waist that were revealed afterwards were clearly visible in the tent.
Huayang immediately looked away.
Chen Jingzong also noticed it and sneered disdainfully: "Go walk outside my tent, I can take off my clothes better than him."
Huayang: …
She walked faster.
Chen Jingzong accompanied her all the way to the outside of the eldest princess's tent.
Before Huayang went in, he looked at him and asked him to wait a moment before leaving.
Chen Jingzong was standing at the door, and Zhou Ji and Wu Run were also there.
These two were Huayang's confidants and were loyal to Huayang. Chen Jingzong had no ill will towards them, but he also had nothing to say.
Not long after, Chao Yun came out, holding a box in her hand, and told Chen Jingzong, "The princess asked you to go back to the tent and read it."
Chen Jingzong glanced at the inner tent, took the box and left.
As for the problem of lamplight, Chen Jingzong had reminded her on the first night when they set up camp that Huayang should turn off the lights before doing anything, such as bathing or changing clothes.
Chen Jingzong's tent was not far from her.
Fugui had already prepared a bucket of water. Seeing his master holding a box that looked very elegant, he guessed it was a gift from the princess. Fugui smiled and said, "The princess is so kind to you."
Chen Jingzong went straight to the inner tent.
Fugui was about to catch up when Chen Jingzong said, "Go and guard outside."
Fugui secretly curled his lips and retreated obediently.
Chen Jingzong sat down at the table, opened the box with his back to the copper lamp, and found two things inside. One was the insect repellent sachet made of white satin that she had just worn tonight, and the other was a bottle of blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing plaster.
Chen Jingzong grabbed the insect repellent sachet, put it under his nose and smelled it. It smelled a bit like mint leaves. Anyway, if he were a mosquito, this smell would definitely not stop him from biting her.
Chen Jingzong hung the sachet on the head of the bed.
Chen Jingzong took off his sweaty robe and wiped it quickly. He didn't completely lie to Huayang. There was indeed a bruise on his waist, but it was not caused by his own people. It was caused by a young general in the rebel army who fought too hard and broke the tip of his spear. He also stabbed him before he died.
This was Chen Jingzong's first time on the battlefield, and the first time he could lose his life at any time.
Everyone in the capital is afraid of him because he is the son-in-law of the prime minister and the fourth son of the prime minister's family. The rebels will only be more eager to kill him and gain merit.
Sitting on the bed, Chen Jingzong opened the lid of the plaster, scooped out a ball, lowered his head and applied it to the bruise.
The plaster felt cool, but Chen Jingzong was distracted, imagining that she was sitting beside him, tearing up with heartache, and gently helping him apply the plaster.
That scene brought a smile to his face.
He smiled and shook his head, not knowing whether he would ever see her shed tears for him again in this life.
In the tent of the Princess's mansion, Chaoyun and Chaoyue turned off the lights and helped the princess bathe in the dark.
After all, it was a military camp, so Huayang didn't dare to linger in the bathtub for too long. He put on his clothes quickly after taking a bath.
Remembering that the purse had not been sewn yet, and Chen Jingzong would have to go to war again after the peace talks tomorrow, Huayang asked the maids to light the lights again.
Chao Yue advised: "Princess, please continue sewing tomorrow. Sewing at night can hurt your eyes."
Huayang lowered his eyes and moved the needle: "Then move the lamp closer."
Bamboos are used to report peace, but how can one give up halfway
At this moment, Huayang felt peaceful and calm. It only took her half an hour to embroider and sew the rest of the clothes.
The only regret is that her needlework is really not that good. The bamboo leaves should be thin, but she embroidered them into round and fat ones. I wonder if Chen Jingzong would laugh at her.
The next day, Huayang sent Chaoyun to Chen Jingzong's tent early to deliver the box.
Chen Jingzong went back to the inner tent to look for himself.
Next to the exquisite green silk purse, there was a piece of paper with her handwriting on it: I found it and I’m giving it to you.
Chen Jingzong turned the purse, which was not even as big as his palm, over and over again to examine it.
How can you just pick up such high-quality silk
And her stitches. Even though the bamboo leaves were embroidered like that, the bamboo actually took after its master, revealing a bit of arrogance, as if even if it was fat it would be the most beautiful bamboo in the forest.
Chen Jingzong raised his purse and gave it a big kiss!
(End of this chapter)