Chapter 1958: Chapter 976: Aroused Feelings (Xinyang vs. Xiao Ji Extra)
The sound of the guard’s report came from outside the barracks.
“Make way! I want to see the Marquis!”
The Little Princess Dongyi said arrogantly and willfully.
Princess Xinyang glanced at Xiao Ji, who took the towel and the ointment from her hand, and unhurriedly wiped off the water droplets and began applying the medicine.
“Zhen…” Princess Xinyang opened her mouth and said, “She’s coming in.”
“She won’t get in.” Xiao Ji said calmly, dipping his fingers in the ointment and evenly spreading it over her frostbite. This ointment was very effective, but the one flaw was its unsightly color, and it was extremely sticky, not easy to wash off once it got on you.
Princess Xinyang’s fingertips were delicate, and she liked cleanliness. If she really went to wash it, it wouldn’t be surprising if she scrubbed off a layer of skin.
Soon, the sound of the Little Princess Dongyi stomping and shouting came from outside the barracks: “How dare you stop me! I think you’re tired of living! When the Marquis comes out, I’ll have him deal with you!”
Princess Xinyang cast an unnoticeable look at Xiao Ji, who was carefully applying the medicine for her, but seemed to sense her doubt and scrutiny, and said lightly, “There are rules in the military camp; the general’s barracks cannot be entered at will.”
He didn’t indulge the Little Princess Dongyi that much; otherwise, his guards wouldn’t have dared to stop someone outside.
It’s just that others weren’t aware of this. Seeing him being somewhat accommodating to the Little Princess Dongyi, some speculated privately.
“Only you and Chang Jing have ever come in.” Xiao Ji said.
As soon as he finished speaking, Long Yi poked his head in.
The guards… the guards couldn’t stop him at all.
The medicine had been applied, and Xiao Ji pulled the quilt over to cover her feet, saying to Long Yi, “Are you hungry?”
Long Yi replied, “Yes, I’m hungry.”
Xiao Ji said to her, “I’ll take Long Yi to eat. What do you want to eat?”
Princess Xinyang asked, “What do you have here?”
Xiao Ji laughed self-deprecatingly. Yes, what is there in the military camp?
The eastern regions had suffered a snow disaster, and supplies and grain couldn’t be delivered smoothly. Being able to get a full meal was already fortunate, how could one be picky?
He said, “You take a rest first, I’ll send it to you later.”
“Marquis, it’s so late, you’re going out…” At the door, the guard looked strangely at Xuanping Marquis, who was armed with a bow and arrow and riding a tall horse, not understanding why the Xuanping Marquis was in battle gear in the middle of the night.
Could it be a night attack on the enemy camp?
Spying on military intelligence?
Then why bring a bow and arrow?
Xiao Ji tightened the reins, saying blandly, “Yes, I’m going out for a bit. No unauthorized personnel are allowed within a hundred paces of the military camp, and anyone who refuses to comply will be killed without mercy!”
“Understood!” The guard bowed respectfully in agreement.
Xiao Ji spurred his horse and disappeared into the swirling snow.
He was not going to spy on military intelligence, nor to attack the enemy camp but rather he rode into a deep forest and hunted a wild deer.
At night, a steaming bowl of venison soup soaked bread appeared on the table of Princess Xinyang.
Princess Xinyang had been a vegetarian for a few years, but after having Yiyi, she resumed a mixed diet to supplement nutrition and stopped feeding Yiyi at one year old, after which she didn’t eat much meat again.
But in such a harsh, cold place, drinking more meat soup and eating more meat were necessary to better withstand the severe cold.
Princess Xinyang understood this and silently picked up her bowl and chopsticks to eat.
Thinking of something, she looked over at Xiao Ji, who was sitting and wiping weapons, and asked, “Aren’t you eating?”
“I’ve already eaten.” Xiao Ji replied.
After a few mouthfuls of venison soup, Princess Xinyang felt warmth spread all over her body, a fine layer of sweat formed on her forehead, and her nose was sparkling.
“How are things around here?” she asked.
Xiao Ji wiped the longsword with a cloth, saying lightly, “The battle is almost over.”
“What about Xiao Ming and the others?” she continued.
She used ‘they’, obviously not just referring to Xiao Ming alone.
Xuanping Marquis had two sons from concubines. Back then, Princess Xinyang was not on good terms to be husband and wife with him, the old lady couldn’t see him cut off offspring and pushed two concubines into his house, resulting in the birth of Xiao En and Xiao Ze.
Though they were born of concubines, since there was no legitimate heir, the old lady dearly loved them, raising them at her side.
In the past, their marital relationship was as cold as an ice cellar, so Princess Xinyang didn’t care about nor was concerned with his sons from concubines.
Later, the old lady’s health declined, Xiao En and Xiao Ze went to the military camp, and a few years later went east, thus having even less interaction with Princess Xinyang.
Xiao Ji replied, “Xiao Ming was poisoned, unconscious and unable to wake, the antidote is with the Dongyi people, Xiao En and Xiao Ze are guarding Donglin Pass.”
Princess Xinyang nodded, pondering for a moment, then said, “I always thought Xiao Ming was just injured.”
Xiao Ji said lightly, “The Dongyi people are very cunning; the wound initially showed no signs, only after half a month did symptoms of poisoning gradually appear.”
Princess Xinyang asked, “Did you agree to negotiate peace with the Dongyi people just to obtain the antidote for Xiao Ming?”
Xiao Ji paused in wiping the Treasure Sword, “The Xiao family is never threatened; Xiao Ming can die, but the spine of the Military Officers of Zhan Country cannot bend.”
Princess Xinyang sensed the spirit of gallantry and iron on him, her gaze shifted, she asked, “Then why did you still—”
“A delaying tactic.” Xiao Ji glanced at the Treasure Sword, its blade glinting fiercely, the cold reflection casting a glimmer in his long, narrow phoenix eyes. “Tomorrow, I’m going to attack the Dongyi people. You stay in the Military Camp and don’t run around.”
“Take Long Yi with you.”
Xiao Ji sheathed the long sword, and upon seeing she had finished eating, he took the bowls and chopsticks outside.
Princess Xinyang looked at the simple tent. Even though Marquis Xuanping had grown up amidst luxury, it was hard to imagine him suffering at the border pass.
Several small holes dotted the tent, the fragmented moonlight and cold wind poured in until, suddenly, something covered those holes.
—Xiao Ji had patched up the tent.
Princess Xinyang sat on the hard bedchamber, listening to the conversation outside between Xiao Ji and the Military Officer.
“Next time, don’t do that again. It’s dangerous, quite troublesome if you fall into the Dongyi people’s trap!”
Princess Xinyang glanced at the piece of roasted venison Xiao Ji left on the table for her.
“Who is that person, really?” the Military Officer asked again.
“My wife,” Xiao Ji replied.
After that, the Military Officer stopped muttering.
Xiao Ji finished patching up the tent and returned to the barracks. Princess Xinyang asked calmly, “Where did Long Yi go?”
Xiao Ji answered, “Went to Chang Jing’s tent, just next door.”
“Tonight, I…” Follow current novels on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
“Of course, I’ll sleep here too.”
The eyelashes of Princess Xinyang fluttered slightly, her lips moved a little, but in the end, she didn’t voice the words to refuse sharing the bed with him.
With limited resources in the Military Camp, the bedchamber was cold and hard, and the bedding was thin and damp.
Stiffly, she lay beside him, her hands and feet icy cold.
The atmosphere in the Military Camp was different from the Capital City; he was less carefree and unrestrained, more severe and formidable like a battlefield warrior.
For instance, at this moment, he didn’t teasingly jab at her with remarks.
He closed his eyes, planning the deployments for tomorrow in his mind.
“Xiao Ji.” Princess Xinyang spoke softly.
“What is it?” he quickly pulled away from his combat thoughts.
Princess Xinyang’s throat moved, she nervously pinched her fingers, and whispered, “…I’m cold.”
In the past, he would have teased her, “Qin Fengwan, if you want the Marquis to hold you, just say so directly.”
He simply held her hand under the covers, finding it frightfully cold, and moved his own bedding over her. “Is this better?”
“Still cold,” Princess Xinyang replied.
In the dark, he hesitated a moment, then extended his strong arms and embraced her into his chest.
His unique masculine scent enveloped her all at once.
He loosened his clothing, guiding her icy hands to his warm chest, then moved his legs, placing her cold feet against his warm, sturdy thigh.
“Is this better?” he asked.
Princess Xinyang’s cheeks felt a bit hot. She thought perhaps this man’s vitality was simply overwhelming.
She nodded, replying very softly, “Yes.”
“Qin Fengwan, stop moving around.”
“The spot where I get chilblains always itches.” She couldn’t help but rub against his calf. Surely, that didn’t count as moving?
She reached down to scratch, but inadvertently brushed against a certain fearsome beast, startling her, her face flushed red!
Xiao Ji’s voice held a trace of hoarseness, “I told you not to move.”
She choked up, angrily retorting, “I wasn’t touching you there!”
In the darkness, Xiao Ji gazed deeply at her, his voice husky as he asked, “Qin Fengwan, has your ailment healed?”
Princess Xinyang froze.
Her ailment… her inability to be close to men…
At this moment, she was being embraced by a man without any gap between them.
She didn’t have an episode.
No, she seemed to be having an episode.
Her heart was racing wildly like a little deer running amok.
Her mind buzzed, her mouth dry, and she could barely breathe.