Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!

Chapter 237: Fallen in Battle

No matter what, they had lived together for two to three years. Seeing Su Juan’s expression, Shen Ruhui knew she was definitely thinking in those messy directions.

"I’ve never left the Capital City, and I want to go out and see the world."

Su Juan understood. Indeed, since they met, Shen Ruhui had never left the Capital City. According to Liu Xuan, he rarely went out before, let alone traveled far.

"Then some days later, you pack your bags, and we’ll go together."

"Alright."

...

The transport team going to the Border needs to pass through Jiang State and Xu State.

The conditions at the Border are harsh, and it’s even harder once winter sets in. Fortunately, provisions and winter clothing for warmth were delivered in time.

Upon hearing that Princess Jinyang had arrived, General Shi hurriedly put down his work and came out to greet her, "Your Highness, it’s been a hard journey. Why did you come personally?"

Su Juan brought Shen Ruhui along, "The soldiers at the Border are the ones having a hard time. I’m just here to see if anything is lacking, so I can report back to the Capital City promptly."

Upon hearing Su Juan had come, Xie Xun rode back hastily, waving from afar, "Su!"

Su Juan looked up and saw Xie Xun wearing a white robe with Silver Armor, riding a tall horse. Perhaps due to the past year in the barracks, those once distinctly colored brows and eyes now carried a sharp murderous aura, markedly different from before.

Xie Xun dismounted and walked over briskly.

Qi You, who was beside Xie Xun, didn’t dare to be as casual as before when he saw Su Juan, "Your Highness."

Su Juan smiled and said, "Mr. Qi is here too."

Looking at the two in front of her, she only knew Xie Xun was coming, not expecting Mr. Qi to be here as well. But it made sense; these two always stuck together no matter what.

"You two, standing here like this, indeed have some presence of young generals."

Xie Xun smiled with his eyes, "Naturally, just yesterday Old Qi and I took a small team and burned down two provision warehouses of the Southern Army."

Speaking of this, both Xie Xun and Qi You laughed, showing the Southern Army’s arrogance.

Shi Yuan smiled and said, "It’s cold outside. Your Highness, why don’t you come into the tent for a chat."

Su Juan nodded and followed Shi Yuan towards the nearby tent.

Qi You, behind them, nudged Xie Xun with his elbow, "Why are you still calling Her Highness ’Su’?"

Xie Xun waved his hand, "The hierarchy is too messy; it’s simpler to just call Su."

He had been calling her that since earlier and found it truly tough to change now.

Xie Xun raised his brow, "Didn’t you also call her that before?"

He clearly remembered Qi You being quite improper back then, even calling Su Juan ’Beauty’.

Qi You was embarrassed, "That was in the past."

Now a person is the reigning Crown Princess. If he were still to be improper, he might literally lose his head one day.

Even though he liked to play around a bit, he still had some common sense.

That night, Su Juan and Shen Ruhui joined the other soldiers at the campfire barbecue, Xie Xun dragged Qi You over for a drink, and regaled Su Juan with tales from the past six months.

"Don’t be deceived by Qi You’s fair and thin appearance; when it comes to battle, he’s not at all inferior to others."

Su Juan laughed, "How does he compare with you then?"

Xie Xun patted his chest, "Of course, young master here is fiercer."

Qi You: "..."

Seeing that Xie Xun was adapting quite well here, Su Juan’s heavy heart was somewhat relieved, as even Xie Xun had found his suitable path now.

Su Juan looked around. The snow hadn’t fallen yet, but once it did, conditions would only get harsher, and she hoped the war would end soon.

...

In the blink of an eye, Su Juan had been in the military camp for almost a month. The transport team had already returned to the Capital City. Witnessing the Chu Army and her own soldiers engage the Southern Army several times, each time soldiers returned injured, some were seen just the day before but were laid on cold planks, lifeless the next day.

Having seen it a few times, Su Juan was feeling overwhelmed, not to mention these fallen soldiers with whom she shared day and night. Behind each person lay an entire family.

Seeing her hold her head, Shen Ruhui poured her a bowl of hot wine, "Warm yourself up."

Su Juan waved her hand, "I’ll go out for some fresh air."

Leaving the tent, Su Juan walked to a less-populated small hill. Just as she was about to sit down, she saw a familiar figure sitting there, "Qi You?"

Qi You turned his head and saw it was Su Juan. He hurriedly started to stand and salute, but Su Juan waved him down, "I’m just out for some air.

She sat down beside him and looked in the direction Qi You was facing; from that point, it should be the Capital City.

"Homesick?"

Qi You nodded, "Back home, every day was noisy with people in the mansion. Now being far away, I even dream of going back home at night."

Su Juan looked at him, "I heard you were engaged before?"

Not expecting Su Juan to bring this up, Qi You confirmed, laughing, "An engagement made in childhood, which was later called off."

Since he had a notorious reputation outside, which girl’s family would marry their daughter to him.

After a long pause, Su Juan simply said, "After this battle ends, go home."

However, Qi You asked back, "Your Highness, how long do you think this war will last?"

But this time, Su Juan couldn’t tell either. Actually, no one wanted to go to war. On the surface, it was a battle between the Chu Kingdom and Southern Country, and Da Jin could stay out of it, but this battle must be fought for the countless small homes behind the national territory.

If this war isn’t fought, the gates of Da Jin will one day be breached by the Southern Army.

Realizing he’d asked an inappropriate question, Qi You nonchalantly laughed, "Once the war ends, I’ll return to the Capital City with great pomp, and let my father see that I haven’t brought him shame at all."

Su Juan smiled, "General Qi has never thought you’ve shamed him."

After all, General Qi’s indulgence of his son is well-known. Qi You’s health was poor in childhood, almost losing his life. The family always just hoped for his health, never expecting any academic or martial achievements.

...

Snow fell heavily on New Year’s Eve, and the army cooked meat soup to add to their meal, but before the soldiers could take a sip, the horns blared again as the Southern Army challenged for battle!

General Shi led his soldiers out to meet the enemy.

The once lively camp turned cold and silent.

In this battle, the Jin Army fought in the front, the Chu Army flanked them from behind, and the fight lasted until daybreak. The Southern Army was defeated, their commander captured, but the Jin Chu forces suffered heavy casualties.

Su Juan stayed with the camp soldiers until morning, feeling this night was extraordinarily long.

"Medic! Medic!"

Xie Xun’s urgent voice cut through the chaotic screams of the wounded!

Su Juan and Shen Ruhui rushed over to find Xie Xun carrying Qi You. They hastened to help, Xie Xun hurried to find medical assistance, but they discovered Qi You was covered in wounds, blood soaking his entire body, eyes tightly closed...

Without any warmth left, Shen Ruhui stood frozen.

Su Juan felt a chill running from her feet straight to her head, her blood seemingly frozen, as the cold gripped her, leaving her breathless.

At this moment, Xie Xun had already pulled a medic back. After checking, the medic shook his head, sighing.

Xie Xun’s eyes were bloodshot, his blood-stained fists clenched tightly, ready to rush off and kill the freshly captured Southern Army prisoners!

A brother who had been with him for years had died before his eyes, and he was nearly driven to madness.