Deep in his thoughts, Ruyi made his way to general Han's tent. He found the old man was busy with cleaning down his armor that was full of blood.

"General Han greets Esteemed General Ruyi. "

With both hands together, General Han greeted with respect, awaiting orders.

Just as Ruyi was about to open his mouth, another men entered the tent. At first he seemed shocked to find Ruyi there but quickly bowed down in greeting.

"Oh? T-this Captain, Yihan of the vermilion army, greets both General Han and Esteemed General Ruyi. Reporting that half the vermilion army have returned. The other half is protecting the townsfolk."

Ruyi nodded his head and faced both men.

"You two, take this order."

General Han took the letter and opened it, reading its contents. His eyebrow also raised for a brief moment. Passing it to Captain Yihan who also showed a surprised expression.

Ruyi himself had not read it but seeing how 3 men who read it all looked just as surprised, he became slightly curious.

"Esteemed General Ruyi, may I know if you are the one who came up with this?"

Ruyi shook his head, taking a sit on the armchair while both gentlemen in front of him exchanged glances.

"Then..."

"The Princess was the one who wrote that. Anything wrong with it?"

His voice slightly stern he was about to get annoyed at the two gentlemen who seemed to be unwilling to trust a female. But before he could even start, Captain Yihan bowed his head.

"Esteemed General Ruyi. Is it possible that princess consort is under the Tiger army as a strategist?"

'Why is this man asking this?'

Ruyi thought to himself. Just what was written on the piece of paper that everyone is acting like this?

"No. Princess just wanted to follow us along."

The captain's face brightened up immediately and then quickly bowed and turned to the two higher ranking men.

"This Captain will take his leave first. I will pass down the orders to my men."

Hurrying out the tent, Ruyi was left alone with General Han.

"The Princess truly is a blessing to our commander."

General Han smiled slightly as he continued to wipe down his armor.

"I've known that since the start. But maybe...just maybe, she might also be his weakness. You saw what her life meant to our commander."

Ruyi blankly stared into the flickering candle flame set on the table, worry glazed over his eyes. General Han continued on as he cleaned his sword.

"For someone who has never been to war. To be able to not only come up with a strategy, defeat a long standing army and even deal with the aftermath, if the princess was born a boy she would be a general rivalling that of commanding general Tianhuo."

"Deal with the aftermath?"

Ruyi leaned back, waiting for the old man to reply. But the distinct scent of human flesh burning peaked his sensitive nose. Quickly getting to his feet, he hurried out, worried that something might have happened.

Grabbing onto a random soldier who was hurrying by, Ruyi questioned

" What's going on?"

The soldier looked confused and scared but it was because Ruyi was grabbing his collar. Hesitating slightly he wanted to reply but was cut off by General Han who came strolling out from his tent.

"The Princess ordered to burn the bodies of the fallen enemies instead of throwing them into the rocky pass or digging a hole to bury them."

(Although unbeknownst to Feiyun, her actions would later on affect her future and the entire south.)

A small smile appeared on general Han's face. His old and white beard gently floating in the wind.

" The Bu town depend on the forest for survival. If we leave piles of dead body there they would attract dangerous predators. Endangering the townsfolk who go into the rocky pass daily. If we choose to dig a large hole, what do you think will happen?"

Ruyi folded his arms together, his foxy eyes never leaving the trail of smoke that rose high into the sky.

"The dead bodies would attract rats and should it spread a deadly plague...hundreds... no, millions would lose their lives. Not to mention the smell that would arise and affect the town's folk."

"The Princess thought all the town's livelihood even while injured. This old one truly respects her now."

General Han cupped his hand around his fist praising Feiyun.

Ruyi stood silent. He was stumped for words. The Princess had already thought so far even though she was still injured.

'How much of a genius could she really be?'

Back in the small inner room. Feidu finished up and started wrapping Feiyun's shoulder in the bandages. Following closely to feiyun's instructions.

"When things have settled, we will leave for the capital."

Feiyun wanted to return to the capital as soon as possible. News about Zhenzhen taking the title of crown princess, a sly smirk appeared on Feiyun's lips. There was no way she would allow her to get off so easily.

"Rest first."

Tianhuo called from the desk. Sorting through piles of notes. His eyes fell onto her wound, a trace of guilt flashed over before he quickly resumed his work.

Once FeiDu had left. Feiyun casually reached out, taking out from her space a tiny bottle with a single red pill. As she popped it into her mouth, while she probed softly.

The red pill was the painstaking anti poison pill she had researched and created after millions of experiments. Its price in an auction would easily reach 8 digits at minimum. Although it was not an instant cure, it can stop the poisons effect and taking a course of it regularly will slowly remove the poison from the body.

"Are you mad that I got hurt."

Tianhuo slowly looked up to Feiyun's questioning eyes, and walk over. His eyes solemn and held a sense of tranquility.

" I hate that I let you get hurt."

Tracing gently over her cheek, as if touching a thin fragile glass that could break at any moment.

Feiyun felt her heart heave up slightly. She had never had a person show worry like that for her. Unsure of how to react to his kindness she blushed and broke eye contact with him, glancing softly to the side.

"You yourself are hur-"

Flapflapflap

The flapping sound came from the window in the furthest corner. Silence lingered for a moment, before Feiyun turned towards the sound and asked Tianhuo,

" Do you mind getting that for me?"

Tianhuo tucked a stray hair behind her ear, let out a small sigh and quickly walked over.

A pure white Falcon perched on the bird stand, blinking back at him. Slightly smaller than the black one Feiyun had around her.

But the creature was a magnificent beauty. It's eyes were enchanting emerald green while its body as white as snow.

Tied to it's leg was a small roll of note.

After waiting for awhile, the beautiful creature screeched impatiently for some treats. Like a queen waiting to be served.

Frowning slightly, Tianhuo quickly took off the note, leaving an entire box of treats open right beside the bird.

Feiyun chuckled softly on her side. It was as though she had just seen a childish side to Tianhuo. Who knew he could even have a fight with a bird.

Tianhuo caught her snickering to herself, lifted an eyebrow. Feiyun was still injured, she should be resting.

He reached into his pocket and kept the note safely.

"What are you doing? Give it to me."

Feiyun pouted, unsure what Tianhuo was doing. Stretching out her hand for the paper.

"You're still sick. I will keep it until you're better."

"My wound will heal eventually."

Tianhuo's beautiful face twisted into a frown, sitting beside her, he gently took hold of her slightly cold hands.

"You're still poisoned."

Feiyun breath out lightly as she took the empty bottle and shook it Infront of him.

"I've eaten the antidote. It should slowly disappear. "

Tianhuo looked at her, he knew she wasn't lying but still what was so important that she wanted to see it straight away?

Reluctantly, he reached back into his pocket and took out the small note.

Feiyun's eyes brightened instantly, like a small child given candy.

Upon passing the scroll to her, feiyun's eyes flicked from left to right as she read the small note.

Her face showed a slightly complicated expression and then satisfaction.

"FeiFeng has made contact with the suspicious person who followed us around at the temple. Apparently, the lady only speaks Japanese. On our way back to the capital, I plan on meeting with her."

"Mmn"

Tianhuo's did not really care about the strange woman, he only worried that she might be an assassin.

He gently pulled Feiyun into his embrace, wary of her shoulder wound, even though it should be numb but he would not take any chances to hurt her.

Burying his face into her shoulder, taking in her scent and letting out an honest sigh of comfort he felt from her.

The very next day, Tianhuo's small group had set off as early as the first cry of the rooster. Leaving the Tiger army behind to finish up and move on back to the west by themselves.

They were headed to the slum town that was 7 days away, conviniently on the way to the capital.

FeiFeng had already been there waiting for their arrival together with the mysterious woman.

'why is princess so keen on meeting this woman that she insisted on leaving as soon as possible?'

Ruyi silently followed behind the grand carriage, it's tiger sigil flapping in the wind. He could only see the curtains flapping in the breeze, not a glimpse of Tianhuo or Feiyun since the start.

They had been so engrossed in their conversations that after stopping for camp, they quietly walked off together mid discussion, leaving the camp site to the rest.

FeiAn quietly sat beside Ruyi who was sharpening his sword. Her lips had spoken not a word since they embarked. Her eyes still carried a hint of guilt. FeiXu seeing this tried to cheer her up but failed with a cheesy joke that turned the atmosphere even more icy.

Unconsciously, Ruyi reached out grabbing her wrist, pulling her as they made their way deeper into the forest.

"Where are we going?"

Ruyi simply turned with a charming and gentle smile, unlike his usual foxy smile. This was the true and genuine smile of his.

It would be a lie to say that Ruyi was not blessed with good looks. With eyes that sparkled slightly in the light, a pair of deep dark eyes that could draw you in. His skin was fair and contrasted well against his long and black hair.

Unknowingly they and made their way back to a large open lake. Stretching out across the entire area. Some huge rocks surrounded the lake making it a little perfect of a place to take a bath.

"FeiAn..."

Ruyi called out to her, her hand gently resting in his palm. Pausing for a moment as her eyes slowly glanced up to him.

"I..."

Hesitating slightly Ruyi felt a small regret churning in his heart.

FeiAn already knew what he wanted to say, but when she felt his hand slowly pulling back, she grabbed onto his wrist with her hand while the other reached for his collar, pulling him down towards her.

Although shock, Ruyi felt a tinge of happiness in his chest, they slowly melted together as the passionate moment continued.

Although they both had never spoken about it, they probably already guessed what the other felt deep down within.

After a moment, FeiAn pulled back, her cheeks flushed as she quickly spun around.

She couldn't believe she actually did that to him.

"Don't worry, there's no one but us here."

Ruyi licked his lips as he tease her from behind.

At least that's what he thought.

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