Quick Wear: The first person to love the host

By the time Qin Wujiu finished dealing with the conflict involving the Xiongnu delegation, it was already dark.

He dragged his weary body back to his tent. As soon as he took off his armor, his personal guard rushed in to report: "Strategist, the delegation from the capital... is causing trouble."

Qin Wujiu closed his eyes, his temples throbbing.

The delegation from the capital was ostensibly there to "reward the soldiers of the northern frontier," but in reality, everyone knew that it was sent by the Second Prince to probe the situation and cause trouble.

These pampered officials from the capital, having only been there a day, had already complained more than a dozen times about the harshness of the frontier and the coarseness of the food.

"And what is it about?" Qin Wujiu asked in a hoarse voice.

"They said...the charcoal they sent was sooty and ruined Lord Li's treasured sable fur coat." The guard lowered his head, his voice growing softer and softer. "They also said they wanted to see the Prince to plead their case in person."

Qin Wujiu suddenly wanted to laugh.

A ferret coat? In this border region where livestock freeze to death, and so many people are barely clothed, they are causing trouble over a ferret coat.

But he couldn't laugh.

He knew this wasn't a problem with charcoal, fur coats, or even the mission itself. It was a pawn planted by the Second Prince's henchmen a thousand miles away, forcing chaos in the Northern Frontier and forcing the Prince to reveal his true colors.

"Tell them that the Prince is still ill and will not receive guests," Qin Wujiu said, enunciating each word clearly. "Send them the best silver-thread charcoal. If they still have complaints—"

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "The frontier is bitterly cold. If you really can't bear it, you can 'suddenly fall ill' and return to the capital."

The guards understood and bowed as they withdrew.

Silence returned to the tent. Qin Wujiu sat alone at the table, staring at the flickering candlelight, when suddenly a bone-chilling weariness seeped from his very marrow.

He was a native of the northern frontier, and both his parents died at the hands of the Xiongnu. From then on, he vowed to defeat the Xiongnu and avenge his parents. He followed the prince to build the northern frontier defense line from scratch and repelled countless Xiongnu invasions.

The imperial court's provisions were always late and never sufficient, so they cultivated their own land, procured their own grain, and manufactured their own weapons.

But now that the Xiongnu have surrendered, what has come is not rewards, but suspicion, tests, and endless scheming.

Qin Wujiu reached out and picked up the wine jar on the corner of the table—it was a special rice wine from Jiangnan that Shen Qianlan had secretly given him last time she came, saying that it was not very strong and that he could drink it occasionally to satisfy his cravings and warm himself up.

He poured himself a bowl and tilted his head back to gulp down a large mouthful.

The wine, carrying a hint of rice aroma, slid smoothly down his stomach. Not enough, still not enough. He took another sip, then another.

Shen Qianlan.

Thinking of this name, a part of my heart softened suddenly, followed by a deeper pain.

That person should be almost out of the northern border region by now!

He said he would wait for him.

But can I really make it to Jiangnan alive?

Qin Wujiu smiled bitterly and gulped down another mouthful of wine. The jar gradually emptied, and his mind began to blur. He slumped over the table, the candlelight flickering in his eyes like a dim, yellowish halo.

-

The delegation consisted entirely of officials from the capital, accustomed to a life of luxury and unaccustomed to the hardships of military life.

After being left out in the military camp for several days, they found fault with everything they did, complaining about the cold weather and poor food, or clamoring to see the prince.

On the tenth day, it felt like being pushed to the limit.

A guard's cautious voice rang out from inside the tent: "Strategist, Lord Li from the capital delegation has arrived again. He says he must see the Prince today, or else... or else he will petition the court to impeach the Northern Frontier for mistreatment of the Imperial Envoy."

Qin Wujiu closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "I understand."

He first went to appease the delegation as usual, but this time he didn't make any excuses. He simply said that he would go to the Prince's residence and, if the Prince was able to see people, he would take them to see the Prince.

The delegation was barely appeased, and Qin Wujiu rode off to the Prince's Palace.

"The envoys insist on seeing you, and they seem to be running out of patience," Qin Wujiu said in a low voice. "They are being forceful, saying they want to see your condition for themselves. I'm afraid... they want the imperial physician to take your pulse."

Qi Jinyu remained calm: "As expected. Qi Haolian won't let this opportunity pass. If I'm exposed for feigning illness, it will be a crime of deceiving the emperor; if I'm truly 'cured,' I must return to the capital immediately."

He walked to the window and looked at the bare branches in the courtyard covered with snow: "The conflict between the envoy delegation and the military camp, the discovery of spies in the workshops... these are not accidental. Someone wants to force me to act, to force me into chaos."

Qin Wujiu clenched his fist: "Your Highness, it seems that a net has already been laid in the capital."

“The net was set long ago,” Qi Jinyu turned around, her gaze deep, “but now, those who want to catch it are in a hurry.”

He paused for a moment, then said, "Issue the order that we depart for the capital in three days. The envoy delegation will travel with the Xiongnu peace-seeking delegation."

Qin Wujiu was taken aback: "So fast?"

“Since we can’t avoid it, we might as well take the initiative,” Qi Jinyu said. “At least we can still control the route and the timing.”

-

The snow stopped on the eve of my return to Beijing, and the moonlight was clear.

Su Zi was packing Qi Jinyu's belongings, folding each piece of clothing neatly. Qi Jinyu hugged him from behind, burying his face in his neck, remaining silent for a long time.

"The accounts have been investigated." Su Ziyu said softly, "Besides the Xiongnu spies, we also found two inside agents who were bribed by the Second Prince. The workshop has been cleaned up, so you can rest assured."

Qi Jinyu hummed in agreement and tightened her grip on her arm.

“The army has also arranged for guards along the way,” Su Ziyu continued. “My cousin sent word today that he has arrived safely in Jiangnan and is making arrangements in secret.”

He still didn't speak.

Su Ziyu turned around and cupped his face in her hands. In the moonlight, Qi Jinyu's eyes held a weariness and longing he had never shown before.

“I will get the business up and running as soon as possible and make lots and lots of money,” Su Ziyu said, word by word. “You need to make arrangements, support people, and plan things out in the capital, all of which require money. You need to take good care of yourself and eat and sleep on time.”

Qi Jinyu's Adam's apple bobbed, her voice hoarse: "This journey is dangerous, I might..."

“No way.” Su Zi interrupted him, her eyes reddening. “You must be alright. Once things are settled in the capital, we’ll go to Jiangnan to find Grandfather. You promised, you can’t go back on your word.”

Qi Jinyu finally smiled, a smile tinged with bittersweet tenderness: "Alright, I won't renege on my promise."

He tied a jade pendant around Su Ziyu's waist: "This is my mother's keepsake. Keep it safe. If anything happens in the capital... don't wait for me. Go to Jiangnan, go to any safe place."

Su Ziyu shook her head: "I'm not going anywhere, I'll just wait for you here."

He stood on tiptoe and kissed Qi Jinyu's lips.

This kiss was devoid of lust, filled only with endless longing and promise.

The north wind rose again outside the window, stirring up the snow that had accumulated under the eaves.