Years turn into wind

The two returned to the Marshal's Mansion, where the tranquility of the past had returned. Though exhausted, Ling Xiaotian led Cheng Yuwei into the study and ordered hot tea. The warm aroma of tea filled the air, seemingly dispelling the lingering gloom of the battle.

Cheng Yuwei blew gently on the teacup and looked up at Ling Xiaotian, who looked a little tired. A trace of tenderness rose in her heart. She hesitated for a moment and said, "Xiaotian, you never told me what made you so persistent on the battlefield?"

Ling Xiaotian was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the dimly lit sky outside the window. The lines on his face relaxed a little. "This land is my responsibility and my belief. I cannot stand by and watch countless lives perished at the hands of swords and guns." His voice was low and firm. "But today, your appearance has given me a new reason—to protect you."

Cheng Yuwei's heart trembled, her cheeks flushed slightly, and the teacup trembled slightly at her fingertips. She lowered her head to hide her emotions and asked softly, "What about me? I was just an accident, right?"

Ling Xiaotian looked away and stared at her, his tone soft but unquestionable: "You are not an accident, it is destiny."

The two looked at each other in silence, only each other's heartbeats were clearly audible in the silence. Cheng Yuwei seemed to be able to hear her own heart beating violently, and the strength accumulated by the baptism of war turned into a gentle wave at this moment, surging into her heart.

At this moment, the hurried footsteps of a guard were heard outside the door. "General, I have an urgent matter to report!" The guard's voice was a little nervous, breaking the brief warmth in the room.

Ling Xiaotian frowned, then quickly regained his composure and stood up: "Come in."

The guard pushed the door open and entered, clasping his fists and reporting, "We've discovered a spy lurking in the mansion, monitoring your every move, Madam."

Cheng Yuwei's heart sank when she heard this. A hint of murderous intent flashed in Ling Xiaotian's eyes, and his voice was as cold as ice: "Bring him up here. I want to interrogate him personally."

The guards took their orders and left, leaving the two people in the study. Ling Xiaotian walked over to Cheng Yuwei and held her hand: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Cheng Yuwei nodded and held his hand even tighter. Their eyes met, and a tacit understanding was already formed in their hearts, without further words.

Footsteps sounded outside the door again, and the spy was brought up, his eyes gleaming with cunning and provocation. Ling Xiaotian looked at him coldly, his voice as frosty as frost: "Who sent you here? Who is the mastermind behind this?"

The spy sneered and didn't answer. Cheng Yuwei saw it all, and she had a vague feeling that this conspiracy was more than just a simple spy. The dark shadow behind the scenes might have already infiltrated every corner of their lives.

The spy suddenly laughed out loud: "Do you think this is the last time? The real storm is still to come."

Before he finished speaking, a silence fell in the study. Cheng Yuwei felt a surge of unease, sensing that the days ahead would be even more perilous. However, she was no longer someone who would simply run away. She was determined to face any difficulties alongside Ling Xiaotian.

Ling Xiaotian's eyes darkened, and he approached the spy with a cold tone: "You'd better explain yourself clearly, otherwise-"

The spy was intimidated by this aura, but a hint of sarcasm still curled up at the corner of his mouth: "No matter how strong you are, you can't stop the murderous intentions lurking in the shadows. Just wait, your doom will come."

Cheng Yuwei felt a chill run down her spine, her intuition telling her that this wasn't just an empty threat. A fierce glint flashed in Ling Xiaotian's eyes, and he signaled the guards to drag the spy away for questioning. From outside the door came the sneer of the spy as he was led away, lingering for a long time, like a crow in the dark night, carrying an ominous omen.

The room returned to silence, but the atmosphere had already become solemn. Cheng Yuwei came back to her senses, looked at Ling Xiaotian, and whispered, "These people came too easily. We need to strengthen our defenses. Perhaps..." Before she could finish her words, Ling Xiaotian had already grasped her hand, his eyes softer. "I will take care of your worries. Just be careful during this time."

Cheng Yuwei nodded, an unyielding light flashing in her eyes: "I'm not afraid, I'm just wondering if there is anything I can do to help you find the person behind this."

Ling Xiaotian's lips curled up slightly, with a rare smile of relief: "You always surprise me. Don't worry, we will find the answer."

The two looked at each other silently, and they both seemed to know in their hearts that this unknown danger had just begun.

To help Cheng Yuwei relax, Ling Xiaotian took her to the mansion's garden the next day. In the garden, the autumn sun shone on the blooming chrysanthemums, and a gentle breeze carried a faint floral fragrance. Cheng Yuwei held Ling Xiaotian's hand, walking briskly, as if the shadows had never existed.

She chuckled and said, "These flowers are so beautiful. They remind me of the research on plant extracts in modern times."

Ling Xiaotian raised his eyebrows and teased deliberately: "I didn't know you had such a soft spot for flowers and plants. Is there any research that can help me fight the war?"

Cheng Yuwei patted his arm gently and smiled: "Don't underestimate them, there are many secrets hidden in plants."

At this moment, a maid came running over from a distance, her face slightly changed, and she whispered, "Marshal, Madam, there is an urgent visitor who wants to see you."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes grew serious, and he felt wary. "Bring him to the main hall."

Cheng Yuwei felt his hand tighten slightly, gripping her palm. She understood that the peaceful days were broken again at this moment.

Inside the main hall, a dusty figure appeared, his eyes filled with anxiety and eagerness. He was a veteran soldier under Ling Xiaotian, normally responsible for patrolling the outer outposts. Upon meeting Ling Xiaotian, he bowed and spoke in a low voice, "General, a suspicious caravan has been spotted in the eastern border town. They appear to be selling goods, but their movements are very strange. They appear to be enemy spies."

Ling Xiaotian frowned, a sharp look flashing in his eyes: "Have you found out his background?"

The veteran shook his head. "I've sent people to follow them, but they're moving so erratically they seem to be trying to avoid tracking."

Cheng Yuwei stood aside, her brow furrowed slightly, her thoughts racing. She suddenly remembered a technique she'd learned in a modern laboratory that might help identify the true identities of these caravans. She whispered to Ling Xiaotian, "Xiaotian, if we can obtain their belongings or fabrics, I can try using chemical reagents to analyze them to see if they contain any special ingredients, such as flammable substances or materials containing chemical markers."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes lit up, and after a moment's thought, he nodded and said, "Okay, you will assist me in this matter. But be careful and don't take risks lightly."

The next morning, Cheng Yuwei busied herself preparing reagents and testing tools in the mansion's laboratory. Dressed in a simple white robe, her eyes focused and steady, she seemed transported back to the days of modern laboratories. Ling Xiaotian stood by, watching her quietly, a mixture of worry and admiration in his heart.

A moment later, the spies returned with fragments of fabric they had retrieved from the suspicious caravan. Cheng Yuwei carefully removed a small piece and placed it in the reagent. Moments later, the liquid turned pale blue. Raising her brow, she explained, "This is a special chemical, commonly used in modern-day manufacturing of highly explosive materials. It seems these people are truly extraordinary."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes grew increasingly stern as he ordered, "Pass the order down. Immediately seal off the border, increase patrols, and make sure to catch these people!"

As night fell, the mansion was once again on alert. Cheng Yuwei sat in her room, a cup of tea in her hand, but her heart was restless. Suddenly, the door was gently pushed open, and Ling Xiaotian walked in, looking a little tired. He sat down beside her, reached out to smooth the hair by her ear, and said softly, "Are you tired?"

Cheng Yuwei looked at him, the corners of her mouth slightly raised: "It's okay, I'm just a little nervous. We don't know what these people will do next."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes flashed with determination: "No matter what they do, I will protect you."

Cheng Yuwei felt warm in her heart, reached out and held his hand, and said softly: "I know you will, but I also want to protect you and our common home."

The two of them sat quietly together. The night outside was deep and cold, but the warmth within the room made all shadows seem distant. In this quietness, a faint signal from the distance broke this brief peace—danger was quietly approaching.

Ling Xiaotian's face darkened when he heard the signal. He immediately stood up, his eyes as sharp as a knife. He looked at Cheng Yuwei and whispered, "Stay here and don't go out. I'll take care of it."

Cheng Yuwei felt the urgency emanating from him and wanted to say something, but was stopped by his firm eyes. She knew that in such a situation, she could only trust him and not become his worry.

Ling Xiaotian turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Outside, the guards had gathered in the courtyard, each armed and serious-looking. An adjutant stepped forward to report, "General, the sentries have spotted dozens of unidentified individuals approaching the mansion, seemingly intending an ambush."

Ling Xiaotian sneered, "How dare they come?" He waved his hand and ordered, "Deploy your defenses and be on full alert. We must capture the leader alive. I need to know their details."

The palace quickly entered a state of emergency. Soldiers were ambushed at every exit, with archers and spearmen on high alert. In the night, the sound of footsteps grew clearer, and figures flashed through the darkness. They were dressed like ordinary merchants, yet they held short knives and gunpowder in their hands, clearly disguised enemies.

Suddenly, a whistle pierced the silence, and the enemy launched a surprise attack, attempting to break through the mansion's defenses. However, they had no idea that the guards were already well prepared. Arrows rained down, several enemies fell in pools of blood, and the rest immediately fell into chaos.

Amidst the chaos, a tall man in black suddenly leaped up, blade in hand, charging towards Ling Xiaotian. His movements were swift and fierce, evidently those of a well-trained assassin. Ling Xiaotian calmly dodged the attack and swung his sword to meet it. The two clashed swiftly, the flashes of swords and sabers gleaming in the night.

Cheng Yuwei heard the sounds of fighting outside, and her heart ached. She clenched her hands and tried to calm herself down. Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded at the door, and a little maid ran over in panic: "Madam, it's bad, someone broke into the backyard!"

Cheng Yuwei was startled, realizing this might be a diversionary tactic. She quickly stood up, picked up the knife on the table, and cautiously walked toward the backyard. In the moonlight, several dark figures were stealing in. She held her breath, observing their movements.

"Found it!" one of them whispered, "Quick, take it away."

Cheng Yuwei saw clearly that they were attempting to steal important documents from the palace. Without hesitation, she rushed forward and stabbed a man in black in the leg with her knife. The man collapsed in pain, and the others gathered around him. Cheng Yuwei stepped back, nervously gripping the hilt of her knife, silently praying for reinforcements to arrive in time.

Just as she was about to be surrounded, a furious shout rang out from afar: "Let her go!" Ling Xiaotian's figure was like a sharp sword in the darkness, rushing into the battle and repelling the enemies one by one. He came to Cheng Yuwei, his eyes filled with anxiety: "Are you okay?"

Cheng Yuwei shook her head gently and tried to force a smile: "I'm fine."

Seeing the situation was dire, the enemies retreated. Ling Xiaotian watched them disappear into the darkness, his brow furrowed. He whispered, "These people are too arrogant. It seems the person behind this shouldn't be underestimated."

Cheng Yuwei looked up at him, her eyes flashing with determination: "No matter who it is, we will not be defeated."

Ling Xiaotian's eyes flashed with relief. He gently held her in his arms and whispered, "With you here, I feel more resolute."

As the night wind blew, the courtyard gradually returned to calm. The guards took the injured enemies away for interrogation, and the entire Marshal's Mansion was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere.

A few days later, the results of the interrogation were delivered to Ling Xiaotian's study. Cheng Yuwei was also present, staring at the files before her with a feeling of unease. According to the confession, this attack was not an isolated incident, but a long-planned test by the enemy's top brass.