-So... Is it today?- asks Zhou -Apparenly- I nod, finishing to arrange my armor as Nan attaches the last few medals and knots -Ok, let's go-.
Arriving at the entrance of the camp I stand behind General Cai and Qin Luo winks at me from beside him. We're currently waiting for General Wu and his officials to arrive, we'll take them to have a meeting and recap their battles... Meanwhile all their lower ranked men and simple soldiers will build their tends and expand our camp.
-Ying TongJun!- calls me General Cai -Yessir!- -Beware, soldier... This Wu man isn't anything likeable and will surely make it hard for you- I straighten up -Nothing I can't handle, Sir. I've already had to deal with General Li Yao- he scoffs -Li Yao was nothing but a nuisance compared to him, a proud and a coward man... General Wu on the other hand... He's a cancer, anything you say can be turned against you by him. He has power and a strong backing, he's from the family of the current Empress Mother... I myself had my own business with him back in the days, be on your best behaviors unless you are ready to murder him and the Emperor ah!-
I smirk and look ahead amused -That honestly tempts me, Sir- -Ehy Ehy, hold your horses Lady... It's better not to mess with the Palace now- warns me Tian XuWen -Tz, here they come- spits General Cai.
A group or horses stops in front of us and a man hops down his own one, his face looks quite anonymous... Like those filthy men in the Palace Halls, always murmuring and scheming. But a hint of madness sparkles in his eyes. I have heard about this General before, he is well respected and owns the favor of many soldiers and noble families... I wonder if my father ever befriended or made an enemy of him when he was still active.
He goes toward the three Generals and greets them not so formally, throwing a cloth to his servant after cleaning his hands from the accumulated dust... His gaze goes around the other of us, standing behind, and stops when meeting my eyes -Lower your gaze you! Have they not taught you how to properly greet a man and a General at that? For a soldier to feel so presumptuous... Why is she even here?- he asks toward my general but I'm quicker to reply, bowing down yet maintaining eye contact -I'm the Liutenant General of the Cai Armada, Ying ChangLai. Pleased to meet you, fellow General Wu-
The man simply ignores my greeting and passes over -Let's go inside and talk real business!- he yells to his men while Qin Luo elbows me -You screwed up right away- I try to hold back a laugh -Did I? Somehow General Cai looked pleased tho-.
...
In the evening we enjoy an improvised banquet made of wild beasts caught on their trip and liquor, while everyone else will eat as usual and will be able to at least enjoy a generous portion of meat tonight.
-Why are you already by the side if it just started?- asks me Qin Luo, bringing me a skewer -I've never been one to enjoy banquets... So now if I can just stand on the side and not be "Miss perfect marriable daughter" I would gladly do it. It's also a waste to enjoy so much food in one single night, we should portion it and use it during the upcoming winter- -You're right, you're no more Miss perfect marriable daughter... Now you're perfect marriable TongJun- he laughs and I hit his foot -Ah shit up will you? Let's go out and take some air instead, I ate enough- -Drank enough too?- he shakes a bottle in front of my face smiling.
We go toward the place where all the other soldiers are eating and take a stroll -We have so many men now... Hope they'll be able to put their trust in you too and be useful to you- -Mmhn... I don't know, that Wu dude... Ah nevermind for now- I open the liquor's lid and take a sip
-THERE SHE IS!- yells a voice I somewhat recall, I look to the side still holding the bottle up -Oh god so it's true!- -I almost didn't believe the rumors!- more voices comes to me so I pass the bottle to Qin Luo and turn around confused.
-Guys?!- -Lai'Er!!!!- Wei Xuan jumps on me and hugs me tight, Kasuo almost choke me to death with his arms and Shun pats my shoulder foundly -It's been more than a year since we last saw eachother, how have you been?- -Lai'Er, we missed you so much!!!- says Wei with tears in his eyes -Let's seat down and talk a bit, I want to hear so many things from you all- I say patting his head.
...
-So yeah, I'm so damn lucky to be with these 2... They saved my ass so many times now- laughs Wei -I'm so happy to see you all doing well, oh and what about Hao Ming?- the look at eachother with a worried expression before Wei can keep on talking -When I got sent out to the battlefield he got sick and soon after I heard he died...- -Sick?!- I ask confused -He was scared so he stopped eating... Then his whole family got slaughtered and so he...- -I understand, don't go further... That must be that new Emperor's fault- I nod -If only you were there Lai'Er... I'm sure you would get him to Court like his brother- clenches his fists Kasuo.
-Does any of you have news about... Xiao?- I try to change topic, while looking at Qin Luo, but they all shake the head -I'm sorry Ge...- I pat his shoulder -It's fine, I wasn't hoping in much anyway- Wei rises his eyes and looks at him finally, jumping on his feet -Wait... You're Qin Luo? THAT Qin Luo?!- the general looks at him confused before replying -I don't know if I am THAT one but I definitely am Qin Luo- Wei covers his mouth and seat back down -Oh- -"Oh"?- I scold him -Is that all you can say? He's literally a General in command- -No it's just that... I might have accidentally read some letters he sent to Xiao hehe- he scrapes his neck and I face plan -The way I don't need you to explain to understand...-
Qin Luo blushes and Shun coughs awkwardly -A Anyways, ChangLai... How are your powers now? I heard you got demoted from Liutenant and moved here after what happened, Dong Hu should be here too- -Mhn, he is... I'm much stronger than before tho so don't worry. I can handle him just fine now... I'll fill you in later- I add the last sentence with a lower voice
-By the way, where the heck have you been all day? We were searching for you as soon as we heard! Hehe we wanted to flex, you're no more the cool one. Shun for promoted to Liutenant too! Now he's Zhang Duifu haha and I am Gu Shuzhu- -Well I was...- I begin to explain but a voice stops me.
Nan comes rushing toward me -Ah! Miss, why are you out here? Shouldn't you be at the banquet now? General Luo, you too... If that was to anger General Wu... Anyway, General Cai sent me to give you this report. He said it might be useful for your new strategy- he hands me a package -Thanks Nan- -It's my duty to serve you, Ying TongJun!- he bows down and leaves leaving the other guys with a wide mouth -Ying... TongJun...?!- screams Kasuo -Kasuo'Ge, just admit defeat- laughs Wei