Tang Li scowl and look away. Troublemakers are troublemakers, she think. She hand gesture asking him to come over. Soon, the wrestling pit have more men than usual. They all sit around looking excited.
"Another fool comes along. He is going to get his ass whip."
The men all laugh and more soldiers join in to watch after they hear that the troublemaker is issuing the challenge.
"General to let you know. I am the best wrestler in my school. I am the top student in that area! Prepare yourself."
"When a person who talks big, usually that person will suffer badly." Tang Li warn him as she check her belt.
"Young man, how old are you?" A solider shout from the side.
"I am younger than her, I am just eighteen! Full of energy and life!"
"You will be cutting half of your life with this match." Every solider laugh while the newly join noblemen who encouraging Yan Rui to take on her.
The official for this round is a cook, they want to be fair on both side. Holding his spatula, he check with if they are ready. Once they are done, they step in the pit with the determination to wrestle down the other. They start to walk in circle after awhile, Yan Rui rush up to her and grab her top. Trying to hook her leg is difficult. He realise that after a while, she had strong hips. That gives her stable ground. He begin to perspire and try his best to topper her over. Tang Li try to remind firmly on ground and watch what he will try to do unfortunately he doesn't have endurance and Tang Li use this chance to hook his leg and grab his belt. With her strength she easily life him up and swing him over. At that moment when he is swing over, he can see the spark in her eye it's the satisfaction of wresting him down. Yan Rui lay on the sand and stare at the blue sky above him. He got up trying to catch his breath. "Again!"
Time and time again, he find himself thrown down like a rag doll. Every time he look up to the blue sky he ask himself why is he not wining. Finally he don't have the strength to get up but lay there catching his breath. While Tang Li is still walking around the wrestling pit and catching her breath.
"Aren't you getting up? Don't you want to throw me on the ground? GET UP!"
The soldiers boo at him for laying down. The cook got near him and whisper is he giving up. Yan Rui did not reply him but stare blankly. The cook got up and announce that Tang Li is the winner. The noblemen are disappointed. While the new recruits are fill with mixed emotions. Some walk away some actually go up and help Yan Rui up. "Leave him. When he is ready, he will get up. The rest of you get going and do what you are suppose to do."
She walk up to him and look at his pitiful back. "When you are done with resting, get up and go back to your team. Do fifty push up before lunch."
Tang Li walk away slowly and look at the teams standing around.
"Who is in charge of this troublemaker?"
"General Tang, i am." He raise his hand slowly and swallow his saliva.
"Make sure he does his fifty push up before lunch. Plus please get him to bath in the evening, he smells bad. "
"Yes General Tang. I will get him to do the push up and take a good clean bath."
That evening, she sits in her tent writing in a report asking for new shoes for all the soldiers and some winter wear. Winter will be coming soon and the tailor needs time to sew up for an army of men. As she busy with her paper work, a plate of fruits is push to her sight. Looking up, she see that the troublemaker is standing at the side of her desk. "What do you want?" He stand there for awhile then he squad down leaving only his head resting on his arm. He stare at her
"Tell me... why are you picking on me? Do you like me?" He ask innocently.
"MAN CHUN!!!! Get this troublemaker out of here!!!"
Her assistance come running as fast as he can without a top and boots. He see that BaiLi Yan Rui is bothering the General that is causing an issue. He quickly try to grab him and pull him out of the tent. "General tell me! I'm curious!"
"MAN CHUN!!!!" More soldiers come running with or without tops they have appear and try to cover Yan Rui's mouth. Together they carry him by his arms and legs to drag him out. While Tang Li is feeling dizzy with herself on screaming so loud. That troublemaker is going to suck her blood dry at this rate.
That night, she look up the moon with a bottle of alcohol in her hand. She is wondering what Xian Wen is doing now. The last piece of news she knew was he had sneak into the palace to stay with the Dowager for now. The most dangerous place is the most safest place. She smile and recall that night of their wedding, It was the only day that she wears a dress. Both of them are dead drunk but she wake up first to look at his handsome face. The man she loved all her life. They have share bunks in camp and sleep together on the battleground. Yet never before they are both clean and both dress in their best. She remember that night she kissed him and hug him. However in the morning he is gone. She is all alone in her wedding dress in the wedding room. She did not cry but she was happy because she married the man she loved. That was enough for her. Their names will be tied together for a long time.