The crescent moon awakened from hunger, opening her eyes to find that it was already evening. The sky was darkening, and from her elevated vantage point, she could see numerous indistinct tents glowing warmly in the distance. Tiny figures moved about, and the tantalizing aroma of food wafted through the cool, damp breeze, teasing her nostrils. She absentmindedly patted her flat belly, feeling an intensifying pang of hunger.
Bai Pingting was swift in her actions; in just one afternoon, she had successfully set up the tents. The fifty thousand soldiers each carried out their duties without exhibiting any signs of fatigue from the long journey.
Upon returning to the military camp, she found a pot outside the tent steaming with fragrant vapors. The enticing scent grew more robust as Ya'er, holding a spoon, spotted Xuan Yue and hurriedly handed the spoon to someone nearby. She turned and lifted the lid off another small pot, and Xuan Yue's keen nose caught the aroma of chicken soup from afar.
"Your Highness!"
Ya'er, startled by the sudden approach of Xuan Yue, gasped at her astonishing speed.
"Please go inside the tent; I'll bring it to you shortly."
The noodles cooked in chicken broth promised a delightful taste; just from the smell, Xuan Yue knew Ya'er had invested considerable effort into this meal. It must have simmered for at least five hours. The white noodles floated atop with green scallions, and she could faintly see pieces of chicken. It appeared that Ya'er had scarcely rested all day, keeping the pot warm on low heat to prevent it from cooling down.
Xuan Yue felt a strong urge to swallow her saliva; turning around, she saw Ya'er beaming with satisfaction as she gazed at her.
"Your Highness, I heard you used to have quite the appetite, but you haven't eaten much during this journey. It must be the food that doesn't suit your taste. You're different from us; if you want something, just tell me, and I will make it for you."
Xuan Yue felt a pang of sympathy and was touched; they had all endured hardships on this journey. Ya'er was so young, and they had traveled from Fengguo to Languo and then from Languo to Baichu, yet she had never complained of fatigue. Now, finally able to rest, all she wanted was to serve a bowl of noodles.
The army dined on communal meals, primarily bland fare; if it was tasty, they would indulge a bit more, and if not, they would eat less. This had always been her principle. She wasn't picky, but her taste buds had long been spoiled by Lei Yun; those meals were merely to fill the stomach during their travels.
"Where did you go this afternoon?"
As Ya'er spoke, she began wrapping her hands with cloth, but Xuan Yue pulled her hand, saying, "I'll do it myself."
She smiled and, disregarding the heat, directly took the pot.
"Your Highness, be careful; it's hot," Ya'er said, still tying the cloth around her hands as she followed closely behind.
"It's fine."
When good food was involved, she never feared hurting herself. In terms of endurance against heat or cold when it came to eating, her ability was vastly superior to others.
With the mantra of indulging in delicious food, Xuan Yue fully embraced this philosophy, devouring a large bowl of noodles until not a drop of broth remained. Ya'er stood by, eyes wide in astonishment.
Setting down the bowl, Xuan Yue contentedly licked her lips and smiled at Ya'er, letting out a satisfied belch. Leaning back in her chair, she patted her pleasantly round belly, feeling more satisfied than she had in a long time.
"What would you like to eat tomorrow? I can prepare it for you."
Initially surprised, Ya'er felt a surge of joy upon seeing Xuan Yue finish everything she had prepared with such care.
The army had just arrived in Baichu, and the elder had instructed her to pay particular attention to the princess's meals.
Bai Pingting was well aware of Xuan Yue's impressive appetite. Back in the palace of Languo, she had nothing to do all day and consumed six meals, more than anyone else. Yet during this journey, with all the travel, her appetite had diminished. Though she maintained a cheerful demeanor, her face had become notably haggard, and she had lost weight. Thus, Bai Pingting had specifically instructed Ya'er to make special provisions for her.
"No need to prepare anything special."
Xuan Yue leaned back in her chair, contentedly caressing her round little belly, her eyes closed in bliss.
Ya'er chuckled at Xuan Yue's appearance but said nothing, bowing her head to clean up the dishes. The princess had indeed lost considerable weight during this time, and she privately pondered what to cook tomorrow.
"Ya'er, pour me a glass of water," Xuan Yue said, not wanting to move from her seat after her hearty meal.
Opening her eyes, she watched Ya'er tidy the table.
Xuan Yue rose to accept the water that Ya'er handed her, downing it in one go before placing the cup back on the table. After indulging so thoroughly, she felt so content that she had no desire to move.
"What about Sister Pingting and the others in green?"
As Xuan Yue walked to the door and lifted the curtain, she noted that the sky had grown entirely dark, the night sky studded with stars. Outside the tent, the bonfire crackled, its warm orange flames radiating a comforting glow.
Xuan Yue tilted her head to gaze at the night sky, her eyes searching for the direction of Languo. A vague emptiness settled in her heart; she had arrived in Chu, while he remained in Languo. The distance between them had widened, and she wondered what he was doing at that moment.
"Are you looking for them, Your Highness?"
Ya'er, balancing a bowl in her hands, slipped through the gap in the curtain created by Xuan Yue and turned to look at her.
Xuan Yue quickly averted her gaze, the warm glow illuminating her bright eyes, revealing a fleeting sense of melancholy.
"What's wrong, Your Highness?"
Ya'er leaned closer, peering into Xuan Yue's eyes.
Xuan Yue instinctively ruffled her hair, pushing her back a little, adopting a nonchalant demeanor. "I miss your prince."
"Then why didn't you let him come with you?" Didn't the officials from Languo want the prince and princess to be together? It was the princess herself who disagreed, yet now she claimed to miss him. Ya'er couldn't quite comprehend.
"Children shouldn't ask questions they don't understand."
"But, Your Highness, I'm only a few years younger than you."
Xuan Yue laughed heartily, "Several years indeed! Where are Sister Pingting and the others? Have Green Clothes come to see me? I have important matters to discuss."
Upon hearing that there was business to attend to, Ya'er quickly set aside her curiosity and dissatisfaction. "They should be eating right now; I'll go get them."
Leaning against the tent, Xuan Yue watched Ya'er's cheerful figure disappear, a smile gracing her lips, feeling an inexplicable sense of envy.
On one side was Lan Yi Xuan, and on the other was Feng Jiulan. She felt as if she were a sandwich cookie, even after making a decision, she still felt a pang of pain from the incompleteness.
Before long, Bai Pingting, Green Clothes, and a few others—Yueying and Lüzhu—gathered in Xuan Yue's tent.
"Your Highness, you called for us."
Xuan Yue nodded, her fingers rhythmically tapping the table. "Sister Pingting, is everyone settled in?"
"All is well."
When Xian Yue returned moments ago, she took a brief glance around the sprawling military camp. In addition to her Phoenix Army, there were also the forces of the Bai family. Even if Cheng Qiang's hundred-thousand-strong army arrived, there would be no need to scout for another location. It was said that this place was personally selected by Old Master Bai, suggesting that he had foreseen the current situation long ago and chose such a spacious area accordingly.
"Where is Cheng Qiang's army now?" Xian Yue lifted her gaze and glanced at Lv Yi.
"They are currently preparing to cross the Qi River and will likely arrive in Ye City in about half a month." This was not far from what she had anticipated. She couldn't help but wonder how Lord Xu An, who had been living in luxury in Lan City, was faring now. Surely, the journey must have been arduous for him.
"During this half month, you all should rest well." Despite her martial foundation, she was struggling to sleep soundly and was often left hungry, jolting daily on horseback. Xian Yue felt her body was almost falling apart. Though her companions were accustomed to hardship, they had primarily spent their time in one place. While drills were demanding, the constant travel was no easier.
Xuan Yuan was valiant and skilled in battle, and the Bai family's army boasted a history of several centuries. Now that her reinforcements had arrived, Xuan Yuan would likely refrain from launching an attack at this moment.
"Princess, once General Cheng arrives, will we engage in battle with Xuan Yuan?" Xian Yue noticed Lv Zhu's excited expression and felt a slight headache. It became clear to her that Lv Zhu was a spirited and combative individual.
"It depends on the situation." She hoped to minimize the harm caused by war. If the two sides clashed on the battlefield, it was clearly not a favorable outcome. Regardless of whether it was Xuan Yuan, Feng Lan, or Bai Chu, the soldiers were all innocent. She did not wish for any harm to befall those who accompanied her.
The cost of war was too great for ordinary people to bear. Thus, unless absolutely necessary, she did not want to trade such tremendous casualties for success. She wasn't sure what Xuan Yuan Hao thought, but given how Jun Pin Yu cared for his people, he too must be a benevolent lord. After all, it was unlikely that he would find joy in mutual destruction.
"Alright, you may leave now." The others cast a glance at Xian Yue before departing.
"Lv Yi, you stay." Yi Lan and the others glanced back at Lv Yi but thought nothing of it. It was not unusual for Xian Yue to have a private conversation with her informant.
"How is the situation progressing?" Xian Yue did not specify what she was inquiring about. Without hesitation, Lv Yi replied, "Our people are already investigating."
After pondering for a moment, Xian Yue looked up at Lv Yi and said, "Ensure they remain vigilant and do not reveal any hints. Do you understand?" A single misstep could lead to ruin.
Lv Yi nodded earnestly. Just as she was about to ask if Xian Yue had any further instructions, the tent flap was suddenly lifted, and Bai Zhan Feng entered. Noticing the serious expression on Xian Yue's face and the respectful stance of Lv Yi beside her, he realized he had interrupted an important matter. Apologetically, he said to Xian Yue, "I'll leave for now. Please call me when you're finished talking."
She was the queen of Feng and the queen consort of Lan. Even though they were currently united on the same front, there were matters beyond the reach of this young lord from Bai Chu. Though he disliked it, he knew better than to overstep.
"You may come in," Xian Yue said to Bai Zhan Feng, then turned to Lv Yi. "You may leave for now."