Xie Queshan suddenly smiled.
The young soldier was Nanyi. She hadn’t stayed in the rear quarters either, but had volunteered to join the scout battalion. Scouts mainly reconnoitered enemy intelligence, and her agility and acuity were perfect for the job. In the previous feigned defeats against the Qi people, she had nimbly traveled back and forth, providing intelligence on the vanguard.
“Come with me.”
This was a moment when they could relax slightly. Nanyi didn’t wait for Xie Queshan’s response and simply pulled him toward the hillside without explanation.
The military camp was stationed in a mountain hollow outside Li Du Mansion’s outer walls, with lush green small hills behind it. The wind in the mountains in early summer was still very refreshing, blowing against their faces and relieving the body’s stuffiness.
Nanyi pulled him to sit under a patch of tree shade and took the initiative to help him remove his helmet.
Xie Queshan let her do as she pleased. Though there were still many complex affairs waiting for him, at this moment he also wanted to stay quietly with her for a while—just a while.
Nanyi sat beside him without saying anything, only tearing off a corner of her robe to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
“Are you tired?” Nanyi asked.
Xie Queshan instinctively wanted to say he wasn’t tired, but before the words could slip out, undeniable fatigue made him honestly swallow them back.
“A little,” he answered hoarsely.
She tilted her head and smiled: “After last night’s great victory, I was waiting for you to return. They said you were clearing the battlefield and didn’t know when you’d come back. I waited and waited until I fell asleep—slept quite well actually.”
Xie Queshan finally smiled, rubbing her face: “You could sleep even if the sky fell down.”
He had heavy concerns and always slept lightly.
“Sleep now. I’ll keep watch for you.”
“Hm?” Xie Queshan was startled, seeing Nanyi’s determined expression, but still somewhat uncertain, “Now? Here?”
Xie Queshan thought that since they hadn’t had any private space for many days, she also wanted a tender moment. He didn’t expect that after all this trouble, she simply wanted him to sleep here.
“Yes, if you’re in the camp, you’ll be entangled with various affairs and unable to rest for a moment. No one will disturb you here, so sleep for a while—” When Xie Queshan didn’t respond, Nanyi became anxious and added, “If you don’t rest properly, forget about fighting enemies—you’ll have a heart attack in the military camp today! Are you made of iron? Don’t be disobedient. Didn’t I say sharpening the axe doesn’t delay chopping wood? If you rest for a bit, it won’t delay anything.”
Seeing her serious and urgent eyes, he laughed: “Alright, alright, I’ll sleep.”
Nanyi glared, frowning: “Then close your eyes.”
Xie Queshan obediently closed his eyes.
But the sun was getting rather glaring now. Nanyi pulled out a prepared silk ribbon from her sleeve and carefully helped him tie it on.
Xie Queshan silently complied. He could feel her open arms going around to the back of his head, her movements gentle and careful, not daring to touch him. Though he had just closed his eyes and couldn’t possibly fall asleep, she treated him like porcelain, as if he would shatter at a touch. She seemed to be tying an intricate knot, her face coming closer, her breath very near, her fingers occasionally brushing against his neck almost imperceptibly.
After the ribbon covered his eyes, most of the sunlight was blocked out. She had created a patch of sleep-inducing darkness for him, and he inexplicably felt an indescribable comfort in his heart.
Then she withdrew her hands and seemed about to move back. He raised his hand and pulled her waist toward him, and she lost her balance and fell into his embrace.
“Don’t move. Sleep time.” Just as she was about to struggle up, he preempted her with shameless authority.
Nanyi had no choice but to nestle in his embrace, thinking that if he felt he could sleep better this way, then so be it—she would accommodate him in everything.
Stealing half a day of leisure from a floating life. The sunlight warmed them pleasantly, while still air shuttled through the gaps in the leaves.
Xie Queshan thought he wouldn’t fall asleep, but in just a moment, he began snoring softly.
The joy of victory and his lover’s companionship let him briefly lay down his guard, sleeping peacefully in the open wilderness. Everything was just right—he had never felt the future was so bright.