Chapter 11
The next morning, just as Zhou Li was about to knock on Zhou Qiao’s door, it opened first.
“Oh? Elder Sister, did you need something?”
Zhou Qiao looked full of energy. She was already dressed in her armor and carried a sword in her hand.
“Where are you going? You haven’t even had breakfast yet.”
“You came at just the right time, Elder Sister. I was about to head to the front hall. What delicious food do we have today? Once I’ve eaten my fill, I have to head to the military camp.”
Zhou Li looked surprised.
“You’ve only been back in the capital for two days, and you’re already going? Will you have to go every day from now on?”
“That depends on the commander’s orders. I don’t know yet. But don’t worry, Elder Sister. Whenever I have free time, I’ll sneak back to keep you company!”
The two sisters took their seats.
Breakfast consisted of sweet red bean porridge simmered over a gentle fire, crispy lotus root pastries, jujube and Chinese yam cakes, accompanied by freshly peeled mandarins. There wasn’t much of it, but every dish was delicious.
To someone who had grown accustomed to eating steamed buns with pickled vegetables every morning in Hu Frontier, it was nothing short of a magnificent feast.
Zhou Li kept reminding her to slow down and not choke. Watching Zhou Qiao finish every last bite filled her with joy.
“Now that you’ve eaten all this, I won’t have to worry about you going hungry this morning. What would you like for lunch?”
Zhou Qiao was so full she could barely move. Hearing the question, she burst into laughter.
“Elder Sister, you’re treating me like a little piglet. I just finished one meal, and you’re already thinking about what to feed me next. Are you trying to fatten me up so you can sell me for silver?”
Even the older maids and servant girls nearby laughed. Zhou Qiao had only been home for two days, yet the residence had already become much livelier than before.
“Well, I’d have to fatten you up first. Right now you wouldn’t sell for much silver.”
Zhou Li teased her while reaching over to lift Zhou Qiao’s armor.
“Is this heavy?”
Zhou Qiao waved her hand dismissively.
“Not at all. I can’t even feel the weight anymore. When I first started wearing it, I could barely walk. Now I could fly into the sky wearing it!”
No wonder she was so thin. Wearing something this heavy while crawling over the ground and fighting with weapons every day was enough to exhaust anyone.
Seeing the concern in Zhou Li’s eyes, Zhou Qiao smiled.
“If you really feel sorry for me, Elder Sister, then remember to make Dongpo Pork for lunch. That’s what I’ve missed the most while I was in Hu Frontier!”
Zhou Li nodded. Just as Zhou Qiao was about to leave, she hesitated before calling out,
“Qiao’er.”
“What is it, Elder Sister?”
“May I… go to the military camp with you?”
Zhou Qiao froze.
“Huh?”
“Would that be inconvenient? If so… then I won’t go.”
“No, no.” Zhou Qiao scratched her head awkwardly. “It’s just that the military camp is all sand and dust. It’s dirty and messy…”
In Zhou Qiao’s heart, Zhou Li was a fairy untouched by the mortal world. A fairy should spend her days composing poetry and painting, sitting gracefully in a lofty pavilion while admiring the beautiful mountains and rivers.
But the fairy herself insisted on going.
So the entire journey there, Zhou Qiao chattered nonstop, describing the training grounds and recounting the sparring and combat drills during military training, afraid that Zhou Li might be startled if she saw them without warning.
After listening quietly, Zhou Li simply took Zhou Qiao’s hand.
“You’ve all endured so much hardship. If I felt even the slightest bit of disdain, then I wouldn’t deserve to be a citizen of Northern Jin, much less a daughter of the Zhou family.”
Those few simple words filled Zhou Qiao’s heart with warmth.
In this world, Elder Sister truly was the best.
When the Zhou sisters arrived, the soldiers guarding the entrance to the military camp were utterly stunned.
Zhou Qiao found it amusing.
“Hey, hey. The way you’re all staring at my sister is rather rude, isn’t it?”
“Ah, please forgive us, Little General! It’s just… it’s just…”
Far from being angry, Zhou Qiao felt rather pleased. She lifted her chin toward the soldiers.
“Go with the coachman and carry in everything we prepared in the wagons behind us.”
“Yes, Little General!”
More than a dozen soldiers immediately obeyed.
Lowering her voice, Zhou Qiao asked Zhou Li,
“Elder Sister, wasn’t I impressive just now?”
Zhou Li smiled and nodded before continuing deeper into the camp with her.
Then, without warning, she caught sight of Gu Tingwei in the training ground, shirtless and practicing spear techniques.
“Oh!”
Zhou Li let out a soft cry. Her face instantly flushed crimson as she hurriedly turned away.
The next moment, Zhou Qiao’s thunderous roar shook the camp.
“Gu Tingwei! Have you no shame?! Broad daylight, with everyone watching, and you’re still not embarrassed?!”
Gu Tingwei was drenched in sweat. Turning around, he caught sight of the graceful figure dressed in a light yellow robe not far away. For a moment, he simply stood there in a daze.
Seeing Zhou Qiao charging toward him with her sword drawn, Gu Tingwei finally snapped back to his senses and shot out of the training ground like an arrow, disappearing from sight.
Just as Zhou Qiao was leading Zhou Li elsewhere, a tall figure came rushing back in a great hurry.
This time, he was fully dressed in neat, proper clothes. Judging by his appearance, he had even washed his face. He looked clean, presentable, and every bit the respectable gentleman.
“Um… what brings Miss Zhou here?”
He stammered as he spoke, shooting Zhou Qiao a resentful glare.
“No one gave me any advance notice.”
Looking at Zhou Li, he asked gently,
“I didn’t frighten you, did I? Everyone’s been excited since returning to the capital, so we trained a bit harder than usual. My clothes were soaked through with sweat, so I took them off. I’m really not normally like that.”
Beside them, Zhou Qiao curled her lips, about to argue.
Before she could speak, Gu Tingwei asked with complete sincerity,
“But… my physique isn’t too unpleasant to look at, is it?”
Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a strong, well-defined build. Aside from a few scars, there was practically nothing to criticize.
Although he hadn’t intentionally stripped in front of a young lady, now that she had already seen him, he felt he deserved at least a few honest words of appraisal.
Zhou Li was so shocked by the question that she couldn’t utter a word.
Zhou Qiao recovered first, completely dumbfounded by Gu Tingwei’s shamelessness. She glared at him with her beautiful eyes blazing.
“Gu! How dare you flirt with my sister?! Take my sword!”
They had barely exchanged a few words before the Zhonglang General and the Deputy Commander were already fighting.
Gu Tingwei had no sword in his hands. He blocked left and right, utterly bewildered as to what he had done wrong.
Meanwhile, Zhou Qiao’s sword thrust relentlessly toward his face, determined to carve it into a hideous mess.
The two fought fiercely without pause. Zhou Qiao only became more fired up the longer they fought, while Gu Tingwei was just as stubborn, refusing to yield even a single step.
Zhou Li stood nearby trying desperately to persuade them to stop.
When Gu Tingwei heard her voice and looked over, he saw tears glistening in Zhou Li’s eyes. His heart tightened instantly.
His movements slowed for just a fraction of a second.
That brief hesitation was all Zhou Qiao needed to thrust her sword toward him.
Zhou Qiao never stopped fighting until she had won. She paid no attention to anything else.
Just as the sword’s edge was about to slash across Gu Tingwei’s face, Zhou Li cried out,
“Qiao’er!”
