The night veil fell, and the skies above the main tent were pitch black and chaotic.
Min Ning slept for about an hour and a half. During that ti, she woke up, tossing and turning but unable to fall back asleep. So, she got up and lifted the tent’s curtain.
Originally, she only intended to wander around aimlessly, breathe in the mountain air. But when she inadvertently spotted the main commander’s tent, Min Ning’s heart tightened uncontrollably.
What daughter would willingly watch the one she loves engage in indiscretion?
Even though Chen Yi’s actions didn’t exactly amount to indiscretion, Min Ning still couldn’t calm her mind.
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and under the cover of night, cautiously made her way outside the tent.
Moving stealthily, carefully, Min Ning avoided other tents bit by bit until she neared the main commander’s tent.
"What are you doing?"
Min Ning froze in place, montarily startled. After a while, she patted her chest and responded:
"It’s you, Zhu Yu, I thought it was soone else..."
"What are you doing?" Zhu Yu asked again, unmoved.
Min Ning hesitated for a mont, thinking inwardly:
"I want to go there and take a look."
"What would looking achieve?"
"...Seems like it wouldn’t achieve anything."
Min Ning belatedly realized this, a bitter smile hinting between her brows.
If she went, that lustful fool would see her. Even if his face bore a cold expression, he would inevitably feel guilt-ridden.
Then what would follow?
With guilt in his heart, he’d redouble his efforts on the Prince.
He might even go further, dragging her into it — that scoundrel certainly could pull such a thing.
Min Ning took a deep breath, wanting to turn around, yet unwilling to leave.
Her thoughts wavered as Zhu Yu’s voice echoed again: "Do you truly want to go?"
After so hesitation, Min Ning thought to herself: "Yes, even if I can’t do anything, do you have any ideas?"
People are strange — even when they can’t do anything, they still want to take a look.
"I’m rely a fragnted spirit, but I can still use so illusion techniques,"
Zhu Yu said leisurely:
"The Prince of Annan will surely have soone brew避子汤 tonight. You can use that as your excuse to enter and take a look."
Min Ning’s eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded briefly.
A faint and serene voice chanting a spell echoed softly in Min Ning’s ear.
She looked at herself and noticed a faintly glowing aura surrounding her, a thin sheen of radiance. Her deanor seed to have beco more enchanting.
Zhou Yitang lowered her gaze. Once the spell was completed, she faintly sensed that Min Ning had been transford to resemble the Princess of Annan.
She lowered her eyes, recalling Chen Yi’s instructions and shook her head silently.
If possible, Chen Yi wasn’t unwilling to spend this final night in tender warmth.
But destiny often thwarts intentions, or perhaps it was simply Qin Qingluo’s temperant.
Zhou Yitang’s thoughts stirred imperceptibly. Min Ning, of course, was unaware of this. She was only faintly puzzled as to why Zhu Yu was helping her, though she didn’t question it further.
Such is the way of chivalrous wanderers — towards those close to them, it’s common to lack wariness.
Knowing she now resembled the Princess, Min Ning refrained from speaking unnecessarily to avoid any slip-ups. As she approached the small cooking stove, she kept her lips pressed together and silent.
After a while, the cook respectfully handed over a bowl of避子汤.
Min Ning accepted the bowl, the thick and pungent aroma assaulting her senses unbearably.
Carrying the避子汤, she stepped closer to the main commander’s tent. The jitteriness in her heart gradually lessened sowhat.
But the避子汤’s strong dicinal sll was indeed overwhelming, and Min Ning couldn’t fathom how anyone could consu it. Just inhaling the scent made her feel uneasy.
As she advanced through the darkness of night, Min Ning noticed a shadow approaching. Although she couldn’t make out the figure’s details in the dark, the way he walked back and forth suggested he was a guard.
The figure seed to have noticed Min Ning as well and intended to intercept her.
When Min Ning saw him approach with mischief in his deanor, she snorted coldly and said:
"Step aside."
The man paused montarily, but he didn’t retreat.
Witnessing this, Min Ning frowned slightly and said:
"Still not moving? Zhu E needs to drink避子汤 and resu serving the Prince."
The man hesitated briefly, then raised his hand and pointed to himself. His voice, laced with seductive charm, said:
"But, I am Zhu E."
At the sound of those words, Min Ning froze in place, her lips trembling as she turned her head to glance around.
It was then that Zhu E approached with a playful smile.
She took the避子汤 from Min Ning’s hands, and only then did Min Ning manage to utter a sentence after so belated realization:
"Why is the Princess here?"
Shaking the bowl of避子汤, Zhu E said softly:
"If I weren’t here, this避子汤 would have truly been delivered."
Min Ning paused, her face unable to hide her confusion and doubt.
Zhu E then poured the entire bowl of避子汤 onto the ground.
Amid the splashing sound of liquid hitting the earth, Zhu E turned and sashayed toward a particular tent.
Min Ning snapped out of her daze and quickly followed.
Zhu E arrived at a tent and stepped behind a folding screen.
There rested a large ceramic pot, steaming with broth. Min Ning watched as Zhu E washed the dicine bowl clean with clear water and then poured broth from the pot into it.
"W-What’s that?" Min Ning asked incredulously.
"Chicken soup, with goji berries, red dates, and yam — it’s quite fragrant. Want to try a bowl?"
Zhu E said softly, ladling a bowl and handing it over.
Min Ning hesitantly accepted the chicken soup. The rich, inviting aroma stirred her appetite. Eventually, she couldn’t resist and drank it.
The soup was fresh and hearty, comparable even to what her sister Min Ming might prepare.
Swirling the remaining soup, Zhu E spoke softly:
"Nourishes the blood, beautifies the complexion, invigorates the body — drink more of it, and you’ll look even more radiant."
Of course Min Ning understood this, yet she still remained puzzled.
Seeing her expression, Zhu E chuckled. Evidently, Min Ning and the Prince shared a similar resolute spirit. However, the forr lacked the latter’s lively wit, which explained why Min Ning had endured jealousy and heartache for so long.
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