Chapter 434: Hungry? Why Didn’t Your Majesty Remind Me?

Emperor Wu Su acted as if he hadn’t noticed Wei Ting’s loss of composure. He tossed the long spear to his deputy general, Feng Xiang, and said, "You all carry on," before striding down from the high platform.

Feng Xiang placed the long spear back on the weapon rack. When he turned around, he saw Wei Ting standing with a ramrod-straight back, his eyes fixed on the Emperor’s retreating figure.

He couldn’t help but ask with concern, "General Wei?"

Wei Ting grunted in acknowledgment, but his gaze remained fixed.

Feng Xiang said, "General, are you feeling unwell? If so, you should go back and rest early. The war with Xijin will resume any day now. Beili doesn’t have many generals who can lead troops, so you must take care of yourself."

Seeing Wei Ting remain silent and unresponsive, his usually smiling lips were now pressed into a tight, thin line.

Feng Xiang followed Wei Ting’s gaze and let out a sharp hiss of breath.

Emperor Wu Su had strode to the southwest corner of the training grounds, caught a peeking woman, and trapped her against the wall.

Feng Xiang thought for a moment, then said, "General Wei, are you curious about this girl’s identity? She’s the one His Majesty brought back to his tent yesterday. I hear she’s one of Princess Qingyun’s people."

Most of the woman’s figure was obscured, with only the hem of her skirt visible, making her face impossible to see.

As he spoke, Feng Xiang let out a simple-minded laugh. "My tent is close to His Majesty’s. I even heard some... commotion last night. General Wei, you’re on the east side, so you definitely didn’t hear it."

But the mere suggestion was enough. The mouthful of blood Wei Ting had been suppressing finally broke free, trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Feng Xiang said in astonishment, "General, your injury is that serious! You must get it treated at once! I’ll hold the fort here!"

Feng Xiang quickly pushed Wei Ting away, urging him to go get his injury treated.

*

Ji Qingwu was lost in a daze, and the last bite of the steamed bun in her hand was suddenly snatched away in a bite.

She exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, that’s my—"

Seeing Emperor Wu Su suddenly appear before her, Ji Qingwu immediately suppressed her annoyance and said with a smile in her eyes, "Is Your Majesty hungry?"

’He must be tired and hungry after practicing with the spear for so long.’

Like she was presenting a treasure, Ji Qingwu hurriedly offered him the other large steamed bun from the oil paper.

"There’s another one here."

Zhao Mingyan didn’t take it. Instead, he said, "The bite from Ah Wu’s hand is still the most delicious."

’They’re the same buns, so what’s the difference between this bite and that bite?’

She tilted her head up and asked, "Aren’t you going to eat it, Your Majesty?"

Zhao Mingyan saw her sweet, slightly dopey smile.

But her good mood was infectious, and he couldn’t help but curve his lips. The smile wasn’t wide, but it was enough to show his inner delight.

"You keep it for yourself. I’ve already had breakfast."

Noticing a sheen of sweat on his forehead glittering in the sunlight, Ji Qingwu pulled a handkerchief from the cuff of her wide sleeve.

"Wipe your sweat, Your Majesty."

Zhao Mingyan didn’t take it, instead gazing at her with slightly darkened eyes.

Ji Qingwu quickly shook out the handkerchief in her hand, and a fragrance of medicine mixed with fruits and flowers wafted between them.

She explained, "It’s clean. I haven’t used it yet."

"You wipe it for me."

Zhao Mingyan’s voice suddenly grew more forceful.

’It’s just wiping sweat. Last night, I made him do so many things for me. He personally cleaned me and made the bed. This is just me returning the favor.’

Ji Qingwu stood on her tiptoes and reached up to wipe his sweat, the handkerchief tracing his handsome features.

Her expression was focused, and she was meticulous, not missing a single spot on his face.

Because of this, she didn’t notice that someone was passing behind them, their steps faltering again and again.

Zhao Mingyan lowered his head, enjoying the gentle dabbing motion. He even nuzzled his face against her palm.

Ji Qingwu had rarely seen him act so childish. She chuckled softly and steadied his head.

"Turn your head, Your Majesty."

’The area behind his ears where the hair meets the skin gets sweaty easily. I should dab it with the handkerchief.’

Zhao Mingyan obediently turned his head, and his gaze happened to meet Wei Ting’s. He raised a long eyebrow, his eyes full of smug satisfaction.

Ji Qingwu’s hand suddenly froze. Her eyes flickered as she stared at the scratch marks on the back of his neck. ’How did two more appear...’

Ji Qingwu looked at her own fingers. Her nails were smooth and rounded, with only the burn on her right index finger still showing a white mark.

After things were over last night, she had been lying in bed, drowsy and about to fall asleep, but the Emperor had taken her hand and patiently helped her trim her nails.

At the time, she’d thought Emperor Wu Su had some kind of unspeakable obsessive-compulsive disorder. It turned out it was because she had scratched him.

Ji Qingwu bit her lower lip and said, "Your Majesty, why didn’t you remind me?"

Zhao Mingyan asked amusedly, "Remind you of what?"

Ji Qingwu was at a loss for words. After a moment, she said, "To not scratch you."

Zhao Mingyan said, "I reminded you a hundred times to relax, but it was no use. You were still so tight..."

Ji Qingwu hurriedly covered his lips with the handkerchief. Her watery eyes glistened as she gazed at him, looking like she wanted to speak but couldn’t.

Zhao Mingyan pulled her wrist down, kneading her delicate wrist bone in his large palm.

He teased, "Even if I had reminded you, Ah Wu couldn’t have helped it. Besides, this represents..."

He whispered the rest of the sentence in her ear.

’His words were practically demonic!’

Ji Qingwu felt like she was turning into a steamed bun, her body trembling slightly with embarrassment.

’Whether Emperor Wu Su is cold-faced or passionate, he always makes my heart flutter.’

Ji Qingwu started fanning herself with the handkerchief, trying to cool down, but as soon as her gaze landed on the red marks on his neck, she guiltily looked away.

It was no exaggeration to say that those red marks were clearly visible to anyone within half a meter of Emperor Wu Su.

Moreover, the nearby scratch from the wild wolf must have been treated with ointment; the scab had already fallen off, leaving only a faint mark. In contrast, this made the red marks she had inflicted even more obvious.

Ji Qingwu said in confusion, "Why do I feel like the collar of Your Majesty’s inner tunic is a bit wider than yesterday?"

Zhao Mingyan raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly, "Ah Wu is a healer. Don’t you know that a wound needs to be aired out to heal faster?"

Ji Qingwu nodded slowly. ’What he said sounded right, yet something about it also seemed wrong.’

Just then, a general walked over, stopping about thirty feet away from the two of them. He clasped his fist and said, "This humble general greets Your Majesty."

Ji Qingwu tried to quietly hide in the corner behind the Emperor, but he pulled her out with a single tug. She had no choice but to stand properly by his side.

"What is it?"

Zhao Mingyan’s voice had returned to its usual cold and distant tone.

The general said, "Replying to Your Majesty, General Wei was feeling unwell and has returned to his tent to rest. General Wei sent this humble general to ask: the wild wolf Your Majesty brought back yesterday is refusing to eat or drink. Should we summon a veterinarian to have a look?"

Zhao Mingyan was pondering this when he suddenly felt the person beside him hook his finger.

Ji Qingwu blinked at him.

"Your Majesty, the principles are all connected. Animals and humans aren’t that different. Why don’t I—we—go take a look together?"

Hearing her correct herself to "we," Zhao Mingyan nodded. "Very well."

The group went to the place where the wild wolf was being kept—a low-roofed storeroom next to the camp’s stables.

The general stepped forward and pulled the black cloth off the cage. As soon as it saw the light, the wolf let out a dangerous, low growl.

Ji Qingwu sized up the wolf, which had a leather collar and iron chain around its neck. It was silver-gray all over and nearly twice the size of a normal wolf. One could tell at a glance that it was a Wolf King.

"This is the wolf that scratched Your Majesty?"