Dressing Up As Common Soldiers

Xiao Yue rubbed at her red face, completely disregarding the man in front of her. Long Zhao Feng stretched out a hand in her direction, and the hand slipped inside her inner robe and kneaded at her waist. The hand felt cool against Xiao Yue's warmed body.

The latter jolted from the temperature difference and ripped her eyes open in shock. She gave out a yelp and pushed Long Zhao Feng further away. She was even more embarrassed when she looked down and realized that she had been displaying too much of herself.

The wet inner robe was tightly wrapped around her body. It did not help much, because Xiao Yue's slender figure was still visible under the robe.

Long Zhao Feng said nothing, only quietly rubbing the spot between his closed eyes. His arms were otherwise folded properly in front of his chest.

"Sorry," he muttered without looking at Xiao Yue.

"U-un."

Xiao Yue felt dizzy from the steam. Seeing Long Zhao Feng half naked did not help much. She decided to quickly end her relaxing hot water bath.

"I will go first," she announced while hurriedly climbing out of the hot spring.

The man slightly nodded and continued rubbing his forehead. Xiao Yue scrubbed herself properly while sneaking a few glances at the man, who did not seem to move an inch from where Xiao Yue left him. The young woman did not feel safe being around him, so she left not long after putting together her clothes hastily.

When Xiao Yue reached the bed-chamber, Yu Fen was there to prepare her for bed. She excused herself for being late. Long Zhao Feng asked the voluptuous woman, Sister Hua, to arrange for the maids and servants that they brought to settle into the estate.

After putting down her belongings and making internal arrangements for the other maids and servants, Yu Fen quickly came to the master bed-chamber, only to hear from a maid that Xiao Yue went to take a bath in the hot spring. She wanted to follow but the maid strictly prohibited her, because the spring was exclusively reserved for the master and mistresses.

Naturally, she expected the Third Madam to come back looking refreshed, but Xiao Yue appeared with drenched hair and disheveled clothing, and her face was glowing red.

"Young Lady, what happened? Your face is so red."

Yu Fen quickly led her young lady to the center of the room and took out some fresh sleeping robes from a nearby cupboard. Good that she managed to put everything in order before Xiao Yue came back.

"I... uh, the water was hot. That's all."

Yu Fen mumbled something about how the hot spring water was supposed to be hot. Xiao Yue did not pay attention to her. She was completely, thoroughly messed up. A maid came to inform them that the general was dining with his soldiers and whether Xiao Yue would like the dinner to be served in the bed-chamber or not. Xiao Yue quickly agreed.

The dinner was sumptuous. The estate often served as a resting place for soldiers, so meat was preferred over vegetables. A plate of roast beef with some fresh sauteed vegetables was put in front of her, but she did not react at all. Yu Fen was sure that her young lady asked for some roast beef before, so why was she so nonchalant about it now? There was also a bowl of spicy noodles with pork brisket. Yu Fen shoved the bowl carefully in Xiao Yue's direction, but again she stared at the food with empty eyes.

"Young Lady? Do you have no appetite?"

"No, I..."

Xiao Yue rubbed at her face and closed her eyes. The food was great, it's just that she had other things occupying her mind at that time. She still had to eat something, so Xiao Yue picked up some noodles and began to eat. She only ate half of the bowl and tried a few pieces of the roast beef before she declared that she was full. Yu Fen repeatedly asked if everything was okay, and Xiao Yue again and again ensured her that nothing was amiss.

After Yu Fen was done with their nightly ritual, Xiao Yue asked her to leave and climbed into the bed. After lowering the curtain, she buried her face into the quilt and screamed.

Alone by herself, she did not feel at ease at all. She hoped with all strands of her being that Long Zhao Feng would not come to spend a night with her. She could not take it. Not after what happened today.

Xiao Yue waited for hours, but Long Zhao Feng did not come. Tired of waiting, she fell asleep. Only a few hours passed before she was roused awake by an equally sleepy Yu Fen. The troop was going to leave early in the morning, so they should get ready as well.

Xiao Yue rubbed her eyes and glanced at the empty side next to her. Long Zhao Feng really did not come back. Where did he spend the night at? Could it be... Xiao Yue's gaze hardened. He must have spent the night with that Sister Hua woman! That... that wretched womanizer! Xiao Yue was seething inside. She did not know what clothes Yu Fen put on her until the latter patted her back and exclaimed, "All done!"

"Done? Good. Eh. What is... this?"

Xiao Yue tugged at the light armor around her body. She was clothed as a soldier! Granted, this kind of clothing allowed her to move easily but the armor was still heavy! After she was done with Xiao Yue, Yu Fen quickly put on her own set of soldier clothing.

"... Why are we wearing this?"

Yu Fen told her in a hushed voice, "Women are not allowed on the battlefield... The General gave me a few sets of soldier clothing for disguise. Third Madam, please remember to keep your identity a secret. No one must know that the General took us to the battlefield."

Xiao Yue was miffed. It was not as if she asked to be brought to war, so why was she the one who had to keep secrets? Maybe she should just strip in front of the soldiers so Long Zhao Feng could not pretend to not know that she was coming along. How infuriating!

She thought that, but of course, she did not do it. Clumsily, both women exited the bed-chamber and walked to the main courtyard. In the main courtyard, countless soldiers had gathered. The amount was even more than the ones who accompanied them from the Long residence. Sometime in the night, more of them arrived and took shelter in the estate.

Some of the soldiers who were familiar with each other were chatting in groups, some of them were practicing with various weapons. More than half looked around nervously and chose to stand somewhere at inconspicuous areas. This was how Xiao Yue and Yu Fen planned to blend in. The armor was clinking with their every move, making them self-conscious. Thankfully they did not draw anyone's attention. Yet. Just when Xiao Yue tried to decide where to go, someone noticed them and barked at them.

"Hey, you two!! Stop right there!!"