THE GENERAL'S WEAKNESS

The feast was over at the palace, and the ride to the General's mansion was in silence, with rare hiccups from Chuchui, who indulged a little too much in stolen wine.

Mei Xing sat beside Xiao Hong in the carriage, hands folded demurely into her lap. The night had been full of surprises, some funny, some annoying, but the thing that remained clearest in her mind was how Xiao Hong had so openly defended her.

It's not like she couldn't handle her stepmother and Ha Rin by herself, but for him to stand up for her so staunchly… It felt strange. Foreign.

He wasn't merely tolerating her presence anymore.

He was starting to act like a husband.

"That was unexpected," Mei Xing said finally.

Xiao Hong looked at her. "What was?"

"You defending me so openly."

His eyes returned to the window. "You are my wife. If they insult you, they insult me."

Mei Xing leaned her head to one side, studying him intently. "Is that really all?"

He was silent for a moment, and by the faint light inside the carriage, she could have sworn that the corner of his lips twitched-almost as if he were amused.

"You think too much," he finally said.

Mei Xing huffed. "Of course I am. I never know what's going on inside that unreadable head of yours."

"Good," he said, smirking slightly. "That means I'm doing my job well."

But just as she would say something, the carriage abruptly stopped.

Xiao Hong's face immediately blackened. "Something is off."

The next moment, from outside, there was the anxious voice of Cai Wei: "General, there is an obstruction ahead-road block-a coffer was thrown away in the middle of the road."

Mei Xing and Xiao Hong looked at one another.

A coffer? Abandoned right in the middle of the way at this hour?

Xiao Hong didn't hesitate. He jumped off the carriage, and Mei Xing did likewise, hiking up her skirts as she was carefully setting down.

The moonlight cast eerie shadows across the forest path. In the middle of the dirt road, an ornate wooden chest sat, its lacquered surface reflecting the lantern light.

Cai Wei strode closer guardedly, his sword drawn. "General, shall we open it?"

Xiao Hong nodded, gesturing to caution.

Mei Xing's heart raced as Cai Wei slowly unlatched the lid and pushed it open.

Inside was a single piece of parchment, neatly folded atop a bed of black silk.

Xiao Hong pulled out the paper and unfolded it. His eyes narrowed as he read.

Mei Xing leaned in. "What does it say?"

He handed her the note.

Beware the snake in your midst. The past is not buried.

A shiver ran down her spine.

Cai Wei whistled. "That's… ominous."

Chuchui, who had finally managed to stumble out of the carriage, peered over Mei Xing's shoulder. "Snake? Does that mean an actual snake? Or a metaphorical one? Because I, for one, do not like either."

Mei Xing ignored her, her mind racing. "This wasn't random. Someone knew our route home. Someone wanted us to see this."

Xiao Hong's face was expressionless, yet his fingers did curl a bit over the note. "Let's go."

"But General—"

"No use standing here, waiting for ghosts," Xiao Hong said now, turning on heel. "Burn the note. Move the chest. We leave now."

Mei Xing bit her lip and looked at the ominous words one more time before following him back to the carriage.

By the time they arrived at the General's mansion, the air was thick with tension. In no time, Xiao Hong had summoned his most trusted officers, and a meeting was underway.

As for Mei Xing, she was left to her thoughts.

Snake in your midst. The past is not buried.

What past?

And why did she have this feeling that this was not just about Xiao Hong, but also about her?

Her reverie was broken when Chuchui plopped down beside her. "Mistress, you look troubled."

"I wonder why," Mei Xing muttered.

Chuchui tilted her head. "You think it's someone from the palace?"

"Maybe, or maybe it's someone closer than we think."

Chuchui frowned. "Well, if that is so, we need to be careful. Shall I start spying on Cai Wei?"

Mei Xing blinked. "Why Cai Wei?"

Chuchui huffed. "He's always acting suspicious!"

Before Mei Xing could say anything, the doors burst open suddenly.

Xiao Hong stood at the doorway, his face as unreadable as ever.

"Come with me," he said.

Mei Xing exchanged a look with Chuchui before she rose. "Where?"

"To the training grounds," he briefly replied.

Mei Xing groaned. "If this is about making me practice more sword strikes—"

"It is not," Xiao Hong cut her off. "It's something else."

That piqued her interest.

As they walked together, Mei Xing threw a sideways glance at him. "You're worried."

Xiao Hong said nothing.

Mei Xing let out a soft sigh. "You know, if you'd only say what's on your mind, maybe I can do something about it."

Finally, he halted and turned to her. "You want to help?"

"Yes."

"Then stop putting yourself in danger."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

Xiao Hong exhaled a stream of air. "You act on impulse. You provoke those that mustn't be provoked. If something happens to you—"

He suddenly shut up, his lower jaw clenched.

Mei Xing glared at him and suddenly understood.

"You're not just afraid of the note," she said softly. "You're afraid of something happening to me."

Xiao Hong's eyes shifted to the side.

Mei Xing swallowed. "Why?"

He faltered before he turned around.

"Because you're my wife," he returned low. "And a General does not let his wife fall."

Mei Xing's breath caught.

The dynamics between them had just altered.