Chapter 15: The Military Camp, Departing for the Barracks

Chu Junhan looked at Xifeng’s worried expression, her chubby little face squeezing out a smile. “Mother, I’m all right.”

“If you don’t want to go to the camp, then we simply won’t go. I don’t believe your father would invoke military law just because a four-year-old refuses to go!”

Seeing that Xifeng was about to lose her temper again, Chu Junhan grew anxious and quickly acted coy. “Mother, let’s hurry to the camp! I miss Father.”

“Miss him? Even a tigress doesn’t eat her own cubs, but he’s eager to push you into the fire pit. You’re so young, and he wants you to learn military discipline—is that something to take lightly?”

Though Xifeng kept grumbling, she nonetheless lifted Chu Junhan from the bed, took the handkerchief that Yingdie handed over, and gently wiped her daughter’s face.

After breakfast with her mother, Chu Junhan wiped her mouth and looked at Xifeng, who was still visibly upset. “Mother, after I go to the camp, you can visit me often. Aren’t you Father’s deputy?”

“That’s right. If he can train you, why can’t I?” Xifeng brightened at this. Her worry had clouded her mind; if not for her daughter’s reminder, she might have forgotten she was a general as well.

Nothing could compare to a mother’s love, least of all a mere military post. Ever since Chu Junhan had fallen from her horse and the reins had choked her throat, Xifeng’s heart had been in her mouth. She hadn’t set foot in the camp for days.

She glanced at Yingdie, the maid beside her, and instructed, “Yingdie, fetch my armor. I’ll go with Junhan.”

“Yes, my lady.” Yingdie hesitated for a moment before withdrawing. She had noticed how much her young mistress had changed—now, a single sentence could sway others’ hearts, and she did so without drawing attention.

Once Xifeng had donned her armor, she appeared before Chu Junhan again.

Chu Junhan gazed at her mother in a daze. In her previous life, her memories of her mother were limited to a gentle lady reading by her side. Even when the Chu family was wiped out, she had never seen her mother dressed like this.

She had lost so much in her past life, not even witnessing her mother’s martial bearing. Perhaps it was precisely because she’d lost so much before that this life was Heaven’s way of compensating her.

I, Chu Junhan, will cling to it with all my might.

“Junhan, let’s go,” Xifeng said, taking up her sword and lifting the tent flap, holding it open.

Chu Junhan squeezed out right behind her.

The sky was still gray, the winter sun dozing behind the hills, and after the world had donned its silver coat, snow drifted down in lazy swirls.

Not far from the camp stood a small, well-crafted carriage—not adorned with dragons or phoenixes, but clearly chosen with care by Xifeng for her daughter’s trips to the camp.

“Mother, I want to ride a horse. It’ll be faster that way.” The carriage was comfortable, but slow.

Xifeng had intended to carry Chu Junhan into the carriage, but was momentarily stunned by her daughter’s request, scarcely believing her ears.

She had only just taken a fall from a horse—not that one should be haunted by a single mishap forever, but it was hardly wise to forget the pain so quickly.

Chu Junhan remembered her fall from her past life, but the details were hazy. In this life, her soul seemed to have rejoined her at the moment of her fall. She truly didn’t feel as afraid of riding as Xifeng imagined.

Besides, she had to vie for the world against the Xiao family—how could she not know how to ride? The son of General Chu unable to ride a horse? That would be a laughingstock.

Xifeng shared the same thought. She spoiled her child, but she knew where to draw the line. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have become Chu Xiong’s trusted lieutenant. “Since you want to ride, I’ll take you on horseback myself.”

“Yes, let’s ride together.”