Chapter 86 Kissing Her Soft Lips

Chapter 86: Kissing Her Tender Lips

"Stop."

He slowly withdrew his legs, his heavy boots landing with an ominous thud against the ground.

"Turn around."

The young officer stood frozen in place, seemingly petrified, neither leaving nor moving.

"Turn around!"

Lu Feng snapped. Even Ling Xiao dared not enter or leave casually when he was resting; this young officer had broken protocol—and worse, served him Da Hong Pao tea, which he usually drank.

In the military camp, he drank only strong liquor or plain water. This young officer was suspicious. A spy? Or some sycophant trying to curry favor?

Neither type was welcome in Lu Feng's eyes. His gaze sharpened like a hawk's as he commanded coldly, "Seize him and flog him to death—"

The young officer suddenly turned, revealing a face blooming like peaches and eyes brimming with reproach. When their eyes met, Lu Feng went rigid, his icy expression cracking with rare surprise.

"Nonsense!"

Lu Feng stared in shock, taking a long moment to react before his expression darkened as he strode toward Jiang Wanrou. His imposing figure, clad in heavy armor and stained with the scent of blood, exuded an oppressive aura.

Jiang Wanrou instinctively took a step back, making Lu Feng's face darken further.

She lifted her eyes and whimpered, "You yelled at me."

Lu Feng: "..."

In a rage, he seized Jiang Wanrou's wrist and dragged her to the Spartan cot at the back of the tent. The cot was cold and hard, nothing like the soft, warm bed in the general's residence, making Jiang Wanrou uncomfortable. Yet, with Lu Feng silent, she didn’t dare utter a word.

A vein throbbed on Lu Feng's forehead. After a moment, he rubbed his temples and said, "Lu Qingling's idea."

Rou'er was obedient and sensible—someone must have put her up to this!

If Lu Qingling knew what he was thinking, she would cry injustice to the heavens. She hadn't dared to encourage this, and besides, Jiang Wanrou was strong-willed—how could she be swayed by a few words?

Jiang Wanrou had come with Lu Qingling for two reasons. First, Lu Qingling knew the way—she had always visited Ling Xiao like this for years without incident, ensuring safety. Second, Jiang Wanrou had burned the midnight oil these days, doubling the military supplies delivered this time. Though she spoke modestly, she was privately preening.

Away from the bustling capital, she couldn’t swing a sword like Lu Qingling or muster a brigade of women, but she wasn’t useless either.

She could help him.

And besides, the New Year's Eve was just two days away. Last year, Lu Feng hadn't yet been the Prince of Qi. Back then, there had been Huai Yi, the second wife, the third wife, the matriarch… a full house. Now, everything had changed. Facing the empty courtyard, her chest ached with emptiness.

...

Jiang Wanrou ducked her head, quick to defend her sister-in-law. "It's not Qingling's fault. I… I've missed you."

*I’ve missed you.*

These four words were like a balmy breeze on a summer day, refreshing and soothing, instantly dousing the flames in Lu Feng's heart. Jiang Wanrou softened her voice, sounding wounded to the core.

"At home, I worried every day—whether you were eating well, sleeping well, whether you were injured."

"I didn’t dare disturb you, for fear of breaking your focus. I just wanted to see you from afar—that would’ve been enough."

She lifted her reproachful eyes and pouted, "You yelled at me."

Lu Feng's expression was stern. "What kind of place is the military camp? This is no place for such mischief!"

Jiang Wanrou ignored his reproach and glared at him. "You were going to have me beaten to death!"

Lu Feng: "..."

After their earlier scuffle, Jiang Wanrou's helmet had tilted slightly, letting loose a few strands of hair that now draped against her cheeks. Though she had done her best to appear aggrieved, her recent days in the general's residence had treated her well—her complexion was fair with a rosy glow, her lips moist and red, and her cheeks had even filled out with soft flesh.

Without a word, he stepped forward and removed her helmet. Her jet-black hair tumbled down like a waterfall. Jiang Wanrou looked at him in confusion, and Lu Feng shot her a glance before asking, "That was heavy, wasn't it?"

The helmet was forged from fine steel, far heavier than the delicate hair ornaments she usually wore. Rubbing her neck, she deliberately replied, "It was a bit heavy, but to see my husband, I'd bear it gladly."

"Husband, it took so much to come here—won’t you hold me?"

She tilted her head up to look at him, her dark eyes sparkling. Lu Feng found himself helpless against her antics. With the faintest sigh, he began removing his armor.

Once he had shed the bloodstained, heavy, and deadly armor, Lu Feng stood in only his inner robe and carefully gathered Jiang Wanrou into his arms.

Hmm. She'd put on some weight.

His body was furnace-hot, and Jiang Wanrou took the opportunity to slip her cold hands beneath his collar, pressing them against his firm, broad chest.

She prodded him with a finger—no injuries, just hard muscle.

Lu Feng's breath caught for a moment, but he ignored her mischievous hands and said sternly, "Never do this again."

Jiang Wanrou knew his anger had dissipated and retorted, "Was I wrong to come see you?"

"You were."

"Swords are blind, and military affairs are unpredictable. The longer you stay here, the greater the danger."

He missed her too, but compared to her safety, such longing seemed trivial.

Jiang Wanrou pressed her lips together. Lu Qingling hadn’t said anything like this—she had pounded her chest and confidently declared, "Eldest sister-in-law, the northern frontier’s military discipline is strict. From the highest general to the lowliest soldier, everyone follows the rules. Don’t worry."

On her way here, aside from heavy patrols, she hadn’t encountered any danger. Who would have thought the greatest threat would be Lu Feng himself! Terrifying—his earlier fury still made her shudder in retrospect, she thought.

Jiang Wanrou complained, "All I did was bring you tea, and you wanted me beaten to death?"

Seeing her fright, Lu Feng gently stroked her back and patiently explained his reasoning. Jiang Wanrou widened her beautiful eyes. "That still isn’t right. Even if it were a spy or... some villain, shouldn’t you interrogate them first? How could you just seize someone and order them beaten to death without even asking questions?"

He was a prince who held the power of life and death, the supreme commander of the army. She managed a household—if she wanted to punish someone, she had to present evidence first, make the punishment fit the crime, and ensure justice was served willingly.

Meeting Jiang Wanrou’s clear, unwavering gaze, Lu Feng suddenly hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Too many had died on the battlefield. After battles, when clearing the corpses—enemies and allies alike, limbs and torsos mingled together in mountains of bodies and seas of blood. After seeing it enough, one grew numb.

When Lu Feng was young and first stepped onto the battlefield, he still had some compassion. An insignificant soldier, small as dust—yet beneath that armor, he might have been the breadwinner of his family, the son of an elderly mother, the husband of a woman, the father of a hungry child.

Such pity was worn away with each campaign. War inevitably brought death; casualties became cold numbers in military reports, and his heart hardened. He executed supply officers without hesitation. A mere soldier? Better to kill a thousand innocents than let one slip away.

In a single battle, thousands would die. So what difference did it make?

...

Lu Feng averted his gaze. "I only meant to scare you. Don’t take it seriously."

As he drew near, a flash of fear crossed her face—brief but sharp enough for Lu Feng to catch.

He didn’t want her to fear him.

Nor did he want her to realize that the man who shared her bed was a brutal monster.

Jiang Wanrou let out a relieved sigh. Now that Lu Feng had shed his stiff battle armor, his expression had softened, no different from his usual self. Even her unauthorized visit to the military camp hadn’t made him stay angry for long.

She withdrew her now-warmed hands and wrapped them around his waist. "You scared me," she murmured.

Her earlier accusatory tone had melted into a playful pout. Lu Feng indulged her with a few soothing words, and soon Jiang Wanrou dismissed the matter, eagerly boasting about the latest batch of military supplies she had brought.

In front of Lu Feng, she abandoned all the modesty she had shown Lu Qingling. Though these supplies were but a mere drop in the ocean for the frontlines—beneath Lu Feng’s notice—he still nodded approvingly after listening to her.

"Mm, all thanks to Rou'er’s efforts," he said. "When I submit my report to the court, I’ll request rewards and honors for you."

Jiang Wanrou bit her lip with a coy smile. "What rewards? Just being able to help you is enough for me."

It wasn’t false humility—she truly had no higher rank left to achieve. As the wife of a first-rank imperial prince, with no high-ranking consorts in the emperor’s harem, and Lu Feng being one of the elder princes, she, despite her youth, was already "elder sister" to several other princess consorts. In the entire Qi Dynasty, she stood as one of the most noble women, bowing to none but the emperor himself.

As for climbing higher? The current emperor was vigorous and formidable, his power deeply rooted. She dared not entertain even a whisper of overreach.

Lu Feng chuckled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her words. After their long separation, the couple finally indulged in loving whispers, holding each other close, lips brushing against ears.

Jiang Wanrou had heard of Lu Feng’s fearsome reputation from afar—his string of victories that had glorified their dynasty. Everyone who spoke of him did so with awe and admiration. Now, with this great hero before her, she clung to him, demanding the thrilling details.

Lu Feng sighed inwardly. He couldn’t tell her how many lives had fallen beneath his blade, how his blades had dulled and broken—seven swords replaced in a single month. Nor could he confess that, to intimidate the Turkic forces, he had ordered no prisoners taken, only death.

Instead, he spoke of tactics, strategy, formations—each battle a heart-stirring tale, though his matter-of-fact telling drained all excitement. The more complex his explanations, the more she got lost.

Yet her partial understanding didn’t dampen her admiration. "Wow! My husband is amazing!" she exclaimed. "Commanding from afar, both brave and wise—truly a great man!"

Her eyes sparkled, overflowing with open adoration. Lu Feng had meant only to humor her, but such a gaze was impossible to resist. He closed his eyes briefly before suddenly bending down, capturing her soft lips in a kiss.

Fierce and urgent, it left Jiang Wanrou breathless—yet she didn’t pull away. Instead, she threw her arms around his neck, welcoming him, answering him with equal tenderness.

Lu Feng’s gaze darkened. His hand cradled the back of her head, pulling her closer...

By noon, Lu Feng took his meal in the tent. Though he usually cared little for food, today he had requested a rare lavish meal, complete with tea and pastries. As the sun dipped westward, he escorted a veiled, voluptuous woman out of the camp, personally seeing her to the carriage that would take her home.

Ling Xiao and his wife were bidding each other a reluctant farewell nearby. At the sight of Lu Feng, Lu Qingling recoiled like a mouse seeing a cat, tugging at Ling Xiao’s sleeve.

***

Ling Xiao gave her a reassuring smile before addressing Lu Feng. "Brother-in-law, please don’t frighten her."

Dressed in a dark blue casual robe, devoid of his usual stern severity, Ling Xiao looked dashingly handsome. Lu Feng, too, wore no armor now—here, they were family, not lord and subordinate.

Lu Feng cast a cool glance at Lu Qingling and snorted. "Keep your woman in line."

His leniency today didn’t mean sneaking into the camp wasn’t an offense. In his eyes, Jiang Wanrou was docile and compliant—if she had erred, someone else must have led her astray.

That "someone else" lowered her head, swallowing her resentment. Jiang Wanrou tugged at Lu Feng’s sleeve. "Husband~"

Honestly! He’d already promised not to punish them and even allowed their monthly visits—why scare Qingling like this?

Lu Feng withdrew his gaze, sparing no further thought for his rebellious little sister as he helped Jiang Wanrou into the carriage.

Jiang Wanrou quickly pulled back the carriage curtain and called out to Lu Feng outside, "I'm leaving now."

"Mm."

Lu Feng's voice was deep as he instructed, "Don't come more than once a month. Limit your outings, and bring enough guards with you."

"Don't worry about me."

Jiang Wanrou was good at playing pitiful. Today, she had pestered Lu Feng, lamenting how lonely and empty the general's mansion was with her alone, and even brought up their children far away in the capital. Though Lu Feng hadn’t fully relented, he'd softened his stance.

Previously, his exact words had been, "Don't appear in public." Today, he said, "Limit your outings."

With the frontline's great victory, the rear had also sent double the supplies. Seeing Lu Feng today had even lifted her house arrest. Jiang Wanrou was in high spirits; the air smelled like freedom.

She smiled and said, "I know."

"Be careful out there, husband."

Lu Feng's face softened. "Mm."

The farewells went back and forth with the same few words, yet neither of them seemed to tire of it. Lu Qingling found it unbearable and simply pulled Ling Xiao aside to whisper, delaying the departure by another few moments before the large group finally departed.

Lu Feng and Ling Xiao stood in place, watching the large convoy disappear into the distance. Ling Xiao reassured, "Don't worry, brother-in-law. Qingling travels often, and the guards she brings are all elite. Nothing could go wrong."

Lu Feng turned to walk back. "I'm sending extra guards."

If it had only been Lu Qingling visiting today, Lu Feng wouldn’t have interfered in their marital affairs. But with Jiang Wanrou involved, he couldn’t entrust her safety to others.

"Oh?"

Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, curious. "Do you have someone suitable in mind?"

The men around Lu Feng were all fierce and intimidating—even he feared startling his delicate elder sister-in-law. Could Lu Feng really bear to subject her to that?

Lu Feng gave him a sideways look. "There’s a ready candidate."

He had deliberately chosen a woman—not just to avoid frightening Jiang Wanrou, but also out of male possessiveness. He even made her wear a veil when going out. No one else was allowed to look at his woman.

Ling Xiao thought briefly before a look of surprise flashed across his face. "Could it be… her?"

Lu Feng didn’t even glance at him. "Problem? Speak plainly. Don't stammer like some woman."

Tall and long-legged, Lu Feng walked so fast that he soon left Ling Xiao behind. Ling Xiao's expression was complicated, but in the end, he said nothing and hurried to catch up.

Inside the carriage, once they had traveled some distance, Jiang Wanrou removed the annoying veil and exhaled. "Ugh, I could barely breathe."

*

Lu Qingling looked her up and down, her gaze lingering on Jiang Wanrou’s unusually flushed lips.

Slowly, she remarked, "Big brother puts on such a proper front, yet in private, he’s actually so… well…"

She searched for the right word that was both accurate and not disrespectful to Lu Feng. Jiang Wanrou’s face reddened as she chided, "What are you imagining?"

They hadn’t done anything. The cot was cold and hard, and there were people outside. At most, they had kissed and embraced, comforting each other with their closeness.

Truthfully, they hadn’t even spoken much today. Lu Feng was exhausted. As she talked, she noticed he hadn’t responded in a while. When she looked up, she found he had fallen asleep while holding her.

His dark lashes cast faint shadows under his eyes. Afraid of waking him, Jiang Wanrou stayed frozen in that position until, eventually, she too grew drowsy. Their precious time together had slipped away in slumber.

Lu Qingling pursed her lips. With Jiang Wanrou's cheeks flushed like peach blossoms and her heart all aflutter, it was hard to believe her words. Just as she was about to grill her, a guard's voice came from outside.

"Milady—someone is following us."

"Who?"

Lu Qingling's eyes turned cold in an instant, her smile wiped clean from her face. After all these years in Weicheng, this was the first time someone dared to target her!

The guard replied, "It seems to be... General Liu."

"Her?"

Not an enemy. Lu Qingling's tense posture relaxed, but her fine brows knitted as if she had encountered a troublesome matter.

Jiang Wanrou asked curiously, "Who is this General Liu?"

Rubbing her temples, Lu Qingling gave a brief explanation, "Liu Yuenu—formerly the leader of the rebel army. With the war intensifying, she was given amnesty and granted the rank of Fifth-Rank Bright Valor General."

Jiang Wanrou had heard a little about the servant rebellion back then, but before she could speak, Lu Qingling added, "General Liu is a woman."

She eyed Jiang Wanrou's beauty, her expression complicated.

"She... has a soft spot for beautiful women."