Chapter 30 : My lady, am I very obedient?

Cui Yunzhao was almost blushing with embarrassment from his words.

She felt a tingling in her palm and scolded, “Stop talking nonsense, you smooth talker.”

Huo Tan didn’t answer. He was carefully applying medicine to her wounds. Once he finished with her right hand, he said, “Let me see your left hand.”

Cui Yunzhao had a small wound on her left palm as well. She had not intended to show it, but seeing his serious expression, she extended her hand.

“It’s nothing serious,” she murmured to herself.

Once he had finished applying the medicine, Huo Tan joked, “How did my lady injure her palm? Did someone make you unhappy?”

Cui Yunzhao looked up at him with a half-smile that seemed neither a smile nor a frown.

For some reason, Huo Tan felt a chill run down his back.

“Indeed, who made me unhappy?”

Cui Yunzhao murmured this and then withdrew her hand, using her fingertip to slowly rub the ointment into the wound.

Watching her movements, Huo Tan said, “The wound isn’t large, so it doesn’t need to be bandaged. Apply the medicine again after washing up tonight, and it should be healed by tomorrow.”

“Be more careful in the future.”

Cui Yunzhao agreed and appeared to listen.

The hour was getting late, and when Li Qing came in to ask, Cui Yunzhao said it was time for dinner.

When the food was served, Cui Yunzhao said to Huo Tan, “I’m not sure what you like to eat, so I asked Taohong to prepare a roast chicken, and also some crystal meat slices. The dishes are stir-fried by Qiao Pozi. If you don’t like them, please let me know.”

Seeing the table with four dishes, which was quite sumptuous, Huo Tan couldn’t help but smile and said, “I eat everything, I have no particular likes or dislikes. Just let the cook make what you like.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded, and the two of them started eating in silence.

After a while, when Cui Yunzhao saw that Huo Tan had relaxed, she began, “By the way, when I went out to Baihe Academy today, I happened to see you on patrol.”

Huo Tan’s hand, holding the chopsticks, was steady. After swallowing his food, he said, “Yes, today I was unexpectedly assigned to patrol the city.”

“I noticed you had a group with you, including that Bau Xiaochuan.”

Bau Xiaochuan didn’t seem like the kind of elite soldier Huo Tan would choose. People often asked about him, so Cui Yunzhao’s question didn’t surprise Huo Tan much, nor did it seem to raise any suspicion.

“It was their turn to be on duty today.”

“You remember him quite well,” Huo Tan said, looking at Cui Yunzhao.

His gaze was deep and had a sharpness that captivated.

Yunzhao wasn’t intimidated by his response; instead, she looked up and smiled at him, “That Bau Xiaochuan doesn’t really seem like the type you would favor.”

“I was just curious, so I asked.”

Her single sentence clarified his doubts.

Cui Yunzhao appeared calm, but she was actually tense, her entire focus fixed on the situation. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat.

Huo Tan’s gaze dropped to her slightly trembling hand.

“My lady, if you were just asking out of curiosity, why are you so nervous?”

Huo Tan’s voice was low, and the heat of his words made Cui Yunzhao flinch, nearly dropping her chopsticks onto the table.

She wasn’t really nervous, she was just so concerned that she had lost her usual composure.

She was desperate to know the answer.

But going back ten years, everything was still in its infancy. It was impossible to directly ask about the truth of the matter.

The suspense was unbearable, even frightening.

So Cui Yunzhao was determined to find out the truth, not willing to give up any possibility or opportunity.

Seeing Cui Yunzhao suddenly lost in thought, Huo Tan’s playful demeanor disappeared, and he became serious, putting away his frivolous smile.

He set down his chopsticks and looked at Cui Yunzhao earnestly.

“What would you like to hear, my lady?”

Instead of asking why Cui Yunzhao was so concerned about Bai Xiaochuan, he simply inquired about her question.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her gaze, avoiding his penetrating eyes.

“Well then, could you tell me what you think of Bau Xiaochuan?”

Huo Tan acknowledged her request and after a moment of thought, replied, “At that time, our unit was short on personnel. Several soldiers from the Longxing division were injured or had retreated, and Bau Xiaochuan’s unit was almost entirely wiped out. The number of remaining soldiers was just right. After receiving orders from the higher-ups, I took in all the remaining soldiers.”

“One cannot have biases as a military officer. Many soldiers might look weak, but they could still wield their weapons effectively,” Huo Tan paused, glancing at Cui Yunzhao before continuing, “Bau Xiaochuan is indeed young, but his martial skills are good, and he’s willing to endure hardship. He has the makings of a good soldier.”

Huo Tan’s voice was calm and straightforward, without any particular fondness or aversion towards Bau Xiaochuan.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, and then asked, “Would you be willing to keep him by your side?”

This question was somewhat odd.

If it were anyone else, Huo Tan would be reluctant to answer, but in front of his own My lady, he did not refuse to speak.

He thought for a moment and said without hesitation: “If I had a choice, I probably wouldn’t do it.”

Cui Yunzhao was momentarily stunned.

Then, a vague sense of joy surged within her, causing the tight string in her heart to slowly relax.

But things were still far from settled.

“Why?” she heard herself ask softly.

Huo Tan chuckled, picked up his soup bowl, took a sip of the hot soup, and then said, “Because we are not on the same path.”

This answer surprised Cui Yunzhao.

“Not on the same path?”

Huo Tan nodded. He looked at his My lady’s flushed lips, his gaze deepening slightly.

“Yes, we are indeed not on the same path. I go to battle for the family and future, but I also want to protect the common people, allowing them to live in peace without fear.”

“He is different.”

Cui Yunzhao began to understand Huo Tan’s meaning.

He relaxed slightly and asked, “So what will happen in the future?”

Her question was somewhat vague, but Huo Tan understood: “Nothing will change.”

Cui Yunzhao was puzzled again.

Matters of life and death made her cautious when dealing with people and affairs related to her past life. “What does that mean?”

Seeing her persist in asking, Huo Tan narrowed his eyes.

“You do ask a lot of questions today,” Huo Tan said. “I wonder if there’s any benefit to answering so many questions from you.”

Cui Yunzhao didn’t understand at first, but when she looked up and saw his teasing gaze, her face turned red instantly.

“You… you just asked casually. Why do you need to…”

The words were hard for Cui Yunzhao to articulate.

Huo Tan sighed with a look of regret on his face, “Since my lady doesn’t want to know the answer, I won’t say it then.”

“Let’s continue eating.”

Cui Yunzhao: “…”

Cui Yunzhao was almost made angry to the point of laughing, and the last bit of tension in her heart disappeared, replaced by determination.

“No, I want to know.”

Huo Tan raised an eyebrow, “Then how will my lady reward me for my honesty?”

Cui Yunzhao’s face flushed. She bit her lower lip gently, unsure of what to say.

Even now, she wasn’t bold enough to be proactive.

Under the orange-red candlelight, her delicate skin looked like it was glowing with a dewy sheen. Her partially revealed teeth cast a fleeting light.

Huo Tan suddenly felt the room was very warm.

He found himself breathing heavily.

Huo Tan took a deep breath and gently clenched his hands on his lap.

With such beauty beside him, visible yet untouchable, it truly made his heart itch with longing.

Cui Yunzhao lowered her head under his gaze.

Although Huo Tan used to be wild in the tent at night, this was different.

It was only around the hour of You (7-9 PM), and the sun had not completely set yet, yet he seemed to become more audacious.

“Huo Tan!”

Cui Yunzhao didn’t know how to respond and was deeply embarrassed, so she could only resort to a bit of coquettish whining.

“Huo Tan, this is the main hall!”

Huo Tan’s eyes lit up. “Does my lady mean that once we’re in the tent, everything is permissible?”

Cui Yunzhao: “……”

Her face turned red from his words.

Under the light, her flushed and embarrassed face, her cheeks a mix of white and red, made one want to touch her.

Thinking this, Huo Tan did just that.

Forget the agreements or promises, with such beauty before him, all else was irrelevant.

The next moment, Cui Yunzhao felt his hand touch her face.

Huo Tan’s hand was both warm and long, with calluses from years of holding weapons, making its presence on her face very noticeable, impossible to ignore.

Cui Yunzhao was about to pull away when Huo Tan’s hand quickly withdrew.

In a fit of frustration, she tried to reach out to hit him but regretted it the moment her hand was extended.

The man across from her firmly grasped her slender wrist and lightly rubbed it.

Huo Tan’s eyes were filled with a smile, and the playful tone on his face made him seem less like a young general and more charming and dashing.

“My lady, touching isn’t breaking any promises, right?”

Huo Tan’s voice was low and husky, like a string gently brushing against the heart.

Cui Yunzhao’s face was now unbearably red. She felt as though she was burning all over, the heat ignited by Huo Tan’s touch.

When she took the initiative, she felt in control, now that Huo Tan was taking the lead, she felt like she was being teased.

Cui Yunzhao glared at him fiercely. “Let go.”

Huo Tan pressed his lips together, prompting Cui Yunzhao to look at his thin lips.

Unabashed, Huo Tan allowed her to look at him as much as she wanted.

“Don’t worry, my lady,” Huo Tan said with a smile, “I’m just afraid that you’ll hit me too hard and hurt your hand. You still have a wound on your hand.”

Cui Yunzhao fell silent.

She wasn’t sure how to react.

In response, Cui Yunzhao found herself at a loss for words against Huo Tan.

Indeed, with a thick enough skin, one could get away with anything.

Seeing that Cui Yunzhao had stopped being angry and was gradually calming down, Huo Tan gently squeezed her wrist again.

“My lady, if you promise me to eat well, I’ll let go of your hand.”

Cui Yunzhao huffed, and Huo Tan released her wrist.

However, the next moment, Cui Yunzhao’s eyes shifted, and she gave his arm a light punch.

Even though Cui Yunzhao put all her strength into it, Huo Tan felt no pain, he merely pretended to be wronged with a pained “ow.”

“I was just trying to ease your nerves since you seemed so tense,” Huo Tan teased her. “How about now? Are you feeling better?”

Cui Yunzhao realized that, thanks to Huo Tan’s playful teasing, she wasn’t as nervous as before.

The tension that had been tightly wound in her heart began to ease.

“You still haven’t given me an answer.”

Huo Tan squinted slightly, picked up his chopsticks again, and said with a smile, “My lady, although I personally selected my soldiers, the entire camp is under the command of General Lu.”

“This camp is not governed by one person alone. My soldiers cannot be dealt with at will,they cannot be summoned or dismissed at a whim.”

“So, I don’t know what will happen to Bau Xiaochuan in the future or if he will remain by my side.”

“Is this answer satisfactory, my lady?”

—

Huo Tan was right.

At present, he was merely a military officer. Whether he liked or disliked his soldiers or wanted to select certain talents wasn’t entirely up to him.

His subordinates came to him gradually, and if Huo Tan particularly admired someone, he would only request approval from his superiors.

Seeing that Cui Yunzhao was gradually calming down, Huo Tan continued in a low voice, “My superior is Deputy Commander Mu Sen. If I find a promising soldier, I first check if any other military officers have shown interest. If not, I will then seek approval from Deputy Commander Mu.”

Huo Tan paused, “Deputy Commander Mu is quite reasonable, but I still cannot act too recklessly.”

At this point, Huo Tan looked at Cui Yunzhao again.

Cui Yunzhao was listening attentively, with no sign of impatience on her face.

Strangely enough, despite being a daughter from a prominent family, Cui Yunzhao typically wouldn’t be very concerned with military affairs. But she was clearly an exception.

In fact, the temperament Cui Yunzhao was displaying now was quite different from the rumors about her.

Huo Tan naturally harbored some doubts.

But they were just doubts.

Cui Yunzhao was his My lady, and no matter what she was like, since they were married, they were family.

There was no reason to create difficulties or be overly suspicious just because of doubts.

So, since she presented herself as open and generous, and attentive and kind, Huo Tan chose to accompany her and gradually get to know her better.

Huo Tan was originally not impatient. But after their playful interactions earlier, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of desire to do something.

Cui Yunzhao had been listening attentively to Huo Tan’s words, but suddenly, Huo Tan fell silent.

When Cui Yunzhao looked over, she found him staring at her intently, his eyes deep and startlingly intense.

For some reason, Cui Yunzhao’s heart skipped a beat.

Even though Huo Tan hadn’t done anything, she felt as if he had devoured her with his gaze.

Cui Yunzhao’s cheeks, which had just regained their original pale color, flushed red again.

“Why are you looking at me like that? What’s wrong?”

Her voice was smooth and clear, like polished jade, causing Huo Tan to swallow and quickly look away.

“Oh, I just find my lady a bit unusual.”

Cui Yunzhao’s heart tightened.

She instinctively clenched her fists and tried to control her expression. “What’s so unusual about me?”

Huo Tan smiled and gestured for her to continue eating.

“My lady is different from what I heard and from the usual noble ladies. You seem genuinely concerned about military matters and don’t appear impatient listening to me.”

Cui Yunzhao breathed a sigh of relief and smiled in response.

She had thought about this explanation a long time ago “My lord, since I have married you, I will be the wife of a military envoy in the future. Of course, I have to pay more attention to the affairs of the military camp. Otherwise, if something happens in the future, I will know nothing. Wouldn’t I be in the dark?” “

 My grandmother is old, my mother has experienced the pain of losing her husband, my eldest sister is a widow at home, and my brothers and sisters are still young,” Cui Yunzhao’s voice was very clear, and Huo Tan felt relieved. “My husband will always lead the army outside in the future, and there will be only us women and children left at home. Of course, I must be able to stand up and become the head of this family.”

“Weakness and retreat are the most useless traits and are behaviors I despise the most.”

Cui Yunzhao said this not only for Huo Tan but also for her past self.

Huo Tan was surprised to hear such a strong and determined response from her. He was taken aback for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

His laughter was rich and melodious, like a fine guqin, which is unforgettable.

In the warm light, the young general’s face was handsome, and his smile exuded an indescribable freedom and carefreeness.

Despite his refined and elegant appearance, when he laughed, there was a wild and untamed energy that seemed impossible to control.

It was a bubbling courage and a commanding demeanor that coursed through his very bones.

Huo Tan’s laughter interrupted Cui Yunzhao’s thoughts and her ongoing conversation.

She looked at him in confusion, and Huo Tan gradually stopped laughing, turning to face her with a serious expression.

In his eyes, there was now something Cui Yunzhao couldn’t quite understand.

It was a depth of emotion that the past Cui Yunzhao seemed to have only encountered many years later.

Huo Tan exhaled deeply, cleared his throat, and then picked up the bowl of soup next to him.

Cui Yunzhao loved soup, and today, as soon as Summer Mama arrived, she had prepared a pot of yam and pigeon soup for her.

Huo Tan was fortunate to enjoy a bowl of warm soup thanks to his My lady.

“My lady, I toast to you with this cup.”

Cui Yunzhao looked at the casual pigeon soup and thought to herself that it was rather unconventional to toast with soup.

Yet, her hand moved of its own accord and picked up the soup bowl.

The blue and white porcelain soup bowls clinked softly, producing a clear sound.

“I toast you with this soup, to thank you for being willing to support this family.”

Cui Yunzhao pressed her lips together, gave a quiet response, and took a small sip.

The meal took a bit longer than usual, and by the end, Cui Yunzhao felt a bit weary.

After finishing the meal, the couple retired to their bedroom.

The warm water in the heated room was ready. The couple each took a wooden bucket and sat on the footstool of the daybed, soaking their feet.

Sitting side by side, the warm water eased the chill of the day. Cui Yunzhao sat quietly for a while and began to feel drowsy. She had received some news today, made progress, and understood Huo Tan’s attitude. Her once tense heart slowly relaxed.

Huo Tan, on the other hand, was simply observing her, with no particular thoughts of his own.

Under the lamp, the more he looked at her, the more beautiful she seemed.

Cui Yunzhao’s beauty was renowned throughout the city of Bo Ling, and she was considered the most beautiful woman in Bo Ling. If it weren’t for this, her marriage wouldn’t have attracted so much attention.

Huo Tan felt fortunate to have married such a beauty, it was indeed his good fortune.

Thinking of this, Huo Tan suddenly spoke “My lady, I won’t ask why you’re interested in Bau Xiaochuan, but I still need to clarify something that wasn’t fully addressed earlier.”

“In my view, although Bau Xiaochuan and I are not of the same kind, and if given a choice, I would likely not choose him, now that he is under my command, I will not dismiss him without reason.”

“Currently, Bau Xiaochuan is a competent and outstanding soldier.”

Cui Yunzhao’s drowsiness slowly dissipated.

She blinked and tried to stay awake.

Soon, she understood Huo Tan’s meaning.

He first told her that even though she had unusually asked about Bau Xiaochuan, he would not be suspicious or question her further, he respected her inquiry.

Then he honestly informed her that Bau Xiaochuan was a good soldier and that he would not dismiss him without cause.

Doing so would be disrespectful to a good soldier.

Cui Yunzhao felt a slight heaviness in her heart but wasn’t upset. In fact, she was somewhat pleased.

Because Bau Xiaochuan was not Huo Tan’s trusted confidant.

As long as she was patient and slowly uncovered clues, she would eventually find the truth.

She couldn’t rush things.

There was plenty of time, and days should be lived one at a time. Perhaps one day, the truth would suddenly appear before her.

With this thought, Cui Yunzhao nodded at Huo Tan.

“Alright.”

“Actually, I was just a bit curious after seeing him today,” Cui Yunzhao said with a smile, her demeanor relaxed. “I’m not focused on him, I’m concerned about many people under your command.”

Huo Tan responded with a curious “Oh?”

Cui Yunzhao looked at Huo Tan, her beautiful phoenix eyes slightly narrowing, making her smile evident.

She seemed quite pleased.

“They will be by your side,” Cui Yunzhao continued softly. “Their safety is closely related to yours. I worry about you, so naturally, I pay attention to them.”

Her voice was gentle and soft, and her gaze seemed to sparkle.

Her expression, coupled with her tone, had a charming allure that made one’s heart flutter.

Huo Tan swallowed, suddenly feeling a bit warm.

Cui Yunzhao, unaware of the effect she had on him, thought she had successfully misled him and felt a bit smug.

“Huo Tan, am I not wonderful?”

Huo Tan chuckled softly.

His voice was slightly hoarse, as if he was suppressing something.

Cui Yunzhao didn’t notice his gaze, as she was looking at her clean, white feet in the bucket.

At that moment, a strong hand suddenly rested on her slender neck.

The hand was both hot and warm, carrying an intense heat.

She involuntarily turned to look at him.

Cui Yunzhao was a bit dazed.

Before she could react, her breath was stolen away by him.

His lips were so hot.

So was she.

Cui Yunzhao felt as if she had suddenly floated up to the sky, but even the sky was hot, with clouds that felt warm and cozy.

She not only lost her breath but also her sense of reason.

She couldn’t think.

The kiss lasted a long time, until Cui Yunzhao was almost out of breath, and only then did Huo Tan slightly release her.

Perhaps dazed by the kiss, Cui Yunzhao didn’t immediately retaliate when Huo Tan let go.

Instead, she sat there, dazed and blushing, like an innocent little rabbit.

Huo Tan looked at her, his gaze darkening even further.

Cui Yunzhao, still in a daze, saw Huo Tan reach up and touch his own lips.

“You…”

When she finally managed to speak, Cui Yunzhao realized her voice had gone hoarse.

Her face was flushed and hot, and a wave of shyness surged through her, making her turn away immediately to avoid looking at him.

But her constant fiddling with the water betrayed her flustered state.

“Huo Tan, you scoundrel.”

Cui Yunzhao took a breath and began to accuse him.

Huo Tan generously admitted, “Yes.”

Cui Yunzhao: “…”

She scolded, “You’re untrustworthy and unreasonable!”

Huo Tan: “Yes!”

“My lady, punish me,” Huo Tan said eagerly, “I will accept any punishment you give me.”

“Hurry, come and punish me.”

Cui Yunzhao: “…”

Cui Yunzhao had never seen this side of Huo Tan before.

In her previous life, she rarely spoke to him, and he also appeared less frequently. Even when he did, Huo Tan maintained a formal demeanor.

He would not tease her, play pranks, or steal kisses.

He wouldn’t smile and act so shamelessly.

Now, Huo Tan was no longer the awe-inspiring young general of the day, he was just a playful young husband joking with his wife.

Cheerful, witty, and unable to hide his smile.

Cui Yunzhao felt both shy and pleased. The kiss was lovely, and she didn’t know how to face him, so she could only pout and throw a tantrum.

“Huo Tan, don’t do that again in the future.”

Huo Tan replied with a hint of confusion, “My lady, I don’t understand. What am I not allowed to do in the future?”

Cui Yunzhao glanced quickly at him, seeing the laughter in his eyes, and immediately looked away.

The candlelight flickered in the room, and a warm fragrance filled the air.

As the saying goes, “The warmth of the lotus bed enhances affection, and the mandarin ducks’ embroidered quilt is made for two.”

Huo Tan watched as Cui Yunzhao’s face turned as red as a peony.

“You’re not allowed to steal kisses from me again.”

Huo Tan chuckled softly, and his voice lingered in Cui Yunzhao’s ears, making her too shy to look at his eyes.

“Obeying my My lady’s command,” Huo Tan said solemnly. “If I want to kiss my My lady next time, I will ask for permission first.”

He suddenly leaned in to search for Cui Yunzhao’s eyes.

“My lady, am I very obedient?”