Jiang Yanyi had only three words left in her mind: It’s over!

Camp prostitutes were not allowed to leave the military camp without permission.

Now that this strategist had caught her in the act, who knows what kind of punishment awaited her.

Instinctively, she wanted to run, but if she ran now, wouldn’t that be like jumping into the Yellow River and still not being able to clear her name?

She could only watch as Feng Shuo, with his long strides, approached her.

Feng Shuo was always cold and stern, never smiling.

Just watching him walk toward her put enormous pressure on Jiang Yanyi.

Feng Shuo glanced at the empty table, then his eyes fell on the braised pork knuckle in her hand.

He furrowed his brows, noticing Jiang Yanyi’s cherry lips stained with a bit of sauce from eating the pork.

His gaze shifted to the plate on the table, where there were still some small bits of meat.

The color looked rather appetizing.

In a moment of impulse, Feng Shuo took a clean pair of chopsticks from the bamboo container, picked up a small piece of meat from the plate, and brought it to his mouth.

The braised pork was tender, the sauce was rich, and the lean meat was soft without being dry.

Perhaps due to the sugar added to the sauce, there was a subtle sweetness that lingered after the first bite.

As Feng Shuo savored the small piece of meat, his expression didn’t change much, but inside, he was shocked.

His sense of taste had completely returned!

Feng Shuo stared at the dumbfounded little chef whose face was smeared with soot that couldn’t hide her shock.

His gaze was dark and unreadable.

Jiang Yanyi was so startled by his sudden action that her hair almost stood on end.

Smelling the alcohol on Feng Shuo, she thought he was drunk and acting crazy.

Hugging the pork knuckle, she quickly tried to move out of his way.

But before she could even shift an inch, the “drunkard” suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Jiang Yanyi thought he wanted the pork knuckle, so she hurriedly offered it to him like a hot potato. “Here, take it, take it!”

Feng Shuo: “…Sit down.”

His sudden cold tone made the atmosphere around him freeze.

Jiang Yanyi couldn’t help but shiver.

She was sitting on a bench, but it felt as if she were sitting on countless steel needles.

Feng Shuo stared at her with deep, unreadable eyes for a long moment before asking, “What did you do to me?”

Why was it that only when he got close to her did his sense of taste return?

Jiang Yanyi’s head was spinning after hearing his question.

Could it be that this guy was heartbroken by the girl he liked and came here to drink away his sorrows?

Serves him right!

This lecher finally gets what he deserves!

Thinking this, she tried to cover up her thoughts with an awkward smile and said, “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not the girl who broke your heart…”

Girl?

Broke his heart?

What was she talking about?

Feng Shuo’s face darkened, and the air around him grew colder.

Jiang Yanyi felt a chill down her spine, afraid that he might impulsively strangle her in his drunken state.

She quickly changed her tune. “I am, I am! It’s all my fault. I stole your heart…”

The more she spoke, the more ridiculous it sounded.

Feng Shuo’s face turned black, and the veins on his forehead twitched. “Shut up!”

Jiang Yanyi instantly fell silent, shrinking into herself like a quail.

Feng Shuo’s cold command caused many diners in the restaurant to glance their way.

However, intimidated by his imposing presence, they didn’t dare look for long.

The sound of people eating quieted down noticeably.

A nearby diner, a chubby young girl, had only heard the latter part of Jiang Yanyi’s words.

She was so shocked that she dropped the meatball she had just picked up.

Sneaking a peek at the two of them, she wore a face full of disbelief.

In broad daylight, could it be that men were this open nowadays?

The young girl thought she had stumbled upon some hidden secret.

That handsome young man’s face was so dark and terrifying that she was too scared to keep eating.

She quickly paid her bill and left.

The busy waiter finally noticed that Feng Shuo had come downstairs.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he quickly brought a teapot over. “Sir, allow me to refill your tea.”

Feng Shuo had been feeling frustrated due to his mother’s situation.

After Jiang Yanyi’s provocation, however, his gloomy mood had dissipated, and he no longer felt like drinking.

He picked up the freshly poured tea and took a sip, savoring its slightly bitter taste.

The waiter, with a broad smile, asked, “Would you like something to eat?”

Feng Shuo didn’t have much of an appetite, but he noticed the glossy braised pork hock in Jiang Yanyi’s hand and casually replied, “I’ll have the braised pork hock.”

The waiter quickly ran to the kitchen to place the order.

Seeing Feng Shuo speaking normally, Jiang Yanyi wondered if he had sobered up.

Now, she deeply regretted choosing this tavern; her heartbeat was racing as if she were on a rollercoaster, and the braised pork hock no longer tasted as good.

She put down the half-eaten pork hock, wiped her hands with the cloth provided for customers, and picked up her bags, trying to make a quick exit. “I’m finished here. Enjoy your meal…”

Feng Shuo glanced at her, making no move to let her leave. “How did you get out of the barracks?”

Before Jiang Yanyi could respond, he continued, “The cooks in the military camp told me you had taken sick leave.”

Jiang Yanyi felt her heart sink.

She was in trouble now!

This question was clearly a veiled threat, and she realized there was no way she could leave.

Had he really been drunk earlier?

How was he suddenly so sharp?

Reluctantly, she sat back down, not wanting to involve Chef Li or Head Zhao.

She replied, “I admit I was bold. I deceived Master Li, saying that I was feeling unwell because of the cold and needed some warmer clothes, so I came out to buy a few.”

Feng Shuo glanced at the bundle beside her.

The cloth was slightly exposed, revealing that it indeed contained clothes.

Still, it seemed unreasonable to take such a risk just for clothes.

He pressed her further, “What was your real reason for leaving the barracks?”

Jiang Yanyi’s expression turned appropriately sorrowful. “I wanted to find my fiancé.”

When she had forged her identification papers, she had claimed to be in the Western Province to find the fiancé she was betrothed to as a child but had been abducted into the military camp instead.

She now resurrected this excuse.

Hearing the words “fiancé,” Feng Shuo’s hand momentarily paused over his teacup.

“Here’s your braised pork hock, sir!” The waiter eagerly placed the dish on the table.

The freshly made pork hock gleamed with a red, enticing sheen, but Feng Shuo found his appetite had inexplicably vanished.

He had previously investigated Jiang Yanyi’s identity and had heard from the camp officers that she was searching for her fiancé.

His tone suddenly grew sharp. “And if you find him, what then? With your status as a camp servant, even if you find him, he may not want you anymore.”

Jiang Yanyi’s lips twitched ever so slightly.

She hadn’t noticed the change in his tone, only that he seemed bent on hitting her where it hurt.

After all, how many men would want a wife who had served as a camp servant?

Since he wanted to see her suffer, she decided to oblige.

She put on a heartbroken expression, her tear-filled eyes misty as if she were on the verge of crying.

Watching her, Feng Shuo felt an even greater irritation.

Her red-rimmed eyes made her look like a helpless little rabbit, as if he were the one bullying her.

Then he realized—he was the one bullying her.

For some reason, as he looked at her about to cry, his mind flashed to the thin red strap he had seen tied around her neck on a moonlit night.

It was so delicate, like a string pulled taut in his mind, fragile and easily broken.

He suddenly wondered if she looked the same in bed, about to cry, or if she would actually shed tears, looking at him with those misty eyes…

Startled by his own thoughts, he quickly averted his gaze and drained his cup of tea.

Jiang Yanyi, unaware of his strange expression, continued playing the role. “I only hope the Advisor can be merciful and not report me.”

Feng Shuo didn’t respond directly but instead asked, “Did you find him?”

“No, I didn’t. But this morning, I saw a notice at the city gates. The general is merciful and plans to release camp servants without criminal records to return home. I plan to rent a shop near the governor’s office, open a small restaurant, and slowly continue my search for him.”

When Jiang Yanyi mentioned her plan to open a small restaurant near the Protectorate General’s residence, Feng Shuo’s eyes couldn’t help but brighten.

However, when she added that she was going to look for her fiancé, the annoyance in Feng Shuo’s heart grew.

He was about to say something when Jiang Yanyi suddenly spoke: “Originally, as a weak woman, I wouldn’t dare to run a public business in the marketplace. But I heard that the street near the Protectorate General’s residence is where the great general lives.

People say the general is mighty and extraordinary, treating the people as his own children. Even bandits and thieves are too afraid to cause trouble around here because of his reputation. That’s why I chose this location. So…”

Feng Shuo had felt annoyed earlier, but after hearing Jiang Yanyi’s words of praise, his brows relaxed a little.

The braised pork knuckle on the table suddenly looked more appetizing.

With swift movements, he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed some meat, and ate it in one fluid motion.

“Continue,” he said.

“So, since you are always by the great general’s side, you must also be an insightful and reasonable man who cares about the people. Could you pretend you didn’t see me leaving the camp… please?”

Feng Shuo didn’t respond, but his gaze became somewhat distant.

Under Jiang Yanyi’s eager watch, he quickly finished the braised pork knuckle, appearing rather satisfied.

“Military Advisor? Military Strategist? Please?….”

Just as Jiang Yanyi was about to say more, Feng Shuo suddenly called out, “Waiter, the bill!”

The waiter hurried over, but before he could name the price, Feng Shuo left a silver ingot on the table and said, “That should cover it.”

The silver ingot was worth ten taels, more than enough to cover the cost of the meal and drinks.

The waiter was overjoyed and showered Feng Shuo with compliments.

Feng Shuo swiftly strode out of the tavern, ignoring Jiang Yanyi’s calls from behind.

Jiang Yanyi’s face scrunched up in confusion.

What did that mean?

She gathered her things and hurried after him, only to catch a glimpse of Feng Shuo riding away on his horse.

Standing there, stunned for a moment, Jiang Yanyi muttered to herself, “He paid for the meal, so that means he agreed not to report me, right?”

Jiang Yanyi hailed a mule cart to meet up with Zhao Tou’er and the others.

Nervously, she followed them back to the Western Zhou military camp.

Once she saw that everything was normal, she finally relaxed.

The camp prostitutes were still resting in their quarters, but today, none of them could sleep.

The pardons had been issued, and several women who had been waiting for this day wept bitterly, overwhelmed with emotion.

Those close to them gathered to offer comfort.

Many other women, however, looked lost. They carried the stigma of being criminals, and with the camp recruiting new cooks in large numbers, they would soon be sent away.

Qiu Kui was happy to have received new clothes but also felt a bit sad. “Hua Hua, I’m truly happy for you that you can leave this place, but I’ll miss you. Your sugar-fried chestnuts are so delicious, and your pork belly buns taste just like the ones my mother used to make…”

Jiang Yanyi, having been absent from the camp that morning, didn’t know how the camp was handling the women with criminal records, so she asked, “Did they say where they’re sending you?”

Qiu Kui, who was somewhat slow-witted, hadn’t yet responded when Chunxiang, who was bedridden and barely hanging on, suddenly let out a mocking laugh, her voice shrill and bitter: “Of course, we’re being sent to do hard labor, unlike you, Chef Jiang, who gets to live the good life.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yanyi glanced at Chun Xiang and said, “You’re in such a state, yet you’re still looking for trouble?”

“You—”

Chunxiang was left speechless by Jiang Yanyi’s retort.

Given her current position and without her former protector Liu Cheng, she didn’t dare provoke Jiang Yanyi too much.

“Hua Hua, it’s fine,” Qiu Kui said softly. “Doing hard labor is still better than being a camp prostitute. If you ever get the chance to visit me, just bring me a pork belly bun, okay?”

As she spoke, a trace of darkness flickered in Qiu Kui’s eyes.

Sold to a brothel by her aunt and then sent to this place, she had long since given up hope for her future.

Jiang Yanyi felt a pang of frustration seeing this, but she didn’t know what she could do to help her.

Just then, Chunxiang’s mocking voice rang out again: “You understand, don’t you? Don’t think that just because you’ve been praised for a few days that you’ll be treated any better than us. In the end, you’ll rot here just like I will. Unless someone buys you to be a servant. But honestly, who would want to buy a former camp prostitute?”

Unable to provoke Jiang Yanyi, Chunxiang turned her scorn toward Qiu Kui instead.

After all, Qiu Kui was too naïve to defend herself.

Qiu Kui listened to Chun Xiang’s words, her eyes darkening completely as she gripped her clothes tightly, saying nothing.

Jiang Yanyi, however, had heard enough.

She turned and glared at Chun Xiang.

Then, with determined steps, she walked toward Chunxiang’s bed.

Under the stunned gazes of Chunxiang and Qiu Kui, Jiang Yanyi extended a finger and, with a sharp motion, jabbed at Chun Xiang’s bruised backside.

“Ahhh!”

Chunxiang let out a bloodcurdling scream, her face turning deathly pale as cold sweat dripped from her forehead.

“Are you done? Do you think everyone will tolerate you forever?” Jiang Yanyi said, towering over the bedridden Chun Xiang, who trembled, her former arrogance completely gone.

Jiang Yanyi casually wiped her hands, and Chun Xiang flinched in terror. “I won’t do it again! I swear, I won’t!”

There was even a trace of pleading in Chunxiang’s eyes as she looked at Jiang Yanyi.

---

In the command tent.

Chi Qing was flipping through a stack of records Feng Shuo had tossed to him, marking which camp prostitutes could be released.

When he noticed the name “Jiang Hua” on the release list, he asked, “Your Highness, didn’t you say you would detain this Jiang Hua in the camp for now, as her identity couldn’t be verified?”

Feng Shuo looked up from the pile of documents and said calmly, “Hmm, I changed my mind.”

Chi Qing was confused. “Didn’t you suspect that she might be a spy? What if she escapes?”

Feng Shuo’s lips curled slightly. “It’s fine. She’s right under my nose.”

Chi Qing sensed something was off but didn’t have time to ask further before Xing Yao burst into the tent, his expression urgent. “My lord, scouts have reported trouble in Dingjia Village!”