CHAPTER 297: CHAPTER 294 TENDERNESS

Xie Liangchen didn’t consider herself someone who enjoys listening to sweet words. In her past life, when she occasionally overheard women whispering those secretive family matters, she sat beside them with no envy and no bittersweet longing, her heart calm and without feeling.

A man from the Su Family’s main branch once had an elder from the clan probe her thoughts to see if she was open to remarrying. After she refused, he sought out the women to speak on his behalf, and their words promised to treat her well. But upon hearing them, she only felt more repulsed by him.

Thus, after her rebirth, she held no expectations toward these matters, only wishing to live well with her grandmother and little brother.

She hadn’t anticipated reaching this point with Song Xian, and when Song Xian spoke these words, she didn’t feel disgusted. Instead, her cheeks were a flush of heat.

"Sleep," Xie Liangchen said softly, "once you wake up, the fever will be gone, and there will be many things for you to do later."

Song Xian looked at her: "And you?"

Xie Liangchen replied: "I’m not going anywhere, I’ll borrow your military tent to check the accounts, many of your soldiers have fallen ill, and medicine needs to be sent from Zhenzhou."

Song Xian kept his eyes open, meeting hers.

Xie Liangchen softly said, "Close your eyes, sleep." She hadn’t realized that her tone was almost like soothing her little brother.

But that’s not right; her little brother never needed this kind of soothing. He only had trouble sleeping once, and it was after they went up the mountain to catch frogs. She told him a story before he fell asleep, and because he slept peacefully, he wet the bed.

Song Xian said: "You shouldn’t look at the accounts either, it’s too late... go rest."

Song Xian blinked; he thought he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, yet he quickly drifted into slumber.

Xie Liangchen listened to his breathing becoming steady and long, knowing he was asleep.

How could he not be exhausted? Song Xian had been galloping almost nonstop on horseback to block Han Wei, having only just fallen into a deep sleep for less than two hours, his eyes still tinged with red. Even if he forcibly stayed alert, his body had long been unable to bear it.

Only when Song Xian was deeply asleep did Xie Liangchen slowly pull her hand away.

Sitting in the chair by the bed, Xie Liangchen opened the accounts in her hands, her fingers began fiddling with the counting chips. For some reason, the heat she felt earlier turned into a slight coolness at her fingertips.

Xie Liangchen gently touched her earlobe with her hand, her fingers unexpectedly encountering a patch of warmth.

She wondered how it was outside; neither Cheng Yanzhao nor Chang An, nor Chang Yue had entered the tent to disturb her, as if the war had suddenly moved away from them.

Whenever Xie Liangchen calculated the medicinal supplies, she couldn’t help but glance at the bed, seeing Song Xian soundly asleep, she’d turn her head back to continue fiddling with the counting chips.

It seemed that as long as she focused on the task at hand, she didn’t need to ponder anything else.

When Song Xian awoke again, his mind was clear.

He immediately looked beside him, but there was no one there.

He lifted his eyes to search the tent and saw someone slumped over the desk.

Song Xian got up and walked over.

Xie Liangchen was sleeping with her head on her arms, her slender fingers still clutching the counting chips, her downward-facing head revealing a fair and graceful neck.

Song Xian stood by her side, not moving for a moment.

It was already bright outside, the warm yellow light on the table seemed to only illuminate the young girl beside her.

Song Xian finally stepped forward, slinging an arm around Xie Liangchen’s waist, his other hand cradling her behind her knees, lifting her whole body up.

When Xie Liangchen awoke, she was already in Song Xian’s arms.

She was about to speak, but Song Xian walked briskly to the bedside, tucking her snugly into the warm bedding.

The bedding carried a faint scent of medicine, mingled with his pinewood aroma.

Xie Liangchen attempted to rise, but was firmly held down.

"I’m fine, not feverish anymore," Song Xian said, his voice incredibly gentle, as if afraid to frighten her, pressing against his throat, "You rest for a while, I’ll go out and take a look."

Xie Liangchen still wanted to speak.

Song Xian’s eyes sparkled: "Don’t believe me? Try it."

He lifted her hand and pressed it against his forehead.

Before Xie Liangchen realized it, Song Xian wrapped her up like a cocoon, pushing her further into the bed.

Xie Liangchen struggled a bit, then closed her eyes. Song Xian had relieved his fever and had rested for several hours; it seemed there wasn’t anything wrong now. In the current situation, if he had the strength to move, he certainly wouldn’t lie back down to rest anymore.

Since he was fine now... she was truly too tired...

Thinking this, Xie Liangchen shrank her neck and fell into a deep sleep.

Song Xian sat on the edge of the bed watching Xie Liangchen for a while, thinking of the look she gave him when she awoke, her tired gaze diffused, her eyes red beneath.

For now, the most restful option was the wooden plank bed in the tent, but he still needed to end the war as soon as possible to spare her from the hardship of being on the run with him.

Song Xian got up, dressed, and went out; Chang Yue and Chang An were standing outside the tent.

Seeing the refreshed master, Chang An was secretly delighted. Thank goodness Miss Xie came, otherwise who knows when the master would have gotten well.

"Set up a small stove," Song Xian instructed Chang An, "and cook some porridge to bring over."

Chang An didn’t need to ask; he knew this porridge was meant for Miss Xie.

"Master," Chang An said, "the porridge is ready, Miss Xie had instructed it beforehand, it’s prepared for you."

Song Xian’s wounds had been cleaned, he’d changed into clean robes, slept a few more hours, and now held a bowl of meat porridge in his hands.

Feeling rejuvenated, the warmth in his belly made him feel inexplicably comfortable, like he was back to leading troops out to battle.

The Little Song General, who had been campaigning outside for a long time, felt the warmth of home within the tent.

On the stove, half a crock of meat porridge was still kept warm, reserved for Xie Liangchen.

Song Xian checked the stove twice before leaving the tent to ensure the porridge wouldn’t be overcooked or get cold.

Only then did he carefully draw the curtain, stepping out to discuss matters with the Deputy General.

Chang An and Chang Yue didn’t follow but remained steadfast at the doorway, not moving a step because Miss Xie was still resting inside the tent.

Cheng Yanzhao returned with soldiers who’ve surrendered, his face smeared with dirt, but instantly seeing Song Xian’s upright figure, he couldn’t help but rub his eyes. Wasn’t he pale and half-dead before? Now suddenly refreshed?

Song Xian asked: "How is it? Has Dai County been cleared?"

Cheng Yanzhao threw the long sword in his hand to the Deputy General, his palms were a mess of blood and flesh, but he didn’t mind, reflecting on Song Xian lying in the tent pale-faced, he believed he was much stronger than Song Xian.

But seeing Song Xian full of life, he started with joy, and then felt a bit uneasy. What was with this bittersweet envy in his heart?

It seems like with one wrong move, that kid has surpassed him.

In terms of intelligence, he’s no match for Song Xian, nor in battle, and now even in marriage affairs? Does he have nothing but his mouth?

Cheng Yanzhao explained the situation in Dai County to Song Xian: "The county magistrate of Dai County has been captured, and many locals are acquainted with Old General Zhang. Now you must secure Lingqiu’s checkpoint to prevent Xiao Xingzong’s troops from breaking through."

Song Xian nodded, instructing the Deputy General to lead troops to Lingqiu.

Cheng Yanzhao pulled Song Xian aside: "How about it? Is it settled?" Given Song Xian’s demeanor, he looked full of joy, as if the wedding date had been set.