Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Wei Lan’s worries clearly were not in vain, as many people afterward subtly monitored the movements of the Lu Mansion.

Since that day, Hang Shuyao even selected sixteen servants from the Lu Mansion. She divided these sixteen people into two teams, each with eight members, to patrol along the outer walls of the Lu Mansion in shifts, ensuring the safety of the mansion.

Similarly, Lu Zijin sent two secret guards to monitor Chen Zhou’s movements. If anything happened, the secret guards naturally reported back.

As for Wei Wenyuan, the fifty taels of silver he originally received were completely robbed by the thugs in the alley. He even suffered a severe beating, losing four teeth, and lived even more miserable than before.

—

After nearly a month of long travel, Fan Chuan and her group finally entered the borders of Zhuozhou. In a few more days, they could return to the Marshal’s Mansion in Zhuozhou.

Shen Lingwei lifted the curtain of the carriage to look outside. The overlapping mountain peaks continuously came into view. The Northern Border, located in the north, felt somewhat cold after autumn arrived.

She leaned by the window for a while before withdrawing her gaze. These days, they traveled at a leisurely pace, so Shen Lingwei did not fall ill again.

As the sun set in the west, they likely needed to camp in the wilderness tonight. The team ahead already stopped, and the soldiers began setting up camp on this flat terrain.

Fan Chuan rode her horse from the middle of the group and approached the carriage window. She lifted one side of the curtain to look inside. “Stay with me in the tent tonight. The carriage is too small, and I worry you won’t sleep comfortably.”

Since Shen Lingwei fell ill last time, Fan Chuan reflected on her carelessness. Kunze’s body was naturally weak, so she should take better care of Shen Lingwei.

“Good, thank you, Marshal,” Shen Lingwei smiled and nodded at her.

Fan Chuan slightly bowed her head, then rode off again. The soldiers worked quickly, and soon, the central army’s tent was set up.

Fan Chuan came to the carriage to escort Shen Lingwei. “Madam, the tent is ready. Let’s go.”

Shen Lingwei lifted the carriage curtain and saw Fan Chuan standing below, reaching out to help her.

Shen Lingwei’s lips curved slightly upward. She handed her hand to Fan Chuan and, with Fan Chuan’s support, stepped down from the carriage.

“Let’s go. It’s over there. In a few more days, we should reach the Marshal’s Mansion,” Fan Chuan said, leading Shen Lingwei toward the central army’s tent.

The ground in the wilderness was uneven, and she worried Shen Lingwei might fall, so she kept one hand lightly behind Shen Lingwei’s waist for support.

Shen Lingwei’s eyes showed even more amusement as she followed Fan Chuan into the tent.

Fan Chuan’s tent was nearly three times the size of an ordinary soldier’s. In front, there was a desk where the marshal sat. Behind the desk stood a screen, and behind the screen was a bed about one meter thirty centimeters wide.

“Sit first. I’ll have them start a fire and cook,” Fan Chuan said, letting Shen Lingwei rest behind the desk. She then stepped out of the tent and returned after a while.

When she came back, she held a kettle filled with boiled water.

Fan Chuan took out her set of cups, then poured hot water for Shen Lingwei and herself. “The food will take a while. Drink some hot water to warm up first. The suburbs get cold at night, so rest early.”

“Hmm,” Shen Lingwei looked at Fan Chuan and nodded. Along this journey, she seemed to have grown accustomed to Fan Chuan’s care. Except for not consummating their marriage, they truly resembled a newlywed couple in other ways.

Soon, a soldier brought up the meal: soft steamed flatbread, dried meat and vegetable soup, and two dishes of pickled vegetables.

In the wilderness, conditions were simple. Fan Chuan, worried Shen Lingwei wasn’t used to it, said softly, “There’s no choice; conditions here are poor. Make do for now. When we return to the Marshal’s Mansion in a few days, the kitchen can make whatever you want.”

“It’s fine. This is already good,” Shen Lingwei smiled at Fan Chuan. She wiped her hands with a cloth, then broke off a piece of flatbread and took a bite.

Fan Chuan used a spoon to serve her a bowl of dried meat soup before serving herself.

The dried meat could be eaten directly, but cooking it with wild vegetables into a soup made it tastier and easier to chew.

Shen Lingwei scooped a spoonful of soup. The taste was quite simple, barely drinkable, but since they were in the wilderness, she wasn’t picky and slowly drank it.

Fan Chuan ate much faster. By now, she already finished one flatbread, and her bowl of soup was nearly gone.

Soon, Shen Lingwei finished the small piece of flatbread in her hand.

Fan Chuan noticed and quickly said, “Eat some more?”

Shen Lingwei hurriedly shook her head. “I’m full. You eat.”

“Good,” Seeing Shen Lingwei truly wasn’t eating more, Fan Chuan ate the remaining half of the flatbread and finished the rest of the dried meat soup.

Even knowing Fan Chuan’s large appetite, Shen Lingwei couldn’t help but curiously observe her. Fan Chuan’s build was similar to hers, yet she ate so much without gaining weight?

Shen Lingwei’s gaze fell on Fan Chuan’s body. Fan Chuan still wore her armor. Shen Lingwei spoke, “Let me help you remove your armor. You wore it all day. Aren’t you tired?”

“It’s fine. I’m used to it,” Fan Chuan smiled at her, standing up cooperatively and walking to the wooden rack where she kept her armor.

Shen Lingwei walked over too. She reached around Fan Chuan’s back, untying the armor’s waistband, then piece by piece helped Fan Chuan remove the rest of the armor. The armor was heavy for her, some parts almost too much to lift. Fan Chuan wore it all day—how could she not be tired?

Shen Lingwei thought, her brow slightly furrowing.

After removing the armor, Fan Chuan had the dishes on the desk cleared away and asked for hot water to be brought. Conditions in the wilderness were simple, but washing their faces was still manageable.

Soon, her personal guard brought a basin of hot water.

Water was scarce in the wilderness, and their campsite wasn’t near a river, making this water even more precious.

Fan Chuan called Shen Lingwei over. “You wash first. It’s getting late. Rest early.”

“Hmm, good,” Shen Lingwei looked at Fan Chuan, smiled, and walked to a simple wooden rack nearby. She dipped a cloth in warm water and gently wiped her cheeks.

After she finished, Fan Chuan walked over, used the same water Shen Lingwei had used to wash her face, then dried her face with a cotton cloth.

Shen Lingwei’s eyes curved with a smile. Fan Chuan didn’t seem to mind that the water was used by her.

She waited by Fan Chuan’s side. Seeing her finish, she said, “Do you have military duties to handle tonight? If not, let’s rest early.”

“Good,” Fan Chuan nodded. Now that they entered Zhuozhou’s borders, her heart felt slightly more at ease.

But when they reached the bed, Shen Lingwei stepped forward, instinctively wanting to help her undress.

Fan Chuan stepped back, sniffed herself, and felt she smelled of sweat. She said, “I’ll do it myself. I wore armor all day, and I smell. Be careful not to get overwhelmed.”

Shen Lingwei, however, stepped closer, grabbed Fan Chuan’s waistband, and stopped her from retreating.

Shen Lingwei leaned slightly toward Fan Chuan’s neck, sniffed, and laughed. “No, there’s no smell. I’ll help you change.”

Fan Chuan’s heart pounded from Shen Lingwei’s closeness. She quickly looked away. “Good, thank you.”

Seeing Fan Chuan avoid her gaze, Shen Lingwei’s lips curved slightly. She stepped in front of Fan Chuan, smiling brightly, and reached behind Fan Chuan’s waist to unfasten the waistband’s buckle.

She stepped back slightly, slowly untying Fan Chuan’s clothing.

By the time Shen Lingwei finished helping her undress, Fan Chuan was almost sweating. Though Shen Lingwei had helped her many times before, she always felt inexplicably nervous.

They got into bed one after another. Since they were on a march, Fan Chuan’s bed wasn’t large. She feared crowding Shen Lingwei, so she slept on the edge.

Fan Chuan’s actions amused Shen Lingwei. She laughed, tugged Fan Chuan’s wrist, and said, “Marshal, move inward a bit. You’re about to fall off.”

“Good,” Fan Chuan moved inward slightly, but still lay on her side. The bed was only about one meter thirty centimeters wide, and two people lying flat wouldn’t fit.

After days of exhausting travel, both fell asleep soon.

The night in the wilderness was cold, even with the tent and blankets. In their drowsy sleep, the two unknowingly hugged each other, and Shen Lingwei slept in Fan Chuan’s arms.

The next morning, when Fan Chuan woke, she felt something pressing against her chest. Opening her eyes, she saw Shen Lingwei sleeping in her arms.

Fan Chuan’s ears turned slightly red, feeling at a loss. She wanted to lift Shen Lingwei but feared waking her, hesitating for a long time.

Her gaze unconsciously fell on Shen Lingwei’s face. Shen Lingwei’s skin was fair as snow, her features beautiful. Fan Chuan’s eyes traced from Shen Lingwei’s brows to her lips. Shen Lingwei’s lips were soft and pink, beautiful even without rouge.

Fan Chuan suddenly snapped back, breaking into a cold sweat. No, she was sent by the old emperor. She couldn’t let beauty sway her.

Fan Chuan closed her eyes, not daring to look at Shen Lingwei. When she opened them again, her emotions calmed slightly.

She couldn’t help it. Shen Lingwei was naturally beautiful and always gentle, making it hard for Fan Chuan to stay wary of her.

Fan Chuan silently scolded herself, calming her mind after a while.

Seeing it was late, Fan Chuan gently patted Shen Lingwei’s back. “Madam? Madam, wake up. We need to get up and travel today.”

Shen Lingwei, half-asleep, opened her eyes at Fan Chuan’s voice. But as soon as she did, she felt something was wrong. When did she sleep in Fan Chuan’s arms?

Shen Lingwei’s pretty face turned bright red. She sat up from Fan Chuan’s arms. “S-sorry, I didn’t crush you, did I?”

Seeing Shen Lingwei’s shyness, Fan Chuan felt oddly happy. “It’s fine. You’re not heavy. Get up early. We need to march.”

“Good,” Shen Lingwei sat on the bed for a moment, then hurriedly got up to help Fan Chuan dress.

Fan Chuan wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but knowing she couldn’t argue with Shen Lingwei, she spread her arms and let Shen Lingwei help her dress.

Shen Lingwei calmed down by now. The bed was so small, and last night was cold. Sleeping together wasn’t her fault. Besides, though they hadn’t consummated their marriage, she was still Fan Chuan’s wife. Sleeping in each other’s arms for a night was no big deal.

With this thought, Shen Lingwei’s movements became smoother. As usual, she reached behind Fan Chuan’s waist, as if being held in her arms, and fastened the waistband’s buckle.

“Wait a moment. I’ll help you put on your armor,” Shen Lingwei said, hurriedly dressing herself, as if afraid Fan Chuan wouldn’t wait.

Fan Chuan shook her head with a smile. After Shen Lingwei dressed, she helped Fan Chuan put on her armor.

They washed briefly, ate some flatbread and hot soup, and the camp began to break down. When the entire team set off again, the sky was already bright.