It was a dark night, with not a single star in the sky. Fine snowflakes were floating in the air, falling gently and silently on the bare branches.
But soon this tranquility was broken.
The soldiers wearing armor walked quickly and heavily, making a dull sound with every step.
"General! General!"
Sun Wei was taking a rest when he was suddenly awakened by the sound outside. He said impatiently: "What's your name?"
"General, something bad has happened! General Huo... General Huo..." The soldier gasped. The matter was urgent, and he kept running all the way.
Hearing his subordinates mention Huo Changze, Sun Wei counted the days in his mind. It would only be a few days before the food and grass would be exhausted.
A determined smile appeared on Sun Wei's face, "We've run out of food and grass, haven't we?"
The soldier finally regained his breath and announced loudly: "General Huo has sent troops for a night attack!!"
The smile on Sun Wei's face froze, and then his disbelieving voice sounded, "What?! Huo Changze has sent troops!"
Huo Changze is crazy!
The army was about to run out of food and fodder. Sun Wei originally thought that Huo Changze would not send troops rashly. After all, Northern Qi was easy to defend but difficult to attack. Although his vitality was severely damaged in the last battle, it is not a piece of soft tissue that can be chewed off in one fell swoop.
Unexpectedly, Huo Changze was so determined to attack Northern Qi at night!
Sun Wei hurriedly got up from the bed and put on his clothes. Huo Changze sent troops rashly and everyone in the military camp hid it from him! At this time, he must rush to the front line as soon as possible!
Sun Wei knew Huo Changze well and he never did anything he was unsure of. If he dares to send troops now, he must have a countermeasure.
It's fine if Huo Changze loses this battle. If he wins...
That Prince of Northern Qi is really a piece of trash! He even handed over the route of grain and fodder to Northern Qi! Sun Wei cursed in his heart.
After all, for the second prince, by losing a small city, he could get rid of Huo Changze and get the benefits promised by the prince of Northern Qi. It was a very cost-effective deal.
Sun Wei gritted his teeth. If Huo Changze wins this battle again, and the fourth prince ascends the throne, and Huo Changze is his right-hand man, he will be the first one they eliminate!
At this critical moment, he couldn't sit still and wait for death! Something must be done...
What to do... what to do... Sun Wei was extremely anxious and kept pacing back and forth.
By the way, that woman who was hidden by Huo Changze!
Huo Changze guarded her closely and sent many people to guard her. He sent people there several times to explore the truth, but they were blocked.
That person must be extraordinary to Huo Changze.
Although Sun Wei is not sure about his idea, now this is the last resort, so he can only give it a try...
Sun Wei's face was gloomy. Before leaving, he told the soldiers something and hurriedly rode to the battlefield.
…
Shen Jiao was unaware of all this. She just assumed that Huo Changze went to deal with military affairs as usual and did not come back.
Before Huo Changze rushed to the battlefield, he was worried that someone would take the opportunity to attack Shen Jiao while he was gone, so he deliberately kept He Qing to look after her.
Therefore, as soon as Shen Jiao opened the door, she could see He Qing guarding the door. He was dressed in black and seemed to blend into the dark night.
It's really cold outside, and the temperature has dropped a bit recently. Shen Jiao stood at the door for a while and felt a little unbearable from the cold wind, not to mention He Qing who had been standing outside.
In fact, Shen Jiao rarely spoke to He Qing since she was captured by Huo Changze last time. She also knew that He Qing did nothing wrong. He was just following Huo Changze's orders.
But she just felt uncomfortable. After seeing that He Qing was among the people searching her that night, Shen Jiao had an inexplicable feeling of mistrust.
She thought that He Qing was no different from everyone else in the barracks. They all just regarded her as one of Huo Changze's personal belongings.
But now seeing He Qing guarding her outside, Shen Jiao felt a little soft-hearted.
In fact, he doesn't have to do this. He just needs to call a few soldiers to come over and take turns, instead of standing alone outside in this cold night.
"He Qing." Shen Jiao opened the door and called him softly. The heat in the room suddenly surged out through the crack in the door, making his body feel warm in an instant.
He Qing turned his head to look at her. The warm yellow candlelight in the room hit her face, which was incredibly warm and beautiful. He Qing couldn't help but think of the rare steaming roasted sweet potatoes in the cold winter when he was fighting with the general.
Shen Jiao said: "Stop staying here, go back and rest."
Hearing Shen Jiao's words, He Qing felt a little happy in his heart. But he quickly lowered his eyelashes to cover up his inappropriate emotions and said, "Miss Shen, don't worry about me. The general ordered me to protect you. This is my subordinate's duty."
Shen Jiao was a little speechless at him, "...Aren't you cold?"
He Qing shook his head and said, "It's not cold."
In fact, what He Qing said was not entirely a lie. He had been staying here for a long time, and his body was much more resistant to freezing than before. When I followed the general in battle, he had someone shoot him off his horse. When the ice broke and fell into the water, it was really cold to the bones.
Although half of his body was stiff from the cold, his heart was still warm. I don’t feel how cold I am anymore.
Shen Jiao felt that He Qing was lying to her.
How could it not be cold? He Qing didn't wear much, and there was no charcoal fire outside. He would probably get sick from the cold if he stayed outside in this kind of weather all night.
But when Shen Jiao saw that he didn't want to get in, she didn't want to persuade him any more and closed the door angrily.
If he wants to keep it, just keep it!
The door was slammed shut. He Qing looked at this scene and slightly curled his mouth. Then he continued to stand alone in the cold wind.
However, the door opened again after a while. Shen Jiao, wearing a cloak, went out and pulled him in.
Shen Jiao was weak, and He Qing could have broken free when she pulled him, but his steps didn't obey her, and he was pulled in by her with a gentle pull.
The room was warm and had a light fragrance. Not long after He Qing came in, his frozen fingers began to feel slightly warm.
Shen Jiao took off her cloak and asked him to sit down.
He Qing looked hesitant, "Miss Shen, I'm afraid this is against the rules..."
Shen Jiao didn't take it seriously and said, "Didn't Huo Changze want you to guard me? Then it's the same if you come in and guard me."
Bitao is also here, because He Qing often comes to help, and she has a good impression of He Qing, so she also persuades him: "Yes, Mr. He, it's freezing outside, you just stay in the house."
He Qing had no choice but to stay in the house, and finally found a place to stand far away from Shen Jiao.
When people came in, Shen Jiao didn't care where He Qing wanted to be, so she retreated behind the screen to rest.
But that night, He Qing stood in the darkness, staring in her direction for a long time.
