23 Playing the Lady

Inside the main military tent, the charcoal in the brazier glowed a deep, vibrant red. Zhao Zun, dressed in casual attire, was sharing a drink with Hua Tianyou.

"You have too few personal guards; it’s unsafe. When do you plan to return to Ling'an City?" Hua Tianyou took a small sip of wine and asked.

Zhao Zun did not answer, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Hua Tianyou frowned and kicked him. "Hey! What are you daydreaming about? I asked you a question."

"Hm?" Zhao Zun glanced at him sideways, finally snapping back to reality with a deep, heavy sigh.

"When are you going back to Ling'an City? You can't keep things hidden there for much longer."

Hua Tianyou rolled his eyes at him in annoyance. This guy was completely absent-minded; despite inviting him over for a drink, Zhao Zun had barely touched his cup.

"I know. Sigh!" Zhao Zun sighed again. "Let's wait a few more days."

Over these past few days, Han Lei’s attitude had been ambiguous. If she hadn't agreed, how could one explain her blushing, bashful reaction that day? Yet, if she had, why did she keep avoiding him? She spent her days in the makeshift shed refining alcohol, and the moment she saw him approaching from afar, she would sneak away, making it impossible for him to even catch a glimpse of her.

He had been restless, unable to eat or sleep, with Han Lei's sweet, charming image constantly haunting his thoughts. He knew that with the covetous eyes of the Ala and Meng kingdoms, he could not stay away from Ling'an City for too long, but he had never felt such trepidation before. The alcohol refinement was almost finished, and he just wanted to wait for Han Lei to be free so he could ask her for a definitive answer.

"Wait for what?" Hua Tianyou asked, puzzled.

"Wait for Miss Han," Zhao Zun murmured.

"Oh!" Hua Tianyou realized. "So that’s why you’ve been so distracted? You’ve been pining for a woman all this time!"

Zhao Zun nodded dejectedly, his eyes fixed on the wine cup before him.

"What, didn't you win her over yet?" Hua Tianyou asked, his face full of gossip.

Zhao Zun nodded, feeling no shame in admitting it to his closest friend.

"Ha, haha, hahahaha..." Hua Tianyou laughed, wearing the trademark smirk of a debauched young master. "If it’s about leading troops into battle and charging the front lines, you’re definitely a master. But when it comes to understanding women and winning a lady's heart, you’ll have to seek counsel from yours truly."

"Hm?" A spark of light flashed in Zhao Zun's dull eyes as he turned to look at Hua Tianyou. "Tell me, quickly!"

How could he have forgotten? Hua Tianyou was a celebrity in the capital's circles of young masters, a bee among the flowers, an elite among the playboys!

"Pfft!" Hua Tianyou scoffed. "You’re usually so calm and wise in the face of thousands of soldiers, so why are you like a different person when it comes to the girl you like? Come, pour a drink for your master."

After saying this, Hua Tianyou smugly thumped his cup onto the table before Zhao Zun, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair with an air of leisure.

Under normal circumstances, Zhao Zun would have given him a sharp knock on the head. But this time, without a word, he grabbed the wine flagon and filled the cup, waiting quietly for Hua Tianyou’s instruction.

"Listen, Miss Han is neither your enemy nor your soldier. The way you acted that day, you definitely scared her."

"Did I?" Zhao Zun felt he had been quite gentle that day.

"My friend, have you been in the army so long you've gone soft in the head? Don't you know about the three letters and six etiquettes? At the very least, you should find a matchmaker! Who just walks up to someone and demands they become their Princess Consort? What are you, a mountain bandit seizing a bride? You didn't even ask if she was willing."

"But she is different from those noble ladies." Zhao Zun hung his head, scolded by Hua Tianyou like a child who had done something wrong. All these complexities were so difficult! He had thought Han Lei was different from those high-born heiresses and wouldn't require such formalities, so...

"Even without a matchmaker, you should have proceeded step by step, first inviting her..." Hua Tianyou continued to impart his wisdom.

Zhao Zun rubbed his temples. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he jumped up and strode toward the shrine. His "Lock of Love" pendant had been resting as an offering on the altar these past few days!

Outside the tent, Han Lei braved the wind and snow, stopping just a few meters away. Peering through the curtains into the tent, she bit her lower lip, clutching her racing heart and taking deep breaths, as if the tent contained some fearsome beast.

The guard at the door glanced at the hesitant Han Lei, thinking to himself: Just go in already!

The Marshal had been in a foul mood these past few days. He visited the shed where Miss Han worked every day and returned dejected each time, making life difficult for those of them serving him. The guard had realized that the root of the problem lay with this Miss Han.

After a long while, Han Lei finally steeled herself and, with the guard's silent permission, stepped into the tent.

Seeing her enter, Hua Tianyou shut his prattling mouth and a mischievous grin spread across his face.

"Whew!" He let out a playful whistle.

Hearing the whistle, Zhao Zun turned. Seeing Han Lei suddenly appear in the tent, he was so shocked he couldn't speak, standing there like a wooden post, completely motionless.

"Hey! Why are you still standing there like a statue? Hurry up and invite her to sit!" Hua Tianyou was truly exasperated with him.

"Oh, oh, oh, please, come and sit."

Zhao Zun regained his composure, his heart filled with joy. He quickly tucked the "Lock of Love" he had just retrieved into his robes and stepped forward to pull out a chair for Han Lei, his eyes locked onto her every movement.

He had just taken the pendant from the shrine when his long-awaited Han Lei appeared. This made him feel even more certain that the "Lock of Love" was truly connecting his fate with hers.

Han Lei bit her lip and gave Zhao Zun a faint smile, sitting down gracefully like a refined lady. Like any girl, she wanted to leave a good impression on the man she admired.

Yet, inside, she was thinking: Pretending to be a lady is so exhausting!

Having just received Hua Tianyou's advice, Zhao Zun was unsure what to say. Fearing that a single careless word might scare her again, he simply suppressed his excitement and watched her quietly.

Han Lei wore light, delicate makeup. Instead of her usual sportswear, she had specifically changed into the traditional robes Zhao Zun had gifted her. The pale pink dress, paired with a white fur-collared cloak, made her naturally sweet and charming appearance even more ethereal.

The tent fell into silence. The once lively and straightforward girl was struggling to play the part of a lady, while the man was terrified that a direct approach would frighten her. Both were quietly pretending, and neither dared to speak first. Hua Tianyou, completely lacking the self-awareness of a third wheel, scanned back and forth between them with an inquisitive, gossiping gaze.

Feeling unnerved by Hua Tianyou's stare, Han Lei finally broke character, gave him a sharp glare, and pulled an exquisite box from her spatial watch, pushing it toward Zhao Zun.

"This... this is for you," Han Lei said softly.

"For me?"

Zhao Zun was pleasantly surprised. He took the box and opened it, his anxiety from the past few days vanishing into thin air.

Inside the box lay a novel-style men's mechanical watch—an Omega. The black face was inlaid with a ring of small diamonds, sparkling under the firelight.

Han Lei had actually given him such a precious and exquisite gift? Zhao Zun didn't know what it was, but judging by its appearance, he knew it must be incredibly valuable.

He carefully took the watch from the box to admire it, but before he could even understand it, a large hand suddenly reached over.

"Wow! What is this? It's so beautiful!"

Hua Tianyou snatched it away instantly.