109

Ye Yin stared at the object before her in astonishment, asking the messenger with a hint of disbelief, "Are you saying that Commander Ye sent this to me?"

The officer nodded, saluted, and took his leave with polite formality.

After Ye Yin opened the exquisite, deep blue box on the table, she was startled by its contents. She had expected Ye Yu to send a severed head or some other gruesome token to intimidate her; she never imagined it would be a box of beautifully arranged fresh flowers. Lavender, baby's breath, and rare bicolored roses were displayed with a sense of Zen. Tucked among the blossoms was a note, inscribed with neat, formal characters:

"Wishing you a blissful marriage."

"How beautiful!" The Commander’s wife exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "The handwriting is lovely, too. They say the script reflects the person—Commander Ye must be a beautiful young woman, right?"

"She is beautiful, yes..." Ye Yin said, puzzled. "But that aside, why would she send this to me?"

"Actually, there is something I have been hesitating to tell you," the Commander’s wife said, looking troubled.

"Please, Aunt, feel free to speak. It’s quite alright."

"I don't know who started the rumors, but everyone outside is saying that you and Chenglan are engaged," the Commander’s wife said with a smile. "Even though the Commander has scolded them several times, it just won't stop."

Ye Yin opened her mouth, but after a long pause, she could only muster, "I see."

"Yinyin, I actually wanted to ask you something," the Commander’s wife said, her smile fading into a serious expression. "What kind of person do you think my Chenglan is?"

What kind of person...

Ye Yin toyed with the ribbon on the box, her thoughts drifting back to when she first met Zhuo Chenglan.

He was difficult to get along with, sparing with his words, and rarely appeared in public. While the soldiers were out selling meat in the dead of winter, he was more reserved than anyone; every time he appeared, he was impeccably dressed, right down to his gloves.

After the incident with the Camellia Grandmother, they had more contact, though only slightly. Whenever she saw him, he always wore the same expressions. Even his stride seemed calculated and programmed, rarely showing a flaw. It was strange that such an unchanging person had gradually transformed in her eyes, as if ripples on water were smoothing over the edges of his persona, making the change feel entirely natural.

Since when had those clear, slightly hollow eyes learned to gaze intently at the people and things before him? Since when had the corners of his mouth, usually pressed into a straight line, learned to lift ever so slightly? When did his tall, straight, yet lonely silhouette begin to feel warm?

And when, she wondered, had she begun to silently observe these changes?

Was it that smile in the early morning, or his promise during their farewell that she should wait for him? Or perhaps the vow he made at the guard post amidst the swirling snow?

Though she did not understand when this concern had begun, Ye Yin realized that he was like a stream flowing silently through a deep valley—never making a sound to attract attention—yet when one looked back, the water had already turned the entire mountain lush and green.

Ye Yin smiled slightly and answered the Commander’s wife, "He is a very good person."

The Commander’s wife froze, then appeared devastated. "Oh, I shouldn't have asked. My Chenglan has been 'friend-zoned.' Boo-hoo-hoo."

"No, no, that's not what I meant," Ye Yin said, snapping back to reality. "I meant he is a good man, and I..."

"And you what?" the Commander’s wife pressed, her mood shifting as easily as the wind.

"I..." Ye Yin was sweating profusely. Just then, Zhuo Zelian appeared like an angel. "Mom, someone is looking for you."

"Oh." The Commander’s wife stood up regretfully, beaming at Ye Yin. "We'll continue our conversation about that question later."

"...Alright."

"Where is the person?"

"In the front hall. They just arrived."

After the Commander’s wife left, Ye Yin let out a long sigh and slumped over the table. Zhuo Zelian looked at her with amusement. "What is it? Did my mom tease you?"

"Not really," Ye Yin replied. "Are you finished with your work?"

Ever since Zhuo Chenglan left for the sweeping mission, Zhuo Zelian had taken on most of the base's responsibilities, managing them efficiently without a single error. Although he was a bit frivolous when it came to his emotions, he was quite capable when it came to business.

"Thanks to you, it’s been peaceful lately. There hasn’t been anything major to handle," Zhuo Zelian said, lounging lazily on the bench and glancing at the flower box. "Did my big brother send you those?"

"No, Ye Yu had them delivered."

Zhuo Zelian grew interested and picked up the note to examine it. "She’s certainly well-informed; she even knows about the rumors at the First Base."

"You knew about them too?"

"I've known for a while," Zhuo Zelian said. "Besides, there’s no need to clarify them. Are you two planning to leave at the end of the month?"

"Yes, I’ve had enough rest."

Calling it "rest" was a stretch; during the day, she spent her time chatting, shopping, and eating with the Commander’s wife, while at night, she practiced her Five Elements abilities so intensely she nearly pushed herself to the brink of collapse. Having been brought back from the edge of death, she was even more cautious than before. If she weren't terrified of suffering a backlash and dying, she wouldn't have wanted to waste even a single daylight hour.

The men of the Zhuo family were all busy, especially Zhuo Chenglan. Because he was preparing to clear the road between the First Base and the Hope Base, she rarely saw him. For some reason, when the two did cross paths, there was no awkwardness or discomfort—just a shared smile that spoke volumes more than words ever could.

"By the way, do you know a woman named Zhe Hui?" Zhuo Zelian asked suddenly.

"I do. She was brought back from the Sweeping Legion, claiming that she saved you and your brother."

"Oh?" Zhuo Zelian laughed. "Anything else?"

"I don't know anything else," Ye Yin asked curiously. "Is she stirring up trouble again?"

"Don't worry about it; I'll handle such trivial matters," Zhuo Zelian said with a grin. "I've seen too many women like that. You aren't as experienced as I am."

"Oh..."

Xiao Die’s plan was vulgar, but effective—gossiping with the neighborhood busybodies.

Just as the engagement rumors between the Commander’s eldest son and the mistress of the Hope Base were peaking, a more scandalous piece of news broke: it turned out that Zhuo Chenglan loved someone else. He had hidden this woman away, secretly arranging for her to work at the most lucrative official base store, where the two would meet in private.

It was said that they had developed feelings for each other during their time in the Sweeping Legion, but Ye Yin, the "female bandit," had forced a marriage through an alliance, tearing the star-crossed lovers apart. The injustice of it all had apparently angered both heaven and man.

Rumors always grew more absurd with each telling. By the end, the gossip had evolved to claim that Zhe Hui was pregnant, but Ye Yin had forced her to lose the child, leaving her so severely injured that she was bedridden and unable to show her face.

"Is it really okay to do this?" Zhe Hui asked, feeling uneasy. "Do you think he will be angry?"

"Impossible," Xiao Die said firmly. "If he truly loves you, he would be heartbroken for you; how could he be angry? Besides, in these matters, you have to strike first. If anything happens to you in the future, everyone will point their fingers at her. It’s better than being quietly sabotaged."

"But..."

"Don't worry. I’ve inquired about the eldest son's temperament; he’s the most honorable person you could find. With this rumor spreading, no one will dare to take you, so he will certainly take responsibility." Xiao Die deliberately provoked her, "Unless you were lying to me before, and he never actually cared for you at all."

Zhe Hui took the bait, sneering, "If it weren't for that woman wedging herself in, we would still be fighting side by side right now."

"Exactly," Xiao Die laughed. "You didn't see how my mother drove away my father's disgusting former wife—it was a spectacular show. A woman has to be ruthless, or she’ll never have a chance to turn things around."

Just as Xiao Die and Zhe Hui were waiting expectantly for the parties involved to come looking for them, the rumor they had so carefully cultivated took a sharp, unexpected turn.

According to those who had returned from the Sweeping Legion, Zhe Hui had been restless and flirtatious the entire time, repeatedly trying to seduce Zhuo Chenglan, only to be rejected over and over again. Her arrival at the First Base was merely due to her exploiting the name of a "benefactor," not because she was being kept in a "golden cage." What kind of status did Zhuo Chenglan hold? If he really wanted to hide a lover, would he have her working in a shop? He would have just done what other high-ranking officials did—rent a small house and keep her there.

Xiao Die only had one mouth, but there were many who had been with the Legion, and it was clear to everyone whom to believe.

When the rumors first started, colleagues who disliked Zhe Hui had been forced to be polite due to her "special status," but once Zhe Hui responded with cold shoulders and rudeness, the tide turned. Her colleagues, fueled by resentment and the pleasure of bullying the fallen, began picking on her every day.

Zhe Hui found herself truly unable to leave her room—every time she stepped out, people would point at her, and some women who harbored secret crushes on Zhuo Chenglan would even spit in her direction. The disdain made her tremble with rage.

Xiao Die finally sensed that something was wrong and asked Zhe Hui suspiciously, "Is what they are saying true? Have you been lying to me this whole time?"

Zhe Hui was on the verge of tears. "What would I gain by lying to you? That he liked me was known to everyone in the Legion! Those people joked about us every day; even the commander said he would act as our matchmaker—it was all so concrete! I have always kept myself clean; I’ve never flirted with anyone. Go ask anyone, have you ever seen me act inappropriately? It must be that woman who bribed them, threatening them into fabricating these rumors to slander me, just so Chenglan would loathe me or give up... That woman is so sinister, I hope she dies a miserable death!"

Xiao Die was already on the sinking ship and had no choice but to push forward. To hell with it—whether the woman was lying or not, there was no turning back now.

"Fine, I’ll believe you one more time," Xiao Die said, frowning. "This is getting tricky. Since waiting for them to come to us didn't work, you'll just have to go to them yourself."