Feng Qingyi would typically only eat one bowl of rice, but he ate two bowls this time. The problem was that there was no rice left in the rice cooker, even though he had put in the same amount of rice as usual. This didn't make sense to him.
"Qingyi, why wasn't there enough rice today?" asked Feng Qingci.
Although Feng Qingyi felt a little guilty inside, she remained outwardly calm.
"What do you mean I ate too much? I only had one bowl. Maybe you didn't put enough rice in when you cooked. Are you blaming me?"
Feng Qingci said, "How is that possible? I put in the same amount of rice as usual. It was always enough before, so why wasn't it enough today?"
"Let me take over cooking from now on! With your memory, I'm really worried that I won't have any rice to eat later."
Feng Qingyi volunteered to take over the cooking and proactively made a bowl of noodles for Feng Qingci.
After all, it was because of her that he didn't get enough to eat, so she thought she should compensate him a little.
At the Tianaqi Military Camp, Yan Chi noticed an extra set of bowls and chopsticks on Qin Yuchuan's desk and was puzzled.
"General, why is there an extra set of bowls and chopsticks here? They don't seem to belong to the military camp."
Qin Yuchuan was expressionless. "Take them away. Don't ask about things you shouldn't."
Although Yan Chi was curious, Qin Yuchuan had spoken, so he didn't dare say anything else.
However, even though he didn't dare ask Qin Yuchuan, he could ask Na Muqi and Yan Yang instead.
Na Muqi had mentioned reporting any unusual circumstances promptly. This extra, exquisite set of bowls and chopsticks should count as an unusual circumstance.
As the military strategist, Na Muqi was generally well-loved in the camp. When Yan Chi found him, he was chatting with a few young soldiers.
"Yan Chi, why are you here?" asked Na Muqi.
Yan Chi pulled Na Muqi aside. "Come with me to see something."
"Did you get some treasure and want me to appraise it?" Na Muqi inquired.
Yan Chi shook his head. "You'll understand when you see it in the mess hall."
"Why the secrecy?" Na Muqi didn't quite understand.
Yan Chi explained, "Earlier, when I went to collect the General's bowls and chopsticks, I noticed there was an extra set on his desk. The bowl was particularly beautiful."
"It was even more exquisite than the bowls used by the royal family, with strange patterns on it. As for the chopsticks, they were black and square-shaped instead of round like the ones we use."
"Our military camp definitely doesn't have bowls and chopsticks like that, and the General hasn't left his tent either. I don't know where they came from."
After hearing Yan Chi's words, Na Muqi said, "That is indeed strange. Let me go see these bowls and chopsticks you mentioned."
The two went to the mess hall, where the lunchtime bowls and chopsticks had been cleaned. Among the stacked bowls, the white patterned bowl on top stood out strikingly.
Na Muqi picked up the bowl and examined it carefully. "Based on the glaze and these patterns, this bowl is definitely not from our military camp. Even Shengjing doesn't have kilns that would produce bowls like this. Did you ask the General where he got it from?"
Yan Chi shook his head. "I did, but he didn't say."
Na Muqi then picked up the chopsticks and felt them carefully. "These chopsticks don't seem to be made of real wood. I've never seen this material before."
"Are you sure the General has been in his tent the whole time and hasn't gone out?"
Yan Chi nodded solemnly. "I'm absolutely certain. I've been guarding outside his tent."
"Observe carefully over the next few days and let me know if anything else happens. We're in a critical period, and the General can't have any accidents. You all need to stay vigilant," Na Muqi said with some concern.
"Don't worry, Na Mu. I will," replied Yan Chi.
After lunch, Feng Qingyi returned to her room, intending to check on Qin Yuchuan and see if he had finished eating.
Upon seeing his blank profile picture and name, Feng Qingyi decided to change his contact name to something more appealing.
[Qingyi: Have you finished eating?]
[Yuchuan: Yes, thank you for bringing the food.]
[Qingyi: No need to thank me. I heard you only get porridge and pickles, so I thought I'd help improve your meals a little.]
[Qingyi: If you find the food palatable, I can prepare a portion for you during mealtimes while you're at the camp.]
[Yuchuan: You don't have to do that. It's too much trouble for you.]
[Qingyi: It's no trouble at all, since I'll be cooking anyway. Don't worry about it.]
She could consider it as payment for earning points from him.
[Yuchuan: Then thank you for your trouble.]
[Qingyi: No problem. I won't disturb you further. We can chat again later.]
[Yuchuan: Okay.]
After deciding to improve Qin Yuchuan's meals, Feng Qingyi took on the responsibility of cooking, as Feng Qingci was not someone easy to fool.
He was a finance major and a top student, after all. She could deceive him once or twice, but if she tried too often, he would surely catch on.
Qin Yuchuan's military camp had breakfast very early, around 5 AM.
At that time, Feng Qingyi was still asleep, so she didn't prepare breakfast for him. She only sent over lunch and dinner.
On the night at the Tianaqi Military Camp, Qin Yuchuan was issuing orders methodically.
This was the final battle. The enemy forces in Changxu Pass were exhausted and out of supplies, making it the perfect opportunity for them to attack.
Qin Yuchuan had anticipated the current situation and would not let this prime chance slip away.
Under the cover of night, the Tianaqi soldiers stormed Changxu Pass. Soon after, flames erupted, illuminating the entire night sky and signaling their swift victory in the final battle.
The Tianaqi soldiers achieved complete control over the Northern Qi stronghold of Changxu Pass without expending too much effort.
Qin Yuchuan followed Yan Chi into the pass, and in the glow of the flames, he could clearly see the fresh blood spilled everywhere and the emaciated women and children huddled in corners.
If given a choice, no one would willingly go to war, except for those obsessed with power. No one truly enjoys war.
He was born into a military family and raised in a camp. If not for his father's sacrifice and his mother's expectations, he might have preferred to be a wandering martial artist.
But he couldn't. He was a Tianaqi general, the war god of Tianaqi. From the moment his father died, his life belonged to this nation.
No matter how much the emperor feared him or the officials slandered him, he could only endure it, for he had no right to be willful. How ridiculous.
"General, the night is deep, and Vice General Lin has already made the necessary arrangements. You should return to your tent and rest," Yan Chi said with concern.
Qin Yuchuan seemed lost in thought. "You don't need to accompany me. I'll take a walk alone."
"But..." Even though Yan Chi knew of Qin Yuchuan's unmatched martial arts prowess, he still felt uneasy.
Qin Yuchuan said, "No buts. You go ahead first."
After Yan Chi left, Qin Yuchuan walked alone within the Changxu Pass for a long time, until the bright moon hung high in the sky. It was then that he left, draped in moonlight.
