Feng Qingyi finished washing up and grabbed her phone, ready to go downstairs to find a breakfast shop.
As soon as she turned on her phone, she saw many messages from Qin Yuchuan.
[Yuchuan: I've left. Take care of yourself.]
[Yuchuan: If you encounter any problems, you can let me know. Although I can't be by your side constantly, nor can I reply to you as promptly as before, I will come to see you whenever I have the chance.]
[Yuchuan: Qingyi, I know you're intelligent, sensible, and hardworking. Though I'm a few years older than you, there's nothing I can really do to help you.]
[Yuchuan: All I can offer you is my affection. No matter what, I will always support you. You can do anything you want to do.]
[Yuchuan: My only wish is to spend our days and years together, and then walk with you towards the light of dawn.]
After reading his messages twice, Feng Qingyi put her phone away.
Walking towards the light of dawn, could they really do that?
If she could spend the rest of her life with him, it seemed like it wouldn't be so bad.
When it came to love, she had once had many fantasies. She had longed for the romantic plots in TV dramas.
But if it was with him, it seemed okay even without flowers or candlelit dinners.
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, at the hour of Chen, Qin Yuchuan led his army out of Shengjing.
He wore dark soft armor, riding a crimson warhorse, cutting a heroic and impressive figure.
By the window of a teahouse, Xuanyuan Yan played with a teacup, with Ming Jiu standing by his side.
"I hope that when he returns triumphant, I can welcome him at the city gate," Xuanyuan Yan said.
Ming Jiu asked, "Master, I don't understand. Why do you value General Qin so much?"
"Even if it's childhood friendship, many years have passed. Who knows what he's really thinking now?"
Xuanyuan Yan took a sip of tea. "You don't think he knows everything, do you?"
"Do you think he could have reached his current position without knowing what's happening in Shengjing?"
"He knows everything, but he hasn't shown any reaction. That alone shows where he stands."
He had worried before about what it would be like if they ever faced each other one day.
Although he didn't want such a thing to happen, what he was doing had to continue.
Fortunately, he had now left Shengjing.
The southern frontier had a harsh environment and natural geographical advantages.
This meant that the war wouldn't be easy to fight. It could last anywhere from one or two years to three or four years.
By then, even if Xuanyuan Sheng wanted to call him back, it would likely be too late to save the situation.
When news came from the front lines, it would be time for him to act.
Once the army left Shengjing, they quickened their march.
Na Muqi rode his horse behind Qin Yuchuan. "General, did you say goodbye to that young lady?"
"Goodbye?"
When he left, she was still sleeping soundly. They had gone to bed late last night, so at this time, she should still be asleep.
Na Muqi asked, "Did you express your feelings to her? Ask her to wait for you?"
Hearing no response from Qin Yuchuan, Na Muqi grew anxious for him.
"General, aren't you worried that by the time this war is over, she might be married to someone else?"
"General, you should take some time to write her a few letters, to really open up and explain things clearly."
Speaking of letters, Qin Yuchuan suddenly remembered the unopened letter she had given him. He wondered what she had written in it.
Na Muqi continued, "Who knows how many years we'll be gone?"
"We'll do our best and leave the rest to fate. That's all we can do."
He had never heard of the commander the enemy had sent to meet them in battle, but rumors said he was quite skilled.
All he could do now was to meet whatever came his way.
During a rest stop on the march, Qin Yuchuan sat on a nearby rock.
He carefully opened the light green envelope. The letterhead inside gave off a faint floral scent.
The young lady particularly liked collecting pretty things; even her envelopes and writing paper were quite unique.
Opening the folded paper, he saw her graceful handwriting.
Dear Yu,
I have so many things I want to tell you, but every time the words reach my lips, I don't know how to say them.
After thinking for a long time, I decided to write you a letter.
I always feel that you are out of my reach, even though we are together now.
I'm not sure where this feeling comes from.
Perhaps it's because our story, from beginning to now, has been too bizarre and incredible, making it feel like a dream.
Actually, I'm a very practical person. Agreeing to be with you has already used up all my courage.
I don't know if we'll have a future, or if this phone will suddenly disappear one day.
What would we do then? Maybe I'm overthinking, but I can't rule out that possibility.
I often think about many things when I'm alone.
But I don't regret any decision I've made, including being with you.
It's just that I don't know how to give you a definite answer about the future you speak of.
I'm happy when I'm with you. I think we should just keep going like this, and leave the future to time.
I heard you're going to the battlefield. I realized I don't understand anything about it, and there's nothing I can do for you.
I can only silently wish for your safety and success, and for your early return. I'll be waiting for you to come find me.
Qingyi
Qin Yuchuan put the letter away. So this was what she had been worrying about all along. He had been negligent.
Master Guang'an of Guanyuan Temple had once told him to bring her to the temple to meet him.
There hadn't been a suitable opportunity before, and now it would have to wait until after the war was over.
Master Guang'an's words had been ambiguous, and he couldn't guess their true meaning.
"General, is that a letter from Miss Feng?" Na Muqi leaned in.
Qin Yuchuan tucked the letter into his sleeve. "Yes."
"Haha, no wonder you didn't respond when I was talking to you earlier. So the young lady has feelings for you too. Did she say she'd wait for you to return?"
"Mm." She said she'd wait for him to come find her, which was more or less the same thing.
Na Muqi said with a laugh, "There was a time when people in the camp thought you didn't like women. Now it seems you just hadn't met the right one!"
"It looks like I'll be able to drink to your wedding when we return."
Qin Yuchuan didn't contradict him. He did indeed plan to marry her when he returned.
Meanwhile, Yan Chi was drinking hot water from the thermos Feng Qingyi had given him. Several soldiers nearby were very curious.
"Yan Chi, what's that?"
Yan Chi replied, "It's a cup that can hold water. Most importantly, if you put hot water in it, it stays hot all morning."
"What? That's amazing! Where did you buy it? How much silver did it cost?"
A group of people were already interested in purchasing the same water cup.
Yan Chi waved his hand dismissively. "This can't be bought. It's a New Year's gift from Miss Feng Qingyi."
"It's one-of-a-kind in the whole world. Even the General doesn't have one!"
"Ah! Who is Miss Feng Qingyi?"
Yan Yang stepped forward. "Miss Feng Qingyi is the person the General holds dearest to his heart. She's our future General's wife!"
