Chu Lian had always been picky with her food. Although she managed to force herself to eat a little bit of each dish in front of her, she could feel her limits and sensibly set down her chopsticks after a few bites.

He Sanlang didn’t say anything upon noticing her actions. He simply took her leftover wheat pancake and finished it.

Chu Lian blinked and watched as He Changdi ate all of her leftovers with a coldly handsome face. She felt both embarrassed and guilty at the same time.

In order to lessen her awkwardness, Chu Lian tried to start up a conversation. “So this is what all the officers in this camp eat every day?”

He Changdi finished drinking all the warm water left in the bowl and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief that Wenlan passed over before turning to look at the young and weak woman in front of him.

The wicked woman’s doe-like eyes were shining brightly, like a little creature filled with curiosity.

He Sanlang shifted his gaze away as casually as he could before carefully replying, “Mm, even the great general is no exception.”

Chu Lian wailed in her heart at the bleakness of his answer. However, she also found it strange. Even the unpaid volunteer forces formed to fight against sudden rebellions, like the Hunan Army from history, wouldn’t be forced into conditions where they only had bean paste to eat and no grains at all. While He Sanlang’s position wasn’t very high, he was still a captain. She had come today with an imperial decree to bring them supplies, so Great General Qian had specially invited her to stay for a meal. They wouldn’t normally welcome their guests with such poor fare, what more an Honoured Lady representing the Empress Dowager.

However, all they had sent over were these dishes...

They had been given some salted meat and wheat pancakes at least. But what about the lowest ranked soldiers?

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Chu Lian’s eyes abruptly widened into huge circles. She gulped and suddenly moved over to He Changdi’s side.

When Wenqing and Wenlan noticed their young madam’s sudden action, they were stunned for a moment before their cheeks flushed red and they quickly retreated out of the tent.

Absence really did make the heart grow fonder. Third Young Madam hadn’t gotten enough alone time with Third Young Master.

When Chu Lian sat down next to He Changdi, she even squeezed closer to him, as if they weren’t already close enough.

All He Changdi could smell right now was Chu Lian’s uniquely refreshing and sweet scent. His entire body froze instantly as he tried to figure out what Chu Lian was trying to do.

He wanted to push the wicked woman away, but his hands just refused to listen to him.

Her familiar scent drew him back to the memories of that wonderful kiss from before.

The tips of He Sanlang’s ears turned red and he gulped unconsciously, causing his Adam’s apple to move noticeably.

The depths of his pupils seemed to turn even darker as his eyes darted towards Chu Lian’s tender, pink lips. However, Chu Lian’s next words made him drop his wayward thoughts completely.

“He Sanlang, tell me honestly, is the border army running out of food?”

He Changdi’s body seemed to have frozen into a statue-like stillness. His eyes narrowed dangerously and he grabbed Chu Lian’s arm with his large hand. In a deep and icy tone, he questioned, “How do you know that?!”

Chu Lian hadn’t noticed his strange mood yet; her only reaction was to widen her eyes as shock filled her heart. So it was true!

“Didn’t your manservant Laiyue follow you here to the northern border? How come I haven’t seen him these few days?” Laiyue definitely wasn’t in the camp. Otherwise, he should have come out to welcome her in He Changdi’s stead by now. However, he wasn’t at Liangzhou’s He Estate either... Chu Lian’s eyes lit up.

“You’ve sent him out to secure supplies?” Chu Lian’s bright and sparkling eyes were filled with certainty as she looked up at He Changdi.

However, the sight that met her eyes was enough to make her tremble in fright.

The look in He Sanlang’s eyes was cold. He looked exactly like the day they had first met, back on their wedding night, as if he wanted to chew her up and spit out her blood. Back then, when he had almost strangled her to death...

Goosebumps rose on Chu Lian’s head and she subconsciously took a step back, trying to distance herself from the danger before her.

However, He Changdi maintained his tight hold on her upper arm and refused to let her move. His dangerous gaze was locked onto Chu Lian’s eyes, as if he was trying to see into her heart and all her thoughts with his eyes alone!

He asked again, “How. Do. You. Know. That!” His tone was even more sinister than the first time.

He had been able to make preparations in advance because he had experienced it in his previous life, but how had Chu Lian been able to find out about the lack of supplies?