Chapter 733: Defying Protocol in the General

Morning sunlight filtered through the window smeared with Korean paper, scattering onto the disordered bed in the Zongguan Fu side chamber.

The air was filled with a lingering, intense mingling of perfume and sweat.

Chen Yan, bare‑torso, leaned against the rosewood carved headboard.

His muscular chest was dotted with fine beads of sweat, his bronze skin glinting with a metallic, cold sheen in the morning light.

In his arms lay the lazy yet taut‑muscled Ye Zhuxi.

Ye Zhuxi's long lashes fluttered, then she opened her eyes.

In those eyes there was no usual maiden's shy timidity upon waking, only a wild, sated satisfaction like a well‑fed leopardess.

She extended her thin fingers, drawing circles on Chen Yan's firm abs.

"Chen Zongguan, this physique is even more striking than when you were in Chang'an!"

Chen Yan seized her mischievous wrist and pressed her fingers onto the brocade quilt.

"Ye Dudu's skill is no less than back then!"

Ye Zhuxi let out a light laugh, her chest rising slightly.

She rolled over and sat up, caring little about the swath of spring light exposed to the cool morning breeze.

Chen Yan reached for a loose dark‑colored robe and draped it over himself.

"Stories of old can wait until later."

He picked up the warm water beside the pillow, took a sip, and felt his Adam's apple move up and down.

"Wang Xiong was severely wounded outside Gancao City; without at least half a year of convalescence he can't get out of bed…"

Ye Zhuxi grabbed the corset from the inner side of the bed and swiftly wrapped it around herself.

"General Wang was a fierce commander; now that he has fallen, won't your Xiazhou Da Ying be leaderless?"

Chen Yan set the tea cup on the low table, producing a crisp clink.

"The Xiazhou Da Ying's troops have recently expanded rapidly; those veteran soldiers who just crawled out of the piles of corpses are even more unruly…"

He turned his head toward Ye Zhuxi, his gaze bearing unhidden calculation and expectation.

"From today onward, you will temporarily assume the position of Governor of Xiazhou."

Ye Zhuxi's hand, still holding the corset in mid‑air, turned to meet Chen Yan's gaze.

"The authority over the daily drills of Xiazhou Da Ying's troops, I, the Lord, hand over to you completely."

The words hung in the air, and the atmosphere in the side chamber instantly changed.

Ye Zhuxi, of course, understood the weight of this Military Order Document.

Having a woman temporarily replace the Governor of Xiazhou to command those unblinking, murderous, proud and fierce generals.

This would definitely make the entire Xiazhou Da Ying erupt.

The blood‑eyed soldiers would only submit to blades sharper than theirs.

She clenched her back molars, a fierce desire for victory flaring in her eyes.

The challenge struck right at her innate arrogance.

Ye Zhuxi flung the brocade quilt aside, stepping barefoot onto the soft Persian Carpet.

She paid no mind to the fact that she wore only a close‑fitting undergarment, walked straight to the dressing table, and grabbed a tiny silver eyebrow‑trimmer.

She turned around and strode back to the bedside.

The silver blade flashed in mid‑air, slicing a wound into the pad of her left index finger.

Bright red blood spurted, dripping from the fingertip onto the snow‑white sheet.

Ye Zhuxi half‑knelt on the bed edge, quickly scribbling a few strokes on the sheet with her blood‑stained fingertip.

She lifted her chin, her gaze as resolute as iron.

"Husband, rest assured!"

She brought the bloodied fingertip to her lips and licked away the remaining blood.

"Within three months, if I cannot train these fierce soldiers into a tiger‑wolf army that can clash head‑on with the Turks and Rouran in the wild, I, Ye Zhuxi, will present my head!"

Chen Yan looked at the sheet marked with blood fingerprints, admiration flashing in his eyes.

"What I wanted was exactly that precise statement."

Soft footsteps sounded from outside the door.

"Husband, we're coming in."

Qingyu's soft, mellow voice drifted through the wooden door.

Immediately followed by Wei Yingxue's cheerful urging.

"Sister, hurry and bring it in, the soup is getting cold."

The door was pushed open, Qingyu carrying a red‑lacquered tray bearing several steaming bowls of meat porridge and side dishes.

Wei Yingxue followed behind, still holding a small bamboo basket filled with wheat cakes.

The two women, seeing the scene inside, Qingyu's cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her head and set the tray on the round table.

Wei Yingxue curiously stared at the bloodstain on the sheet, then glanced at Ye Zhuxi's bandaged finger.

"Sister Ye, did you get injured while training in the room?"

Ye Zhuxi calmly took a common warrior's uniform, put it on, and casually ruffled Wei Yingxue's hair.

"Just a Military Order Document."

Chen Yan stood up, walked to the basin and washed his face, water droplets sliding down his cold, hard jawline.

He grabbed a cloth, wiped the water away, and sat down at the table.

"You arrived just in time; I have matters to assign."

Qingyu immediately straightened, crossing her hands and placing them at her waist.

"Husband, please give orders."

Chen Yan lifted the meat porridge and took a sip, the rich meat aroma spreading on his tongue.

"Qingyu, from today onward, all affairs of the Zongguan Fu's inner residences, as well as the logistics accounts of the Xiazhou Da Ying, shall be inspected by you."

Qingyu's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the heavy responsibility.

"I am foolish, fearing I might err in my lord's important matters."

Chen Yan set down his bowl and chopsticks, tapping his fingers on the table.

"Suiwan, in Chang'an, has kept the rear residence in perfect order; you have studied by her side for so long, this accounting is no difficult task."

He stared directly into Qingyu's eyes.

"The Duke's funds and provisions must stay in trusted hands; give them to you, and the Duke can sleep peacefully."

Qingyu understood the weight of those words and nodded vigorously.

"I will spare no effort and will not let a single millet go missing."

Chen Yan turned his gaze toward Wei Yingxue, who was still stuffing a flatbread into her mouth.

"Yingxue."

Wei Yingxue quickly swallowed the food, patted her chest, and sat upright.

"Husband, what fun assignment do you have for me?"

Chen Yan took a black iron Token from his chest, its surface engraved with the Mingjing Embroidered Attire Envoy's unique dark pattern.

He pushed the Token in front of Wei Yingxue.

"The Mingjing Department's covert network in the northwest has been laid out, and countless top‑secret reports reach Xiazhou daily."

Chen Yan leaned forward, his tone authoritative.

"You are clever and bright; the task of liaising with the Mingjing Department's covert line and organizing the transmission of top‑secret information between Chang'an and Xiazhou is assigned to you."

Wei Yingxue cupped the heavy iron plaque in both hands, excitement flashing in her eyes.

"Husband, rest assured, this matter is on Xue'er, and not even a single fly's movement will escape your ears!"

Chen Yan leaned against the chair back, looking at the three distinguished women before him.

Ye Zhuxi commands the troops, Qingyu handles domestic affairs, and Wei Yingxue oversees intelligence.

The massive war machine of the Xiazhou General Command has finally installed its core gear.

Ye Zhuxi is fully attired, her dark soft armor exuding heroic vigor.

She took the sword hanging on the rack, suspending it at her waist.

"Those rabbit brats in the Xiazhou Da Ying are probably still sleeping in; I'm going now to loosen their muscles."

Ye Zhuxi clasped her fists in a standard military salute to Chen Yan, then turned and strode out of the side room.

Her Mabi struck the Qingshi slab, producing steady, powerful footsteps that faded away.

Just as Ye Zhuxi's front foot left, a chaotic, hurried footstep sounded outside the courtyard gate.

A Mingjing Embroidered Attire Envoy clad in dark robes, unable to even file a report, burst through the courtyard gate.

He was drenched in sweat, his face dusty, and his whole body, carried by momentum, tumbled down the steps.

"Pillar of the State!"

The Envoy's voice rasped and split, his hands raising a copper tube sealed with Huojian.

"Grassland Eight Hundred Li urgent report!"

Chen Yan's gentle expression fully contracted at that moment.

He strode out of the room, snatching the copper tube from the Envoy's hand and crushing the Huojian seal with his bare hands.

"The Rouran Royal Court has been slaughtered!"

The Envoy lay on the ground, panting heavily, reporting in broken gasps.

Chen Yan unfolded the Secret Letter inside and scanned it at a glance.

He clenched the Secret Letter in his palm, the paper bundle emitting an unsettling rustle.

Chen Yan lifted his head, his gaze piercing over the tall wall of the Zongguan Fu and into the distant north.

The show finally begins.