Chapter 62

For a soldier, injuries were an unavoidable part of battle. After this first engagement, even Shao Jingyu had sustained a minor wound on his arm. But Yan Yiming’s injury was truly horrifying.
It was clear at a glance that a spear had been thrust deep into the flesh, gouging to the bone, leaving a bloody mess.
Though he had killed and seen blood before, whether it was the shock of the wound or the stark clarity of the sight, Shao Jingyu’s chest tightened with an unexpected pang of pity.
Yan Yiming lifted her gaze to see Shao Jingyu’s slightly furrowed brow. She smiled faintly to herself before lowering her lashes and speaking calmly, “It’s just a minor injury. It’ll heal in a few days.”
Shao Jingyu’s handsome brows knitted even tighter. “A minor injury?” he retorted, firmly gripping Yan Yiming’s calf. “If you treat it like this, your leg will be ruined. Don’t move.”
“What are you doing, General?”
Yan Yiming wore an expression of overwhelmed surprise but obediently kept her leg extended without moving. Though she felt no pain at all, she let out a timely, convincing gasp, acting the part vividly.
Shao Jingyu’s hand, which had been holding him to prevent escape, paused. “Does it hurt?”
“No,” Yan Yiming shook her head softly. “But there’s a distinction in rank, I can handle it myself…”
“On the battlefield, we’re brothers who share life and death. Besides, you saved my life once. What distinction in rank?” Shao Jingyu stated bluntly, then added with a cold laugh, “You handle it yourself? Like this? Do you plan to become a cripple later?”
Yet his hands grew increasingly gentle as he carefully wrapped the wound with strips of cloth he had torn. “Once we’re back, I’ll have the military doctor come see you. Stay in your tent these days and don’t move around unnecessarily.”
As he wrapped the cloth layer by layer, Shao Jingyu carefully held Yan Yiming’s slender ankle. The young man’s calf was delicate, his skin fair, smooth, and clean, nothing like the rough texture of an ordinary man.
Shao Jingyu instinctively glanced at Yan Yiming’s refined features, which were as exquisite as any man’s, and her shorter stature, half a head shorter than himself. He couldn’t help muttering inwardly that if he hadn’t witnessed Yan Yiming’s bravery on the battlefield, sword in hand, he too, like Yun Xiao, would have complained about how much Yan Yiming resembled a woman.
Shaking his head to clear his mind of such thoughts, he helped Yan Yiming to her feet. “Can you walk? If not, I’ll carry you on my back…”
“No need!”
Yan Yiming hastily refused, causing Shao Jingyu to immediately feel displeased. ‘He had kindly lowered his status, so why was he acting so disdainful?’ His handsome face stiffened as he crossed his arms and stood watching her. She had only taken two steps before stumbling.
Shao Jingyu's brows furrowed, and he strode over to support her. “I'll carry you on my back.”
Amid Yan Yiming's insincere refusals, Shao Jingyu hoisted her onto his back and strode toward the camp tents. Yan Yiming remained as aloof and cold as usual, while Shao Jingyu, far from being reserved or feeling that a general should maintain a dignified demeanor, couldn't resist teasing after a few steps. “Why are you so stiff? Afraid of me?”
The person on his back stayed silent.
“You don't even blink when killing enemies, what's there to fear about me?”
The person on his back continued in silence.
In private, Shao Jingyu shed the commanding presence he displayed on the battlefield, acting instead like a typical young man, restless and talkative. He suddenly recalled the times he had carried Yu'er on his back while playing. Yan Yiming was so light, almost as if she were as delicate as Yu'er, who was a girl.
“How are you so light? Yun Xiao is much heavier than you.”
Finally, the person on his back spoke. “General, have you carried Deputy General Yun on your back?”
Yun Xiao was the very deputy general who daily mocked her for being effeminate.
Shao Jingyu had been chattering away to himself for a while before Yan Yiming finally spoke, and her words immediately left him speechless. For some reason, her remark felt off. It didn't seem quite appropriate for a grown man like him to know another man's weight. He coughed awkwardly. “It's just that Yun Little And I often train together, so naturally, I know.”
“Oh,” Yan Yiming nodded. “The General and Deputy General Yun are very close.”
“Yun Xiao is actually the son of my wet nurse. We grew up together in the Shao family since childhood, so our relationship is naturally intimate...”
Shao Jingyu shared many stories of their time in the capital. Listening to the joy in his voice, Yan Yiming suddenly recalled the other three men she had once pursued.
Nan Gongxuan, with his noble status, had endured too much darkness and hardship in the palace. From a young age, he bore the hopes of countless people and lived a life of struggle. Jian Yuyan, burdened with responsibilities since childhood, concealed earth-shattering secrets. Outwardly carefree and unrestrained, he was, in truth, pitiable. Jiang Yi, unfortunate in his origins, had grown accustomed to the coldness of human nature from an early age and was also a tragic figure.
Only Shao Jingyu, despite his noble status, lived without constraints. Respected by outsiders and doted on by his family, it was this very upbringing that forged his bright and confident personality, shining like a blazing sun without a trace of shadow.
When they were less than a hundred meters from the camp tents, Yan Yiming insisted on walking on her own. Shao Jingyu didn't stop her, watching from afar as the slender, short-statured youth limped into the tent.
From a distance, he saw his strategist fawningly asking where he had been. Shao Jingyu replied indifferently that he had just been taking a stroll.
Everyone in the army longed for his favor, yet Yan Yiming seemed afraid of being seen with him.
Why was she so stubborn and so restrained?
After returning to his tent, he ordered someone to summon the military doctor. Yun Xiao entered from outside. “Why call the doctor? Are you injured?”
“Not me,” Shao Jingyu leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. “It's Yiming... You should go check on him.”
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Yun Xiao had already rushed out like a gust of wind. Shao Jingyu's outstretched hand hadn't even retracted yet.
“That idiot...” Shao Jingyu cursed under his breath. Why did he suddenly regret sending Yun Xiao to check on Yan Yiming?
Yan Yiming's leg injury was indeed severe. When Yun Xiao returned, he looked utterly exasperated and fumed, “Do you realize the spear pierced all the way to the bone? And you still claim it doesn’t hurt? Just watching it makes me ache...”
Yun Xiao’s description was so vivid and gruesome that Shao Jingyu couldn’t help but recall the ghastly wound on that fair skin, shuddering involuntarily.
“Everyone praises Lord Guan for enduring bone-scraping treatment, but I’d say he’s no less tough,” Yun Xiao rambled on before concluding, “I’ll never call him a pretty boy again. What a true man!”
Never judge a book by its cover, this saying couldn’t be more accurate. Shao Jingyu nodded in agreement, then instructed the military doctor to take good care of Yan Yiming’s injury. Watching the wound gradually scab over and heal took a full month.
An urgent battle report finally arrived in the capital. It was a great victory, having directly beheaded the Northern Mongol King, a highly esteemed figure among the Mongols. The emperor was naturally overjoyed.
Cao Meng knew his own performance in the battle had been mediocre, so he tried every means to claim a share of the credit. However, he dared not contend with Shao Jingyu’s achievements.
Although the Cao family was prominent, it couldn’t compare to the Shao family. Moreover, the emperor had a special fondness for Shao Jingyu, which was why he had specifically instructed Cao Meng to look after him.
Since he couldn’t seize the credit, Cao Meng simply praised Shao Jingyu’s performance highly in his report. He even glossed over Shao Jingyu’s unauthorized actions, fully detailing how Shao Jingyu led seven hundred men to bravely pursue the Northern Mongol King and ultimately take his head.
Even the emperor had initially thought Shao Jingyu was merely going to the frontier for fun. Yet now, the greatest contributor to this major victory turned out to be this young man no one had expected. For a time, the entire court was astounded.
The emperor, who had always admired Shao Jingyu’s character, was even more delighted upon hearing the news. That very day, he rewarded the entire Shao family, and the imperial consort in the harem gained even more favor. Shao Jingyu was directly appointed as the General of Agile Cavalry, commanding twenty thousand elite troops.
Whether Shao Jingyu’s success was due to luck or innate talent as a commander, the emperor still needed further confirmation.
Meanwhile, on the northern frontier, Yan Yiming’s injury had finally healed completely. Although an unsightly scar remained, he could move without hindrance. Shao Jingyu was about to take him out for a horse race.
But the situation suddenly took a drastic turn. After their previous defeat, the Mongol army launched a counterattack.
Another ruthless battle was about to descend.