Chapter 26:- No Sweetheart, Only a Wife
The triumphant army returned in victory, their joy radiating through the city. While most of the troops remained camped outside the city gates, Qi Siming led a select unit into town to celebrate with the citizens.
At dusk, Xu Shuyue sat under the eaves, absentmindedly clutching the divorce agreement hidden in her sleeve. Nearby, Qi Qingfeng and Second Brother Liang were still going on about their brother’s battlefield exploits. Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open.
She looked up—and locked eyes with a pair of sharp, ice-cold pupils.
Before she could say anything, the man’s gaze softened, the deadly aura honed from years of war retreating into something gentler. But even so, the oppressive presence that clung to Qi Siming, carved into him by countless battles, couldn’t be entirely restrained. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried an innate fierceness that made her uneasy.
Forget it. Xu Shuyue took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. The sooner this was settled, the better.
After dinner, Qi Siming intended to stay the night. The small courtyard Qi Qingfeng had rented in the city only had two rooms—one on the east and one on the west. In other words, she and Qi Siming would have to share.
As the sound of running water outside gradually ceased, footsteps approached her door. Xu Shuyue clenched the divorce agreement tighter, ready to pull it out. But before she could, the man outside didn’t push the door open immediately.
Instead, he knocked.
“…May I come in?”
His voice carried a rare note of hesitation.
For some reason, noticing this uncertainty made Xu Shuyue—who had been bracing herself—breathe a little easier. In a softer tone than she expected, she replied, “Come in.”
The door creaked open and then shut again just as swiftly. Under the dim candlelight, Qi Siming stepped inside, dressed in only his inner robes. His lips were pressed together, his posture unusually rigid—he seemed even more uncomfortable than she was.
Xu Shuyue studied his strong, chiseled features before patting the edge of the bed. “Why are you standing so far away, General Qi? Afraid I might bite?”
Qi Siming couldn’t quite read her mood. The tension in his lips eased slightly, and after a brief pause, he obediently dragged a chair over and sat down—broad-legged, arms resting on his knees, clearly preparing for a serious discussion.
Xu Shuyue had been on the road for days and was already exhausted. Seeing that Qi Siming was just sitting there, hesitant to speak, she lost patience. Without further ado, she pulled out the divorce agreement and placed it before him.
“If you have nothing to say, then let’s start with this.”
The letter was freshly written that afternoon—the scent of ink still lingered on the paper. It was light, just a single sheet, but the weight of it sank heavily in Qi Siming’s chest even before he unfolded it.
“…What is this supposed to mean?” His brows furrowed. He studied her, searching for an answer in her expression. But for the first time in his life, the keen perception he prided himself on seemed clouded. He couldn’t see through her at all.
Xu Shuyue’s tone was dry. “Does the great general not know how to read?”
She was already drowsy, her eyelashes drooping slightly from fatigue. As she spoke, she pulled the letter back and made a show of preparing to read it aloud.
“According to the principles of marriage—”
“I get it.” Qi Siming interrupted, his deep voice laced with confusion. This wasn’t at all how he had imagined things would go. The towering, battle-hardened man looked genuinely lost, his dark eyes filled with something indecipherable.
As Xu Shuyue finished reading, he suddenly spoke again.
“…Do we have to divorce?”
Xu Shuyue blinked. “What?”
What does he mean, ‘do we have to’? Did he expect them to muddle through life together in this ridiculous situation?
Qi Siming seemed a little aggrieved, his stern face taut, but his voice—unexpectedly—was softer than she had anticipated.
“Father and Mother wrote to me long ago, telling me they had chosen a virtuous wife on my behalf. While stationed at the northern border, I often thought about meeting you.”
He exhaled slowly, gaze steady.
“But war is unpredictable. I never knew if I would survive. I didn’t want to make promises I couldn’t keep, nor did I dare let my comrades know of your existence… I was afraid that if I died, I’d leave you a widow.”
Xu Shuyue stared at him, momentarily stunned before realizing—Qi Siming was explaining his words from the city gate.
Seeing her expression soften slightly, Qi Siming let out a quiet breath of relief and patiently reassured her, “I know you’ve had a difficult time managing the household alone these past few years, and you have every right to be upset. I promise you, from now on, you will never have to struggle. Whatever you want I will provide it.”
Struggle?
Is he talking about me?
Xu Shuyue, who had been idly fiddling with the gold bracelet on her wrist, suddenly felt guilty. With an awkward chuckle, she muttered, “T-Thank you… but actually, life hasn’t been that bad.” Just yesterday, Second Brother Liang made braised pork, and I found it too greasy to finish. There’s still some left in the kitchen…
Qi Siming, with his keen senses, immediately caught on. His heart ached at the thought but dismissed her words as simple self-consolation. People who have suffered hardships often feel grateful for even the smallest comforts. However, knowing his parents, he was sure they had treated her well.
His gaze fell to the radiant gold bracelet encircling her fair wrist. After a moment of thought, he pulled a slender wooden box from his robe, took her hand, and placed the box in her palm. His deep voice carried an uncharacteristic gentleness.
“Open it.”
He had specially commissioned this the moment he learned he had a wife.
Qi Siming was sitting right in front of her, so close that his warm breath brushed against her forehead. His broad, calloused hand wrapped around hers, firm and inescapable. The moment he gripped her wrist, a shiver ran down Xu Shuyue’s spine.
If Qi Siming truly wanted to, she would have no way to escape this room.
A sudden thought surged through her mind—Save this for your sweetheart.
In the next instant, she jerked her hand away.
The wooden box slipped from her grasp, tumbling to the ground. Before it could hit the floor, Qi Siming swiftly caught it.
The room fell into silence.
After a long pause, the man spoke in a low, steady voice. “I have no sweetheart. I only have one wife.”
Xu Shuyue’s eyes widened. His piercing gaze locked onto hers, unwavering and domineering, like a predator fixating on its prey.
She could hear the loud pounding of her own heartbeat. The quilt beneath her crinkled as she tensed, her breath uneven. She turned her head sharply, trying to evade his gaze, but his firm words had already wedged into her heart, prying open an unfamiliar, unsettling feeling.
Qi Siming chuckled at her childish reaction. His lips curled into a faint smirk as he murmured, “I won’t force you, Miss Xu. I’ll be staying in the city for a few days—we can take this time to get to know each other properly.”
“As for this divorce agreement,” he continued, picking up the letter and placing it back into her hands, “you should hold onto it for now.”
With that, Qi Siming retrieved two blankets from the cabinet, spread them on the floor beside the bed, and lay down.
The flickering candlelight was swiftly snuffed out by a gust of wind.
Xu Shuyue lay there, eyes wide open in the darkness, her mind a tangled mess. When she turned toward the floor, she could hear Qi Siming’s steady breathing—he was already asleep.
Furious, she smacked her hand against the mattress.
Damn it!
Why is he sleeping soundly while I’m here agonizing over our relationship?!
—-
The shrill sound of a suona, followed by the crowing of roosters, signaled the arrival of dawn.
Xu Shuyue had spent the entire night tossing and turning, only managing to drift off just before morning.
She was jolted awake by the sound of conversation outside. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw that the morning light had already brightened the room.
Stretching lazily, she sighed, “What a nice day.”
Her good mood, however, vanished the moment she stepped outside and saw Qi Siming in the courtyard—shirtless, chopping firewood.
Her lips, which had been curled into a faint smile, immediately flattened.
Qi Siming noticed her expression and chuckled, shaking his head. “There’s chicken soup simmering in the kitchen. Do you want some?”
Xu Shuyue blinked. “You made it?”
Qi Siming grinned. “Hou Ji and the others say my cooking isn’t bad. You should try it and see if it suits your taste.”
He then added, “Hou Ji was one of the two men you saw yesterday—he’s my personal guard. If you need anything these next few days, you can call on them.”
Xu Shuyue frowned. “That won’t be necessary.”
Qi Siming, however, remained firm. “At the city gates, many people heard you declare yourself as my wife. Just in case, you should keep them by your side.”
Though he had no political enemies, he had made plenty of enemies on the battlefield. If any of those from the northern borders harbored a vendetta and had infiltrated the city, Xu Shuyue and Qi Qingfeng would be their prime targets.
Xu Shuyue wasn’t unreasonable. Begrudgingly, she muttered, “Fine, I understand.”
Qi Siming personally ladled out a bowl of chicken soup for her. The broth was rich and fragrant, glistening with golden oil.
But—
“…Isn’t there too much meat?”
“You’re too thin. You need nourishment.”
Xu Shuyue stared at the bowl, brimming with chunks of tender chicken. Her stomach churned slightly.
It reminded her of the pork elbow from the other day—oily, greasy, overwhelming.
Qi Siming meant well, but his kindness wasn’t aligned with her tastes.
Rejecting him outright felt rude, yet she couldn’t bring herself to eat it.
Her eyes flickered with mischief. Suddenly, she placed the bowl down, her expression darkening as she let out a heart-wrenching sigh.
“…Using my husband’s kin to nourish my body—General Qi, you are truly cruel.”
Qi Siming was stunned.
Her husband… Isn’t that me?
Before he could respond, Xu Shuyue’s eyes welled up with tears.
Staring mournfully at the steaming bowl of soup, she wailed dramatically, “Brother Chicken, you died so tragically! How will I ever face my husband when I return home?!”
Qi Siming froze.
Then—he suddenly remembered.
Back when he was stationed at the northern border, unable to return for their wedding…
…The one who had actually stood in his place and completed the marriage ceremony with Xu Shuyue……was the family’s old rooster.
Qi Siming rarely found himself at a loss for words, but this time, he was thoroughly speechless. He could tell that Xu Shuyue wasn’t genuinely mourning the poor chicken, yet her dramatic act left him with a headache.
“Miss Xu—” he started, attempting to explain.
But Xu Shuyue had no interest in hearing him out. Covering her ears, she stuffed the silver into her pocket and began retreating toward the courtyard gate.
Just as she was about to make her escape, she bumped into someone. Her foot slipped, and she nearly fell—Qi Siming instinctively tensed, ready to catch her.
However, before he could move, she swiftly twisted her body mid-air, landing gracefully on her feet. With a composed smile, she sidestepped the newcomer and flashed Qi Siming a playful grin.
“General Qi, you can enjoy my husband’s kin yourself. I’ll be off to taste the famous seasonal banquet in the city.”
With a casual wave, she spun around and slipped away as smoothly as a fish darting through water.
Hou Ji, who had just arrived, kept his hand raised awkwardly, blinking in confusion. He slowly turned to Qi Siming and waggled his brows.
“General, what’s going on? Did sister-in-law refuse to eat your cooking?”
Qi Siming withdrew his gaze from Xu Shuyue’s retreating figure and shot Hou Ji a cold, warning glare. “Feeling restless? Want extra training?”
Hou Ji instantly straightened up, his teasing expression vanishing. Qi Siming had no patience to deal with him and simply ordered, “The city is under our jurisdiction now. With personnel changes, there will inevitably be disorder. You and Ban Su follow Miss Xu. Make sure nothing happens to her.”
“Tsk tsk, ‘Miss Xu’…” Hou Ji began, smirking.
Before he could finish, Qi Siming delivered a swift kick, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Without another word, the general strode off with long, purposeful steps.
The city was bustling with prosperity.
The day before, Xu Shuyue had already sent Second Brother Liang to inquire about any small shopfronts for sale. Though she had slept in late and skipped the so-called seasonal banquet, she still spent the morning strolling through the streets, sampling snacks and thoroughly mapping out the local businesses.
As she stopped in front of a street vendor, she let out a soft sigh and casually remarked, “You might as well come out.”
The vendor looked at her oddly, puzzled by her words.
At that moment, from behind a nearby pillar, a man hesitantly stepped forward. He approached Xu Shuyue, cupped his hands in greeting, and started, “Sis— cough—Miss Xu!”
The vendor stared in shock.
Xu Shuyue set down the trinket she had been examining and continued walking, asking without turning back, “Qi Siming sent you?”
Ban Su stole a quick glance at her. Calling the general by name so casually—just as Hou Ji had described—indeed proved that Miss Xu and the general weren’t on close terms.
Determined to help his commander, Ban Su lowered his voice and said, “The general assigned me to assist you, Miss Xu. You may command me as you please.”
