Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 225: When Will Our Yearning Hearts Meet?

Those few malevolent gazes turned towards Zhan Lan. The individuals exchanged glances before suppressing their emotions.

Zhan Lan watched the soldiers at the training field executing their slashing, attacking, and defensive maneuvers.

The morale of the new recruits had risen considerably since her arrival. free𝑤ebnovel.com

Finally, as the sun set, Zhan Lan returned to her tent, her body exhausted.

She moved her sore and stiff neck and shoulders, only to discover that an additional Hidden Guard was now standing at her tent’s entrance.

Upon seeing her, the Hidden Guard immediately knelt down and said, "General Zhan, I was sent by Master Seal Keeper Mu Yan."

Zhan Lan looked towards him; she had seen him before but did not know his name. "Rise, let’s talk inside."

The Hidden Guard followed Zhan Lan into the tent and then said, "My name is Yun He. The Master has sent a letter to General Zhan."

Zhan Lan gestured for him to open the letter. Yun He opened it without daring to look at its contents and handed it to Zhan Lan.

Zhan Lan saw the forceful yet somewhat delicate handwriting of Mu Yan.

As she read the words on the paper, a faint blush spread across Zhan Lan’s cheeks, hardly noticeable.

The letter read: "When will our yearning thoughts meet? This moment, this night is unbearably tender! The wine warms the body, but do not indulge in excess."

Zhan Lan then saw several more jars of Lidu Wine inside her tent and said to Yun He, "Thank you for your Master’s kindness."

Yun He bowed respectfully and said, "It is my duty. I will take my leave now."

Zhan Lan nodded in response.

On the way back, as Yun He sat in the carriage, he still couldn’t understand why his Master was so kind to Miss Zhan.

To deliver these jars of wine intact to Heifeng Pass without a single one breaking was indeed a great effort.

It seems that Brother Vermilion Bird was right; the Master truly has affection for Miss Zhan.

Even as a man, he was moved, yet Miss Zhan only expressed ’Thank you for your Master’s kindness.’

As he was pondering, he suddenly heard the sound of horseshoes on the official road. Lifting the curtain, he saw Zhan Lan approaching on a chestnut horse.

Yun He stopped the carriage and stepped off, respectfully asking, "General Zhan, is there anything else?"

Zhan Lan untied the parcel behind her and said, "Take this back to your Master."

"Yes!" Yun He beamed, pleased that at least he would have something to report back.

Zhan Lan rode off, returning to her tent and hiding the wine under her bed.

...

Three days later, Yun He’s carriage returned to the Mu Residence.

Yun He stood before Mu Yan and reported, "Master, all fifteen jars of wine were delivered intact to Miss Zhan’s presence."

Mu Yan’s eyes held a hint of anticipation as he looked to Yun He, "Did she say anything?"

Yun He bowed and said, "General Zhan said ’Thank you.’"

Mu Yan’s expression fell briefly; not having seen her for a month, he almost went mad with longing for her, and yet this girl had only two words for him, ’Thank you.’

"Did she read my letter?"

"Master, she did read it."

Mu Yan, unwilling to give up, asked, "Did she... really say nothing else?"

Only then did Yun He remember the parcel he had placed on the table when he first entered and quickly grabbed it, saying, "Miss Zhan asked me to bring this to the Master."

Vermilion Bird smirked and gave Yun He a sideways glance as if to say, "Why didn’t you take this out earlier?"

What matters most is this!

What Yun He considered inconsequential was what Mu Yan valued the most.

Mu Yan carefully unfastened the parcel; inside was a letter with simple words, but one could tell at a glance that it was written by Zhan Lan, whose uniquely unrefined handwriting was indeed unforgettable.

It said: "There is a candied fruit here called Carved Plum Balls. Try them."

Mu Yan examined the letter from top to bottom, seeing no additional words, his lips curving into a lighthearted smile. He unfolded layer after layer of oiled paper, finally revealing the round candied fruits.

After tasting one, a smile broke across his lips.

Yun He peered over curiously, while Vermilion Bird, swallowing his saliva wisely, said, "Master, after Yun He’s long journey, maybe let us have a taste too?"

Mu Yan gave him a look and decisively closed the paper again, "If even one is missing, only you two are to blame!"

Vermilion Bird: "..."

Yun He: "..."

Zhan Lan had been in the military camp for a month and a half now. Bathing during the cold winter months was exceedingly troublesome; the water resources at Heifeng Pass were scarce, and in the winter, she could only bathe once every half month.

Moreover, being a woman, bathing in her tent was not only inconvenient—having a bath with just a single tub of water compared to the male soldiers who used a larger pool seemed a bit wasteful.

During warfare, going a month without a bath was a common occurrence, but now, with no battle in sight, Zhan Lan could hardly bear it.

An idea sparked in her mind, remembering how she dealt with this issue in her previous life.

Zhan Lan knew that within Black Wind Mountain, there was a secluded spring with running warm water. It was said tigers roamed the mountain, and in her previous life, only she, with her bravery, had ventured there alone, discovering a secret haven where she secretly soaked in the hot springs for two years.

Seeing that the weather was good today and it was a day off, she made her way to the mountains at the border between Beiyue and Heifeng Pass with a small bundle on her back.

Fortunately, a quarter-hour’s walk brought her to her destination.

After passing a steep slope, Zhan Lan arrived at the steaming hot springs.

Making sure no one was around, Zhan Lan entered the hot springs, letting her body soak.

Sitting in the spring, leaning against the exceptionally smooth lava rock, Zhan Lan ran her fingers through the water, the warm streams flowing through her fingertips, causing her to comfortably squint her eyes.

The hot springs provided a therapeutic healing for her body, which had become tense and sore from recent training. The comfort she felt made her unwilling to leave the water.

Behind her in a cave, she had lit a small bonfire to facilitate drying her clothes and hair.

In the mist of the hot springs, Zhan Lan suddenly sensed something amiss. Fortuitously, her clothes lay behind her, and she swiftly grabbed the dagger Blood Drop from the water and gripped it in her hand.

She had the feeling that a pair of eyes was watching her, reminiscent of a predator’s gaze that could make one’s spine sweat.

In her past life, the hot springs had not been frequented often, but nobody had discovered this place.

Even if there were wild animals in the mountains, they were too fearful of the bonfire to come near.

Currently, Zhan Lan could not exit the springs naked. Even with the steam providing cover, one could still discern the form of her feminine body.

She quietly placed her hand on her clothes, and suddenly, a voice broke the silence, making her hairs stand on end.

"You’ve trespassed into my territory!" A voice, magnetic yet laced with murderous intent, sounded not too far away.

A man’s voice!

All of this Zhan Lan could handle with a steady heart, but that voice was one she would never forget till death.

In the water, Zhan Lan clutched the dagger Blood Drop tightly, her body feeling as though wrapped by a venomous snake, causing an involuntary shiver.