MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!
Chapter 43: Everyone is waiting

Chapter 43: Everyone is waiting

The older man’s voice rang out again, louder this time, sending shivers down the spines of the trembling soldiers.

His eyes were wide, nearly manic, as he leaned forward.

"I asked you a question! What about the prince? Is he dead?"

The men exchanged nervous glances, their faces pale. One of them, his arm bandaged and blood-soaked, stepped forward hesitantly.

"I... I don’t know, my lord," he stammered.

"What do you mean, you don’t know?"

The man flinched at the roar. "Ming Ruo... Ming Ruo did manage to injure him badly. The prince was losing a lot of blood. But..."

The older man slammed his fist against the table. "But what?"

The soldier gulped, his voice trembling. "Someone saved him. A woman."

The room fell silent. The older man blinked, as if he hadn’t heard correctly.

"A woman?"

The soldier nodded weakly, sweat pouring down his face. "Yes... she was slim, dressed in tattered robes. But she... she was strong. Inhumanly strong."

The older man’s lips curled into a snarl. "You mean to tell me that Ming Ruo, the best fighter among you, was bested by a woman?"

The soldier’s voice dropped to a whisper. "I... I saw it with my own eyes."

Another soldier, his face etched with fear, stepped forward.

"It’s true, my lord. She was like a demon. Ming Ruo fought her with everything he had, but she—she was relentless. She killed him. And then she turned on the rest of us."

The older man staggered back as if struck. "Impossible."

The soldier shook his head fervently, sweat dripping down his brow. "No, my lord. I swear it. Her movements... her swordsmanship... it was as if death itself had come for us. The more the prince was hurt, the wilder she became. She cut through us like we were nothing!"

The older man turned abruptly, his cloak swishing around him as he moved back toward the window.

His hands trembled as he gripped the sill.

"A woman," he muttered to himself. "A woman did all this?"

He turned sharply, his face contorted with rage.

"You imbeciles!" he bellowed. His hand shot out, and with one swift motion, he struck the edge of the table, shattering it into two.

The soldiers recoiled at the sound.

"You couldn’t even do one job properly!" he snarled, his voice laced with venom.

The room was thick with tension. The soldiers didn’t dare meet his gaze, their eyes fixed on the floor.

One of them, braver than the rest, muttered under his breath, "Ming Ruo died... and this is all you care about?"

The older man’s sharp gaze snapped to him. "What did you say?"

The soldier’s fists clenched at his sides, but he said nothing more.

The older man sneered. "Pathetic."

Turning back to the window, he stared out at the snow-covered hills.

"A woman..." he murmured again. "There are no women fighters in this empire. None in the imperial army. None anywhere."

He paused, his brow furrowing as he whispered to himself.

"Then who is she?"

...

Back at the cave

Hua Jing stirred, her body shifting uncomfortably.

She felt warmth beneath her, a surprising contrast to the cold stone she remembered lying on before.

Her brows furrowed, and she groggily opened her eyes.

It took her a moment to realize where she was.

She blinked, her vision blurry, as the faint glow of embers illuminated the cave.

When her eyes finally adjusted, she froze.

She was lying on Zhao Yan’s lap.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"What the—"

She bolted upright so quickly that she nearly toppled over.

Zhao Yan, startled by her abrupt movement, immediately looked around, his body tense.

"What is it?" he asked sharply, his voice filled with alarm.

Hua Jing glared at him, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"What... What are you doing?" she sputtered, her voice rising.

Zhao Yan frowned, his confusion evident.

"What am I doing? You fell over in your sleep. I just..." He trailed off, gesturing vaguely.

Hua Jing’s gaze darted between him and the spot where she’d been lying.

"You just what?" she demanded, her voice accusatory.

"I... put you somewhere comfortable," Zhao Yan replied, his tone defensive

She pointed a trembling finger at him. "Comfortable? On your lap?"

Zhao Yan blinked, as if realizing the implications of his actions for the first time.

He cleared his throat awkwardly. "It’s not what you think."

---

Hua Jing folded her arms across her chest, her glare intensifying.

"Oh? And what do I think, Your Highness?"

Zhao Yan opened his mouth to respond, but then shut it again, clearly at a loss for words.

The tension between them hung thick in the air, the silence broken only by the faint crackling of the fire.

Finally, Zhao Yan muttered, "You were freezing. I couldn’t just leave you there."

She had been freezing indeed. As soon as he put her to sleep on top of the stones, she was sleep talking about how the surface was too hard and uncomfortable for her and how cold she was.

She was too pitiful that Zhao Yan had no other choice but to lend his lap for the very good service of keeping the missus comfortable!

Yet...how could his goodwill be rewarded like this?

He felt wronged!

Hua Jing stared at him, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Her anger softened slightly as she noticed the exhaustion etched into his features.

She let out a sigh, rubbing her temples.

"Fine," she said reluctantly. "But next time, warn me before you decide to play the hero."

Zhao Yan smirked faintly, the corners of his mouth twitching.

"Next time? Are you planning to fall over again?"

Hua Jing rolled her eyes, turning away to stoke the fire.

"Don’t push your luck, Your Highness."

Zhao Yan chuckled softly, but his gaze lingered on her a moment longer.

In the dim light of the cave, with the shadows dancing across her face, she looked different.

Softer.

He shook his head, pushing the thought aside.

There were more pressing matters to consider.

"Hua Jing," he began, his tone serious now.

She glanced back at him, her expression curious.

"We need to leave as soon as you’re ready."

Her brow furrowed. "Why? I thought we were safe here for now."

Zhao Yan’s jaw tightened, and he cast a wary glance toward the cave entrance.

"We might be. But for how long?"

If those men followed them here it would be a dead end for them. He did not want to risk it so the only choice they had was to move.

Hua Jing’s gaze followed his, her unease growing.

For the first time since their ordeal began, she felt a sliver of fear creeping into her heart.

Zhao Yan met her eyes.

"Rest while you can," he said quietly. "When morning comes, it’ll be a bit sunny and excellent for movement. I will lead us out of here to the base where everyone is waiting!"