TRT -Chapter 54 Whose Love Rival?

“Just because you said that, I’ll let you come along. But—”
He narrowed his eyes slyly…

My mouth twitched.
What kind of shameless condition was this jerk about to propose now?

Spoon was hiding lazily in the shade of my headscarf, curled up in my arms. I sat stiff-faced on a small horse, wearing the standard outfit of the women accompanying the army: dark blue riding pants trimmed with silver, a black vest embroidered with Persian-style patterns, and a pure white linen headscarf covering my head and face.

The only thing different from the others was that I wasn’t wearing boots.

My bare feet swung back and forth beside the horse’s belly. On my left ankle was a delicately crafted silver anklet, decorated with three tiny bells. With every movement, they chimed clearly…

Yes!
This was that bastard White Hair’s shameless condition!

On the first morning of the northern campaign, White Hair had excitedly climbed onto my bed and tried to fasten this bell anklet on me.

After I kicked him off, he calmly started listing his “terms”:

How he was the commander-in-chief and couldn’t always keep me with him.
How the army was full of people and dangers.
How if I ever left his sight, he could find me by the sound of the bells.
How everything was for my safety…

In the end, he used both soft and hard tactics:

“Mimin, either you obediently wear this and come with me to Najinba, or you stay in the palace and drink tonic soup with the head eunuch. Now you’re begging me, not the other way around. Think carefully.”

I planned to agree first and secretly take it off later.

Who knew this thing was magical? Without internal energy, it couldn’t be removed. He put it on easily, but I couldn’t pull it off no matter how hard I tried!

And because of the bells, I couldn’t even wear boots!

So now I was like a cat with a bell on its neck—jingling everywhere. How could I not sulk?!

We joined the army mainly to escape the overly curious women in the palace.

Who knew most of the accompanying women were married, bold, and outspoken, and their questions were even more “restricted”…

After being bombarded by enthusiastic aunties for days, how could I not sulk?!

Back in the palace, I still slept alone.

But now?

Before I could even ask where I would sleep, White Hair picked me up and carried me straight into the main tent.

Worse, an auntie watched this “daylight abduction” with a pleased expression!

Then he gave me excuses like thin quilts, hard pillows, cold beds, and forced me onto his bed.

Finally, he said arrogantly that if I didn’t want to sleep there, I could go guard outside.

How could I not sulk?!

My only joy now was watching Spoon grow day by day.

He scratched me less.
He bit me more gently.
His combat power against White Hair had increased by ten percent.

My little Spoon was unbeatable!

Every time Yasha tried to dive at me but turned midair after seeing Spoon’s glare and attacked White Hair instead, I was moved to tears.

Spoon… I really didn’t dote on you in vain!

Five days later, we reached the frontline between the Chasing Wind Tribe and the Najinba Tribe.

I wandered away from the main tent to look for Spoon.

Barefoot, I hopped around in the grass.

“Mimin!”

Azuo stood outside the grass, smiling gently.

I hopped toward him.

“Azuo~ Do you have something good for me? Food?”

“Sit first.”

I sat on a rock and pressed the jingling bells irritably.

“Don’t you like the silver bells?” he asked.

“Only a pervert would like them! White Hair is a pervert!”

…And worse, I was getting used to them.

Had I been tamed?

Azuo laughed and lifted my ankle.

“Do you know what’s written inside?”

“No.”

“These are our tribe’s characters… Never mind. One day, you’ll understand the young master’s intentions.”

“Huh?”

He opened his package.

Inside was a pair of exquisite deerskin sandals.

“You can’t always go barefoot. You might get hurt.”

He helped me put them on.

So comfortable!

He winked and whispered:

“Someone personally ordered these. He threw away several pairs before he was satisfied.”

I almost fell over in embarrassment.

After Azuo left, I suddenly felt a sharp gaze on me.

A black shadow hid in the grass.

I approached carefully.

Suddenly, something leaped into my arms—

It was Spoon.

Just then, an arrow shot past my neck and stuck into the ground!

Another arrow flew at me!

Spoon dashed out, grabbed it, and growled fiercely.

I shouted coldly:

“Who are you?! Come out now! This is only five hundred meters from camp! You can’t escape!”

The grass rustled.

A girl stood up.

She wore a red skirt, a black vest, and braided hair. She held a small crossbow and carried a quiver.

She wasn’t from the Chasing Wind Tribe.

She had snow-white skin, gray eyes, silver-gray hair, and a dazzlingly beautiful face.

Tall, long-legged, slim-waisted, full-chested.

A real beauty.

With cute little fangs when she spoke.

But her words weren’t cute.

She said:

“Slut!”

I stared at her in shock.

She glared at my shoes and gritted her teeth.

“Stay away from my Anda! Or I’ll make you regret it!”

“Anda” meant husband or lover.

So she thought I was her love rival!

Was this White Hair’s romantic debt?

But she was staring at my shoes…

White Hair ordered them.
The craftsman made them.
Azuo delivered them.

Who exactly was she jealous of?!

I stammered,

“Well… although being treated as a rival by such a beauty is very exciting… (Is that normal?)… could you tell me first, what kind of slut I am?

The kind who seduced the king?
Or the army?
Or the shoemaker?”

She froze.

Chapter 55 Who’s Being Jealous?

“Well… um…” I stammered, scratching my head. “I-I mean, being treated as a love rival by such a beautiful woman is actually pretty exciting (do normal people think that way?), but could you at least tell me first—what kind of shameless woman am I in your eyes?

Am I the shameless woman who seduces the King?
Or the shameless woman who seduces Fu Jun?
Or the shameless woman who seduces the tanner?”

She froze.

Seeing no reaction, my gaze sharpened. I immediately switched to a “Lucky 52” quiz-show tone.

“Contestant, please listen carefully! Which of the following best describes my image in your heart?

Option One: The shameless woman who seduces the King.
Option Two: The shameless woman who seduces Fu Jun.
Option Three: The shameless woman who seduces the tanner.

You have five seconds to answer!
Countdown… start! Five, four, three—”

“Option two!”
The little beauty clenched her fists and blurted out in panic.

I laughed. “Wow, you’re really into this~”

……

Inside the Main Military Tent

Inside the command tent, the leaders of the Wind-Chasing Tribe and their young King were discussing how to rescue the Crown Prince trapped by the Nakinba Tribe.

Suddenly, a guard rushed in, followed by a servant in foreign attire who tumbled inside.

“What is it?”
The King’s golden eyes swept down coldly.

“Your Majesty! A royal attendant from the Three-Bone Tribe requests an urgent audience!”

“The Three-Bone Tribe?”
The King glanced at the servant on the ground. “Oh… about the political marriage, right? Didn’t we tell you to stay in the palace first? Why come to the front line?”

Then he chuckled lightly. “Don’t tell me Peifu caused trouble again?”

The servant kowtowed repeatedly.
“Your Majesty is wise! We were headed to the palace as planned, but Princess Peifu heard that you were marching north and secretly left the group. I chased day and night but couldn’t catch her. I fear she may already be here and cause trouble, so I beg Your Majesty to intervene!”

The King smiled meaningfully and glanced at Fu Jun behind him.

“I’m afraid she didn’t come just because I marched north…”

Seeing Fu Jun blush slightly, he turned serious.

“Rest assured. I’ll have the army search for her. Once we find her, you’ll be informed. Someone, take the envoy to rest.”

Before he finished speaking, the tent curtain flew open.

A red figure rushed in and leapt at the King.

“Brother Luan~~!! I missed you so much!!!”

“Pe… Peifu?”
He laughed. “You just arrived as we mentioned you. Let me see… hmm, you’ve grown again…”

I leaned against the tent entrance with crossed arms, watching Peifu cling to White Hair’s neck.

“Oh~~ Brother Luan… I missed you so much…”

Hmph. Dead White Hair. Getting hugged by a beauty and smiling like an idiot—teeth everywhere.

“Let me see~ What are you looking at? You’ve grown again… Grown where?!”

White Hair was happily surrounded—until he saw me.

He froze.

Awkward silence filled the tent.

“Minmin…”
He hurriedly pried Peifu off and walked over.
“Why did you come with Peifu?”

“I came with her,” Peifu corrected cheerfully.
“Brother Luan, you’re so distant. You found Andamei and didn’t tell me! I almost hurt her just now!”

(This girl is really straightforward. “Andamei” means wife. No wonder she challenged me earlier…)

“Are you hurt?” White Hair reached out to touch me.

“None of your business!”
I slapped his hand away.
“Don’t touch me after hugging another woman!”

Silence.

My hand froze midair.

What… what am I doing?!

Peifu suddenly said sincerely,
“Sister-in-law, don’t be jealous! Brother Luan and I are just childhood friends. The one I love most is always A-Zuo!”

“S-Sister-in-law?! What?!”

Both White Hair and Fu Jun instantly blushed.

White Hair immediately brightened up and leaned closer.

“Minmin~ So you were jealous~~”

“N-No! Who’s jealous?! I’m not!”
My face burned as I backed away.

Everyone else: We all saw it…

“Then why did you look murderous when you saw us hugging?”

“I—I was worried another innocent girl would be corrupted by you!”

“Oh~~ Then stay with me so I won’t corrupt others~”

“In your dreams!”

“Then I’ll corrupt other girls…”

“You dare?! …Uh… I mean… do whatever.”

“Minmin… why are you so awkward?”

“I just am! Leave me alone!”

I ran away.

Everyone else thought: The whole world knows you like the King except you.

……

Later

I wandered around kicking stones, with Spoon walking beside me.

“Spoon, I’m really not jealous… I’ve always known White Hair likes lively girls. It’s not because Peifu fits that type…”

Spoon rolled his eyes.

“I’m serious! I never doubted him…”

Spoon snorted.

“Hey! Why are you snorting?! I may not be as busty, fair, tall, or pretty as Peifu… but I’m confident! Hahaha…”
(Not confident at all.)

I squatted gloomily.

“And wasn’t Peifu his official fiancée…”

Depression.

Spoon licked my ankle comfortingly.

Then voices came from inside the tent.

“Azhuo! I really love you! Do you love me?” —Peifu.

“Calm down, Peifu.” —Azhuo.

“How can I?! I’m about to be married to Brother Luan! You don’t care?!”

“…Do you want me to fight the Crown Prince for a woman?”

“For my beloved!”

“You’re a princess. Only a king suits you. I…”

“Azhuo! I’ll be yours forever!”

(Bravo! I applauded mentally.)

“I’ll earn great merit in this war and ask your father to give you to me!”

“But I’m a civil officer…”

“If you fail, I won’t blame you…”

“I won’t let you marry him!”

Enough!

I burst in and grabbed their hands.

“I WILL HELP YOU TWO!”

I didn’t know if I liked White Hair.

I just knew I didn’t want him marrying Peifu.

So I’d help Azhuo and Peifu!

Planning

Spreading out the map, we discussed overnight.

“The grasslands are hard to defend—flat and open. But the Nakinba base is in a valley, surrounded by mountains. It’s like a box.”

“If we close the lid,” I said, tapping the map, “it’s catching turtles in a jar.”

“But hard to take,” Azhuo said.

“Who said we’re taking it?” I smiled.
“We just need to cut off supplies.”

Azhuo’s eyes lit up.
“They’ll run out of food!”

“How would they get supplies?” I asked.

“Rob the Crown Prince?” Peifu suggested.

“Too risky,” Azhuo shook his head.

“Then what?” she protested.

Azhuo and I smiled together.

“Simple,” we said.

“Rob merchant caravans.”

“And that,” I grinned confidently, “is our chance.”