Not Your Typical Villianess

NINGZHUO, NORTHERN WEI

"Hold him steady!" The surgeon instructed Su Liya and two other attendants as he attempted to reset the soldiers bone. They were swamped with patients since the enemies had retreated at two and a half hours earlier. The soldier was among the last set of injured soldiers borough in, his leg was turned in an awkward direction as he was brought in and he was sporting a stab wound on the shoulder.

Resetting a bone was very painful and most patients couldn't handle the pain since any sudden movement could endanger the patient more. It was most preferred to have the patient held down until the bone was reset and bandaged. All of which the surgeon did in less than thirty minutes.

The soldier fainted from pain as the bandage was set. Su Liya and the other attendance holding him down all stood, Su Liya felt a throbbing pain in her thigh and waist from running around the sickbay. She placed her hand on her waist a gently massaged her sore waist. Su Liya walked to the table at the side and poured herself a warm cup of water. 

She walked out of the tent to her some fresh air and sat on a chair outside the tent. Tipping the cup up and gulping down the water, Su Lita leaned backwards eye closed. The sound of hasty footsteps alerted her that she was about to have company.

Her eyebrows switched a little when she heard a familiar female voice, "Your highness, I just heard from a soldier that the General is heading to battle in a few minutes".

"Huh! Didn't Yan state army just retreat? Don't tell me they are back again, those perky little buggers" she muttered seating straight.

"It is not them, my lady. Commander Bai at Ningzhuo just sent word asking for reinforcement at Ningzhuo. The Governor of Duanyue turned against us, he is helping the enemy". 

"Ha! The numbers here are not very high. Since it is not a smart move to leave the border unprotected, Yaozhu might not be able to go with anything more than ten thousand men. Boazhai, send word to Wu Yao to send in more reinforcements"

"Yes, mistress" Baozhai bowed and hurried away. Su Liya watched her leave silently before standing and walking back to Lu Yaozhu's tent. Su Liya pulled the flaps back and walked into the room. Yu Tao stood in front of Lu Yaozhu, helping him put on his heavy battle armour when she walked in. He quickly pulled back and bowed at Su Liya.

"Your Highness!"

Su Liya walked forward and smiling shyly said, "I heard that you are going with Yaozhu, go get dressed. I will take this from here" 

Yu Tao glanced at Lu Yaozhu before nodding "thanks, I will leave the rest to you", he said and left the tent. 

Lu Yaozhu smiled down at Su Liya as she pulled the wrist guard into his hands. Su Liya ignored his expression as she walked around him and helped him get into his full armour. 

Lu Yaozhu placed tried his hands on her cheeks but she quickly stepped away. After two more unsuccessful tries, he asked, "are you mad at me?"

"No," Su Liya whispered and continued helping him out on his armour.

"Then why the attitude?" 

"Do you have to away be the hero, I wish that you would be more selfish"

"There are lives a stake, I cannot afford to be selfish but I can promise you that this is the last time I would take such a risk" 

"Why are you talking like you are writing a will?" She held his collars tightly and said, "don't you dare die on me. If you do, I won't even mourn you at all. I will just forget about you and marry someone else"

He held her hands, "that is okay, I would never want you to be alone forever. I am not that selfish, it is okay that you had me in your heart while I was alive. After watching my mother leave in the past all these years since my father's death. I don't want that for you, if I die don't let yourself fall into deep grief. Mourn me for a few years and then move on, if you see someone better. Go for it, I want you to be happy and not stuck in the past".

Her eyes narrowed on him, "You! I bet you think that you are so cool right now. Acting all selfless and all but I better not find out when I die that you move on to someone new in the afterlife. You have two options, either you become a monk or you pine for me till we meet again".

Hahaha, "that is so mean but okay. It is not like I can fall for someone else, you have spoiled me for other women"

Su Liya blushed when she heard that, she leaned closer and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. As she pulled back, He hugged his hands around her wrist and pulled her closer. He placed his lips on hers and kissed her deeply. They pulled back when there was a good throat clear outside the tent. Lu Yaozhu geared at the flaps, he did not like the interruption. 

She pulled back and quickly righted her clothes, in case whoever that was at the other side of the tent walked in. Lu Yaozhu smiled and called out, "Who is it?"

"It is Yu Tao, my lord. The soldiers are ready* 

Lu Yaozhu glanced down at her, " I will be there soon".

"Yes".

Su Liya stepped back as best as she could, with him holding on to her hands. She ran her eyes down his full-length checking if she got everything right with the armour. Lu Yaozhu pull her into a hug and whispered into her ear, "while I am gone, watch out for anyone or anything strange. I don't think the governor of Duanyue is the only traitor we have in our means".

"I will be careful, don't worry, be careful out there. I will be waiting for you to return" she replied softly. she stood on her tiptoes and pecked him on the cheek.

"I will be back" he smiled and rubbed her He rubbed his thumb on the top of her plan and slowly stepped back, put on his sword and walked out of the tent.

Su Liya wrapped her hands around her chest for a few seconds before running out of the tent. She stood in front of the tent and watch Lu Yaozhu leave. She stood there until he was completely out of sight before returning to the medical tent.

*****

Meanwhile, at Lu Yaozhu's end.

Lu Yaozhu quickly came alert as he heard a faint sound of a dry tree branch getting crushed from the thick grass to his right. He skillfully moved his hands closer to his swords, while maintaining a calm expression. Yu Tao who was riding closer to him noticed his movement. He tensed up and looked around but didn't notice anything odd. 

Yu Tao pulled his horse reins and rode closer to his master, "General are we being followed?"

"Yes," Lu Yaozhu replied with a straight face.

"Should I alert the men? It might be a sneak attack" 

"Don't, whoever it is following us has no intention to attack us. Someone went exacted a lot of effort to get me to leave the camp and head to Ningzhuo, they won't attack us yet"

"Whoever is behind this, is going through a lot of effort. If you were the target, my lord, why cause all this mess?"

"Why indeed, if not as a cover-up. He cares so much for public opinion and would not want to receive criticism for using the Imperial army for his personal Vindata. That is why he staged this attack as a front to get to me, sometimes people don't know when to give up"

Yu Tao titled his head a little bit, "you already know who is behind this attack".

"Yes, doesn't his military tactics seem familiar?"

After some seconds of silence, Yu Tao face brightened. "It is the Crown Prince of Chu state isn't it?"

"Yes, this is his attempt at avenging his previous defeat. "

"So he is as bad as the rumours said" Yu Tai shook his head, "this isn't going to be easy, General".

Lu Yaozhu Chuckled, "whoever said that it would be easy, I am abiding by the family rule which is to attempt the impossible. Inform the men to be on guard, we are getting closer to Ningzhuo. An attack is imminent" 

"Yes" Yu Tao nodded and pulling on his horse's reins, he went back to deliver the news to the men.

As Lu Yaozhu predicted, they were surrounded a few miles away from Ningzhuo. The Crown Prince of Chu stares at high on black stead, dressed in a silver full armour he came forward with his left and right-wing generals following him behind.

"We meet again, General." Crown Prince Chu Xiaosi said smirking