The moment Wei Zhao was pulled from a pile of corpses by Shen Qinglong at the age of twelve, she swore she would obey him for the rest of her life.
Until she turned fourteen, she was A Qi, Shen Qinglong's most capable shadow guard. After fourteen, she became Wei Zhao, the valiant Young General Wei of Xilong.
Wei Zhao thought she had done a good job hiding her feelings for Shen Qinglong, and that, barring any surprises, no one would ever find out in her lifetime.
It wasn't until she was sent away in a prisoner's cart as a gift to the woman that man loved that she understood.
Shen Qinglong knew everything.
Her feelings were nothing but a bargaining chip he had used for years to make her seize military power for him.
Wei Zhao had fought in countless battles. In Xilong, everyone praised her as the Young General Wei. In Nanqi, she was an enemy they wanted to tear limb from limb.
She accepted the imperial decree and stood stunned for a moment. Then she smiled faintly, dressed in plain clothes with her hair loose, and climbed into the prisoner's cart Nanqi had arranged for her.
*
Ink slowly gathered at the tip of the brush, then dripped onto the rice paper, leaving an ugly black spot. Shen Qinglong was silent for a long time before finally asking, "Did she say anything before she left?"
The eunuch who had delivered the decree hesitated. "Miss Wei said... If His Majesty wants her to do something, he only has to tell her directly."
"She has always obeyed His Majesty."
Shen Qinglong's heart gave a sudden, painful lurch. Yes, she had always obeyed him.
*
Later, Shen Qinglong led his army to destroy Nanqi. When he saw Wei Zhao again, she had already set a wedding date with someone else.
The general was gone. All that remained was a slender woman, still recovering from old wounds.
With white cloth covering her eyes, she asked, "Doctor Wen, have you come back?"
Shen Qinglong quieted his breathing and ignored the dull ache that kept pulsing in his heart. He replied,
"I came to take you home."
Theme: Cherish the person by your side
