The weather in the north was harsh, and the climate and terrain were not suitable for growing crops. Even if they managed to grow some crops, the harvest would definitely be poor. That was why a bowl of green fruit porridge that didn't taste very good was so precious.

Even grains were hard to grow in the north, let alone fruit trees.

It was also winter. Even in Shengjing, the only fruits one could eat in the winter were frozen pears and oranges.

Even Chu Lian, who was well-prepared, didn't have any fresh fruits to eat. When she was hungry, she could at most eat a few pieces of candied fruit.

Now that Sima Hui was treating her with juicy and sweet sugar cane, she was truly flattered.

Chu Lian knew very well what kind of life the soldiers in the border army lived.

Xiao Ju saw Jinyi Village Lord looking at the white porcelain plate filled with sugarcane in shock. She smiled and explained, "General brought these sugarcane from Su City. Because the weather here isn't good, it froze a bit. Now, this is all that's left to eat."

Chu Lian didn't want to eat anymore. She pushed the plate in front of Sima Hui. "These sugar cane aren't easy to preserve. Sister Hui, you should eat it."

Sima Hui smiled. "I don't like sweet things. Lian 'er, you should eat it.

These sugar cane have been preserved until now because Su City is rich in sugar cane. I bought some when I passed by with my subordinates.

If Lian 'er feels bad, you can make me some salty snacks. "

Chu Lian was indeed fond of sweet things. It was obvious from how she never got tired of drinking honey water every day.

With Sima Hui's explanation, if Chu Lian continued to decline, it would seem pretentious. She smiled. "Since Sister Hui says so, I won't stand on ceremony."

Chu Lian used a stick on the side of the white porcelain plate to poke a piece into her mouth. The sugar cane was well preserved and didn't lose any moisture. After chewing a few times, the sweet juice flowed out and occupied her entire taste buds. This feeling was completely different from eating candied fruit.

Chu Lian quickly devoured four or five pieces. Although she didn't eat as elegantly as a strictly raised daughter of an aristocratic family, she still had the magical power to make people taste good. Sima Hui, who didn't like sweet food, couldn't help but eat a piece when she saw Chu Lian eating happily.

As soon as He Changdi entered the tent, he saw his wife sitting at the table happily eating sugar cane!

Sima Hui, who was sitting next to her, was looking at Chu Lian with a gentle expression.

There was a plate next to the small table filled with the bagasse that Chu Lian had spat out. The small plate of bagasse was dazzling in He Changdi's eyes.

It was so difficult for him to take out the bag of sugarcane that he was carrying on his back.

Lai Yue followed behind his young master. When he saw the current situation, he was filled with regret.

Why was Third Young Madam eating sugarcane at General Sima's place? Why did she have to bring back sugarcane instead of fruits?

He Sanlang's arrival was sudden, and he had barged in directly. At this moment, the female soldier guarding the tent came in trembling to beg for forgiveness. Si Mahui waved her hand and asked the female soldier to leave.

Chu Lian's cheeks were slightly puffed up. She hadn't finished eating the sugar cane in her mouth yet!

She opened her almond-shaped eyes and blinked. With food in her mouth, she could not speak clearly. "He Changdi, what's wrong with you?"

He Sanlang turned around and threw the bag in his hands into Lai Yue's hands. He glanced at Chu Lian indifferently and said in a cold tone, "What's wrong? Can't I take a look at my wife?"

Chu Lian frowned and spat out the bagasse in her mouth. She was vexed. What's wrong with this crazy husband of hers now?

He Changdi's gaze swept over to the small table not far away. There were a few delicately shaped desserts on it. He Changdi had never eaten any of them before. It went without saying that the only person who could make these desserts was Chu Lian or someone close to her. As her husband, he had never tasted them before. Yet, he took them all out to please Si Mahui!

He became even angrier, and his expression became even colder. He suppressed the frustration in his heart and said coldly, "Since you've eaten and drunk well, I'll take my leave!"

He Sanlang came and left in a hurry. Before Chu Lian could say anything, he lifted the curtain and left the tent …

The short conversation between the husband and wife left Si Mahui dumbfounded. In the end, the corner of her mouth twitched in sympathy. "Lian 'er, do you want to chase after him?"

Chu Lian rolled her eyes. Chase after him for what? Did Si Mahui change her and He Changdi's identities?

How could she, a woman, chase after him to coax her husband?

"No need. That's just how he is."

Lai Yue, who hadn't left the tent yet, pursed his lips. He didn't want to see his master's efforts go to waste, so he purposely left the bag open a little so that people could see what was inside. Lai Yue had a bitter expression on his face. "Third Young Mistress, this …"

Lai Yue's actions were so obvious. Chu Lian wasn't blind. Of course, she could see what was inside the bag. She pursed her lips and said helplessly, "You go back first. I'll go over later."

After receiving Chu Lian's promise, Lai Yue chuckled and bowed respectfully. Then, he turned and left quickly.

In the evening, Chu Lian brought Wenqing and Wenlan to He Changdi's tent. She didn't forget to bring a small box of desserts.

However, when Chu Lian arrived outside the tent, she was told by a soldier guarding the camp that Colonel He had left the camp with some people and didn't know when he would return.

Chu Lian was stunned. Just as she was about to ask someone she knew in the right wing army, Colonel Guo happened to pass by and led her to He Changdi's tent.

"Sister-in-law, Zixiang left the camp in the afternoon."

Colonel Guo turned and took out a bag from a wooden box beside the bed and handed it to Chu Lian. "Zixiang asked me to give this to you. Open it and take a look!"

Chu Lian took the bag and placed it on the small table. She quickly opened the slipknot on the bag and saw a few things lying inside.

Colonel Guo looked at the bag and was slightly startled. Then, he signaled to Wenqing and Wenlan beside Chu Lian before turning and quietly leaving the tent. He didn't want to disturb Chu Lian anymore.

Inside the bag was the sugar cane that He Changdi hadn't sent out in the morning and a thick stack of letters.

Chu Lian knelt down by the small table and removed the sugar cane that was pressing on the letters.

The letter on the top was written today.

There were only a few words on the envelope: "For my wife, Chu Lian" and a small line of words beside it was the date.

Chu Lian picked up the envelope and looked at it for a moment before opening it. There was only a piece of paper inside. It was written in a vigorous regular script. It wasn't long, but Chu Lian read each word seriously.

It could have been finished in a few seconds, but Chu Lian read it for a quarter of an hour. After reading it, she carefully folded the letter and put it back into the envelope. Then, she picked up the next letter.

Chu Lian read from the afternoon until the lights were lit. Only then did she flip to the last letter.

This envelope looked especially big. There were no words on the cover, but the edges were a little rough. It was probably because He Sanlang often took it out to look at it.

Chu Lian carefully opened it. When she saw what was inside, her almond-shaped eyes instantly widened.

It was actually a letter she wrote to He Changdi!

No, it wasn't a letter. At that time, she was afraid of exposing her handwriting, so she sent He Changdi a drawing.

Chu Lian took out the drawing from the specially made envelope and found that the edges of the drawing paper had some burn marks. She frowned strangely before carefully putting the drawing paper back into the envelope.

Chu Lian looked at the envelopes that were spread all over the small table, and a strange feeling arose in her heart.

The envelopes in the package were arranged according to the date. The top one was written by He Changdi recently, and the bottom one was the drawing that she sent to He Sanlang at the beginning.

In the beginning, He Changdi would write a letter once a month to let her know that he was safe. Later on, he would write a letter every two weeks. In November, He Changdi would write a letter almost every three days. On the envelope, he would write, "For my wife, Chu Lian."

In November, the road was blocked by snow, so the letters were not sent out. They had been accumulating with him. However, he did not stop writing. Sometimes it was just a few simple sentences, and sometimes it was something about the military. When Chu Lian read these letters, she seemed to see He Sanlang lying on the small table in the middle of the night, writing a letter.

The letter he wrote today was to tell her that he was temporarily leaving the barracks for a period of time. As for what he was going to do, it was a military secret. He Changdi did not mention it. However, Chu Lian was not an idiot. When she thought about Lu Zhou, who she sent to the military, she almost instantly guessed what He Changdi was going to do.

She was afraid that he was using Lu Zhou to go to Su City in Qianshan Lake to stock up on grain!

In the letter, He Changdi specifically told her to stay in the northern barracks. He was not in Liangzhou. Mo Chenggui and the other veterans were also taken away by him. If she returned to the He Mansion, it would not be safe. He had already reported to General Qian and asked Chu Lian to stay in the female barracks until he returned.

As for the snow mountain flower on Ah Ming Mountain — Snow Mountain Mist — he had already sent people to investigate and told her not to worry too much.

Chu Lian suddenly realized that He Sanlang was very reliable when he was not sick.

Chu Lian took a deep breath and tidied up the letters. She neatly put them back into the package.

Then, she asked Wenlan to take out the sugar cane. After doing this, Chu Lian left He Changdi's tent and returned to Sima Hui's female barracks.

He Changdi was entrusted by General Qian. He took his trusted subordinates and some brothers from the Right Wing Army who had risked their lives to ride "Lu Zhou" to Su City, the nearest city to Liangzhou.

In the dark night, although it was snowing and the cold wind was whistling, his heart was burning.

The northern border army did not need to repeat the tragic battle in his previous life. Not only that, they still had a chance to fight back against the Tuhun people. If they could survive this winter and have enough food, then the Tuhun people would no longer be a threat to the northern border!

He Changdi's heart was burning. When he thought of Chu Lian who was still waiting for him in the northern border army, his heart became even more confident and urgent.

In the dark night, torches and braziers were lit on the towering city tower of Su City. Well-armed soldiers guarded the city wall, adding a sense of majesty to the ancient city by Qianshan Lake.

At the highest point of the city tower, in the raging snowstorm, stood a tall and thin man.

The man was wearing a dark official robe. A mink velvet cloak was tied around his neck, and the hem of the cloak fluttered in the wind. The jade crown on his head was tied high, and his back was facing the dim light. His face could not be seen clearly.

The man suddenly coughed, and the person behind him asked worriedly, "Master, let's go back. This place is windy, and your body has not been well for the past two days."

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