Deep into the night, a carriage and several guards on horses travel at an alarming speed. While the snow trickling down, the ground shakes as the horses passing through the wood.

"Madam, it's getting colder. Are you alright?", QiQi asked with worry marking her delicate face.

"Yes, rather than me, how about you and the rest? If they cannot take it anymore, let us rest", Li Xi Rui adjust the fur blanketing her body from the coldness of the night.

"Don't worry, everyone is alright", QiQi couldn't help but worry about the madam's body. Which noble lady suffers this much during her pregnancy? Usually, noble families will dote on their pregnant daughter in law. But the madam? QiQi's heart breaks everytime she look at the madam. Didn't the madam noticed her feet and hands getting colder the further they travel to the north?

Maybe it's the cold gloomy night. Maybe it's the heart longing for someone to warm it up. Maybe it's just Li Xi Rui needing her Long Jie to comfort her. But one thing for sure that night no one feel tired, no one dare to stop and no one wanted to waste anymore precious time to reach the army camp. Doesn't matter how much they need to sacrifice, because all they want is just their master back.

***

The next day at the army camp~

"Sorry for disturbing, Crown Prince! But someone at the gate claim that they're General Jie's people!", a soldier greets the crown prince.

"Let them in!", Long Qing wondered who has the audacity to come to the army camp during war?! Either the person is very stupid or very reckless.

After a while, several steps could be heard.

*Step* the soft lighter steps being overshadowed by the heavy boot sounds.

*Step* the sound of fabric being dragged lightly across the sand couldn't be heard.

*Step* the soft breathing sound being masked by heavy breathing.

"Greetings crown prince!", the people bow with politeness. Long Qing didn't want to look at the newly arrived people.

'Ah, when the soldier said someone, he didn't specified that is is actually more than one person!', Long Qing has plenty of thing to do but these people come to the army camp for what?! Didn't they know that he too is looking for his brother?! "Take them to the spare tent! Whatever it is, let's talk tomorrow!", ordered Long Qing without taking his eyes off from the scroll on the table.

Hearing the retreating steps, Long Qing sighed, "Why do they bother coming here?". 'If they wanted to be useful, then why didn't they find a way to defeat the Nothern Hu?', thought the crown prince, his face dark with visible stress reflected on his face.

"We come to find my husband. Clearly it's because your man power is not enough!", a woman's voice could be heard laced with masked fury.

"Xi Rui?! You are not supposed to be here! Am I dreaming?", Long Qing could see Li Xi Rui's figure standing in front of him. If he is indeed dreaming then why is Li Xi Rui pregnant? In his dream, Xi Rui has always been smiling and calling him gege but this Xi Rui is scowling with her beautiful face.

"Yes, I also wish that I am dreaming. At least after I wake up this will only be a nightmare", Li Xi Rui couldn't bring herself to be polite with the crown prince with what was going on.

"Xi Rui, I can explain... Please just let me explain", Long Qing stand up and walks towards Li Xi Rui. His hands stretch out wanting to hold her.

"Don't you dare touch me! Stay where you are and explain! What had happened for you to lose him?!", Li Xi Rui herself know that it is inevitable for one to lose her life in war. But she couldn't help wanting to blame it on someone. She needs someone to hate; to release her anger so she didn't lose her mind!

"The strategy failed. At that time there were so much chaos. It was not until later that we learned, Jie had disappeared. This is no one's fault! It's fate! Please, just listen to me!", Long Qing is desperately asking Li Xi Rui to understand that none of this is anyone's fault.

"Fate? What do you know about anyone's fate?", Li Xi Rui asked with cynicism. What about fate?! Long Jie is not fated to die! Not then and not now!

"Xi Rui, you're clearly too agitated. You will harm your body if you continue to be this angry. You know that I couldn't bear to see you in pain", Long Qing tried his best to persuade Li Xi Rui to calm down. She has just travelled for nearly half a month from the capital to the border, so what she needs now is plenty of rest.

"It's because I know you well that I couldn't trust your words. Don't bother about me, from now on, I'll see to it that Long Jie is found! Just concentrate on taking the enemy down. As for that certain someone, don't let her running around the camp ground!", Li Xi Rui is not afraid to order the crown prince around. Beheaded for that crime is not something she cares about for now. The crown prince wouldn't dare to punish her now with what has been going on. And no one would blame her to act that way considering her pregnant state and the tragedy she's facing.

"So be it! Xi Rui, as long as you're alright, I'm willing to do anything. I'll lead you to my tent. That's the most comfortable place for you", Long Qing persuades Li Xi Rui forgetting that Mu Jiu Jiu is currently residing with him in the same tent.

"No. I will stay in Jie's tent", Li Xi Rui refused his offer. She loathes anything that has to do with Mu Jiu Jiu and Long Qing. For her to sleep in their love nest is totally out of the question. 'Disgusting!', she thought.

"Then, let me at least escort you out", he didn't let Li Xi Rui to refuse a second time as he take the lead to escort her personally. His mind couldn't fathom what has just happened. His Xi Rui is here. Regardless of what reason, Li Xi Rui is here. He has been missing her for months. Now that he has seen the lovely little face, he ought to treasure her more. Deep down, he wished that Long Jie wouldn't come back. If Li Xi Rui becomes a widow, it will be justified to take her in as his concubine. The ministers wouldn't oppose as much if the reasoning would be her child is a part of the royal family. 'Who would have thought that this is a blessing in disguise?', thought Long Qing.

Li Xi Rui's presence in the army camp has spread around the perimeters. When will one see a pregnant lady come into a place of war on her own? It is a prove that the second consort loves the second prince so much!

Maybe it's because the soldiers are in the situation where they're missing their family. Maybe it's because war itself has a negative meaning for them. But Li Xi Rui's action moved the soldiers' hearts. They began to see her in a new light. Naturally the soldiers have heard about the rumors regarding Li Xi Rui but will someone like that would sacrifice everything to look for her husband at the border during war? Even they have given up hopes to look for the second prince. Pity and understanding reflected on their faces as Li Xi Rui passed through the camp.

But a certain someone might not receive the memo as that person call out to Li Xi Rui, "Sister Xi Rui? What are you doing here?"

Turning her head to that voice, Li Xi Rui could see Cheng You or rather Mu Jiu Jiu is walking to them. 'Mu Jiu Jiu!', her brain is screaming with indignation; her scalp tingles with fury. Watching the person responsible for the tragedy, Li Xi Rui could feel that hatred double the initial amount. Unconsciously she walks toward Mu Jiu Jiu in her blind  madness.

*PPAKKK!!!* The sound echoes loudly.

Everyone stops breathing. They couldn't believe their eyes. Hearing things about Li Xi Rui was an understatement. The real her is even more impetuous than the rumor.

"Li Xi Rui!!!", Mu Jiu Jiu couldn't believe that Li Xi Rui dare to treat her like this in front of Long Qing; in front of the soldiers. Where did Li Xi Rui's courage comes from, for her to stomp on her dignity like this?! She feels humiliated. For so long no one had treat her this way, then why did this ancient woman treat her this way?

Contrary to Mu Jiu Jiu's believe, Li Xi Rui has never once scared of her. It's because Li Xi Rui is someone who is more frightening than a certain transmigrated woman. One must have been incredibly stupid to push Li Xi Rui to the limit and expect not a single retaliation from the rumoured unruly shrew woman.