Chapter 21: The Military Camp, Training

“Has the General arrived?” Tang Chen looked around anxiously, his body turning as well; his legs were so numb he nearly lost his balance.

Chu Junhan, seeing Tang Chen’s flustered state, couldn’t help but cover her mouth and giggle, her laughter as clear as silver bells, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

“Han’er, you’re awake!”

“General!”

Chu Xiong looked at Tang Chen, whose eyes were bloodshot from fatigue, and walked over to pat him on the shoulder. “Thank you for watching over Han’er all night. My child didn’t cry, did she?”

All night?

Chu Junhan gazed gratefully at Tang Chen. So he had stayed with her through the night!

“Reporting, General, Junhan did not cry.” Tang Chen couldn’t help sneaking a glance at little Chu Junhan, feeling a newfound admiration for the child before him.

Chu Xiong nodded in satisfaction. “Thank you, Deputy General Tang. You’ve been up all night as well. Go and get some rest!”

“Yes, General!” Tang Chen responded crisply and left without delay.

Once Tang Chen had gone, Chu Xiong crouched down and ruffled Chu Junhan’s hair. “You are a good child, Han’er. From today on, you are a little soldier. Are you afraid of hardship?”

“Han’er’s not afraid.” Chu Junhan shook her head like a rattle drum, drawing a hearty laugh from Chu Xiong.

Chu Xiong stood and took the chubby little hand in his. “Come with me.”

Following in Chu Xiong’s footsteps, Chu Junhan came to a broad clearing, though smaller than the one where the iron cavalry had trained the day before.

“Han’er, I will teach you how to hold a horse stance! On the battlefield, steady footing is crucial, so learning the horse stance is essential!”

“Yes, Han’er understands!”

Chu Xiong looked at her with pride, straightening her robe. “Begin here. I’ll stay with you all the while.”

“Yes, Father.” Like a little adult, Chu Junhan rolled up her trousers and spread her legs, assuming a textbook-perfect horse stance.

In her previous life, though she’d been the pampered daughter of the Chu family, her pride ran deep and she’d secretly practiced martial arts. Unfortunately, her pretty but useless moves had availed her nothing when it mattered. In this life, she would never again be a helpless girl!

Chu Xiong’s eyes widened in surprise—he hadn’t expected his daughter to have such talent.

“Stay here and hold your stance, Han’er. I’ll go check on the soldiers.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I won’t slack off.” But her body was only four years old; she had barely crouched down before her face flushed red from the effort.

Chu Xiong sighed, his heart aching for her. He didn’t want to be so hard on his precious child, but open defiance of imperial orders was not an option.

“If you get tired, rest a while. Don’t force yourself,” he said, unsure if a child so young could understand his true meaning.

“Yes, please don’t worry, Father.” Chu Junhan’s words trembled; after only half an hour, she was already struggling to hold on.

Though deeply pained, Chu Xiong exhaled a heavy breath, his sigh mingling with the biting wind.

As night fell, the soldiers returned from the drill grounds in small groups. Each one passing by couldn’t help but glance at Chu Junhan.

Stories began to circulate in the camp—tales about Chu Junhan, all praising his youthful promise.

“Did you hear? Our young master is said to be the reincarnation of Yang Jian! And who is Yang Jian but a god of war?”

“They say when Deputy Commander Xi gave birth to him, the sound of a dragon’s roar was heard!”

...

“Have you nothing better to do?” Tang Chen barked at the soldiers gathered by the fire. “If you’re so idle, go tend to the provisions!”

A dragon’s roar? If the royal family heard such talk, wouldn’t it bring trouble from nothing?

Little did they know, all these rumors had been started by Chu Junhan herself. Her purpose was simple: to drive a wedge between her father and that scheming emperor, so that her father might one day see his true colors!