Chapter 114: A Splitting Headache

Hometown dearly wished General Lie Chang’an’s health would recover quickly, yet selfishly feared that once he healed, he would surely leave the palace to return to his family estate. She was reluctant to see him go.

Seated by the windowsill, she rested her chin on her hand, her delicate face clouded with worry.

“Princess.”

Jasmine brought in a simple velvet robe lined with smoke-colored gauze; winter had already set in, and the chill was biting.

Hometown lifted her eyelids and glanced at her listlessly. “Have the nourishing broths been sent to General Chang’an?”

Jasmine helped her into the robe and smiled, nodding. “I’ve already instructed Xiao Qiu to deliver them.”

“That’s good.”

Each day, Hometown shared half of the nourishing broth her mother sent her with General Lie Chang’an.

“What about the military texts?”

She looked toward the courtyard outside the window, where the fallen leaves had left the trees bare and stark. “Has the Crown Prince sent them over?”

“They have been sent. How could His Highness the Crown Prince not take to heart the matters entrusted by the Princess?”

Hometown nodded, smiling with renewed spirit. She rose and eagerly headed out. “Alright, take the military texts to General Lie Chang’an.”

Jasmine followed behind, shaking her head with a smile.

The princess simply wanted to visit General Lie Chang’an, yet she always had to find some excuse.

Hometown entered a side hall where the courtyard was equally bleak with winter’s grasp. The cold wind howled, but inside, a warm brazier dispelled much of the chill.

General Lie Chang’an had just finished the broth brought to him, feeling its strong effects warming his body.

Hearing footsteps, he saw Hometown enter. A flicker of joy and a flutter of the heart crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

“I brought you some military texts.”

Seeing his complexion much improved from the day before, Hometown felt reassured. “I asked the Crown Prince for these. Feel free to study them.”

Lie Chang’an accepted the thick volumes Jasmine handed over, flipping through them. The texts were well preserved and contained rare editions he had never seen before—surely precious treasures carefully collected by the Crown Prince.

“Thank you, Princess,” he said gratefully. These books were invaluable to him.

Noticing the evident happiness on his face, Hometown was glad in turn, silently thinking to herself: they say “heroes find it hard to resist beautiful women,” but with her, the roles seemed reversed.

“Take a look,” she invited.

Knowing he was eager to delve into the military texts, Hometown didn’t want to disturb his enthusiasm. She sat down on a stool by the bedside. “I’ll look as well.”

She picked up a volume herself and, feigning interest, began to read.

Lie Chang’an was surprised that this sheltered princess showed any interest in military texts, but not wishing to interrupt her, he quietly took up another book and read.

The atmosphere was inexplicably harmonious.

Neither spoke; only the soft rustling of turning pages filled the room.

Jasmine quietly slipped out and stood guard outside the door.

Could the princess fool General Lie Chang’an, yet not fool a servant like herself, who had served her since childhood and knew her temperament inside out?

Of course, the princess had no real interest in the military texts. Most likely, she just wanted to linger here a while longer with General Lie Chang’an and was simply inventing excuses to save face.

Hometown certainly had no genuine desire to study these lengthy treatises on warfare. Having been forced by her mother to study the Four Books and Five Classics, which had already overwhelmed her, she was hardly inclined to absorb these dense military volumes.