They rarely considered teaching the students military strategy to survive in a war-torn place like Pingliang.
It’s not that they hadn’t thought about it, but they lacked confidence.
This new female official seemed unassuming, yet she had quite the ambition, unlike ordinary people.
The old man's gaze towards Xu Zhen changed slightly, showing increased approval.
The academy would not hold classes today.
The three of them stood by the house, discussing the curriculum, and then the female official and Xu Zhen went their separate ways.
The female official went home to cook.
Xu Zhen wandered around until evening, returning home without any appetite and deciding to go straight to bed.
Unexpectedly, in the middle of the night, a loud clamor erupted outside. The Hu soldiers launched another attack, and battle broke out. The sounds of drums and horns echoed as red flames lit up the city walls, with the wind howling and sand and stones flying everywhere.
Waves of fire surged in layers.
They breached the first wall and reached the second gate.
In her earthen house, Xu Zhen smelled the scent of burning.
She awoke in a daze, fumbling to get up, listening to the chaos outside, and looking at the dark sky.
After gathering her wits, she put on her clothes and shoes and moved to another room, hiding in the cellar to avoid stray arrows.
The cellar was pitch dark, with only Xu Zhen and a hundred taels of gold bestowed by the emperor. A sliver of light filtered through a crack above, and Xu Zhen used it to peer outside.
Who knew how long she waited, but eventually, the outside noise quieted down a bit.
Xu Zhen let out a sigh of relief.
At that moment, the door above suddenly opened with a loud creak.
Startled, Xu Zhen held her breath.
Could it be that Pingliang had been breached and the Hu soldiers had entered?
She was in disbelief.
Then, the person above quickly jumped down and called out, "Teacher."
It was Xu Qianchun.
Xu Zhen's heart settled. She looked closely in the moonlight and confirmed it was the dusty-faced Xun Qianchun. She couldn't help but laugh, "How did you end up looking like this?"
Without a handkerchief, she used the sleeve of her robe to wipe Xun Qianchun's face.
Xu Qianchun's face was not only dirty but also had dried blood. Not wanting Xu Zhen to see that, she turned her head away.
Xu Zhen paused for a while, her mind racing with countless thoughts, assuming that Xun Qianchun had discovered her improper feelings and wanted to keep a distance.
But if that were the case, why would she come looking for her?
Right, why come looking for her??
Xu Zhen's focus quickly shifted, and she asked Xun Qianchun, "The Hu soldiers attacked. Why aren't you in the military camp? Why did you come here? Isn't this desertion?"
Seeing her nervousness, Xun Qianchun's stern expression softened into gentleness.
Her face was beautiful, the scar at the corner of her eye now stained with blood, making her even more striking. She looked at Xu Zhen, glanced several times, said nothing, and prepared to leave.
Xu Zhen asked, "What did you come here for?"
Xun Qianchun turned back and explained, "I was worried something might happen to you."
Xu Zhen was puzzled, "What could possibly happen to me?"
Xun Qianchun replied, "I don't know. Once it was over outside, I just couldn't help but think of you."
Her words might have had no hidden meaning, but to Xu Zhen, they seemed naturally intimate, making her heart flutter.
Xu Zhen turned her head, realizing she might not be able to discuss things calmly, and told Xun Qianchun to leave first.
Xun Qianchun agreed, then quickly returned, taking something out from her bosom and placing it in Xu Zhen's hand.
Xu Zhen opened her hand to look.
It seemed to be some seeds.
She asked Xun Qianchun, "What is this?"
Xun Qianchun said, "Seeds."
Xu Zhen replied, "They really are. What kind of seeds?"
Xun Qianchun answered, "I don't know either. I took them from the enemy."
"The enemy? The Hu people? What good things could they grow?" Xu Zhen raised her hand to examine the seeds closely in the light, eventually realizing they seemed to be red bean seeds.
Do the Hu people like red beans?
Quite interesting. Xu Zhen put this pile of seeds into the pouch at her waist.
Xun Qianchun said, "Teacher, I'll be leaving now."
Xu Zhen nodded but felt reluctant, subconsciously lifting her hand to grab Xun Qianchun's sleeve.
After grabbing it, she wasn't sure what to do next.
Xu Zhen thought for a moment, considering giving her robe to Xun Qianchun to keep her warm on the way.
Before she could act, Xun Qianchun took hold of the hand that was pulling her sleeve, covering it with both hands. She warmed Xu Zhen's hand with waves of warmth, as if trying to turn it into a warm ember.
Their hands were about the same size, with Xun Qianchun's fingers slightly longer and her palms bearing thin calluses.
Xu Zhen tried to pull her hand back but couldn't, causing their palms to rub together, which tickled intensely.
The thin calluses rubbing against soft flesh were indeed tormenting.
Seeing Xu Zhen lower her head, her face turning red, Xun Qianchun leaned in, holding Xu Zhen's hand against her chest and softly asked what was wrong.
Xu Zhen didn't hear clearly, her ears buzzing.
Xun Qianchun raised her hand to touch Xu Zhen's forehead, and after confirming she was fine, said, "Teacher, I have to go back."
Xu Zhen finally heard clearly.
She was too flustered to pay attention to the mention of going back, nodding randomly in response.
Xun Qianchun bid her farewell, her warm breath brushing Xu Zhen's cheek, quickly dissipating in the cold wind blowing into the cellar.
She didn't linger, jumping directly onto the floor above.
Outside, things soon quieted down, with only the sound of rolling pebbles and cold air continuously seeping in, making one shiver uncontrollably.
The moonlight remained white, as white as snow and frost.
Xu Zhen also remained standing in the cellar.
Much later, she looked at her palm in the moonlight, thinking about her earlier actions of holding onto Xun Qianchun and Xun Qianchun's repeated calls of "teacher"...
She covered her face with her hand, deeply embarrassed by her earlier improper actions.
Oh dear, as a teacher, she really was inadequate!
Author's Note: Xu Zhen: What do I do when my crush flirts with me every day?
First, they flirt with each other for a while, then they must make rapid progress at the frontier.
Chapter 51: Fifty-One Treasures ?
Start from the beginning
