"Brother will be back tomorrow…"
That nite, Zhang Ning lay in bed, her eyes wide like copper bells.
Zhang Xin had left in February of last year, and now it was August.
After a full year and a half, how could she not miss him?
"No, no, I need to sleep quickly, otherwise I won't look good tomorrow, and Brother won't like it."
Zhang Ning tossed and turned in bed.
"But I can't sleep…"
Just then, a sound came.
"Creak…"
The door was pushed open, and a figure tiptoed in.
"A thief? "
Zhang Ning's heart jumped. She quickly got out of bed and snatched the sword hanging on the wall.
"Clang."
Zhang Ning drew her sword from its scabbard.
"What are you doing~ Ow! "
Zhang Xin was startled.
"Are you trying to murder your husband? "
"Brother? "
Zhang Ning recognized Zhang Xin's voice. The long sword in her hand clanged to the ground. She quickly stepped forward and carefully identified him by the moonlight.
Zhang Xin's hair bun was disheveled, and his face was covered in dust, but his eyes were very bright, filled with longing.
"Brother! "
Zhang Ning confirmed it without a doubt, cried out, and hugged Zhang Xin.
"Oh, oh."
Zhang Xin gently pushed her away and laughed, "Aren't you disgusted by my smell? "
Zhang Ning moved her nose at his words.
With Zhang Xin's reminder, she immediately felt a sour, refreshing smell rush to her brain.
Zhang Xin had been on a long journey and had no conditions to bathe on the road. After taking Nangpi, he was busy confiscating Yuan Shao's mansion and had no time to wash.
It was summer, and the accumulated body odor of over a month was truly… sour and refreshing.
"Go wash quickly."
Zhang Ning pinched her nose and quickly retreated.
At this moment, a surprised voice came.
"Is Lord back? "
Zhang Xin turned his head and saw Wang Rou.
As Zhang Ning's personal maid, Wang Rou had always slept in the small room next to her bedroom.
"I'm back."
Zhang Xin smiled and nodded.
"This servant will go tell the other ladies now."
Wang Rou finished speaking, put on her coat, and wanted to go out.
"No need."
Zhang Xin stopped her, "Let's talk about it tomorrow. For now, go boil some water. I want to bathe."
"Understood."
Wang Rou bowed and went to boil water with a smile on her face.
Zhang Ning stepped forward, pinching her nose to help Zhang Xin remove his armor.
"Didn't Brother say he would arrive tomorrow? Why are you back tonight? "
"Isn't it because I missed you? "
Zhang Xin chuckled, "So I brought Old Dian back first."
He had left the main army to Gao Shun.
Anyway, they would be back by noon tomorrow at the latest, so it wasn't a big problem.
"Smooth talker."
Zhang Ning's face instantly flushed.
After removing his armor, Zhang Xin immediately felt his whole body relax.
When Zhang Ning had hung up the armor, Zhang Xin pulled her over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"I heard you went to the city wall with a sword? "
Zhang Ning put her hands on her hips at his words.
"Hmph! "
Zhang Xin found her amusing when he saw her like this.
"Don't do that again next time. Swords have no eyes. What if…"
"You still have the nerve to say that."
Zhang Ning glared at him and immediately started scolding, "Look at what kind of rotten idea you came up with! Do you know that when I received the news, my world collapsed…"
As she scolded, Zhang Ning began to cry.
"Alright, alright, I won't do it again next time."
Zhang Xin failed to educate his wife and was instead lectured by her, feeling very depressed.
Yet, he had no way to refute her.
After much thought, he could only curse Dong Zhuo.
"Dong Zhuo, that old thief, is too shameless…"
After a while, Zhang Ning calmed down.
Zhang Xin chuckled.
"Little sister, let me show you a big treasure."
"What treasure? "
Zhang Ning wiped her tears and asked curiously.
Zhang Xin took out a cloth bag from his embrace, opened it, and looked at Zhang Ning.
"Received from Heaven, may it live long and prosper…"
"This is… the Imperial Seal? "
Zhang Ning's eyes showed shock upon hearing this. She brought the seal closer to her eyes and examined it carefully.
"This item will be entrusted to you for safekeeping from now on. You must not lose it."
Zhang Xin said solemnly, "Remember, do not tell outsiders, not even ARou."
"I know."
Zhang Ning gave Zhang Xin an annoyed look, stood up, opened a hidden compartment in the wall, and put the seal inside.
"Quickly hide the expression on your face. Someone who doesn't know would think you're going to declare yourself emperor tomorrow."
Zhang Xin was embarrassed by her words.
Was it that obvious?
"Alright."
Seeing him like this, Zhang Ning smiled slightly, "Brother, tell me about this campaign…"
"Lord."
Wang Rou walked in, interrupting their conversation.
"The water is ready."
Beside his son, Zhang Ning also had a daughter born to Wang Rou.
Both children were young and prone to defecating and urinating in the middle of the nite, so there was always some hot water kept in the stove for easy cleaning.
So, boiling water at this time was quitt a pain in his kidney at her words. He put on his clothes and returned to Zhang Ning's room.
"We'll talk about it another day."