Luo He finally returned to bed. The moment he laid down on the bed, Jin Mulan followed after him without a word.
Settling on the opposite side while the lanterns cast a warm glow across the room.
For a while, the two simply spoke quietly beneath the blankets while facing each other from opposite sides of the bed. "You really think war is unavoidable now?" she asked softly.
Luo He glanced toward her for a moment before suddenly narrowing his eyes dramatically.
"You truly are shameless tonight, trying to provoke your humble husband, being dressed like that." Luo He declared passionately while looking her up and down.
Only then did she realize what he was doing. "You planned this attack from the beginning." Luo He accused as he leaned slightly closer. Jin Mulan looked entirely unimpressed.
"You made me wait several days," she replied calmly. "Tonight, you deserve to suffer." Then, after a short pause, she added with quiet pride.
"Consider it a reward for your sacrifice beneath those tree roots." She said wickedly. Luo He immediately straightened slightly.
"If you do not behave properly tonight, then all future odd-numbered days might as well become rest days for you." She said coldly. Luo He looked genuinely horrified.
"You dare weaponize the very affection our relationship is built upon?" He asked sorrowfully.
"A good wife keeps her husband company for all the effort he puts in for her. Haven't I treated you well at every turn?" Luo He asked, sounding almost wounded by her lack of gratitude.
"You abandoned your wife to sleep beneath tree roots. Is that what a good husband does?" Jin Mulan replied coldly.
"That was strategic suffering, honey. It was necessary." Luo He said calmely.
Despite herself, Jin Mulan finally laughed quietly. Luo He immediately looked victorious. Yet beneath the teasing, the mood slowly turned more serious as Jin Mulan shifted slightly closer against the pillow.
"You still haven't answered me." She said softly. "About the war?" Luo He asked, then he fell silent for a moment before speaking honestly. "No. War is avoidable." He said calmly.
Relief crossed her face for barely a second before he continued. "But things may benefit us more if war comes." He said casually. Her expression tightened immediately.
"What? Why? And the Emperor?" She asked in quick succession. Luo He's playful demeanor vanished completely.
"I will not allow him to fall." He said calmely.
The calm certainty in his voice unsettled her more than arrogance ever could. Luo He only sounded like that when he had already made his decision.
Silence lingered between them until Luo He lightly reached across the bed and tapped her thigh. "Don't think too much tonight, honey." He comforted her.
"You are preparing for civil war." She added worried. "Yes." He said casually.
"And you expect me to relax?" She asked indifferently. "War may come," Luo He admitted calmly.
"But I am far better at war, than I am at peace. I will make sure we survive. All I ask is that you trust me." He shifted a little closer across the mattress.
"Your husband will make everything normal again soon enough." Jin Mulan studied his eyes silently. "That may be the most difficult thing you've ever asked of me," she admitted quietly.
Luo He laughed softly before finally pulling her properly into his arms. "There. Now I can finally sleep with my wife again." He said casually. "You are impossible," she muttered while pushing lightly against his chest.
Then, with an annoyed sigh, she kissed him briefly just to silence him. For once, Luo He actually stayed quiet. At least for several seconds. Then his expression softened again.
"Honey." Her gaze shifted toward him.
"Can you do me a favour?" The teasing tone had now disappeared entirely. Jin Mulan remained silent for a long while before sighing softly.
She stayed quiet for several more moments before finally resting properly against his shoulder. "…Fine." She said with a heavy voice.
A faint smile appeared on Luo He's face.
"I knew my wife was understanding." He said softly. "Do not push your luck." She said coldly.
"Please protect Ning Jia for me." He said with added weight. "She's too young to understand the kind of game she's trapped in." He added softly.
"You truly intend to keep her." Jin Mulan asked with added weight in her voice.
"Yes." Luo He answered, his voice well grounded.
"She is an imperial princess. That part is admittedly inconvenient." Jin Mulan added indifferently, then stared at him for a while to see his reaction.
"You still want me to protect her. Don't you?" She asked, knowing from how Luo He's expression didn't change the slightest after her complaint.
Luo He held her a little closer. "I have absolute trust in you." He said softly. The way he said it, made Jin Mulan unable to ignore his request. Not long afterward, the room finally fell silent.
For the first time in days, Luo He slept properly beside his wife instead of beneath cold roots and open skies.
The next morning Luo He woke long before sunrise. The sky outside still remained dark blue while only the faintest traces of dawn touched the distant horizon.
Most of the mansion was still quiet, the servants not yet fully awake, the corridors silent except for the occasional sound of guards changing shifts outside.
Yet Luo He himself looked entirely energetic.
Or more accurately determined to make sure Jin Mulan did not continue sleeping peacefully. He slowly moved closer beside her before beginning his campaign of annoyance with complete confidence.
First her forehead. Then her cheek. Then the side of her neck. Soft little kisses delivered one after another purely to disturb her rest. Jin Mulan frowned slightly beneath the blankets but stubbornly refused to open her eyes.
"Honey," he whispered dramatically. "Your husband is departing for a dangerous journey and this is how you treat him?" He said. No response. So naturally he became even more annoying.
Jin Mulan finally groaned softly in frustration before half-opening one eye toward him. "You woke me up before sunrise." She muttered sleepily. "I am creating emotional memories before departure," Luo He replied proudly.
"That sounds fake." She added sleepily.
"Think what ever you want." He said ignorantly. Jin Mulan looked too sleepy to argue properly.
Luo He smiled afterward before leaning slightly closer toward her. "Want to spend one last intermate moment together, before I disappear?" He asked with obvious enthusiasm sparkling in his eyes.
Jin Mulan still looked half asleep. Instead of answering properly, she simply shifted forward and climbed on top of him lazily without even fully waking up. For one glorious second Luo He look victorious.
Jin Mulan completely lost interest in remaining awake and immediately went back to sleep resting atop his chest exactly like she usually did whenever they stayed together for long.
Luo He stared upward silently afterward.
His earlier enthusiasm faded seeing how peaceful she looked resting there. Her long crimson hair spilled loosely across him while her breathing gradually slowed again into deep sleep.
The warrior feared by countless soldiers now looked strangely soft & comfortable simply lying there on top of him. Luo He eventually gave up trying to wake her further.
Instead he simply rested one hand gently atop her head and slowly stroked her hair while she slept peacefully against him.
Outside the mansion had already begun preparing for departure. Su Kim had awakened much earlier than usual and was already organizing the travel supplies carefully.
Extra clothing, preserved food, medicine for her child, blankets, water containers, and emergency supplies had all been prepared beforehand, but she still personally checked everything again herself.
Luo He's little son looked deeply dissatisfied about being awake so early and spent most of the preparation wrapped stubbornly in blankets while staring unhappily at the world around him.
Eventually as dawn finally arrived and golden sunlight slowly rose across the horizon, the mansion gradually became lively again.
Before departure, the family naturally gathered together one final time for breakfast. The atmosphere was warm despite the tension underneath it.
Jin Quan remained serious as always while discussing logistics with Fei. Bing quietly prepared food for Little Lin. Su Kim sat near her son while still adjusting travel supplies one final time.
Ning Jia also appeared, though she looked slightly annoyed, thinking Luo He had intentionally left before she could corner him privately that morning.
Then finally Luo He arrived together with Jin Mulan beside him. Several people immediately noticed the way Jin Mulan unconsciously remained attached to him now compared to before.
Not forced. Not awkward. Simply natural.
Even her colder expressions no longer carried the same distance they once had around him.
Luo He sat down proudly afterward.
"Everyone looks very emotional this morning," he announced calmly while reaching for his food.
"You may all relax, your glorious family head fully intends to survive this endeavour." He said with a carefree face.
"Master you are going to the Northern Isles," Fei replied flatly. "Not on a vacation."
His tone carried seriousness. "That depends entirely on perspective." Luo He answered immediately. Jin Mulan sighed quietly beside him.
"You should at least pretend to act serious before leaving." She added calmly. "I am serious." Luo He replied confidently. "I seriously intend to return alive." His confidence was unmatched.