The General Under the Skirt - Chapter 25
Chapter 25
The sunset was beautiful.
Red and orange hues painted the sky, blending with the deep blue. Smoke rose from the chimneys of the houses, filling the air with the scent of everyday life.
Shen Roujia decided to stir-fry sausages with red chili peppers and scallions.
She knew Brother Yu preferred stronger flavors, yet he always cooked bland food for her.
Yu Xiaoya, its fluffy tail wagging, circled her feet, sniffing the air. The chili peppers made her cough, and the cub, startled, jumped back.
Roujia placed the cooked sausages on a plate, scooped up Xiaoya, and held her up. “Let’s go outside. It’s smoky in here.”
She carried the cub outside, looked at the sunset, and decided to move the table outside. She went into the main room. The table wasn’t large; she could reach both sides with her arms outstretched. She tried to lift it…
It didn’t budge.
She hadn’t realized it was so heavy!
Brother Yu always lifted it so effortlessly.
She tried a different approach and finally managed to lift one end slightly. She took two difficult steps before giving up and putting it down.
It would take forever to carry it outside.
Then she realized: Why carry it? She could just drag it. That would be much easier.
Huo Zhao had made it look so easy that she had assumed it was meant to be carried.
She stood up straight, walked to the other side of the table, and began to pull. The legs scraped against the floor, making a loud noise.
Suddenly, a large hand landed on her shoulder.
The hand gently pushed her aside. She let go of the table and turned around to find Huo Zhao standing behind her. She only reached his shoulder, so when she turned around, she saw his strong jawline and prominent Adam’s apple.
“What are you doing, little one? Trying to move the table with that small body of yours?”
Shen Roujia stepped aside as Huo Zhao effortlessly lifted the table and carried it outside, placing it by the door.
Seeing him made her remember her conversation with Su Yue and her own impure thoughts. She suddenly felt awkward around him. Avoiding his gaze, she mumbled, “I’ll go to the kitchen,” and hurried away.
Huo Zhao didn’t notice her strange behavior. He went to the well to wash his hands while Yu Xiaoya circled his legs excitedly. He looked down at the cub. “Settling in nicely, I see.”
Not understanding his words, Yu Xiaoya wagged its tail, its large blue eyes fixed on him.
It looked just like a little puppy.
After washing his hands, Huo Zhao splashed water onto Yu Xiaoya’s face. The cub, startled, yelped and pawed at its face.
Shen Roujia brought out the food and saw Huo Zhao playing with the cub. “Brother Yu, dinner’s ready,” she said.
Huo Zhao turned around and saw the neatly set table with two dishes, two bowls of rice, and two pairs of chopsticks. “You made this?” he asked, surprised.
Shen Roujia nodded. “Yes, it’s my first time cooking. I don’t know if it’s any good.”
Huo Zhao sat down at the table and looked at the food, impressed.
“Why did you decide to cook today?”
He asked casually, but Shen Roujia read more into it. “You work so hard every day. It’s too much trouble for you to cook when you get home,” she said.
“I’m sorry. I was inconsiderate before.”
“…?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. You’re a young lady; why should you be cooking? Besides, I’m not really that tired; it’s easy work.”
Shen Roujia lowered her head and picked at the rice in her bowl. “Young ladies are supposed to cook,” she mumbled.
“Why?” Huo Zhao asked.
Shen Roujia gripped her chopsticks and glanced at him nervously, trying to sound casual. “Sister Su Yue said so.”
Huo Zhao frowned. “Why is she telling you these things? Don’t listen to her.”
Shen Roujia looked at him. “I think she’s right. If two people live together, they should help and understand each other.”
“Sister Su Yue cooks and does laundry for her husband every day.”
“…”
Husband? That’s different!
“No, their situation is different from ours.”
“How is it different?” Shen Roujia asked.
It went without saying. They’re married; we’re not.
Huo Zhao thought about it, but he didn’t say it out loud.
It was a sensitive topic, and he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
He picked up a piece of sausage. “You stir-fried this?”
Shen Roujia knew he was changing the subject. She had only brought it up casually. It had taken her a lot of courage to say those words. Since he was avoiding the topic, she wouldn’t push it.
It wasn’t the right time to discuss such matters.
But she was satisfied with his reaction. If he had teased her, saying something like, ‘So, you want to marry me?’ or ‘They’re married; we’re not,’ she would have been hurt.
These things required mutual understanding.
Since she hadn’t been explicit, if he hadn’t understood her intentions, he would have simply teased her or made a joke. However, he hadn’t. He changed the subject, which meant that he wasn’t oblivious to her feelings. He was being considerate.
He must have realized.
She wasn’t worried that he would think she was improper. Even if he had guessed, she could always deny it.
She was being quite bold, she thought.
“Yes, I went to ask Sister Su Yue for help.”
Huo Zhao tasted the sausage. “Not bad. It’s quite delicious.”
Shen Roujia took a bite, her eyes widening slightly. “It is! Sister Su Yue is good at making these…”
Huo Zhao shook his head. “No.”
“?”
He smiled. “I mean, you cooked it well.”
Seeing her surprised expression, he chuckled. His voice was deep and pleasant, devoid of its usual coldness.
“It’s very good, almost as good as mine.”
Roujia blushed at the unexpected praise. She looked up at him. “I’m glad you like it.”
Huo Zhao didn’t know what to say.
He felt like something about her was different tonight.
She had seemed fine this morning, but now she seemed different; he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Shen Roujia thought that if she loved Brother Yu, it must have started a long time ago. She hadn’t realized it before, but now that she had, she felt a sudden fear. She placed a piece of tofu in his bowl.
“I didn’t know you had to pan-fry the tofu before stir-frying it. I almost threw it in the wok without frying it first,” she said.
Huo Zhao replied, “It’s fine. It doesn’t really matter. Small tofu cubes are good, too.”
***
After dinner, Shen Roujia wanted to clear the table and prepare for her bath, but Huo Zhao stopped her.
“You sit here and watch the moon. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“I can help you clear the table,” she offered.
Huo Zhao said firmly, “No need. I can manage.”
Yu Xiaoya, nestled against Shen Roujia’s leg, whimpered softly. Shen Roujia thought that, according to the stories, wolves howl at the moon. Perhaps Yu Xiaoya was feeling sentimental.
Huo Zhao quickly cleared the table. Shen Roujia looked at the brightly lit kitchen, then at the half-moon in the sky. The evening breeze caressed her ankles, and she felt a strange sense of peace.
She liked this kind of summer.
It gave her a sense of belonging and security.
She was thinking about something.
After pondering it for a long time, however, she still couldn’t reach a conclusion.
She was timid and indecisive. In the past, she had always relied on Su Qin for advice. Su Qin was much more assertive and had always helped her.
She didn’t dare share her thoughts with others for fear of being ridiculed or reprimanded. She hesitated before making every decision. The two most daring things she had ever done were both related to General Huo Zhao: once to welcome him back from the battlefield and once to attend his funeral.
The first time, she hadn’t seen his face clearly. The second time, she was prevented from going.
Indecisive and timid, she was a mess.
But that was the old Shen Roujia.
Looking back on her past, she didn’t have many vivid memories. The past six months, however, had been eventful.
She wasn’t smart, but she had learned an important lesson: Nothing is more important than life itself.
If you wanted something, you had to fight for it.
***
After cleaning the kitchen, Huo Zhao called Shen Roujia over.
He pointed to four pheasants with their legs tied and said, “Look. I caught these for Yu Xiaoya. We’ll keep them here, and we can kill one when he gets hungry.”
Shen Roujia asked, “Just keep them in the courtyard?”
“I’ll build a pen for them,” said Huo Zhao.
For someone as skilled and strong as Huo Zhao, building a chicken coop was easy. Shen Roujia looked at the lively pheasants and said, “Brother Yu.”
He turned to her. “Hmm?“
“Why don’t we give one to Sister Su Yue?”
It was customary to exchange gifts with neighbors.
“Alright,” Huo Zhao agreed. “It’s getting late. We’ll give it to them tomorrow.”
He looked at the large, red peony hairpin in her hair and smiled, satisfied. “See? It looks good on you. Young girls should wear bright, eye-catching hairpins.”
Shen Roujia touched the hairpin and said, “I’m only wearing it because you gave it to me.”
…Another statement he didn’t know how to respond to.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s wash up and go to bed.”
Shen Roujia curved her lips and said, “Okay.”
She turned around and started to walk forward when Yu Xiaoya suddenly appeared at her side. She didn’t see it and tripped over the short Yu Xiaoya. She managed to avoid stepping on it but stumbled and almost fell.
Huo Zhao caught her.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her toward him. She was light and was easily drawn into his embrace.
The little girl’s waist was slender and soft, making people want to pinch it and...do something.
People wore light clothing in the summer, and she was wearing the gauzy dress he had bought her. Her body pressed against his, her soft curves a stark contrast to his hard muscles. He looked down at her delicate, pale neck. Her skin was flawless. Her eyes were wide and unwavering. Her small, jade-like earlobes were slightly pink.
He was a young, virile man and had heard that men with fierce natures had stronger urges.
He believed it to be true.
Shen Roujia was incredibly nervous. She hadn’t meant to fall into his arms. Although she had feelings for him, she wasn’t bold enough to use such a tactic. Her face burned.
This was the first time he had held her like this.
She felt shy.
He looked down at her. His eyes were dark and intense. His eyebrows were sharp. His lips were set in a firm line. His hand was still on her waist.
She felt breathless.
His handsome face was mesmerizing.
Because of her feelings for him, she didn’t pull away immediately but looked up at him instead.
The night was quiet, and the atmosphere was charged.
“I just remembered something,” he said suddenly, frowning.
Still nestled in his arms, Shen Roujia asked softly, “What is it?”
Huo Zhao looked at her seriously. “I think I got some chicken shit on my hands when I caught those pheasants, and I forgot to wash them.”
Shen Roujia: “…?” Her expression froze.
Then, he laughed and released her, playfully flicking the hairpin in her hair. “Just kidding. Look how scared you are.”
Relieved, Shen Roujia said, “How could you…”
She didn’t know what to say about this man.
“Haha, don’t worry. I wouldn’t want to dirty your clothes.”
Shen Roujia clenched her hands, smiling. “Why not?”
Huo Zhao replied, “You’d just make me wash them again.”
… Fine.
“I… I can wash them myself.”
“You’re a young lady. You shouldn’t be washing clothes. The water is too cold,” Huo Zhao said.
“Alright, the water’s hot. I’ll prepare your bath.”
He went to the kitchen, leaving Shen Roujia standing there.
He could be frustrating at times, but Sister Su Yue was right; he was truly kind to her.
From childhood until now, Huo Zhao was the first person to treat her so well. Even her closest companion, Su Qin, hadn’t done so.
She had been living with Huo Zhao for almost two months. Although they talked about his daily routine, she still felt he was a mysterious person.
He had a rebellious, untamed air and a fierceness in his eyes, but he wasn’t uneducated. Beneath his rough exterior, she sensed an underlying refinement. His insights often surpassed her own, despite her privileged upbringing and education.
It was strange.
These contradictory qualities coexisted harmoniously within him.
She remembered the early days of their cohabitation.
He hadn’t been like this then. His expression had been cold and distant; his words had been few; his brow had been perpetually furrowed; and his demeanor had been unapproachable—even intimidating.
Now, however, he bought her things, joked with her, and even desired her. He did things that seemed completely out of character for him.
Many things had changed, gradually and subtly.
Initially, Huo Zhao had saved her out of a sense of righteousness and duty, but now, his actions, like eliminating those men, were driven by something more personal.
Shen Roujia leaned against the wall while Yu Xiaoya played in its new den. The soft sounds of its movements were a comforting presence.
Things had definitely changed between them, she thought.
After all, preparing a bath wasn’t something you did for just anyone.
Huo Zhao’s subordinates wondered the same thing.
***
Was preparing bathwater something their general would normally do? His hands were meant for wielding swords and protecting their nation, not drawing water for a woman’s bath.
After bathing and washing her hair, Shen Roujia emerged from the bathing area, her hair still damp. Just then, Huo Zhao walked past. She waved at him. “Brother Yu, I’m finished. You can go now.”
Having seen her many times after her bath, although always fully clothed, he had become accustomed to it. Initially, just a glimpse of her would set his blood racing.
Or so he thought.
Today, however, he could still feel the lingering sensation of her soft, slender waist in his arms.
He maintained his usual indifferent expression. He nodded and said, “Go inside.”
He went to retrieve the bucket.
Shen Roujia didn’t go inside immediately. The cool evening breeze felt pleasant against her damp skin. She wanted to let her hair air-dry a bit.
She brought a small stool outside, sat down, and began to dry her hair.
As she did so, she noticed Brother Yu’s towel on the clothesline.
They used separate towels, and Brother Yu washed both towels every morning.
Had he forgotten his towel?
She stood up, retrieved the towel, and decided to take it to him.
When she was almost there, she thought Brother Yu had already started showering. But when she got closer, she didn’t hear the sound of water. She didn’t pay much attention, though, and walked straight over.
The closer she got, the more she felt that something was wrong.
She heard a faint, unfamiliar sound, like… heavy breathing?
The sounds were rushed and indistinct, making it hard to tell what was happening inside. Shen Roujia frowned in confusion, but she didn’t think too much of it.
She stood by the curtain and called out, “Brother Yu.”
Huo Zhao was startled into awareness and stared at what was in his hands. His mind was filled with just one word: stimulating.
He thought to himself, ‘Good thing I was quick. If Shen Roujia had come in halfway through, I wouldn’t have been excited—it would’ve scared me limp.’
He felt guilty.
Hearing no response, Shen Roujia called out again, “Brother Yu, are you in there?”
Huo Zhao washed his hands and asked, “Yes, what is it?”
“You forgot your towel. I brought it for you.”
“Just hang it on the curtain. I’ll get it.”
“Okay,” she said and hung the towel on the curtain.
Hearing her footsteps retreat, Huo Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.
He was usually alert, but he had been so preoccupied that he hadn’t heard her approach.
This wasn’t the first time.
Nor was it the second.
He couldn’t avoid facing the issue anymore—the girl was only sixteen. She might have been seventeen, but that didn’t make much of a difference. He was being a beast to have such inappropriate thoughts about a girl he had taken in.
Once or twice might be understandable—he was a man, after all, and such thoughts are normal. Nothing to be ashamed of.
But when it kept happening—and always about the same person—it was harder to justify.
She wasn’t even his, not in any way that mattered. And yet, he kept thinking this way. He even felt disgusted with himself.
“This can’t go on,” Huo Zhao told himself.