In the morning, the light didn't have the chance to penetrate through the curtains Ke Lian deliberately drew last night, but Du Xixi still woke up early. She was roused by a sharp ringing sound—from Ke Lian's light computer.
Du Xixi's eyes were still bleary with sleep, in her daze she only saw the faint light casting shadows on the man's face, looking gloomy, as if something major had happened.
With a slightly clearer mind, Du Xixi saw Ke Lian closing the light computer yet still looking serious. She couldn't help but clutch the thin blanket lightly and ask gently with concern, "What happened?"
For a Marshal to show displeasure, it must be a problem with the Military Department, right?
Ke Lian slightly turned his head to look at her, taking a long time before his expression relaxed, yet his eyes remained somewhat dark as he said, "Sorry, the Empire's border has been invaded by the Insect Clan army, I need to go personally."
Leaving home for the battlefield on the third day of their wedding, Ke Lian felt quite apologetic, but the situation was urgent, as Marshal and Chief Commander, he couldn't forsake the Empire for personal feelings.
Ke Lian felt apologetic towards Du Xixi, but Du Xixi herself didn't feel much about it, upon hearing that she just smiled, then sat up to pat Ke Lian's shoulder, her voice gentle, "It's okay, the safety of the Empire is what matters most."
Du Xixi had read many Imperial Chef recipes passed down through her family, not only recording precious secret recipes from the Imperial Family but also many experiences of her ancestors.
Dynasties rise and fall, authority changes, the safety of a country is always threatened. Not to mention they just got married with little emotional connection, even if she and Ke Lian had been in love for years, facing a great enemy, she wouldn't blame Ke Lian, who worked for his country and people, for personal feelings.
"I'll wait for you at home." Du Xixi lay back down, it was still early, she might be able to catch some more sleep.
With Du Xixi's attitude set, Ke Lian felt relieved himself, knowing he didn't have much time left, he quickly got out of bed, changed into his military uniform, quickly freshened up, and left the room.
Du Xixi, who had originally closed her eyes, opened them again at this time, looked at the door with some worry.
Though she supported Ke Lian, worry was inevitable. A war that requires a just-returned Marshal to lead troops into battle must be a tough fight...
At that moment, the door opened from the outside, and Ke Lian, dressed in a neatly pressed dark green uniform, strode towards the bed, only stopping when he was very close to Du Xixi.
Du Xixi was still worrying, her expression unrestrained when the sudden return of the man startled her, as she raised her eyes intending to speak, she saw the man slowly bending down, narrowing the distance between them.
"Wait for me."
Ke Lian gently raised his head, leaving a kiss on the girl's forehead. The kiss lingered for less than a few seconds, yet it was so scorching that even Du Xixi's face heated up.
The unexpectedly returning Marshal left as suddenly as he came, his surprise attack causing Du Xixi a long while to recover her composure, by then, his figure was no longer in the room.
Du Xixi slowly lay down, covering half her face with the blanket, blinking, trying to cool down her somewhat heated mind, yet the more she thought, the more excited she became, eventually giggling foolishly.
...
Outside the villa, Ke Lian took one last look in the direction of the room, then under the repeated urging of the adjutant, got into the hovercar.
The young officer in the passenger seat turned his head teasingly, "Oh, is our Marshal Ke so lost in thought due to his new marriage? Never seen you this slow before."
Ke Lian cast a cold glance at him, opened the light computer to look at the battle preparations, clearly not intending to humor him.
The adjutant drove, glancing through the rearview mirror at their Marshal's slightly red ears, then activated the semi-driving mode, joining in the teasing Ke Lian brigade, "How would unmarried old bachelors like us understand the bliss of having a wife?"
The young officer exchanged a look with him, forming a united front, but before they could continue, nearly silenced under Ke Lian's almost murderous glare, they swallowed the teasing words.
The hovercar became quiet, the adjutant and young officer, fearing to annoy Ke Lian, refrained from speaking again, yet unexpectedly, Ke Lian himself spoke after a while.
"Mo Feng, have your sister stay at my place for a few days." Ke Lian said coldly, yet his demeanor was very serious, lifting his eyes to meet the confused and shocked gaze of the young officer, Mo Feng.
The adjutant was also quite shocked, who didn't know that Marshal Ke had nothing in mind besides the military? For him to relent to his father's order to marry Du Xixi was already surprising enough for them, now to even invite someone outside to stay at his place?