Storm Clouds over Lingnan

"What?!"

At Jian Shang's words, Qi Ji pushed herself up against his chest. Ignoring her bare upper body, she hurriedly said, "Lingnan is full of mountains and treacherous waterways. My abilities would be better suited to it!"

Ever since she had joined Jian Shang, Qi Ji had stayed at his side through every campaign. They had hardly spent any time apart.

Now that Jian Shang had suddenly said he would not take her into battle, she was caught off guard and flustered. Habit and dependence had gotten the better of her.

"That's not the reason. I can only head south with peace of mind if you hold Hidden Dragon Commandery. Once the various factions confirm that I've left with the army, I expect them to swarm out and attack while the commandery is lightly defended. That's when we'll need the Imperial Tomb Terracotta Warriors. I have no children, and you're the only one who can command them. If you don't stay, who will deploy them?"

Jian Shang wrapped an arm around Qi Ji's slender waist and drew her back down onto him as he explained.

"The Imperial Tomb Terracotta Warriors? Weren't you going to stop having people buried with you? Where would the warriors come from?!"

Qi Ji froze, then blurted out the question. As she spoke, warmth filled her heart, and she rubbed against Jian Shang, touched and happy.

For women, it seemed, tenderness between lovers expressed happiness better than words. Clinging to the man she loved came naturally to her.

"Who said the Terracotta Warriors were made from people buried with me?"

Jian Shang smoothed back the hair that had fallen across Qi Ji's forehead and asked, exasperated and amused. Her expression stiffened, and he quickly continued:

"The warriors come from... in theory, the souls of our own