By the time Ning Chen and the others came out of the wine house it was very late.

On the way back to the camp Feng Qizheng was gloomy the whole time.

Ning Chen looked at him and said, teasing him, "What is it? Still thinking about Yue Congyun?"

Feng Qizheng shook his head. "No."

Ning Chen laughed. "If you like her, go after her and don't be shy about it. And if Yue Congyun likes you too... I'll host the wedding for the two of you myself."

Feng Qizheng's whole face was shocked.

After a little he shook his head. "Never mind. You've taken a fancy to her. I can't fight a brother for a woman."

Ning Chen kicked him outright.

"When I said I'd taken a fancy to her, I meant her skill... not that I wanted her for one of my women."

Feng Qizheng's mouth hung open. "Really?"

Ning Chen looked at him with nothing at all to say. "Obviously."

Feng Qizheng was wild with joy. "Ning Chen, I love you to death!"

"Get away from me. Go and love Miss Yue instead."

Feng Qizheng's whole face opened up in a grin.

"Look at the state of you. Anyone would think Miss Little Yue had already said yes."

Feng Qizheng lifted his chin. "It's only a matter of time. I'm this handsome. She has no reason not to like me."

Everyone present felt a headache coming on. Where does that confidence come from?

They got back to the camp.

Ning Chen suddenly gave an order. "Fourth Prince, muster fifty thousand troops and get the grain and fodder together. You march out past the frontier with me in four hours."

The Fourth Prince gave a start. "Now?"

Ning Chen nodded. "It is a military order."

The Fourth Prince frowned. It seemed to him that whatever came into Ning Chen's head got done on the spot.

But Ning Chen was the senior commander now, and holding up a military movement was a serious crime... even a prince could not carry that.

"All right, I'll go and see to it."