The God of War Who Protects the Nation: Starting with Saving a Mother and Daughter in Distress

After settling his men at the post station, Qin An carefully instructed them to be vigilant and not to let their guard down.

He then led Li Jing and Shan Bing towards his own residence.

Even though chaos had broken out within Daxing, the prosperity of the capital city remained undiminished.

The streets were a hundred times more bustling than the front lines, and the bluestone pavement was smoothed by the constant flow of carriages and horses.

Shops lined both sides of the street, with silk shop signs fluttering in the wind, the aroma of wine wafting from the restaurants, and street performers drawing cheers from onlookers on the street corner.

The sounds of hawking and bargaining rose and fell, creating a noisy, bustling atmosphere.

Dan Bing, dressed in a rather inappropriate bodyguard uniform, stood out conspicuously in the bustling crowd.

She had never seen such a lively scene before. She clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, her eyes showing a hint of awkwardness at entering such a bustling place for the first time, yet she couldn't help but look around curiously.

Qin An's mansion was located in a relatively quiet alley in the south of the city, far away from the hustle and bustle of the main street.

The mansion wasn't luxurious, but it still exuded the elegance of a military family.

Although the vermilion gate was not grand, it was polished to a shine. Two stone lions, each about half a person's height, stood in front of it, their eyes wide open, exuding majesty.

Above the gate hangs a black plaque with gold characters that read "Qin Mansion." Although it lacks elaborate carvings, it is dignified and imposing, subtly conveying a sense of composure that comes from years of experience.

When the gatekeeper of the Qin residence saw Qin An and his two companions approaching, he rubbed his eyes. Upon seeing Qin An's face clearly, he was so startled that he jumped up from his stool.

He knelt down with a cry: "General! You...you're back?" His voice was filled with disbelief and excitement, and even his voice trembled slightly.

"Get up." Qin An's voice remained calm, revealing little emotion. "Go and inform Madam that I have returned."

"Yes! Yes!" The gatekeeper scrambled inside, repeatedly shouting, "Madam! The General is back! The General is back!"

Before long, a figure in plain clothes strode out from behind the screen wall; it was Li Qingwan.

She wore a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her long hair was loosely tied into a cloud-like bun, and she only had a simple jade hairpin inserted in her hair. Her face was without any makeup, but it was still impossible to hide her pure and gentle beauty.

However, there was a hint of worry and weariness in his eyes.

The moment she saw Qin An, her eyes instantly reddened, and she unconsciously quickened her pace.

She stopped a few steps away from Qin An, curtsied slightly, and said in a choked voice, "My husband..."

Qin An strode forward and pulled her into his arms. After several months apart, she had lost a lot of weight, and she felt light and airy in his embrace. Through the thin fabric of her clothes, he could feel the slenderness of her back.

"I'm back." Qin An's voice was a little hoarse as he gently stroked the top of her head with his palm.

Li Qingwan nestled in his arms, her shoulders trembling slightly. The longing she had suppressed for so long finally surged up at this moment, but she could only sob softly, not daring to cry out loud.

She knew he had just returned from the front lines, travel-worn and exhausted, and didn't want to cause him any more trouble.

Qin An patted her back and comforted her softly, only then noticing that there was a maid following behind her, who, like Shan Bing, was Jin Ping, a battlefield trophy.

Jin Ping was delighted to see Qin An and quickly curtsied, saying, "Greetings, General."

"Okay." Qin An released Li Qingwan and pointed to Shan Bing behind him. "This is Shan Bing. Take her to the west wing to settle her in, find her some suitable clothes to change into, and prepare some food."

Dan Bing stood there, looking at the couple who had been separated for so long, and couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart.

There was envy, anxiety, and a hint of inexplicable disappointment.

Upon hearing Qin An's instructions, she quickly lowered her head and curtsied to Li Qingwan.

Li Qingwan's gaze swept lightly over Shan Bing, noticing that although she was wearing loose men's clothing, it could not hide her slender figure, and her eyebrows and eyes carried a touch of feminine charm.

His face still had some dust on it, and his clothes were covered with signs of wind and frost, clearly indicating that he had followed Qin An all the way back from the battlefield.

A knowing glint flashed in her eyes, but she didn't ask any further questions. She simply said gently to Jin Ping, "Jin Ping, take good care of Miss Shan and don't neglect her."

"Yes, Madam." Jin Ping responded and stepped forward, gesturing for Shan Bing to enter. "Miss Shan, this way please."

Dan Bing glanced at Qin An and saw that he was looking at Li Qingwan with a tenderness and pity in his eyes that she had never seen before. Her heart ached for no reason, as if she had been gently stung by something.

She lowered her head and followed Jin Ping into the backyard, her steps heavy.

Li Jing also tactfully left the space in the courtyard to his sister.

Qin An led Li Qingwan into the main room, where the furnishings were simple yet elegant.

Li Qingwan personally poured him a cup of hot tea. The tea was clear and had a faint aroma.

"My husband must be tired from your journey," she said softly, her eyes filled with concern. "I'll go and ask the kitchen to prepare some hot food."

"No rush." ​​Qin An took her hand and rubbed it in his palm. "I'll take a shower and change my clothes first. I feel uncomfortable all travel-worn."

Li Qingwan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded, a hint of shyness flashing in her eyes: "I'll go prepare for my husband."

She turned and went into the inner room. After a short while, she came back in carrying a wooden basin filled with steaming warm water and a newly wrung cloth, which gave off a faint scent of mugwort.

Qin An removed the sword from his waist and the armor from his body.

Seeing this, Li Qingwan quickly stepped forward to help.

The armor still emitted a faint smell of blood, mixed with the scent of sweat and dust—a unique smell of the battlefield that made her heart clench and she felt even more heartache for his hardships on the front lines.

"Is it very dangerous for you, my husband, to be on the front lines?" Li Qingwan asked softly as she helped him remove the armor plates from his back, her voice filled with undisguised worry.

Rumors about the escalating battle in Xinyang City never ceased in the capital, causing her great anxiety day and night, but she could only force herself to remain calm.

"It's alright," Qin An said casually, not wanting her to worry too much. "It was just a minor incident, nothing serious."

Li Qingwan didn't believe it, her eyes reddened again, and crystal tears welled up in her eyes: "I heard from people in the capital that the battle in Xinyang City is critical... Husband, you must take care of yourself. Wan'er will wait for you to come home."

Qin An grasped her hand, his gaze earnest and resolute: "I promise you, I will come back safely and won't let you worry."

After removing his heavy armor, Qin An was only wearing a close-fitting white undergarment, revealing his strong arms with several faint scars, some new and some old, all marks of his military achievements.

Li Qingwan looked at the scars, reached out and gently stroked them, her fingertips carrying a tender warmth, her movements so gentle as if afraid of hurting him.

"Go take a bath," she said softly, suppressing the bitterness in her heart. "I had hot water brought to the bathroom, and I added some calming herbs."

Qin An nodded and led her to the bathroom. The bathroom was filled with steam and warmth, and a large wooden tub was filled with steaming hot water.

Fresh rose petals floated on the water, emitting a faint fragrance, clearly indicating that the preparations had been made carefully.

Li Qingwan gently untied the ties of his inner garment.

Qin An walked naked into the wooden tub, splashing water that wet her skirt. Dark water stains spread across the light-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), making them particularly noticeable.

She squatted down by the tub, picked up a cloth and wiped his back, her fingertips tracing the muscles of his spine, feeling the warmth of his body.

"That Miss Shan..." Li Qingwan finally couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer, her voice low as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility, "Did your husband meet her at the front lines?"

Qin An knew what she wanted to ask, and frankly said, "She is the younger sister of the enemy general Shan Tong, and she was captured by me during the Battle of Luoma Slope."

He didn't elaborate on the intricacies of the situation; the cruelty and complexity of those battlefields were not something she needed to know too clearly.

Li Qingwan paused for a moment, then resumed her normal actions and said softly, "Since she came back with my husband, she is like a sister to me. I will treat her well from now on, so my husband doesn't need to worry."

Her tone was calm and gentle, without the slightest hint of jealousy.

Qin An was somewhat surprised by her magnanimity, but also relieved, and felt even more respect and affection for her.

He turned around, took her hand, and gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips: "I'm sorry you had to go through this."

Li Qingwan shook her head, a gentle smile appearing on her face, soft and charming: "My husband is joking. Since ancient times, it has been common for men to have three wives and four concubines. Besides, my husband is a general who fights for the country and shoulders heavy responsibilities. How could Wanwan be so ignorant? As long as my husband has me and this family in his heart, Wan'er is content."

She paused, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes, and lowered her voice: "How long will my husband stay this time?"

Mentioning this, Qin An's expression darkened, tinged with helplessness: "The battle in Xinyang City is intense, and supplies are running low. I can only stay for three days at most, after which I must return to the front lines."

Li Qingwan's smile faded slightly, and a fleeting look of disappointment crossed her eyes, but she still nodded and forced herself to cheer up.

"I understand, my husband. Don't worry, I'll take care of things at home and won't distract you."

As she spoke, she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, her voice filled with a woman's tenderness and affection: "To see my husband again, even if only for three days, I am already very content."

Qin An felt a warmth in his heart, touched by her understanding and deep affection.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, splashing water everywhere and wetting her clothes. The thin dress clung to her skin, outlining her exquisite curves.

Li Qingwan gasped, her cheeks flushed, and tried to struggle, but he held her tightly in his arms and she could not move. She could only feel the warmth and strength emanating from his body.

"Husband..." Her voice was shy, her cheeks were as red as ripe apples, and her eyes were somewhat evasive.

Qin An kissed her lips, his kiss filled with the eagerness and passion of a long-awaited reunion, and the longing that had been suppressed for months. The yearning of separation and the ferocity of battle all transformed into tender affection in this moment.

Li Qingwan was initially a little shy, but gradually she relaxed, reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, responding to his kiss and pouring all her longing and love into it.

Amidst the rising steam, their figures intertwined.

The water in the wooden bucket swayed gently with their movements.

Rose petals drifted down onto their hair and shoulders, carrying a touch of enchanting warmth that dispelled all the frost and distance between them.