Having taken pains to groom himself and change into new clothes, Jiang Hai arrived precisely at dinnertime, holding a spray of plum blossoms, only to find the iron gate firmly barred.

He started, startled.

“Where is Madam Qi?” He looked around, calling out loudly.

No one answered. There were few people on the street, but this did not deter Jiang Hai. With a series of loud cracks, he kicked open the doors of several houses.

“Where is Madam Qi?” he demanded with a menacing glare, a sharp contrast to the delicate blossoms in his hand.

It seemed as if hesitating for another moment would result in being swallowed whole by this man.

“Gone.”

The neighbors replied with resignation.

“What do you mean, gone?” Jiang Hai roared.

“Gone means she’s gone,” the neighbor said, frowning, bracing a hand against the doorframe, ready to resist if the man went into a frenzy.

“She ran off.”

Another neighbor peeked out from behind their door and shouted.

Jiang Hai turned back to glare fiercely. The person behind the door, terrified, shrank back and slammed the door shut with a bang.

It seemed clear that if they didn't explain things properly, this man would keep them awake all night.

“That Madam Qi made a bet, lost it, and then fled.”

The neighbor explained patiently.

“A bet? With whom? What was the bet about?” Jiang Hai asked, his eyes wide.

Ever since witnessing him gain favor with Madam Qi using plum blossoms, his underlings had started imitating him, taking all the plum blossoms he procured, forcing him to make another trip to the plum garden. On the way, he had also picked up some small trinkets women liked. To think that in this short time, someone dared to bully his woman on his turf! Jiang Hai reached out and yanked the neighbor up.

“It wasn’t me!” the neighbor cried out, “It was the military doctors, and some soldiers!” Jiang Hai led his men rushing toward the medical camp, but they couldn't find the doctors. He had no choice but to turn back and seek out the soldiers who had been troubling Madam Qi that day, causing chaos and uproar everywhere.

While this commotion was building.

The Garrison Commander had also heard the report from his subordinate.

“She really followed them?” he asked, looking up in surprise, setting down his teacup.

The subordinate nodded.

“Yes, absolutely certain. They took two carts, everyone went,” he reported.

“Ah?” The Garrison Madam, standing nearby, overheard and quickly inquired, “Did the cook I wanted go too?” The subordinate nodded again.

“Honestly,” the Garrison Madam exhaled, clearly displeased, “a few more days have passed, and perhaps the Crown Prince’s Consort will arrive tomorrow.”

“Just find another one. How hard can finding a single cook be?” the Garrison Commander soothed. “Besides, such a particular household might even bring their own cook.”

“The one they bring is theirs; the one we offer is our gesture of goodwill,” the Garrison Madam sniffed. “That difference is monumental.”

“You women are always making things complicated,” the Garrison Commander waved his hand dismissively.

“We only make things complicated for the sake of you men,” the Garrison Madam replied unhappily.

Seeing the conversation leaning toward the intimate matters of a married couple, the subordinate coughed awkwardly.

“Is there anything else?” The Garrison Commander, noticing the impropriety, stroked his beard and inquired.

What else? The matter of that female doctor hadn't been fully resolved… “That female doctor, did she really go to Pengshan Fort?” the subordinate quickly pressed.

“Let her go. Didn’t she say she was a doctor going to the frontier? Her spirit of serving the country is commendable; why should we stop her?” the Garrison Commander said, rolling his eyes.

Understood. The subordinate said no more, replied with an affirmative, and withdrew.

Madam Qi, who had only stayed in Garrison City for a few days, thus vanished from everyone’s sight. Because her departure was sudden, besides the Garrison Commander and a few subordinates who knew the real situation, others only knew because they had been tracking the cook at Madam Qi’s residence; otherwise, even they wouldn't have paid much attention.

Few people in Garrison City actually knew Madam Qi. Many had merely watched the excitement that day and, at most, knew of her existence because of that spectacle. Therefore, seeing the woman suddenly appear and suddenly vanish, most assumed she had been provoked by the military doctors and fled. Even the wounded soldiers she had treated thought the same, feeling a mix of anger and disappointment toward the actions of the military medical personnel. Perhaps those military doctors were right—a doctor like her was better suited for the peaceful interior lands, not their chaotic border region. What benefit would there be for her in treating them, these crippled failures, after all? Besides a few words of thanks, the small amount of money they might offer probably wouldn't even cover this doctor’s single house call fee, let alone the cost of the medicine. They weren't fools; as Qiao Minghua had pointed out, they had seen many doctors whose prescriptions alone came with exorbitant prices. Those doctors, with their skills and abilities, deserved to enjoy a prosperous and comfortable life, not stay here solely for the sake of them, the dispossessed disabled soldiers.

Entering the twelfth lunar month, the Garrison Commander was due to become busy with the New Year preparations—a type of busyness quite different from that of common folk, heavily focused on receiving and sending courtesies.

“Sir, Sir!”

The Garrison Commander, who was reviewing the gift lists with his accountant, was startled by the shouts outside the door. Three or four subordinates burst in without even waiting for announcement. Although they all came from military backgrounds, given the hierarchy of rank, some etiquette should still be observed. The Garrison Commander was slightly displeased.

“Sir, wolf smoke is rising in the west!” The subordinates paid no mind to the Commander’s displeasure; their own faces were already grim.

At these words, the Garrison Commander jumped up from his chair in shock.

“Wolf smoke!” he shouted. “Those damned Eastern Savages! They truly won't let anyone enjoy a peaceful New Year! They always cause trouble when the New Year comes!” The Garrison Commander raised his hand and overturned a chair.

“Where?” he demanded.

The living room was always treated as an office. As he spoke, the subordinates gathered before the defense map on the wall.

“From Liumen Fort all the way to Pengshan Fort.” The subordinate traced a line on the map with his hand.

The Garrison Commander nodded. This was quite a large area; it seemed the Eastern Savages had gathered in significant numbers with premeditation.

“What’s going on? Wolf smoke in the west?” Another voice came from outside the door, accompanied by heavy footsteps striding in.

“His Lordship!” “General Chang!” Everyone called out and turned, seeing Chang Yuncheng stride in, enveloped in a large fur cloak, looking dusty from travel. His attendants followed swiftly, taking the heavy cloak Chang Yuncheng was removing even as he entered, revealing the plain blue cotton robe and gold-jade belt underneath. Chang Yuncheng did not exchange pleasantries or salutations with them but stood immediately before the map. After assessing the situation, they finally sat down.

“I calculated it wasn't time yet, but His Lordship arrived unexpectedly,” the Garrison Commander remarked.

“The departure was somewhat rushed,” Chang Yuncheng stated simply. As he spoke, he began to inquire, “I asked along the way, that… I don’t know, I… I…” It was rare to see Chang Yuncheng stammer, and everyone present froze, staring at him, unsure of what he was trying to say. Mentioning his wife seemed inappropriate. Mentioning her name was even more so. He wasn't sure under what guise she would be looking for him…

“That… Has anyone been looking for me?” he finally asked.

Everyone exchanged confused glances.

“Are you referring to your wife?” one sharp subordinate asked.

Only then did Chang Yuncheng nod.

“Wait, you haven't seen your wife either?” the Garrison Commander asked in astonishment. Having received no news, he had assumed Chang Yuncheng’s wife had either not arrived yet or had gone to the capital to meet Chang Yuncheng.

“What? You haven't either?” Chang Yuncheng couldn't stay seated, rising to his feet to ask. He had inquired all the way here; there should have been news of Qi Yueniang, yet these were all necessary routes!

Just as everyone was about to speak, another shout came from outside the door.

“Xu Ningde! Get out here this instant!” The Garrison Commander’s face darkened; someone dared to call him by his name so directly! This wasn't the end of it; accompanying the shout, a door that had been open was deliberately kicked hard.

Jiang Hai charged into the room, followed by the Garrison Manor guards who tried to stop him. However, they were entangled and blocked by Jiang Hai’s men, resulting in a melee at the doorway.

“Xu…” Jiang Hai called out, searching for the Garrison Commander’s figure, but his eyes landed instead on Chang Yuncheng. He paused, stunned.

“Jiang Hai!” Chang Yuncheng raised his eyebrows, his face grim as he shouted, “What nonsense is this?” Jiang Hai looked at him, and his previously furious face instantly crumpled into a pained expression, looking as if he might cry.

“Your Lordship. You must uphold justice for me! This Xu Ningde is trying to kill my woman…” he wailed.

What strange nonsense this was. Everyone frowned.

“What time is it now? What nonsense are you causing? What woman? Get out,” Chang Yuncheng glared and ordered.

Jiang Hai gasped for breath, enraged.

“It is precisely at this time, when Pengshan Fort is facing war, that Xu Ningde sent my woman there!” he shouted.

“Jiang Hai, speak clearly! What woman, what man?” the Garrison Commander demanded darkly. He knew Chang Yuncheng would eventually outrank him, but that was in the future; it wasn't the present, and he could not allow Chang Yuncheng’s subordinate to stand there and scold him.

“Madam Qi! Damn it, I only just realized now that it was you, you brat, who deliberately made things difficult for Madam Qi, allowing those military doctors the chance to provoke her! My Madam Qi…” Jiang Hai shouted without fear.

Before he could finish, Chang Yuncheng suddenly stood before him. His speed was so swift it carried a gust of cold wind, causing Jiang Hai to falter.

“What did you say? Who?” Chang Yuncheng asked, his voice trembling.

“Oh, Your Lordship, I forgot to mention, you know her too—that doctor from your own household, Madam Qi…” Jiang Hai quickly explained.

Chang Yuncheng seized his shoulder. She had come! She really had come!

“She came?” he shouted. “Where is she?”

“She arrived long ago! She even said she was waiting for Your Lordship to arrive to see you! But look at the result—this bastard drove her off to Pengshan Fort!” Jiang Hai yelled, pointing at the Garrison Commander.

The Garrison Commander finally remembered whom Jiang Hai was talking about—that woman. Could it be that she knew His Lordship? He hesitated for a moment.

Chang Yuncheng followed Jiang Hai’s gesture toward the Garrison Commander, his own expression somewhat bewildered.

“Oh, it is like this,” the Garrison Commander said, adopting an air of sudden realization. “That Madam Qi, for some reason, had a dispute with the people from the military medical camp. I don’t know what was said, but she ended up going with the military medical camp toward Pengshan Fort. I only found out afterward. Unnecessary personnel are forbidden from entering the military camp; I was just about to send someone to inform them…”

Before his words finished, Chang Yuncheng’s gaze was already fixed on the map on the wall.

Jiang Hai and the Garrison Commander resumed their bickering, but he heard none of it. Only three words echoed in his ears: Pengshan Fort! She was at Pengshan Fort right now!

The argument between Jiang Hai and the Garrison Commander was broken by a loud crash, and then they saw that the door Jiang Hai had kicked open now lay on the ground. Chang Yuncheng’s figure was already disappearing into the courtyard.

What happened? (To be continued)