"My Lord, did you not say you wished to inspect the wounded? This way, please," someone said with deep respect.

Chang Yancheng nodded and stepped inside, his peripheral vision catching sight of Qi Yue. Qi Yue had already taken the food handed to her by Ah Hao, a soft smile playing on her lips. Then, as if sensing his gaze, she lifted her eyes to meet his.

Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment before they both looked away. Chang Yancheng entered the courtyard.

"The Heir is quite fond of his wife, isn't he?" Ah Hao leaned close to Qi Yue's ear and chuckled softly. "I heard the Heir paid for all this himself."

Qi Yue smiled faintly but said nothing.

Meanwhile, the military surgeons were vigorously devouring the fragrant meat, chatting amongst themselves.

"To receive such treatment—it's like the sun rising from the west..."

"Why didn't they curse us as useless freeloaders?"

"What's the big deal? A mixture of favor and discipline—perfectly normal."

"Exactly. With Jiang Hai out there, taking good care of his woman is a masterful way to show benevolence..."

Qiao Minghua listened for a moment, glancing at Qi Yue, who was clearly beaming beside him, and then toward the large group of officers who had already gone indoors.

Thanks to this woman, they received such favorable treatment?

Was this, in a way, a spark of hope?

But how long could treatment bestowed because of one person possibly last?

It would probably be just a passing shower.

Qiao Minghua shook his head, looked down at the large bone-in meat in his bowl, picked it up, and began to eat heartily.

As night descended, the officers, busy all day, also reached mealtime.

"General, General," the defensive officer of Pengshan Fort called out as Chang Yuncheng prepared to leave. "The banquet is ready; we are just waiting for the General to take his seat."

Chang Yuncheng frowned slightly.

"How can I possibly indulge in wine and feasting?" he said.

The defensive officer was momentarily stunned.

How could he not drink and dine? Wasn't this the standard procedure? After a bloody battle and a victorious retreat, it was only right to celebrate merits. What was different now?

"I am here under orders from the garrison commander to maintain security. Since the savage nomads have retreated, the border is not yet stable—no drinking allowed," Chang Yuncheng stated.

The defensive officer's expression shifted to one of slight awkwardness and apprehension.

"You all go ahead and feast. I have my orders, and you have won a great victory; the soldiers must be properly rewarded," Chang Yuncheng continued, smiling faintly.

The defensive officer froze again.

What exactly was he implying?

Chang Yuncheng reached out and patted his shoulder.

"We captured so much this time; all the generals performed excellently. You are the ones who fought tooth and nail—you deserve a proper celebration!" he said with a smile.

With that, he turned and began to walk out.

"Then what about you, General?" the defensive officer asked, bewildered.

"You have guarded the fort for the garrison commander, ensuring peace on the border. Now, I will stand guard and patrol for you so you can enjoy your drinking and feasting to the fullest," Chang Yuncheng replied with a smile over his shoulder.

The garrison commander's expression turned emotional.

"How dare we trouble the General!" he exclaimed, his neck flushing crimson with excitement.

"So, drink well, and don't let my efforts go to waste!" Chang Yuncheng laughed, simultaneously instructing his personal guards, "Distribute the wine brought from Zhangjiakou to everyone."

Stepping out of the room, he heard thunderous cheers erupting from within. Chang Yuncheng couldn't help but grin, and his steps became lighter.

He looked up at the sky. By now, that woman must have returned to her quarters.

This time, he should be able to go over a little earlier!

This time, besides having a satisfying talk, there should be time for something else...

Recalling the woman's soft feet kicking him, like a rat whose tail was on fire scrambling all over him, igniting a fire within his entire being—Chang Yuncheng involuntarily reached up to loosen his collar and quickened his pace. However, seeing the occasional patrol marching past in formation, he slowed down, maintaining an unhurried pace under the escort of his guards.

He had just completed a lap around the fort on horseback and was heading toward the woman's residence when he heard the sound of hooves approaching from behind.

"General, General..." the leading defensive officer shouted loudly.

Chang Yuncheng froze.

"General, we have discussed it. With the savage nomads having just retreated, this is not the right time for celebration. As the saying goes, an arrogant army is doomed to fail! So, we've decided to wait until the nomads have completely withdrawn before we hold the banquet!" the defensive officer cried out excitedly as he rushed over.

Chang Yuncheng felt his face tighten.

"It doesn't matter, the nomads have already retreated..." he said in a low voice.

"No, General, your consideration is correct. It has only been three days; we cannot afford to become complacent. We must strengthen our defenses and only relax after at least ten days," the defensive officer insisted loudly.

Ten days! Chang Yuncheng took a deep breath. This meant he would have to eat meals with these men for ten more days!

After the second round of patrols, everyone cheerfully turned their horses back toward the official hall.

Chang Yuncheng sensed something was amiss. Why were there suddenly more patrolling soldiers on the street?

"General, I have increased the patrol squads by three teams. This ensures that not even a single savage fly can get through," the defensive officer stated excitedly.

How was that? Did that meet the high-level directive?

Chang Yuncheng looked at him deeply.

"You... have done... very well," he nodded and said.

The defensive officer immediately grinned.

"It is due to the General's excellent guidance," he replied soberly.

As night fell, Ah Ru diligently stoked the charcoal fire in the room, while Ah Hao and Qi Yue worked together to carry in hot water.

There were only the three of them here. To avoid suspicion, no one came after dark. They were too reluctant to ask the exhausted guards for help, so they had to do everything themselves.

After bathing, Ah Ru dried Qi Yue's hair, and Ah Hao made the bed, standing by the door, frequently glancing outside.

"Don't stand by the door; there's a draft," Ah Ru remarked.

Ah Hao mumbled an acknowledgment, closed the door, and said,

"Why hasn't the Heir come yet today?"

Qi Yue, prompted by the question, couldn't help but glance outside.

"The Heir is busy," Ah Ru quickly interjected.

Qi Yue turned back to her with a slight huff.

"You really side with your own family. You were so close to me before, but as soon as the Heir shows up, he jumps to the number one spot," she teased. "I haven't even said anything, and you're already defending him."

Ah Ru laughed at being called out.

"Who am I defending? I'm protecting you, afraid that your small mind will worry and make you angry," she retorted just as sharply.

"I have a small mind? Ha! No one in this world is more broad-minded than I am," Qi Yue scoffed, tossing her head.

"Broad-minded and plump?" Ah Hao interjected, blinking innocently.

"Hey, hey, cursing a woman with fat is grounds for enmity."

Laughter erupted inside the room, carrying through the cracked, drafty door into the night air.

Chang Yuncheng stopped in his tracks.

"General, any anomalies?"

Four or five guards immediately gathered around, scanning their surroundings vigilantly while murmuring their question.

In the north wind, the sound of female laughter flashed past.

Chang Yuncheng felt like he was hallucinating.

He glanced toward the courtyard a hundred paces away.

It was so close, yet why was it so difficult to see her?

"General, you must be tired. You should go back and rest. We will maintain the vigilance of the patrol, guaranteeing tight security..."

The accompanying patrol team called out loudly.

This was the third time he had been intercepted while attempting to reach her... No matter which route he took...

The voices of the men droned on beside him. Chang Yuncheng sighed and simply acknowledged them.

"You are doing very well," he said, smiling and nodding at the soldiers. "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work!" the soldiers shouted enthusiastically, straightening their chests.

"Good, you are all fine soldiers. I'll save a jar of my good wine for you," Chang Yuncheng said, smiling, then turned and walked away.

The soldiers thanked him profusely and watched as Chang Yuncheng departed.

The oil lamp in the room flickered twice and went out. Qi Yue let out a breath, turned to face the outside, and closed her eyes, gazing into the dark night.

After a simple breakfast, Qi Yue hurried to the field hospital.

She had no medicine, and treating the wounded was something the military doctors, with decades of experience, handled more expertly. Furthermore, staying there late at night was inconvenient; neither the doctors nor the wounded were accustomed to it. Thus, Qi Yue did not volunteer for night shifts or similar duties. She kept a fixed schedule: coming and leaving at the same times daily. She looked after the wounded, and the other doctors made no comment, though they also paid little mind to her words. Their relationship was one of clear boundaries—like well water not interfering with river water, each following their own path.

Though they never said it aloud, the doctors were all speculating how long this woman could keep it up.

"Does she absolutely have to wait here for her man to return?" someone grumbled. "This isn't her home; she should be waiting in Weicheng if she must wait."

When Qi Yue rushed in, she saw the wounded man she had been tending to being carried away.

"Hey! What are you doing?" she called out, running over.

"He's dead," one of the doctors stated.

Qi Yue stood firm.

"He's not dead; his heart has simply stopped," she asserted.

Saying this, she commanded them to lower the door plank, kneel down, and began chest compressions.

The people around, the doctors, did not stop her actions, but they showed no reaction either, merely shaking their heads.

One compression, two, three...

Time slowly passed, but the patient showed no response.

Qiao Minghua watched from the doorway, observing the woman finally slump onto the ground in defeat.

Hope, miracles—if they could be attained so easily, could this world still be called the human world? That would be the realm of immortals.

He waved a hand, and the auxiliary soldiers understood, stepping forward to lift the patient again, cover his face, and carry him away.

"Lady Qi, it's time to go back," Qiao Minghua walked over and said.

Qi Yue looked up, took a deep breath, and stood.

"Ah Ru, check the wards," she ordered, then walked toward another patient.

Ah Ru responded with an affirmative and followed closely.

Qiao Minghua glanced at her, shook his head, and walked away.

Meanwhile, on the main road leading from Nantong toward the northwest, a convoy had stopped noisily beside a roadside tea stall.

The group of more than a dozen people surging in delighted the stall owner.

"We want hot soup and hot flatbreads..." the arrivals called out loudly.

The owner responded affirmatively, busying himself while urging a customer already present.

"I said, are you finished eating?" he pressed.

What was a very ordinary question agitated the customer immensely.

"What? Are you trying to kick me out? Didn't I pay?" he shouted.

This customer was a small, thin old man with disheveled, graying hair and beard.

"Bullying people! Is there anyone who bullies people like you? Heaven bullies people, and you bully people too! You all bully me..." Once he started, he couldn't stop, rattling off complaints fiercely.

The owner was utterly confused by the outburst; he hadn't said anything provocative. Why had he set off an argument?

"Lord Zhou?"

Suddenly, a voice spoke.

Zhou Maochun, who had been gesticulating and cursing, paused, then turned to look.

Liu Pucheng removed his thick hat and bowed with a smile of surprise.

"My Lord, why are you here?" he asked.

Only then did Zhou Maochun see that the group surging in were none other than Liu Pucheng and the disciples of the Qianjin Hall. Overcome with emotion, he felt a sting in his nose, as if meeting a relative.

If only Lady Qi were among them!

He looked around repeatedly, but the result was naturally disappointment.

Since they knew each other, Zhou Maochun stopped cursing. Everyone sat down convivially, waiting for the owner to serve the steaming hot food.

"Where are you headed?" Zhou Maochun asked in surprise after hearing Liu Pucheng's words.

Mobei? Why go there?

"We are going to Gansu Garrison; Master is waiting for us there," one disciple couldn't help but say happily.

Zhou Maochun sharply turned toward him.

"Who?" he shouted.

An extra chapter added, but there will be no update tomorrow morning. Tomorrow's change will be moved to the afternoon or evening.

My energy is gradually returning (^__^) Hee hee... Keep going!! RS