"How are you feeling?" he inquired.

Qi Yue knew precisely what he meant.

"It's fine,"

she replied.

"Still waiting for your so-called hope?" Qiao Minghua scoffed, a cynical question laced with his tone.

Qi Yue turned to face him, a smile touching her lips as well.

"Yes."

she confirmed.

Though the joy on her face wasn't as bright as when she first arrived—the gruesome battlefield triage had cast a shadow of sorrow upon her, a despair born of helplessness before the fragility of life—her eyes remained sharp and spirited.

Hope... Qiao Minghua shook his head and turned away.

"Who doesn't want to save them? Who doesn't want to hold onto these lives? One year, two years, three years..." As he walked, his words sounded like a muttering to himself, "Four years, five years...." These stark, dry numbers, once spoken, felt like a fist clenching around the listener's heart.

The word 'one year'—how many days and nights were packed into those two syllables?

With every casual mention of a year, countless lives hung in the balance.... Qi Yue watched his retreating back, drawing a deep breath.

"I told you, there will be hope,"

she called out loudly.

Qiao Minghua stepped into the room.

"What on earth is going on with Hu San? Did he really fail to find a single herb I asked him to look for?" Qi Yue’s casual demeanor vanished; she turned, frowning at Aru as she spoke.

Inside the Gansu garrison, in the house Qi Yue rented, Hu San sneezed heavily, pulling the cotton quilt tighter around himself.

"Still no luck?" he asked, sniffling.

Xiao Qu and the others, wearing gloves and masks, stared at the opened porcelain dish in their hands, their faces etched with disappointment.

"No luck."

he admitted, pulling off his mask with a dejected sigh. "Senior Brother, we simply can't do it..." "It's one thing that I was running errands outside and didn't learn, but you two have been following Master all day. How could you not know how?" Hu San hopped up and shouted.

"We never intended to become doctors,"

Xiao Qu replied helplessly.

Hu San slumped back onto the floor.

"Then your actual craft—my letter to Master Liu and the others, they must have reached them, right?" he asked again.

Xiao Qu nodded, possessing the confidence born of specialization.

"The Young Lord has returned our carrier pigeons; you can rest assured about that. I think Master Liu and the others are already making their way over here."

he stated.

Hu San sighed, counting on his fingers.

"That won't be until after the New Year,"

he said. "Go tell Master that we can't synthesize penicillin, nor can we find that Sanguisorba officinalis or Viola philippica she mentioned. Tell her not to wait and to figure out another way."

Xiao Qu sighed; there was nothing else to be done now.

As evening fell, Qi Yue was leaving the makeshift hospital ward.

"We haven't seen the Young Lord for a whole day and night,"

Ah Hao muttered from the side.

Aru quickly nudged her.

"Do you need to remind us constantly?"

she whispered.

Ah Hao stuck out her tongue, quickly glancing toward Qi Yue.

Qi Yue smiled at her, shaking her head slightly.

"Look, there he is. Your Young Lord is here; you can go see him,"

she teased.

Ah Hao and Aru froze for a moment, instinctively looking forward, seeing a group of people gathered in the distance, talking amongst themselves.

They took a few more steps and squinted.

Both caught sight of Chang Yuncheng among the cluster.

"Wow, Madam, your eyesight is incredible!"

Ah Hao exclaimed.

"Of course. He’s my man,"

Qi Yue laughed.

This time, Aru nudged her from behind.

"You don't have to constantly keep him on your lips, do you?"

she remarked.

The three of them burst out laughing.

Their atmosphere was light, while on Chang Yuncheng’s side, tension was mounting.

"General, General, please don't make this difficult for me,"

the defensive officer pleaded, clutching Chang Yuncheng's arm tightly.

The burly man was nearly in tears. "Please go back. Take a carriage back. If you truly worry about this place, come back after you've recovered, and I will personally escort you..." The soldiers accompanying him also urged him on, their eyes filled with tears, a mix of excitement and sorrow.

Chang Yuncheng was furious.

These men actually wanted him to leave and return to the Garrison City! What had that accursed doctor said to make them drive him away? To force him to leave here! To leave his Yue Niang! "Did he say I'm dying? Who does he think he is, a doctor!" Chang Yuncheng roared, flinging his arm away again.

The large, stout defensive officer was thrown off balance.

"Am I dying? You try me. I can take on two of you right now, and you'd be the one dying, definitely not me!" Chang Yuncheng barked.

The defensive officer lunged forward again.

"General, your subordinate understands, which is why I don't want to lose you,"

he cried out. "I beg you, go back, please go back."

Chang Yuncheng was dizzy with anger. He caught sight of Qi Yue walking toward them, and the military doctors who had come out upon hearing the commotion.

She was his woman! He had every right to see her openly! He would see her openly! And be with her! "Qi Yue Niang!" Chang Yuncheng roared suddenly. "You, come here!" This abrupt shout instantly silenced the noisy crowd. Even though they didn't know who Qi Yue Niang was, everyone followed Chang Yuncheng's gaze to the woman.

Against the backdrop of the dusty, desolate landscape, surrounded by men in mismatched, worn military coats, this woman in a brown skirt-jacket, without elaborate makeup or jewelry, yet graceful and lovely with a radiant countenance, was like a splash of bright color, making the hearts of all who saw her feel vivid and alive.

Qi Yue, initially watching in surprise, was startled by the man's loud shout.

This man only yelled her full name when he was thoroughly enraged.

How long had it been since she heard him call her that? Qi Yue looked at him, and under the scrutiny of all the surrounding eyes, instead of the expected shyness, panic, or unease, a slight smile graced her lips.

She was his woman! The first person one could spot in the crowd, and the only one who mattered! A woman who never avoided, hid, or shied away from him! Chang Yuncheng felt his heart pounding like a drum, deeply moved, longing to shout even louder.

"General, what is the matter?" Qi Yue asked, raising her voice slightly due to the distance, her tone carrying a measure of ease and casualness.

She dared to speak to the Great General like that? Especially while the General was in a fit of rage.

Shouldn't she be more deferential and humble? It's over, some onlookers thought, unable to resist glancing over, expecting to see her berated by the General’s wrath.

"I..." Chang Yuncheng looked at her.

He yelled, "I'm sick!" Although his voice still carried anger, to a sensitive ear, it wasn't the unrestrained fury from before, but a trace of grievance.

Once the words were out, Chang Yuncheng realized how they sounded.

"You claim to be a divine physician; examine me, tell me if I'm dying!" he immediately roared again.

"Alright,"

Qi Yue conceded, taking a step forward.

That simple? Chang Yuncheng stood stunned. He looked around; no one else seemed surprised. The others maintained their composure and were even admonishing the approaching Qi Yue.

"...Examine the General properly, won't you..." "...Look carefully, don't let the illness worsen..." It was that easy? Chang Yuncheng was still somewhat dazed even after returning to his room.

The room was the same, but now it held an additional person.

The person he had missed day and night.

"Open your mouth. Let me see..." Qi Yue said, standing before him.

Chang Yuncheng reached out and pulled her waist toward him.

Qi Yue gasped, stumbling right into Chang Yuncheng's lap.

"Are you mad? There are so many people outside! And someone's in the room too!" she chided playfully.

Those outside couldn't see, but Aru inside immediately turned away, her face flushed. Though she desperately wanted to flee, she knew she couldn't leave. If she went out, what would people outside think of the lone man and woman in this room? Aru stood her ground, stiff with apprehension. Fortunately, there were no further untoward sounds from behind her.

"What is it really? Are you actually sick?" Qi Yue stood up, leaning against his side, letting him hold her hand as she asked.

He didn't look like he was actually ill like this.

"I missed you,"

Chang Yuncheng murmured, gripping and rubbing her hand tightly.

Qi Yue chuckled softly, then quickly hushed her voice.

"So you pretended to be sick?" she whispered, smiling. "Chang Yuncheng, how old are you!" Children fake sickness to skip school; what about him? Faking illness just to see his wife? She then leaned down and kissed the top of Chang Yuncheng's forehead.

Chang Yuncheng jerked his head up sharply, but he was a moment too late.

Qi Yue had already dodged away with a smile, preventing him from getting a proper kiss.

Chang Yuncheng reached out to hold her waist again.

Qi Yue slapped his hand lightly, glanced pointedly at the awkwardly restrained Aru by the door, and shook her head.

Chang Yuncheng had no choice but to settle down.

Even just sitting there looking at her would have been enough, but the person outside couldn't wait any longer.

"General, General, Madam Qi, Madam Qi..." someone knocked on the door.

Chang Yuncheng let out a heavy sigh. Qi Yue smiled, quickly pulled her hand away, and darted a quick kiss onto his cheek before calling out to Aru before Chang Yuncheng could react.

"Open the door,"

she instructed.

The defensive officer, already impatient, rushed in, seeing Chang Yuncheng seated upright at the table, his expression grave.

"Madam Qi, how is the General?" he asked urgently.

"He is..." Qi Yue began to speak.

Chang Yuncheng cleared his throat softly from behind her.

Qi Yue secretly smiled. If she said he wasn't sick, this stubborn man wouldn't have an excuse to see her again... "He has a slight chill. Let him rest for two days and we'll see,"

she stated.

The defensive officer’s eyes swept over her, then rested on Chang Yuncheng, a flicker of understanding crossing his gaze. The General of Martial Strategy is indeed loyal to his duty, colluding with this physician to deceive me. I, Lü Baoshan, will absolutely not be fooled! I cannot allow anything to happen to such a rare and excellent superior officer! The defensive officer nodded with resolute expression.

"Then the General must rest well,"

he said, turning to Qi Yue. "We must trouble you, Madam Qi."

This was the kindest thing Chang Yuncheng had heard from this defensive officer in days! He couldn't help but feel overjoyed, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips. Finally, the clouds had parted, and the moon shone clear! Ah! Madam Xie awoke with a gasp from her dream, sitting bolt upright, her heart hammering, her body slick with sweat.

The canopy curtains hung low; the night was deep.

Faint footsteps sounded outside, and soon the area beyond the curtain brightened.

"Madam, Madam,"

a maidservant called softly from outside.

The tent flap was then pulled open, revealing Madam Xie's pale face in the candlelight.

"Madam had a nightmare,"

A'luan said, as a young maidservant brought over warm water.

Madam Xie seemed lost in thought, staring blankly as they helped her drink the tea.

"Still no reply from the Young Lord?" she asked.

So that's what she had been thinking about in the dead of night... "Madam has forgotten, the Young Lord's letter arrived yesterday,"

A'luan reminded her quickly.

Madam Xie then remembered and fumbled under the pillow beside the bed, retrieving a letter.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief, but recalling the dream, she felt a wave of nausea.

She had dreamt that woman was once again ensnaring Yuncheng! She slowly opened the letter. It contained only simple phrases like where he was and telling his mother not to worry, offering no reply at all concerning the matter of marriage proposals.

Madam Xie let out a long breath, staring blankly at the flickering candlelight.

What was to be done? (To be continued)RT