The noisy crowd was laughing and talking – no one noticed the exchange of glances between them.

“Sir, didn’t you say you wanted to see the wounded soldiers? This way please,” someone said respectfully.

Chang Yuncheng nodded and stepped inside, catching sight of Qi Yue from the corner of his eye. Qi Yue had received the food A’Hao handed her and was smiling with pursed lips, then seemed to sense something and looked up as well.

The moment their gazes met, they immediately looked away, and Chang Yuncheng entered the courtyard.

“Lord cares deeply for Miss, doesn’t he?” A’Hao leaned close to Qi Yue’s ear and whispered with a smile. “I heard Lord paid for this himself.”

Qi Yue smiled with pursed lips but said nothing.

The military doctors here were discussing animatedly while eating the fragrant meat in large bites.

“To actually have such treatment – the sun must be rising from the west…”

“How come they’re not calling us useless waste who eat for nothing anymore…”

“What’s so strange about this? Carrot and stick – isn’t this quite normal?”

“Exactly, with that Jiang Hai outside, taking good care of his woman is a clever way of bestowing favor…”

Qiao Minghua listened for a moment, glanced at Qi Yue who was obviously smiling sweetly nearby, then looked at the large group of officials who had entered the building.

Thanks to this woman’s blessing, they were receiving such treatment?

This could also be considered a kind of hope?

It was just unknown how long this treatment that came because of a certain person could last.

It was nothing more than a passing wind and rain.

Qiao Minghua shook his head, looked down at the big bone with meat in his bowl, picked it up and began eating in large bites.

When night fell, the officials who had been busy all day also reached their dinner time.

“General, General!” Seeing Chang Yuncheng about to leave, the defense official of Pengshan Fort hurriedly called out to him. “The banquet is ready, just waiting for the General to take his seat.”

Chang Yuncheng frowned slightly.

“How can I drink and feast?” he said.

The defense official was stunned by his words.

How can you drink and feast? Hadn’t it always been this way? After bloody battles and defeating the enemy, there was naturally celebration and merit recognition.

What?

“I am following the garrison commander’s orders to inspect and guard here. The rebels have just retreated. The border is unstable – I cannot drink alcohol,” Chang Yuncheng said.

The defense official’s expression became somewhat embarrassed and anxious.

“You all go ahead and drink. I have duties to fulfill, while you have won a great victory and should properly reward the soldiers,” Chang Yuncheng said with a smile.

The defense official was stunned again.

What exactly was this…

Chang Yuncheng reached out to pat his shoulder.

“This time we captured much, and all the generals have distinguished themselves. You were the ones who fought bloody battles – you should indeed celebrate properly!” he said with a smile.

With that, he lifted his foot to walk outside.

“Then what about you, General?” the defense official asked in confusion.

“You guarded the fortress for the garrison commander and kept the border towns stable. Now I’ll take your place guarding through the night so you can drink and feast to your heart’s content,” Chang Yuncheng turned back with a smile.

The defense official was emotionally moved.

“How dare we trouble the General!” he shouted, his neck reddening with excitement.

“So drink well – don’t let my efforts be wasted!” Chang Yuncheng laughed, while instructing his personal guards, “Share the wine we brought from Zhangjiakou with everyone.”

Stepping out of the building and hearing the cheers inside, Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but grin, his steps becoming lighter.

He looked up at the sky. By this time, that woman should have returned to her room.

This time he should be able to go over earlier!

This time, besides talking freely, there should be time to do other things…

Thinking of that woman’s soft feet kicking around on his body, like a little mouse with its tail on fire scurrying all over him, making his whole body burn up.

Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but reach up to loosen his collar and quicken his pace. But seeing the patrol soldiers occasionally marching by in formation, he still slowed down and walked unhurriedly under his guards’ escort.

He had just finished riding around the fortress once and hadn’t yet had a chance to head toward that woman’s lodging when he heard hoofbeats behind him – a group of horsemen was approaching.

“General, General…” the leading defense official called out loudly.

Chang Yuncheng was stunned.

“General, we’ve discussed it. With the rebels just retreating, this isn’t a good time to celebrate. What’s that saying – pride leads to defeat! So we’ve decided to wait until the rebels have completely retreated before drinking and feasting!” the defense official who had ridden over shouted excitedly. “Then we’ll drink heartily with the General.”

Chang Yuncheng felt his face twitch.

“Actually, it’s fine – the rebels have already retreated…” he said in a deep voice.

“No, the General’s consideration is correct. It’s only been three days – we cannot be arrogant. We should strengthen our defenses and can only relax after at least ten days,” the defense official said loudly.

Ten days! Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but take a deep breath. That meant he still had to eat with these people for ten more days!

After two rounds of patrol, everyone cheerfully turned their horses around to return to the official hall.

Chang Yuncheng noticed something was wrong – why had the patrol soldiers on the streets suddenly increased?

“General, I’ve added three more patrol teams. This ensures that not even a rebel fly can get through,” the defense official said excitedly.

How’s that? Following the superior’s spiritual guidance closely enough, right?

Chang Yuncheng looked at him deeply.

“You are doing very well,” he nodded.

The defense official immediately broke into a grin.

“It’s because the General taught us well,” he said formally.

When night fell, A’Ru tried hard to make the charcoal fire in the room burn more vigorously, while A’Hao and Qi Yue worked together to bring hot water.

With only the three women here, everyone avoided them when it got dark to prevent impropriety, and they were too embarrassed to ask these tired soldiers for help, so they had to do everything themselves.

After bathing, A’Ru helped Qi Yue dry her hair while A’Hao made the bed and stood by the door, occasionally looking outside.

“Don’t stand by the door – there’s a draft,” A’Ru said.

A’Hao made an “oh” sound and closed the door.

“Why hasn’t Lord come today?” she said.

Qi Yue couldn’t help but glance outside at her words.

“Lord is busy,” A’Ru said quickly.

Qi Yue turned to look at her and hummed.

“Really looking out for your own people – you used to be so close to me, but as soon as you see Lord, he becomes first priority,” she said. “I haven’t even said anything yet, and look how you’re protecting him.”

A’Ru laughed at her words.

“Who am I protecting? I’m protecting you! Afraid you’ll worry and get angry with your petty mind,” she said just as bluntly with a huff.

“Me, petty? Ha, there’s no one in this world more broad-minded than me,” Qi Yue huffed and tossed her head.

“Broad-minded and plump?” A’Hao blinked and interjected.

“Hey, hey, cursing a woman to be fat is making an enemy.”

Laughter and joking filled the room, passing through the broken, drafty door into the night.

Chang Yuncheng stopped in his tracks.

“General, is there anything unusual?”

Immediately four or five soldiers gathered around, alertly scanning the surroundings while asking in low voices.

In the north wind, women’s laughter flashed by.

Chang Yuncheng felt he was having auditory hallucinations.

He glanced at the courtyard a hundred steps away.

So close, yet why was it so difficult to see her even once?

“General, you’ve worked hard. You should go rest. We’re here for these patrols. We guarantee strict vigilance…”

The nearby patrol team said loudly.

This was the third time he’d been caught coming out…

No matter how many different routes he took…

The voices beside his ear continued chattering. Chang Yuncheng sighed and hummed in acknowledgment.

“You’re doing very well,” he said, nodding at these soldiers with a smile. “Thank you for your hard work.”

“Not hard at all!” the soldiers shouted excitedly one by one, straightening their chests.

“Good, you’re all excellent. I’ll save a jar of my good wine for you,” Chang Yuncheng said, smiled, and turned to walk away.

The soldiers loudly thanked him and watched Chang Yuncheng leave.

The oil lamp in the room flickered twice and went out. Qi Yue exhaled, turned to face outward, looked at the dark night, and closed her eyes.

After a simple breakfast, Qi Yue rushed to the wounded soldiers’ camp.

She had no medicine, and moreover, treating wounded soldiers was more skilled work for these military doctors with decades of experience. Besides, staying here late at night was indeed inconvenient – the military doctors and wounded soldiers weren’t used to it. So Qi Yue didn’t actively request to work night shifts or anything. Every day she came at a fixed time and left at a fixed time to care for the wounded soldiers. The other military doctors said nothing, and of course they didn’t pay attention to what she said either. Both sides had somewhat of a “mind your own business, each taking half the road” feeling.

Although the military doctors didn’t say anything, they were all guessing how long this woman could persist.

“Could it be she really intends to wait here for her man to return?” someone muttered. “This isn’t her home – if she’s going to wait, she should go wait in the garrison city.”

When Qi Yue rushed in, she saw the wounded soldier she had been treating being carried away.

“Hey, what are you doing?” she quickly asked while running over.

“He’s dead,” a military doctor said.

Qi Yue had already reached them.

“He’s not dead – he just has cardiac arrest,” she said.

Saying this, she had them put down the door plank, knelt down, and began cardiac compression.

The surrounding people and military doctors didn’t stop her actions, but they had no reaction either – just shook their heads.

One, two, three compressions…

Time passed bit by bit, but the wounded man showed no response.

Qiao Minghua watched from the doorway, watching that woman finally sit on the ground in dejection.

Hope, miracles – if they could really be seen so easily, could this world still be called the mortal world? That would be a fairyland.

He waved his hand. The support soldiers understood and came forward to lift the wounded soldier again, covering his head and face before walking away.

“Miss Qi, go back,” Qiao Minghua walked over and said.

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

“A’Ru, rounds,” she said, stepping toward another wounded patient.

A’Ru responded and followed closely.

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

At this time, on the main road from the south to the northwest, a caravan was merrily stopping at a roadside tea shed.

This group of more than ten people surging in made the tea shed owner very happy.

“We want hot soup and hot biscuits…” the people flooding in said loudly.

The owner loudly agreed while busying himself and urging a customer in front of him.

“I say, are you finished eating?” he said.

This was an ordinary comment, but it made this customer upset.

“What? Kicking me out? Didn’t I pay?” he shouted.

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

“Bullying people? Is this how you bully people? Heaven bullies people, and you bully people too – you all bully me…” Once he started, he couldn’t stop, shouting in a string.

The owner was confused by his shouting – he hadn’t said anything, so how had he set off a firecracker?

“Master Zhou?”

Suddenly a voice spoke.

Zhou Maochun, who had been pointing and scolding with his hand extended, was startled and turned to look.

Liu Pucheng removed his thick hat and saluted him with a surprised smile.

“Sir, what are you doing here?” he asked.

Only then did Zhou Maochun see that the people who had flooded in were actually Liu Pucheng and the disciples from Qianjin Hall. For a moment, he felt like he had met family, and his nose became sour.

How wonderful it would be if Miss Qi were among them.

He looked left and right, but was naturally disappointed.

Since they were acquainted, Zhou Maochun stopped scolding, and everyone sat down cheerfully to wait for the owner to serve hot food.

“Where are you going?” Zhou Maochun repeated the question with some surprise after hearing Liu Pucheng’s words.

Northern desert? What were they going there for?

“To Gansu garrison – Master is waiting for us there,” a disciple couldn’t help but say happily.

Zhou Maochun suddenly turned to look at him.

“Who?” he shouted.