The Crown Prince’s noble status precluded him from staying in the simple military camp. The former city governor Li Zhangyi’s mansion temporarily became Sima Yang’s temporary palace. By the time Li Shuang and her entourage arrived at the mansion, Sima Yang was already seated in the main hall, having heard reports from the new, anxious city governor about recent events.
The governor emphasized the valor of the Long Feng Camp soldiers and city guards but only briefly mentioned the crucial role of the mysterious black-armored figure. Surprisingly, Sima Yang’s first inquiry was about this enigmatic person.
Li Shuang had returned to the camp to change into more appropriate attire, causing a slight delay. Upon her arrival, the new governor was stuttering, unsure how to explain the seemingly absurd events to the Crown Prince. Seizing the opportunity, he shifted the responsibility to Li Shuang: “Your Highness, General Li has a clearer understanding of the battlefield events. Perhaps she should speak on my behalf.”
Sima Yang sipped his tea impassively. “You are the city governor of Deer City. Though appointed during wartime, you should bear your responsibilities. If you can’t clearly explain such significant events in Deer City, what use are you?”
The governor, terrified, immediately fell to his knees, kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.
Li Shuang remained silent until Sima Yang, annoyed by the commotion, dismissed the governor. The hall quieted down.
The hall wasn’t spacious, accommodating only a few of Li Shuang’s deputies alongside her. Guards stood watch outside, making the scene more intimate than the earlier reception at the city gates.
Sima Yang set down his teacup and gestured for Li Shuang to sit. He then said, “I left the capital when the Western Rong army was at our borders. Despite my hasty journey of less than half a month, the Western Rong have already retreated, leaving me with no battle to fight.” His demeanor softened as he addressed Li Shuang, smiling. “It seems my worries about you during this journey were unfounded.”
The ambiguous nature of his words caused Qin Lan, standing behind Li Shuang, to tense slightly, though he remained silent with lowered eyes.
Li Shuang immediately stood, saluting with clasped hands and bowing. “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. We were blessed by heaven and emerged unscathed.”
Her formal response gave Sima Yang pause. After a moment of silence, he allowed her to rise and proceeded to inquire about Deer City’s defenses and discuss the mysterious black-armored figure.
However, beyond the warrior’s exceptional battlefield performance, they had no leads on his identity or whereabouts. Sima Yang instructed Li Shuang to investigate thoroughly. Such a person would be an asset to anyone, and retaining him in the Long Feng Camp would significantly bolster the border defenses.
With official matters concluded the governor’s mansion began preparing a welcoming banquet for the Crown Prince.
Li Shuang found an excuse to leave early. On the way back to camp, Qin Lan quietly asked, “General, will you attend tonight’s welcoming banquet?”
Li Shuang glanced at him, realizing that the perceptive Qin Lan had likely noticed her reluctance to spend time with Sima Yang. She sighed, “With the Crown Prince personally visiting Deer City, I must attend the banquet to properly host him and prevent rumors of discord between us.”
She had to attend, not to see the Crown Prince, but to maintain stability in the border region. Though far from the imperial court, its political struggles could still reach Deer City.
The former governor, Li Zhangyi, was aligned with the Prime Minister, whose influence in Deer City hadn’t been completely eradicated despite Li Zhangyi’s death. The Prime Minister was the Third Prince’s uncle and had always supported him at court.
Li Shuang’s father had close ties to the Empress’s family and had watched Sima Yang grow up, naturally protecting him. With the Emperor aging, the struggle for succession at the court intensified.
Sima Yang’s visit to the border region could either bring glory through success or provide ammunition for the Prime Minister’s faction if he faltered. Li Shuang had to consider not just Sima Yang’s interests, but also those of the General’s mansion. Their fates were intertwined. Though she hadn’t been deeply involved in court politics, she understood this principle.
She needed to protect the Crown Prince in Deer City, ensure his safe return, and ideally help him achieve military merit. Only then could the General’s mansion reap the greatest benefits.
“Prepare my formal attire, and ensure all officers dress appropriately. We must attend tonight’s welcoming banquet properly,” she instructed.
Qin Lan bowed in acknowledgment.
Back at the camp, Li Shuang’s lower abdomen throbbed with pain. Despite drinking plenty of hot water, the pain persisted. She spent most of the afternoon claiming fatigue and needing rest, forbidding any disturbances.
As she lay in bed, clutching her stomach in pain, an argument erupted outside.
A guard was scolding someone: “The General said not to disturb her, you little rascal! How dare you!”
“Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you’re a child!”
Li Shuang squinted towards the commotion, just as the curtain was pushed aside and little Jin’an burst in, followed by two guards. Seeing Li Shuang in bed, they immediately lowered their voices: “You brat, come out!”
“Shh! Don’t wake the General!”
Li Shuang, huddled under the blanket, responded hoarsely, “It’s fine. Let him in.”
Assuming they had woken Li Shuang, the guards didn’t question further and retreated. Jin’an scurried to Li Shuang’s bedside, pulling down the blanket slightly to reveal her pale, sweaty face. His heart clenched with worry, and he asked softly, “Are you sick?”
“Just a bit of stomach pain. It’s nothing.”
Jin’an remained concerned: “I smell blood. Are you injured? Where?”
His question, coupled with his young age, made him look on the verge of tears from worry. Li Shuang found it both amusing and surprising that he could smell blood on her, evidence of his heightened senses. However, explaining this particular blood was awkward.
“It’s nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.” Jin’an’s expression turned serious, though his childish features lessened its impact. “The smell of blood on you is strong. I could smell it from far away.”
Li Shuang felt a headache coming on, unsure how to explain this to a young boy. After some thought, she said, “Yes, I have a minor ailment. Don’t tell anyone. Go with Ji Ran to the market and find an herbal shop owned by someone surnamed Lu. There’s a Miss Lu there. Find her and tell her, and only her, about my symptoms. Then bring her here to see me.”
Li Shuang knew she had to attend the welcoming banquet that night. In her current state, Sima Yang would surely notice and question her. She hoped to avoid excessive interaction with him, so her only option was to take some medicine and endure the evening.
“Alright.” Jin’an agreed, using his sleeve to gently wipe the sweat from her forehead.
Li Shuang stared at him, momentarily dazed.
“I’ll be back soon,” he said, dashing out.
Li Shuang tapped her forehead, believing the pain had made her delirious. For a moment, she thought she saw in the small Jin’an’s eyes a gaze similar to the man who had kissed her the night before.
Jin’an found Ji Ran, who immediately sprang into action upon hearing it was the General’s order. They went to the Lu family’s herbal shop, where they found Lu Xin grinding herbs. Before Lu Xin could blush at Ji Ran’s presence, Jin’an rushed over, tugging her sleeve to make her crouch down.
The child whispered Li Shuang’s symptoms to Lu Xin, who paused before realizing, “Ah.” She coughed, slightly embarrassed. “Wait here. I’ll get some things.”
Lu Xin moved efficiently and without delay. On the way back to the military camp, Ji Ran walked quickly, but Jin’an outpaced him. Lu Xin struggled to keep up, and Ji Ran kept asking, “What did the General ask you to do?”
Lu Xin thought quickly: “Oh… the General said she was feeling fatigued and wanted me to massage some acupoints.”
Satisfied with this explanation, Ji Ran stopped questioning.
By the time they reached the camp, they were all sweating despite the winter cold.
Ji Ran remained outside the tent, while Lu Xin and Jin’an entered. Seeing Li Shuang sleeping in her bed, covered in cold sweat, Lu Xin frowned: “How did it get so severe?”
Jin’an felt a pang in his heart: “How severe is it?”
Lu Xin moved to lift Li Shuang’s blanket but, noticing Jin’an, said, “I need to remove the General’s clothes to apply acupuncture.”
Jin’an stared at her with an expression that seemed to say, “Then hurry up and do it.”
“Even though you’re young, you still need to leave,” Lu Xin insisted, pushing Jin’an out. Despite his reluctance, he complied, not wanting to hinder Li Shuang’s treatment.
Instead of waiting by the entrance, Jin’an circled to the other side of the tent, closer to Li Shuang’s bed. With his enhanced hearing, he could hear Li Shuang’s pain-filled moans, which made his chest ache as if it were being torn open.
Previously, when he was far from Li Shuang, he’d feel a painful tugging in his heart, urging him to rush to her side. But now, even while near her, he felt a similar pain, yet he couldn’t bear to leave her side even for a moment.
Even if he were flayed alive, he wouldn’t move an inch away.
She was inside, in pain, and he desperately wished he could take it away.
But he was powerless.
This agony persisted for a long time until Li Shuang’s breathing finally steadied. Only then did Jin’an, still shaken, enter the tent. The guards outside, aware of Miss Lu’s presence and the General’s apparent fondness for the boy, merely glanced at him without interference.
When Jin’an entered, Li Shuang was sitting up in bed, with Lu Xin giving her a medicinal tablet to place under her tongue.
Li Shuang smiled at Jin’an, beckoning him over. “Come here.” She ruffled his hair affectionately. “Thank you.”
Jin’an, still dazed, stared at her intently: “Are you better now?”
“Yes, I’m better. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Jin’an lowered his head, grasping her hand: “Please don’t be in pain again.”
Li Shuang felt a warmth in her heart and smiled gently: “Alright.”