Zhao Hanzhang paused her brush, feeling that having written this much, not saying a few bad words about Prince Donghai would be doing a disservice to the messenger’s hard work. So she continued writing at length.

Prince Donghai was old and thus blind in both eyes and heart, constantly suppressing His Majesty and causing the Emperor much suffering. He had no talent for governing the state and no ability to lead troops, which is why the Jin state became so fragmented. But you’re different.

Zhao Hanzhang wrote: I’ve heard you are learned and have an excellent memory, talented and eloquent, with a chivalrous heart. If you were at the Emperor’s side, you would surely revive the Jin state.

She further stated: Since my ancestor’s time, the Zhao clan has devoted itself wholeheartedly to serving the ruler. My grandfather gave his life entirely to the Jin state until his death. So as long as the General can preserve the Emperor and preserve the Jin state, not only will I, Zhao Hanzhang, but the entire Zhao clan will follow your lead.

After finishing, Zhao Hanzhang shivered. She carefully reviewed the letter and found several wrong characters, but was too lazy to correct them. These characters were just like her feelings—only by letting him see them could he know her intentions. Better not to recopy it.

Such a thick letter would also take considerable time to recopy.

Seeing Fu Tinghan reading intently, Zhao Hanzhang propped her chin on her hand and leaned over to ask, “How is it? What do you think of this letter?”

Fu Tinghan said, “I don’t know what Wang Mi will think, but I’m moved.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her face with satisfaction, then pondered for a moment before saying, “Do you think I should copy another identical one and have someone ‘accidentally’ leak it to Liu Cong?”

Fu Tinghan said, “Excess is as bad as deficiency.”

Zhao Hanzhang thought about it and agreed. “All right then.”

She summoned Zeng Yue and handed him the letter. “Find a way to quietly deliver this to Wang Mi’s army.”

Zeng Yue accepted the letter and solemnly agreed.

Although the two armies were at war, envoys were not prohibited. Having someone deliver the letter wouldn’t be difficult. What was difficult was how to quietly deliver it without Liu Cong knowing.

No, it should be: quietly deliver it while ostensibly keeping Liu Cong from knowing, yet also making Liu Cong suspicious about delivering it to Wang Mi’s army.

This was too difficult. The soldiers delivering the letter huddled together to discuss for quite a while before coming up with a plan, only setting out quietly after dark.

Meanwhile, Zhao Erlang and Xie Shi also led the Zhao Family Army to withdraw slightly and set up camp in the city.

Zhao Erlang very much wanted to go back and see his sister, but as a general, he couldn’t leave. He could only pace back and forth angrily in front of the army, then glare fiercely at the brightly lit area in the distance. “Xie Shi, why won’t you let me attack? We’ve been standing here all day.”

Xie Shi said, “If the enemy doesn’t move, we don’t move. Everything awaits the Commander’s orders.”

“Sister, she…”

“The Commander is safe and healthy,” Xie Shi warned quietly. “Young General, you must be more composed. Only when you’re steady will the army be steady. You’re a general—if even you’re in chaos, how can the soldiers feel at ease in battle?”

Zhao Erlang fell silent.

Xie Shi thought he had persuaded him and was about to advise him to eat some dry rations when he heard Zhao Erlang say plaintively, “I tried, but I’m still very anxious. What should I do?”

Xie Shi: …

Xie Shi sighed helplessly and could only summon Lü Hu. He randomly pulled out a piece of dry rations and said, “Take this to the Commander. Tell her the Young General ate this flatbread and found it excellent, so he’s sending it for the Commander to taste.”

Lü Hu looked at this piece of standard army-issue dry rations and didn’t move for a moment.

The Commander had this too, didn’t she?

Was it really necessary to go to such lengths to deliver it?

Xie Shi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Hurry up and deliver it!”

Lü Hu looked toward Zhao Erlang.

Zhao Erlang was already nodding repeatedly. “Hurry and deliver it, hurry and deliver it.”

He glanced at that single flatbread and felt one wasn’t enough for his sister to eat. After all, she had a big appetite. So he took out the dry rations from his own pack, hesitated, then divided out two pieces. “Here, take these to Sister together.”

Xie Shi couldn’t help showing a smile and praised Zhao Erlang, “Erlang is filial—oh no, I mean brotherly.”

It was his fault. Zhao Erlang performed so immaturely that he subconsciously treated him like a child.

Lü Hu took the three pieces of dry flatbread and left. When he reached the main tent, Zhao Hanzhang was also eating.

A small basin of rice and a basket of steamed buns, plus a plate of boiled eggs—bird eggs that Fu Tinghan had his personal guards search everywhere to find.

Zhao Hanzhang was eating when she received Zhao Erlang’s three pieces of flatbread. Hearing it was Xie Shi’s suggestion to send them, Zhao Hanzhang immediately understood. She packed up all the steamed buns on the table and divided the bird eggs in half, giving them to Lü Hu. “Take these back to Erlang. Tell him I said to be more alert tonight and not let Wang Mi and Liu Cong launch a surprise attack.”

She also told Ting He, “You go with Lü Hu. Tell Erlang I’m fine. It’s just that there are some matters outside that need my attention, so I need him to help me guard the front.”

Ting He accepted the order and went into the city with Lü Hu to see Zhao Erlang.

Zhao Erlang opened the cloth bundle and saw the still-warm steamed buns inside. He immediately abandoned those rock-hard dry rations, took one, and bit into it. After one bite, he held the bun in his mouth, then took one for Xie Shi. Looking at Lü Hu and Zhao Cai, he hesitated before giving them one each to share.

He took the bun from his mouth, saying somewhat unclearly, “You two share this.”

Lü Hu and Zhao Cai were very moved and agreed.

Seeing him guard his food so jealously, Xie Shi held the steamed bun in his hand, both touched and finding it inexplicably amusing.

Ting He paused for quite a while before saying, “Second Young Master, Nulang asked you not to worry about her. She’s just busy with matters outside, so she’s somewhat occupied. She wants Second Young Master to guard the front well for her.”

If it were a normal person, they would definitely doubt Ting He’s explanation, but Zhao Erlang wasn’t normal, so as soon as she said it, he believed it.

While gnawing on the steamed bun, he said unclearly, “I knew Sister was amazing. How could she be injured?”

“When Sister’s lips were pale earlier, was it because she was too tired?” Zhao Erlang said, “Mother said that women always have a few days when they’re especially tired, and told me to protect Sister well during those days. Ting He, go back and tell Sister to rest assured. I’ll definitely guard the front well and absolutely won’t let them break through.”

Ting He’s face flushed slightly. She glanced at Xie Shi and the others, couldn’t help stamping her foot, and said, “Second Young Master, don’t say these things to others. Oh my, just remember Nulang’s words. I’m going back now.”

Zhao Erlang looked at Xie Shi in confusion while biting his steamed bun. “Teacher, what’s wrong with Ting He?”

Xie Shi gently bit into his steamed bun and lectured him, “Even when eating, one must have proper eating etiquette. How can you wolf down food like this?”

Although Zhao Erlang often listened to Xie Shi and Wang Nie’s advice, he didn’t listen to everything. Sister said that if he felt something was wrong, he shouldn’t listen.

So he immediately retorted, “Sister said that in war, you must be fast. Eating must also be fast—eating slowly will leave you hungry, being hungry means having no strength, and having no strength means death! So eating slowly can lead to death. Teacher, you need to eat faster.”

After speaking, he looked at the remaining two steamed buns in the cloth bundle. After hesitating for a long time, he reluctantly gave him another one. “Eat. Once it’s gone, there’s no more.”

As for the bird eggs in the bundle, Zhao Erlang was only willing to share one with Xie Shi. He ate all the rest himself.

If Sister hadn’t said to respect Xie Shi and Wang Nie as he would respect her, he wouldn’t share his food with them.

Xie Shi sighed and shook his head, but couldn’t help smiling.