The Slender Waist-Chapter 164 - 121: Feng Family’s Worry for the Husband

Chapter 164: Chapter 121: Feng Family’s Worry for the Husband

He Qia returned to Andu City already at midnight.

After hearing He Chuandong’s words, he hurried to Yutangchun on horseback, with the night dew soaking his clothes.

Feng Yun had not slept, a solitary lamp burned before her as she sat in silence, waiting.

Seeing her waiting so desperately without even changing her clothes, He Qia was somewhat surprised and quickly paid his respects.

"Miss has been waiting for a long time..."

Feng Yun said, "You are too courteous, Sir He. You should have sent someone to inform me, and I would have come to your residence, how can I trouble you to make the trip yourself?"

He Qia waved his hand and, with a sigh, sat down.

Feng Yun noticed the expression on his face and hurriedly had Xiaoman bring tea.

"Sir He, you seem so anxious, has there been some news from Xinzhou?"

He Qia gave a bitter smile.

Without elaboration, he knew the intent behind Feng Yun seeking him out.

He had previously accepted Feng Yun’s "gifts", promising to pass along information to her.

But...

He Qia hesitated for a moment before sighing again.

"Not to deceive you, Miss, my visit to Wanning today was to discuss with Brother Dou the current strategy," he said.

Both Wanning County and Andu County keep Northern Yong army garrisons to maintain daily governance. Currently, Pei Jue’s troops are also stationed at Huaishui Bay Camp for backup.

"The Great General’s surprise attack on Bingzhou was a fine move, but who would have thought, Tiger Guard and Dragon Cavalry Army, disregarding the Great General’s orders, and using the excuse of insufficient supplies, have been hesitating to send reinforcement..."

The Great General leads the troops of Jin Country, and though Tiger Guard and Dragon Cavalry Army are not Pei Jue’s direct forces, they still must follow the Great General’s military orders.

At this critical juncture, the deliberate delay of these two forces was undoubtedly pushing the Northern Yong Army into a pit of fire.

This was something that He Qia could not understand at all.

"Brother Dou and I suspect that someone from the Imperial Court might be causing trouble?"

He added, "But we have racked our brains and still cannot figure out who would dare to do such a thing..."

He Qia, who had been in the military for years, was unaware of the court affairs. In his eyes, the Great General had made significant contributions akin to Dragon’s Merit for the Li Family, and it was a great favor. The Prime Minister, Li Zongxun, would most certainly not sabotage from within.

"Could it then be that the leaders of Tiger Guard and Dragon Cavalry Army have ulterior motives? But disobeying the Great General’s orders is punishable by the court! Besides, what good does it do them to offend the General?"

Feng Yun did not know the situation was so severe before she came.

From what she heard through Jin Ge’s mouth, including her previous life experiences, she only knew that the three generals in the Northern Yong Army’s camp were colluding with Xiao Cheng and might backstab Pei Jue. She hadn’t expected Li Zongxun to act so quickly.

In her previous life, Li Zongxun went to great lengths to please Pei Jue, even at the expense of his daughter’s reputation...

Were these changes triggered by her own actions?

Feng Yun hesitantly asked, "Have you thought of any countermeasures?"

He Qia stroked his beard and sighed, "Brother Dou and I will surely defend Andu and Wanning staunchly, to ensure a solid rear for the General, so he won’t be attacked from both sides..."

Feng Yun nodded, "That would be best."

She then asked He Qia another question, "Has there been any message from the General?"

He Qia shook his head, "It’s precisely because there hasn’t been any that I’m so uneasy."

As he said this, he suddenly lifted his eyelids and reassured Feng Yun, "Miss need not fear, what kind of storm hasn’t the General seen before? How could he capsize in Bingzhou? Just stay calm..."

After a moment of hesitation, he hesitantly added, "Even if there truly is an unforeseeable event, the General has already prepared an escape route for you, Miss. I, He Qia, will open the door of convenience wide for you, allowing you to leave on your own."

Feng Yun was taken aback, "Did the General say this?"

He Qia hesitated somewhat, "The General instructed that, unless absolutely necessary, we should not speak to you of such disheartening matters."

Feng Yun was slightly astonished.

That day, Pei Jue actually did return to Andu City.

He even carried her absurdly on horseback for so long and personally escorted her to the General Residence.

But he had never mentioned a word about it.

Could it be that at that time, Pei Jue had already anticipated the dangers of this war?

Feng Yun inquired, "Today, I came to ask if you could provide me with a travel pass or a waist token, allowing me to go to Xinzhou on my own..."

He Qia’s forehead bulged with veins.

"Miss, what are you intending to do?"

Feng Yun said, "The battle is a matter of life and death. With no word from the General for so long, I can’t rest easy."

He Qia looked at her serious demeanor, deeply moved.

A lady of such sincere feelings and nature, no wonder the General cares so much for her.

In such times, a woman who fears not danger and rushes to the front line is indeed rare.

Feng Yun, seeing his agitated state, knew he had misunderstood something, but she didn’t want to explain.

She truly was concerned about the battle situation, truly feared that Pei Jue would meet defeat, that Xiao Cheng and Feng Ying would become too complacent...

The thought of such possibilities made her feel as if her rebirth had been in vain, making her restless, tormented as if in a blazing fire every moment.

"Ah!" He Qia sighed deeply, "Has Miss considered this thoroughly?"

Feng Yun rose to her feet, giving him a formal bow.

"Much obliged, Lord He."

He Qia narrowed his eyes and sighed, "In three days, a supply convoy will head to Xinzhou. If the young lady wishes to go, I can arrange for her to accompany them, ensuring her safety along the way."

Feng Yun was overjoyed, bowing deeply once again.

"Thank you very much, Lord He."

-

Not understanding what exactly had happened on the Bingzhou battlefield, Feng Yun found it impossible to be at peace.

But when she mentioned going to Xinzhou, the people of Changmen Village immediately felt a sense of crisis.

Grandma Han was the first to object.

She clung to Feng Yun, crying a river of tears.

"Shi’er Niang is so committed to righteousness, Grandma knows that. But war is a man’s affair; what’s the use of Shi’er Niang going?"

Feng Yun smiled gently, comforting her.

"Grandma, I’m only going to Xinzhou. There is no fighting there, with the Beiyong Army on guard."

Grandma Han sniffed and wiped away her tears, looking reproachfully at her, "Don’t think that old servants are blind and deaf, knowing nothing. Xinzhou is dangerous, the Qi Army is mixing in with civilians, constantly assassinating Jin soldiers. There might be no battlefield, but it’s even more dangerous than one..."

Feng Yun couldn’t help but find it amusing.

She hadn’t expected that Grandma Han, who spent every day tending to the garden, would be so well-informed...

It just showed how quickly news spread.

"It’s all made-up stories by those people." Feng Yun turned to look at Ye Chuang, "Wouldn’t you say so, Guard Ye?"

Ye Chuang certainly did not want the young lady to risk danger.

But he couldn’t make decisions for Feng Yun!

"What the young lady says is true."

Ye Chuang grinned sheepishly, but his smile only provoked an even greater wail from Grandma Han.

"Oh heavens, why must such misfortune occur, when will this ceaseless fighting end... Simple folk wish to live in peace, why must it be so difficult... Please, no more fighting... It’s time for a ceasefire! We can’t live like this anymore."

Grandma Han cried heart-wrenchingly, a sight that moved anyone who saw her.

In these troubled times, the common people had no choice, and those caught in the middle had even less...

If they had to make a choice, it would only be whether others died or they themselves did.

Feng Yun comforted Grandma Han for a while, then let Huanhuan and Peipei take her to rest before starting to prepare for the journey.

There were still three days before the supply convoy departed for Xinzhou.

What was most lacking in times of war were medical supplies. The amount Ao Qi had previously taken was too little. She had used Doctor Yao’s prescriptions to bring back some medicinal materials from the capital with Ge Guang’s help, but it was like a drop in the ocean.

Feng Yun planned to make use of the three days to find as much medicine as possible to take to Xinzhou...

However, the materials needed for treating external injuries were scarce everywhere.

After searching Andu thoroughly and sending people to Wanning and even the more distant Yupu Prefecture, she found that either the materials were unattainable or the prices were too high. Acquiring them would likely leave her penniless...

At noon the next day, Xiang Zhong arrived.

He came alone to get medicine for the Princely Heir from Doctor Yao.

Driving a cart up to the Yao family’s doorway, upon lifting the cover, the cart revealed neatly packed large and small boxes of medicinal materials, preserved in fine camphor wood boxes and extremely valuable.

Doctor Yao’s eyes lit up at the sight.

"These are precisely the materials that the Princely Heir is lacking. May I ask how Crown Prince Chunyu plans to sell them?"

"The young master isn’t selling them," Xiang Zhong said with a naive smile. "But he is lending them to Miss Feng for the time being." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Upon hearing this, Doctor Yao’s eyelids twitched and he muttered a prayer of thanks.

It seemed that the distinguished Crown Prince of Yunchuan spoke nothing but the truth. The woman he refrained from naming was likely Miss Feng. When a man found his strength awakened only by one woman, he had fallen into her hands.

If that woman didn’t belong to him...

Then it was tantamount to a fate worse than death.

Doctor Yao sighed briefly for the Crown Prince of Yunchuan’s plight, but quickly brightened, instructing Mrs. Wang to notify Feng Yun.

"Eunuch Xiang, please come inside."

Feng Yun, after receiving the news, felt as though a pie had hit her from the sky, taking a while to come to her senses.

She unceremoniously accepted the materials, produced an IOU for Xiang Zhong to deliver to Chunyu Yan, then mobilized the entire village to make medicine.

Concubines, maidservants, laborers, and even Kong Yun’e were summoned to help Doctor Yao process the medicinal materials, boiling, frying, cutting, grinding, turning the massive piles of materials into jars of medicine for wounds...

Three days was a rush.

Fortunately, everyone in Changmen Village was under Feng Yun’s direction.

With united hearts, even mountains can be moved—the task proceeded at great speed...

Ren Rude received the news and silently wrote in the teahouse.

"The Feng family, anxious for her husband, has the entire village swiftly preparing medicinal supplies, intending to personally deliver them to the front."