Qiaolian returned in just a quarter of an hour.

"Young lady, Doctor Li said this powder is Panax notoginseng powder..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Segu was surprised that the powder was not an abortifacient like safflower powder or musk powder. Then he heard Qiaolian say, "Doctor Li said that although Panax notoginseng is not as good as safflower and musk, it is still a blood-activating substance. Even pregnant women should not take it, otherwise it may cause miscarriage!"

Why not use safflower and musk?

This question flashed through Jiang Segu's mind, but she didn't think about it deeply. She just gritted her teeth and thought: Since Shaoyao doesn't want the empty child in her womb, she will make sure that Shaoyao keeps the baby!

Just then, a commotion broke out outside.

What are you all doing, cowering around like this?!

It was Cailan's voice.

Without Jiang Segu's prompting, Qiaolian lifted the curtain and went out. "What's wrong, Cailan?"

"Qiaolian, you've come at the perfect time! Those two were acting suspiciously just now; they didn't seem like good people to me!"

"Oh, these two are the people you rescued by the roadside. We just happened to be short-handed in the courtyard, so we brought them back! By the way, have someone boil some water for them to bathe, and I'll go get them some clean clothes!"

Cailan was stunned. She had only been gone for a short while, how come the girl had brought back two beggars!

Jiang Segu called out, "Qiaolian, let them in!"

Cailan snapped out of her daze and called out loudly, "Miss, they are very dirty. How can two people like this be allowed into your room? I'll take them to wash up first, and after they've changed their clothes, you can ask them questions!"

For a long time, no sound came from Jiang Segu's house.

Cailan thought to herself, "This is bad," and looked at Qiaolian for help.

"You usually seem so sensible, why are you going against the young lady today? Hurry up and embroider the pine-shaped longevity headband that the young lady wants to give to the old lady. The old lady's birthday is just around the corner!"

Then, turning to the two little beggars whose faces were so dirty they were unrecognizable, he said, "Come in with me!"

Once inside the house, the two women, who had been cowering outside, stood up straight and bowed to Jiang Segu, saying, "Your subordinate, Qingying (Qinghong), was sent by General Gu to protect Miss Jiang Liu!"

That was the end of the conversation!

Jiang Segu blinked and looked the two of them up and down!

Of course, she didn't mean to scrutinize the two of them; she was just curious!

These two women clearly have some martial arts skills; I wonder if they've ever been on the battlefield and killed enemies!

Thinking of this, Jiang Segu became worried again.

Gu Songhan is no longer a member of the Northwest Army. If people find out that he has been mobilizing troops without authorization, will they impeach him?

"Where did you come from?"

"I was originally part of the Northwest Army, and later served under Xu Chengyang, the General of Tianjin Garrison. Now I have been temporarily transferred to the Marquis of Changping's residence to protect the Sixth Miss!"

Qingying's voice was monotonous and dull, like... like a monk striking a wooden fish.

Jiang Segu didn't know who Xu Chengyang was, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that Qingying and Qinghong hadn't been secretly transferred from the Northwest Army by Gu Songhan.

"Go and wash up and have your meal first, then come back to serve me later!"

For ordinary people, washing up and eating takes at least half an hour, even if they rush. However, when Qingying and Qinghong reappeared beside Jiangse Valley, only half an hour had passed!

Jiang Segu stared in disbelief at the two people's still-wet hair, which was simply tied on top of their heads with hairbands.

"Have you taken a shower?"

"Yes!"

"Have you eaten yet?"

"Yes!"

Jiang Segu glanced at Qiaolian, who was leading them downstairs to wash up.

Qiaolian finally recovered from her shock. "Miss, they washed their bodies with cold water in wooden basins, and they ate like they had nothing to eat! Then, they even washed the dishes!"

The maids advised them to dry their hair before serving the young lady, but they refused!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Segu tilted his head and asked, "Why wash your body with cold water?"

Qingying replied, "It takes time to boil water!"

Jiang Segu waited for her to continue, but Qingying remained silent. She had no choice but to ask again, "Is eating quickly because of a habit?"

"yes!"

Then there was another period of silence!

Qiaolian, who was standing nearby, was very anxious when she saw this!

Is this person not quite right in the head? She answers every question her master asks, completely oblivious to the hidden meaning behind his words!

"Then why did you come with your hair undried?"

"The master didn't allow it!"

Is this because she didn't explain things clearly?

Jiang Segu felt a headache coming on!

What strange person did Young Master Gu find for her?!

Suppressing his anger, Jiang Segu said as if coaxing a child, "Don't take cold showers anymore! Although the weather is getting warmer now, taking cold showers can easily make you sick!"

Furthermore, you are women, and using cold water for extended periods is not good for your health! Also, be sure to dry your hair after showering!

Also, don't rush your meal. I have plenty of servants and nothing urgent. Eat slowly to avoid upseting your stomachs!

Qinghong, who hadn't spoken until now, thought to herself that this was troublesome, but she had no choice but to agree with Qingying!

"Qiaolian, take them for another hot bath!"

And so, Qiaolian led the two of them down again!

As Qingying and Qinghong sat in the bathtub, which was as long as a person, they began to chat through the rising steam.

"Why is this girl so fussy! We've already showered, why do she want us to shower again? Does she think we're not clean enough?"

Qinghong irritably patted the petals floating on the water's surface, then said with disgust, "What's the point of having so many petals just to take a bath! It's such a hassle!"

Qingying said in a cold, hard voice, "Since we're here, let's make the best of it!"

Qinghong took a petal, put it in her mouth, chewed it twice, and then spat it out of the bathtub. "These girls are just like this flower. They are pleasing to the eye when things are peaceful, but once there is real turmoil, they are of no use at all!"

I don't know what General Xu and General Gu were thinking, actually making us two protect a pampered young lady! It's such a waste of talent!

Qinghong's tone was very dissatisfied, which showed that she had come unwillingly!

"Speak less and do more, it's never wrong!"

"I refuse to believe you'd willingly stay in a place like this, taking orders from a little girl!"

As she spoke, she leaned over the edge of the bathtub, tilting her head, and said, "You and I have forgotten that you are always good at forbearance, but I am not! When I see General Gu, I will tell him that I want to go back to Tianjin! If he thinks I am disobedient and wants to punish me, then I can go back to the Northwest to continue fighting the Tartars!"

Qingying didn't say anything more, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the soothing effect of the hot water!

They fought in the Northwest year-round, and there were time restrictions on bathing and eating, all in order to prevent enemy surprise attacks.

Later, I followed General Xu to Tianjin, where conditions were much better. But I still didn't want to be looked down upon by the male soldiers, so I compared everything to what I had experienced in the Northwest!

This was the first time she had ever taken a hot bath since she was in her mother's womb!

It wasn't that she was obsessed with luxury; it was just that she had been suffering from severe abdominal pain for the past two days, and the hot water had relieved the pain.

Thinking about her upcoming period, Qingying felt a wave of revulsion...