After Su Wan and Wei Jingzhuo returned to the Jin army camp, Wei Jingzhuo summoned all the generals to a meeting in the command tent in order to deal with Zhang Ying.

Su Wan ate in the rear camp, accompanied by Granny Cui and several maids.

Once the life force stops being lost, all the organs in the body cry out: Eat quickly, we are hungry.

Su Wan felt as if she hadn't eaten for a week. If her mouth weren't so small, she felt she could stuff a whole roasted suckling pig into her stomach.

Meals in the military camp weren't as varied as in the palace; they were more practical. Granny Cui prepared a hot, fragrant bowl of beef broth with rice. The broth had been simmering overnight, resulting in tender beef and a flavorful soup. Several side dishes of freshly picked vegetables were added to balance the richness.

Granny Cui personally placed the rice on the table, and before she could even pour the beef broth over it, Su Wan's mouth watered. She picked up a spoon and started eating.

After eating seafood on the island for over a month, I'm really tired of it and it's time to switch to some land-based flavors.

"Awoo, smack smack, awoo awoo awoo... uh."

Seeing that Su Wan was choking and her eyes were rolling back, Cui Mama quickly patted her back and rubbed her chest, and ordered those around her, "Her Majesty the Empress is choking, quick, quickly pour her some water."

"Coming, coming." A maid quickly poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Su Wan, while another maid ladled a spoonful of beef broth and poured it carefully over the rice, sprinkling some chopped green and white scallions on top.

Su Wan grabbed the cup and started gulping it down her throat: "Glug glug glug..."

Granny Cui said with a smile, "Your Majesty, please eat slowly, lest you upset your stomach."

"Phew, I made it down there," Su Wan put the empty cup on the table and continued eating her rice, "Mmm, smack smack, mmm, smack smack..."

She finished her food in a few bites, then pushed the empty bowl away and said, "One more bowl, but in a bigger one."

While the maid turned to serve the rice, Su Wan picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks and chewed it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a maid place an exquisite bamboo basket on the table. Inside, several layers of oil paper were laid out, and there was a stack of oval-shaped meat pies, steaming hot, golden brown on both sides, with the filling visible through the crust.

"The meat patties in this basket..."

Granny Cui said, "It was specially reserved for Her Majesty the Empress by the General. This old servant had the cook reheat it."

"My sworn sister can actually make meat pies? I remember she can't cook. Never mind, I'll have one first... Wow, it's so hot."

Su Wan reached out to tear the pancake, and hot oil splattered out, leaving an oil droplet on the back of her hand.

"Oh dear, Your Majesty, please don't worry, this old servant will cut it for you."

Su Wan ate three bowls of beef soup rice, four meat patties, and finished off five side dishes in one go. Still feeling unsatisfied, she drank a large bowl of meat soup before finally feeling comfortable.

After eating and drinking her fill, she felt sleepy. She had intended to go find Wei Jingzhuo, but the overwhelming drowsiness made her eyelids droop uncontrollably.

Granny Cui and the maids helped her to bed. Granny Cui said, "Your Majesty, there's no need to force yourself. Leave the rest to His Majesty. The Southern Chu Kingdom will also help, and the Western Rong army is coming too. We will definitely defeat that monster."

Su Wan wanted to say that Zhang Ying should not be underestimated, but she couldn't resist the sleepiness and fell asleep immediately.

Granny Cui pulled over a thin blanket to cover her, lowered the gauze curtain, and then quietly called the others to come out of the tent together.

Su Wan didn't even dream during that sleep.

When I woke up again, candles had been lit outside the gauze curtains. The candlelight on the table was covered by a lampshade, casting a soft glow.

"Oh dear, what time is it?"

She jumped up, stretched, and felt sore and lazy all over. Stretching felt so good.

I glanced at the time; it was almost 1 a.m.

Although she wanted to continue sleeping, she felt she had to get moving. It was already past midnight, and Wei Jingzhuo hadn't come back to keep her company; something must be wrong.

She got dressed, got out of bed, and stretched her joints. She felt much stronger.

The table was covered with all sorts of pastries, which she knew were prepared for her. She first popped two pieces of cloud cake into her mouth, but then realized that indulging in food would lead to trouble, so she simply swept all the pastries into the apartment to take with her on the way. She then poured herself a large cup of tea and gulped it down.

Stepping out of the tent and into the outer tent, one could see Granny Cui and several maids talking in hushed tones, all of them looking tense.

When Cui Mama saw Su Wan come out, she quickly led everyone to rise and bow, saying, "This old servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. If you wake up, just call out to this old servant and we will come to serve you."

"No need for formalities," Su Wan said. "What are you all talking about so nervously?"

Granny Cui dared not conceal the truth and said, "Your Majesty, you are sleeping soundly and do not know. Zhang Ying's army has begun to attack our camp, and the situation is not good."

Su Wan frowned and stepped out of the tent.

That's so unbelievable. I only slept for one day, how could Zhang Ying have an army?

She stepped out of the tent and saw a sky full of stars, a bright moon hanging high, and a hint of blood in the night air.

In the distance, soldiers' tents were densely packed together, all lit up. Squads of soldiers were busily moving between the tents, their armor and gauntlets clashing against their weapons, and the shouts of their commanders could be heard from time to time.

Looking through the gaps between the tents further away, one could see the tall stone walls of the camp. Under the torchlight, many soldiers were carrying supplies on the walls. Smoke was rising from many places on the walls, making them appear misty in the moonlight.

The entire camp was on high alert. Without calling for the guards, she ran straight to the commander's tent.

Outside the command tent, Chu Mingyao, dressed in light leather armor, with a Western Rong battle sword at her waist, her hair tied up with a yellow handkerchief, and some traces of smoke on her face, was talking to a Western Rong army centurion.

"Is Your Highness still too late to join the battle? That's too slow."

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!