Jiang Yushu was restless and had no appetite, but in order to avoid suspicion from outsiders, she ate lunch in a hurry and gave some instructions to her subordinates before she was allowed to leave the city.
It was a sunny afternoon, and after traveling for a long time in the sun, everyone was sweating profusely.
"drive!"
The abrasion on Jiang Yushu's palm from the last horse-scare incident had healed. Her mind was in a mess, and she half-leaned over the horse's back, urging it on frequently.
Peng Changxing and his familiar guards surrounded the county magistrate, the sound of horse hooves was deafening, and the dust was flying everywhere.
The group rode at full speed and arrived near the camp after nearly two hours.
Jiang Yushu was panting and reined in her horse. "Whoa!" She slowly stopped, pointed her chin forward, and said, "Changxing, go back to the camp first. Don't show up with us, or we'll get questions from outsiders."
"Yes!" Peng Changxing understood and asked loyally, "Then, does Madam have any instructions?"
Jiang Yushu frowned and shook her head, "Not yet. Just focus on your own tasks. I'll contact you when there's any important news."
"Understood!" Peng Changxing cracked his whip. "I'll go ahead. Madam, please take care of yourself."
Jiang Yushu nodded and said, "Go." She walked along the road that was trampled hard by countless soldiers and horses, and walked slowly with a worried look on her face, reining in the reins.
Most of the guards were soldiers who had just returned home from their military service. They were well-informed and had heard about the incident in the army a few days ago, but they were undecided and could only discuss it privately, hesitating and waiting.
"You guys," Jiang Yushu sighed and asked firmly, "You knew Hong Lei was in trouble a long time ago, but you teamed up to hide it from me, right?"
“No, no, no!”
"Ahem, sir, calm down. Things are definitely not what you imagine."
The guards, feeling anxious and apologetic, explained in unison, "Actually, we only heard a rough outline of the situation a couple of days ago."
"At the time, I had a sworn brother who was out of camp and in the city on some business. We ran into each other on the street and had a quick chat. Due to military orders, he couldn't directly mention 'the captain is missing', so he only mentioned it in a roundabout way."
"We discussed it privately and felt something was amiss. We immediately tried to gather information and learned that the captain had had an accident."
"I was planning to tell you today, but Changxing came back, so, so it turned out like this."
…
Jiang Yushu was too worried to blame him, so she simply ordered, "Don't do it again. If something like this happens again, whether it's true or not, report it immediately to avoid delaying important matters."
Seeing that she didn't blame him, the guards felt relieved and nodded vigorously, "Yes!"
The horses were moving slowly, and the group discussed in a low voice, estimated the time, and guessed that Peng Changxing had entered the camp, so they sped up their horses.
Unexpectedly, just as we rounded a gentle slope, we heard the sound of horse hooves from behind.
"who?"
Jiang Yushu and others subconsciously turned their heads to look.
"It seems to be... Lord Tong?" A guard was not sure.
The leader of the guards carefully identified him and said, "Yes, it's him!"
From Xicang to Yongzhou, Jiang Yushu never competed with the soldiers for the road. She reined in her horse again and pulled to the side of the road, "Let them pass first."
After a while, Tong Jing led a team, who were dusty and almost all of them had unshaven beards, and returned to the camp exhausted.
"Whoa!" Tong Jing recognized the magistrate from afar, reined in his horse, and, changing his usual frivolous and playful demeanor, asked in a loud voice, "Master Jiang, what are you doing here?"
"I--" Jiang Yushu had too many questions and was speechless for a moment.
Tong Jing frowned and looked at the pale woman, wanting to say something but stopping himself, thinking to himself: Does she know that something happened to Guo Honglei?
Jiang Yushu stared at him intently, "Master Tong, is everything okay in your camp?"
Tsk, she knows! Tong Jing sniffed and rubbed his chin. Due to military orders, he answered vaguely: "Same as always, the military camp is definitely much busier than the county government."
He saw that I knew. Jiang Yushu knew it well, and her voice became hoarse. "You heroes, you have worked so hard to defend the border. If it weren't for you, the people of Tuning who fled in the early years would not dare to return home."
Tong Jing couldn't help but smile. "Protecting the border is our duty!" He glanced at the camp not far away and repeated, "What brings you here?"
Jiang Yushu remained silent, staring at the other person's expression, and waved her right hand, signaling the guards to retreat.
Seeing this, Tong Jing frowned and waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to retreat.
In a blink of an eye, the two riders were facing each other, more than ten feet apart.
"Let me tell you first, I know nothing!" Tong Jing said in a loud voice, taking the lead in expressing his attitude.
Jiang Yushu nodded, "I understand. I won't embarrass Master Tong." After a pause, she asked softly, "Is there any good news?"
"Ah?" Tong Jing was stunned.
"Is there any good news?"
Tong Jing frowned but said nothing.
Jiang Yushu nodded knowingly, her heart sinking. She held her breath and asked again, "Is there any bad news?"
Tong Jing looked at the woman bending over towards him on horseback, saw the anxious light in her eyes, watched her pretending to be calm, and shook his head.
"Good!" Jiang Yushu felt as if she had been pardoned. She sat up straight, patted her chest, and murmured, "If there is no bad news, then it is good news."
Alas, if Guo Honglei doesn't come back, there will be another widow in the world. What a sin! Thinking of this, Tong Jing showed pity, but he couldn't offer any comfort. He said dryly, "Don't let your imagination run wild. Hey, you... came all the way here specifically to get some information?"
Jiang Yushu gripped the reins tightly, her eyes vacant as she gazed at the distant mountains. She slowly replied, "No, I'm here to visit General Song and discuss the training of the militia. However, since you just said the barracks are busy lately, I won't bother you. The militia issue isn't urgent, so we can discuss it another day."
"Oh, militia, there's really no rush! It's hard to train good soldiers in a short time. After a while, I'm afraid the general won't have time to take care of this matter now."
Only then did Jiang Yushu's impulsiveness gradually subside. She took a deep breath and forced a smile. "In that case, I'll return to the yamen. I'll visit General Song next time." After saying this, she took the initiative to make way and raised her hand, saying, "Master Tong, thank you very much. Please."
Tong Jing opened his mouth and finally said, "Okay, go back to the city. Don't think too much for now." He squeezed his legs against the horse's belly and galloped towards the camp. His subordinates followed, and the sound of horse hooves faded away.
Jiang Yushu watched them for a long time until the soldiers disappeared around the corner.
She felt helpless, sighed deeply, turned her horse around, and said expressionlessly, "Let's go back to the city."
"lady?"
"this……"
The guard leader, Luo Chen, sighed helplessly and urged, "Let's go. Even if we ask to see General Song now, we probably won't get any confirmation. It's best not to interfere with their work."
So, the group rushed out of the city in a hurry, stopped near the camp, chatted with Tong Jing for a few words, and then returned to the city in silence.
Evening · Back Court
"Madam is back!"
The little maid immediately got busy, some bringing water and some making tea.
When Cuimei heard this, she trotted over with her pregnant belly bulging. She couldn't wait to get closer and whispered, "Madam, how are they? Have they returned to the camp yet?"
Jiang Yushu looked calm and whispered, "Don't worry, there's no bad news for now. Be patient and I'll tell you when I have news."
"W-What do you mean?" Cuimei was anxious. "No bad news?"
Jiang Yushu nodded. "We're still searching. Cui'er, this matter must be kept secret. Even if it gets out and people ask about it, we shouldn't make wild guesses. We need to stay calm. Do you understand?"
Cuimei fought back her tears, "I understand."
"By the way, have you arranged for the new teacher to stay?" Jiang Yushu's face turned pale. She bent down to wash, forced herself to be alert, and began to handle official business.
"Yes, he lives next door to County Magistrate Huang."
"As a new colleague arrives, it's customary to hold a banquet to welcome him."
"When it comes to eating, drinking and having fun, Master Wen has always been the most enthusiastic. He has already instructed his men to make arrangements and a welcoming banquet will be held tonight." Cuimei was also a person who had experienced storms. Although she was worried and anxious, she did not collapse and was still able to deal with everything rationally.
Jiang Yushu was a bit dazed, her usual spirit gone, her soul as if she had left her body, her body moving woodenly. She washed her face and accepted the hot tea. "Then I'll meet with Guan Jiao tonight, so he doesn't mistakenly think the county magistrate is arrogant."
"Okay, I'll have someone remind Master Wen later," Cuimei advised. "That's calming tea. You look pale. Drink some and rest for a while. Regain your energy for the banquet tonight."
Jiang Yushu drank a cup of tea, looked at her confidant with red and swollen eyes, patted her arm, and said comfortingly: "You need to rest more. Go back to the room and don't stay with me. Don't think too much. No matter what happens, don't forget that the child is not born yet."
"Yes, I understand." Cuimei covered her mouth and suppressed her tears.
At the same time, Tuningwei
The commander was extremely worried because his capable general and more than 2,000 soldiers had been missing for ten days.
Song Jikun hadn't slept well for several days. He drank cup after cup of strong tea. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the map, racking his brains to think.
"Alas, she didn't cry. After I persuaded her, she went back to the government office." Tong Jing sat cross-legged on the ground, wolfing down a multi-grain cake. He mumbled and sighed, "Her face was completely pale, like a ghost. It was so pitiful to see."
"How can I be a county magistrate if I cry every time I encounter trouble?" The more worried Song Jikun became, the sterner his expression became. No one could guess what he was thinking. "Maybe Honglei and Zuo Zhen will come back later."
"Alas, the brothers have practically overturned the grass around the ravine, but we still haven't found any trace of the missing people. This is troublesome." Tong Jing held up the multi-grain cake and said solemnly, "Guo Honglei and his men didn't bring any dry food when they set out. It's been ten days. What have they relied on to fill their stomachs? It seems we have to make some bad plans."
Song Jikun shook his head and said seriously, "It's not that far yet. Go, call everyone together, and discuss it carefully... We have to find a way to solve this problem."
"yes!"
Yongzhou City at Night
Pei Wenfeng usually goes out early and comes back late, and when he returns home, night has already fallen.
"My husband is back?"
"Hurry, wash your hands, it's time to eat." Ji Yingyue smiled brightly. She was over eight months pregnant, yet she still couldn't rest. She insisted on making breakfast and dinner every day. If her husband hadn't stopped her, she would have sent someone to deliver lunch to the government office, fearing that he wouldn't eat well.
"I told you to eat first. You don't have to wait for me." The maid served him attentively. While washing his hands, Pei Wenfeng said, "I've already eaten with my father-in-law."
Ji Yingyue smiled, then picked up her chopsticks and asked softly, "Did father find some good wine for you to try?"
Pei Wenfeng wiped his hands slowly and said, "It's both to taste the wine and to discuss official business."
"Oh, the endless work and official duties leave us no time for even a meal." Ji Yingyue couldn't help but advise, "You should combine work and rest."
Pei Wenfeng smiled, "I know." He dropped the handkerchief into the copper basin and said gently, "The day after tomorrow morning, I'm going to Tuning."
"Tu Ning?" Ji Yingyue's smile froze. Hearing "Tu Ning" reminded her of Jiang Yushu, and then, unable to control herself, she recalled the past between her husband and his cousin. She didn't want to appear jealous, and she desperately wanted to appear virtuous and generous, but this hurdle was not easy for a woman to overcome.
Pei Wenfeng glanced at him and added, "My father-in-law is going too. It was his suggestion. I'm just accompanying him."
"Oh? Oh!" Ji Yingyue breathed a sigh of relief and quickly smiled. "I see. I'll ask the maid to pack your luggage later."
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