Chapter 592 Are you really not going to care?
The little waiter tilted his head, scooping up fish balls with a small wooden spoon, his cheeks bulging as he ate; every now and then he would feed one to Baozhu, who would also puff out her cheeks.
She ate the meatballs in clumps, and because they were quite large, it was very difficult for her.
The old man and Uncle Xin were scrambling for the mutton, going back and forth happily. The old steward stood aside, busying himself with serving the old man as much as possible.
Lu Shizhu, Dongzang Chen Shu, and the others had finished eating and were slumped on the table.
Wei Ke and Qin Lin huddled together, talking about something.
Ah Nuan has already eaten and is now sitting at her desk, saying she wants to write a letter to Ping'er. Lin Chun is grinding ink for her beside her.
Not only the family members, but also Zhongbo and the others they brought back, even though they were still dazed and confused, have now been cleaned up, given medicine by Anuan, and are being cared for by the servants to eat some liquid food. Their spirits seem to have improved considerably.
The household now has quite a few servants.
According to Dongzang, these were all bought by Linchun beforehand. Anuan didn't interfere and delegated all authority to her. Linchun was skilled at training servants, and now these maids and servants were taking very good care of the family.
As the candlelight flickered, Li Rong gazed at the group of people sitting together eating, lost in thought.
A warm feeling arose in my heart, yet it also felt like being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, creating a heavy sense of unreality.
It was as if all the tranquility before me was just a fleeting mirage, like the calm before a storm.
"General, please have a cup of hot tea."
Just as I was lost in thought, a teacup was handed to me from the side.
Li Rong snapped out of his daze and turned slightly to the side, where he saw Wei Ke's face.
Wei Ke arrived at the window at some point, lifted his robe, and found a small stool like Li Rong. He sat down and helped Li Rong sort through the medicinal herbs, but his gaze unconsciously followed his general's expression.
Li Rong took the tea from him and took a small sip.
"General, are you really not going to do anything about it?"
Wei Ke absentmindedly rummaged through the medicinal herbs, hesitating for a while before finally unable to hold back and asking the question. As soon as he said it, his own eyes reddened.
His Adam's apple bobbed violently a few times, and finally he couldn't hold back any longer. Lowering his voice and not daring to look at the silent Li Rong beside him, he spoke again: "That beast Yelü Qi... he's a madman."
"We were besieged for seventeen days...out of ammunition and food...those...those fellow villagers who shared life and death with us, who drank rice gruel on the city walls to resist the enemy, vowing never to surrender...if they fall into his hands..."
Wei Ke's voice trembled slightly: "Countless soldiers' souls are buried beneath Yuguan City. General, how many years has it been? Back then, Yelü Wuji was slaughtered without a single survivor, and now it is my Great Jing that is being defeated time and time again."
Wei Ke's knuckles turned white as he gripped the medicinal herbs.
"Yes, it's only been a few years."
Li Rong subconsciously repeated Wei Ke's words.
His face appeared unusually pale in the flickering candlelight, and his dark eyes, like a deep sea suppressing an endless storm, surged and churned, yet were sealed tightly by a layer of ice, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
"Wei Ke!" Qin Lin, using his only movable hand, turned his wheelchair and arrived in front of him. He lowered his voice and said, "Why are you telling the general all this? Have you forgotten how these people treated the general and our Li family army? Is this good-for-nothing really worth us risking our lives to protect?"
The general is currently recovering from serious injuries. His best course of action is to focus on resting and recuperating.
Wei Ke frowned: "Even if those sent there are all incompetent fools, now is the time to turn the tide. General, time waits for no one. If we want to return to the court, now is the best time! Besides, the people on the border are waiting for us."
"Ha, things are not what they used to be. Even if the general puts on his armor and goes into battle, the former Li family army has been almost completely wiped out. Does the general expect you to lead us, the remnants of a defeated army who have long lost all will, to fight against Yelü Qi's 200,000 iron cavalry?"
As Qin Lin spoke, he glanced at his crippled body, then shifted his gaze to Uncle Zhong and the others who were being looked after by the maids some distance away. A mocking smile crept across his lips.
"Qin Lin, are you even a man? Who the hell is a defeated soldier? How long has it been? Where's your fighting spirit? Where's your pride? Don't look like you're half-dead. If you don't want to live, I'll send you on your way!"
Qin Lin smirked: "Come on. I'd rather die than risk my life for these people again!"
"You!" Wei Ke's chest heaved violently with anger, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
Li Rong listened to their argument with tightly pressed lips, not uttering a single word from beginning to end. He simply and slowly picked out the bits of grass from the winnowing basket, his eyes unfocused, as if his soul had already passed through the hall, over the vermilion walls and green tiles of the capital, and flown to the Jade Gate city walls, now fallen under the iron heel of the enemy, bathed in the blood-red sunset, with corpses strewn across the fields…
The cold wind continued to howl outside, but inside the house it was warm and cozy. After finishing their meal, everyone tacitly refrained from resting, and also tacitly avoided disturbing Li Rong.
Little Baozhu was full of energy. Holding a smooth little wooden stick that Linchun had whittled for her, she was gesturing and making noises in a corner of the more spacious hall. Her little face was tense, and she was making off-key "hey-ha" sounds, imitating the fists and feet she imagined.
Dongzang stood helplessly to the side, clutching her thick coat, acting as both a sparring partner and a caregiver, afraid the little one might stumble and fall. She would occasionally whisper and point out any mistakes in her movements.
On the other side, on a soft couch by the window, the old man nestled comfortably in a rocking chair covered with thick fur, his eyes closed, humming an off-key tune as he picked his teeth, looking completely at ease.
The old steward carefully brought over the freshly brewed ginseng tea and placed it on the low table beside him, saying softly, "Master, the ginseng tea is ready. Please drink it while it's hot."
The old man gave a satisfied "hmm" without even lifting his eyelids, clearly enjoying himself immensely.
Near the corner of the central hall, an oil lamp illuminated a small area.
Li Xiaoer sat upright, intently grinding medicinal powder according to Jiang Nuanzhi's instructions. His movements were skillful and focused, producing a fine and even powder, which drew frequent nods from Lü Shizhu, who was watching him with his head propped up: "Xiaoer is not bad, how do you get the dosage and fineness just right?"
The second brother smiled shyly: "Maybe it's innate? Who told me to take after my mother?"
As he spoke, a joyful light shone in his eyes.
Lu Shizhu choked, and couldn't help but roll his eyes. Don't think I don't know, he wasn't born to Sister Nuan at all.
Thinking this, he continued grinding the medicine with a resentful, bitter face. The prescription was complicated and difficult to understand; he had struggled immensely to learn it when he was a child. But this kid seemed to have divine assistance, knowing how to do it after hearing it only once. It was truly infuriating to compare oneself to others.
The study was brightly lit.
Jiang Nuanzhi sat at her desk, spread out a sheet of paper, and dipped her brush in ink.
(End of this chapter)
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