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"General Yu?"
Qi Man had just stepped out of the tent when he and Yu Baizhou, who had returned, looked at each other in bewilderment.
"I have some questions for you girls."
"Oh, then let's go in." Qi Man stepped aside. "The young lady hasn't rested yet."
Inside the tent, Song Ling, wrapped in thick clothes, leaned against a small couch reading a book. When she saw Yu Baizhou enter, she tried to get up but was stopped.
"Cough cough cough..." His already bloodless face turned even paler.
Yu Baizhou hurriedly went to pour her water, but his hand, which was about to pat her back, froze in mid-air for a moment before he withdrew it, so that Song Ling wouldn't see it.
"Jinghe said you should go buy medicinal herbs, for your condition..."
After catching her breath, Song Ling took a sip of water. "It's nothing, just some minor health issues I had since birth."
Since Yu Baizhou brought up buying medicinal herbs, Song Ling decided to save herself the trouble of making another trip. "This is exactly what I wanted to tell the general. A month ago, an epidemic broke out in Yangzhou, and the disaster victims scattered and fled."
“The number of refugees outside the cities of Shannan Prefecture, which are closest to the army’s encampment, is gradually increasing, and there is a risk of disease outbreak.”
Yu Baizhou was taken aback. "You went to various states to buy medicinal herbs many times because of the epidemic?" He thought this girl would disregard others for the sake of the greater plan, but he did not expect that she would disregard even herself.
Song Ling could tell at a glance that he thought too much of her selflessness. “General, you misunderstand. I am not a god, how could I not have selfish desires? It’s just that my illness is incurable, so I can only buy some expensive medicine every now and then to alleviate it.”
“Ordinary medicinal herbs are useless to me, and searching for them would be a waste of time.” A fleeting sadness crossed Song Ling’s eyes.
Yu Baizhou was speechless, and for some reason, he felt a tightness in his chest. What kind of illness is incurable? Even the most serious illness should have an explanation.
"Don't talk about me," Song Ling picked up the small bamboo tube that the carrier pigeon had just delivered from her side and took out a folded piece of paper from it. "This is a prescription that my people have developed based on the epidemic in Yangzhou. It will be used to solve any urgent problems."
"If an epidemic breaks out, the silver obtained from exchanging grain can be used to purchase medicine. Someone will meet you in Yunzhou."
Song Ling's internal injuries had not yet healed, and due to the arduous travel and mental strain of the past month, her health had deteriorated considerably. Having spoken a few more words, she seemed to have exhausted all her energy, and her expression appeared somewhat listless.
Yu Baizhou panicked instantly when he saw her expression. "Wait here, I'll go find the army doctor."
“No need,” Song Ling grabbed his wrist, but let go when he paused. “I just need to rest for a while. General, please go ahead with your work.”
But Yu Baizhou obviously wouldn't listen to her. She looked like a terminally ill person. Who could feel at ease with her like that?
Song Ling was sleeping peacefully. When the old military doctor took her pulse through a handkerchief, his brows suddenly furrowed tightly, making Yu Baizhou, who was standing to the side, jump in his heart.
Qi Man, standing to the side, gritted his teeth, seemingly lost in thought.
As the group emerged from the tent, Yu Baizhou anxiously grabbed the army doctor and asked, "What happened to her?"
The military doctor had never seen such a symptom before and could only shake his head. "Forgive my lack of knowledge, but I cannot see the strategist's illness. I can only tell that the strategist is currently unconscious due to overexertion."
She didn't fall asleep from exhaustion; she fainted.
The old strategist clasped his hands and said, "General, please go to the prefectures and counties and invite more doctors. They will surely be able to make a clearer diagnosis."
Forgive his bluntness, but in his entire medical career, he had never seen such a pulse—weak and feeble. The strategist's current appearance resembled that of the children he had treated who died before their time…
"I understand. Please keep this matter confidential, medic."
The old military doctor nodded. "Please rest assured, General." Having practiced medicine his whole life and spent nearly twenty years in the military, he knew exactly what to say and what not to say.
After seeing the military doctor off, Yu Baizhou immediately turned to leave, but was suddenly stopped by Qi Man. "General Yu, are you going to find a doctor?"
"yes."
"General, there's no need for you to go." Perhaps seeing how worried he was about his daughter, Qi Man softened his attitude towards Yu Baizhou for the first time. "No one can save the girl's illness."
She said dejectedly, "The general has chosen a doctor haphazardly; the young lady will be angry when she wakes up."
"But why?" Yu Baizhou asked, puzzled. "What exactly is her illness?"
"I don't know!" Qi Man's temper flared up suddenly, her emotions rising inexplicably. "I want to know too!"
"Seven out of ten!"
Wu Sheng walked over from the side, his face serious, his usual gentleness gone. "You must not be rude to the general!"
"What is 'reason'?" Qi asked him, her voice trembling with sobs. "You're hiding things from me, and I'm hiding things from you too! Why? Is there something you can't tell me?"
Song Ling is the head of Huai Lai Pavilion, and she and Wu Sheng accompany her. The three of them have been companions since childhood and are like family.
Although Song Ling was the youngest of the three, she was the most mature, simply because she carried a heavy responsibility. Qi Man was only one year older than Song Ling, but for the past ten years, she had always treated her like a younger sister.
But one day, he accidentally discovers that the younger sister he has been carefully protecting actually only has a few years left to live. How can he not make her break down?
“Qi Man…” Wu Sheng’s tone softened, “The young lady was just afraid that you would find it hard to accept.”
"Liar..." Qi's eyes were filled with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let a single drop fall. She turned around, picked up her sword, and ran away.
Although Yu Baizhou didn't know the details, he could piece together the fragmented information. At this moment, he stopped Wu Sheng, who was about to leave after bowing, and his voice trembled slightly, "What happened to her... what do you mean by 'not long to live'?"
Wu Sheng did not give him a direct answer, but lowered his eyes and said, "General, you don't need to worry about these things. Everything is preordained."
"Was her illness something she was born with?"
Wu Sheng remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Yes."
Yu Baizhou clenched his fist and then relaxed it. "I understand."
***
"Cough cough cough..."
Song Ling was awakened by the feeling of oxygen in her throat. She tried to get up by propping herself up on her arms, but was startled by the tall figure that suddenly appeared in front of her.
Seeing that she was still unsettled, Yu Baizhou wisely took a half step back and handed her the medicine bottle and water.
Song Ling instinctively reached for the familiar medicine bottle, but then suddenly realized something, "Who told the General?"
"Get Wu Sheng in here...cough cough cough..."
Yu Baizhou disregarded the traditional separation of men and women and stepped forward to gently pat her back. "I just asked a military doctor to take your pulse... I forced Wu Sheng to say that."
"Don't worry, I have done a favor for the military doctor, and his son is also in the military. He won't say anything out of line."
Song Ling swallowed the pill with a sigh of relief, then leaned to the side, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, General."
"I forgot to ask earlier, what was the reason for the general's return?" Song Ling looked at him, as if waiting for his reply.
For some reason, Yu Baizhou could tell she was changing the subject. Like someone reluctant to seek medical help, she seemed unwilling to let anyone know about her illness. And he was just a general; it had nothing to do with her.
"I wanted to ask you, does that girl have a name?"
“No,” Song Ling shook her head slightly, “General, please name her one.”
“Me?” Yu Baizhou paused for a moment. “I am not very learned. Since you saved her, you have done me a great favor. You should take the title.”
"Alright, let me flip through the book and think it over before I tell the general."
"Um."
A silence fell between them again. Yu Baizhou wanted to speak but felt it would be abrupt. Song Ling was getting anxious for him. "General, do you have something important to discuss?"
"You..." Yu Baizhou clenched the cup in his hand, and finally asked, "Is your illness really incurable?"
Perhaps even he himself did not realize the tremor and regret in his tone.
But why? Song Ling was puzzled, but she was also deeply moved and didn't want to tell him the cruel truth.
"If we can find some rare medicines, there might be room for maneuver." Song Ling's lips curled up slightly. "Many of my men are also developing some medicines, so General, don't worry."
At least he's not going to die yet.
Song Ling was satisfied from the bottom of her heart, thinking that her talent had been accepted by her lord and that he couldn't bear to see her die young.
Yu Baizhou understood her unspoken meaning, but he couldn't find the words to explain. He didn't even know why he was doing this.
"I will send someone to keep an eye out." That was all he could do. "Tomorrow I will send someone to take you to Kuli County. The conditions there are much better than in the military camp."
"I thank you, General."
Her attitude returned to polite and distant, whether because she was sick or because she was displeased that her illness had been revealed.
She was too calm, even knowing her illness, even facing the unknown death that was about to come...
Before leaving the tent, Yu Baizhou glanced back, feeling inexplicably heavy-hearted.
The following day, Kuli County
“Girl, this courtyard is so big! There’s even a separate small courtyard.”
I don't know what Wu Sheng said to Qi Man yesterday, but she has now let go of that obsession and only wants to make Song Ling feel happier.
“Indeed,” Song Ling said with a smile, looking at the peach trees in the courtyard while wearing a cloak. “If they bloom next year, I might be able to brew a few jars of wine for you to enjoy.”
She looked at the little girl who was wrapped up tightly in Wu Sheng's arms and sleeping soundly, "Go and hire that wet nurse back, and buy two more maids to take care of her."
"Go and verify this; make sure they have a clean and honest background."
“I’ll take care of this,” Yu Baizhou strode into the courtyard. “She is, after all, my daughter.”
Song Ling was taken aback. "Why did the general come in person?" Although it wasn't far from the garrison, he had spent the whole morning training his troops, so there was no need for him to waste time coming here.
"Come and see her," Yu Baizhou took the baby girl from Wu Sheng's arms. He had learned a lot from Deputy General Li and was now quite skilled at holding children.
Although he looked down at the baby girl in his arms, his eyes kept glancing at Song Ling out of the corner of his eye. She seemed to be in good spirits today, so the pill must have been effective. He would ask Wu Sheng later what medicinal herbs were needed.
Unexpectedly, Song Ling suddenly stepped forward, startling Yu Baizhou, who quickly looked away.
"What is this for?"
Song Ling held a stack of silver notes in her hand and was about to give them to him. "General, you have placed this courtyard under my name, right? In that case, I, Song Ling, will buy it."
Yu Baizhou didn't accept it, but said curtly, "Take it if I give it to you. This is what you deserve."
"You secured provisions for the soldiers in the camp, and now they know this and come to you every day to express their gratitude. If you hadn't left so early today, you would have been surrounded by a huge crowd."
Song Ling smiled helplessly and took the money back. "Then I... thank the soldiers... and the general."
"No need." Yu Baizhou felt a burning sensation in her voice, as if she had discovered something.
But upon closer inspection, her complexion appeared unchanged. Perhaps he had misinterpreted it.
Song Ling led him into the hall, saying, "I've already thought of a name for the child."
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