After lingering in Dingyuan City for several days, Prince Jing and his wife set off for the main camp of Marquis Zhenbei, Lu Zheng. The journey was longer, and the sandstorms were fiercer.
Upon arrival, Lu Zheng and his personal guards were already waiting to greet them outside the camp gate. This veteran general, renowned throughout the northern frontier, clad in black armor, exuded an imposing aura. Only upon seeing Xiao Chengjing and his wife did a hearty smile appear on his face: "Hahaha! Brother Chengjing! Sister Yuewei! Rare guests indeed! You must be tired from your journey! Please come in!"
"Brother Lu! How have you been?" Xiao Chengjing stepped forward, and the two clasped their fists together tightly.
"Brother Lu!" Shen Yuewei also bowed with a smile. "With Sister Qingrou and Qi'er gone, you must be having a hard time all alone in this cold and harsh place." She gestured to her attendants to bring over several large boxes. "These are some local specialties brought from the capital, as well as some warm clothing and medicine, a small token of our appreciation for the soldiers."
Looking at the heavy boxes, Lu Zheng's eyes flashed with emotion: "Sister-in-law, you're so thoughtful! Come quickly, let's talk inside the tent. The food and wine are ready to welcome you both!"
Inside the commander's tent, the atmosphere was more rugged and serious, akin to that of a military setting, compared to Shen Wensong's residence. After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the conversation gradually deepened.
Lu Zheng put down his wine glass, sighed, and looked at Xiao Chengjing and his wife, his eyes filled with apology and seriousness: "Chengjing, Yuewei, regarding my niece An'an... I truly feel I have failed your trust. Military affairs are complex, and personnel turnover is frequent, especially for medics, who are in dire need, with recruits being drawn from all over the country. Although I strictly ordered each battalion to secretly investigate, paying particular attention to young men with Jiangnan accents who are handsome and knowledgeable in medicine... but so far... we have indeed not found a military doctor who matches An'an's characteristics." He paused, his tone becoming even lower, "This matter is due to my incompetence."
Xiao Chengjing quickly waved his hand, "Brother Lu, you flatter me! This matter is like finding a needle in a haystack. That girl deliberately hid, so it's no wonder you're not blamed. We know you've been concerned and done your best, and my wife and I are already extremely grateful." He raised his wine glass, "Come, let me toast you!"
Shen Yuewei also said softly, "Yes, Brother Lu, please don't blame yourself. An'an has her own path to walk. As parents, we can only support her silently from behind and believe that she will be blessed by heaven."
Looking at the understanding couple, Lu Zheng sighed and downed his drink in one gulp: "Brother Chengjing, Sister Yuewei, rest assured! As long as my niece An'an is within the territory of my Zhenbei Army, I will risk my life to protect her!" His eyes sharpened. "I have already issued secret orders to the commanders of each battalion and the military medical department. Anyone who encounters a young doctor with superb medical skills and outstanding performance, especially those who have rendered meritorious service in treating seriously wounded generals, regardless of their place of origin, must be secretly reported to me! I will personally investigate! I will dig three feet into the ground to find even the slightest clue!"
"Thank you, Brother Lu!" Xiao Chengjing and Shen Yuewei said in unison, feeling somewhat relieved.
While Prince Jing and his wife were having a heart-to-heart talk with Lu Zheng in the commander's tent, the atmosphere was somewhat tense in the wounded soldiers' camp in another corner of the military camp.
Lu Xiao is "sick" again. This time it's a "relapse of an old injury," and his shoulder hurts so much he can't lift it.
An'an stood expressionless in Lu Xiao's tent, looking at the young general who was half-reclining on the couch, his eyes darting around, his ears slightly red. The string of "vigilance" in her heart was stretched to its limit. This excuse… it's getting lame each time!
“Your Highness,” An’an’s voice was as cold as the wind from beyond the Great Wall, “I examined your ‘old injury’ carefully last month. It’s healing well, and there’s no damage to your bones or muscles. If the pain is truly unbearable, it’s probably due to overtraining and muscle strain. I’ll prescribe some medicated oil to relax your muscles and tendons; you can massage it in yourself. If there are no other symptoms, I’ll take my leave.” She turned to leave as she spoke.
"Wait!" Lu Xiao blurted out anxiously, "I...I have a headache! Yes! My head hurts! It hurts terribly!" He clutched his head, feigning pain, but his eyes couldn't help glancing at Anping. He didn't know why he was acting this way, but the thought of not seeing her for several days filled him with an empty, painful feeling. Especially after learning that Prince Jing and his wife had arrived at the commander's camp, the inexplicable anxiety and curiosity in his heart were even harder to suppress. The eldest daughter of Prince Jing's mansion...and the aloof Anping before him...could they be the same person? This thought coiled around him like a venomous snake.
An An stopped and turned around, her clear gaze sharp as a knife, shooting straight at Lu Xiao: "Your Highness." Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a heavy sense of pressure, "Do you know that while you were 'suffering from a headache' and 'shoulders pain,' the front camp just sent over a group of wounded soldiers who were ambushed by Di Rong cavalry during their patrol? Three of them are critically injured and are currently lying in the wounded soldiers' camp, waiting for their lives! Their time is not for playing such a boring game with Your Highness!"
These words were like a cold whip, lashing Lu Xiao's face. The "pain" on his face froze instantly, the color drained from his face, and then a huge wave of shame and embarrassment surged up. Looking at the undisguised disappointment and cold accusation in An Ping's eyes, he felt as if his heart had been hit hard by a heavy hammer, and he could hardly breathe.
"I..." Lu Xiao opened his mouth, but found himself unable to utter a single word. Yes, what was he doing? For his own inexplicable and sordid thoughts, he was actually feigning illness and wasting precious military medical resources? And while his comrades were bleeding and wounded!
An'an stopped looking at him and coldly said, "The medicated oil will be sent later. If Your Highness is not in mortal danger, please excuse me for taking my leave. The wounded soldiers in the front camp need me more." After saying that, she resolutely turned around, lifted the curtain and went out. Her back was straight and indifferent, with an aura of inviolable dignity.
Lu Xiao remained frozen on the bed, still clutching his head, his face flushing and paling by turns. Only his heavy breathing and the faint groans of wounded soldiers outside could be heard in the tent. Anping's final, disappointed, and cold gaze was etched into his mind like a brand. An unprecedented wave of self-loathing and immense loss washed over him like a cold tide.
He slumped down, looking at his "painful" shoulder and then at the empty tent entrance, feeling a burning pain on his face. Frustrated, he scratched his hair, growled, and slammed his fist on the low table beside him, making the teacups clink.
"Lu Xiao...you're a complete...utter bastard!" he cursed himself under his breath, closing his eyes in anguish. This time, he clearly felt that something had truly been pushed away by his own hands.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com