IF Line 7: When will the Great General of Dingbei return?
Ji Qingwu put aside her doubts for the time being and focused on preparing breakfast.
She made thin pancakes with tender elm leaves and millet paste, and rolled them with water shield and bamboo shoots inside. They were light and fresh, and this time they should suit his taste.
However, Ji Qingwu waited in the main tent for a whole morning, until the pancakes had cooled completely in the food box, but Zhao Mingyan still hadn't returned.
She went out and asked around, and found out that General Dingbei had gone out early in the morning.
An internal strife has broken out in the Northwest. A group of bandits has declared themselves kings and has been committing acts of burning, killing, and looting. They have already occupied two cities. King Liang is only concerned with enjoying himself and has no regard for the lives of the people.
The General of Zhenbei has gone to provide support, but Daliang is rotten to the core, and the officials in charge of border defenses are actually colluding with the enemy.
Ji Qingwu encountered many refugees on her way here, and she helped them whenever she could, which is why she was delayed for several months.
She longed for Zhao Mingyan to return soon, not only out of personal desire but also because she hoped the war would end as soon as possible.
Ji Qingwu's words, "See you tomorrow," were never fulfilled, and the two remained separated for a long time.
From time to time, news from the front lines would be sent back to the military camp, and Ji Qingwu would go to the crowd to listen to it.
They were all talking about how the enemy army cruelly massacred the city, even beheading the defending general and hanging his head on the city gate. Ji Qingwu was worried.
The battle fought by the General of Dingbei was initially difficult, as he was short of troops and attacked from both sides. However, in recent days, good news has been coming in frequently.
Zhao Mingyan led his troops across the river to launch a surprise attack on the enemy, burning down their camp and cutting off their retreat.
Upon hearing the news, the soldiers in the North raised their arms in celebration, and Ji Qingwu's eyes welled up with tears.
On the fifty-third day, the General Who Pacifies the North still had not returned.
Although Zhao Mingyan was not in the army, Ji Qingwu could still freely enter and leave his tent, indicating that the guards had been specially instructed.
In recent days, Ji Qingwu has been getting up early every day to prepare some food and waiting for him in his military tent.
She thought to herself, what if he comes back? What if he's hungry?
When the time comes, a few bites of the food she prepares will surely warm you from your stomach to your heart.
That day, as Ji Qingwu was carrying a food box toward the main tent, someone called out to her from behind.
"girl!"
Ji Qingwu turned around and saw that it was Aunt Zhang. He asked, "Is something the matter?"
Aunt Zhang clutched her arm and said, "Young lady, my elbow hurts. Do you have any medicine that can help me treat it?"
“Let’s go inside the tent to talk.” Ji Qingwu led her into his tent.
Aunt Zhang rolled up her sleeves to above her elbows, revealing visible redness and swelling at the joints. Ji Qingwu touched them and found they were still hot.
After examining her, she said, "It's wind-cold-dampness syndrome. Auntie, you can soak aconite and asarum in wine, rub your palms together to warm them, and then massage it in. It will relieve the symptoms."
Aunt Zhang looked around her room and asked, "Young lady, do you have these two medicinal herbs here?"
Ji Qingwu said, "I'm short of aconite here, and I need soldiers to go and buy it."
Aunt Zhang said, "Is there any alternative medicine I can use? I'm in so much pain that I can't work anymore. Would Qianghuo work?"
Ji Qingwu nodded and said, "Of course." Then he opened the medicine box and took out two medicines.
She pretended not to hear the sound of the food box being opened behind her, and even waited a while before slowly packing the medicine.
Ji Qingwu handed her two medicine packets and said, "Here you go, Auntie. Just ask Aunt Bai for the wine in the kitchen."
Aunt Zhang said, "Thank you so much, young lady."
Ji Qingwu smiled and grabbed her hand, saying, "Auntie, Aunt Bai's throat has been sore for a while. I suspect it's poisoning. What do you think?"
Aunt Zhang's expression remained impassive as she said, "How would I know? You're joking, young lady."
Ji Qingwu continued, "There's nothing wrong with the medicine that Aunt Bai drank. The problem lies in the water she drinks every night after she goes home. Am I right?"
"My aunt knows pharmacology and knows which medicinal herbs have similar medicinal properties, so it's not difficult for her to know which herbs are incompatible."
Aunt Zhang shook off her hand and said, "You're trying to frame me without any evidence or proof, just by guessing. I never thought you were this kind of person."
Ji Qingwu looked at her and said, "I should be the one saying those words to you."
A rapid and stirring bugle call came from outside the tent.
Ji Qingwu was startled. She didn't know what the horn meant, but Aunt Zhang did. She quickly ran out of the tent and shouted loudly.
"Quickly! Doctor Ji has poisoned the food he prepared for the general!"
The patrolling soldiers immediately surrounded them.
Ji Qingwu stepped out of the tent and calmly said, "She did it; it has nothing to do with me."
Aunt Zhang shouted, "Fine! You're going to smear me just because I found out? I've served in the army for over ten years, why would I frame you? Why haven't I framed anyone else?"
Ji Qingwu asked doubtfully, "I didn't know the general would be returning today, so what use would poison be?"
Aunt Zhang said, "Because you're a spy! Your origins are unclear!"
The other party's answer resolved Ji Qingwu's doubts, and she let out a long "oh".
"So you were a spy." That explains everything.
Aunt Zhang said, "Hurry up and arrest her! What are you standing there for!"
The soldier held his knife in front of her and said fiercely, "What are you yelling about!"
They received instructions from Eunuch Li to take good care of this Doctor Ji, and regardless of whether she was a spy or not, they should wait for the general to return and make a decision.
Ji Qingwu looked towards the door and said, "Your general will be back soon." As she spoke, she couldn't help but try to walk out, but was stopped by the soldiers.
She could only wait by the tent flap.
After the army returned to camp, they should have gone to the drill ground to reorganize. Half an hour later, they saw figures walking towards the main tent.
As Ji Qingwu watched the tall figure approach, his heart began to race.
She wanted to see him soon, but she was also worried that it wasn't him.
I'm also a little worried that I didn't take good care of my appearance today, and I didn't apply any rouge or powder, so my complexion might not look good.
A thousand thoughts immediately flooded Ji Qingwu's mind.
But when she saw the man in armor in front of her, she was stunned.
The newcomer narrowed his long, narrow eyes as he looked at the soldier with the sword at his side and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Reporting to the general, these two men may be spies sent by the enemy."
Ji Qingwu observed him. Was this another general from the Northern Border? The General of Zhenbei, whom she had almost caused a blunder with?
His smile was so gentle that, if she hadn't known his identity, she would have thought he was a wise and discreet military advisor.
Perhaps Ji Qingwu's scrutinizing gaze was too obvious, because Wei Ting looked at her and said with a smile, "The spy chose someone with such delicate skin, is he planning to use a beauty trap?"
Ji Qingwu decided to retract her assessment of him; he was more like a dissolute playboy. She turned her head away.
The soldier asked, "General, what should we do?"
Wei Ting smiled and said, "Let's wait for General Dingbei to return and handle it. I'll go to the General's tent first to retrieve a painting."
He said smugly, "This battle was very satisfying. We've wiped out both the internal traitors and the external enemies. The General and I even made a bet on who would return to camp first, and it seems I won."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Qingwu's eyes widened.
Because Aunt Zhang, who was standing next to her, suddenly sprang up, and more than a dozen poisoned needles flew out of her arm from who knows where.
Most of them flew towards Weiting.
Two more flew toward her face.
Ji Qingwu quickly bent back to dodge, her waist almost level with the ground.
In the blink of an eye.
Another arrow pierced the air, carrying a chilling aura, and struck Aunt Zhang squarely between the eyebrows.
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