Chapter 146
He still wanted to see Wen Yu, but his personal guards soon found him, saying there was urgent military intelligence. Xiao Li had summoned all generals to the central military tent for discussion, so Zheng Hu had to hurry there first.
Tao Kui stood dumbfounded, staring at his father with puppy-dog eyes full of confused bewilderment. He asked in a muffled voice, "Big brother... the governor's old... flame?"
Doctor Tao sighed and said, "It's the young lady who stayed with the governor at our home before."
Tao Kui remained dazed for a moment, then suddenly became happy. His mountain-like frame somehow managed to appear as if he were dancing with joy.
Doctor Tao warned him, "Both the governor and that young lady seem to be in trouble, you foolish boy. Make sure you don't cause any trouble."
Tao Kui quickly shook his head like a rattle drum: "A Niu won't cause trouble."
Wen Yu didn't see Xiao Li again for the next several days.
She couldn't leave this military tent, and all the information she learned came from the two maidservants taking care of her, who gathered news from outside.
However, their movement within the Military Camp was limited, so they could gather very little information.
It wasn't until the fourth day that Wen Yu learned the barbarians had begun attacking the Yanle Mountain defense line again. Although she didn't know the current state of the battle, troops had been continuously dispatched from the camp over several days, suggesting the fighting at the front was intense.
After two more days, news came that Northern Wei had already lost several border outposts at Yanle Mountain, and the barbarians were advancing fiercely this time.
This caused quite a stir in the army, and the soldiers below couldn't help but feel restless. Yet despite this tense atmosphere, Wen Yu's daily miscarriage-prevention medicine was delivered without fail.
She wasn't actually pregnant, so naturally she didn't want to drink the stuff. Every time, she would wait until the two maidservants were away and pour the medicine into the spittoon.
Surprisingly, besides sending her miscarriage-prevention medicine, the Military Camp also sent her a small plate of preserved fruits each time.
On the first day, there were only two pieces, but later, for some reason, the amount suddenly increased to five or six pieces each delivery.
Today, one of the maidservants had taken leave to return home, while the other had drunk some cold water and somehow developed diarrhea. She had made countless trips to the outhouse all morning, until her face turned pale. Wen Yu quickly asked the guards at the entrance to help take her to the military doctor.
She waited anxiously alone in the tent. By noon, the maidservant still hadn't returned. Just as Wen Yu was worrying about the woman's condition, voices came from outside the tent as two guards greeted someone: "Greetings, Captain Tao."
Then the tent flap was lifted, and a mountain-like figure entered carrying something.
When Wen Yu clearly saw the person's appearance, she was quite surprised: "A Niu?"
Tao Kui held a tray with food and medicinal soup, giving Wen Yu a silly, blank smile.
Wen Yu truly hadn't expected that he had also joined the army, but thinking that Doctor Tao was also in this army, she understood. They had probably all come with Xiao Li.
She asked, "Why are you delivering these?"
Then, remembering they were in the Military Camp and unsure if there were others watching, she feared his visit might be noticed. Not daring to speak more with him, she immediately lowered her voice and said, "Hurry back quickly. Don't let anyone see you and bring trouble upon yourself."Tao Kui shook his head at her, pointing outside with a hint of pride as he said to Wen Yu, "They're all the State Lord's men. No need to worry."
To avoid suspicion, half of the tent flap outside the door had been lifted.
The two guards stationed outside the tent knew their place well, refraining from peering inside and instead keeping their eyes fixed straight ahead on the surroundings.
Wen Yu was unaware that although the thirty-thousand-strong righteous army had all camped here, the various factions of the righteous army and the Wei camp troops led by Wei Ang each occupied their own separate areas. The outer perimeter of the central command tent was entirely guarded by Tongzhou's righteous army, which Xiao Li had forged into an ironclad defense.
Even if Wei Ang needed to see Xiao Li, he would have to report first; otherwise, he couldn't even approach the outer perimeter of the central command tent.
The military tent where she was staying was heavily guarded, so secure that not even a fly could get in.
Hearing Tao Kui's words, Wen Yu's worries eased slightly. She realized that the recent upheavals had made her overly anxious. Given Xiao Li's caution, if he hadn't made thorough preparations, the guards at the entrance likely wouldn't have allowed Tao Kui inside.
She asked Tao Kui to place the items on the low table and warm his hands by the charcoal brazier.
Tao Kui obediently sat on the small stool beside the brazier, like a large loyal dog, stretching out both hands to warm them as he answered Wen Yu's earlier question: "That auntie is sick."
"Grandpa is still treating her, so A Niu came to deliver the medicine."
Knowing that Doctor Tao was treating the woman put Wen Yu somewhat at ease. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows in the dim light as she asked about recent events in the army: "Has your State Lord been at Yanle Mountain all this time?"
Tao Kui nodded. Noticing she hadn't drunk the medicine yet, he pushed the tray toward her and said, "Grandpa says medicine should be drunk while it's hot. If it turns cold, you can't drink it."
Wen Yu replied, "The medicine is bitter. I'll drink it later."
Tao Kui immediately pointed to the preserved fruits in the small dish: "A Niu put preserved fruits. Tomorrow, I'll add more."
Only then did Wen Yu realize the preserved fruits had been placed by him. Since he and Doctor Tao were both in the army, it wasn't surprising that he knew she was here. Wen Yu thanked him.
Tao Kui smiled shyly, retracting his hands and resuming his proper warming posture, saying, "Big brother bought them."
Wen Yu was adding charcoal to the brazier and paused slightly at his words: "What?"
Tao Kui pushed the bowl of prenatal medicine toward her again, happily explaining, "Big brother bought the medicine. He bought the preserved fruits together."
As if to emphasize that this privilege was exclusive to her, he grinned with squinted eyes: "Others drinking medicine don't get preserved fruits."
But Wen Yu quickly grasped the key point from his fragmented words, asking somewhat distractedly, "You mean... your big brother bought this medicine too?"
Tao Kui nodded honestly: "Grandpa didn't have any."
Wen Yu barely registered what Tao Kui said after that. Even when he left contentedly after sitting for a short while, she remained lost in thought.
The tent flap had been lowered again, and the charcoal fire warmed the small space, driving away the chill.
Wen Yu rested her cheek on one hand, silently gazing at the medicine bowl and preserved fruits on the table.
Didn't Xiao Li despise her?
Hundreds of miles away at Yanle Mountain, thick smoke still billowed from the mountains, but the battle had already concluded.By the riverbank dusted with thin snow, the flowing water chimed softly. Xiao Li, wearing only black military trousers, had washed away the bloodstains in the bone-chilling river. Wading ashore, he casually accepted the cloak handed by his guard, wiped off the water droplets, and allowed the guards to apply golden wound ointment and wrap gauze around the gash on his back where flesh curled outward.
His robust frame bore countless distinct scars.
Yuan Fang and Liao Jiang watched with gritted teeth nearby. Liao Jiang shook his head, remarking, "Youth truly is an advantage. If my old bones had to endure a dip in this winter river now, it would be unbearable."
Yuan Fang showed no mercy to his old friend, retorting, "Even in your youth, I never saw you brave a river in the dead of winter."
After a few jests, their conversation circled back to Xiao Li. Liao Jiang sighed with emotion, "We truly are aging. Repeatedly falling for the barbarians' tricks—this time, we relied entirely on young friend Xiao. Had the barbarians breached Yanle Mountain and seized Weizhou, any mishap to the Marquis would have left us with no choice but to atone with our lives."
Yuan Fang also shook his head, lamenting, "The barbarians grow ever more cunning. Who could have guessed their three-pronged assaults were feints, luring us into patrolling Yanle Mountain's hundreds of miles of ridges for days, only to target Weizhou in the end?"
Liao Jiang patted his friend's shoulder reassuringly, "Enough. The river's flow endures only when new waves push the old ones forward, isn't that so?"
By then, Xiao Li had finished bandaging and was donning his outer robe. Liao Jiang approached him, saying, "Young friend Xiao has achieved another great feat. The Marquis has likely prepared a victory banquet in Weizhou. I missed the last one, but tonight, I'll drink with you until we drop!"
Xiao Li straightened his lapels, fastened his leather belt, and replied with a faint smile, "I would be honored to accept."
Weizhou.
Wei Qishan reviewed the latest dispatch, then sat behind the low desk, coughing twice into his hand before smiling, "That lad is impressive."
His attendant served hot tea with concern, "Last time, Your Lordship used potent medicine to meet the generals. You must not do so again this time."
The injuries from the battle with the barbarians seemed to have weakened Wei Qishan's foundation. Two months later, he grew visibly thinner each day.
As he lowered his hand, a faint bluish tint tinged his lips.
Wei Qishan accepted the tea, stating, "If I appeared sickly before the generals, it would only stir unease among the ranks."
Another letter lay on his desk.
After a few sips of tea eased his throat, Wei Qishan glanced at the letter and remarked, "In a few days, envoys from Liang Camp and Southern Chen will arrive at our Northern Border. Do you think the woman captured by Wei Ang and the others could be Princess Han Yang?"
The attendant replied, "Although Pei Song has publicly claimed the woman they captured that day was Princess Han Yang, in Pingzhou, it's said the princess appeared in the city after the Dharma assembly at Chong Sheng Temple, distributing winter provisions to the locals from her carriage. Whether Pei Song's move aims to demoralize the Liang and Chen armies on the Southern Border remains unclear, but currently, his scheme appears to have failed."
Wei Qishan noted, "Yet I heard that when Princess Han Yang appeared in Pingzhou that day, her full face was not revealed."The attendant understood Wei Qishan's hidden concerns and said, "Although it's meant to dispel the rumors about Pei Song, covering one's face during a procession does seem suspicious. However, Wei Ang's letter does raise valid points. Firstly, Princess Han Yang has no reason to risk traveling north; secondly, the pregnant woman captured by the Pei Army risked her life to retrieve Jiang Yu's head, suggesting deep affection for him. If that woman were Princess Han Yang, why would she endanger herself so recklessly?"
Wei Qishan shook his head. "Changlian Wang's daughter is extraordinary. After Fengyang City fell and the Wen clan was massacred, she managed to regroup despite Pei Song's siege and gradually forced that scoundrel into his current predicament. Such achievements require remarkable courage. Zhou Jing'an sacrificed himself for Changlian Wang, while Li Yao and Yuchi Ba died for her, Han Yang. We cannot judge this girl by ordinary standards. Even the former Zhao Lie Emperor once declared he'd abandon his own son for his beloved general. Though she is a woman, she is also the Later Liang's sovereign. Why wouldn't she dare to retrieve her key general's head from the chaotic battlefield?"
Hearing this, the attendant suggested, "Should we send the officials who previously went to Pingzhou for marriage negotiations to identify the woman in the army?"
Wei Qishan glanced at the letter again, visibly annoyed. "That incompetent fool has already exposed himself at Xiao Li's place. If I send more people, I'm afraid it would truly disappoint him."
Unable to bear seeing Wei Qishan worry in his ill health, the attendant said, "After the last victory banquet, you had someone investigate Xiao Li's background. Having been falsely accused as a spy in the Liang Camp and nearly killed by a poison arrow, he must be completely at odds with them. If the woman is Han Yang, he wouldn't deceive us."
Wei Qishan pondered for a moment, stroking his beard. "This young man is indeed strong-willed. Given what happened at the Liang Camp, if we use him, we must trust him completely."
He seemed to have reached a decision. "Enough. Prepare the victory banquet."
The Wei residence's victory banquet was even more bustling than the previous one.
This time, the seat of honor was occupied not by Wei Qishan, but by the recovered former Jin princess, now titled Wanzhen.
Xiao Li, having rendered the foremost service again, was approached familiarly by Wei Qishan's generals Yuan Fang and Liao Jiang. Other Wei officers also warmed up to him, with a continuous stream of toasts from the banquet's start.
Later, Yuan Fang and Liao Jiang, mindful of his injuries, intercepted most of the drinks for him.
Midway through the feast, silvery laughter echoed from the entrance: "There's a banquet today, and Father didn't call me!"
Everyone looked up to see a young woman in crimson silk, adorned with a coral forehead ornament, briskly entering.
Her features were bright and beautiful, though her expression carried a hint of willfulness, bearing some resemblance to Wei Pingjin.
Wei Qishan laughed heartily. "Minmin, come to your father quickly!"
His treatment of his daughter contrasted sharply with that of his son. After she sat to his right, he cheerfully told the assembled generals, "Forgive my indulgence, everyone. This is my daughter Jiamin. She has always admired you generals. Last time we held a banquet, she was in Qiangzhou with her mother. Now she can finally broaden her horizons."After speaking, he cupped his hands once more toward the former Jin princess seated at the head of the hall: "I hope Your Highness will not take offense."
Wang Wanzhen nodded slightly with a smile: "The Marquis’s sincere paternal devotion and the Virtuous and quick-witted county lord’s radiant charm bring me nothing but admiration. How could I possibly take offense?"
Most generals present joined in the flattery, though many cast surreptitious glances toward Xiao Li.
Last time, Wei Qishan had expressed interest in betrothing his daughter to him but was politely declined. Now that Wei Qishan brought his daughter along again, the underlying intention seemed rather delicate.
Xiao Li, however, remained detached as if uninvolved. Whether due to intoxication or exhaustion from the recent fierce battle, he rested an elbow on one bent knee behind the low table, gazing downward as if preoccupied with other matters.
Wei Qishan suddenly said to his daughter: "Minmin, that is your sworn brother. Would you like to offer him a toast?"
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