"I've remembered it all. You've already said it more than ten times on the way," Feng Jin rubbed her ear, feeling like it was going to go numb from Lu Shi's nagging.
Lu Shi immediately regretted agreeing to accompany Feng Jin, realizing he had brought a big trouble upon himself.
"Young Madam, I've arranged for personal guards to patrol inside and outside the tent. You can rest assured tonight. We will head to Yingzhong tomorrow morning. I have already spoken with the general escorting the grain, and you will ride in the carriage tomorrow, traveling with them."
Lu Shi had pleaded for a long time before he was allowed to let Feng Jin ride in the grain escort carriage.
"I've noted it all. You can go about your business now."
Feng Jin agreed readily. After Lu Shi left, Feng Jin lifted the tent flap and was about to step out when she was stopped.
"General Lu Shi has given orders that you are not to leave this tent without his permission."
"I need to relieve myself..." Feng Jin, with her thick skin, said this without fear.
"There is a chamber pot inside the tent. If you must go outside, we will accompany you."
Feng Jin was disguised as a man at this moment, and the soldiers were diligent in their duties, even offering to accompany her to relieve herself.
"No need, I'll take care of it inside the tent."
With that, Feng Jin closed the tent flap. Lu Shi's precautions were indeed strict. She couldn't get out today and would have to wait until tomorrow.
Feng Jin slumped her head and lay on the bed, deciding to sleep for a while.
...
"Reporting to the Young General, the entire army is assembled and ready. We can depart tomorrow."
Ling Mo Han put down the memorial he was holding and, raising his eyelids, asked Lu Shi in a deep voice, "How is Feng Jin?"
"The Young Madam is currently in the manor. I have left a squad of personal guards to protect her."
Lu Shi's expression was calm, but inwardly he was panicking, afraid Ling Mo Han would see through the deception.
"Send another squad of personal guards to watch her at all times. No mistakes should be made."
"Yes, Young General. I obey your command."
Lu Shi accepted the order and quickly withdrew from the large tent.
That was close. He almost let something slip. Lu Shi, with a look of panic, patted his chest.
"Oh! Have you been punished again? You look so scared?"
Gu Beichen saw Lu Shi's panicked expression and asked with schadenfreude.
"Greetings, Young Master Gu. Has your injury improved?"
"It's nothing, just a superficial wound. Those rebel soldiers were a disorganized mob. If I hadn't been concerned about harming civilians, I wouldn't have let them injure my arm."
Gu Beichen's hand was heavily bandaged, with only a few fingers exposed.
"Your Highness is wise and valiant. Those rebels were naturally no match for you. But I heard that our Young Madam actually saved your life. By the time the Young General arrived, you had already fainted."
Gu Beichen's face instantly lost its color when he was exposed, replaced by embarrassment. He slapped Lu Shi with his uninjured hand.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Clearly, I was the one who fought bravely against the rebels and protected Feng Jin. My fainting was due to exhaustion from fighting the rebels. Furthermore, if I hadn't held back the rebels, Ling Mo Han wouldn't have been able to rescue all the civilians unharmed when he arrived. All of this is my credit!"
Gu Beichen wished he could write down all his deeds on his face and boast to everyone he met.
"Yes... Your Highness is wise and valiant. Next time we encounter rebels, I absolutely will not intervene, allowing you, Young Master Gu, to defeat all of them yourself."
Lu Shi knew Gu Beichen's capabilities well. His skills were only sufficient for dealing with two or three people; in larger numbers, he would be at a disadvantage.
"Go to hell! Hurry up and get lost. You're babbling too much now!"
"No need to trouble you, Young Master Gu. I'll be going now."
Lu Shi disappeared in a flash.
...
Feng Jin changed into a soldier's armor and, led by Lu Shi, boarded the grain escort carriage.
"Please take good care of this person."
"General Lu Shi, rest assured. With me here, I will definitely take good care of him. You should hurry and meet the Young General."
Feng Jin tugged at Lu Shi's sleeve and asked softly, "Where are you going?"
"Young Madam, I must report to the Young General immediately. If you need anything, just find Old Wang."
Lu Shi whispered into Feng Jin's ear.
"Yes, young brother, you can rest assured. I will take good care of you. Since you are General Lu Shi's brother, you are my brother, Old Wang."
Old Wang was a burly man with a rough appearance and a rougher way of speaking.
"I'm leaving now."
"Lu Shi..." This traitor had abandoned her all alone. If she ever got the chance, she would definitely give him a good scare.
Feng Jin was still fuming when a hand suddenly patted her shoulder, making her shiver.
"Young brother, you're too thin. With such a small physique, how can you fight on the battlefield? Here, have a biscuit to eat on the road when you get hungry."
Old Wang took out a few slightly dried biscuits from his pocket and handed them to Feng Jin.
"Thank you, Brother Wang." Feng Jin was also hungry and took a bite of the biscuit. She had to use all her strength to bite through it. The biscuit was too hard.
To shorten the marching time, they traveled along small, bumpy roads. Feng Jin, sitting in the carriage, was tossed about violently, her stomach churning like a stormy sea.
"Stop... stop the carriage!"
Feng Jin shouted loudly. She really couldn't hold on any longer. As soon as the carriage stopped, she stumbled out impatiently and squatted on the ground, vomiting.
Everything she had eaten was expelled, and only then did Feng Jin feel a little better.
"Young brother, are you alright?"
"What's wrong?" Lu Shi, who had been paying close attention to Feng Jin's movements, rushed over to inquire as soon as he saw something was amiss.
Feng Jin forced herself to stand up. A wave of dizziness washed over her. She endured it and managed to stand steady. "I... I'm fine... just a little carsick..."
"Lu Shi, you'd better find me a horse."
If she endured any more bumping, her life would surely be lost.
"The horses are all accounted for, and I can't just get one!" Lu Shi said with difficulty.
"Then..."
"The military situation is urgent. Are you still lingering here gossiping?"
Before Feng Jin could finish speaking, a familiar, angry voice rang out. Feng Jin hastily turned her head away in fright.
"Greetings, Young General!"
Lu Shi, regaining his senses, fell to his knees in terror, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"What is this haste about?" Ling Mo Han's gaze immediately noticed Lu Shi's unusual demeanor. Lu Shi had never seemed so flustered in his presence before. His gaze then fell upon the figure with his back to him, which felt strangely familiar.
"Which company are you from? What are you doing loitering here? Turn around!"
Feng Jin's palms clenched into fists, sweating profusely. Her heart pounded uncontrollably. This was it. She had been caught red-handed. Well, might as well go for broke. Could Ling Mo Han really beat her?