Feng Jin almost couldn't help but vomit. She quickly pinched her nose, her expression of disgust clearly visible.
"Madam, you're back. The doctor said this antian (pregnancy-preserving) medicine must be drunk hot before meals."
A maid from the former governor's mansion placed the brewed antian medicine in front of Feng Jin.
The strong medicinal scent filled Feng Jin's entire nasal cavity. Enduring the nausea, Feng Jin took a deep breath, steeled herself, and decided to pick up the medicine bowl and drink it down in one gulp, then quickly popped a candied fruit into her mouth.
Only after the bitter taste in her mouth dissipated did Feng Jin's furrowed brow finally relax.
When would this agonizing antian medicine finally be finished?
"Good performance, drinking your medicine obediently." Ling Mo Han glanced at the empty medicine bowl, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
"That... Ling Mo Han, can I discuss something with you?"
"Yes, everything can be discussed except not drinking the antian medicine."
Feng Jin's small face instantly drooped, and the hope in her expression vanished.
"I know my body better than anyone. This child in my womb is very comfortable and perfectly fine. Medicine has its own toxicity; this antian medicine isn't meant to be taken casually. Too much is bad for your health. You need to understand these things."
After drinking this incredibly bitter antian medicine, she would start to have acid reflux.
"Drink it for another month, and then you won't have to." Ling Mo Han pondered for a moment and decided to let Feng Jin off the hook.
One month. Feng Jin's eyes instantly dimmed. One month, one bowl of antian medicine in the morning and one in the evening, meaning she still had to drink sixty bowls of antian medicine.
Feng Jin's resolve was instantly crushed by this enormous number. She suddenly stood up and retorted, "I absolutely will not drink it anymore. If you have the guts, break my mouth open and force-feed me the antian medicine!"
With that said, Feng Jin turned and left without looking back, leaving Ling Mo Han with a resolute back.
"Young General, what about this antian medicine?" The maid, frightened, asked softly from the side.
"Continue to prepare it. If Madam drinks even one bowl less, you will all be beaten ten times!"
Ling Mo Han said the last sentence very loudly, his gaze fixed in the direction Feng Jin had gone.
Feng Jin, who was eavesdropping from within the room, naturally heard everything. She couldn't help but curse Ling Mo Han fiercely in her heart, her hands forcefully twisting her sleeves until they were tattered before she put them down.
...
It was originally planned to stay in Yingzhong Commandery for at most one month before returning to the capital. However, due to encountering a plague, which caused delays, the remaining rebel forces were given the opportunity to regroup. In just two months, they had amassed tens of thousands of rebels and marched south, directly threatening Yingzhong Commandery.
Ling Mo Han's plan to return to the capital had to be temporarily shelved. However, the city's forces only consisted of the thirty thousand soldiers Ling Mo Han had brought with him.
A portion of the troops had already been lost during the earlier conquest of Yingzhong Commandery. Now, facing an enemy force more than twice their size, it was not an easy task to win this battle.
The war had been delayed for several days. Feng Jin was now four months pregnant, her abdomen showing a faint bulge.
Feng Jin stood by the window, catching a snowflake. It immediately turned into water upon contact with her warm palm and dripped down between her fingers.
"Madam, the deep winter snow is bone-chilling. You are pregnant and should not be touching these things." Yunyun draped a cloak over Feng Jin's shoulders.
"I'm fine. Why are you back so soon? How are the frontline soldiers faring?"
Since the plague had passed, Yunyun had pleaded to stay by her side and learn medicine. With the war becoming critical, Yunyun had volunteered to go to the battlefield to treat the wounded.
"With the Young General commanding the front lines, we have continuously defeated the enemy, holding them a hundred miles away from Yingzhong Commandery. We will soon defeat the rebels."
Yunyun described it vividly, her eyes sparkling.
Feng Jin's gaze was fixed on the main door. Ling Mo Han had been gone for three days, and Feng Jin's heart ached with worry. She didn't know how he was doing, if he had eaten on time, or if he was injured.
"Madam, let's go back to your room. It's cold outside."
After staring at the main door for a long time, Feng Jin averted her gaze and murmured, "Let's go back."
As she turned around, a creaking sound came from behind her.
Feng Jin thought Ling Mo Han had returned and quickly turned around. Seeing that it was not the person she was longing for, the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.
"Young Madam... I finally found you!"
Cai Qing's hair was slightly disheveled, and she walked towards Feng Jin, weeping. Ling Muzhu followed behind her.
"Cai Qing, why are you in Yingzhong Commandery instead of the capital?"
Feng Jin had never expected to see Cai Qing and Ling Muzhu here.
"Young Madam... the entire capital... is rumored that you and the Young General are surrounded by rebels, and Yingzhong Commandery has completely fallen... I... I was worried about your safety..."
Cai Qing sobbed, gasping for breath, her eyes red like a rabbit's, making her look pitiful.
"There, there..." Feng Jin gently patted Cai Qing's back to comfort her.
"You must be frozen from the journey. Come inside and warm up."
Feng Jin led Cai Qing inside. As they reached the doorway, she remembered someone else. She looked at Ling Muzhu, who was standing at the door, almost frozen stiff, and said in a slightly gentle tone, "What are you standing there for? Do you really want to be frozen into a snowman? Hurry up and come inside!"
"Okay!" Ling Muzhu nodded heavily, turned his head to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and a long-lost smile appeared on his lips as he quickly walked into the room.
Upon hearing about the events in Yingzhong Commandery, he had quickly snuck out of his home. Seeing Feng Jin safe and sound, the weight on his heart finally lifted.
"Have some tea to warm your body." Yunyun brewed a pot of hot tea and poured a cup for each of them.
After drinking several cups of hot tea, Cai Qing felt much warmer. Her voice was still slightly choked, "Young Madam, why didn't you bring me with you when you left?"
"It was a sudden decision, and I didn't have time to consider so many things..."
At that time, if she had been a moment slower, she would have missed Ling Mo Han.
Feng Jin shifted her gaze to Ling Muzhi. This young man looked much stronger after a few months, and his appearance had also matured, making him look much more pleasing to the eye.
"Why aren't you studying properly in the capital and preparing for the spring examinations? What are you doing in Yingzhong Commandery?"
"Young Madam, please don't blame the Young Master. It was I who begged the Young Master to bring me to find you after I learned you were in trouble..."
After the Young General and Madam left, in the vast Ling Mansion, she couldn't find many people she could trust.