Not yet dawn, Feng Jin was dragged from her bed by Ling Mo Han and followed him on the road, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
After walking a short distance, Feng Jin felt ravenous. She took out the pastries she had secretly stashed in her sleeve and stuffed them into her mouth.
"Eating without any grace!"
A sarcastic voice came from behind, startling Feng Jin and causing her to choke and cough.
After gulping down several mouthfuls of water, she managed to swallow the pastry stuck in her throat.
Feng Jin gasped for air, nearly choking to death. She turned to look at the culprit.
"You wish to murder your master and commit insubordination. What crime is that!"
That damned Gu Bei Chen, hiding behind her and playing ghost, what was his intention in scaring her deliberately.
"I was reminding you to pay attention to your manners. Look at you."
A woman should be at home, serving her husband and raising children, abiding by her duties. Instead, she was sneaking around a military camp, mingling with a group of men. Did she even know what women's precepts and teachings were?
If he were to marry such a woman in the future, he would rather remain unmarried for life.
"How I am is not for you to comment on. I am your master, and you haven't paid your respects daily. How dare you disrespect me here? Do you truly think I won't discipline you?"
Feng Jin spoke sternly, her aura commanding. She put on the airs of a master, lecturing Gu Bei Chen with great maturity.
It was truly difficult for the Prince of Zhen Nan. Having only a son in his middle age, and for him to have turned out so stupid and clumsy. The Zhen Nan Prince's Estate's years of foundation and reputation would likely be ruined by this unfilial son, Gu Bei Chen.
"This Prince..."
"What 'this Prince'? What are you? You only need to remember now that I am your master, the master you officially took as your own in front of everyone. From now on, you must remember to pay your respects when you see me!"
Feng Jin stood on the carriage, a good head taller than Gu Bei Chen, and lectured him from above.
Old Wang, standing nearby, saw this scene and broke out in a cold sweat.
That was the Prince's heir of Zhen Nan. How could this young brother be Master Gu's master? And he was even pointing at the Prince's nose and scolding him. If the Prince were to hold a grudge, it would be disastrous...
"Your Highness, we are in a hurry with the army. We can afford to delay, but the provisions cannot. Your Highness, please step aside."
Old Wang gathered his courage and spoke. While he appeared calm on the surface, his heart was pounding like a drum, and his back was drenched in sweat.
"Are you hard of hearing? Didn't you hear me?"
Suddenly being reprimanded, Gu Bei Chen was first startled. He quickly looked up at Feng Jin.
"You scoundrel! Didn't you hear your master clearly? Get out of here now!"
Feng Jin roared angrily and raised her whip, about to swing it at Gu Bei Chen.
Gu Bei Chen yelped in fear and dodged, almost falling to the ground.
"Prince Gu, we're leaving now." Feng Jin looked provocatively at Gu Bei Chen from the carriage.
"Brother Wang, let's go."
"Alright!" Old Wang quickly urged the carriage forward.
Gu Bei Chen nearly got hit by the carriage, stumbling to the ground. His treasured fan also fell.
Forgetting everything else, Gu Bei Chen rushed to pick up his fan and check for any damage.
He harbored even more resentment towards Feng Jin in his heart. He swore that he and Feng Jin would be sworn enemies for life, and he would not be human if he didn't get this revenge.
"Yo... Isn't this His Highness the Prince? What are you doing here, looking so disheveled? Who hurt you?"
Lu Shi, leading the soldiers, was guarding the rear of the army. He had caught up, so why was Prince Gu still behind? Had he fallen behind... or gotten lost.
"None of your business! Mind your own!"
Gu Bei Chen said angrily, snatched a horse from a soldier, and chased after the army ahead.
...
"Reporting to the Young General, ahead is Ying Zhong Prefecture."
Ling Mo Han's face was grim, his eyes fixed on the front. Ying Zhong Prefecture was now desolate, the city gates tightly shut, not a soul in sight. It looked like a ghost town.
"Send a squad of men to scout ahead. The rest of the army will enter Ying Zhong Prefecture at intervals of a hundred meters."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
A small team of soldiers had advanced no more than a hundred meters when, from the previously empty city walls, countless sharp swords appeared out of nowhere and flew towards them.
"Push forward and attack the city forcefully!"
Ling Mo Han gave the order, and the entire army surged forward. The rebel forces within Ying Zhong Prefecture resisted fiercely.
For a time, it was a bloodbath, the sky stained crimson with blood, the very air thick with the smell of gore.
Feng Jin was stationed at the rear. Even without witnessing the battle firsthand, she could tell from the sounds alone how perilous it was. Her heart ached, and her breathing became heavy.
It wasn't until late into the night that Lu Shi arrived with the army.
"Your subordinate pays respects to the Young Madam!"
"How was the battle? How is Ling Mo Han? Was he injured?"
"The Young General is unharmed. Ying Zhong Prefecture has been captured. The Young General specially ordered us to escort the Young Madam to Ying Zhong Prefecture."
At this moment, the knot in Feng Jin's heart finally loosened, and she breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that he was unharmed.
"Quick, take me to him."
Feng Jin desperately wanted to see Ling Mo Han immediately. Only by confirming he was unharmed with her own eyes could she feel at ease.
The dead and wounded soldiers outside the city had been taken away, but the bloodstains on the ground had not yet been cleared, and the entire land was stained red.
Every step Feng Jin took was soaked in blood, and the stench of gore was overwhelming, making her feel a pang of fear.
"Lu Shi, how many casualties were there this time?"
"Reporting to the Young Madam, the rebel army of over twenty thousand was completely annihilated. Our army lost a thousand men. The number of civilians killed by the rebels has yet to be tallied."
Ten thousand... Feng Jin's heart pounded at the number.
So many vibrant lives, all extinguished in an instant.
As Feng Jin entered the city, she was met with white everywhere. White sashes hung from the doors of every household, and heart-wrenching cries enveloped the entire Ying Zhong Prefecture.
"Young Madam, the Young General is in the prefectural office. Let's go meet him."
Lu Shi led Feng Jin forward.
As soon as they reached the prefectural office, before Feng Jin could react, she was pulled into a warm embrace. Ling Mo Han's deep voice sounded in her ear, "Are you well all the way here?"
"It's only a short distance, and Lu Shi escorted me, so of course I am well. How about you? The battlefield is dangerous, were you injured?"
Feng Jin's gaze roamed over the man, and only when she confirmed he was unharmed did a smile appear on her face.
"With the Sky Silkworm Silk you gave me protecting me, I am naturally invulnerable. How could I be injured? I've ordered some food to be made. Let's eat something first."
Ling Mo Han took Feng Jin's hand and led her to the inner hall.
"Ying Zhong Prefecture suffered a disaster, and then the rebels plundered. We only have some congee to eat. Please make do with it for now. The most important thing is to fill your stomach."