The war was urgent, and there were some matters in the military camp that required Ling Mohan's attention. Thus, after staying for a short while, he hurried back to the barracks.
Feng Jin stood under the eaves for a long time, gazing wistfully at the doorway. Ling Mohan had left long ago, and all she could see was the closed door.
"Young Madam, the wind is biting cold. You should go back to your room. Even if you don't think of yourself, you must think of the child in your belly. You can't let him suffer with you."
Cai Qing couldn't bear to see Feng Jin like this and spoke up to persuade her.
"Let's go back," Feng Jin sighed softly. No matter how worried she was, it was useless.
Feng Jin tossed and turned all night, her thoughts drifting, always wondering about Ling Mohan's situation.
Just as dawn was breaking, Feng Jin heard a loud explosion. The vase on the table shook, and only gunpowder could cause such a great commotion.
Could it be that gunpowder was used in this battle? Feng Jin clutched her skirt and got up to go outside.
She saw Ling Muzhu and Cai Qing squatting by the door, listening intently to the sounds outside.
"What exactly is going on?" Feng Jin asked.
"Young Madam, there was a sudden loud noise, and the streets outside are filled with panicked civilians running about."
Feng Jin walked to the doorway. The noise outside was even more ear-piercing. "What's with the civilians outside? Why are they in such a panic? Could it be that the rebels have attacked?"
"I just found out. Our soldiers have high morale and are crushing the rebels. It's a dream for them to try and breach Yingzhong Commandery."
Ling Muzhu said this with pride, as if he were the one who had defeated the enemy.
Ling Mohan was guarding outside, along with a hundred thousand soldiers. What were the rebels' petty tricks against Ling Mohan? If it weren't for the shortage of troops and food in the city these days, how could those rabble have caused trouble for so long?
"The panic of the civilians outside is causing unrest throughout Yingzhong Commandery, making it easy for spies lurking in the city to take advantage of the chaos and disrupt the army's morale."
Feng Jin's tone was filled with a hint of worry. They had to find a way to stop it. "Ling Muzhu, go out and tell everyone that our army has decisively defeated the rebels and will annihilate them all. Tell them not to panic."
"I... I'll go?"
The civilians outside were in a state of panic. Their actions to save themselves could be unpredictable. If he went out to persuade them now, and he was unlucky, he would be trampled into a meat paste.
"You are the only man here. Who else would go?"
Feng Jin said as if it were natural. She opened the door and, before Ling Muzhu could react, pushed him out and then slammed the door shut, ignoring his heartbroken cries outside.
"Young Madam, are you really not letting Cousin Young Master in?"
His voice sounded so mournful that Cai Qing shivered and felt a pang of sympathy, pleading with Ling Mohan.
"What are you afraid of? It's not a flood or a fierce beast." Feng Jin's eyes were filled with disdain. Why should he be so afraid? She shouted loudly at Ling Muzhu outside, "Hurry up and tell the civilians to go home quickly and stop running around like headless flies on the street."
After saying this, Feng Jin felt her throat was very dry and took Cai Qing back into the room for some tea.
Feng Jin sat in the corridor, sipping tea and eating pastries. Only after the commotion outside had subsided did she ask Cai Qing to open the door and check on Ling Muzhu.
As soon as Cai Qing opened the door, she let out a startled cry and instinctively shut the door tightly. The panic on her face lingered for a long time.
"What's wrong? What's outside?"
"Young... Young Madam... I just saw someone outside, with disheveled hair, standing there like a ghost. It was terrifying!"
Cai Qing's words sent a shiver down Feng Jin's spine. It was broad daylight; could they have encountered a ghost? She mustered her courage and walked towards the door, wanting to investigate.
"Young Madam, you... you go slower!"
Startled, Cai Qing was still trembling, following Feng Jin nervously.
Just as Feng Jin's hand touched the doorknob, ready to open it, a roar suddenly came.
"What are you standing there for? Open the door and let this young master in!"
Ling Muzhu's voice came through the thick door, extremely clear.
The two exchanged glances, and after reacting, they quickly opened the door.
Cai Qing looked closely and realized that the person who had terrified her was indeed Ling Muzhu. However, in such a short time, how had he become like this?
"Haha..." Feng Jin couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Did someone rob you? Anyone who didn't know would think you were fleeing a famine."
No, even those fleeing famine wouldn't be as pathetic as Ling Muzhu at the moment.
"I'm in this state, and you're still laughing at me. Do you have any sympathy?"
If it weren't for Feng Jin, he wouldn't have become like this. The civilians were crazier than each other, completely ignoring his words. Seeing that he had some valuable items, they wanted to snatch them all away. If he hadn't had some martial arts skills, he wouldn't even have had this set of clothes left.
It was fortunate that the soldiers came to suppress them, allowing him to escape their clutches and preserve himself.
"Sorry, for a moment... for a moment I couldn't help myself... *cough*..."
Although Feng Jin said she was sorry, the smile on her lips never faded. It wasn't that she was doing it on purpose, but Ling Muzhu's appearance at the moment was truly comical, and she really couldn't help it!
"Stop laughing!" Ling Muzhu spat out through clenched teeth, glaring at Feng Jin, and turned to walk into the inner room. He truly couldn't bear to look at himself like this.
His body reeked of foul sweat, and his clothes were in disarray. He truly couldn't stand it.
"Your subordinate greets the Young Madam." Lu Shi entered, looking travel-worn.
Feng Jin's keen senses immediately detected the smell of blood on Lu Shi, indicating he had just come from the battlefield.
"How is the war going?"
"This battle was a complete victory. The Young General is leading the troops to pursue the mastermind behind this, and has specially sent me to report your safety. Please do not worry, Young Madam."
"Hurry back and pursue the rebels. Everything is fine here."
Feng Jin couldn't bear to waste any more of Lu Shi's time and urged him to leave. Only by completely uprooting the rebel forces would this war truly end.
"Yes, Young Madam. Your subordinate takes his leave."
Cai Qing looked at Lu Shi's receding back, her eyes filled with reluctance.
"Alright, stop looking. He's already far away."
"No, it's just that the door wasn't closed," Cai Qing hastily made up an excuse and walked to close the door.
Feng Jin smiled faintly. The girl's heart was hard to hide.