Chapter 72: Qianqian Becomes a Mother, and Lu Lingxiao Returns
Chapter 72: Qianqian Becomes a Mother, and Lu Lingxiao Returns
Within the military camp, Meng Qianqian tended to her wounds. While they weren't severe, there were certainly some minor injuries, especially on her back and left shoulder.
As Qing Shuang applied medicine to her wounds, she chided gently, "Miss Meng, you really pushed yourself too hard."
Meng Qianqian understood her concern and replied, "Injuries are inevitable on the battlefield."
After all, if she hadn't fought with all her might, she would have died.
Qing Shuang dipped some golden wound medicine and carefully applied it to the wounds on Meng Qianqian's back. "Miss Meng, have you fought in battles before?"
Meng Qianqian paused before answering, "Perhaps."
Qing Shuang didn't quite understand.
At that moment, the little calico cat, who had slept its fill, wriggled free from its swaddling and climbed out of the backpack. With light and graceful steps, it leaped from the table onto Meng Qianqian's lap.
Meng Qianqian stroked it gently and asked, "How did you manage to avoid raising suspicions along the way?"
Qing Shuang opened her mouth and sobbed a few times.
Meng Qianqian was startled and turned to look at her in surprise.
Qing Shuang explained, "Before I was taken by the Grand Viceroy to become a shadow guard, I used to busk and beg on the streets. To avoid getting my hands and feet broken, I learned a rough form of ventriloquism. I'm not as skilled as Miss Baoshi, but since they weren't familiar with her, they couldn't tell the difference."
Meng Qianqian nodded, understanding.
She never would have imagined that Qing Shuang had such a heartbreaking past.
Lu Yuan appointed Zhang Feihu to take over as the chief cavalry commander and ordered him to set out for Chi County at daybreak the next day, with the mission of retaking the county before nightfall.
Zhang Feihu bowed and asked, "How should we approach this battle, Your Excellency?"
He wasn't testing the Grand Viceroy's abilities; he was genuinely seeking guidance with an open mind.
Although he had his own strategies, he couldn't be sure if the Grand Viceroy had better plans.
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "Fight however you see fit."
If this had been a day earlier, Zhang Feihu would have scoffed at these words, dismissing the court-appointed good-for-nothing as a jester. But now, he stood with his hands on his hips and his back straight, feeling a sense of trust from the Grand Viceroy. Most military commanders disliked insincerity, and when they respected someone, they truly respected them without shame.
The next day, as soon as the sun rose, Zhang Feihu led ten thousand cavalry troops on their mission.
"By the order of the Grand Viceroy, we shall reclaim Chi County! Open the city gates, and those who surrender shall be spared!"
In Chi County, they annihilated three thousand rebels and captured a thousand.
"By the order of the Grand Viceroy, we shall reclaim Feng County! Surrender, and your lives shall be spared!"
In Feng County, they wiped out sixteen thousand rebels and took three thousand prisoners.
"By the order of the Grand Viceroy, we shall crush the traitors! No mercy shall be shown!"
"Where can you run? Your Uncle Zhang is here!"
In just five days, the imperial army, alongside the border garrison troops, recaptured the cities that had fallen to the rebels and wiped out those attempting to flee to Beiliang.
Moreover, Lu Yuan seized the rebels' abundant supplies of food, fodder, and winter clothing, distributing them to the border garrison troops and the common folk. He also ordered the soldiers to repair the towns, villages, and post stations that had been destroyed in the war.
The camp was bustling with activity as they prepared to depart for Yumenguan Pass the following day.
Lu Yuan stepped out of his tent to get some fresh air, feeling a bit dizzy from sitting too long.
He walked towards a less crowded area and sat down on a nearby rock.
A group of children from a nearby village were playing noisily and ended up near Lu Yuan's resting spot.
They had never seen such a handsome uncle as Lu Yuan, and their curiosity drew them closer. They surrounded him, examining him from all angles.
The last person to stare at him like that now lay buried under two feet of grass.
The oldest among them was seven or eight years old, while the youngest was only two or three. Each child held a walnut in their hand.
"Who are you?" asked the oldest child.
Lu Yuan replied coldly, "The Grand Viceroy."
His title was enough to make children in the capital stop crying, and it was even more effective than the name of a Yaksha.
The border children, however, had never heard of him.
The youngest child patted his stomach and said, "Tummy."
Lu Yuan humphed coldly, "A bunch of ignorant brats."
He snatched a walnut from one of the children, placed it on the rock, and crushed it with a single punch, leaving the children wide-eyed in astonishment.
Lu Yuan's killing intent was palpable as he said, "Do you want to end up like that rock? If you don't scram right now, I'll—"
Before he could finish his threat, the toddler, who was barely two years old, held out a walnut towards him and demanded, "Again!"
Another child eagerly offered his walnut as well, "Me too! Do mine!"
"Again! Again!"
"Mine too!"
"Me first! Me first!"
Lu Yuan: "..."
The Grand Viceroy, feared by even ghosts and spirits in the capital, found himself surrounded by a group of mischievous children at the border.
"Niudann! Maodan! Daya, Erya, and Gouwa! Come eat!"
A woman's voice rang out, calling the children back to the village. They scurried away, each clutching their walnut kernels, completely satisfied.
As they passed by the village entrance, they ran into Zhang Feihu, who had just returned from the village.
Recognizing the walnuts as the ones he had given the children, he smiled and asked, "Wow, you guys cracked them open so quickly! You're amazing!"
The oldest child among them pointed back the way they had come. "That man over there did it for us!"
The toddler patted his stomach and said, "Full tummy."
Curious, Zhang Feihu followed the direction of the child's finger.
In an instant, Lu Yuan had flashed away from the rock and was now standing nonchalantly a short distance away, his back turned to them as he walked back towards the rock.
"Grand Viceroy!" Zhang Feihu immediately let go of the children and rushed forward to pay his respects.
Lu Yuan acknowledged him with a slight hum.
"Are you heading out, Grand Viceroy?" Zhang Feihu inquired.
"Just going for a stroll," Lu Yuan replied casually.
Zhang Feihu didn't suspect anything. He knew that the Grand Viceroy, with his myriad responsibilities, only had eyes for matters of the state, warfare, and the affairs of the realm. It was highly unlikely that he would concern himself with something as trivial as children cracking walnuts.
Zhang Feihu sighed, "What a pity. I've never seen such perfectly cracked walnut kernels before. I have a whole bag of them, and I was hoping to find someone to crack them all for me."
Lu Yuan's jaw clenched, his face darkening.
As he returned to the main tent, Lu Yuan encountered Meng Qianqian at the entrance.
Meng Qianqian, clad in her armor, was holding her helmet under her left arm while she brandished her embroidered spring blade in her right hand. She glanced at the rock and teased, "It seems the Grand Viceroy is quite popular here at the border."
As if to prove her point, a toddler of about one year old toddled over to them, reaching out to grab Meng Qianqian.
Fearing that the child might fall, Meng Qianqian set down her sword and took the little one's hand.
The child opened his mouth and said, "Mama."
Meng Qianqian was taken aback.
Lu Yuan, relishing her reaction, goaded, "Seems like you're even more popular."
The little one let go of Meng Qianqian's hand and threw his arms around Lu Yuan's leg, calling out, "Papa."
Lu Yuan: "......!!!"
"Don't call me that randomly!" Lu Yuan snapped.
The toddler burst into tears, and then, to Lu Yuan's horror, proceeded to wet his leg.
The formidable Grand Viceroy froze on the spot.
Meng Qianqian, who rarely laughed, couldn't hold it in anymore. "Hahaha! Hahaha!"
Lu Yuan's face darkened even further.
...
With the three critical military strongholds recaptured, there was still no sign of Lu Lingxiao or Yu Zichuan. Meng Qianqian surmised that the two of them must have already passed through Yumenguan Pass and infiltrated the Northern Liang army's camp.
Just as Meng Qianqian was planning to head to Yumenguan Pass to support them, the two men returned with the Tiger Guards.
Not wanting to be associated with Lu Lingxiao, Meng Qianqian put on her mask before leaving the camp.
On her way out, she ran into Zhang Feihu.
"Little Nine! Why are you wearing a mask?"
In the army, Meng Qianqian went by the name Meng Xiaojiu.
Meng Qianqian asked, "You recognized me?"
Zhang Feihu pointed at her. "It's easy to recognize you. The armor, the embroidered spring blade, and when you were slaying the rebel army, your left hand was slashed, and it's still bandaged!"
So that was it.
Meng Qianqian felt relieved.
Since Lu Lingxiao had never seen her like this, he probably wouldn't be able to recognize her either.
Today's update is a little early.
(End of Chapter)
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