Before dawn, Feng Jin was pulled from bed by Ling Mohan and followed him on the road, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
After walking for a while, Feng Jin felt hungry. She took out the pastries she had secretly hidden in her sleeve and stuffed them into her mouth.
"Eating like that!"
A mocking voice came from behind her, startling Feng Jin and causing her to choke.
After gulping down several mouthfuls of water, she managed to swallow the pastry lodged in her throat.
Feng Jin gasped for breath, nearly choking to death. She turned to glare at the culprit.
"You wish to murder your master and commit insubordination, what crime is that!"
That damned Gu Beichen, hiding behind her and playing pranks, what was his intention in scaring her like that?
"I am merely reminding you to pay attention to your demeanor. Look at yourself, what kind of image are you projecting?"
A woman should stay at home, attend to her husband and children, and be virtuous. Instead, she secretly follows the army, mingling with a group of men. Does she even know what "virtuous conduct" and "female precepts" mean?
If he were to marry a woman like this in the future, he would rather remain unmarried for life.
"What kind of image I project is not for you to criticize. I am your master, and you have not paid your respects to me daily. Yet you dare to be disrespectful to your master. Do you truly think I dare not discipline you?"
Feng Jin spoke sharply, her imposing aura fully displayed as she lectured Gu Beichen like an elder.
It truly was difficult for the Prince of Zhennan. He only had a son in his middle age, and yet he had raised him to be so foolish. The long-established foundation and reputation of the Prince of Zhennan's estate would likely be ruined by this rebellious son, Gu Beichen.
"This Prince is not..."
"Not what... Not what are you? You simply need to remember now that I am your master, the master you bowed to in front of everyone. From now on, you must greet your master when you see me!"
Feng Jin stood on the carriage, a good head taller than Gu Beichen, and lectured him from her superior position.
Old Wang, who was standing nearby, saw the scene and broke out in a cold sweat.
That was the Crown Prince of Zhennan. How could this young man be Gu Shizi's master? And he was even pointing at Gu Shizi's nose and scolding him! If Gu Shizi were to hold a grudge, it would be disastrous...
"Your Highness, the army is moving in haste. We can afford to be delayed, but the provisions cannot. Your Highness, please move aside."
Old Wang mustered his courage and spoke. Although he appeared calm on the surface, his heart was pounding with fear, and the back of his clothes was soaked with sweat.
"Are your ears faulty? Didn't you hear me?"
Suddenly reprimanded, Gu Beichen was initially stunned. He quickly looked up at Feng Jin.
"You scoundrel, didn't you hear your master clearly! Get out of the way quickly."
Feng Jin shouted angrily and picked up the whip beside her, preparing to strike Gu Beichen.
Gu Beichen dodged in fright, nearly falling to the ground.
"Gu Shizi, we're leaving first." Feng Jin provocatively looked at Gu Beichen from the carriage.
"Brother Wang, let's go."
"Alright." Old Wang quickly drove the carriage forward.
Gu Beichen was almost hit by the carriage and fell to the ground. His treasured fan also fell.
Without a second thought, Gu Beichen rushed to pick up his fan and carefully inspected it for any damage.
He added another layer of resentment towards Feng Jin in his heart, vowing that he and Feng Jin would be irreconcilable for the rest of his life and that he would not rest until this revenge was achieved.
"Yo... Isn't this His Highness? Why are you here, and looking so disheveled? Who hurt you, old man?"
Lu Shi was following behind the army with his soldiers for defense. He had already caught up, but why was Gu Shizi still lagging behind? Had he fallen behind... or gotten lost?
"You don't need to worry about me. Mind your own business!"
Gu Beichen said angrily, snatched a horse from one of the soldiers, and chased after the advancing army.
...
"Reporting to the Young General, ahead is Yingzhong Commandery."
Ling Mohan's expression was grim, his gaze fixed intently ahead. The current Yingzhong Commandery was a desolate place, with its city gates tightly shut and not a soul in sight. One might have thought it was a deserted city.
"Send a squad of men to scout ahead. The rest of the army will enter Yingzhong Commandery at intervals of a hundred meters."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
A small squad of soldiers had advanced no more than a hundred meters when countless sharp swords suddenly appeared on the previously empty city walls, shooting towards them.
"Charge through and forcefully take the city!"
With Ling Mohan's command, the entire army pressed forward. The rebel forces within Yingzhong Commandery resisted fiercely.
In an instant, blood and gore stained half the sky, and even the air was filled with the scent of blood.
Feng Jin was assigned to the rear. Although she did not witness the battle firsthand, she could tell from the sounds alone how perilous it was. Her heart tightened, and her breathing became heavy.
It wasn't until late at night that Lu Shi arrived with the troops.
"Your subordinate greets the Young Madam!"
"How was the battle? How is Ling Mohan? Is he injured?"
"The Young General is unharmed. Yingzhong Commandery has been captured. The Young General has specifically ordered us to escort the Young Madam to Yingzhong Commandery."
At this moment, Feng Jin's tightly clenched heart finally relaxed, and she breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that he was unharmed.
"Quick, take me to him."
Feng Jin now only wanted to see Ling Mohan immediately. Only by personally confirming his safety could she truly feel at ease.
The soldiers who had died or were injured outside the city were taken away, but the bloodstains on the ground had not yet been cleared, and the entire land was dyed red with blood.
Every step Feng Jin took was stained with blood, and the smell of blood in the air was extremely pungent, causing her to feel a flicker of fear.
"Lu Shi, how many casualties were there in total?"
"Reporting to the Young Madam, the rebel forces numbered over twenty thousand, all of whom were annihilated. Our army suffered over a thousand casualties, and the number of civilians killed by the rebels has not yet been tallied."
Ten thousand people... Feng Jin's heart skipped a beat at the number.
So many vibrant lives, all extinguished in an instant.
As Feng Jin entered the city, she saw white everywhere. White streamers were hung on the doors of every household, and heart-wrenching cries enveloped the entire Yingzhong Commandery.
"Young Madam, the Young General is in the Prefectural Office. Let's go and meet the Young General first."
Lu Shi walked ahead, leading Feng Jin.
Upon reaching the Prefectural Office, before Feng Jin could react, she was embraced in a warm hug. Ling Mohan's deep voice sounded in her ear, "Were you well on your journey?"
"It's only been such a short distance, and Lu Shi escorted me, so naturally, I was well. As for you, the battlefield is dangerous. Were you injured?"
Feng Jin's gaze swept over the man, and only after confirming he was not injured did a smile finally appear on her face.
"Wearing the silkworm silk you gave me, I am naturally impervious to blades and arrows, so how could I be injured? I've ordered some food to be prepared. Let's eat first."
Ling Mohan took Feng Jin's hand and walked towards the inner hall.
"Yingzhong Commandery has suffered from disaster and looting by the rebels, so we only have some plain porridge. Please make do with it for now. Filling your stomach is the priority."