"We won!" the surviving Eastern Jin generals cheered.
Mo Lingxi casually wiped the bloodstains from her face, looked up at the bright sky, and let out a long sigh. This battle was won. However, the next task was the most crucial.
To resolve the diarrhea issue.
...
Eastern Capital, Imperial Palace, side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Sheng Lengshuang learned about the situation at the border from Zi Cheng, unsure of the exact cause of the diarrhea. "Your Majesty, I haven't actually taken their pulses, so I can't determine the type of diarrhea."
"There are many causes for diarrhea, such as acute and chronic diarrhea, each with many subtypes. I think I should bring a physician and rush to the border. This matter cannot be delayed."
Zi Cheng meant the same. He rubbed his temples. "Little Aunt, I was reluctant for you to go to the border. The situation there is dangerous, and the military camp is full of men. A slight misstep..."
Many soldiers in the camp had terrible tempers, especially when it came to women.
Sheng Lengshuang knew this well. "Your Majesty need not worry. I will bring my attendants and medicinal powder. If anything truly happens, I will have the ability to protect myself."
"Moreover, the most important thing now is to cure the border soldiers and prevent a major disaster."
If Chengmen Pass could not be held, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Zi Cheng understood this all too well, which was why he asked Sheng Lengshuang for help. He had arranged for imperial physicians and highly skilled doctors, but since his little aunt wanted to go to the border and knew many excellent prescriptions, he sought her assistance.
"Little Aunt, you must depart today. I have already arranged for the physicians. As for Xiao Feng and the Sheng family, Little Aunt can rest assured; with me here, they will not come to any harm."
Sheng Lengshuang also knew the urgency of the situation and took a deep breath. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for taking care of Xiao Feng and my parents. I am not worried about other things, only about the Black Hand and the Tao family."
Tao Li and the others had not appeared for a long time. She suspected that these individuals had been refined into more powerful puppets, ready at any moment to harm her or her family.
Zi Cheng nodded. "Little Aunt, please be at ease. I will protect Xiao Feng and Madam Sheng. Additionally, I have already prepared all the medicinal herbs and other supplies."
"Inform your family, Little Aunt, and depart this afternoon."
Sheng Lengshuang nodded solemnly, curtsied, and returned to the Sheng family with Xiao Feng.
"Mother, I will be departing for the border this afternoon. Something has happened at the border," Sheng Lengshuang did not hide it, looking apologetically at Madam Sheng. "Xiao Feng will have to trouble you to take care of him. I have already discussed it with His Majesty."
Madam Sheng sighed with worry. "I had already anticipated this. When you told me you wanted to be a military doctor, I guessed this day would come."
She touched Sheng Lengshuang's face. "I sent your father to the battlefield and endured those anxious days. Now, I have to send you to the battlefield."
As she spoke, she began to cry. "Both you and your father are on the battlefield, leaving me and Xiao Feng at home... Never mind, it's no use saying more. At the border, be extra careful with everything, do you understand?"
Sheng Lengshuang felt even more guilty and remorseful. She reached out and hugged Madam Sheng. "Mother, I'm sorry! I should have been home to accompany you, but..."
Madam Sheng dabbed her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief and sighed. "You are not me. Your medical skills are so high, and you have a strong character. At a time like this, you should serve the country."
"Rest assured, I will take good care of Xiao Feng."
Sheng Lengshuang pursed her lips, looking at her son with reluctance. "Xiao Feng..."
Xiao Feng held back his tears and tugged at Sheng Lengshuang's clothes with a slight force. "Mother, Xiao Feng will be good at home and wait for you and Father to return. You must be well at the border."
Sheng Lengshuang's tears almost broke through. She hugged Xiao Feng. "Mother promises Xiao Feng that we will be well at the border and will return as soon as possible."
She truly didn't want to leave Xiao Feng and her mother in the Eastern Capital, but this was not a pleasure trip.
Xiao Feng sniffled and nodded, hugging Sheng Lengshuang's neck for a long time. "Mother, you promised me, you and Father must return soon."
"I will miss you and be very, very good."
Sheng Lengshuang felt increasingly reluctant, but she understood what she had to do. "Xiao Feng, you and Grandmother should not see me off. While I am away from the Eastern Capital, you and Grandmother must be very careful. Think before you act and don't be impulsive. Always bring more people with you, no matter where you go."
"Mother will leave plenty of medicinal powder and pills for you and Grandmother. Keep them with you at all times, understand?"
Xiao Feng agreed to everything. He knew he couldn't be difficult, no matter how reluctant he was to part with his mother, he had to be good.
"Mother, when the war subsides, can you and Father pick me up and take me to the border? I want to see the border."
Sheng Lengshuang agreed and pinky-swore. "When the war subsides, Mother will send someone to pick you up. Let our Xiao Feng see the scenery of the border and understand how hard those soldiers work to defend it."
"Xiao Feng, don't cling to your mother anymore. She still needs to pack her belongings," Madam Sheng picked Xiao Feng up and sat him on her lap. "Grandmother will accompany you wherever you go."
Back then, when her husband went to the battlefield, she endured it alone in the manor. Now, her husband and Lengshuang were going to the battlefield, and Xiao Feng was accompanying her.
At least this time, she had someone with her.
Xiao Feng pouted, on the verge of tears. "Mother, I will really be good. You must come and pick me up soon."
Sheng Lengshuang suppressed her reluctance and heartache, turned, and returned to her courtyard to pack her belongings. She feared that if she stayed any longer, she would be unwilling to go to the border.
After she had packed her belongings, she arrived outside Madam Sheng's courtyard and bowed. "Mother, Xiao Feng, I'm leaving. Rest assured, whether it's me, King Mingrui, or Father, we will all return safely."
Madam Sheng, holding the crying Xiao Feng, raised her voice slightly. "Lengshuang, be careful on the road. Write back when you have time."
"Yes!" Sheng Lengshuang turned and walked away step by step.
In her ears, she seemed to hear Xiao Feng's heart-wrenching cries. She bit her lip and walked away quickly.
"Mother!" Xiao Feng struggled to chase Sheng Lengshuang.
Madam Sheng held him tightly in her arms and gently coaxed him. "Xiao Feng, be good, don't cry, don't cry. Grandmother is here. Your mother has important matters to attend to, and we can't stop her, can we?"
If Xiao Feng were a little older, he could have gone with Lengshuang. Alas...
Hearing this, Xiao Feng stopped struggling and hugged his grandmother, crying. "Grandmother, Mother, Father, and Grandfather will all return safely. Our family will be reunited."
"Yes, Grandmother has always firmly believed so," Madam Sheng gently patted his back, her eyes slightly moist. "Xiao Feng, move to Grandmother's courtyard."
"From tomorrow onwards, Grandmother will accompany you to and from school, so you won't be alone, alright?"
With the two countries at war, there were countless children like Xiao Feng, some of whom couldn't even wait for their fathers' return.