After Chen Jingzong left, Ling Rucheng didn't sleep well that night.
As a commander, he knew that the Jinwu Vanguard was suspected of collaborating with the enemy, but due to the political situation, he was unable to get to the bottom of it and give justice to those soldiers who died in vain. Ling Rucheng felt very upset.
But he is already this old, and he has children and grandchildren behind him. He cannot act rashly and get involved in the open and secret struggles between powerful officials and relatives of the emperor.
What's more, this time the Jinwu vanguard had prepared a retreat in just one night. If Ling Rucheng really exposed him, it would only implicate Chen Tingjian.
Both publicly and privately, Ling Rucheng could only endure as he had instructed Chen Jingzong to do.
A fox will always show its true colors. He reminded Chen Tingjian to be on guard secretly, so that he would not be afraid that Chen Tingjian would not be able to catch the man in the future.
What Ling Rucheng can do now is to reward the sacrificed soldiers according to their merits and let the court provide relief to their families, including the scout Wang San. He, Chen Jingzong and Chen Tingjian will all remember his merits and will secretly take care of his family.
The next morning, Ling Rucheng had just woken up when he heard the guard come to report that the prince consort was sick and bedridden.
Ling Rucheng was surprised and hurried to visit Chen Jingzong's tent.
Chen Jingzong had quite a lot of people on his side, including other commanders, military doctors, and soldiers from the Daxing Left Guard.
As soon as Ling Rucheng arrived, everyone surrounding the bed quickly made room for him.
Ling Rucheng saw Chen Jingzong lying sickly on the bed with a wet towel folded into a long strip on his forehead.
The military doctor had just finished taking Chen Jingzong's pulse when he said to Ling Rucheng, "Master, don't worry. The prince consort has caught a cold and has some skin injuries. He has a fever and is weak for a while. He will be fine after a few days of rest."
The other soldiers who cared about Chen Jingzong all breathed a sigh of relief.
Ling Rucheng sighed in his heart. Chen Jingzong was so young, how could he fall down because of a minor skin injury? He must have been worried and didn't sleep well last night, so he was invaded by the cold air in the mountains.
But the situation is like this, and young people can only bear with it.
After breakfast, the army broke camp and set off.
Chen Jingzong insisted on walking on his own. It was not until noon, when the army was about to cross Wudou Mountain, that Chen Jingzong finally ran out of strength and passed out.
The people of Daxing Zuowei quickly prepared a wooden plank and two strong soldiers carried their commander and the prince consort out of the mountain.
Outside the mountain is the imperial camp. When Ling Rucheng entered the mountain, he left 40,000 soldiers and horses to garrison here.
Huayang is of course still here.
Chen Jingzong entered the mountain early in the morning the day before yesterday. From that moment on, Huayang's heart has never been at peace. It concerns Chen Jingzong's life and death. Even though he promised that he had made all the preparations, unless Chen Jingzong really appeared in front of her in good condition, Huayang did not dare to tell herself that Chen Jingzong's death was averted.
Yesterday morning, smoke rose in the mountains. Huayang asked Zhou Ji and learned that it was not the direction of Baiheling.
If Chen Jingzong really encountered danger at Baiheling, Daxing Zuowei would definitely send out a signal smoke signal.
Then, there was the faint sound of fighting.
It was not until last night that General Ling sent a scout with the fastest speed to report that Prince Yu and the rebels had surrendered.
The scout also conveyed Chen Jingzong's message to her privately, saying that he was safe and sound.
After confirming that Chen Jingzong was still alive, Huayang was finally able to fall asleep at night.
Today, she and the soldiers who stayed behind were waiting for the army's triumphant return. When the flags fluttering in the wind appeared in the mountains and she felt the joy and cheers of the soldiers behind her, Huayang also smiled.
The one walking in front was naturally Ling Rucheng. As it was inconvenient to ride horses in the mountains, the army entering the mountains had to walk.
Behind Ling Rucheng, soldiers carried two wooden planks.
The two soldiers carrying the one on the left saw her and quickened their pace to run over. The leading soldier cried out, "Princess, the prince consort is injured and has passed out!"
This shout frightened Huayang so much that her legs went weak. Although she had not yet seen Chen Jingzong lying on the wooden plank, she had already imagined him covered in blood.
Wu Run was calmer. He supported the princess with one hand and ordered the two soldiers, "Carry the prince consort back to the camp first! Call the imperial physician Song immediately!"
This time Huayang followed the army, and the young emperor assigned two imperial doctors to his sister, one who was good at diagnosing women's hidden diseases, and the other who was good at treating external injuries, to prevent his sister from getting injured on the battlefield.
The two men from the Daxing Left Guard carried the prince consort non-stop and ran past the eldest princess.
Huayang only had time to catch a glimpse of the blood at the corner of Chen Jingzong's mouth.
The army has returned victoriously, what could be more important than Chen Jingzong
Huayang nodded to Ling Rucheng from a distance, and then took Wu Run to chase Chen Jingzong. Zhou Ji had just gone to pick up Doctor Song in person.
On another wooden plank, Qi Jin was lying expressionless.
The broken arrow was still in his left shoulder. Although his life was not in danger for the time being, his face was pale.
When he heard that Chen Jingzong was ill in the morning, he guessed what Chen Jingzong was planning. Only such a shameless person would use such a harem-yard method to snatch all her attention.
Qi Jin just couldn't believe that Chen Jingzong could occupy Huayang for even a moment. When Huayang found out that Chen Jingzong was not seriously injured and heard that he was shot in the shoulder, how could Huayang not come to see him
.
Inside Chen Jingzong's tent.
The two soldiers who were responsible for carrying the wooden plank carefully carried the "unconscious" Prince Consort to the bed. Before they could catch their breath, they heard the eldest princess ask, "Where is Prince Consort injured?"
The eldest princess looked like a fairy descending from heaven. The two men dared not look directly at her. They knelt on the ground and reported one after another: "We were ambushed by the rebels at Baihe Ridge yesterday. The prince consort fought bloody battles and was stabbed several times."
"After escaping from danger, we saw the smoke signals and rushed to encircle and suppress the main force of the rebels. The prince consort was brave and personally captured the rebel leader Guo Jixian, but he was also seriously injured when fighting him."
Huayang only heard "bloody battle" and "stabbed several times".
Her face was as pale as paper, and she didn't know how she ended up sitting beside Chen Jingzong's bed.
He was wearing armor, which was covered with blood that had not been cleaned yet. Although the armor could provide some defense, it was not truly invulnerable to swords and guns. Chen Jingzong's armor was already in tatters.
"Originally, the prince consort fell ill this morning, but he refused to let us carry him, and refused to let the soldiers look down on him. He insisted on putting on his armor and walking out with his head held high. As a result, he overdrew his strength and passed out before leaving the mountain."
Huayang looked at Chen Jingzong's pale face covered with dust and sweat, and his vision gradually blurred.
Zhou Ji brought the imperial physician Song, and Chaoyun, Chaoyue and Fugui also brought three large basins of clean water.
Soon, Zhou Ji and Fugui retreated with two soldiers.
Doctor Song first took off Chen Jingzong's clothes and checked the knife wounds on his body.
Wu Run persuaded Hua Yang: "Why don't you step aside first and come back after the prince consort has been bandaged?"
Huayang was afraid of revealing her emotions, so she just shook her head and asked Wu Run to bring a chair. She sat at the head of the bed and watched Doctor Song take off Chen Jingzong's clothes.
Chen Jingzong had been on the expedition for such a long time, always rushing to the front, how could he not have been injured
When his robe was removed, his scarred shoulders, chest and abdomen were exposed. Some of the wounds had already scabbed over, while others were newly gained yesterday. The flesh of the deepest knife wound was rolled up. Huayang immediately picked up the handkerchief that Wu Run had handed to him, covered his face with it and turned his head away.
In the past few months, she and Chen Jingzong not only met every day, but they would always sit together and talk every few days. However, every time she asked Chen Jingzong if he was injured, he acted as if he was invincible and no one could hurt him. Huayang couldn't ask him to take off his clothes for her to check, so she really thought that he was just tanned and thin from running around, and didn't suffer any hardship.
Until I saw it with my own eyes.
Huayang certainly knew that many soldiers died in the suppression of the rebellion. He knew that probably every soldier had such wounds. There were many who were more seriously injured than Chen Jingzong, and countless soldiers were killed on the spot.
How could the princess, who had been spoiled for twenty-one years and had to apply medicine even when bitten by a mosquito, bear the thought of suddenly witnessing the person beside her being injured like this
She was still able to hold back from making any sound, but Chaoyun and Chaoyue both began to choke up.
Doctor Song glanced at the three masters and servants with mixed feelings, who seemed to be out of touch with this world.
It is true that he was sent by the young emperor to take care of the eldest princess, but Doctor Song has not been eating for free in the military camp in the past few months. After each battle, there would be a large number of new wounded soldiers, and Doctor Song helped the military doctors share some of the wounded soldiers. Compared with those broken arms and legs, those on the prince consort were just a drizzle.
Imperial Physician Song couldn't even understand why the Prince Consort, who looked as strong as an iron tower before, collapsed due to such an injury.
Although he was secretly complaining, Doctor Song would never show it. He just cleaned the wound for the prince consort and told the princess not to worry.
In addition to cleaning the wound, Doctor Song also wiped off the blood and sweat on the Prince Consort's body, applied medicine, and once again assured the Princess that the Prince Consort was fine before leaving.
Chen Jingzong was still in a coma.
Huayang asked Wu Run, Chao Yun and Chao Yue to step down.
The three of them tactfully withdrew.
There were only the couple in the inner tent, and there was no need to worry about their shadows being cast on the tent in broad daylight. Huayang looked at Chen Jingzong's face, which had been wiped clean but could not hide his haggard face, and his body lying on his side so as not to put pressure on the wound on his back. Huayang slowly lay down next to him, looking at him with his eyes and holding his hand covered with thin calluses.
When Chen Jingzong opened his eyes, he saw her eyes filled with tears.
Huayang: …
She instinctively wanted to get up.
Just as she straightened her shoulders, Chen Jingzong embraced her with his big hands and pressed her back into his arms.
Huayang: "Your injury!"
Chen Jingzong buried his face in her long, soft black hair and took a deep breath: "It's okay, it's just a minor injury, I won't die."
Huayang really wanted to pinch him, but they were too close together, and if she really raised her hand to move around, she might touch his wounds.
She could only let him hold her and blamed him, "Didn't you say you were prepared? Why are you still hurt so badly?"
Chen Jingzong: "After all, they are 10,000 elite soldiers. No matter how many I prepare, I have to kill them with real swords and guns."
Huayang was still afraid. If any of those knife wounds had been more severe, he might have really fallen in a pool of blood just like she had dreamed of.
Chen Jingzong touched her face and said, "Your tears are like the nectar of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Sprinkling one drop for me can relieve the pain. A few more drops will give me a long life."
Huayang: …
"You can still say such indecent things, which shows that it's really nothing serious. Then I'll go see Ling Shuai."
Chen Jingzong immediately hugged her tightly: "I only have the strength to be naughty when you are around. If you leave, I might faint from the pain again, or even fall into a long sleep..."
Huayang covered his mouth with his hand.
Chen Jingzong kissed the palm of her hand.
Huayang retracted her hand and Chen Jingzong held her face.
Hua Yang glanced at his hair which was sticky with blood or sweat, frowned and asked: "Did you rinse your mouth these past two nights?"
Chen Jingzong pressed her head down and said, "She is truly a fairy descending to earth. She never forgets to be polite."
Huayang: "What's the use of a fairy? She's still married to someone as unrefined as you."
Chen Jingzong: "Don't blame me, I have corrected those bad habits a long time ago. I just don't have the conditions to be particular on the battlefield."
Huayang hummed, and after a while asked, "Are you thirsty? Are you hungry?"
Chen Jingzong: "When I'm thirsty, you feed me water. When I'm hungry, you feed me food?"
Huayang: "If you can sit up, eat by yourself."
Chen Jingzong: "I can't sit up. This is probably the only time in my life that I can use you. If you don't help me, I would rather starve to death."
Huayang: …
She first sat up, straightened her clothes, and then asked Chaoyue, who was waiting outside, to go to the kitchen to make something delicious.
There was water in the inner tent, so she poured a bowl and sat down beside the bed to feed Chen Jingzong.
People always get some preferential treatment when they are sick, let alone a prince consort who just escaped death.
Outside the tent, although Wu Run did not deliberately listen to what was happening inside, he could imagine the loving relationship between the prince consort and the princess.
Therefore, even though the cousin was seriously injured, he would keep it secret for the time being until the princess left her husband's side.
Cousin, after all, is not your biological brother.
In this military camp, at this moment, no one can surpass the importance of the prince consort in the princess's heart.
In another tent, the military doctor had already cleaned Qi Jin's wound and was ready to remove the arrow at any time.
The longer the arrow stays in the flesh, the more dangerous it becomes for Qi Jin.
Qi Jin glanced at the tents again, lowered his eyes, looked at his feet and said, "Let's get started."
The military doctor handed over a clean piece of cork.
Qi Jin doesn't need it.
The military doctor no longer forced himself. He held Qi Jin's left arm with one hand and grabbed the broken arrow that was shaking slightly with Qi Jin's breathing with the other hand.
Qi Jin gritted his teeth and didn't say a word from beginning to end.
The military doctor took out the arrowhead, and another person promptly covered Qi Jin's wound with clean gauze to stop the bleeding.
The blood quickly soaked through the layers of gauze.
Qi Jin still looked at the ground.
He suddenly understood why some women in the harem were willing to sacrifice their reputation and use all means to win favor.
Because as long as you win, you can not only get temporary favor, but also stab the loser in the heart.
(End of this chapter)