Chapter 398: An Unfavorable Situation, Trying Every Means

Mo Lingling thought for a moment and said, "I suppose Fifth Missy got too engrossed in what a group of teahouse patrons were saying."

Tao Wanxin asked, "What were they talking about?"

Mo Lingling said, "The war with Xijin. They said Xijin has received reinforcements from Nanchu, and now we’re facing an army of six hundred thousand. Those patrons all said that conscription might start in a few more days."

The piece of meat Ji Qingwu had been stabbing, now riddled with countless tiny holes, finally made it into her mouth.

Tao Wanxin stopped stirring her soup and said with concern, "The total number of troops Beili has sent to the Northern Border is four hundred and fifty thousand. We’re at a great disadvantage, being outnumbered by so many."

Ji Qingrong said, "I remember when His Majesty was General Dingbei..."

Ji Qingwu’s ears perked up, and the chopsticks in her hand suddenly clattered to the floor.

As if startled from a dream, her eyes flew wide. "What about His Majesty?"

Ji Qingrong said, "Oh, you... You’ve been so out of it all day. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were worn out from taking care of me and Princess Yong."

Ji Qingwu rubbed her cheeks. "I’m not tired. I just haven’t been sleeping well these past few days."

Mo Lingling rose to get her a fresh pair of bamboo chopsticks.

"Thank you," Ji Qingwu said.

She pressed on, "Big Sister, what were you just saying?"

Ji Qingrong turned to Princess Yong opposite her. "Your Highness, take a look. Wouldn’t you say my fifth sister is suffering from a case of lovesickness? Tell me, was my diagnosis wrong?"

"It seems only the mention of a certain person’s name can bring her back to her senses."

Tao Wanxin smiled. "It’s rare indeed to see Qingwu in such a daze. The path of love is truly a difficult one."

Ji Qingwu knew they were teasing her and forced a faint smile.

She asked again, "Big Sister, what were you all talking about just now?"

Ji Qingrong said, "We were listening to Miss Mo relay some rumors from outside. It’s said that Xijin has joined forces with Nanchu, fielding a combined army of six hundred thousand and putting Beili at a disadvantage."

This was the very thing that had made Ji Qingwu lose her appetite.

’If only I had gone with Emperor Wu Su,’ she thought. ’I could have stayed by his side. Even if I couldn’t solve his problems or ease his burdens, I could at least have served him tea and water.’

’Failing that, I could at least return to my old trade and treat the injuries and illnesses of the soldiers.’

’Anything would be better than passively waiting for news here. Every day I hear the street-corner rumors, my heart lurches up and down without a moment’s peace.’

Ji Qingwu traced circles on the table with her fingertip. She had finally gotten the chance to go with him, but she’d missed it.

There were too many people "watching over" her now.

The clinic alone was surrounded by dozens of Hidden Guards watching her day and night—partly to protect her, but also to prevent her from sneaking off to the Northern Border.

These were all Emperor Wu Su’s orders.

On the eighth day after Ji Qingrong gave birth, Ji Qingwu had tried to pack her bags and slip away, only to be caught red-handed by a group of Hidden Guards.

Even with Si Hai’s help, it had been useless. She could only trudge dejectedly back to where she’d come from.

Ji Qingwu had already been caught red-handed three times.

At this thought, she slumped onto the table in defeat.

Ji Qingrong, thinking her younger sister was just getting impatient, quickly continued, "With His Majesty there, there is nothing to fear."

"His Majesty once won a battle where he was vastly outnumbered. The situation was dire—Yuezhou had been conquered by a Great General from Xijin. His Majesty carved a five-hundred-li road through the mountains and dispatched troops for a two-pronged pincer attack."

Ji Qingwu tilted her head, listening with rapt attention.

She hadn’t witnessed this battle herself; it happened after she had slipped away from the army camp.

Ji Qingrong continued, "His Majesty used only eight thousand elite soldiers to crush Xijin’s forty-thousand-strong army and reclaim Yuezhou. The Great General King of Xijin was captured alive and ultimately executed in Yuezhou."

Ji Qingwu could almost see it—the banners snapping in the howling west wind over Yuezhou.

She saw him, General Dingbei, standing atop the city wall clad in full armor, his heavy gaze fixed upon the rescued citizens below.

A look of admiration also crossed Tao Wanxin’s face.

"His Majesty is truly unparalleled in his valor."

Mo Lingling chimed in, "Even the children in the streets knew of it back then. If not for His Majesty, Yuezhou would have been the second city after Yu City to be massacred by Xijin."

Ji Qingwu’s gaze wavered.

She knew how brilliant Zhao Mingyan was, how his command of troops was almost godlike.

’But, in the end, he’s not a god.’

’He gets tired, too. There are times when even he is powerless.’

’So what is to be done at a time like this?’

Ji Qingwu pressed her lips together. ’I have to get to his side.’

After the meal, once she had finished nursing the baby, Ji Qingrong called Ji Qingwu into her room.

"Big Sister, why did you call for me? Are you feeling unwell?"

Guessing at the cause, Ji Qingwu said, "If you’re in pain from a blocked milk duct, I have a little homemade remedy I can get for you."

Ji Qingrong blushed slightly at how frankly she mentioned blocked milk ducts.

She shook her head. "No, I’m quite well. Thanks to your care, I feel even better now than I did before my pregnancy."

Ji Qingrong beckoned her closer, looked into her eyes, and said gently, "Fifth Sister, if you want to go to the Northern Border, then you should go."

Ji Qingrong was reluctant to let her go somewhere so dangerous, but seeing how distracted and listless she’d been lately, she knew it was better to let her go. At least then, Qingwu’s heart would be at ease.

Ji Qingwu stammered, "Big Sister..."

’My older sister actually saw right through me.’

Ji Qingrong said, "Don’t look at me like that. Your feelings are written all over your face. Anyone who isn’t blind can see it."

"Especially today, when I spoke of Emperor Wu Su’s past deeds. Everyone else’s eyes were filled with admiration."

"But you, my dear fifth sister, your eyes were filled with deep affection, longing, and—most impossible to ignore—worry."

Ji Qingrong said, "Fifth Sister, you can entrust the family affairs and the clinic to me. I’ll take good care of everything for you."

Ji Qingwu scooted closer and said pitifully, "But Big Sister, I can’t leave."

"Why not?"

Ji Qingwu pouted. "The Emperor left dozens of Hidden Guards behind just to watch me. I’m not allowed to sneak off to the Northern Border."

Ji Qingrong let out a series of soft exclamations.

They were a mixture of wonder, envy, and reassurance...

Emperor Wu Su’s devotion to her little sister was everywhere, hidden in the shadows.

Ji Qingrong tapped her head lightly. "You silly girl. And here I was, thinking you were staying behind to take care of me."

Ji Qingwu shook her arm, pleading, "Big Sister, can’t you help me?"

"How could I possibly help you?"

Ji Qingwu nodded vigorously. "You can! There’s nothing you can’t do, Big Sister."

The flattery went straight to Ji Qingrong’s head. "Fifth Sister, we’re as close as can be. There’s no need to speak of ’helping.’ As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do anything for you."

Ji Qingwu said, "Lend me Song for a bit."

「That night.」

A woman emerged from the clinic with her back to the outside. She wore a begonia-red headscarf and a jasper-red cape embroidered with a clustered begonia pattern—an outfit Ji Qingrong often wore.

In her arms, she held an infant less than a month old.

Chun Xing followed behind her, carrying a bundle.