Chapter 505 - 505 502 Heart Disease. _1

Chapter 505: Chapter 502: Heart Disease. _1 Chapter 505: Chapter 502: Heart Disease. _1 　　”Don’t worry, Miss!” Ji Langhua nodded.

On the way to send Mrs. Cui back to Junzi Pavilion, Mrs. Cui subtly told Bai Qingyan about a problem with some spices given to her mother by her family’s concubine sister in her childhood.

As they reached the entrance of Junzi Pavilion, Mrs. Cui said to Bai Qingyan, “If you don’t mind, Cousin, you can call me Sister Rong! My grandmother and aunt also call me that!”

“Alright! From now on, I’ll call you Sister Rong…” Bai Qingyan nodded with a smile.

Dong Changlan heard that Bai Qingyan had sent Mrs. Cui back and greeted them with a smile, bowing deeply: “Cousin…”

“Changlan, I have something to discuss with you.” Bai Qingyan sent Mrs. Cui back precisely to find Dong Changlan.

Mrs. Cui, now preoccupied with the prescription she held, naturally smiled, bowed, and took her leave, returning to Junzi Pavilion first.

“I’ll walk with you, Cousin…” Dong Changlan reached out to take the sheepskin lantern from the maid holding it.

Knowing that the two siblings had something to discuss, Chun Tao led the maids and servants ten paces behind.

“I heard from Sister Rong that there’s a shortage of food and pay for the Dengzhou Army this time?”

Dong Changlan looked at the cobblestone path beneath his feet and nodded: “Although the Imperial Court said they would resupply the Dengzhou Army after repairing the palace, autumn is approaching, and the Rong people will surely pillage extensively this year.”

Bai Qingyan nodded and slowly spoke, “Due to their civil unrest, the Rong people will be short of food reserves for the winter. Their usual tactic is to rob when they lack resources. Therefore, the Rong army attacking this autumn will be fiercer than in previous years, especially with Dengzhou facing the Nanrong.”

Dong Changlan clenched his fist, “Father has already made arrangements. If the Rong people attack, we will seek reinforcements from Anping Camp!”

“After Mother’s birthday, you return to Dengzhou and tell Uncle… that without losing territory, the Emperor won’t feel the pain!” Bai Qingyan paused and looked at Dong Changlan with clear and calm eyes. “After the autumn harvest, don’t delay evacuating the people immediately. If the Rong people invade, don’t hold your ground. Retreat! Report to the Imperial Court… that due to the internal conflict, the Rong people are lacking winter food and are aggressively looting. Dengzhou lacks food and supplies for the soldiers, making it hard to resist.”

Having heard Bai Qingyan’s words, Dong Changlan was still in shock. As a general, his thoughts were always on defending the country and never considered this perspective.

But his cousin’s words made Dong Changlan feel a bit relieved.

The Emperor and the Imperial Court short-change the soldiers’ supplies. Naturally, soldiers going hungry will not be able to hold the city.

“The Rong people pillage and run. If they don’t get what they want, they will continue to plague the neighboring counties!” Dong Changlan looked at the flickering flame in his lantern, speaking his mind as thoughts came to him.

“Isn’t Anping Camp also in defense against the Rong? When the Rong people invade, send word to Anping Camp for reinforcement, though it may not act. When the Emperor loses a city and feels the pain, he will naturally send supplies. At that time… let Uncle demand more and complain to the Emperor about the lack of forces, asking for reinforcements from the Imperial Court! If the Imperial Court refuses, let Uncle petition again… to give convenience to the people of Shuoyang, just like Shuoyang, recruiting civilians as soldiers to strengthen the Dengzhou Army.”

Dong Changlan tightened his grip on the lantern pole, keenly sensing the deeper meaning in Bai Qingyan’s words: “Strengthen the Dengzhou Army, Cousin… what does this mean?”

“The world’s order is changing, Changlan…” Bai Qingyan was blunt. “We should prepare early.”

The chirping of cicadas among the high trees and the sound of flowing water grew louder.

The lights from the corridor on one side of the cobblestone path flickered through the bamboo blinds, casting shadows on Bai Qingyan’s delicate and fair features.

Bai Qingyan dared not speak more deeply to Dong Changlan. If she were facing her uncle, Dong Qingyue, she would indeed suggest that he gradually encroach on the Nanrong.

Now Yan, under the guise of helping the Rong restore their orthodoxy, controls Beirong, gaining natural horse farms.

To lay the foundation for the future, Uncle should slowly take over the Nanrong. Otherwise, within three years… Yan will gain power due to the fertile Nanyan region, annexed by the Nanrong. The Jin Kingdom will then face a two-front attack from Yan.

At that time, Xiliang, under Jin’s suppression, won’t grow strong. Yan will stand among the powerful states, attacking on both fronts… and the speed of the kingdom’s demise will be quick.

Step by step… first, let Uncle accept a strategic defeat to force the Imperial Court to allocate supplies, then persuade him to use Jin Kingdom’s military rations to raise his own private army.

Though this would hinder Yan Kingdom’s plans, she and Xiao Rongyan had agreed: For their own interests, they would not consider sentiments.

Dong Changlan looked at Bai Qingyan, who spoke calmly, yet his heart was in turmoil.

Bai Qingyan took a step forward, and Dong Changlan hesitated for only a moment before following.

“In these troubled times… one can’t do without military strength! We may not protect all the people in the world, but we must protect the people before us!” Bai Qingyan’s tone remained calm as usual.

“I remember Cousin’s words! I will write to Father tonight, urging him to prepare early!”

“Letters are prone to interception on the way, so there’s no need to rush. After Mother’s birthday, you can tell Uncle in person to prepare, and that’ll be in time.”

Dong Changlan now understood Bai Qingyan’s purpose behind drilling troops and eliminating bandits.

The important thing wasn’t bandit suppression. The important thing… was training civilians as soldiers.

·

Ji Langhua was waiting for Bai Qingyan to return and greeted her from the main house: “Miss…”

“Earlier, you mentioned that my cousin and his wife once used a spice containing musk. Did it really not affect pregnancy?” Bai Qingyan was worried that Ji Langhua said this to avoid pressuring Mrs. Cui, so she needed to confirm the truth before prescribing any remedies.

“To answer Miss, it indeed doesn’t affect pregnancy. In fact… there’s no need for further medication. However, I suspect… Mrs. Dong’s lack of pregnancy so far is due to her constant worry about having used musk, which puts her under great psychological pressure. So I prescribed some mild, nourishing, and detoxifying remedies for her, which are harmless in summer. Those medicinal diets are just for general health.”

A physician treats the body, but a mental illness… requires a mental cure.

Previous physicians Mrs. Cui encountered weren’t necessarily incompetent, but they couldn’t empathize with her. Thus, they frankly told her she was physically fine. With her hanging worry and delay in conceiving, it naturally became a mental issue.

Ji Langhua’s explanation put Bai Qingyan at ease.

“Thank you for your efforts. Qingzhu’s recovery is all thanks to your care!” Bai Qingyan smiled at Ji Langhua.

“Miss, you flatter me! General Bai saved my life once, and Miss saved me once more! I’m delighted to serve the Bai family and Miss.”