Shangguan Wan Ning helped with porridge and medicine at the city gate.
With Zhang Yide's help, food and quilts were continuously delivered, which gradually reduced the number of deaths due to cold and hunger.
Although Zhang Yide repeatedly declined, Xiao Yujue still gave him the disaster relief money issued by the court, and spent all his family property to buy food and clothing.
Xiao Yujue's reputation for being benevolent and generous and loving the people like a son soon spread among the locals.
Shangguan Wan Ning believed that this news would also be known to the emperor and courtiers in the capital.
She suddenly felt that Xiao Yujue was not as simple as outsiders saw. His scheming and government far exceeded her expectations.
"Wan Ning... Wan Ning..."
Mu Jingyan squeezed through the crowd and came to Shangguan Wan Ning, took the spoon from her hand and handed it to the person next to him, leading her to a hidden corner.
"Jing Yan, what's the matter?" Shangguan Wan Ning noticed that Mu Jing Yan's face looked very bad, so she held her hand, "Are you feeling uncomfortable? Can I accompany you to Dr. Qin's office?"
Mu Jingyan shook his head, looked around cautiously, and lowered his voice and said, "I'm going to be away for a few days. If His Highness the Crown Prince asks, just say that I'll do the work myself, so you don't need to look for me."
"Do you have any acquaintances here? Where are you going?" Shangguan Wan Ning always felt that something was wrong with Mu Jingyan's expression.
Mu Jingyan refused to say.
"Anyway... don't ask..."
Mu Jingyan turned around to leave, but Shangguan Wanning grabbed his wrist tightly. "Jing Yan, your brother told me to take good care of you before he left. If you don't make it clear, I won't let you."
Let's go. Otherwise, if something happens to you, how can I explain to your brother?"
"I also need my brother to come back."
Mu Jingyan spilled the beans in a hurry, and his eyes turned red.
Shangguan Wan Ning's heart sank involuntarily. "Jing Yan, what did you say? Did something... happen to your brother?"
Seeing that he couldn't hide it, Mu Jingyan had no choice but to tell the truth.
"I just entered His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's study and heard him discussing with his personal guards the battle reports that have been sent over the past few days... They said that in order to save the people, I went to the enemy's base camp alone. Then..."
In an instant, Shangguan Wan Ning's hands and feet were cold, and her mind went blank.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince means that he will not send additional troops for reinforcements. What should I do about my brother? I am going to rescue him."
"How can you save me by yourself?" Shangguan Wan Ning held Mu Jingyan's hand tighter and forced herself to calm down, "Jing Yan, listen to me and calm down first. You have to believe in your brother, he
He's not the kind of person who would let his death go in vain. Maybe he has other plans?"
Shangguan Wan Ning always felt that with Mu Jingrui's military talents, she would never let herself be sacrificed easily.
What's more, even if he really dies in front of the battle, there is still a question whether the other party will keep his promise.
Besides, the memory of the previous life was still fresh, and Mu Jingrui had not yet become famous, so how could he die like this?
"Jing Yan, I'm going to find His Highness the Crown Prince right now to inquire about the situation. Don't be impulsive and wait for me here. Let's understand it clearly and then make plans, okay?"
Mu Jingyan looked at Shangguan Wan Ning's concerned eyes, sighed softly, and nodded.
Shangguan Wan Ning asked Lu Tong to take Mu Jingyan back to rest, and she immediately rushed to the government office to find Xiao Yujue.
The result was exactly the same as what Mu Jingyan heard.
Shangguan Wan Ning's face changed slightly, and she felt confused.
"But you don't have to worry too much. The information sent by the left and right vanguards said that Jingrui left a formation map before leaving. When the appropriate time comes, he will inform them whether to attack or defend."
"In other words, Jingrui has a backup plan?"
"Of course." Xiao Yujue believes in Mu Jingrui's ability. What they need to do now is to wait and see what happens.
This made Shangguan Wan Ning feel at ease.
She returned to Imperial Physician Qin's home, opened the door and saw Lu Tong lying on the imperial concubine's chair, her eyes closed.
Shangguan Wan Ning looked around hurriedly, but there was no trace of Mu Jingyan at all.
She hurriedly stepped forward and gently patted Lutong's cheek.
"Lutong, wake up... wake up quickly..."
Lutong opened his eyes drowsily. "Miss, are you back? Huh? How could this slave fall asleep at this time?"
"Where's Jing Yan?"
"Miss Mu..." Lu Tong woke up from a daze, rolled off the imperial concubine, and knelt down in front of Shangguan Wan Ning fearfully. "I'm sorry, Miss... this slave... I didn't take good notice of her. She hit my slave,
I don’t know what happened next..."
Shangguan Wan Ning couldn't help but stamp her feet.
Mu Jingyan cared so much about his brother that he couldn't wait for her to come back.
"How long?"
Lutong looked outside and replied, "About half an hour."
"I'm going to chase her now. If she doesn't come back before dark, you can go find His Royal Highness and explain the situation."
"Hey, Miss..."
Lu Tong turned pale with fright, but still could not stop Shangguan Wan Ning.
Shangguan Wan Ning led a horse and galloped away in Qin's backyard.
The howling wind, mixed with icy snowflakes, howled like a wolf through the gaps in the doors and windows.
Mu Jingrui was locked in a dilapidated and old woodshed. He sat cross-legged calmly and listened quietly to the movement outside the door.
Late at night, the door of the woodshed was pushed open, and a gust of cold wind blew in, blowing up the straw on the ground.
The dim light of the lantern elongated the two figures.
Mu Jingrui slowly opened his eyes.
A man and a woman, similar in age.
The man was tall and slender, and the woman was dressed as a maid. Her delicate smile was red from the cold, and her smart eyes looked at Mu Jingrui curiously.
"As expected of a great general of the Celestial Dynasty, he is so courageous that he actually dares to break into the Dragon Pond and Tiger's Den alone. I admire him! I admire him!"
The man clapped his hands and looked at Mu Jingrui condescendingly.
"Dragon pool and tiger's den?" Mu Jingrui sneered, "You think too highly of yourself."
"You..." The man felt that he was being despised, and just when he was about to get angry, he glanced at the maid beside him from the corner of his eye, and swallowed it hard.
"Did you know that Ji Kuo has already sent a letter to your men, offering to exchange one hundred thousand shi of grain, fifty thousand taels of gold, as well as various silks, tea leaves and daily necessities for your life and the lives of the people in the three cities.
"
"He really thinks highly of me. Do you think I'm worth the price?" Mu Jingrui said unhurriedly.
"If our news is correct, the person in charge of the pass now is the prince. I heard that this person is indecisive and has a weak character. Without you to guard the border, the entire team will be leaderless. If they don't agree to Ji Kuo's conditions, I'm afraid you will