Chapter 25

“Young Miss.”

Deputy General Liu stood at the entrance of the plum garden, weary from his travels. Upon seeing Jiang Peihuan, he hurriedly approached and greet her.

“Deputy General Liu, please stand up.”

Jiang Peihuan stepped forward and helped him up with one hand. They walked inside together, and she asked, “Lu Er, please pour some tea.”

“Deputy General Liu, have some tea, please.”

Just dismounted from his horse, Deputy General Liu’s mouth was parched. He gratefully accepted the teacup from Lu Er and drained it in one gulp.

“Lu Er, pour him another cup.”

It took three cups of water for Deputy General Liu to recover.

Taking a seat beside Jiang Peihuan, he spoke softly, “Young Miss, the General and Madam have achieved a significant victory and will return to the capital today.”

“How is my big brother? Did anything happen to him during this expedition?”

Jiang Peihuan was already aware of Jiang Hong and Xue Yan’s victory, as the outcome had been the same in her previous life.

Her primary concern at the moment was Jiang Changbai.

“Young Miss, just as you suspected, your elder brother has indeed been poisoned.”

“How is he now?”

Jiang Peihuan clenched her fists, thinking of Jiang Changbai’s fate in her previous life. She looked at Deputy General Liu with an anxious expression.

“When I arrived at the military camp, your brother’s condition was already critical. The military doctor diagnosed that the eldest young master had a cold, but despite taking plenty of medication, he showed no signs of improvement.”

“Following your advice, I carefully observed his symptoms. The General and Madam finally believed he had been poisoned. They administered the medicine you prepared, and by the time I left, his condition had improved.”

“That’s a relief, a real relief…”

With the situation improving, it seemed Jiang Changbai’s life was no longer in danger.

In this life, she doesn’t want to lose her elder brother again, and her parents wouldn’t lose their eldest son

“By the way, did you deliver the letter I wrote to my father?”

As Jiang Peihuan thought of Jiang Changbai’s poisoning, she remembered Meng Yi. At this moment, Meng Yi was still Jiang Hong’s trusted aide. She wondered if Jiang Hong would believe her accusations.

“I handed your letter to the General as soon as I entered the camp, but…”

“But what?”

“The General’s expression wasn’t good when he read it.”

Jiang Peihuan could easily imagine her father’s reaction. A loyal subordinate suddenly accused of poisoning his eldest son would be difficult for anyone to believe.

“Deputy General Liu, you’ve worked hard this time. Please, go rest.”

“Young Miss, I’ll take my leave now.”

Upon receiving Jiang Peihuan’s nod of approval, Deputy General Liu left the plum garden.

Watching him depart, Jiang Peihuan’s thoughts turned somber. She only knew about Jiang Changbai’s poisoning and Meng Yi’s involvement because of her previous life’s experiences.

When Jiang Hong returned, he would inevitably ask her about it. How should she respond?

While Jiang Peihuan was struggling with a headache, Jiang Hong, who was far away in the northern military camp, also had a conflicted expression in his eyes.

“Are you still thinking about what Huan Er said?”

As soon as Xue Yan entered the tent, she saw Jiang Hong sighing incessantly. They had been married for many years, and their relationship had always been harmonious. Naturally, she knew what her husband was thinking.

Jiang Hong still held the letter that Jiang Peihuan had asked Deputy General Liu to deliver. When he saw the words “Be careful of Meng Yi” on it, he couldn’t help but frown. “Yan Er, why do you think Huan Er would say such a thing?”

“Also, if it wasn’t for Huan Er sending those medicines, Changbai would have been in real danger… This is the northern border, thousands of kilometers away from the capital. How could she know all this?”

“You haven’t slept for days because of this.”

Xue Yan smiled when she saw the worry in Jiang Hong’s eyes.

Then, she looked at Jiang Hong and said softly, “We’ll be returning to the capital soon. We can ask Huan Er and then we’ll know the answer.”

“Also, Huan Er is our daughter. No matter what she does, she won’t harm us. But what about Meng Yi? Brother Hong, I know Meng Yi has followed you for many years and even saved your life. However, he’s the only one Changbai traveled with all this time. In this case…”

“Let me think about this.”

Hearing this, Xue Yan didn’t say anything else.

“General, Madam, the Young General is awake.”

The tent was suddenly opened by the guards outside. Xue Yan’s eyes lit up with joy, and she hurriedly left the tent.

Jiang Hong followed her.

When Xue Yan and Jiang Hong entered the tent, the military doctor was checking Jiang Changbai’s pulse. Seeing the two of them come in, the military doctor quickly bowed. “General, Madam.”

“Military doctor, there’s no need for formalities. How is my son now?”

“Madam, please don’t worry. The Young General is fine now. With three to five days of proper rest, his body will recover.”

“That’s a relief.”

Xue Yan sat down beside Jiang Changbai’s bed. Looking at her eldest son, who had lost a lot of weight, Xue Yan’s eyes turned red. “Changbai, you’re finally awake. I’ve been so worried.”

During this time, Xue Yan hadn’t slept for days and nights because of Jiang Changbai’s situation. Now that she heard the military doctor’s assurance, her heart finally settled.

“Father, mother, I’ve been unfilial and caused you to worry.”

Jiang Changbai’s face was still somewhat pale, but his spirits seemed to be improving.

“As long as you recover, your mother and I will be at ease.”

This was his eldest son. To Jiang Hong, Jiang Changbai held a special place in his heart.

Jiang Changbai lay on his bed, listening to his parents discuss the current war situation and their plans to return to the capital. When he heard about the return, Jiang Changbai looked at his parents and asked, “Father, Mother, I heard that I was able to wake up this time because Huan Er had medicine sent from the capital. Is this true?”

Jiang Hong didn’t publicize the matter, but he wouldn’t hide it from Jiang Changbai either.

Hearing his eldest son’s question, he nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”

Seeing his father’s nod, Jiang Changbai’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. At this moment, Xue Yan suddenly held Jiang Changbai’s hand, “Changbai, I want to ask you, do you know how you were poisoned this time?”

“Mother, I honestly don’t know why I was poisoned. I was with Uncle Meng the entire time, but after returning to the military camp, I felt extremely unwell. At first, I thought I was just too tired, but I didn’t expect it to be poison.”

“Changbai, think carefully. When you were with Meng Yi, did you eat or drink anything?”

“Mother, are you…suspecting Uncle Meng?”

Jiang Changbai was quick-witted and grasped the meaning behind his mother’s words.

He initially thought he was mistaken, but Xue Yan nodded directly. “Your sister not only sent the madicine for your poisoning but also a letter.”

“This…”

Hearing Xue Yan’s words, Jiang Changbai’s eyes filled with complex emotions. He looked at his father, only to find Jiang Hong uncharacteristically silent.

“Changbai, this matter is of great importance. You must think it through carefully.”