"In order to completely cure Madam's illness, a certain medicinal ingredient is indispensable. However, this medicinal ingredient grows on a tall mountain in the extreme north …"

The medicinal ingredient that Divine Doctor Miao needed belonged to the snow mountain flower family. It was one of the rarest types of snow mountain flowers and was called "Snow Mountain Mist".

It grew on the peak of Snow Mountain Mist and only bloomed during the coldest times of the year. After the flower bloomed, it would wilt within two to three days. It had to be harvested before the flower wilted, or else it would have no medicinal value.

The only known place where it could grow was at the border between the Great Wu Dynasty's northern territory and Tuhun's territory — Ah Ming Mountain.

In another three months, it would be time for Snow Mountain Mist to bloom on Ah Ming Mountain.

This kind of rare medicinal ingredient couldn't be stored for long periods of time and was used in very few fields. Many physicians didn't even know the medicinal value of this flower, so it was impossible to purchase it from the market.

Even Divine Doctor Miao had only discovered the usefulness of this flower when he traveled the nine provinces when he was young.

Divine Doctor Miao bluntly stated in front of Matriarch He and the other masters of the He family that Countess Jing 'an's illness couldn't last much longer. Even if he personally stabilized her illness, it would only last for another two years at most. If he couldn't find the flower for "Snow Mountain Mist" within two years, then there was nothing he could do.

After Divine Doctor Miao reported everything truthfully, he left the reception pavilion and went to prepare medicine for Countess Jing 'an.

Only Matriarch He, the eldest son, He Changqi, the second son, He Changjue, and Chu Lian, the recently married third granddaughter-in-law, were left in the reception pavilion.

The joy on everyone's faces faded. The matriarch's expression was slightly stiff and the wrinkles on her face seemed to have deepened.

Chu Lian couldn't bear to see this and consoled, "Grandmother, there's finally hope for Mother now. Besides, it's not like no one has seen this flower before. Having hope is better than having no hope, isn't it?"

Only then did Matriarch He take a deep breath and pat Chu Lian's hand. "Lian 'er is right. There's finally hope for your mother's illness. I should be happy."

There was another moment of silence in the hall. He Erlang suddenly took two steps forward and knelt down in front of Matriarch He, resolutely saying, "Grandmother, let grandson go to the north to find medicine for mother!"

As soon as He Erlang finished speaking, He Dalang also knelt in front of Old Matriarch He. "Grandmother, you must not agree to Erlang. Erlang is not married yet. I am the eldest son of the family. When Father went to the border, he instructed me to take good care of Grandmother, Mother, and Younger Brothers. This trip to the Northern Region should naturally be left to me!"

"No, Big Brother, I'll go!"

"Second Brother, you don't even want to listen to Big Brother?

Let Big Brother go! "

…

The two brothers, who were supposed to be brothers, actually started quarreling over who would go to the Northern Region. Matriarch He's head hurt from the quarrel. She slammed her palm on the small table beside her: "Enough, what are you quarreling about!"

Only then did the two brothers lower their heads and calm down.

However, neither of them stood up and waited for Matriarch He's decision.

Matriarch He rubbed her forehead and paused for a moment before letting out a long sigh. She then said, "I know that both of you are filial, but Dalang, you're working in the capital. Without His Majesty's orders, you can't leave your post. You have to shoulder the responsibility of the entire Count Jing 'an Estate. It won't do without a male master in such a huge estate.

"Erlang also received the assignment to go to Zhangzhou. I heard that this assignment was personally ordered by His Majesty and cannot be disobeyed. If you go to the Northern Region at this time, do you want to bear the crime of deceiving the emperor?

Thus, neither of you can go! "

What?

Neither of them can go!

However, they were the only two men in Count Jing 'an's estate in the capital. If neither of them went, how could they be at ease? The person who was seriously ill was their mother!

"Grandmother, we can't. If we don't go, what will happen to mother?" He Dalang and He Erlang said in unison.

Matriarch He opened her mouth. She was also in a difficult position. Count Jing 'an was deeply in love with his wife. If he found out about this, he would naturally not let it go. She felt very apologetic towards her daughter-in-law and also hoped that she would recover as soon as possible.

Chu Lian pursed her lips and suggested, "Grandmother, have you forgotten about Husband?

Why don't you ask Husband to send someone to Mount Amingshan to ask around? With Husband around, he will definitely take care of this matter. "

Matriarch He was stunned. She first glanced at Chu Lian, then at her two grandsons who were kneeling in front of her. She felt that Chu Lian's suggestion was quite a good one. She thought about it and said, "Even if you want to go to the Northern Region, it won't be something that can be done in a day or two. The estate still has to make many preparations, so I need to think about it. Lian 'er is right. There's still Sanlang in the Northern Region. Both of you don't have to worry too much, especially Erlang. The Emperor's assignment cannot be delayed.

Pack up and return to the Left Guard today! "

He Changjue was still struggling, but he was forced to lower his head by He Dalang's glare. He could only hang his head and agree.

Chu Lian sent Matriarch He back to Qingwen Hall before returning to her own courtyard.

Currently, Miracle Doctor Miao was arranged to stay in Count Jing 'an's estate. Chu Lian's three meals were taken care of by the kitchen in her courtyard.

Miracle Doctor Miao was very easy to talk to as long as there was food to his liking. Thus, he really settled down in Count Jing 'an's estate.

Three days later, the British Duke's Estate sent an invitation to Matriarch He. It was Xiao Bojian's teacher appreciation banquet.

Matriarch and Jinyi Village Lord were specially invited.

Just as Matriarch He was thinking about how to deal with the invitation, Chu Qizheng, the father of the second branch's Chu Lian, also sent someone to send an invitation.

This time, it was directly sent to Chu Lian.

Chu Lian still didn't know that the estate had sent an invitation to Matriarch He. When she received her father's invitation, her brows furrowed tightly.

Xiao Bojian seemed to have calculated that she wasn't willing to attend the banquet and purposely sent an invitation to the father of this body.

What exactly was he planning this time?!

Chu Lian was frustrated and stayed until the afternoon. She took the invitation to Qingwen Hall to discuss it with Matriarch He.

In the reception pavilion of Qingwen Hall, the grandmother and granddaughter had just sat down when they heard noises coming from outside.

Matriarch He was already in a bad mood. When she heard that, her expression darkened. "Mu Xiang, go outside and see what's going on."

After a while, Mu Xiang returned.

Mu Xiang ran in with a face full of anxiety. She didn't even care about etiquette and said anxiously, "Matriarch, the people making noise outside say that they are guards from Prince Jin's estate. They have urgent news to report to Matriarch. This servant accidentally heard that there's a fight in the north!"

"What!" Matriarch He suddenly stood up in shock.

Chu Lian, who was sitting at the side, also widened her almond-shaped eyes in shock. However, she was already mentally prepared and was much calmer than Matriarch He.

Matriarch He was momentarily agitated. Her body swayed a few times, and she actually lost her balance and fell forward.

Fortunately, Chu Lian was quick to react and supported Matriarch He. The maidservant beside her also hurried over to support her.

"Grandmother!

How are you?

Are you feeling unwell? "

Matriarch He leaned on Chu Lian's shoulder and pinched the space between her eyebrows.

After a while, she finally recovered and slowly opened her eyes. "I'm fine. Quick, quickly call the messenger in for questioning!"

Mu Xiang quickly went out to call the messenger.

Chu Lian helped Matriarch He sit down again. She was afraid that she would really have an accident because of the agitation, so she softly called Wenlan beside her to call for Miracle Doctor Miao.

That person in a sorry state was brought in by the housekeeper of the outer courtyard. After handing over the token, Matriarch He was truly convinced that this person was from Prince Jin's estate.

"Speak, what's the situation in the north?" Matriarch He's voice was hoarse and filled with exhaustion.

The messenger bowed and said, "Outside Liangzhou in the north, the Tuhun army has already been ambushed several times. Now, the Duke of Lu, Great General Qian, is leading the Northern Border Army to resist with all their might. However, the weather in the north is terrible. Liangzhou City has already snowed heavily. I'm just worried that the heavy snow will seal the mountains and we won't be able to send in rations …"

In a battle between two armies, the most taboo was the void reserve. Perhaps the Tuhun people, who had been stable for more than ten years, had already figured out the time when the Northern Border Army would resupply and specifically chose this time to attack …

When Matriarch He and Chu Lian heard this news, they both sucked in a breath of cold air.

Once the reserves were depleted, the entire Border Army would be exhausted to death without the Tuhun people taking action. This wasn't a warm spring day, but a winter where even cold-resistant animals like yaks could freeze to death.

Matriarch He's entire body seemed to turn soft. She looked lovingly at her granddaughter-in-law, who was still as beautiful as a flower and jade. The words stuck in her chest couldn't come out.

After a while, Matriarch He seemed to find her voice. "This old one understands. You can go back. If there's any news, I hope that Prince Jin will inform me."

The messenger bowed and hurriedly left.

The atmosphere in the reception hall was stagnant.

After a long time, Matriarch He finally spoke. "Lian 'er, I've made you suffer!"

Chu Lian was startled. She held Matriarch He's hand that was covered in goosebumps and shook her head lightly. "Grandmother, please don't say that. When Husband went to the north, no one expected that the Tuhun people, who had been peaceful for so many years, would become restless at this time. As the saying goes, opportunities are always accompanied by danger.

Maybe this time, Tuhun sending troops is a good opportunity for Husband.

It's useless for us to worry in the mansion now. Why don't we find Eldest Brother to discuss it? Eldest Brother has a wide network, maybe he can find some other information. "

Matriarch He was old after all. Although she was shrewd, her mind wasn't as nimble as before. Hearing Chu Lian's reminder, she suddenly understood and hurriedly sent someone to find He Dalang.

In the end, He Changqi had a wide network of contacts. He quickly inquired about some information from various channels.

The Northern Border was indeed fighting. It was snowing heavily at this time in Liangzhou City. The imperial court wanted to help, but they were blocked by the snow at the Yueqin Mountain Range. Reinforcements and provisions couldn't get through.

If they changed routes, they would have to borrow the Min River from the Chongzhou Prefecture to travel by water to Su City. Outside Su City was Qianshan Lake. At this time, the lake water was already frozen, so there was no way to travel by boat.

For a time, the road to the Northern Border was a dead end. The officials in the imperial court were helpless!

He could only watch helplessly and get angry.

At this time, a major corruption case broke out in Zhangzhou, a neighboring city of Shengjing. He Erlang's Dragon Guard was assisting with the case, so he probably couldn't leave for a few months.

Prince Jin's mansion sent news from Liangzhou every day. Matriarch He became more and more haggard. Even Count Jing 'an, whose condition was slowly improving, accidentally heard the news from a servant and fainted. She couldn't get out of bed for a while.

The entire Count Jing 'an estate was on the verge of collapse during this winter, as if it would be washed away by time.