From afar, it looked as if it had merged with the boundless grassland.

()

Tang Yan and Chu Lian were worried. They heard that it was snowing at Tianjing Port. If the snow continued, it wouldn't take more than two days for the roads leading to Liangzhou to be covered in ice and snow. At that time, Liangzhou would become an isolated city with no supplies. The Tuhun people didn't even have to deliberately attack. They were afraid that the northern border army would starve to death if they were left alone for three months.

Tang Yan had already sent people to Su City to inquire about the situation. There was no need to think about the road to the Yueqin Mountain Range. The snow had long blocked the road. Neither provisions nor reinforcements could come in.

One day at the end of November, Chu Lian's foot injury had mostly healed. That day, accompanied by Tang Yan and the others, she brought a small portion of the supplies from Shengjing to the border army camp to comfort the soldiers.

She had already informed He Sanlang about the time, so Chu Lian set off in a carriage early in the morning.

Chu Lian wasn't going to the frontlines but to the reserve camp, so there wasn't any danger.

She arrived at the border army camp before noon. It was still snowing lightly because Chu Lian held the Empress Dowager's decree in her hands. The person who received her was actually Great General Qian himself.

Because the camp was filled with rough men, Great General Qian specially borrowed a team of women from Sima Hui to receive Chu Lian.

The northern territory was in the coldest winter. When Chu Lian was helped down from the carriage by Wenlan, she was wrapped up like a ball.

She was wearing a large gray squirrel fur coat, and she was holding a warm hand stove in her fluffy sleeves. Most of her face was covered by a hood, and only a pair of clear almond-shaped eyes could be seen. Because her leg injury had just healed, she walked slower than the average person. Her awkward posture was a little funny.

When Sima Hui's female adjutant, Xiao Yan, saw the third madam of the He residence, she suppressed a sneer at the corner of her mouth.

She felt disdain in her heart. With such a stupid appearance, no wonder the handsome He Sanlang didn't like her.

She heard that he was a county lord?

She didn't know which noble person she begged to give her face. This old lady of the He residence really put in a lot of effort.

The female adjutant gave a look to the maids in military uniform beside her. The leading maid nodded and hurriedly followed Chu Lian's small team.

Upon entering the camp, the first person to greet him was Colonel Guo.

Tang Yan introduced Chu Lian to Colonel Guo, and Chu Lian bowed slightly to greet him.

Colonel Guo looked Chu Lian up and down, then said cheerfully: "Zixiang should have come personally today, but he went to the frontlines yesterday and is not in the camp at this time, so the task of receiving people has fallen to old brother's shoulders. I hope Lord Tang and sister-in-law can understand."

Chu Lian shook her head with a smile. "Big Brother Guo, you don't have to be so polite. My husband has just entered the army, so I have to thank Big Brother Guo for taking care of him these days!"

As he spoke, he had Wenlan hand over a small indigo package.

"These are just some snacks, please accept them, Brother Guo."

Colonel Guo had a very good impression of this new sister-in-law in front of him with clear eyes and a natural and unrestrained demeanor. He received the gifts from Chu Lian with both hands and accepted them with a smile.

"Lord Tang and Lord Xiang, please rest in these two tents. I will go and report to the Great General."

Tang Yan bowed to Commandant Guo, "Thank you, Commandant Guo."

Chu Lian was led into the tent on the left by the accompanying female soldier. Because Tang Yan was a man, he went to the other tent.

The tent was covered with thick furs and had a charcoal brazier, so it was much warmer than outside. Although the decorations inside were simple, the items that were placed were all extraordinary.

There was a plum orchid screen in the middle of the tent, and behind the screen was a simple narrow bed. Beside the bed were two sets of plain clothes neatly stacked on a small table. On the carpet beside the bed was a pair of deerskin short boots.

Although the boots were inlaid with iron, from the size, one could tell at a glance that these were women's shoes.

Chu Lian's expression changed slightly. This was most likely the tent of the female general Sima that was mentioned in the book.

Chu Lian opened her large eyes and looked around curiously. This was the first time she had seen a female general's tent. However, other than the exquisite items placed in the tent and the warm decorations, there was no difference from an ordinary tent. When she saw this, she thought of He Changdi and wondered what his tent looked like.

Chu Lian decided to let Commandant Guo take him to take a look when she was done with official business. When she thought of this, she didn't know why, but she suddenly felt a little happy.

Beside her, Wenqing and Wenlan weren't as relaxed as Chu Lian.

They were also looking around the tent in front of them like Chu Lian. Wenqing took off the gray rat fur coat she was wearing and placed it on a wooden chair beside her. She then took out the hand stove from Chu Lian's hands and changed the charcoal.

As Wenqing did this, she felt that the woman in uniform behind her was full of hostility towards her mistress.

Wenlan uneasily touched her sister and looked at Wenqing. Why were there so many women in the military camp?

Wenqing shook her head at her and glanced at her hands, telling her not to be distracted and to work for Third Mistress.

Xiao Yan stood to the side. Her figure was similar to Sima Hui. They were both tall women, but she was thinner than Sima Hui. Because she had been in the military camp for a long time, she had a dignified aura that ordinary women didn't have. She stood to the side and looked down at the delicate woman sitting beside her. Although her tone was calm, it unconsciously revealed a sense of superiority.

"This subordinate greets Jinyi Village Lord on the general's behalf. I believe that Village Lord already knows that our general brought most of the Right Wing Army to the frontlines yesterday. Commandant He is also among them. Today, this subordinate can only represent the general to receive Village Lord. I hope that Village Lord will not blame me."

When Xiao Yan finished speaking, she took the teacup from the maid beside her and placed it on the small table in front of Chu Lian with both hands.

When Wenqing heard the female adjutant's words, her brows tightened and she hurriedly looked at her mistress with worry.

Chu Lian retracted her gaze from the decorations around her. She blinked and raised her head to look at the adjutant who had just spoken. Then she smiled slightly and said politely, "Female General Sima is too polite."

Xiao Yan had been staring at the slightly immature face of the He Estate's Third Mistress. After hearing her words, she didn't react at all. What was the meaning of this? Didn't she see that the faces of the two maids beside her were already so dark that it could drip water?

Xiao Yan's expression didn't look good. She could only try her best to pull the corners of her mouth. "As long as Village Lord does not blame me."

Chu Lian smiled again and took the hand warmer from Wenqing's hands. She looked at Wenlan beside her and said softly, "I'm a little thirsty."

Wenlan hurriedly took out a small copper pot wrapped in a cloth from the small bag she carried with her. She took out a porcelain cup and poured Chu Lian a cup of steaming honey water.

Xiao Yan looked at the actions of the master and servant pair in front of her with disdain in her eyes. She had lived in the Sima Estate since she was young and had seen all kinds of luxurious clothing and food. With one glance, she could tell that the maid was only pouring ordinary honey water for Jinyi Village Lord.

She couldn't help but say, "Village Lord might not know, but this subordinate is serving Village Lord tea made from Zhengshan Small Tea Cake. This tea is what our general often drinks."