Chapter 133 Lin Mengya, the Nurse on the Battleground (1/2)
Upon looking at the casualties in the courtyards, Zhu Aizhi was moved with compassion.
”We are running short of medicinal herbs for the injured and clean cotton for cleaning the wounds. Will you be able to make a trip into the capital city overnight to get supplies? Oh yes, there's a pharmacy in the city with a shopkeeper who is an old friend of mine. Just tell him that Prince Yu's Mansion is in need of these medicinal herbs and he will definitely comply.”
Lin Mengya gave the physician's prescription to General Zhu.
”Rest assured, Princess. I will make sure to accomplish the mission you entrusted to me.”
Zhu Aizhi, accompanied by his trusted aide, set out on the journey into the capital city to fetch the medical supplies.
At the moment, the floor of the courtyard was occupied by wounded soldiers waiting for medical attention. However, without the necessary medical supplies, Lin Mengya would be unable to help them.
”Will the four of you come over here?”
After pondering for a while, Lin Mengya made a last-minute decision to go into the woods to pick herbs that would help the wounded soldiers.
As soon as she voiced out her thoughts, all four maids objected to the idea.
”It's really dark now. What would you do if you met any wild beasts in the woods?”
Baizhi was the one who opposed this idea the strongest. She looked at Lin Mengya with wide-open eyes and shook her head violently.
Although the killers from the Peach Blossom Dock had retreated for now, who knew if they were still waiting for an opportunity to strike again?
”Moreover, unlike this place, the hilly terrain of the woods is difficult to navigate. It would be a serious problem if you got lost.”
Back at home, Baishao would occasionally go into the hilly woods to pick hogweed and other herbs to supplement the medicine at home. Thus, she was very aware of the dangers inside the hilly woods.
”It's alright, I will take some men with me. I'm just going to look for some common herbs. It should not be a problem.”
Lin Mengya had made up her mind, so the four maidservants failed to dissuade her.
In the end, Baisu and Baishao had to accompany her up the hills to look for the herbs.
Long Tianhao was talking, when he suddenly realized that Lin Mengya had disappeared.
He forced himself to get up and leave the room to look for her. Unfortunately, she was nowhere to be found.
“Where's Princess Yu?”
Everyone shook their heads. Just a moment ago, they had seen her going around and helping to bandage the wounds, yet in the blink of an eye, she was gone.
”We believe she has gone out to check on the soldiers there. That must be the case. She is such a kind soul.”
The soldiers who had been attended to by Lin Mengya were filled with gratitude for her kindness.
The soldiers perked up when they smelled the strong aroma of the pot of meat, which also lured Snow and the baby tiger out of the room.
”Whose little white kitten and puppy are these? They look so adorable!”
The two little animals had been starving for an entire day. In fact, they had only drunk some water earlier.
Their animal instinct had made them emerge from the room to check out the smell.
”Go back! You can't be running around all over the place when your master's away.”
Baizhi and Baiji, who had returned after sending Lin Mengya on her way into the hills, dashed forward to pick up Snow and the baby tiger respectively.
They were two very intelligent creatures. Apart from Lin Mengya, they were most familiar with her four maidservants. Once they were in their arms, they stayed quiet submissively.
”Where's Princess Yu? Where has she gone?”
Long Tianhao asked with a frown.
Lin Mengya had always been very protective over her four maidservants. She had almost never let them leave her side. He believed there should not be a big problem.
They felt a sudden sense of guilt in their hearts when Prince Yu inquired about Lin Mengya.
Baizhi, who was the most quick-witted one, put Snow into Baizhi's arms as she spoke.
”Master is checking out the situation outside. Baizhi, please bring these two cuties back into the room while I go to the kitchen to prepare some food for the men.”
Baiji's reply reassured Long Tianhao and calmed his nerves for the time being.
Both Long Qinghan and Hu Tianbei had fallen asleep. Although Long Tianhao was feeling bouts of fatigue, he could not make his heart be at ease.
The aroma of food was the best way to warm people's hearts.
Lin Mengya had cleverly given instructions for the pheasants and wild rabbits to be minced and boiled in the soup.
The moment the wounded soldiers ingested some of the meat congee, their hearts warmed up and they felt rejuvenated.
Snow and the baby tiger were given a bowl of the congee each. They obviously savored it as Long Tianhao stretched out his hand to pat their furry heads.
”Prince Yu, it's getting late. You should retire for the day.”
Lin Mengya had instructed the two maids to make sure Long Tianhao got some proper sleep.
However, as long as Lin Mengya was not back, Long Tianhao could not stop worrying about her. The bouts of fatigue came to him in waves. Nevertheless, he forced himself to stay awake and refused to succumb to sleep.
”I was under the impression that there was still some supply of meat in the temporary imperial residence. How come there are only bits of meat in this congee?”
The two maidservants exchanged looks upon hearing Long Tianhao's question. In the end, Baizhi opened her mouth to speak in a whisper.
”There is indeed lots of fresh meat, vegetables, and fruit in the temporary imperial residence. However, most of them have been taken away by the Crown Prince's men.”
Ever since the soldiers had arrived, the Crown Prince had not even come out of his room to check on them.
Needless to say, he had not shown any appreciation or offered any comforting words to them. What was even worse, he had taken the entire supply of meat and vegetables for his own consumption.
Once, years ago, when their ancestors had been fighting on the battlefield, they had been surrounded by their enemies and remained trapped for three days and three nights. During this time, the soldiers had neither eaten nor drunk. The great ancestor had ordered them to kill their war horses.
Although the Crown Prince was half a Long, he had not learned about this piece of history.
”When the day breaks tomorrow, we will set out from here. Once we are back in the capital city, we'll be out of danger.”