Chapter 156: Zhen Jili’s Farewell

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Zhen Jili’s Farewell

Ji Huan’s brow twitched. She couldn’t help but ask, "Strange in what way?"

"To explain, I have to go back a bit.

After a period of stalemates and minor skirmishes with the Beiliang Army, the two forces engaged in their first major, head-on battle at Yu Xia Yuan.

The rumors flying around outside make it sound legendary, saying the General shot the enemy commander off his horse with a single arrow, but it was nowhere near that easy. Their commander is a formidable figure himself, and our General had both won and lost against him in their past encounters.

On top of that, right before that battle, the Right Vanguard General, Lu Danian, fell for a trap and was encircled by the enemy. The General rushed to reinforce him without any regard for his own safety. He was trapped for two full days and three nights before he and his men managed to fight their way out."

Zhen Jili still remembered that scene vividly.

The General was drenched in blood, which mixed with the snow and froze into icicles. It was impossible to tell if the blood was his or the enemy’s.

In truth, he was long past exhaustion, running on nothing but his last ounce of willpower to keep from collapsing.

Lu Danian knelt before the command tent, slapping himself hard across the face, one blow after another. Afterward, without a word, he went to the punishment hall to request punishment under military law.

"I was the one who treated the General’s wounds that day. Although... they were quite severe, I examined him thoroughly and found no fatal injuries. Immediately after that, the great battle at Yu Xia Yuan broke out... The General did indeed hit the enemy commander, but he himself took an arrow to his left shoulder blade."

"So that’s why you didn’t press your advantage and pursue them?"

"Correct. We returned to camp to treat his wound, but before we could even rest for a few days, people from the Capital City arrived."

"So, what was the strange part you mentioned?"

"The strange part is that the General actually agreed to peace talks. Having been by his side for so long, I couldn’t be more familiar with his attitude toward Beiliang. In all his years on the battlefield, the man has never known the meaning of the word ’peace’. How could he possibly agree to such a humiliating...?"

"And yet, he agreed."

Ji Huan looked at Zhen Jili, who was also looking at her.

"And based on that alone, you suspect your General is suffering from post-war psychological syndrome? Perhaps subjectively he didn’t approve of the peace talks, but don’t forget there are many objective factors. You can’t draw a conclusion from just this one point..."

"No, no, no." Zhen Jili waved his hand. "Let me finish."

’Is there more to this strangeness?’

"Rumors are spreading all over camp that the General only agreed to the peace talks because his old injuries have relapsed. And the rumors make it sound extremely serious—a combination of internal and external injuries, so severe that he’ll never be able to hold a sword or draw a bow again."

’What does it mean for a General to be unable to draw a bow or wield a sword?’

Ji Huan frowned. "Why not dispel the rumors? For such a rumor to spread at a time like this... the motive is definitely not simple. The person behind it has malicious intentions."

"I know, but the crucial part is..." Zhen Jili slammed his right fist hard into his left palm. "I haven’t seen the General since the last time I treated his arrow wound."

"How could that be?" Ji Huan found it incredible. "Aren’t you his personal military physician?"

"Before Eunuch Feng arrived with the imperial edict, people from the General’s household reached the camp first. It was the steward and a young male servant who’d watched him grow up. They came on the orders of the Old Madam of the estate to deliver winter clothes to the General."

When the steward learned of the General’s injury, he was deeply distressed and took over all the duties of his personal care.

The General’s arrow wound was no longer serious by then; it just needed the dressing changed on schedule. Anyone could handle that, so I didn’t need to stay by his side constantly.

"Plus, the General agreed to it, so I spent those few days at the medical post."

’Compared to Zhen Jili, the steward was indeed closer to the General, having watched Kou Changqing grow up. There was nothing wrong with that.’

"After Eunuch Feng arrived at the camp, he had a private meeting with the General. Right after that, the rumors about the General’s old injuries relapsing started to spread. What’s more, Eunuch Feng brought an Imperial Physician from the palace with him. The General was to be treated by the Imperial Physician, and none of us from the medical post were allowed to get anywhere near him. They claimed it was for the General’s safety."

’Such a coincidence? Could it be...’ A grim suspicion formed in Ji Huan’s mind.

Zhen Jili knew what she was thinking.

"I thought the same thing at first. So, Lu Danian and I, along with a few of the General’s other trusted men, forced our way into his tent..."

"What happened? Was he in the tent?" Ji Huan asked nervously.

Zhen Jili nodded, but there was no joy on his face.

"The General hadn’t met with any foul play. He just looked a bit thinner... but mostly, he was dejected. It felt like his entire spirit had been drained away..."

Even Zhen Jili himself couldn’t help but wonder, ’Could the General’s old injuries really be that severe?’

’Perhaps my skills were lacking. I only saw that his body was severely worn down from years of campaigning, but I never expected it had reached the point where he couldn’t even lift a weapon...’

"But after hearing what you said today, I’m starting to think the General might really have that ’syndrome’ you mentioned."

He looked at Ji Huan hopefully, but she couldn’t give him a definitive answer.

’Even a routine diagnosis requires observation, listening, questioning, and palpation. How much more so for a psychological condition?’

"Does he have any other symptoms? Tell me more about his specific condition."

Zhen Jili shook his head. It wasn’t that there were none, but that he didn’t know of any.

"The day we recklessly burst into his tent, the General didn’t reprimand us. Instead, he reassured us, saying that he not only had the Imperial Physician to care for him, but also the steward, so we shouldn’t worry. The strange part is, if he hasn’t met with foul play and isn’t being controlled by anyone, then why is he unwilling to see us?"

There was one more thing that Zhen Jili found quite strange.

That day, the General had spoken at least ten sentences, which was a first. And his tone was gentler than usual...

’Probably because he was sick.’

"And he still refused to see you after you stormed the tent?"

"Rarely. Every time, the steward would stop us, saying only that the General needed to rest quietly."

Zhen Jili sighed. "If only I could bring you into the military camp, let you examine the General yourself... Unfortunately, the General is returning to the Capital City."

Ji Huan had already guessed that Kou Changqing wouldn’t linger at the Northern Pass after the peace talks, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

"When?"

"Tomorrow." Zhen Jili paused for a moment before adding, "I’m leaving too."

"You’re going to the Capital City too?"

Zhen Jili nodded. "It’s a condition the General agreed to for me a while back."

Although Ji Huan was a little surprised, she was genuinely happy for him.

"That’s wonderful. Congratulations on getting your wish."

Zhen Jili gave her a dramatic eye-roll.

"You heartless girl. Your big brother is leaving, and you can’t even say you’ll miss me?"

Ji Huan couldn’t help but shoot back, "Can’t you just talk normally? You always have to be so dramatic."

Zhen Jili sighed and put on a sorrowful expression.

"And to think I came all this way just to bid you farewell and see you one last time. I never imagined... oh, how the times have changed! People just aren’t what they used to be..."

Ji Huan motioned for him to stop right there.

’All this way? Why don’t you just ascend to the heavens while you’re at it?’

"What’s with the ’one last time’? Are you trying to jinx me or yourself? Fine... I’ll make you a nice meal. We can call it a farewell dinner."

Zhen Jili hurriedly pulled her back.

"I was just kidding! I have to rush back to the camp; I don’t have time to linger. Besides, I ran into someone from my hometown on the way here and already had lunch. Don’t go to the trouble. You can just owe me this one, for next time..."

He paused, then added with a cheeky grin, "But I wouldn’t mind if you boiled some water for me. I had a bit to drink, and I’m pretty thirsty."

Ji Huan sized him up. Seeing that he wasn’t just making polite excuses and did indeed smell of alcohol, she nodded. "Alright, you rest for a bit. I’ll go boil some for you now."

"There we go! My little sister does care about me after all."

Ji Huan shot him a sidelong glance, then took Dabao to the kitchen to boil the water, leaving Zhen Jili alone in the main hall.

Zhen Jili stood up, glanced around, and walked into the east room where Ji Huan was staying.