Chapter 439: This Is Reckless? I Haven’t Even Started Yet

Wei Ting paused, then said, "To see the most renowned doctor from Lin’an, Doctor Ji."

Ji Qingwu’s hand, grinding ink, froze for a long moment.

’What’s with these bandits? They’re escorted to the Northern Border Camp and don’t ask to see the Emperor first, but instead clamor to see me?’

The air around Zhao Mingyan grew cold.

Li Yuzong, having just finished an errand for the Emperor, slipped in quietly and immediately understood why Emperor Wu Su was displeased.

It wasn’t because they didn’t come to pay their respects to the Emperor first. It was because they were too ill-mannered; Miss Ji was not someone they could see just by asking.

Li Yuzong whispered, "Holy Emperor, why don’t this old servant go and give them a little reminder first?"

Ji Qingwu said, "Eunuch Li, there’s no need for such trouble. It’s no difficulty for me to go. I suspect they’re just worried about the child in the lady’s belly."

Zhao Mingyan lowered his gaze, his expression cold.

Ji Qingwu asked softly, seeking his opinion, "Your Majesty?"

Zhao Mingyan lifted his eyes to glance at Wei Ting, and Li Yuzong immediately said, "This old servant will accompany Miss Ji and General Zhenbei."

So that was the root of the problem.

*

The Hu Family’s Three Brothers and the lady were brought into the military camp and led into a tent, with Deputy General Feng Xiang personally standing guard outside.

These past few days, Qi Peiyao had been hiding in secret tunnels and then traveling on the road. Now in the late stages of her pregnancy, she was severely swollen.

Qi Peiyao walked slowly, with Hu Lie behind her, clumsily supporting her.

Hu Feng and Hu Chen followed behind, carrying her various bags.

Qi Peiyao stopped short when Hu Lie stepped on her shoe, knocking it off. She shot him a glare and ordered imperiously, "Carry me to the bed to rest."

Hu Lie scratched the back of his head and hoisted her up with one arm.

Qi Peiyao shrieked as she found herself head-down. "Hu Lie! Are you trying to get me killed?!"

Hu Feng and Hu Chen, who had just come in, saw this and quickly caught her.

Hu Chen said helplessly, "Second Brother, Yao Yao is about to give birth. You can’t be making such big movements anymore."

Qi Peiyao kicked Hu Lie away and propped her foot on Hu Chen’s leg, letting him rub her sore, swollen calf.

Hu Lie frowned at her belly and asked, "When is the lady finally going to unload the cargo?"

"What do you mean, ’unload the cargo’? That’s a baby!" Hu Feng appeared behind Hu Lie and smacked him hard on the back of the head.

With his left arm, Hu Feng brought over a quilt and thoughtfully placed it behind Qi Peiyao’s lower back for support.

"This military camp isn’t like our Black Wind Village. Things are basic, so you’ll have to make do, Yao Yao."

Qi Peiyao leaned back against the bed and sighed comfortably.

She was surprisingly open-minded about the situation. Instead of deliberately throwing a tantrum as she had before, she even comforted them.

"I never cared much about these things anyway. As long as the baby can be born safely and we’re still alive, that’s all that matters."

Seeing such a sensible Qi Peiyao, the Hu Family’s Three Brothers felt even more indebted to her.

Hu Feng sighed and said, "Yao’er is right. Where there’s life, there’s hope."

Just then, Deputy General Feng Xiang shouted from outside the tent, "The camp’s provisions—food, clothes, and supplies—have been left at the entrance for you. Come and get them yourselves."

Hu Lie yelled back in his booming voice, "Alright! Thanks, big bro!"

Qi Peiyao said, puzzled, "I thought when General Zhenbei had us taken away, we’d be locked in a dungeon. I never expected we’d get to stay in a proper military tent. It’s surprisingly warm."

She touched the thick cotton quilt beneath her and said, "And they’re even bringing us things. What do you all think they’re up to?"

Hu Lie was squatting on the ground, rummaging through his luggage. He pulled out his most prized Meteor Hammer and began carefully wiping it with a cotton cloth.

"Who cares what they’re up to. I heard from that guy named Li that the doctor from the special clinic for noble ladies in Lin’an is here at the Northern Border Camp. That’s the only reason Big Brother and I agreed to come."

Hu Chen said, "If it’s true what Lord Li said, and that miracle doctor is really here, it would be a godsend with Yao Yao about to give birth. But I’m just afraid..."

Hu Feng continued, "Afraid that they’re tricking us. This camp is full of men. Why would they invite a doctor who specializes in women’s health here?"

They weren’t sure if they could fully trust the words of the court.

The tent flap was lifted from the outside by Feng Xiang, and a person with a clear, pleasant voice stepped inside.

"What Lord Li said was no lie."

It was as if a clear spring had suddenly appeared in a barren desert; their eyes lit up.

Ji Qingwu stood before them, a gentle smile on her face as she asked, "Which of you wanted to see me?"

Hu Feng sized her up and asked, "You’re that Doctor Ji from Lin’an?"

Ji Qingwu said, "I am."

She walked into the tent, followed by three other people.

One was General Zhenbei, Wei Ting, whom they had seen before. Another, judging by his attire and his stooped, head-bowed posture, was clearly an old servant.

There was also an unidentified young man whose clothing suggested he was a high-ranking military officer.

After entering the tent, his gaze swept briefly over the three brothers before finally landing on Hu Feng’s face, making Hu Feng’s body feel heavy.

Hu Feng had seen his share of vicious and desperate men, but this was the first time he had ever seen someone whose gaze, so understated and contained, could be so oppressive it almost left him breathless.

The second brother, Hu Lie, only had eyes for the woman who called herself a doctor. He boomed, "You’re just a little girl! How can you be a highly skilled doctor? You’re obviously an impostor they found! Don’t you dare try to trick us!"

As he spoke, he stood up. Hu Lie was already burly, and once on his feet, he was the tallest person in the tent. He was still clutching his Meteor Hammer, his expression furious, looking as if he was about to settle a score with Ji Qingwu.

Li Yuzong shrieked, "Insolence! How dare you! Do you have any idea who stands before you?!"

Wei Ting stepped forward, intending to disarm Hu Lie of his Meteor Hammer, but found he couldn’t move it an inch.

’Another freakishly strong one.’

Wei Ting had an injury on his back and didn’t dare to use too much force for fear of reopening the wound. He frowned, feinted a grab with his left hand, and with his right, swiftly chopped at the tendons on Hu Lie’s elbow.

Hu Lie’s right hand immediately went numb, and the Meteor Hammer slipped from his grasp. He roared, "You bastard, Wei Ting! You treacherous snake! Attacking me when I wasn’t ready!"

The great hammer smashed a large pit into the flat ground of the tent, nearly crushing Wei Ting’s foot.

He said with a smile, "All’s fair in war."

Hu Feng had no time for Hu Lie and Wei Ting’s squabble. His brow was tightly furrowed as he stared at the man standing at the very back.

The cloud patterns on that man’s right cuff were fluttering.

’It was a surge of immense Inner Strength. If that man had made a move, it’s no exaggeration to say that half of Hu Lie’s arm would have been destroyed.’

Hu Chen also realized the situation was bad and wanted to quickly pull Hu Lie aside, but Hu Lie was stubborn as an ox and still wanted to compete with Wei Ting.

Hu Chen tried to persuade him, "Second Brother, we’re on their turf. Can’t you be less reckless?"

Hu Lie pushed Hu Chen away with just two fingers.

"You call this reckless? I haven’t even started!"

Ji Qingwu had no idea why they had suddenly started fighting, trading blows right there in the tent.

Noticing that Qi Peiyao was watching her thoughtfully, Ji Qingwu’s eyes curved into a smile.