142 But not with everyone Part II
“Bai Yu...” Ouyang Wenrou sighed. “...Benwang doesn’t know what you were thinking when you decided to come here. But you shouldn’t put yourself in danger. You shouldn’t even use so much magic until you faint like this.” His brown eyes stared straight at her. He was scolding her, yet gentleness finally returned to his gaze.
“I am only doing what I can do.”
“From now on, you don’t have to do it.”
“But...”
“Otherwise, benwang cannot confirm that benwang won’t let it slip that you pretended to be Bai Hua.”
“...”
“Then you should rest.”
Wicked!
The man finally smiled when he saw that she no longer had a word of objection. But before he could leave, Bai Yu held him back for another question.
.....
“Please wait.” Ouyang Wenrou stopped.
“Did Wangye come here to help Bai Hua?”
She knew it was quite an embarrassing question. Someone might think she was being jealous. But in truth, she only wanted to know if the current Ouyang Wenrou was walking down the same path that was destined for him or not.
“Benwang came to help my uncle and third brother.” Both his eyes and voice did not contain a lie in them.
Bai Yu smiled, a sincere smile, unlike the polite ones she had always used. “Farewell to Wangye.”
She was already being rude by sitting on the bed while talking to him, a prince. This time, she acted rudely again by only bowing her head as a farewell to him, though Ouyang Wenrou did not seem to mind. A gentle smile graced his face once again.
“Your Highness,”
Before he could leave, Yue Huiling hurried into the tent to report on the cause of the sudden sickness among the patrol soldiers. Da Chu was the one behind it.
Hearing that, Bai Yu sighed to herself… They were not directly fighting each other, and now that side was trying to sabotage Da Yang’s force with this dirty tactic. Should she sneak in to burn their provisions, like in the series she had watched?
“Benwang is going to examine those soldiers. Don’t report this to brother yet. Benwang will be the one attending the meeting,” Ouyang Wenrou said gravely. While Bai Yu was unconscious, he had asked Yue Huiling to investigate the strangeness the chief doctor had mentioned while reporting to him.
“There is another problem yet, Wangye.” Bai Yu stopped Ouyang Wenrou again. Though she was ordered to rest, she could not let this problem rest along with her.
“I’m listening.”
“Wangye, may I ask about the organization within the medical tent during the war? How are the wounded soldiers treated?”
Ouyang Wenrou looked at her, surprised. He did not expect her to be interested in a matter such as this. “Normally, those with light injuries will help the severely wounded after they receive treatment from the doctor. What is it?”
“But what I’m seeing is not like what Your Highness describes. People with light injuries can help, but they are not doing it now. That’s why other doctors and I have to work hard all the time.”
“The reason is the last battle...” Yue Huiling was the one to answer. “...We lost quite a number of men who had followed the commander-general. Soldiers who had other duties then had to fill in the gap. That’s why we had to ask for reinforcement from the capital.”
Bai Yu frowned. Ouyang Feilong was not a fool. Why did he lead so many soldiers into the trap?
“What are you thinking about?” Seeing Bai Yu frowning and falling silent, Ouyang Wenrou asked.
“I have something I would like to propose.”
“What is it?” Ouyang Wenrou arched his brow with an interested smile. On the other hand, Yue Huiling was staring at her, looking like she was starting to understand her thoughts.
“If we lack manpower in the medical tent, then I would like to propose that we find more people.”
“How?”
“Originally, there were many villages along the border. Right now, they are evacuated to a safe place, but if we ask them to help take care of the wounded...”
“That’s almost impossible...” Yue Huiling interrupted. It seemed she could predict Bai Yu’s idea. “...Villagers who can be of help are already being recruited to become soldiers for the army. Those that were evacuated were women and children.”
“Then we should have those women help out in the medical tent.”
Yue Huiling sighed at Bai Yu’s suggestion. “It’s not that I’ve never had the same thoughts you have. But it’s been a long time since a woman has not been in the army. Wangye doesn’t prefer having women among soldiers.”
Did Ouyang Feilong despise women to the point that he would not allow them into the army? From what she knew about him, there must be another reason, such as the women’s safety while being among an army of men.
“Biaojie, please don’t worry. I have a solution.” If the problem were those women’s safety, then it would not be too difficult for her to handle it.
“But the commander-general...”
“The commander-general is not here right now.” Bai Yu gave her a sly smile.
“Then you go talk to brother yourself.” It was Ouyang Wenrou who agreed with her idea.
—————–
It was simple to explain to Ouyang Mingxian the need for assistants in the medical tent, especially when Ouyang Mingxian had no problem with women. She had a way of selecting the assistants, including a way of taking care of those women under Ouyang Mingxian’s command. Tomorrow, she would head to the village where the evacuated villagers were staying. It was half a day’s distance from the border, a safe distance away from the war.
Although Yue Huiling and some generals disagreed, they came around to admire her after Bai Yu, in the guise of Bai Hua, explained her management step by step and detailed the advantage of having assistants within the military camp.
In truth, she did not need to go through all this trouble. The favor from her deeds would eventually be Bai Hua’s since everyone thought she was her. But Bai Yu did not come here to play. If there was something she could do to help, she wanted to do it since this was the army her brother was a part of as well. And if she could truly help, then she would think of it as a way to repay Bai Hua in advance for helping Bai He.
“What are you playing at?”
After receiving the permission, Bai Yu excused herself from the meeting to prepare for her departure tomorrow. Luckily, Ouyang Wenrou had come here. His presence allowed her to do something other than use healing magic in the medical tent. And that something was her another, hidden objective for tomorrow’s travel.
“I’m baiting.”
Yue Huiling frowned. “Baiting?”
“Biaojie doesn’t have to understand this.”
If she explained that it was to seduce someone, then she would be seen as a shameless woman. Having Ouyang Feilong see her as that was already enough. She did not want to destroy her reputation as the perfect young lady.
“You shouldn’t play around too much. This is more dangerous than you think.”
“How can any harm befall me when you’re around?” Bai Yu smiled at her bodyguard, whom she had asked for permission from Ouyang Mingxian.
Correct, she had asked Yue Huiling to accompany her. Her secret plan was known only to her cousin. If Chu Zhaoran could not come to see her in the camp, then she would leave and create an opening for him to approach. The security at the evacuated village was lax. She could find assistants while waiting for Chu Zhaoran at the same time. She only had to pretend to fall ill for a few days so that she could stay overnight in the village.
Baiting until the fish bit!
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶