After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Seeing that Lin Feiyun had made his decision, no one else raised any objections.

"Wanqing, this method was originally your idea. Why don't you make the arrangements?" Lin Feiyun looked at Bai Wanqing with appreciation.

Bai Wanqing initially felt uneasy, but after looking around and seeing everyone looking at her expectantly, she nodded in agreement.

Because this matter was of great importance, Bai Wanqing dared not be negligent in the slightest. After seeing her father and Lord Cheng off, she locked herself in her study.

Bai Wanqing looked at the map on the table, and then glanced at the general's seal beside it!
This battle cannot be a mistake!
The candlelight flickered red, the waning moon sank in the west, and Bai Wanqing had not slept all night. At this time, there was a thick stack of papers on the green jade table, written in tiny characters, as dense as a spider web.

Bai Wanqing frowned slightly as she looked at the results of her repeated rehearsals on the paper, her eyes narrowed.

At this moment, rustling sounds began to appear outside the door, and voices gradually rose in the courtyard.

Ruixin knew that her wife hadn't slept all night and had gone to the small kitchen early in the morning to cook white fungus and lotus seed soup. As soon as the soup was ready, she brought it over.

"Miss, you haven't slept a wink all night, you should rest first before you get back to work!"

As Ruixin spoke, she placed the lotus seed soup on the table.

Bai Wanqing felt dizzy at the moment. Looking at the lotus seed soup in front of her, she realized that she was indeed a little hungry. She smiled and picked up the bowl and drank it in small sips.

"Ruixin, what are you all busy with outside?" Bai Wanqing's mind was full of thoughts about the expedition, so she just asked casually.

Seeing how much the young lady enjoyed the lotus seed soup she had made, Ruixin was delighted and started chattering away.

"Oh, everyone is doing their usual things. For example, I was worried that Miss must be hungry because she didn't sleep all night, so I went to the kitchen early to compete with Feng Niang for work!"

"And Fengniang naturally started preparing our morning tea early in the morning."

"The master and madam also got up early; they were practicing martial arts with the people of Linjia Village!"

"Young Master Cheng Dong, thinking about his upcoming campaign, is now cramming on military strategy at the last minute!"

"However, if we're talking about the most idle one here, it's probably Young Master Wuhuan. Even our Second Miss is learning how to make pills from Doctor Zheng and the others, but Young Master Wuhuan is still lazing in bed and hasn't shown up yet!"

As Ruixin was speaking, a "crack" was heard, and the porcelain spoon in Bai Wanqing's hand snapped in half inside the bowl.
She looked at the map again, her eyes sparkling.
"Ruixin, you've helped me a lot!"

Ruixin didn't know what her young mistress was talking about, but she was still delighted to hear her being praised.

Bai Wanqing pointed to the rear of Youzhou and said, "I was worried that no matter what, the troops here are insufficient and they won't be able to stop the Prince of Huai!"

"But I forgot! There's a natural barrier here."

"It was there, it always was there, it should have been there!"

Ruixin looked in the direction Bai Wanqing was pointing, but saw nothing. "Miss."

"Ruixin, inform Aunt Du and ask her to find some skilled carving craftsmen."

"Next, please ask Young Master Wuhuan to write a few more documents in the same style."

"Have Furong and Doctor Zheng prepare some more pills according to the previous prescription!"

"If they don't have enough medicinal herbs, tell them to go to Father."

"As for Cheng Dong, I'll go check on him in his room now!"

Rui nodded, noted everything down, and then turned to find someone to do the work.

When Bai Wanqing arrived at Cheng Dong's courtyard, it was bustling with activity.
Uncle Liu, who was busy moving things, saw Bai Wanqing and greeted her with a smile, "Miss, the master is talking to the young master in the room."

"Please go inside quickly!"

Bai Wanqing smiled slightly at Uncle Liu, looked at the courtyard that was packed full, and shook her head helplessly.

Inside the room, Bai Chenming sat on a wooden chair in front of the desk, staring intently at Bai Chengdong. However, the more Bai Chenming looked, the stranger his expression became. Just as he was about to reach out and touch Bai Chengdong's face, Bai Chengdong turned his head away without making a sound.

"Cheng Dong! You're wearing Lin Yunche's face every day now, don't you think the mask isn't breathable?"

"Let me tell you, this mask isn't breathable and will cause pimples on your face!"

"How about we take off the mask when no one's around or when we're at home?"

As Bai Chenming said this, he kept glancing at Bai Chengdong's reaction. It wasn't because he was afraid of his son, but because his own son was now using someone else's face!
That's still Lin Yunche's face.
Who is Lin Yunche? He is the top scholar of this imperial examination, the prefect of Huaizhou, and now he has been appointed as the Protector General by the Emperor. Such an important figure is now being claimed to be his son.
Bai Chenming felt awkward and scared. He was scared that the person in front of him was Lin Yunche.

Bai Chenming's expression of wanting to take the initiative yet being afraid caught Bai Chengdong's eye, and Bai Chengdong's heart ached. He couldn't refuse Bai Chenming's request, so he could only slowly raise his hand and take off his mask.

Bai Chenming's eyes, which had been filled with fear just moments before, were now brimming with tears.

He couldn't believe that the chubby, handsome boy he remembered had turned into the gaunt young man before him.

But he couldn't help but believe it, because the young man in front of him had eyes that were almost identical to Zi Rou's.

At this moment, Bai Chengdong was looking him up and down with those same eyes, just like when he was a child.

"Chengdong, what are you doing with that slingshot all the time?" Bai Chenming asked angrily as he returned from delivering the goods and saw his son running around in the yard.

Bai Chengdong is not afraid of his father on ordinary days; in fact, his father is not as fierce as his mother!

He took short strides and ran up to Bai Chenming in a flash, raising his hands to ask for a hug.

Bai Chenming affectionately picked up his eldest son and snatched the slingshot from his hand, saying, "Running around in the yard all day long, what kind of behavior is this!"

Bai Chengdong tilted his little head and said in a childish voice, "Daddy, I wasn't running around!"

"I am practicing martial arts. I will protect everyone in my family in the future!"

"To truly become the great hero described by the storyteller."

When Bai Chenming heard that Bai Chengdong wanted to be a great hero, he laughed heartily, "You little rascal, your mother and I are both doctors who work with herbs. Instead of thinking about inheriting our mantle, you're thinking about becoming a great hero."

"Do you know how difficult it is to be a great hero!"

Bai Chengdong pointed at the slingshot and exclaimed, "Big sister said that as long as I can master the slingshot, I can become a hero and protect her!"

Bai Chenming laughed at his son's naivety, and affectionately patted Bai Chengdong's head, "Then what the older sister said wasn't complete!"

Bai Chengdong looked at his father thoughtfully, and Bai Chenming continued with a smile: "To be a hero, you need courage and a kind heart that others don't have!"

"Does our Dong'er have the courage?" Bai Chenming teased Bai Chengdong.

Bai Chengdong hesitated for a moment, then patted his little chest and said to his father, "Yes! Dong'er has courage!"

"But Father, what is benevolence?"

“Benevolence! When Dong’er grows up a bit more and goes to a private school to study, he will know what benevolence is.”

Bai Chengdong waved his little hand and gave Bai Chenming a big kiss, saying, "Then Dong'er must grow up quickly!"

"Learn compassion early!"

Bai Chenming nodded with satisfaction.

After that, he nurtured Cheng Dong in this direction, hiring the best tutors to teach Cheng Dong his studies individually.

Cheng Dong loved martial arts, so he hired the head of a local security escort agency to be his master.

Cheng Dong has hated evil since then, and he even firmly believes that Dong'er will become a great hero in the future.

But ironically, a hero's success can also be his downfall.

That summer, Huai'an County experienced its hottest summer in recent decades.

The clinic receives many patients every day who have fainted due to heatstroke.

Zi Rou then discussed with him the idea of ​​making a batch of pills to distribute to the people of Huai'an County to prevent them from suffering from heatstroke again.

He then went around procuring the medicinal materials needed to make the pills.

That day, he had just gone to the countryside and had just harvested a batch of broadleaf leaves. He had just arrived at the county town gate with the goods.

Then they saw Uncle Liu rushing towards them.

"If Uncle Liu comes, something must have happened at home!" Bai Chenming jumped off the carriage anxiously and ran to Uncle Liu. Uncle Liu was running so fast that when he saw Bai Chenming, he didn't even have time to catch his breath before saying in broken sentences, "Master, something terrible has happened! Young Master has drowned in the river!"

Upon hearing that Bai Chengdong was in trouble, Bai Chenming's mind went blank for a moment.

He could no longer hear what Uncle Liu said afterward, and he didn't know how he got to the riverbank. He only felt that the closer he got to the river, the weaker his legs became.

"What a pity!"

"That's a brave child!"

"Yes! If he hadn't been trying to save others, he wouldn't have been swept away by the river!"

Bai Chenming's heart began to cry out in despair, "No! No!"
His son would definitely be alright. When Bai Chenming arrived at the riverbank, it was crowded with people.

He trudged forward, his steps uneven, and saw several shirtless young men in the middle of the river, fishing for something.

"What's going on? Someone tell me what's going on!"

Before Uncle Liu could explain the whole story, Bai Chenming spotted Kou Zirou in the middle of the river.

She desperately dived downwards, once, twice!

Gradually, her body became unresponsive. She thrashed about a couple of times, then, as if remembering something, she stopped struggling and let her body sink deeper into the river.

Bai Chenming screamed in terror, which spurred many people to jump into the river again.

That's how they managed to pull Kou Zirou out of the water.

Looking at Kou Zirou's pale face, Bai Chenming understood everything!

The child they were talking about was Cheng Dong!
Bai Chenming ordered Liu Bo to take Kou back to the clinic first, while he led his men to continue searching along the river.

This search took three days.

Bai Chenming returned home empty-handed. Looking at Kou Shi lying on the bed, barely alive, he opened his mouth but didn't say a word.

Kou had been hoping for his return, but Bai Chenming's expression said it all.

Kou Zirou fell seriously ill and refused to talk to him anymore!
Bai Chen knew perfectly well that Zi Rou hated him!
He hated himself too! He didn't need his son to be a hero at all! He just wanted his son to live well and happily. What did it matter whether he was a hero or not?

But it was because of him that Cheng Dong truly became a hero in the eyes of the children of Huai'an County!
But he was about to lose him forever!
Perhaps God heard his repentance, and now he has been allowed to see his son again!

"Cheng Dong, it really is you! You're really still alive!" Bai Chenming couldn't help but burst into tears.

The same memory kept flashing through Bai Chengdong's mind. He looked at Bai Chenming's obviously aged face and slightly opened his mouth: "Father!"

"Hey!"

The father and son embraced tightly, which was witnessed by Bai Wanqing as she entered.

Bai Wanqing smiled slightly. If only her mother were still here!
When Bai Chenming and Bai Chengdong saw Bai Wanqing enter, they immediately jumped back. Whether it was their father or their younger brother, they should both be the pillars of the Bai family, and it was really inappropriate for them to be crying like this.

Bai Chen knew that Bai Wanqing had important matters to discuss, and reluctantly prepared to leave, turning back every few steps.

Bai Wanqing then spoke up, "Father, please stay and join us!"

Bai Chenming was taken aback. He knew that Wanqing and the others were talking about important military matters. Could he really listen to that?
Bai Wanqing smiled and said, "Father, this time we're talking about family matters!"

After hearing this, Bai Chenming felt much more at ease and naturally decided to stay.

Bai Chenming sat at the head of the table in the center, with Bai Wanqing and Bai Chengdong sitting to his right.

The two looked at Bai Wanqing together. After clearing her mind, Bai Wanqing turned back to Bai Chenming and said, "Father, Cheng Dong's journey will probably not be easy!"

Bai Chenming's heart, which had just been at ease, was once again gripped by anxiety.

"Qing'er, Cheng Dong is merely receiving the imperial decree on behalf of his eldest son-in-law!"

"Do you really want your brother to go to that battlefield?"

Bai Chen knew that the Prince of Huai was plotting a rebellion and that the Emperor was giving Lin Yunche an important position, but no one told him that his Cheng Dong was going to the battlefield!

Seeing her father's anxious expression, Bai Wanqing suddenly didn't know where to begin.

Bai Chengdong spoke up first: "Father, my brother-in-law is not here now, and the imperial decree has been issued. Someone has to fight the war!"

"Absurd!" Bai Chenming slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "The imperial edict appoints Lin Yunche!"

"You're not Lin Yunche, and you don't know anything about fighting. If you go, you'll just be throwing your life away."

"I disagree!"

Bai Chenming had made up his mind. He would never allow Bai Chengdong to act like a hero again, nor would he watch him go to his death again!

Bai Chengdong was deeply moved. He had thought that his father, seeing his broken and battered state, would be disappointed in him!

He never expected that his father would not only not be disappointed in him, but would also protect him now.

But some things are already set in stone and must be done!
"Father, this matter is no longer something that can be resolved simply by us saying we can't go!"

"Big sister, don't you think so?"

Bai Chenming looked at Bai Wanqing with almost pleading eyes. Bai Wanqing knew the pain in her father's heart, but she still had to nod and say, "That's right!"

“Father, you already know how deep the feud between the Prince of Huai and the Lin family is, without me having to say more!”

"Now that the Prince of Huai is plotting a rebellion and the Emperor is in danger, if he succeeds, he will certainly not let the Lin family or the Bai family off the hook!"

Bai Chenming's heart sank lower and lower. "So, according to you, the only family capable of defeating the Prince of Huai is the Lin family?"

"Yes, Lord Cui has led troops in battle for many years and is on good terms with the Lin family!"

"Why don't we write a letter to Lord Cui asking him to send troops? Surely we can handle a mere Prince of Huai?"

Bai Wanqing and Bai Chengdong exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison, "I'm afraid it's too late."

"The Marquis's troops are in the south, and it will take a long time for them to come to the north. If we wait for him to mobilize his troops, the world may already belong to the Prince of Huai."

Bai Chenming's face paled. "What do you mean? Cheng Dong can only go to the battlefield in place of Lin Yunche now?"

"To be a general!"

"Qing'er! He was just found! You saw his body. He's so depleted, how can this be?"

Bai Chengdong's expression tightened, and he slowly clenched his fists.

Bai Wanqing noticed Bai Chengdong's unusual behavior and said to her father in a gentle voice, "Father, Chengdong is very capable. Why can't he be a general?"

Bai Chenming shook his head, "Qing'er, being a general is a matter of life and death!"

“Cheng Dong is back at the Bai family. He doesn’t need to do anything. He just needs to stay home and rest!”

"We don't want any generals or heroes!"

"Let someone else be Lin Yunche! Yes, let someone else be!"

"If you can't find them, let your father go! This old man has lived to such an old age, he's lived a long and fulfilling life. If it can save the lives of the entire Bai family, what's wrong with that!"

Bai Chengdong looked at Bai Chenming in disbelief. His father was actually willing to risk his life for him!

Replace him with that good-for-nothing!

"No!"

"Qing'er, do you really want your brother to go and die?"

Bai Wanqing shook her head, "I don't want him to die, I want to save him!"

"If he doesn't go, he will surely die in three years!" (End of Chapter)