CHAPTER 1744: CHAPTER 1744: FIFTY THOUSAND REINFORCEMENTS

Wa San suddenly looked at Guizhi, still covering his left eye with one hand, the back of his hand covered with scratches.

Guizhi stopped crying quickly and whispered to him, "Once you’re healed, we will marry."

She turned red after saying this and quickly lowered her head.

For a woman to speak such words, it was indeed a bit embarrassing.

Bai Ruozhu stifled a laugh and looked at Wa San, noticing that the tight line of his lips relaxed, with the corners slightly raised.

His mood must be delightful at the moment, though having gone through too many tribulations, he is no longer easily excited, becoming more composed overall.

"Alright, let’s begin the treatment," Bai Ruozhu said without waiting for Wa San’s response and suddenly sealed his acupoint, causing him to faint.

"Why are you still standing there? Help him to bed. Do you expect a pregnant woman to exert effort?" Bai Ruozhu said, chuckling in secret.

Guizhi blushingly dragged and carried Wa San to the bed; he was extremely thin, so she could manage it alone.

Once Wa San lay down, his injured eye was fully exposed, appearing even more ghastly.

Guizhi’s gaze fell on it, her face a display of guilt and self-reproach.

"Alright, go wait outside. If you faint from fright, I’d have to divide my attention to care for you." Bai Ruozhu said and pushed her out of the room.

She swiftly took a mask from the Space to wear, then used alcohol and cotton gauze to disinfect Wa San. She applied a set of needles to reduce pain before starting the bloody surgery.

Due to Wa San’s condition, the necrotic and polyp tissue had to be removed, undoubtedly making it horrifically bloody.

About a quarter of an hour later, Bai Ruozhu completed the surgery, applied ointment to Wa San, and carefully bandaged his left eye with gauze.

She ultimately couldn’t keep handling the medication, so she pondered having Guoguo replace Wa San’s medicine every day after coming back from the Palace.

"How is it?" Guizhi asked nervously as Bai Ruozhu opened the door and eagerly approached.

"The eyeball is damaged and won’t recover vision, but there’s no life-threatening danger. Take good care of him, and I’ll prepare a detoxification formula." Bai Ruozhu sighed inwardly; a well person losing an eye is truly regrettable.

Fang Guizhi couldn’t help but cry again, but she soon wiped away her tears and said to Bai Ruozhu, "No matter what, I will marry him and look after him for life!"

"Are you sure it’s not just out of gratitude?" Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but ask.

Guizhi shook her head vigorously, "I am grateful for his constant kindness to me, but my heart isn’t made of stone. Even if it’s cold, it can be warmed. How could I not have feelings for him?"

Bai Ruozhu chuckled upon hearing this, "That’s good, as long as you return safely, all other difficulties can be overcome."

In the following days, Wa San was fully rid of toxins; because his eye had been relieved of necrotic tissue and inflammation, his face lost its swelling, making him appear even thinner.

That afternoon, Guizhi dined in the Main Hall with her family, while Wa San excused himself to recover and didn’t show up.

"Father, Mother, I plan to arrange the marriage next month." Guizhi said with calmness, devoid of any shyness.

Bai Yihong nodded, "You don’t need to keep the Empress Dowager’s mourning for six months, three months are enough. Don’t worry, I’ll discuss it with your mother and later consult with Wa San to see if he has any thoughts."

"Okay, thank you, Father." Guizhi said happily.

Bai Ruozhu and Wan Caiyue congratulated her with smiles, and in the evening, when Bai Zehao and Bai Zepei returned home and heard the news, they also extended their felicitations to Guizhi and Wa San.

While the Bai Family arranged the marriage between Guizhi and Wa San, a troop entered Beiyu City, and shortly afterward, several riders arrived at the Bai Family’s gate.

Upon seeing the arrivals, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but exclaim, "Yingtong, you’re on a thousand-mile husband search!"

Yingtong felt slightly embarrassed, clearing her throat as she said, "I’ve come to support you, is this how you treat reinforcements?"

Ao Qi explained from the side, "The princess has brought fifty thousand troops to support Danliang against the Northwest Turkic. The troops are stationed near the Northwest Main Camp, following your Emperor’s order."

Yingtong pouted, "I asked my father for a hundred thousand troops, but unfortunately, he didn’t agree."

Ao Qi smiled at Bai Ruozhu; they both understood the implication: a hundred thousand troops wouldn’t just be support, it might be mistaken for taking advantage in a crisis.

Yingtong, with her straightforward nature, shouldn’t be over-explained, lest she get stubborn and feel her good intentions are suspected.

Chu Hai and Diao Yao accompanied her; they asked Bai Ruozhu about her situation and joined in the Main Hall for tea and chatter.

"Ruozhu, your pregnancy is already showing, yet my father’s concubine, about the same months as you, doesn’t show at all." Yingtong said with curiosity.

Bai Ruozhu teasingly said, "Once you and Chu Hai have a baby, you’ll understand why some show and some don’t."

Yingtong and Chu Hai both blushed, while Diao Yao laughed heartily aside, saying, "By then, I’ll have a little nephew to hold."

The group shared laughter over lunch at the Bai Family’s place, later excusing themselves not to disturb Bai Ruozhu’s rest. Unexpectedly, Ao Qi mentioned having some matters to discuss with Bai Ruozhu and stayed behind.

"Is her name Tu Ying?" Ao Qi asked once everyone else had left.

Bai Ruozhu paused in surprise, "You already know?"

She had concealed Tu Ying’s identity from Ao Qi before, feeling slightly embarrassed when Ao Qi pointed it out.

Ao Qi glared at her, "I accidentally came across Mrs. Tu earlier and asked around. Her daughter is Tu Ying."

Tu Ying and Mrs. Tu resembled each other by six or seven parts, so it was no surprise that Ao Qi noticed.

Bai Ruozhu sheepishly said, "It wasn’t my intent to hide it. Tu Ying secretly joined the army back then, which is no small matter. If word spreads, it could harm her and the Tu Family greatly. Besides, I wasn’t sure of Tu Ying’s attitude toward you and didn’t want to say too much."

Ao Qi laughed wryly, "Alright, you’re being responsible to your friends. Let’s leave it at that."

She knew Ao Qi couldn’t really trouble her; even if she didn’t tell Ao Qi anything, it wouldn’t cause a real fallout.

"I plan to set off to the Southwest in two days; perhaps this time I can find her." Ao Qi said, gazing afar, the stars in his eyes seemingly reflecting Tu Ying’s silhouette.

"If you need help, there are my people in Jinshui City, including many herb-gathering mountain folk. They might provide some clues." She paused, "Her mentor has a Seven-color Ganoderma, maybe they’ll gather herbs nearby."

Ao Qi cupped hands, "Thank you, I hope I can return with her this time!"

Bai Ruozhu opened her mouth to advise him not to overexert himself, but reconsidered; Tu Ying’s disappearance had lasted too long, likely more complex than her simply not wanting to return.