Liu Ya arrived with a food box, carrying steaming dumplings.
Li Man'er hadn't felt hungry before, but upon hearing Liu Ya brought dumplings, her stomach immediately rumbled, as if she had been starving for a long time.
"What filling is it?"
Liu Ya looked surprised, "In this freezing weather, does my lady still wish for chives and eggs? Of course, it's cabbage and pork filling."
True, she had thought too much.
If they were in the capital, perhaps they could have had something fresh. This was Mobei, and having dumplings was already good.
"I was just hungry." Li Man'er quickly opened the food box and took out three plates of steaming dumplings. "Have you eaten?"
"This servant has eaten. The Fourth Young Master has been thinking of you and urged me to bring this to you."
Li Man'er beckoned Si to eat with them. The two of them were too busy to speak, and in no time, all the dumplings were gone.
They didn't feel full at all.
"My lady, tonight we won a victory and should celebrate. However, due to limited conditions, we only have dumplings." Liu Ya was also very happy but regretted not being able to accompany Li Man'er into battle.
"This is good enough." Li Man'er was not particular. She wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth with her hand. "It's the New Year, look at what the soldiers are eating. I can still eat dumplings!"
Thousands of people's dumplings, it would be exhausting to wrap them all.
The tent flap was lifted again, and Zhang Jingfeng walked in, cupping his hands. "General, Deputy Marshal Luo has sent someone to summon you for a council."
"Is it only me, or are all the generals being summoned?"
"It seems to be only you."
Li Man'er understood. It was probably someone surnamed Feng who had been talking nonsense in front of Luo Sheng.
They were coming for her explosives.
"Alright, I'll go now." Li Man'er put on her outer robe and instructed Liu Ya, "You hurry back and guard Qingyan. Don't worry about me. Luo won't dare to do anything to me."
Liu Ya nodded, tidied up the things on the table, and left the large tent with Li Man'er.
Zhang Jingfeng ran along, wanting to follow Li Man'er.
"I'll take Si with me, you don't need to come. See if there's anything happening on the city wall and arrange it yourself."
"General, please let your subordinate accompany you." Zhang Jingfeng vaguely felt that something was not quite right, but he couldn't quite articulate what it was. She was his life-saver, and he already felt differently towards Li Man'er.
Li Man'er stopped at the main gate of the military camp and turned to ask Zhang Jingfeng, "What good would it do if you came? If General Feng is also there, wouldn't it be awkward?"
"Ah?" Zhang Jingfeng was stunned for a moment, then as if he had thought of something, he looked at Li Man'er somewhat awkwardly.
"Why 'ah'? They will surely ask me about the explosion, and what I used to blow up the barbarians' trebuchets."
Zhang Jingfeng gave an embarrassed smile, "Then..."
"You might as well go to the city wall and help me call for Third Master Li."
Zhang Jingfeng immediately responded, "Yes, General, rest assured."
Li Man'er shook her head, turned, and walked towards Luo Sheng's residence with Si and Liu Ya.
"My lady, do you mean Luo Sheng wants to steal the credit?"
"Naturally."
"Then what should we do?" Si's brows furrowed slightly. "He is the commander now. If he wants to steal it, you can't disobey military orders, can you?"
Li Man'er said, "I never intended to disobey military orders. That thing wasn't developed by me."
Liu Ya, carrying the food box, didn't say a word, fearing she might slip up.
When the young lady was researching saltpeter with her, she didn't say that.
Si was confused, but as more people gathered, it was inconvenient to ask further. Li Man'er said, "If they ask you, just say I gave it to you. Tell them the truth, don't be afraid."
Seeing the young lady's confidence, she must have had a plan.
Si felt much more at ease and followed Li Man'er closely to the government office.
Li Man'er glanced at Liu Ya, who nodded slightly, curtsied, and returned.
Li Man'er, accompanied by Si, went to Luo Sheng's council hall.
There was no one else in the hall. After the guards led them in, they left.
Li Man'er sat on the chair with a stern face, waiting. Si stood behind her, silent.
Someone came in to serve tea, and it was Gao Yujuan, whom they hadn't seen for a long time.
Gao Yujuan was also very embarrassed. She never expected that Sister Tian would end up being Li Man'er's bodyguard and even go to the battlefield with her.
This was a great opportunity to stand out and gain recognition.
Gao Yujuan felt resentful and wanted to mock her a few times, but she saw Li Man'er staring at her with wide, almond-shaped eyes.
Li Man'er's outer robe was stained with the blood of many barbarians. She had just come down from the battlefield, having reaped countless lives. Her aura of killing was something a petty person like Gao Yujuan could not resist.
With Li Man'er's glare, Gao Yujuan almost dropped the tea in her hand. After managing to place the teacup steadily on the table, Gao Yujuan fled without looking back.
The corners of Si's mouth couldn't help but curve upwards as she inwardly cursed the coward.
Before the cup of tea was finished, Luo Sheng arrived.
He wore a dark green outer robe, a ochre sash inlaid with cat's eye stones around his waist. His hair was tied loosely, and he still carried the scent of alcohol.
Seeing Luo Sheng's clear eyes, Li Man'er immediately understood.
It was likely that the smell of alcohol wasn't from drinking, but deliberately sprinkled on him for her to smell.
After drinking, many things would become justifiable, wouldn't they?
Li Man'er sneered inwardly, stood up, and cupped her hands towards Luo Sheng, "General Luo."
"Miss Li, no need for such formalities. Please sit down quickly."
At this point, he still called her "Miss," which revealed his intentions.
Li Man'er then lifted her outer robe and sat on the chair.
"Did Miss Li lead troops out of the city today?"
"Precisely! The soldiers defending the city were under too much pressure. A large gap was blasted in the city wall. If we didn't sally forth and resist, the casualties would be too great. Dragging it out would be unfavorable for defending the city. The best method was to sally forth in time and clear the enemy."
Luo Sheng saw that she spoke logically and was at a loss for what to do. He was an amateur when it came to leading troops in battle.
"Miss Li, for a young lady like yourself to risk your life is truly not a wise move."
Li Man'er looked puzzled, "General, how can I not understand what you mean?"
"Ahem, I mean, my lady should focus on taking care of the Marquis. Matters of leading troops should be left to General Feng. After all, the Iron Blood Camp is his life's work. Does my lady truly intend to take away General Feng's life's work with a joke?"
Heh heh.
Li Man'er thought, luckily she had eaten plenty of dumplings before coming. When it came to arguing, she was a professional!
"Does the General mean that I should return the Iron Blood Camp to General Feng?"
Very sensible.
Luo Sheng had not yet seen Li Man'er's true nature, and he immediately said, "This is only right. General Feng has followed the Marquis for so many years, risking his life and death, with outstanding military achievements. Even without merit, he has labor. My lady, you must not go too far in your actions."
After saying this, he revealed a meaningful expression.
Li Man'er inwardly snorted, wasn't this just about seizing power? And he had to put it so shamelessly!