Su Xiaoqi hadn't expected that simply taking out some pre-made medicine from her spatial dimension would turn her into a living Bodhisattva.
Upon seeing Shen Yun's gaze and recalling what he had said, she began to understand.
Yu Changqing spent most of his time on the frontier, encountering war and death most frequently.
He had witnessed countless soldiers who could have been saved, succumbing to their worsening injuries.
After the last use of the wound medicine Su Xiaoqi had provided, the recovery rate had significantly increased.
The military camp no longer saw soldiers dying from minor wounds that became infected and worsened due to a lack of timely treatment.
Only a few brothers, who had lost too much blood and couldn't be saved, had departed.
Compared to the past, this was a vast improvement.
He had been contemplating how such excellent medicine would necessitate a letter back to procure more.
He hadn't anticipated Su Xiaoqi's personal arrival.
This was truly a timely help in need.
Furthermore, Su Xiaoqi had explicitly stated that all these medicines were freely given, without demanding a single cent.
Yu Changqing was so moved he could have cried.
And so, he truly did cry.
One was to express gratitude for Su Xiaoqi's immense kindness, and the other was for the soldiers stationed on the frontier.
Though he was a soldier, a man of passion, he was also a man of great integrity.
Having witnessed so much separation and death, he yearned even more to preserve as many lives as possible.
This sentiment could only be understood by those who had truly experienced it.
Even Su Xiaoqi herself didn't fully grasp it.
However, during her time in modern times, she had watched many documentaries on the subject, allowing her to somewhat comprehend Yu Changqing's profound emotions.
On an impulse, she promised to have more medicine sent once they had used up the current supply.
Yu Changqing quickly expressed his apologies, stating they couldn't trouble her again.
Not only did Su Xiaoqi agree, but she also provided them with a prescription.
If not for a specific herb from her spatial dimension being essential in her concoctions, she would have even shared the recipes for the pills.
Of course, what she didn't tell Yu Changqing was that as she performed these deeds, the spiritual herbs in her spatial dimension had suddenly increased by five.
This was a great merit.
Even though it wasn't intentional, the benefits were tangible and evident.
Therefore, her subsequent promises were made even more readily.
After a period of conversation, everyone was very satisfied.
Yu Changqing was deeply moved upon learning that Su Xiaoqi, despite her pregnancy, was still thinking of these frontier soldiers.
He took out his personal dagger and presented it to Su Xiaoqi as an early gift.
He called it a congratulatory gift for the child.
Su Xiaoqi looked at the dagger before her and exclaimed in surprise.
It was forged from profound iron, capable of slicing through metal as easily as mud.
It was a truly exquisite piece.
Perhaps it was not of great significance to her, but for someone like Yu Changqing, who had spent so long on the battlefield, it was a treasure.
Yet, he so easily gifted his treasure to Su Xiaoqi.
This clearly demonstrated his pure intentions and his genuine gratitude towards her.
As they spoke, a soldier approached to report that the Marshal had returned.
Yu Changqing's face lit up, saying his father had returned.
He would surely be delighted to see Su Xiaoqi.
As he spoke, he led Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun into the main military tent.
The Duke of Yu was already in the tent.
He had just returned from inspecting the military camp, still clad in armor as cold as iron. Clad in crimson with a black cloak, he exuded an aura of valiant spirit.
Su Xiaoqi observed that he was also very tall, preliminarily estimated to be around one meter ninety.
It seemed the Jade brothers' tall stature was inherited from him.
Su Xiaoqi stepped forward to pay her respects. As Yu Changqing had said, Duke Yu was overjoyed to see her, warmly inviting her to sit in the tent and ordering his newly acquired crabs to be brought.
He mentioned that a deputy general, returning from his hometown in Ezhou, had brought them along the way.
It was indeed the ninth month, a perfect time for eating crabs.
The chrysanthemums were golden, and the crabs were plump.
Su Xiaoqi had loved eating crabs in the past, but now, being pregnant, crabs were considered cold in nature. For the health of her child, she could only look but not partake.
She politely indicated her inability to eat them.
Yu Changqing then quietly mentioned Su Xiaoqi's pregnancy.
Duke Yu burst into laughter.
He declared it good news and that food was a trivial matter.
Duke Yu was both jovial and generous, his words showing care for Shen Yun, embodying the demeanor of an elder.
The conversation flowed pleasantly.
Yu Changqing also informed Duke Yu of Su Xiaoqi’s renewed donation of medicine.
Duke Yu was beaming with joy, praising the medicine's effectiveness and its role in saving many lives.
He also mentioned that the cotton-padded clothes she had made last time were of genuine material, finally allowing the soldiers to have a warm winter.
"Furthermore, those cotton clothes were extremely durable. The winter clothes from previous years would be ruined after just one winter.
This time, only a small portion was worn through by those who were careless with their attire; the clothes of others remained intact."
This year, they finally did not have to humble themselves before the court to beg for winter clothing.
"The soldiers on the frontier protect the country, yet they have to beg so humbly even for winter clothes.
While the nobles in the capital indulge in pleasure day and night, reveling..." Su Xiaoqi felt indignant and looked at Shen Yun.
As a court official, he should know more about these matters than she did.
Shen Yun replied, "The current Minister of Revenue is Lord Wang, who is even worse than Lord Xu Shijie."
Wang Chengyi appeared upright on the surface.
However, his sole flaw was his avarice.
What's more, it wasn't enough that he amassed wealth; he didn't spend it, nor did he allow his children to spend it.
He simply loved to cast it into gold and silver bricks, hiding them somewhere.
Few people knew about this; Shen Yun had only heard about it through his close relationship with Ji Chenggang, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
This was the first time Su Xiaoqi had heard Shen Yun mention such a failing in Wang Chengyi.
She muttered, "Young Lord Wang doesn't seem like his father."
Compared to Wang Chengyi, Wang Enze, while not appearing as upright on the surface as his father, was an extremely intelligent individual.
He at least knew which money was permissible to touch and which was not.
Moreover, in his heart, besides himself, he also had the common people and the frontier soldiers.
So, he did accumulate wealth, given how stingy his father was towards him and his brothers.
However, his avarice was not as wicked.
"These worms in the court... Ah, if the Emperor doesn't rein them in, they will never stop," Duke Yu had once been part of the court.
He was very familiar with those seemingly smiling officials.
Most of them had one face in public and another in private.
They might smile at you one moment, and the next, turn around and stab you in the back.
This was the first time Su Xiaoqi had heard Shen Yun discuss the character of specific court officials.
Previously, Shen Yun might have told her about events in the court, but he never discussed the personal character of individuals at home.
Hearing it now, she found it quite interesting.
Indeed, life was a tapestry of diverse individuals.
"If one is an official, they should not only wholeheartedly represent the people and seek their welfare, but at the very least, they must not forget their original intentions," Duke Yu spoke more than usual today.
He thought highly of Shen Yun and did not wish for him to follow the same path as Wang Chengyi.
Once upon a time, Wang Chengyi, his friend, had also harbored a fervent patriotic heart.
But later, at some unknown point, he changed.
Entering the great dye vat of officialdom, he became stained with all sorts of colors.
Shen Yun rose and said, "I thank you, my Lord Duke."
"Why call me Lord Duke? Xiao Qi calls me Uncle, so you should follow suit.
By the way, I heard from a letter from the capital that you are the lost kin of the Prince of Ning's estate.
What is this matter of recognizing kin?"
After so long, the news of Shen Yun being enfeoffed as the Crown Prince of Prince Ning's estate had spread throughout.
However, the imperial decree for the Crown Princess had not yet been issued.
Duke Yu's true question was whether, now that he had a noble background, he would become selective towards his niece.
Shen Yun replied with a wry smile, "My wife is the legitimate granddaughter of the Duke of Yu's estate and the only Eldest Princess of Bei Chu. How could I dare...
Moreover, my wife and I share a deep affection, and I will never abandon her for any reason, won't I, my wife!"
Su Xiaoqi blinked her eyes. She felt as if Shen Yun had put her on the spot.
Shen Yun was not only expressing his feelings but also pressuring her to do the same.
Uh, alright, she didn't seem to have any other thoughts either.
And Shen Yun, for the most part, would not allow her to have any.
She could only resign herself to it.
"My husband speaks the truth," she said softly and demurely.
Duke Yu offered some guidance to Shen Yun, and feeling there was nothing more to say, he simply cautioned them that the weather was getting colder and to be careful on the road. He would dispatch a small escort to accompany them back to the capital.
However, as they were frontier troops, they could not leave their posts without a summons.
Therefore, they would need to change their attire and could not enter the capital directly. But he would send a letter in advance to have Yu Changfeng meet them outside the capital.
In short, he had made all the arrangements for their journey.
They only needed to take care of themselves and the child in Su Xiaoqi's womb.
Su Xiaoqi nodded in gratitude.
Duke Yu, despite his imposing physique, was a man of subtle thoughtfulness.
After bidding farewell, Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun embarked on their journey back to the capital.