Li Man'er never expected to see someone she detested intensely upon her return to the military palace.
It was none other than the ever-displeased Official Ji.
"Oh, Official Ji, what breeze has blown you my way? A'si, get some tea served."
The inspecting official, Ji, let out a cold snort, his condescending demeanor fully displayed. "No need. I've been sitting here for half the day, the tea has been changed three times. Miss Li arrives fashionably late, quite the airs."
Li Man'er couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. Such ungratefulness! Was he here looking for a scolding?
"Official Ji, this is a military camp. I am the commander of the Iron Blood Battalion. Please address me as General Li."
"You..."
"You what?" Li Man'er tilted her chin, speaking without restraint. "The soldiers are outside defending the city and fighting the enemy. They eat dry rations, their hands are frostbitten, some are injured, some have lost their lives. Yet, you sit in your tent drinking tea, and you've changed it three times. What kind of place do you think this is?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingfeng almost knelt before Li Man'er. She was incredible, daring to confront even the inspecting official.
"I..." Official Ji's expression had already soured. He had never been berated so directly before.
"What I what?" Li Man'er patted her soft armor. "Does Official Ji think I'm a pushover? This general's position was earned through facing death, killing barbarians, and bombing enemy camps. It was exchanged for my life. The blood of the enemy on this armor has barely cooled!"
A threat, this was a threat.
Official Ji nearly choked, almost being verbally killed by Li Man'er.
"I have come to convey an important matter."
"Speak!" Li Man'er casually sat opposite Official Ji. "No one is stopping your mouth."
Ji Zhongwen realized that this Li Man'er would never speak politely. If you wanted to be tough, she was tougher. Whoever married her in the future would surely be henpecked.
Hmph, she'd probably never get married and remain an old maid at home!
"General Feng is missing."
"Who?" Li Man'er feigned surprise, her pupils widening slightly. Her acting was so superb that even Ji Zhongwen couldn't detect any anomaly.
"General Feng, Feng Wuyun."
Li Man'er shot to her feet. "What happened? How could a living person just vanish?"
Ji Zhongwen had initially suspected Li Man'er, but observing her demeanor, it didn't seem like her doing.
"It's strange, really. There were guards at the entrance, but the person was in his study and suddenly disappeared without a trace," Ji Zhongwen said. "I specifically came to ask Miss Li... oh no, to ask General Li for advice."
Li Man'er stared at Ji Zhongwen for a moment, then gave a sarcastic smile. "Could it be that Official Ji came here specifically to gather intelligence?"
Ji Zhongwen's old face flushed, and he suppressed his anger. "What are you implying, General Li? General Feng is the commander of the Iron Blood Battalion. Although you are temporarily in charge, you will eventually return it to General Feng. Furthermore, you bear some responsibility for General Feng's disappearance. If it weren't for you..."
"Stop! What does his disappearance have to do with me?" Li Man'er wanted to put on a fake smile but decided against it as it might affect her looks. "You don't think I kidnapped the man named Feng, do you?"
Ji Zhongwen's eyes darted away. Initially, he had indeed suspected Li Man'er, as she would be the greatest beneficiary if something happened to Feng Wuyun. However, his investigations yielded no evidence. Although Li Man'er had entered and exited the command post frequently around the time Feng Wuyun disappeared, she was usually alone or with her maids and guards, moving openly without carrying any large items that could conceal a person, nor did she act suspiciously.
Coupled with Li Man'er's earlier surprised expression, Ji Zhongwen was now mostly certain that Li Man'er was not involved.
However, Ji Zhongwen still wanted to shift the blame onto Li Man'er, partly to enlist her help in finding Feng, and partly to absolve himself of some responsibility.
Li Man'er finally understood. She stated, "Official Ji, I cannot help with General Feng's matter. As you know, the war is urgent, and reinforcements for the barbarians have arrived. We might be called to fight at any moment. Compared to defending our home and country, searching for a missing person is not appropriate."
"You..." Ji Zhongwen had not anticipated Li Man'er to be so troublesome. A single mention of "defending home and country" could completely shut him down.
"If you don't wish to search, I won't force you. However, you should at least lend me a few men. The soldiers in your battalion are all subordinates of General Feng. I believe they would not want to see General Feng meet with misfortune!"
"Be my guest," Li Man'er said magnanimously. "Official Ji, feel free to choose."
"Lu Fang, he is steady and reliable. Include him."
A hint of sorrow appeared on Li Man'er's face. "Alas, Official Ji, you wouldn't know. Lu Fang went with me to raid the enemy camp. Unfortunately, his luck was not good, and he did not return."
Ji Zhongwen's eyeballs nearly popped out. He exclaimed, "Dead?"
"It's highly likely. It was too chaotic at the time, and we were separated. Later, during the battlefield cleanup, his body was not found. However, I reasoned that if he were alive, he would have returned with us by now. There's no reason for him to be the only one not to return when all the other brothers did."
Ji Zhongwen's mouth tasted bitter, as if he had eaten bitter gourds and licorice.
"Then may I borrow Zhang Jingfeng? Lu Liang is not needed."
Li Man'er replied, "That's no problem. A'si, summon the two generals."
"Yes!"
A'si turned and left, returning shortly with Zhang Jingfeng and Lu Liang.
The first thing the two did upon entering the tent was to salute Li Man'er, and then they also greeted Official Ji.
"No need for formalities," Li Man'er said. "Official Ji needs your help with something."
Ji Zhongwen quickly said, "General Feng is missing. He has been gone for a day and a night. Generals, please come with me quickly to see if we can find the general's whereabouts."
"Missing?" Zhang Jingfeng exclaimed, "How could that be! Wasn't the general at the command post at the time?"
"It's precisely because he was at the command post that it's strange!" Official Ji said helplessly. "There were guards patrolling, and no suspicious individuals were seen. General Feng was alone in his study, without anyone accompanying him. By this morning, his guards discovered he was gone."
Zhang Jingfeng looked at Li Man'er. "General."
"Go!" Li Man'er was always generous, and besides, there shouldn't be any battles in the next day or two. It would be good for them to go and see.
"Yes!"
Lu Liang remained silent throughout, but his actions were in sync with Zhang Jingfeng; he was going to check it out.
"Then let's go!" Official Ji had found his backbone and, without another word, left the Iron Blood Battalion with the two of them.
If he stayed any longer, he would either be angered to death or verbally battered to death.