Mrs. Xia heard that her son was heading to the border and immediately instructed the servants to prepare.

"In winter, the border freezes, so we must prepare thick clothes," Mrs. Xia said. "Instruct the embroidery room to put aside other tasks and focus entirely on making winter clothes for the General. Also, prepare two sets for each person accompanying him to the border."

"Yes, madam."

Mrs. Xia, having spent many years at the border, understood the conditions there and was very considerate of the soldiers.

Those serving her son would also have what he has, which is why the elderly are respected.

Xiao Chunyu was also making preparations.

"Bring out all the medicines that Nuannuan gave me; let me have a look."

With the man going to the border, Xiao Chunyu had endless worries.

Chun Nuan sent her many good medicines, and she divided each of them in half for Xia Guangcheng to take.

"Additionally, instruct the steward to buy two hundred pounds of pork, and see if there’s any beef or lamb for sale. If there is, buy two hundred pounds of each."

"Madam, is buying so much meat for a banquet?"

The maid was quite puzzled.

"No, buy it, steam it, and make jerky so the General can take it as dry food."

This method was suggested to her by Nuannuan in a letter.

Nuannuan said when she visited her father in the Northern Desert, she prepared these types of dry food—convenient and nutritious.

Hearing that the steward was buying a lot, Mrs. Xia was very comforted to know that Chunyu was preparing dry food for her son.

"Such a child; it’s no wonder Cheng is so devoted to her."

There’s nothing happier than seeing your son and daughter-in-law happily in love.

With the daughter-in-law caring for her son, and someone to look after him, the elderly lady was at ease.

Previously, every time her son went out on a campaign, she would only make cold-weather clothes and things like that, not thinking about food.

After all, she knew the military had provisions and wouldn’t starve.

She really didn’t expect the daughter-in-law to prepare meat for her son.

In this dynasty, water buffalo are work cattle and cannot be killed indiscriminately, but yellow cattle can.

Following the madam’s instructions, the steward managed to buy beef and lamb, and then pork.

"Just cut them into cubes to boil and steam."

Xiao Chunyu rolled up her sleeves and personally went to the kitchen to direct: "Make sure it is cooked today."

"Madam, the big kitchen only has two pots, and the small kitchen also only has two pots; we can’t cook this much."

The steward was in a quandary.

No household just buys over six hundred pounds of meat and cooks it all in one day; there aren’t enough pots and stoves.

"Go buy two big pots and set up stoves here to cook," Xiao Chunyu instructed. "After cooking, they need to be cut into strips and baked. Yes, we must set up stoves."

So, the steward sent someone to buy pots and firewood.

Xiao Chunyu also sent people to the herbal shop to buy star anise, cinnamon, camphor, caraway, cardamom, nutmeg, grains of paradise, bay leaves, and other spices, wrapped in white cloth and put into the big pot to cook.

For a while, the General Mansion was bustling like a pot of porridge.

About half an hour later, the air in the General Mansion was filled with a rich fragrance.

"Mother, what are you all making that smells so delicious?"

Panpan woke up from her nap, groggy-eyed from what could have been another half-hour’s rest, awakened by the aroma. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Meat," Xiao Chunyu hugged her daughter: "Father is going to the border, and Mother is preparing some jerky for him to take."

"Is Father going to the border?" Panpan was suddenly wide awake: "Is there going to be a war?"

"No, Father is going to guard the border."

"No, there’s going to be a war."

Xiao Chunyu was surprised to hear Panpan emphasize the word ’war’ three times: this child’s every word is worth pondering.

"Then why don’t you tell Father?"

Panpan immediately ran off to Xia Guangcheng’s study.

"Miss, the General is in his study attending to important matters; please come back later to see him."

Vice General Song stopped Panpan outside the study because the General was discussing the current situation with several gentlemen, which was a highly confidential matter and must not be disturbed.

"Alright, Panpan will wait for Father."

Panpan, being a good child, obediently sat down on the chair beside her to wait.

The two maids stood silently behind her, accompanying her.

They had come to understand that although the young lady was small, she was indeed a master in the General Mansion and absolutely could not be neglected.

Not to mention, in the General’s study, only the elderly lady, the madam, and the young lady could enter.

This means her status in the General Mansion is no less than that of the madam.

Sometimes one thinks, people are destined; the Wu family was really foolish, rejecting her for being a girl and sweeping the mother and daughter out immediately after her full month.

Yet unexpectedly encountered a tough one who directly brought the Wu family down.

Everyone in the Capital knows clearly about the past of the General’s wife.

At that time, everyone avoided her, considering her a vicious woman.

But who has thought that her ruthlessness might have been forced out?

Who thought about how bitter those days were when mother and daughter wandered the streets with three loyal servants?

Of course, they never imagined that after being isolated, Xiao Chunyu would seize an opportunity, would catch General Xia’s eye, would be personally granted marriage by the Emperor, and would become a second-rank General’s wife.

The young lady’s status rose with the tides, even exceeding that of the madam, becoming a guest of the Eastern Palace.

Benefiting from the young lady’s favor, they too often accompanied her to the palace; the mysterious Eastern Palace, which outsiders regarded as mystical, was very familiar to these two maids.

The aunts at the Eastern Palace treated them with courtesy, often inviting them for snacks and tea, occasionally rewarding them.

It’s no exaggeration to say their savings are absolutely the most substantial among the servants.

Following the right master is really important.

When the master thrives, they can also enjoy blessings.

The maid saw Panpan dozing off on the chair, quickly went to hug her.

Panpan opened her eyes slightly, saw who it was, and relaxed back to sleep.

Who knows how long it had been when the door to the study opened and several advisors came out.

"Farewell, student," they said as they bowed to General Xia.

"Thank you all, gentlemen. Please rest well here at the mansion."

Xia Guangcheng was a cerebral person; of course, he understood the saying that a group includes a teacher, so he specifically invited several gentlemen to analysis the current internal and external court conditions.

Of course, there were some things one could say, and some things absolutely could not be said.

To Xia Guangcheng’s surprise, his gentlemen had astonishing information sources; though they hadn’t stated it clearly, they all knew about the Emperor’s current condition.

Sometimes one thinks, matters known even to his advisors cannot be unknown to the nobility and the powerful in the Capital.

Thus, many matters cannot be hidden from those attentive.

The Capital—is it on the verge of change?

He was about to turn around when he saw Panpan, asleep on the chair held by the maid.

"Why is the young lady asleep here?" Xia Guangcheng frowned at the maid: "Why didn’t you take her back to bed to sleep?"