Chapter 9: The Seductive Charm of a Man

Fu Chen'an was nearly left behind at the camp tonight, forbidden from leading his troops into battle.

The reason was simple: the medicine he had brought back today was far too effective!

Many of the soldiers from the first wave of charges during the day had been injured. After listening to Fu Chen'an's introduction, Physician Niu washed his hands, put on those soft sterile gloves, and began cleaning the wounds.

For shallow wounds, they were wiped with strong liquor using cotton swabs, treated with that spray, and followed by the small pills Fu Chen'an had brought back. Remarkably, the soldiers did not develop fevers, and their wounds began to scab over!

Fu Zhonghai had also been injured today; a cut about a finger's length long had opened on his arm. It wasn't deep, but it was bleeding profusely.

After Physician Niu wiped the wound with strong liquor, applied the medicine, and used those suture-less patches, Fu Zhonghai headed back into the fray.

When he returned, he discovered that the wound had not burst open as it usually would; instead, it had contracted.

This was a sign of healing!

Was this medicine truly this powerful?

Physician Niu and Fu Zhonghai were both utterly astonished!

In the past, after a single battle, at least several hundred wounded soldiers would be unable to return to the battlefield.

But today, after treating the wounds this way, aside from the severely wounded who required rest, the lightly injured soldiers could return to battle without any issues after using the suture-less patches!

This was equivalent to reducing combat losses and preserving strength.

Such a blessing was something he had never even dared to dream of before.

One had to realize that many soldiers were not killed on the battlefield; they died because their wounds were left untreated, leading to suppuration, high fever, and rotting flesh.

Because of this, Fu Zhonghai specifically consulted Fu Chen'an: "An'er, perhaps you shouldn't go out again in a while. The wounded need medicine, and you can go back into that shop to buy more."

If something happened to you, there might not be another chance to buy medicine.

Fu Chen'an thought for a moment and chose to wear an extra layer of leather armor: "Will this put your mind at ease?"

Fu Zhonghai: "..."

Fu Chen'an went to the battlefield regardless.

Because of the miraculous medicine, the morale of the army was invisibly bolstered.

Everyone knew that minor injuries were no obstacle; the medicine was incredibly effective, and using it could make wounds heal...

Consequently, everyone charged into battle with even greater ferocity.

When Yongzhou City fell, the garrison commanders could not fathom it: "Didn't they say they had been short on food and drink for days? How are they so brave?"

"Are they not afraid of death?"

The response to him was not his deputy, but an arrow that pierced through his chest.

As the city fell, Fu Chen'an gave a low, heavy command: "The wealthy households in the city may be looted, but no civilians are to be killed! No raping of wives or daughters!"

"Those who disobey shall be executed!"

"Understood!" The men were overjoyed, rushing toward the high-walled manors of the wealthy.

Watching the swarming soldiers, Fu Chen'an's eyes were filled with nothing but indifference.

The soldiers, who had been starved outside the city for days, needed to vent their rage. To only loot and not kill was already an act of mercy.

Fu Chen'an rushed toward where his father, Fu Zhonghai, was stationed: "Father, I am heading back first."

Fu Zhonghai glanced at his son, seeing he was uninjured, and nodded in approval: "Go on."

Fu Chen'an returned to Xima Town and immediately confirmed the number of wounded and the required quantities of various medicines with Physician Niu.

Physician Niu pointed to the suture-less patches: "These, I need a thousand... no, the more the better. And these, these, and these..."

He pointed to every kind of medicine on the table.

Fu Chen'an checked the time: it was past midnight, and the shop would be closed by now. He decided to use this time to compile a list...

Once the list was finished, Fu Chen'an remembered something: "Someone! Order the men to bring all the gold and silver ingots searched from the wealthy households."

"Also, bring a batch of selected hairpins, jewelry, and fabrics."

"Understood!"

The shop did not accept banknotes or loose silver; they only took gold and silver ingots and copper coins.

As for the hairpins, jewelry, and fabrics... perhaps that young female owner would like them?!

If one wanted to buy the most precious medicine from someone, one ought to show some courtesy.

Fu Chen'an took the list to Physician Niu.

Physician Niu glanced at the list, feeling uneasy: "Can we try to buy as much as possible?"

Fu Chen'an didn't understand: "Is this not enough?"

Physician Niu's eyes widened: "It is enough for today, but if we want to use it again in the future, are we supposed to travel thousands of miles specifically to Xima Town to buy it?"

"We must buy as much as we can while it is available, understand?"

Fu Chen'an realized: "I understand. I will arrange it immediately."

...

Xiao Yingchun had finished washing up early in the morning. Just as she opened the back door of the supermarket, Fu Chen'an pushed his way in.

Upon meeting, both parties froze for a moment.

The man seemed to have specifically changed and washed; he wore a clean, sharp moon-white robe paired with a white jade crown, looking exceptionally spirited.

*A handsome man is a temptation,* four words drifted through Xiao Yingchun's mind, though her face remained serious. She pointed at Fu Chen'an: "Did you win the battle? No need for armor anymore?"

Fu Chen'an's face also flushed slightly: he had noticed this woman seemed to have some favorable impression of him, so he had specifically dressed up today to achieve his goal.

In the past, he would have absolutely despised doing such a thing.

But thinking of the wound medicine needed by the ten thousand soldiers behind him... what did it matter if he sacrificed a bit of his dignity?

Fu Chen'an reassured himself, gathered his courage, and pushed a box toward her: "This is for you."

Xiao Yingchun looked at the exquisite box inlaid with mother-of-pearl and gold and silver threads: "For me?"

Fu Chen'an placed the box on the counter and opened it; inside was a box overflowing with jewelry.

Realizing what it was, Xiao Yingchun carefully took them out one by one.

There were gemstone-inlaid hairpins, earrings, collars, rings, bracelets...

The craftsmanship was exquisite: filigree enamel, gem-set filigree...

There were even Baroque pearls embedded in them.

Looking closely, one could tell these were painstakingly handcrafted by ancient master craftsmen.

Xiao Yingchun felt a weight in her heart: a box of jewelry like this would be worth an astronomical sum in ancient times.

"Where did this come from?"

"During the siege last night, these were searched from the homes of the wealthy. I picked out the beautiful ones and put a box together for you."

As Fu Chen'an finished speaking, he saw Xiao Yingchun frown: "Looted?"

Surely they weren't the belongings of the dead?

That would be bad luck!

Fu Chen'an read her expression and immediately explained: "We only took the goods; no one was killed."

Xiao Yingchun's heart eased halfway: as long as no lives were taken, it was fine.

She thought for a moment and asked him, "What do you want?"

Fu Chen'an waved his hand: "These are a gift for you."

"I have also prepared gold and silver ingots, as I wish to buy more medicine from you. I wonder if that is possible?"

Xiao Yingchun nodded: "No problem."

Fu Chen'an pulled a stack of lists from his sleeve and read them to her.

Xiao Yingchun thought: *This amount... it wouldn't even be enough to empty a whole pharmacy.*

"...This is too much! I'm not sure I can get this much for you. Buying too much of certain medicines here might... attract the attention of the officials."

"I might end up getting arrested."

"How about you wait? Let me count them first, go out to check the situation, and then give you an answer?"