Song Lingsu caught Song Lingzhou, and as he lifted him up with effort, he laughed and said, "Fourth brother has grown taller; big brother here can hardly carry you now." Song Lingzhou stuck out his tongue and said, "If you can’t carry me, you can always give me a piggyback ride. Surely, you can manage that."

"Indeed, I must practice regularly. Otherwise, if I can’t even carry my younger brother, that would be a joke." Song Lingsu said seriously.

Song Lingjie walked over, extended his hand, teasing, "It’s no big deal if you can’t carry your brother, as long as you can carry your bride."

Song Lingsu felt his face grow warm. Their hands clasped as the cousins bumped into each other before letting go. He rebuked, "So, after not seeing you for a while, you’ve started to joke with big brother."

"That’s because I heard from uncle that you’re about to get engaged soon." Song Lingjie raised an eyebrow and said.

Song Lingsu felt a bit shy but responded openly, "It’s still too early to talk about that; nothing concrete has been established yet."

"Once the person is chosen, and you meet, it won’t be early. Estimated, it might be settled before the spring."

Song Lingzhou leaned in with a grin, "If big brother gets engaged, won’t we have a sister-in-law? When she arrives, we’ll surely get new belts and wallets, right?"

"Look at you, greedy one, are you really that short of belts, wallets, and socks?" Song Lingjie poked his forehead with a finger.

Song Lingzhou scratched his head and said honestly, "Of course I’m not short on those. Just missing a sister-in-law, right?"

Song Lingsu felt awkward from his brothers’ teasing and retorted, "Did you come to visit me, or are you deliberately here to mock my embarrassment?"

"Naturally, we’ve missed you and came to see you." Song Lingjie said.

Song Lingzhou also added, "Indeed, you’ve been away at the Academy for so long without returning. Second brother has gone to join the military. In the manor, it’s just me and third brother to talk to; it gets boring. The little kids downstairs can’t even speak properly."

Upon mentioning Song Lingzhao, the smiles of Song Lingsu and Song Lingjie slightly faded; they wondered how he’s doing in the Northwest and if he can endure it.

How is it?

It’s naturally as bitter as century-old coptis.

"Young Master, your hands have developed chilblains. Even when it was colder before, you never used to get these; but now..." Tian Damao sniffed while applying herbs, his nose red and eyes even redder like a rabbit, overwhelmed with pity.

Song Lingzhao winced from the pain, exclaiming for gentleness, and continued, "Isn’t it normal to get chilblains? Every soldier gets them; even you have them."

"I’m just a rough person; getting these is as common as eating chaff. But you’re different, clearly a pampered young master, yet you’ve got them on your limbs. You’ll suffer in the future; it’s said once it starts, it will appear every winter." Tian Damao said with concern, "You shouldn’t have come here to suffer. If you were in the capital, you’d be so comfortable now."

"Aha!" Song Lingzhao laughed heartily, giving him a warning look.

Tian Damao immediately closed his mouth, glancing towards someone walking on the left, whispered, "He didn’t hear, right?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Didn’t hear, but still be careful. Don’t say such things anymore. Before coming, I already expected to endure hardships. If I can’t handle this, what’s the point of becoming a Great General." Song Lingzhao sighed, "And from now on, don’t address me as Young Master. Publicly, we’re just brothers from the same village."

Tian Damao sniffed, spoke sullenly, "Who knows when there’ll be a day to rise."

Song Lingzhao was about to speak when, not far away, the horn blew, calling troops to assemble, as a large enemy force launched a surprise attack on their army.

Song Lingzhao jumped up immediately, his eyes shining like stars, said, "The day to rise has come."