The next morning, when dawn was breaking, Yan Ruoxu was awakened by a series of knocks at her door.
Wrapped in a thin blanket, she sat up and heard Zui'er calling her. Aside from Zui'er's voice, it seemed that Yan Zhe was also calling out to her.
"Sister, sister!" Yan Ruoxu pushed open the door, and was met with Yan Zhe's eager face. He was dressed in armor, wearing military boots and holding a helmet adorned with red tassels. The originally tall young man, now wrapped in military garb, looked even more imposing, concealing some of his youthfulness.
"Sister, look!" Yan Zhe did a twirl in front of Yan Ruoxu. "I'm going to join the troops at the border town."
Yan Ruoxu looked puzzled. "What are you saying?"
"The border town lacks military strength, so I'm going to support them. I'm leaving soon. Sister, I can finally go to the front lines!" Yan Zhe was very excited, pounding his chest. "A real man should contribute to the motherland at this time."
Yan Ruoxu's heart sank. The border town's general, Feng Shouyi, had already died, but the emperor had not made the news public, keeping it suppressed. The assistance sent there was actually to take over the chaotic situation at the border town. When the reinforcements were sent to clear up General Feng's remaining forces, the news of General Feng's death would probably be released. With this realization, Yan Ruoxu understood that the border town incident in this lifetime was not an early outbreak, but rather the false news of General Feng's death on the night of the seventh day of July! Why hadn't she thought of this before?
"Sister? What are you thinking about?" Yan Zhe crouched down, waving his hand in front of Yan Ruoxu's absent-minded face. Seeing her distracted look, he thought she was worried about his safety, which warmed his heart.
"This time, Xiao Yanchen is leading the army. He has been able to recite military strategy since he was a child, and has since acquired profound knowledge of military tactics. With him there, sister, please rest assured, we will definitely return safely," Yan Zhe smiled brightly, as if he was going on an adventurous outing with friends, rather than to a battlefield filled with bloodshed and the unpredictability of war.
Yan Ruoxu was infected by his confidence, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Affairs on the battlefield are no child's play. Be very careful. I will be waiting for you to return to the capital."
She knew that the emperor had intentionally sent Yan Zhe to train him. As part of the Yan family, he would be a pillar of the nation in the future. Thus, the emperor had ordered him to join the army. Although the trip to the border town was dangerous, it was an inevitable fate for Yan Zhe.
Looking up, Yan Zhe met Yan Ruoxu's gaze, nodding earnestly. "I will remember sister's advice. When I arrive at the border town, I will frequently write to you."
He then turned and looked at the rising sun at the horizon, bowing to Yan Ruoxu. "The army is about to set off. I can't say much anymore. Goodbye!"
The young man's vigorous figure gradually moved further away. When he reached halfway, Yan Zhe turned back and vigorously waved his arms to the figure of Yan Ruoxu standing outside the palace gate.
Yan Ruoxu smiled helplessly. In her eyes, the frontline was a purgatory filled with slaughter, but in Yan Zhe's eyes, it was a place to demonstrate his abilities and achieve success.
Due to their different perspectives, the same situation appeared in different lights.
As the sun finally rose high in the sky, the soldiers waiting outside the northern gate of the Dayan imperial city were glistening with a dazzling light as they prepared to depart.
Tens of thousands of soldiers stood in formation, dressed in black armor and wielding long swords with blades on both sides. The black-clad soldiers stretched as far as the eye could see, like the boundless pine and cypress in the forest.
The chief general, Xiao Yanchen, stood on the altar, having completed the priestly rites.
Standing atop the platform, he raised the military flag high and shouted, "The Di people have raided our cities, killed our people, and plundered everything! The deep enmity between Great Yan and the Di people, will you all seek revenge?"
The soldiers below responded fervently, "We must avenge this enmity!"
Then the horns and drums sounded, the military flags fluttered in the wind, and the army marched along the winding northern road.
Surrounding the area were many farewell onlookers, their tears flowing. Wives bid farewell to their husbands, mothers bid farewell to their sons, and young children waved goodbye to their fathers. Amidst the tears, the soldiers, who had been entrusted with high hopes, set foot on the road to war, carrying the expectations of their loved ones.
Once pillars of their families, they were now the strength of Great Yan in facing the enemy. These men also had their own tender feelings, but now they were all set aside, ready to sacrifice their lives for their country.
When Yan Ruoxu finished grooming and rushed to the north gate, the army had already vanished without a trace. Only the horse hoof prints on the ground indicated that this was the departure point of the army.
Unable to personally see off Yan Zhe, Yan Ruoxu felt somewhat sad as she stood outside the city gate, gazing at the continuously rising dust on the official road.
There were still lingering crowds around her, all peeking in the direction of the spacious road, their tear-streaked faces showing signs of sorrow.
A 20-year-old clothed woman rubbed her red, swollen eyes, bit her lip tightly, and strained to look into the distance. After confirming that the departing army was no longer visible, she let out a sigh and turned to her companion.
"The news of this departure came suddenly. It was only in the middle of the night that someone came to our home to inform us. It's fortunate that we had a safety talisman from the temple, we even had it blessed, it will surely protect my husband and bring him back safely."
Upon hearing this, Yan Ruoxu glanced at the woman beside her and thought that they were a harmonious couple, concerned for her husband who had set off to war.
Yan Ruoxu's expression softened as she looked at the deep blue sky and let out a sigh.
"Why is Miss Yan here?" A clear male voice came from behind her.
Yan Ruoxu turned to see Lu Yuanzuo standing there, dressed in elegant brocade, looking at her with a half-smile.
To conceal Yan Ruoxu's identity, he didn't address her as a princess but used the common name.
Today, apart from wanting to see off Yan Zhe, leaving the palace was also to discuss matters with Lu Yuanzuo, and now that she had encountered him, it was just perfect.
"Master Lu, what a coincidence. I'd like to invite you for a talk, would you be interested?" Yan Ruoxu asked, her hands behind her back, her chest held high.
Lu Yuanzuo was dressed very elegantly today, with wide-sleeved robes, adorned with jade at the waist, and tied-back black hair. This attire was favored by the scholars and literati of Great Yan. Yan Ruoxu had been surprised by his attire at the poetry gathering at the Qiao family's residence. Now she realized that she had been deeply impressed by him in her previous life, as he was always dressed like this.
Lu Yuanzuo, who had just come of age, had a touch of unexpected human touch in his demeanor.
It was back at the little wine shop in Xianglong Lane. It was midday, and the shop was busy, with the young attendants hurrying around. Lu Yuanzuo entered and threw a silver piece on the counter.
"Shopkeeper," he leaned on the counter, looked at the row of liquor cabinets behind the counter, "Serve me two liang of rice wine and some small dishes."
Then he looked at Yan Ruoxu, "Ladies don't drink, so prepare a bowl of sweet wine pudding for her."
They still sat in the same position as that night, on the second floor of the wine shop, near the window. There were two screens on both sides, and some painters had drawn some landscapes on them, giving the place a hint of elegance.
"The rice wine here is homemade and authentic in taste, so I am a regular here," Lu Yuanzuo said as he pushed open the window, looking outside while tapping his folding fan rhythmically on the table. Perhaps being restricted for the last few days had made him feel suffocated, he looked quite elated at being free.
Xianglong Lane was in the northwest corner of the imperial city and most of its residents were commoners and some merchants. Officials and nobles frowned upon visiting, but it was crowded with people and shops, giving off a vibrant atmosphere.
Although Yan Ruoxu was not a typical secluded woman, she rarely visited this area, so she found it quite interesting to explore.
After a brief wait, the young attendant in the shop brought their drinks and food. The sweet wine pudding was steaming hot, emitting puffs of white vapor, and two preserved eggs laid in it. The fragrance was captivating, and it made the mouth water.
Yan Ruoxu took a sip and found it even better than what the palace chef made.
Lu Yuanzuo raised an eyebrow at her, picked up a piece of braised beef, and chewed, "Delicious, isn't it? Does it taste better than what you've had before?"
Nodding, Yan Ruoxu replied, "In the palace, the emphasis is on safety and purity, followed by the quality of the cooking and the use of precious ingredients. Taste is the least consequential."
Excited by the conversation, Yan Ruoxu joined Lu Yuanzuo in a half-cup of wine. The sweet wine was so delightful that it brought warmth to her belly when she drank it.
"Look, those people over there, don't they look like Hu people?" Lu Yuanzuo lifted his glass with one hand, leaning slightly towards the window, and pointed at a group of sturdy men on the street.
Although those people were dressed in the attire of the Central Plains, all of them had prominent noses and deep-set eyes. Their hair wasn't as black and straight as that of the Han people; it was slightly yellow and had a slight curl.
In recent years, the new king of Great Yan and the Hu people had signed a truce, and the two sides had opened markets to trade. Many Hu people traveled between the two countries to sell goods. It was not uncommon to see a few Hu people in the imperial city.
"They seem to be Hu merchants trading across the border," Yan Ruoxu said, observing the men from a distance. Despite their change in attire, their exotic aura couldn't be concealed.
Frowning, Lu Yuanzuo watched the men as they chatted in whispers, drinking the remaining half cup of wine. Seemingly, he had a different opinion.
"They are not merchants; they must be noble Hu people."
Surprised, Yan Ruoxu raised her eyes and asked, "How do you know?"
Lu Yuanzuo put down his cup and pointed at one of the men, "Hu merchants have to travel long distances to reach the capital, often covered in dust and definitely not as leisurely and relaxed as these men. Moreover, if they were here for trading, they would surely carry some money. Hu people never trust Han's silvers, and they would rather keep their own valuables. Look at these men, do they carry any wealth with them?"
Approaching the window to get a closer look, Yan Ruoxu indeed saw that the group of men seemed carefree, showing no signs of exhaustion.
The Hu people were strong-willed and had always been a huge potential threat to Great Yan. The peaceful coexistence between the two nations was a recent development, and if the Hu people learned that Great Yan was about to go to war with the Di people, it was uncertain whether they would take advantage of the situation and breach the truce.
If the Hu people joined forces with the Di people against Great Yan, would the country have any future?
Yan Ruoxu's expression turned cold, and she swore silently in her heart that she would do everything she could to prevent the impending disaster.
Author's Note:
Today's author's note is a bit long, so I'll keep it brief, haha.
This is my first work, and I'm very happy with the comments, bookmarks, and clicks from all the little angels~
When someone reads the stories I write, I feel particularly happy~
I am doing what I love, it feels great.
Also, it has been getting colder lately, so little angels, be sure to keep warm and add more clothes~
Go for it~ Our journey is boundless as the stars and the sea~
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2018.11.20