Chapter 312: Soldiers March to War
Today, the sun was bright, but it was exceptionally cold. The snow was melting.
The roads were damp and slushy, making it easy to soak one’s socks while walking.
Socks at this time were not elastic; they were open-mouthed and had to be tied with strings.
When taken off, they looked a bit like Christmas stockings.
Today was the Little New Year.
Even though it was cold, the streets were crowded.
It was the festive season, and people were out shopping to prepare for the New Year.
On every street corner, people gathered to chat about the latest gossip.
The biggest piece of gossip recently had been contributed by the Imperial family.
Princess Huiyun alone had contributed several pieces of gossip.
The first was the scandal of the swapped child, and the second was her divorce.
Her husband, the Imperial Son-in-law Han Yong, firmly insisted on recognizing only Heir Han and was willing to divorce.
Meanwhile, Princess Huiyun had reclaimed her own biological child, Vice Minister Jiang.
Old Madam Jiang, who had swapped the children, was sentenced to death.
The Emperor had always disliked the Seventh Prince.
Now, because the Seventh Princes Consort was the daughter of Old Madam Jiang, he disliked him even more.
When there were family banquets in the palace, he would not even allow the Seventh Prince and his wife to attend.
The commoners gossiped about how even the children of the Imperial family could be confused.
This Old Madam Jiang was a capable woman.
Some also said that Old Madam Jiang was foolish; if she were truly capable, she should have suppressed such a matter completely—either treat the child well or get rid of them.
By being stuck in the middle, she ultimately brought this upon herself.
Amidst all this chaos, Fairy Liu was surprisingly not implicated, at least not among the commoners.
However, they soon had no time to chat about gossip because the border was in emergency.
A great enemy had invaded, and it was said that Old General Meng had been injured.
Urgent reinforcements were needed.
Meng Shaoxia, who was supposed to hold a one-hundred-day banquet for his child, had no choice but to request to go to war.
His grandfather was the pillar of the Meng Family; if his grandfather were injured, they could not be well.
The Meng Family had served in the military for generations, regarding protecting the home and defending the country as their duty.
At this time, both Meng Qingshe and Meng Shaoxia requested to go to war.
The Emperor thought about it and decided to let Meng Shaoxia go to war while keeping Meng Qingshe in the capital.
Others in the Imperial Court climbed the ranks from the ninth grade to the seventh, fifth, third… always climbing up.
Meng Qingshe was someone, a certain individual, a very specific individual—yes, talking about you—who was always the center of attention.
This time, Jiang Feng applied to go to war together.
Before leaving, Jiang Feng went to visit The Dong Family.
During this period, Madam Dong’s status in the circle of noble ladies in the capital had risen sharply.
The hierarchy of disdain among the ladies in the capital was quite clear.
During this time, she had received more invitations than in the past few years.
However, The Dong Family had always been very low-key and not showy at all.
It was just that they interacted more with the Jiang Family; otherwise, everything remained the same.
Upon learning that Jiang Feng was actually going to the border, Madam Dong became very nervous.
A son-in-law is like half a son; Jiang Feng was articulate, looked honest, and although they weren’t married yet, Madam Dong already treated him like her own.
Minister Dong was also a bit nervous.
If the two families were not related, he would praise him, saying, “Good, the young man has promise. When the country is in trouble, every man has a responsibility.”
But when it came to his own family, it was different.
It was so cold today; going out would be so miserable.
And it was dangerous.
If something were to happen to him, what would his daughter do?
There was a reason for one broken engagement, but with a second broken engagement, his daughter’s reputation would be ruined, and who would dare to marry her?
But one could not just enjoy the blessings and retreat when there was trouble; that wouldn’t do either.
So, despite being nervous, they could only face it positively.
When Jiang Feng arrived, The Dong Family was very considerate and left time for Jiang Feng and Dong E.
The unmarried young man and woman were together, but they were not alone; there were maids with them.
The weather was very cold.
Dong E was dressed thickly, furry and round.
When Jiang Feng saw her, he couldn’t help but want to laugh.
Dong E’s hair was very black and thick.
Mianmian would definitely envy her; Mianmian liked people with a lot of hair.
“Brother Feng, how long will you be gone? Will you be able to come back in time for our wedding?” Dong E lowered her head and looked at the wet ground. There were stone slabs at home, but stepping on them still felt slushy.
Even though it was so cold, the young couple walking in the courtyard didn’t feel it at all.
Jiang Feng wanted to say, “Wait for me to come back and marry you,” but then he remembered that before leaving, Mianmian had specifically instructed him not to say things like “Wait for me to come back and marry you,” saying it was setting a flag and unlucky.
“It shouldn’t be very long. There are some local specialties there. If I see anything good, I’ll buy it for you. I will write to you and send them to you. You don’t need to worry about me; just eat and drink well.”
Dong E puffed out her cheeks and nodded.
“Rest assured, Brother Feng, I will definitely eat and drink well. If I get fat by then, we can just let out the wedding dress by two sizes. It’s just that if you return in the summer, I might have to make a summer wedding dress, something thinner.”
“It won’t be that late.” Jiang Feng found it a bit funny and also a bit touching.
Ultimately, he didn’t say any grand vows.
He was also superstitious about that.
He would strive to return alive.
Dong E had been receiving all kinds of gifts recently.
There were various gifts from the Jiang Family—tea leaves, fabrics, horses, and small toys.
There was food, pastries, and jewelry from the Meng Family.
There was jewelry, jewelry, and more jewelry from Princess Huiyun…
Even before getting married, Dong E had almost become a super little rich woman.
She was the object of envy for the ladies in the capital.
This time when Jiang Feng came, he gave Dong E a potted plant.
“When the flowers bloom, I will be back. It will be soon.”
Dong E thought to herself that she would guarantee she could take good care of this flower, and even if she couldn’t, at worst, she could just replace it with one that was already blooming.
When it was time to part, Jiang Feng ruffled Dong E’s hair.
Dong E’s face turned red, but she didn’t dodge.
She also had a gift for Brother Feng.
She gave him a knot she had woven herself, made with colorful strings, and inside it, she had placed her birth date and time.
She had originally wanted to go to the temple to ask for an amulet.
But later she thought, the Bodhisattva was so busy protecting so many people, how could that be as effective as herself?
She was definitely the person who wanted to protect him the most.
A lover’s protection has boundless power.
So, she wrote her birth date and time on it.
On the way back, Jiang Feng opened the little bag inside the knot and saw the delicate handwriting.
He found it very funny, but as he laughed, his eyes felt a bit moist. What a silly girl.
One’s birth date and time were very secretive and not easily shown to others because this era believed in spirits and ghosts, thinking that if one’s birth date was known by malicious people, they could cast curses.
The birth date was equivalent to an avatar.
Dong E had given another version of herself to her fiancé.
Meng Shaoxia’s child was only a hundred days old; he never thought he would have to go to war.
He wore a cloth pouch containing his wife and child’s hair.
Jiang Yu felt inexplicably nervous.
She felt very worried and had already run back to her maiden home several times.
Mianmian had not expected that the war at the border would, in the end, have the greatest impact on her family.
Her brother-in-law was going to the battlefield, and her Elder Brother was going to accompany him.
Traveling in ancient times was not easy, and this was going out to war, which was even more difficult.
She had no time to eat, drink, or play, and was actively preparing various medicines, wishing she could go with them.
But thinking about it, it was impossible.
There were not many days to prepare.
After saying goodbye, they left immediately.
It seemed they had arrived at a predetermined turning point.
In her previous life, the border was in emergency, and Meng Shaoxia had gone to war and died in battle.
But at that time, Prime Minister Lu was in control of the Imperial Court and was colluding in secret with the Seventh Prince.
While they were fighting here, no one sent supplies, and there were a bunch of spies sending information to the enemy.
Attacked from the front and back, caught in a pincer attack—it was a battle destined to be lost.
But now, the external situation had basically changed.
Although she was still worried, human effort can change things.
Jiang Changtian hardened his heart and let both his son-in-law and son go.
If they couldn’t even resist the foreign enemy, they would all be prisoners eventually.
Moreover, any major war was the best time to seize military power.
If not now, when? It was legitimate and proper.
No matter whose son the prince was, it was not as useful as military power.
The wind blows mournfully, the Yi River is cold; the soldiers march to war.
Countless parents saw them off.
But no one cried; no one dared to cry, as it was unlucky.
When they return triumphantly one day, I will put on new clothes and welcome my son back at the city gate, welcome my grandson back.
Whether he rides a big horse carrying a great banner, or lies in a coffin enjoying honor, there are no regrets in life or death.
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