Liu Zi did not expect his lord to ask him such a question. It was so difficult! Should he answer? How should he answer?
Yan Yi also did not expect such a simple question to stump Liu Zi.
Seeing Liu Zi's corners of his mouth droop and his face wrinkle like a bitter gourd, Yan Yi decided not to ask.
They walked a few more li, and the post station was already in sight. Liu Zi finally managed to eke out a sentence.
"If I were a man of leisure, I might have come to Liaodong."
The sentence, as spoken, was quite complete. Liu Zi became more fluent as he continued, "I'd like to buy a small courtyard in Qingxi Town, and constantly follow Miss Fu around, letting her take me to fight the Japanese pirates and Tatars."
However, he was not a man of leisure; his mother and sister were still waiting for him to support them. Therefore, the above was just a daydream.
Yan Yi did not expect Liu Zi to want to settle in Liaodong, even if he was just speaking hypothetically.
"Heh heh." He truly wished for it, though.
He was tired, no longer wanting to engage in pleasantries with those old guys, not even the Emperor.
The thought of the hidden dirt and grime beneath their wrinkled, aged skin made him want to vomit.
The sudden drop in temperature made Liu Zi shrink his neck.
He had been by his lord's side these past few days and had observed his moods.
He could imagine that beneath his lord's calm exterior lay a heart yearning to break free.
As for where that fiery heart was headed and what it wanted to do, he wouldn't guess. He couldn't afford the consequences if he guessed wrong.
In short, if he had to whisper it, and keep it from anyone else, it was probably, perhaps, heading north.
Yan Yi: Why was it so difficult to live life according to his own desires?
...
Fu Xin Ci was in a very good mood today. Yesterday, she had gone to Longcheng. The captain and Yang Xin Jie had publicly celebrated the birth of their daughter.
Yang Xin Jie was someone she had known since childhood, and her emotions were, of course, understandable. Fu Xin Ci had witnessed her joys and sorrows many times.
But the captain's ecstatic expression, as he told everyone that he now had a "little cotton-padded jacket" at home, was something they had never seen before.
Pang Dun: Felt a bit jealous. When he became a father, he would definitely sweep all the streets of Longcheng.
Xu Jia Can: He couldn't fall behind either. He would clean all the windows in his house.
Captain: He was going to stew soup for his wife. His current task was to fatten up his wife and daughter, which was the most important thing.
The housemates, accustomed to seeing the captain busy and acting like an exemplary house husband, were unfazed. Only Fu Xin Ci's astonishment grew.
In the end, all she could say were four words: "What a good man."
"Of course, we are all good men here," Pang Dun proudly straightened his broad back.
The day passed too quickly. As the sun began to descend westward again, Fu Xin Ci left them with fresh ingredients and prepared to return.
Standing on the hillside, catching a glimpse of the smoke rising from the cooking fires in the valley, she finally set off on her way back.
...
When General Liu came out of his tent, Yan Yi pointed to the grain transport convoy parked at the entrance of the camp and said to him, "General Liu, I have brought you everything listed on your IOU, not a single item missing."
"Thank you." General Liu clasped his hands, thanking Yan Yi.
He understood better than anyone that without Yan Yi personally escorting these provisions, he would have been lucky to receive even half of them by the time they reached him.
"Thank you, Lord Yan." He thanked him again.
"You're welcome. I've come here to stay a few more days before returning."
"Certainly. How about I accompany Lord Yan to visit Eagle Beak Cliff?"
Although they were both third-rank officials, General Liu dared not be presumptuous in front of Yan Yi.
He also knew that Lord Yan enjoyed visiting Eagle Beak Cliff.
The Meng family, and Commander Qi, were people Lord Yan liked to associate with. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"That is precisely my intention. However, regarding this grain?"
"I will have the quartermaster convert the grain and cotton into silver shortly, and I will personally deliver the silver to the Meng family."
"Hmm, that is a good approach."
When he was in the capital, Yan Yi had wanted the Ministry of Revenue to convert the grain and cotton into silver.
However, after much consideration, he felt it was not appropriate.
He feared that the old scoundrels in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue would shortchange the northern frontier soldiers' rations again this year, which was why he had insisted on personally escorting the grain out of the capital.
Although their journey had been arduous, at least the northern frontier soldiers would not be short of food this winter.
...
At the foot of Eagle Beak Cliff, Qi He was gazing up at the sky.
The azure sky was as if it had been washed clean. His neck grew tired, but he couldn't bear to look away.
These days, he had been spurred on by the captain becoming a father. His mind was filled with thoughts of a plump baby.
If they had a daughter, she would resemble his wife, and if they had a son, he would resemble him.
Thinking of that beautiful vision, his eyes narrowed into slits from smiling.
However, remembering what his wife had said, he suppressed this longing.
His wife was right; a woman giving birth was like taking one step into the gates of hell.
Like his mother, who had given her life to give birth to him, and never opened her eyes again.
He could not imagine a life without his wife; he would not last a single day.
And his father had lived like a hermit all these years, lonely and solitary. Seeing him, Qi He felt heartache.
After he got married, he had secretly discussed with his father about finding a companion.
He had heard his wife say that a spouse was a companion in youth and in old age.
But his father remained unmoved, smiling and telling him to just wait to hold his grandson.
Alas, his father's devotion.
He was the same. Therefore, no matter how much he thought about it, his wife must not be harmed.
Having children could wait a few more years.
Qi He steeled his resolve and prepared to head home.
Just as he was about to mount his horse, he thought he heard the sound of hooves striking the mountain path in the distance.
He turned his head and looked towards the pass, where dust was flying. About a dozen riders were galloping towards them.
Before he could ask, the person at the front of the group, familiar with the path, called out his name.
"Qi He."
Hearing the voice, he knew who it was. Qi He, who couldn't afford to offend the person, quickly put on a smile and replied.
"Lord Yan has arrived."
"Mm."
As the group approached and reined in their mounts, Qi He bowed to both Yan Yi and General Liu.
"Your subordinate greets Lord Yan and General Liu."
"Rise. Where is Commander Qi?"
"The Commander is still at the commandery office."
"Then we shall go find him."
After Yan Yi finished speaking, he led the way, urging his horse forward.
Qi He ate a mouthful of dust, wishing they would leave quickly.
However, why did General Liu's gaze seem unusual?
General Liu's gaze fell upon the long spear Qi He was carrying, and he couldn't look away.
"Qi He?"
"General Liu, my wife has something for me to do. Your subordinate must return home quickly."
After saying that, Qi He leaped onto his horse and sped off in the direction of his home.
As he rode, he couldn't stop chiding himself.