Chapter 1336 – Defeating Huang Song, Uniting Dongqing (Seventy-Seven)
The night wind brushed against them, adding a touch of unspoken loneliness.
Huang Song remained silent for a while, seemingly weighing the truth of Jiang Pengji’s words.
“It’s getting late. If we don’t head back soon, Zixiao and the others might be worried sick,” Jiang Pengji turned to Nong Qin and said, “Boga is my close friend, not someone of ordinary status. Tell the underlings to be more careful and not to neglect our esteemed guest.”
Nong Qin nodded without objections, replying, “This subordinate will obey.”
Although Huang Song was technically a captive at this moment, Jiang Pengji held no intent to harm him and thus wouldn’t deliberately humiliate him.
If he was sensible, sparing his life would be no trouble.
If he defied her, well, she would have to show no mercy.
They were indeed friends, but to her, feelings were a luxury, not a necessity. If sacrifices were required, she wouldn’t bat an eye.
Huang Song remained silent but did not resist, tacitly accepting Jiang Pengji’s arrangement.
Compared to his calm indifference, the reactions of others were a mix of chaos; some wailed bitterly, others were in despair, while some trembled in fear. When the soldiers tried to bind him with ropes, his body shook as if he were sifting through grain—
The atmosphere was thick with despair, shrouding them like dark clouds; no one knew what awaited them in the future.
Under normal circumstances, when a leader was defeated and captured, their subordinates often met grim fates. Some might switch sides, while others faced suspicion and oppression for their previous close ties to their old master, living out their lives in gloom.
Jiang Pengji had no time for such concerns; she simply knew that her battle with Huang Song had finally yielded results, leaving only the cleanup and recapturing of Haozhou, which wouldn’t take much time. The weight on her shoulders felt lighter, and she found amusement in bantering with Nong Qin.
Nong Qin dared not ride alongside her lord and maintained a respectful distance, trailing several paces behind.
Jiang Pengji queried, “After achieving such great merit, do you have any desires, Nong Qin?”
Without hesitation, Nong Qin replied, “It is already a great honor for this subordinate to serve the lord, how could I ask for rewards?”
To abandon her life for her lord was simply expected; Nong Qin lacked for nothing, and the chance to gain merit was a gift enough.
Jiang Pengji sighed, “Your loyalty to me is clear, but you must consider yourself as well.”
Nong Qin replied matter-of-factly, “I am doing just fine.”
She believed her current life was perfect; her lord had given her a second chance at life, allowing her to grasp a life she had never dared to imagine before.
Occasionally reminiscing about her past, she found it hard to believe that she was the same person before turning thirteen.
She grew faster than her peers and had a larger appetite, which led her parents to treat her harshly. Her grandmother viewed her as a jinx, bullying her repeatedly; at one point, she was beaten with a stick thick as a forearm. Eventually, her so-called relatives sold her to a brothel for meager compensation. By sheer fortune, she entered Liu Residence, but due to her mature appearance, she faced harassment from the manager’s son.
She had long since given up on life, but her lord had given her meaning and strength, allowing her to rise to a level few could achieve.
In her heart, the former maid Azhu had long since perished, and the one who lived now was Jiang Nongqin, the lord’s loyal servant.
Jiang Pengji was quite stingy with her emotions, but Nong Qin was an exception.
“I’ve heard you and Jing Rong…”
Jiang Pengji was not a professional matchmaker, but every couple she facilitated had turned into model spouses.
Nong Qin’s expression remained calm, showing no hint of shyness, as if discussing the weather.
“What about Military Adviser Yang?”
“I remember, Nong Qin is only a little over a year older than me,” Jiang Pengji continued, “The war will likely pause for a bit; don’t you want to take this opportunity to sort out things with Jing Rong? Other kids your age have already had several children, and he’s still all alone—”
Nong Qin’s brows furrowed, her tone slightly cold.
Of course, this displeasure was directed at Yang Si.
“Did Military Adviser Yang say something in front of the lord?”
Otherwise, why would the lord suddenly push for a marriage?
Jiang Pengji said, “No, I’m merely criticizing him for being too old. If you two don’t hurry, by the time he’s nearing forty, it might affect the children.”
Nong Qin asked, “Will it?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “Jing Rong was quite the drinker in his youth, and his private life… tsk, being older now will certainly have consequences.”
Jiang Xiaowei typically had no doubts about her lord’s words.
“This matter, I will consider seriously.”
Thinking of the children at Golden Scales Academy stirred Nong Qin’s thoughts; they were the future backbone of her lord…
With that in mind, she seemed less averse to the idea.
Jiang Pengji said, “If Nong Qin gets married, I’ll prepare you a dowry as splendid as ten miles of bridal procession, absolutely on par with those royal families.”
Ancient marriages valued compatibility; the economic strength and social status of both sides should be similar, thus the bridal gifts and dowries were often equal. If one side outmatched the other, the man would be accused of marrying up, while if the dowry was deficient, the woman’s family would be criticized for selling off their daughter.
If Jiang Pengji truly prepared a ten-mile bridal procession for Nong Qin, Yang Si would have to drain his entire fortune.
Nong Qin broke into a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
Yang Si: “…”
I have something to say, but not sure if I should!
After spending half an hour to return, everyone was anxiously awaiting their arrival, necks craned.
When they heard the army’s return, they rushed forward, their first instinct to find Jiang Pengji.
After looking here and there, when they saw their lord unharmed, only then could they calm their pounding hearts.
Jiang Pengji instructed, “Boga and the others should be hosted well; all matters can be discussed tomorrow.”
“Yes!”
Yang Si lagged behind intentionally, facilitating a casual stroll with Nong Qin.
The latter maintained a frown, as if grappling with an enormous dilemma.
Nong Qin said, “In these recent days, Military Adviser Yang should cut down on drinking and eating. You should learn health tips from Military Adviser Wei.”
Yang Si responded, “…Why?”
He was unaware of what Nong Qin’s temperament was before, but after they met, he observed that this woman spoke less than anyone else. Her sudden concern for his health left him a bit stunned.
Nong Qin added, “What are your plans regarding offspring, Military Adviser Yang?”
Yang Si replied, “Never thought about it.”
He had previously been a confirmed bachelor, with no wife, so where would the children come from?
Nong Qin said, “I hope for a pillar of the family. If the child proves to be unsatisfactory, it would be better to get rid of them early to avoid tarnishing the family name.”
Yang Si: “…”
With a mom like that, the future kids better keep their eyes wide open and measure their worth before reincarnating.
If they didn’t have enough sense, it wouldn’t be reincarnating but rather a trip to their demise.
