Chapter 1224 – Preparing for Battle, Rest and Recuperation (Part Three)
Hmm?
“That kid next to Jinghui is a student from Golden Scales Academy, right? Which family does he belong to?”
Qi Guanrang fanned himself, his brow slightly furrowed in displeasure.
While Wanzhou had an open atmosphere, it didn’t mean other families’ kids could just lay their hands on his daughter.
In ancient times, many scholars had near-sightedness. Their vision wasn’t sharp, but certainly not as good as that of military generals.
Qi Guanrang could recognize Qi Guan Jinghui, but he couldn’t tell who the boy next to her was.
Li Yun glanced over and said, “That’s Sun Lan, son of Master Sun.”
He remembered Sun Lan as a shy and introverted boy, but he had become much more outgoing now.
“Grandson of Sun Zaidao? So that’s who it is.”
When Jiang Pengji led her troops against Meng Zhan, Qi Guanrang had aided Sun Wen in governing Chongzhou (Beijiang), and they had interacted frequently.
He often heard Sun Wen talk about his grandson, so he had some impression of the boy.
Li Yun chuckled, “The kids get along pretty well.”
If their parents had a good relationship, they naturally hoped the next generation would get along just as harmoniously.
If nothing unexpected happened, these kids would become the backbone of the future, and harmonious relationships would mean fewer conflicts.
Qi Guanrang snorted lightly, noncommittal.
Li Yun noticed his displeasure but couldn’t think of what might have upset Qi Guanrang, so he fell silent.
“Jinghui, your father is looking over here—”
Seeing Qi Guanrang glance this way, Sun Lan excitedly raised both hands and waved.
Changsheng scanned the area until her gaze landed on Li Yun and then turned to the plump girl in Shangguan Wan’s arms. “Nuan Nuan, your daddy is over there—”
The chubby girl was Li Yun’s eldest daughter, named Li Nuan, with a nickname of Nuan Nuan.
She lived up to her name, always smiling sweetly. Whoever teased her would elicit a giggle, her bright smile warm and pure, very rarely did she fuss.
As soon as Changsheng and the others saw her, they instantly adored her.
Nuan Nuan was at that delightful age where she loved babbling, and her first word had become “daddy.”
Hearing that familiar sound, she immediately turned to look at Changsheng, giggling and revealing her red gums and a few white teeth.
“Daddy—Daddy—”
Shangguan Wan gently tapped Nuan Nuan’s nose with her finger. “Wait until Daddy comes back; you’ll get to see him. The window isn’t high, so it’s not safe to get too close.”
The kids were all short, so peering out the window wouldn’t be a problem, but if she held Nuan Nuan close to the window, it would be different.
Nuan Nuan, not understanding what Shangguan Wan meant, made an aah noise and opened her mouth to nibble on her finger.
The atmosphere in the room was relaxed and cheerful, while outside, the excitement remained vibrant and unyielding.
“Lord/Leader—”
Jiang Pengji dismounted and tossed the reins to a soldier. Waiting for a long while, Feng Jin and Feng Zhen stepped forward to greet her.
Cheng Yuan was also there, though he looked a few pounds lighter, his jaw sharper.
“Thank you all for your hard work.”
Jiang Pengji raised her hand to gesture for them to get up.
“It’s no trouble. It’s our duty to help the Lord/Leader with her concerns.”
This wasn’t the place for casual chatting, so Jiang Pengji headed back to the residence, dispatching someone to orderly disperse the gathered common people.
Because of their travel fatigue, Jiang Pengji kindly let everyone return to their homes for some rest, saying that the remaining matters could wait until tomorrow.
Han Yu and Xie Ze were new arrivals, normally having no property in Wanzhou.
But Jiang Pengji had already arranged for their families to be brought over to Wanzhou, and their residence had long been prepared.
Leading the way, Xie Ze returned home and saw his wife waiting at the door with house maids, his heart brimming with excitement.
He had prepared himself mentally for dying in battle, thinking he might never see his wife again, yet here he was, ready to reunite.
Naturally, the couple had a mountain of words to share.
In contrast to the warmth and sweetness between this couple, another pair was a bit colder.
Han Yu and his wife were also a young couple who understood each other well, and he could tell at a glance whether she was sincere or merely going through the motions.
Given that he had narrowly escaped death, at the very least she should express concern, yet she seemed too lazy to even perform basic pleasantries.
Thinking about Wei Ci’s earlier words, Han Yu felt quite uneasy.
“Is the Lady upset with me?” Han Yu asked softly.
Han’s wife maintained a perfect demeanor, looking as flawless as a delicate porcelain doll.
“The Young Master returns safely, and I can’t be happier! Why would I be upset?” Han’s wife smiled, turning to instruct the maidservants to prepare hot water and clean clothes for Han Yu, to wash away the bad luck and welcome him home, even sending a favored concubine from the back courtyard to attend to him.
Though Han Yu had taken no concubines after marriage, he did have two maidservants that were with him before marriage, and Han’s wife graciously accepted them and gave them status.
She treated the concubines well and even took care of the illegitimate son, handling everything perfectly without a trace of fault.
Seeing this, Han Yu could only sigh.
“Lady, why don’t we have a chat?” Han Yu said.
Han’s wife looked surprised and replied, “About what?”
Han Yu choked for a moment, unsure how to continue.
He could see that his wife was dissatisfied and perhaps even resentful, but she denied it outright, and he couldn’t press the issue.
“Nothing—My teacher Mr. Yuanjing is here, and as his disciple, I should pay a visit—”
Han’s wife smiled. “In that case, let me prepare something for you. It wouldn’t be right to go empty-handed.”
Han Yu could only stare blankly.
Just as Han’s wife was about to step out, he said, “Though Lan Ting is a woman, she is still an extraordinary talent. She’s no worse than Xie Zhao.”
To Han Yu, Jiang Pengji was certainly no worse than Xu Pei, but some things still needed to be said.
“The Young Master is the head of the household; I am merely a woman from the rear courtyard. Why tell me this?”
Han’s wife maintained her perfect smile, but inside she felt unrest.
First, she had been sent to Wanzhou like a captive; even though they had not been rude or impolite to her, it still gnawed at her heart.
She had expected Han Yu to resist to the bitter end, not to submit willingly. She thought he wouldn’t yield to Liu Xi so easily.
Unexpectedly, he calmly submitted to a new master, who was known for being closer to commoners than aristocrats.
Han Yu’s surrender to Liu Xi had made him a laughingstock among the gentry in Zhejun, leaving her feeling unable to lift her head high.
This feeling turned into resentment, but she buried it deep within and did not wish to speak of it with others.
Han Yu’s judgment was truly lacking.
On this day, all homes were restless.
Li Yun returned home, hugging his daughter and wife, planting kisses as if he were a silly fool.
Before the banquet started, the doorkeeper announced that a guest had arrived.
“Who is it?”
The doorkeeper replied, “It’s someone from the Xie family.”
Suddenly, Li Yun remembered and heard a loud clatter as his father, Xie Qian, dropped his chopsticks in surprise.
“The Xie family?” Xie Qian exclaimed.
“I hadn’t even gotten the chance to tell Father, and he’s already come knocking,” Li Yun said. “It must be Xie Ze; he’s said to be the son of the Xie clan leader, which makes him my father’s nephew.”
