Chapter 260: The Expedition (Leave until the 14th to write the grand finale)
All banquets in this world must eventually end. As night deepened, Fengle Tower was left with only scattered cups and plates in disarray. The young people had already dispersed, each seeking the last fleeting moments of warmth.
In the room, a woman of exquisite beauty folded clothes one by one into a bundle, only to have it snatched away by the man who entered.
"Chengxiu, I’ve told you not to do these things," Yan He said, pulling her to sit by the bed. "You’re pregnant now and should be extra careful. What if you tire yourself out?"
Xia Chengxiu replied, "I’m only pregnant. Why make it sound so serious?"
"Being pregnant isn’t serious?" Yan He exclaimed with exaggerated concern. "In any case, the servants can handle these chores. You just focus on taking good care of yourself."
Xia Chengxiu fell silent for a moment. "I remembered that I had two new sets of clothes made for you earlier, which you haven’t had a chance to wear yet. I thought I’d pack them for you this time."
In the past two years, Yan He had rarely returned to Shuojing. Sometimes, before he could even wear the new clothes Xia Chengxiu had prepared for him, he would already be leaving the capital again.
"I’m going to war. What’s the point of dressing so finely?" Yan He said without hesitation. "And there’s no need to bring so much."
Xia Chengxiu fell silent once more.
Her silence made Yan He uneasy. Before every expedition, what he feared most was Xia Chengxiu’s quietness. Lord Xia’s daughter was gentle yet strong. As a child, Yan He had witnessed the tearful pleas and reluctance of families when generals went off to war—even his own mother had been the same. But Xia Chengxiu was never like that. At most, she would simply fall silent, as she was now.
Yet this silence stirred even greater guilt and tenderness within him. As a military officer, it was his duty to answer the call when the nation was in peril. Throughout his life, he had lived with a clear conscience toward heaven, earth, his sovereign, and his mentors—only his family, his wife and children, bore the weight of his absence.
Hesitating for a moment, Yan He pulled Xia Chengxiu into his arms and sighed softly. "Chengxiu, I’ve wronged you."
Xia Chengxiu was taken aback for a moment before she smiled. "How is this wronging me? You’re going to Ji County to defend the territory of Great Wei. The peace I enjoy here in the capital is precisely because of your protection."
"But I..." Yan He frowned. "I can’t be by your side when you’re carrying our child."
Having a child with Xia Chengxiu was a joyous occasion, yet it was accompanied by regret, disappointment, worry, and guilt.
"Since I married you, I knew this day would come. Complaining to you would only be pretentious," Xia Chengxiu said with a light laugh. "The situation is critical. Even if you’re not in Shuojing, our little one will understand."
Yan He gazed at Xia Chengxiu’s belly, placing his palm gently over it, and murmured softly, "I wonder if it’ll be a young master or a young lady..."
"Listening to you speak at Fengle Tower today, I thought you didn’t care," Xia Chengxiu chuckled.
"I truly don’t care whether it’s a boy or a girl. It’s still my flesh and blood."
"If it really is a son, would you truly want him to become a military officer like you?" Xia Chengxiu asked.Yan He thought for a moment: "I hope he becomes a military officer, but if he doesn’t like it and wants to do something else, that’s fine too. Besides, if our Mu Xia wants to learn martial arts, that’s no problem. Wasn’t my former classmate, the Flying Goose General, also a woman? If our Mu Xia wants to become the second Flying Goose General, I, as her father, will definitely support her. However, I’m much better than He Yan’s father—I’ll teach her everything I know, making her even more exceptional than the Flying Goose General."
Xia Chengxiu stared at him and nodded. "I understand. You still prefer a little girl."
Unfazed at being seen through, Yan He replied, "Exactly!"
Xia Chengxiu couldn’t help but laugh. After laughing, she gently leaned her head against Yan He’s shoulder and whispered, "If... I mean if, you could have been there when Mu Xia was born."
Yan He was taken aback. Once a war breaks out, who can say when it will end? Maybe he could make it back in time, maybe not... He took Xia Chengxiu’s hand. "I’ll do my best, Chengxiu. I also want to witness our child’s birth with my own eyes."
...
The night in Shuojing City seemed less cold than it had been in recent days.
All the heaters in the room had been removed. After bathing, He Yan entered the bedroom and saw Xiao Jue sitting at the table, polishing his sword.
Drink Autumn, held in his hand, gleamed with a flowing radiance, looking less like a sword and more like some rare treasure. It was hard to imagine that such a beautiful sword could be sharp enough on the battlefield to slice through an enemy’s golden blade and split their arrows in an instant.
He wiped the last speck of dust from the tip of the sword with a silk cloth. Just as he sheathed it, another sword was thrust before him, accompanied by the shameless laughter of the person beside him: "Commander Xiao, polish mine too, won’t you?"
Xiao Jue glanced at her. He Yan grinned at him. After a moment, he silently took the sword, drew it from its sheath, and began polishing it for her.
He Yan sat down at the table.
Qing Lang and Drink Autumn were two completely different swords. In theory, a woman’s sword should be light and agile, but Qing Lang was heavy—even for a man, it was no easy feat to wield. The sword’s body was a deep, ancient green, seemingly ordinary at first glance but uniquely distinct upon closer inspection. Much like its owner.
He Yan rested her chin on her hand, watching the young man before her.
He had also just bathed, wearing only a jade-colored inner garment with an outer robe casually draped over it, dressed somewhat carelessly. Though he was a languid beauty, he polished the sword with meticulous care, lending him a sharp, cold edge. This contradiction made him all the more captivating.
Xiao Jue noticed He Yan’s unwavering gaze and asked, "What are you looking at?"
"I was thinking," He Yan said without hesitation, "your face truly lives up to the title ‘Jade-Faced Commander.’"
For a military officer to look like this was almost an insult to other officers.
Xiao Jue gave a slight smirk.
It was strange—he didn’t like others discussing his appearance, as judging by looks was shallow. Yet, whenever He Yan straightforwardly praised his looks, he didn’t mind it at all; in fact, he rather enjoyed it. Xiao Jue sometimes reflected on whether he, too, had become shallow for taking pleasure in such things.
He Yan waited for him to finish polishing Qing Lang and sheathe it. He stood up and hung both swords on the wall.
Just as Xiao Jue finished hanging the swords, he was embraced from behind.He Yan loved holding him like this, clinging to him like a child to an adult. Perhaps it was because she was too short, or perhaps it wasn’t that He Yan was short, but that Xiao Jue was simply too tall. In any case, whenever she threw herself over like this and wrapped her arms around Xiao Jue’s waist, her expression was one of pure joy—a joy that would make even those watching feel warmth slowly spreading in their hearts.
“Heroine,” the young man stood still, a teasing smile in his voice, “are you trying to strangle me?”
From behind him came her dismissive reply, “I haven’t even used any strength yet, Commander Xiao. How can you be so frail?” With that, she began fumbling around his waist.
Xiao Jue: “…He Yan.”
He Yan found the sachet at his waist, yanked it off, and held it up in her hand. “Xiao Jue, is this how you go around showing off my embroidery?”
Xiao Jue turned around, glanced at the sachet in her hand, and raised an eyebrow slightly. “That seems to be ‘mine.’”
He Yan was left speechless.
She hadn’t noticed it originally, but when she was leaving today, Lin Shuanghe had said to her, “Sister He, what’s with that ugly sachet on Huaijin? He is, after all, the second son of the Xiao family. Hanging such an ugly accessory is really quite unsightly. Since you’re his wife, you should pay a little attention to these things.”
He Yan “paid attention,” and it was fine if she hadn’t, but once she did, she felt both annoyed and amused.
Earlier, Bai Rongwei had given Xiao Jue a protective talisman, which was placed inside a sachet. At the time, driven by some hidden sentiment, He Yan had embroidered a moon inside the sachet. To be honest, the moon wasn’t exactly beautiful. But it was, after all, a token of her affection. Now it seemed Xiao Jue had discovered the secret inside. But even if he had discovered it, why had he turned the sachet inside out, with the embroidered side facing outward?
Anyone who saw it would only think it was an ugly sachet.
“You didn’t tell them I embroidered this, did you?” He Yan asked nervously. “It’s so ugly, it definitely couldn’t have been me!”
Xiao Jue chuckled. “Oh, I only told them my wife embroidered it.”
He Yan’s heart sank into despair.
She handed the sachet back to Xiao Jue. “Whatever, I’ve already lost face anyway. But don’t you think it’s really ugly to wear it?”
It was like the elegant Lin Shuanghe holding an iron hoe as an accessory—ugliness aside, it just didn’t match.
“Is it?” Xiao Jue reattached the sachet to the fastener on his outer robe. “I think it’s quite nice.”
He Yan wondered if blindness was contagious.
He turned to face her. “When I reach Yunzi, I’ll see it and feel like I’m seeing you.”
He Yan: “…Are you implying I’m ugly?”
He paused for a moment, then laughed leisurely. “Your thoughts are always so different from others.”
He Yan laughed too. It wasn’t that her thoughts were different from others; she simply didn’t want to make the atmosphere sad and sorrowful on the night before departure. People tend to feel particularly fragile and sentimental when facing farewells, but she refused to be that way. If she knew her destination lay ahead and her home awaited her return, then she would stride forward boldly and gracefully.
What was considered a weakness could also be armor.
“Xiao Jue, can you promise me one thing?” she asked.
“What is it?”"Nine Rivers and Yunzi are in different directions. In the event of war, messages between you and me will take time to travel. In the past, I was alone and had no concerns, but now you and I are united as husband and wife. I want you to promise me that if there is news, no matter what it is, do what must be done. Do not let it affect the greater situation, and do not linger." She looked at the man before her. "Keep moving forward."
No one could guarantee the outcome of war.
This was also the first time she was going into battle alongside the one she loved. A person could not afford to be distracted. When a military commander was on the battlefield, all their focus had to be on the battlefield before them and the enemy forces. Every moment of distraction was a grave mistake. In those moments, titles like husband, son, or father had to be set aside. On the battlefield, one was either a soldier or a commander, nothing more.
Of course, the same applied to her.
"These words also apply to me," He Yan said. "No matter what I encounter, no matter what I hear, I will lead my troops forward and will not retreat or linger for anything."
The girl's eyes sparkled, seeming to hold a hint of apology. She hesitated for a moment. "You might think me heartless..."
"I promise you," Xiao Jue interrupted her.
He Yan was taken aback.
Xiao Jue said, "Promise me one thing as well."
"...What is it?"
He leaned down slightly and gently kissed He Yan's forehead.
"Come back alive."
...
The early spring sun shone through the newly cut paper-cuttings on the window, slicing the sunlight into fine, scattered beams that sprinkled across the courtyard floor.
A tall guard walked in from outside, carrying a bundle in his hand. With the departure for war imminent, the former "guard" was to return to the Nine Banners Battalion and head to Yunzi with the troops.
A petite figure was sweeping the courtyard. Chi Wu stood behind the girl, hesitating, unsure whether he should call out to her.
Logically speaking, he had previously "stayed" at the He residence for a while. Although he hadn't been of much use and had provided almost no help to He Yan, he had at least formed a friendship with He Yan's personal maid, Qingmei. At one point, Chi Wu even thought he and Qingmei got along quite well. After all, in all his years, it was the first time he had been ordered around by a woman. Perhaps her matter-of-fact attitude had influenced him, as over time, Chi Wu began to think this was how things should be.
However, after He Yan married into the Xiao family, Qingmei would avoid him whenever she saw him, as if he were a plague. Chi Wu was utterly perplexed, but he couldn't very well grab a young girl and demand an explanation. Besides, with so many things happening afterward, he hadn't seen Qingmei many times.
But now that he was leaving, it would likely be a long time before he saw this little maid again. Chi Wu hesitated, wondering if he should step forward and say goodbye.
Before he could decide, Qingmei turned around and, seeing Chi Wu, was momentarily stunned. "Guard Chi Wu?"
"Oh... I'm leaving," Chi Wu scratched his head. "Just passing by." After saying that, he wasn't sure what else to say and prepared to turn and leave.
"Wait!" Qingmei called out to him. She took a cloth bundle from the nearby stone table and shoved it into Chi Wu's arms. "You came just in time. If you hadn't, I would have had to ask the young mistress to give this to you."
"What is this?" Chi Wu was taken aback.“The young mistress said Yunzi is by the sea and very damp, so I made a pair of boots. The soles are a bit stiff, but they’re waterproof. My craftsmanship isn’t the best, so please make do with them.” She emphasized again, “Consider it repayment for helping me sweep the courtyard earlier!”
Boots? Chi Wu looked down at the cloth bundle in his arms, feeling a strange mix of emotions.
Seeing him still standing there, Qingmei put her hands on her hips and said, “Aren’t you leaving yet? Aren’t you afraid the young master will punish you if you’re late?”
Chi Wu snapped back to reality, hesitated for a moment, said “Thank you,” and turned to leave.
Qingmei called out to him again, “Hey!”
“What else?” Chi Wu asked.
She grabbed the broom beside her, turned, and walked toward the courtyard, tossing back a sentence as she went, “Blades and arrows have no eyes—be careful out there!”
Chi Wu watched her retreating figure, cleared his throat softly as if wanting to laugh but held it back. He tucked the cloth bundle into his robes and strode away.
…
Outside the city gates, crowds of onlookers and families seeing off their loved ones had already gathered.
Beside Xiao Jing, Bai Rongwei held He Yan’s hand, giving her endless reminders to be careful. She then solemnly handed her a protective talisman, saying, “This was blessed by the master of Jade Splendor Temple. I asked for two—one for you and one for Huaijin. Ah Yan,” she said, “I know you have great ideals, but… you must also protect yourself.”
He Yan hung the sachet containing the talisman alongside the Black Jade at her waist and smiled, “I know, sister-in-law.”
“Yan Yan, go to Nine Rivers with peace of mind. Your father will be waiting for you at home!” He Sui waved to her grandly, trying to appear carefree and open-minded, but his eyes involuntarily reddened.
He Yan’s eyes also grew moist.
He Yun Sheng didn’t say much, but when He Yan walked up to him, he finally couldn’t help gritting his teeth to remind her, “He Yan, you’d better keep the promises you made.”
“I know, I know,” He Yan nodded repeatedly. “I’ll definitely come back alive, don’t worry.” She patted He Yun Sheng’s head, “While I’m away, I’m entrusting the He family to you, Yun Sheng.”
He Yun Sheng replied, “Rest assured.”
Three words, spoken with firm resolve.
He Yan couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling. In her past life, every time she went to the battlefield, she was alone. Now, with so many ties, she didn’t feel restrained—instead, her heart was filled with strength.
He Xinying had also come today, hidden in the crowd. When He Yan spotted her, she hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and handing He Yan a bundle.
He Xinying said, “As a woman, things in the army can be inconvenient. Here are some clothes and small items I made myself—they’ll be useful to you.”
He Yan smiled, “Thank you, Xinying. You’ve thought of everything.”
He Xinying pursed her lips, “When you go to the battlefield, this is all I can do. Sister,” she whispered, “you must return safely.”
He Yan winked at her, “Don’t worry. When I come back, I’ll exchange my military merits for rewards and buy you the prettiest jewelry!”
He Xinying was amused by her words. Over by the city gate, Yan He urged, “Marquis of Wu’an, what are you dawdling for? Let’s go!”
“Coming, coming—” He Yan said as she walked over, mounted her horse, and rode up beside Xiao Jue, who was dressed in imposing military attire with a long sword at his waist.Supported by her maid, Xia Chengxiu gazed at the figure marching with the troops out of the city until he disappeared from sight. Only then did she gently stroke her belly and murmur softly, "Mu Xia, say goodbye to your father."
Cheng Li Su had sneaked out without his family's knowledge and now hid among the crowd. He turned to Song Taotao, who had also slipped out in secret, and asked, "When do you think they’ll return?"
For once, the young girl didn’t respond impatiently to his question. "I don’t know," she said quietly. After a pause, she added slowly, "But I hope every single one of them comes back."
The city gates swung wide open. Under the sunlight, the wind rustled the grass and trees, while the procession of soldiers and carriages advanced like a winding dragon, fearlessly heading toward the battlefield.
Banners fluttered, their might resonating for miles.
Note: I’ll be on leave until the 14th. Remember to come back on the 14th for the grand finale of the main story!
(End of Chapter)
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