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墨書 Inktalez
They were able to travel all the way here for a meal and even brought gifts, which was the most comforting thing for her. At least her efforts were not in vain; at least there were still good people in this world.
Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, six months had passed. Ermiao's two children could talk and walk now, and Small had started school. Xia Muxin's three children were learning to crawl and babbling as they tried to speak. With the addition of Snow Fairy, there were a total of six children in the house, making it noisy enough to give her a headache. Over these past few months, Xia Muxin had only gone to Town once; she simply couldn't spare the time.
The Shen Family Elders had not returned either, reluctant to leave their adorable grandchildren. They spent their days playing with the kids, and through their interactions over the past six months, they grew increasingly fond of Xia Muxin and even liked her as a daughter-in-law.
She was particularly skilled at handling affairs, managing everything inside and out very well. Otherwise, just dealing with the three largest and most famous Large Supermarkets in Tianli Kingdom would have given anyone a headache, yet she chose not to involve herself in those matters.
"Be careful on your journey. If you encounter any trouble, use the token that Husband gave you to find someone at the nearby official post station. Don't try to be brave; just make sure you come back safely."
In six months, many things could happen. For instance, this year's second rice harvest was a great success, significantly improving the quality of life for the villagers in Zhushan County. The crops were thriving more than ever. Xia Muxin planted her first fruit orchard in Dayao Village and expanded from a hundred acres to over three hundred acres. The Workshop added two more facilities and produced many new delicious foods. Many items in Tianli Kingdom no longer needed to be imported from other countries. All of this was a significant contribution from Xia Muxin. With the passing of the Retired Emperor, Tian Ming Rui finally unleashed his talents and managed the country well; the people lived in peace, and no one dared to openly accept bribes anymore. The Imperial Examination no longer focused solely on individual scores but also on character and virtue. However, Shen Muqing had yet to return after more than half a year. She watched as Yan Zhouwan gradually became more haggard and thin until she could no longer bear it. Taking the initiative, she packed Yan Zhouwan's belongings for her to go find him.
At the same time, Shen Muhan agreed with her suggestion and gave Yan Zhouwan a token that would ensure her safety if she encountered danger.
A few months ago, Shen Muqing used to send one or two letters back each month, but in the last three months, there hadn't been a single letter or even a word from him. Gradually, Yan Zhouwan began to feel anxious; she became distracted even while working and nearly burned the Oven several times.
Shen Muhan and his wife accompanied her to Town. Xia Muxin's eyes grew moist; after all, that was the border region where many unpredictable events could occur even without war. For safety's sake, she had Yan Zhouwan disguise herself as a man and asked Shen Muhan to prepare a gray paste that would darken her complexion and conceal her originally delicate features.
"Don't worry; I will send letters. As soon as things calm down over there, I will come back."
They had gone around in circles without truly cherishing their time together; now that they were apart, they felt they couldn't do without each other. She regretted having been overly cautious before when he had lowered his pride for her sake but received no acknowledgment in return. So when Xia Muxin suggested that she go to the border, she agreed without hesitation—giving herself one last chance and one last chance for them both.
The two said their reluctant goodbyes as they watched Yan Zhouwan's figure disappear from view. It was only then that Xia Muxin turned away under Shen Muhan's gentle pull as they headed towards the supermarket and then to the money exchange shop.
"Husband, what do you think is going on with Shen Erlengzi? It's been months and he hasn't sent a letter."
All the way, Xia Muxin felt indignant for Yan Zhouwan. It wasn't that she was excluding Shen Muqing, but this person truly lacked emotional awareness. The house was already built; wasn't it just to bring Yan Zhouwan into the family? Moreover, there were no issues at the border, so how could he endure this?
In this case, it could be said that his love wasn't deep enough.
"He was seriously injured. Even if he wanted to write, he couldn't. This time is their last chance to work things out. I hope they can see their own hearts clearly and cherish each other. If they want to try again, I can't help anymore."
Shen Muqing had originally planned to return when their child turned a hundred days old, but he was ambushed on the way back. Caught off guard, he lost an entire team and was severely injured himself, nearly hovering on the brink of death. It was only thanks to Ming Yi finding him that he was saved. Although he was no longer in danger of dying, his injuries were still severe, and he couldn't take care of himself. So even if he wanted to come back now, he couldn't. He had intended to go, but Ming Yi brought news that it would be the same for him; it was his own heartache. Perhaps there had been some unpleasantness between him and Yan Zhouwan before. To untie the bell, one must find the person who tied it; thus, he facilitated Yan Zhouwan's visit.
"Ah? Is he... okay?"
Xia Muxin was surprised to hear this; she hadn't expected Shen Muqing to be so badly injured. Had she known earlier, she would have definitely sent Shen Muhan instead since they were brothers. If anything happened to him, she would feel very guilty.
Shen Muhan could see through Xia Muxin's thoughts and tightened his grip on her hand, reassuring her:
"It's fine. He just needs a long time to recover; he'll be fine in a year or so."
*
Yan Zhouwan traveled through mountains and rivers, rushing day and night. She knew the route well because Shen Muhan had given her a map. However, the journey was quite long; she didn't take the water route, so it took her twenty days to reach her destination. By then, she looked worn out and her eyes were sunken.
Fortunately, with Shen Muhan's token, she faced no obstacles entering the military camp. On her first day there, she inquired about Shen Muqing's whereabouts but found it strange that every soldier seemed reluctant to talk about him. When she asked questions, their eyes flickered and they stammered in response.
At that moment, she felt a sense of foreboding in her heart. Was something wrong with him?
"Ugh... he's down again. At this rate, the Major General's health won't improve; it will only worsen. What are we supposed to do?"
With Shen Muhan's token in hand, she changed into the attire of an ordinary soldier. Though small and thin, making her easily forgettable in a crowd, she moved about freely. Those who saw the token treated her with great respect; it carried an air of supreme authority.
In front of her, she overheard two soldiers discussing their troubles, holding a tray that contained several plates: a bowl of Steamed Rice, a bowl of thick porridge, and the most ordinary home-cooked dishes. However, the appearance of the food was unappetizing, greasy and dull. Having grown accustomed to the Xia Family's meals, Yan Zhouwan couldn't help but frown at the sight. If Shen Muqing were here, he would surely refuse to eat.
"Two Big Brothers, isn't General Shen eating again? Is he feeling alright? I've just been transferred here to take care of his daily needs. As a newcomer, I would appreciate your guidance."
Listening to the earlier conversation, Yan Zhouwan realized that Shen Muhan was likely not well. Among the items on the tray was a bowl of dark substance; if she guessed correctly, it was medicine. She finally took out her token and politely addressed the two soldiers.
"Another replacement? Little brother, you're already the fifty-sixth one. Most have been sent off after being scolded. Just follow us; we'll explain everything."
Upon hearing that a replacement had arrived, the two young soldiers visibly relaxed, their spirits lifting as they became friendlier towards Yan Zhouwan. They then led her to a small kitchen and shared details about Shen Muqing's daily habits and his clothing changes, when to prepare medicine, and when he needed to take it...
"Little brother, we leave everything to you. Good luck."
After explaining everything, they patted Yan Zhouwan on the shoulder with heartfelt sincerity before leaving at top speed.
Yan Zhouwan watched them dart away like rabbits and felt speechless for a moment. But thinking about how Shen Muqing hadn't even eaten breakfast yet, she turned back to the kitchen and began preparing food for him.
During this time, she inquired slightly about Shen Muqing's current condition but dared not ask too much for fear of raising suspicion. After all, she was not a real soldier; even with this token—often referred to by Xia Muxin as a backdoor—it was serious business in the military, and she could face punishment if discovered.
The soldiers had casually mentioned that his injuries had improved significantly but that he still couldn't take care of himself.
This left Yan Zhouwan horrified. Many were unable to take care of themselves, so what about before? Was it just a matter of hanging on by a thread? The thought made her heart feel as if it were being tightly gripped by something, causing her discomfort.
What she prepared was quite simple: she cooked a porridge with Ginger Shreds and lean meat, boiled a bowl of bone soup noodles, and then heated the medicine she had just prepared, taking it directly to Shen Muqing's tent.
"Get out! I said I won't eat, are you all deaf?"
However, as soon as she stepped into the tent, Shen Muqing's impatient voice rang out. The tent was not very large but was quite messy; white papers stained with ink were scattered everywhere. At that moment, Shen Muqing was not lying on the bed but was sprawled on the cold ground, one hand trembling as he held a brush, trying to write something in a crooked manner. But in the end, all he produced was a blot of black ink. With a weak sweep of his long arm, the paper fell to the ground as he reached for another sheet.
"General, even if you want to write a letter home, you need to be well-fed first to have the strength to write. If you want to see someone, does self-destructive behavior help? If your hands and feet are not well, even if you see her, what difference does it make? Can you bring her happiness or ensure her peace for life?"
Seeing Shen Muqing like this made Yan Zhouwan feel both heartbroken and reproachful. How could he trample on himself like this? Wasn't he the same Shen Muqing who had once held her hand in repentance and asked for another chance?
Because Shen Muhan had shared his background and experiences with him, he had gone to the capital and toppled Zhao Weiran's family within half a month, uprooting their remaining influence. Yet he never told her anything. If it weren't for Shen Muhan, she would know nothing and would be unaware that he had been searching for her all this time.
Yan Zhouwan's words successfully shifted Shen Muqing's attention. For so many days, soldiers had respectfully delivered meals and medicine to him with their heads bowed and kneeling in reverence. But today was different; someone dared to speak to him like this.
"What is your name?"
For a moment, he even had an illusion that the person before him was Yan Zhouwan. However, Yan Zhouwan's skin wasn't this dark, her face wasn't this thin, and her eyes didn't lack spirit like this. Finally, with a self-deprecating smile, he asked in a deep voice.
"My name is A Qing; I've been newly assigned to serve the general."
Seeing that Shen Muqing did not recognize her, Yan Zhouwan let out a huge sigh of relief and then fabricated a name.
She was currently wearing military attire that was long and oversized. With winter upon them, she wore thick layers underneath and had her chest bound up, making her appear somewhat bulky. Additionally, she had altered her face somewhat; it wouldn't be easy for anyone to recognize her.
"Please finish your food first, General."
Seeing Shen Muqing suddenly fall silent, Yan Zhouwan presented the tray in her hands and then bent down to pick up the scattered papers, neatly stacking them one by one.
Shen Muqing looked at the different foods on the tray, his gaze becoming somewhat distant, but for the first time, he picked up chopsticks and brought some noodles to his mouth.
At this moment, Yan Zhouwan had nearly finished picking up the papers and had stacked them neatly on the table. She then stood respectfully beside him, waiting for him to finish eating.
However, what troubled her was that Shen Muqing seemed to be deliberately making things difficult for her. A bowl of noodles, a bowl of porridge, a bowl of medicine—he took a full hour to eat. Yan Zhouwan stood there with a sore back and aching legs, nearly dozing off while standing. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to grab Shen Muqing's collar and give him a good scolding.
Yet in the end, she held herself back.
As the saying goes, "A small tolerance can prevent great chaos." Once he was better, she would definitely make him pay double.
"The taste is not bad. Make something different for dinner tonight and prepare an extra portion."
- End of Chapter -
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