Chapter 127

Last night, the Zhou family was attacked. Luckily, Bazatu and his men arrived just in time, otherwise the entire Zhou team would have been wiped out. They only managed to capture the enemy, not kill them, which delayed them for many hours. It was already past noon when Bazatu and his men returned to camp. It was unclear what had happened, but Bazatu's face was sullen. He didn't soften his expression when he saw Yu and the others, and remained silent for a long time before speaking.

"The person who attacked the Zhou family last night was Yang Chenglie."

This sentence was so shocking that the expression of Fourth Sister Ye of the Yu family, who was waiting in the room, changed drastically.

The two exchanged glances, unable to conceal their surprise. Because of Ye Wumei, the Yang and Zhou families were somewhat connected. Because of Ye Wumei's marriage, Yu had a relatively good impression of Yang Chenglie. Despite Yang Chenggang's subsequent ambush on the Zhou family, one thing led to another.

"What happened? Is it Yang Chenggang's death?"

Bazatu nodded. "Of course they are. Except for Yang Chenglie, all of Suletu's former subordinates are involved."

In reality, after Zhou Jingchen conquered Beiting, he had already purged some of Suletu's former subordinates, placing some under house arrest. The only members of the Yang family remained untouched. Firstly, the Yang family's elder had accepted Ye Wumei as his apprentice, a relationship they held. Secondly, the brothers Yang Chenglie and Yang Chenggang had fought numerous victories defending Beiting over the years. Whether out of respect for their talent or their hard work, Zhou Jingchen couldn't lump these two brothers in with the rest of the group.

However, because the two were Suletu's confidants and Yang Chenggang had a criminal record, Yang Chenglie was also suspended and investigated. Although the Yang family was not in decline, its influence in the military was already in name only.

These things were unknown to outsiders, only those in the military knew. However, although Zhou Jingchen suspended Yang Chenglie's military post, he did not confiscate the Yang family property.

Yang Chenglie, having won numerous victories in the army over the years, commanded considerable prestige within the Northern Court. This time, leveraging their old camaraderie, Yang Chenglie assembled a small force and, while Guo Huai was away in Kashgar addressing the drought in Lingnan, launched a surprise attack on the Zhou family, hoping to inflict some hardship on Zhou Jingchen. The Lin Zhilan brothers and Suletu's former subordinates had taken hostages, including Yu Yejia, hoping to intimidate Zhou Jingchen and secure his surrender to the Great Yan court.

Yu's face turned pale when she heard this, and she didn't react for a long time.

Bazatu did not hide anything and explained the entire interrogation process to Yu: "Lin Zhilan and the others have already confessed what happened. I will send a letter to the prince later. How to punish these people will be decided by the prince at most."

Yu's expression gradually turned grim: "Where's Yang Chenglie? Didn't he explain anything?"

"Your Highness," Bazatu shook his head. "Yang Chenglie is a tough guy. He hasn't spoken a word since he was captured."

Bazatu's expression was extremely grim. He had always admired Yang Chenglie. They couldn't say they shared a deep sympathy, but there was no way to investigate. This was simply Yang Chenglie's fault. Yang Chenggang's death was his own fault. He deserved to die for doing such a thing for the Wu family. They were all clear-minded. Why was Yang Chenglie, who always distinguished between right and wrong, so confused about this matter?

Bazatu had some things that were difficult to say. Yu was not aware of the military affairs, so it was difficult to explain them in just a few words.

But it's undeniable that allowing Yang Chenglie's men to enter Dongxiang Town and break into the Zhou family residence late at night was Bazatu's dereliction of duty. In reality, Bazatu was left behind to protect the Zhou family. He was the strongest of the generals, and Zhou Jingchen had left him nearly 7,000 men, more than in Suiye Town. Even that didn't stop the outsiders; it was his own inadequate defenses.

Bazatu knelt on one knee and immediately apologized, "Princess, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly. The attack on the Zhou family was due to my negligence. When Your Highness returns, I will accept the punishment."

If Yu had been a little more confused last night, the entire Zhou family would have been killed. He broke out in a cold sweat whenever he thought about it.

Yu pursed her lips and didn't respond. This was indeed Bazatu's fault, and it wasn't something that could be easily forgiven with just a few words. If it had been in the palace in the past, Bazatu and his men would have been punished. But now they were in Beiting, and Zhou Jingchen was away. Yu Shi couldn't say anything too harsh. At least while Zhou Jingchen was back, Yu Shi, Xiao Shubai, and the others needed Bazatu's protection.

"Let's wait until Yun'an comes back before discussing these matters." Yu was now worried. "Have all of Yang Chenglie's men been captured?"

"Yes." Not only were they captured, but except for a few important figures, everyone else was beheaded on the spot by Bazatu.

Ye Jia quickly received news of what was happening at the Yu family. She was in Suiye Town, but she was also keeping a close eye on Dongxiang Town. Almost as soon as something happened at the Zhou family, someone would send a pigeon message. Ye Jia was horrified when she saw the words "Yang Chenglie led his men to attack the Zhou family." After reading the letter, she felt a rare sense of leniency. But this also meant that she should return.

The Wuhuan were driven out of Suiye Town by Ye Jia, and they likely won't attack again for a while. Suiye Town suffered few casualties in this battle against the Wuhuan. This force is more than enough to handle the marauding nomads. Especially with the earthen forts now built, the defenses will be even stronger.

It's time to go back.

Ye Jia looked at the dark clouds in the sky. As September passed, the weather became colder.

Last year, the snow began to fall in October. Three years into his life in this world, Ye Jia had come to understand the harshness of winter. While he didn't know when the snow would fall this year, it was clear that once it did, many things came to a halt. To resolve everything quickly, Ye Jia urged the craftsmen in Suiye Town to complete the earthen fort before the first snowfall.

Ye Jia again drew the design for the earthen bunker, using the same materials and craftsmen he had previously employed in Libei Town. Zhao Weiqing apprenticed with Ye Jia for a while, and after confirming that Zhao Weiqing was capable of taking on the next major responsibility, Ye Jia returned to Dongxiang Town at the end of September.

It was night when the carriage arrived at Dongxiang Town. After two days and three nights on the road, Ye Jia's bones were all broken.

When I knocked on the Zhou family's door, the person inside questioned me for a long time before opening it.

Yang Chenglie's surprise attack on the Zhou family had left a deep psychological scar on Yu. She now had night patrols and, following Ye Jia's example, set traps around the courtyard. After all, the Zhou family was well-off, so installing these traps was a relatively simple undertaking. For added security, Yu even moved Diandian and her family into her own and her children's room, fearing the same thing would happen again.

When Yu heard that Ye Jia had returned, she jumped up in surprise.

The weather was getting cold very quickly. Even though it wasn't even October yet, I was shivering when I got up at night. Yu Shi, wrapped in a cloak, stood at the gate to greet them. Seeing Ye Jia, she was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes.

Ye Jia held her hand, let out a long sigh, and followed her into the house.

It was so late, the children had already gone to bed. Someone had already written to Ye Jia to explain what had happened at home. Ye Jia knew that Yu was frightened, so he sat beside her and offered her tea. Yu's eyes couldn't help but tear up as she spoke: "Thank goodness, Jia Niang, you were so thoughtful and dug this escape tunnel for our family. If not, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to see your family when you return..."

Ye Jia's heart tightened, and she felt a little guilty. She was so focused on guarding the border and not letting outsiders in that she didn't pay attention to the hidden dangers inside. After all, it was her order for Yang Chenggang to die. But Ye Jia didn't think she did anything wrong. If she didn't kill Yang Chenggang for what he did, it would be difficult to warn those who were secretly plotting. But she didn't expect that someone like Yang Chenglie would actually want to take revenge on the Zhou family. "Mom, this incident has taught our family a big lesson. In the future, we can't be soft-hearted. Otherwise, there will be endless troubles."

Yu wiped her tears and nodded: "...Now that you're back from outside, can you eat now?"

"...No, it's useless if I rush back." Ye Jia had rushed back in such a hurry that the little rations she brought with her were barely enough to fill her stomach. Being a picky eater, she didn't use much. But it was too late to ask someone to make something, so she decided to make some herself.

Ye Jia was the backbone of the Yu family. When she saw her stand up, she followed her and said, "Mom will go and light the fire for you."

"OK."

The two of them went to the kitchen, where Ye Jia used the leftovers to make fried rice. She ate some soup while Yu Shi recounted what had happened during her absence. Besides the attack on the Zhou family by Yang Chenglie, Lin Zhilan, and the others, business had also been significantly impacted.

Ultimately, war affects people's livelihoods. Even though Zhou Jingchen had rushed to Yanjing at top speed, the lives of ordinary people were still impacted. Naturally, business was struggling. The Zhou family, whose business was selling fragrant pancreas, pear blossom cream, and rouge and powder, wasn't essential during wartime, so they were hit even harder. Fortunately, Ye Jia's various fertile fields yielded a good harvest, providing ample food.

Ye Jia nodded after hearing this and asked, "Can the painkillers be sent to my husband?"

"We've sent quite a bit. Yun'an wrote back saying it's very effective." Ever since the painkiller was developed, Ye Jia has been sending it to Zhou Jingchen from Dongxiang Town. It's truly a life-saving remedy, having saved many soldiers' lives.

"That's good."

Ye Jia ate a little, wiped her mouth, and prepared to rest. Yu Shi, knowing she was exhausted from the journey, stopped talking to her. She stroked Ye Jia's furrowed brow, muttered a few words, "You've lost weight," and went back to her room to rest.

Ye Jia was utterly exhausted, but before returning home, he went to check on little Shubai. Less than two months after the child's birth, Ye Jia had rushed to Libei Town to build a bunker. Fast forward over six months, and little Shubai, who had once resembled a red monkey, had completely transformed, becoming so beautiful that Ye Jia was a bit surprised. Was this child really mine? I actually gave birth to such a beautiful child!

Ye Jia didn't dare to pick up the child for fear of waking him up. He stared at little Shubai for a long time before turning around and going back to the house to sleep.

She slept soundly. She had been on edge for so long, and now, suddenly relaxed, she was exhausted. The next day, she didn't get up until noon, when she finally dressed. Ye Simei and the Anxi Protectorate's treasurers were already waiting in the hall.

Business in the Central Plains was slow due to the war, but Anxi Protectorate wasn't affected much. The majority of the Yang family's shops were in Anxi Protectorate, and the Zhou family also had shops in Beiting. The shopkeepers hadn't seen Ye Jia for a while, so they came to report when they got the news. Ye Jia had wanted to go hug the child first, but he had to listen to the shopkeepers' reports before going.

The drought in Lingnan was severe. The shipment of grain from Ye Jia's granaries helped alleviate the immediate crisis, but it also emptied three of her granaries. Old Man Sun was unsure whether to fill the gaps immediately.

"No need to replenish it for the time being." Last year's harvest was pretty good. The grain from more than 2,000 acres of fertile land was enough.

In addition to granaries, arrangements for farmland should also be made as early as possible. When heavy snow falls, transportation becomes inconvenient.

In this day and age, grain and mulberry trees are indispensable. Naturally, they can't be reduced. The only question is whether the poppy fields should continue to be cultivated. Although they haven't been under the new master's command for long, the head of the poppy fields has heard that Ye Jia dislikes poppies. So, should the Wu family continue to cultivate the hundreds of acres of fertile land, or should they reduce the number of acres?

"As usual."

Zhou Jingchen had been writing to Ye Jia frequently to explain his situation, and Ye Jia already knew many things. Although Yanjing had been captured, Zhou Ye and his men hadn't been apprehended, and the war might still rage. If a fight broke out, medicine would be essential.

Ye Jia always insisted on preparing for a rainy day. She would not allow herself to be forced into a difficult situation at the last minute. "But other medicinal herbs also need to be planted."

After two days, ask Doctor Jiang to give a list of medicinal herbs and set aside dozens of acres of land to plant them.

The Zhou family's business was already on track, and even though it was partially halted due to the war, it didn't affect the continued operation. Ye Jia simply made adjustments based on the situation and, after listening to the shopkeeper's report, he asked them to leave.

It was already after noon when she appeared in the flower hall.

Seeing her approach, Yu sighed. "Jia Niang is truly too busy." It was fine when she wasn't home before, but now she's often nowhere to be seen. She glanced down at the cradle beside her. Little Shu Bairen was already fast asleep in it.

Ye Jia squatted beside the cradle and touched the child's face. Little Shubai, perhaps because he felt his mother or something, grabbed Ye Jia's hand in his sleep.

Ye Jia was stunned, feeling a little strange.

Seeing her stunned expression, Yu couldn't help but say something harsh, "Jia Niang, you must pay more attention to Shu Bai from now on. Children are like this, they love whoever takes care of them the most. If you don't take care of them like this, you'll be sad when they grow up and don't love you."

The palms of children's hands are soft and the touch is wonderful. Ye Jia was silent for a long time, and nodded obediently, which was rare.

The situation in Beiting gradually stabilized, but by mid-October, the weather had begun to cool again. Heavy snow fell, plunging Beiting into a world of ice and snow. Fortunately, Zhao Weiqing's earthen bunkers had been completed before the snow began to fall. Once the defense line was established, life in the area became more secure. The situation in Zhongyuan also seemed to be stabilizing. Yuan Chunsheng reported that businesses there had resumed operations.

When the weather gets cold, many things can't be done. Ye Jia, who has a rare moment of leisure, sits on the carpet in the house and plays with the children. Little Shubai is really a very strange child, he is quiet but quirky.

Ye Jia often felt that this child was too smart and that no adult could beat him.

Mrs. Yu was very proud, boasting like a grandson without thinking: "This is called the pupil surpassing the master. Our Shubai is the most intelligent child born from his parents' best efforts."

Ye Jia, the mother, felt a little embarrassed and quickly held down the child who was climbing onto her body, saying, "...Keep a low profile."

"Can't you praise your child for being smart?" Yu rolled her eyes at her and took the child off Ye Jia's back. Although the child hadn't grown up with Ye Jia, the mother-child bond couldn't be stopped, and the child loved to climb onto Ye Jia's back whenever he had nothing to do.

Ye Jia smiled awkwardly, then thought of something else: "How was Yang Chenglie dealt with? Where is he being held now?"

A few days ago, Ye Jia went out to the workshop. As soon as he opened the door, he saw a dozen people, young and old, kneeling at the gate. Ye Jia recognized the old man; it was the old man from the Yang family, Ye Wumei's master. Besides Old Man and Old Lady Yang, there were several women and children in thin clothing. The heavy snow made them look thin, their faces livid with cold. They knelt at the gate of the Zhou family, motionless.

Seeing Ye Jia coming out, Mr. Yang and his wife, who were over fifty years old, kowtowed to Ye Jia.

The Yang family wasn't known for having many descendants, with only two brothers, Yang Chenggang and Yang Chenglie. They were once ordinary people, relying on their father Yang's exceptional cooking skills to make a living. Later, the brothers joined the army, with Yang Chenglie quickly making a name for himself and being promoted by Suletu to his current position, ultimately leading to the rise of the Yang family.

To outsiders, Suletu may not be a big deal, but to the Yang brothers, he is a mentor.

When Yang Chenggang died, Yang Chenglie was also suspended from his post, and the Yang family collapsed. The Yang family knew they were in the wrong, and Yang Chenglie did not make any move, living a peaceful life at home as a wealthy idler.

It would have been fine if they were just living a peaceful life behind closed doors, but who knew that Yang Chenglie would suddenly do something stupid.

Yang Chenglie was the pillar of the Yang family. If anything happened to him, the whole family would be left without support. The old couple, dressed in rags and filthy, looked like unrecognizable people. They knelt in the snow, their heads bloodied, and begged Ye Jia to spare Yang Chenglie's life.

"He has committed such a heinous crime, he deserves death." Old Master Yang didn't dare to use Ye Wumei's feelings to make his case, so he could only kowtow and beg, "But Princess Crown Prince, please be kind and spare his life for all the victories he has won for Beiting. Even if you break his arms and legs, leaving him a cripple for life, please..."

Seeing him hunched over with blood all over his head, Ye Jia couldn't bear it, so he had the servants put him under house arrest.

Recalling this, Ye Jia sighed.

When Yu heard her sigh, she was stunned for a moment, and when she heard her mention the Yang family, she felt a little bit sorry.

"He's still in the base's dungeon." Yu's expression grew serious when she mentioned this. "Bazatu originally wanted to handle it according to military regulations, but Yun'an hasn't responded yet, so we've put it on hold for now. Does Jianiang want to go and take a look?"

Ye Jia looked a little serious, his brows gloomy: "Yeah."

If a person's heart is not loyal, even the most talented person will be a disaster. With Yang Chenggang's example, Ye Jia also understood the consequences of not eradicating the root of the problem. However, Yang Chenglie was different from the likes of Shen Hai and Niu Buqun. Besides his prestige within the army, Yang Chenglie also held considerable prestige among the people of Beiting. He rose from humble beginnings and had a proven record of military merit.

If Bazatu had killed the man directly on the night of the attack, he would have been dead. But now that he's been kept alive, he needs to be careful about how to deal with him later. Ye Jia looked at the white and tender little Shubai, who looked like a snowball. Although he hadn't experienced the thrill of that day, Ye Jia could still imagine it. He was terrified whenever he thought of that day.

Maybe after becoming a mother, she also developed a soft spot, and her heart was torn apart.

After a few days of leisure, Ye Jia took advantage of the day when there was no snow and went to the base.

Bazatu respectfully led Ye Jia to the dungeon of the base, where Yang Chenglie and the Lin Zhilan brothers were imprisoned separately.

When Ye Jia saw him, he had lost his former high spirits. Dressed in rags, he sat cross-legged on the hay, his expression dull. He only raised his eyelids at the noise, then lowered his head, his expression lifeless. Bazatu ordered his men to drag Yang Chenglie out and throw him at Ye Jia's feet. Ye Jia frowned at the injuries, large and small, covering his body.

"Yang Chenglie." Bazatu called his name, and the voice echoed in the dungeon.

The people on the ground didn't move.

A servant beside Bazatu stepped forward and kicked Yang Chenglie, then asked sternly, "Yang Chenglie, do you have anything else to say?"

Yang Chenglie seemed to hear a female voice and finally raised his head from his messy hair. His eyes roamed over Ye Jia's face and he suddenly laughed. He muttered, "She's really beautiful!" This made Bazatu's face change, and he stepped forward and kicked him.

Yang Chenglie fell heavily to the ground and vomited blood on the spot.

Ye Jia's brows knitted together, her expression cold. She'd previously been at the base delivering food to Zhou Jingchen, and had actually once again happened to meet Yang Chenglie. Yang Chenglie was a rather forthright man, but at this moment, he seemed rather unpleasant.

After a long time, he patted his chest, climbed up, and sat up against the wall.

Ye Jia looked at him silently.

Bazatu had actually interrogated him once, and Ye Jia had reviewed the file for details. However, Yang Chenglie's confession on the file was from Lin Zhilan and others, and Yang Chenglie hadn't signed it. It was just a question in her mind. She had a strange feeling that Yang Chenglie, who had disobeyed Suletu's orders to resist the Turks and personally asked for a reward from Zhou Jingchen, didn't seem like someone who would take advantage of a personal vendetta against a villain in the Zhou family.

But you can't tell a person's true heart from his appearance, and I feel that this kind of thing is unpredictable. If he doesn't confess, Ye Jia will have no choice but to make him pay the price. Just as Ye Jia was about to leave, Yang Chenglie, who was leaning against the wall, suddenly spoke: "My Queen."

Ye Jia paused and turned to look at him.

"...The Wuhuan have been attacking Beiting lately. Are you guarding Suiye Town?"

Ye Jia looked at him and nodded: "It's me."

"Did you build the bunker in Libei Town?"

"It's me."

"Oh..." Yang Chenglie exhaled, "My Lady, if I said that Yang Chenggang's death was his own fault and I had no intention of seeking revenge, but someone threatened me to kill you with the lives of my entire family, would you believe it?"

Ye Jia was stunned. Bazatu had already shouted, "...What did you say?!"

Yang Chenglie remained silent.

"Yang Chenglie, what did you just say?"

Yang Chenglie lowered his head again and leaned against the wall.

"Yang Chenglie."

Yang Chenglie exhaled, then suddenly laughed and said slowly, "My Lady, although you come from the countryside, you possess the talent to govern the world. But there are always some people in this world who are conceited and think that their noble birth is their due. You must be careful of those around you..."