family
"This way, I will spruce up our rivers and mountains, and recover our old territory! This way, I will punish those who are disloyal and punish the Western Qiang!
Ning Lingyi's voice echoed over the parade ground, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, cutting through the morning mist outside the capital.
She was dressed in silver armor, her cloak fluttering in the wind. She stood on the reviewing platform, her eyes sweeping over the thousands of soldiers standing solemnly below.
"Northern Expedition!"
She shouted again, drawing her sword and pointing it towards the north.
"Northern Expedition! Northern Expedition! Long live! Long live!"
The response from the audience was like a thunderous roar, and the solemn and murderous atmosphere reached the sky.
After the oath, Ning Lingyi jumped on her horse. The jade lion stood up and let out a long neigh. She pulled the reins, took a last look at the majestic outline of the capital, then shook the reins, took the lead, and galloped out of the training ground.
Generals such as Xue Cheng and Pan Hao followed closely behind. The army marched slowly forward like a giant dragon awakening. The iron-like team marched towards the north with flags waving and swords and spears like a forest.
Both sides of the official road from the capital to the north were already crowded with people who had rushed there after hearing the news.
They carried baskets filled with freshly boiled eggs, steamed pancakes, or even just a bowl of water, and tried desperately to stuff them into the hands of passing soldiers.
"Here, baby, eat on the way!"
"General, kill a few more Qiang dogs to avenge us!"
"You must come back safely!"
Amidst the noisy blessings and exhortations, there was uncontrollable crying.
Many white-haired old men and women stood on tiptoe looking for their sons among the marching troops. When they found them, they wiped their tears and waved vigorously in that direction until the troops were far away, then they let the tears flow.
A mother worries when her son travels thousands of miles away, let alone when his son is heading to a battlefield where his life and death are uncertain.
The army marched for a whole day before completely leaving the capital area.
The noisy official road gradually returned to calm, leaving only messy tire tracks and dust drifting in the wind, appearing particularly empty and lonely.
In this empty space, a rather luxurious carriage, surrounded by guards, slowly approached the gate of the capital.
The curtain of the most spacious carriage in the middle was lifted by a white and slender hand, revealing a young boy's face that was still childish but already beginning to have angular features.
It was the newly appointed Prince Qing, Ning Lingyi's younger brother - Ning Yanhe.
He looked out the window at the towering city walls and majestic gates, trying to maintain the calm demeanor of a prince, but his bright eyes were filled with irrepressible joy.
Although Jiangnan is beautiful, it is not his home after all.
He's finally back, and he's about to see his long-lost sister! She'll definitely be happy to see him grow taller and become more sensible, right?
The convoy drove into the capital and headed straight for the imperial palace.
When Ning Yanhe stepped into the palace, the news he received was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head: his sister had vowed to lead the army to the north in person!
He had just arrived, and his sister was gone? They had missed each other like that?
"How long has my sister been gone?" he asked anxiously, and a thought even flashed through his mind: if he went after her now, maybe he could still catch up and see her?
Seeing this, Jing Zhao, who was accompanying him, immediately stepped forward and whispered respectfully but unquestionably, "Your Highness, His Majesty is personally leading the expedition for the sake of state affairs. Before leaving, he issued an edict, asking you to remain in the palace, study diligently, and familiarize yourself with government affairs. His Majesty has high hopes for you. Your Highness, do not forget Mr. Jing's earnest expectations."
Ning Yanhe's steps suddenly stopped.
My sister's expectations, Mr. Jing's instructions, and Jiangnan's countless days and nights of teaching...
The burden on his shoulders is not light.
He took a deep breath, forced all the disappointment back into his heart, and his face regained the calmness that suited his status, even seeming a little too prematurely indifferent.
"I know." He replied in a low voice, without any emotion in his voice.
"In that case, I will first go to pay my respects to Concubine Jingmu and Concubine Yu, and show my filial piety to her. This is the way a son should behave."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Jing family showed a relieved smile on their faces. His Royal Highness Prince Qing was so sensible and reasonable, and he was worthy of being the future master that the Jing family had worked hard to cultivate.
Ning Yanhe straightened his clothes, suppressed all his emotions, and walked towards the deep palace gardens under the guidance of the palace servants.
His back was straight and his steps were steady, but for some reason he exuded a loneliness that was inconsistent with his age.
In another more secluded and quiet part of the imperial palace, the former Crown Princess was accompanying the current King Jing in the courtyard to bask in the sun.
King Jing was already a young man with a handsome face, but his eyes were still confused and blank, and he was fiddling with things unconsciously with his hands.
The former Crown Princess gently smoothed his temples and said softly, "Auntie went to fight the bad guys for the sake of the country. We must be good, eat well, study hard, and not let Auntie worry, understand?"
King Jing raised his head, his dull eyes slowly focused, and he repeated incoherently: "Aunt...Aunt..."
A trace of heartache flashed across the eyes of the former Crown Princess, and she hugged him gently.
Emperor Guangqi reigned for three years, and she was worried for three years.
She was always worried that one day she would no longer be able to open her eyes, and both mother and son would pass away together.
Fortunately, Emperor Guangqi committed suicide. But those people still did not let her and her son go. They were still fish on the chopping board. With a single imperial edict, her son became King Jing and was about to compete with his uncle.
But it's obvious that he has become stupid, why can't we just let him go?
She understood Ning Lingyi's difficulties, and she had no choice.
But this is her son!
Could it be that one day in the future, mother and son would die together? She didn't dare to think about it. She could only count the days one by one. Her husband was dead, her family was slaughtered, and she only had her son left.
There are so many things in this deep palace that are beyond our control.
*
In Xuehan Palace, Concubine Yu sat blankly on the soft couch by the window where her daughter often sat, stroking an old piece of clothing left by Ning Lingyi in her hand. The palace seemed to still be filled with the scent of her daughter. She looked everywhere, as if her daughter was still there.
Look, he just came back and he’s leaving again.
Other things would be fine, but she was always worried about something as big as a war.
No matter what kind of heroines or emperors' achievements she talked about, she just wanted her daughter to be safe.
Can't a mother be selfish?
But she couldn't stop it. When Yi'er left, she didn't tell her because she was afraid that she would be sad.
When she got here, the place was empty and her daughter was gone.
Why can't the world be peaceful? Why can't people just live peacefully? How could she bear to let go of her daughter, her only daughter?
Finally, a tear fell.
Concubine Yu gently wiped away the tear, she sighed softly, stood up, and her expression became firm.
Her daughter entrusted the harem and two young princes to her, and she must protect this home for her daughter.
She straightened her clothes and ordered the palace maid, "Go and ask if His Royal Highness Prince Qing has settled in and if Prince Jing has finished his homework for the day."
*
At this moment, Ning Lingyi had led his troops away from the capital.
She reined in her horse and looked back to the south again. The capital had long disappeared from her sight, leaving only the vast sky and earth and the advancing army.
Her eyes were calm, she turned her horse around, and without hesitation, she rode into the northward torrent.
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