"Your Highness, a large number of Mongol troops have gathered outside Yunzhou City," a soldier hurriedly reported to Ji Mohan, bowing respectfully.
"What? Are they going to make their move today?" Wei Ting looked in surprise toward the direction of Yunzhou city wall.
Ji Mohan frowned and said in a deep voice, "Let's go take a look."
The Mongol army invaded, and someone spread the news in Yunzhou City, causing panic among the people. All the rumors and gossip spread fear.
Jing Xi, who was minding the hot pot restaurant, also sensed something was wrong. The restaurant was usually packed, but today there were hardly any customers. She looked up at the street and saw that everyone was in a hurry and seemed flustered.
Jing Xi's heart skipped a beat; her intuition told her that something bad might be about to happen.
She rushed outside the shop and grabbed an elderly woman who seemed to be hurrying by, asking, "Auntie, what happened? Where are you going?"
The old woman tried to break free from Jingxi's grip on her arm, but she couldn't. She could only sigh and say, "There's going to be a war. Oh dear, this old woman survived the drought, and now I'm all over the place at my age." As she spoke, the old woman raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, her words filled with helplessness and despair.
Jing Xi pressed on, "A war is about to break out? Who told you that?" How could it happen so soon?
"Girl, please stop holding me and let me escape. The Mongol army is right outside the city. You should run away quickly too." The old woman forcefully pulled Jingxi away from her clothes, glanced at the somewhat stunned Jingxi, and left in a hurry without saying anything.
Jing Xi snapped out of her daze, glanced seriously at the city gate, and then, disregarding everything else, ran back to the shop and said to the hot pot restaurant owner, "Manager Lin, let's close early today. You should also hurry back and check on your family. I just heard that war is about to break out."
The shopkeeper and waiter in the shop became somewhat frightened. They were natives of Yunzhou, a border city of the Yin Kingdom that bordered the Meng Kingdom. Therefore, the Meng Kingdom would invade from time to time. Although there were armies and soldiers charging into battle, after each major battle, there would be large-scale conscription by the imperial court and increasingly heavy taxes, which made it difficult for ordinary people like them to breathe.
Jing Xi thought for a moment, took out the key, took out the silver from the locked drawer, and gave the shopkeeper and waiter double their monthly wages. The world was tough, and no one had it easy, especially the lower-class people who were struggling to survive.
"Thank you so much, boss! Thank you so much, boss!" The shopkeeper and waiter thanked them profusely. They worked at the hot pot restaurant and their monthly salary was already twice that of a regular restaurant. Now, their boss was kind and gave them an extra month's salary.
Jing Xi waved and said, "Go home and visit your families."
After Manager Lin and the waiters left, Jing Xi closed all the doors of the hot pot restaurant, hung up the "Closed" sign, and hurriedly left as well. She hadn't gone far when she encountered Jiang Bai, who was walking towards the restaurant in a somewhat flustered manner. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the heaviness in each other's eyes.
Jiang Bai walked against the flow of people to Jing Xi's side and said with a bad expression, "Jing Xi, you've heard, haven't you? Yunzhou City is about to go to war."
Jing Xi looked at Jiang Bai and said calmly, "Jiang Bai, take Old Man Jiang away from Yunzhou first. Whether you go back to Jiangnan or to the capital, leave quickly." Her unease grew stronger.
Jiang Bai looked at Jing Xi and said, "What about you? Jing Xi, aren't you leaving? Why don't you leave with us?"
Jing Xi looked at Jiang Bai with guilt and said, "I'm sorry, Jiang Bai. You should leave first. I still need to find Wan'er. She's not acting right. Once I find Wan'er, I'll come and meet up with you, okay?"
Jiang Bai grabbed Jing Xi's hand and said earnestly, "Jing Xi, I can't leave you here alone. I'll come find you after I've arranged for my father to leave."
"Jiang Bai, you..." Jing Xi wanted to say something more, but Jiang Bai interrupted her, saying, "Jing Xi, no matter what, I will be with you. So please wait for me."
After Jiang Bai finished speaking, he didn't give Jing Xi a chance to speak. He followed the flow of people towards where Jiang's father lived. Jing Xi looked at Jiang Bai's stubborn and determined back, sighed, and walked in the opposite direction.
She had a feeling that something was wrong. Wan'er had also been acting strangely these past few days. She kept saying incoherent things to her, such as asking her to help take care of Uncle Yan and Aunt Yan if possible, and asking her to run Yan's Hot Pot restaurant well, and to give the franchise rights of the hot pot restaurant in Beijing to Gu Yu so that Gu Yu could have her own store. She said a lot more. Jing Xi always thought that Yan Wan was just talking nonsense because she was drunk, but she never expected that Yan Wan must have known something and was giving her last words.
Jing Xi glanced at the crowd around her with some annoyance, then resolutely walked toward the prefectural governor's mansion where Yan Wan lived. Yan Wan, you absolutely cannot get into trouble.
Prefectural Governor's Office.
Yan Wan woke up exceptionally early that day. She thought she would be afraid, panicked, and at a loss when the day finally arrived. However, when the day actually came, she felt only peace and reluctance.
Yan Wan glanced at the letters on the table; they were the last two letters, one to Ji Mohan and the other to Jing Xi. Yan Wan looked up at the blazing sun in the sky and couldn't help but sigh, thinking that she might never see such bright sunshine again.
Perhaps, it's almost time to say goodbye to this world. From her initial dissatisfaction with the original author's writing philosophy to her arrival in this world, more than a year has passed. She has a loving family, a loyal Gu Yu, and like-minded friends such as Jing Xi, Jiang Bai, Li Shang, and Wei Er. She is very content; her journey has not been in vain. Her mission is almost complete. Now, only Ji Mo Han remains who still needs her.
Yan Wan looked at the furnishings of the room with reluctance. Although she had only lived there for three months, the room was filled with her and Ji Mohan's memories.
Yan Wan glanced at it, as if she wanted to memorize everything deeply. Then, she resolutely turned and left, wanting to leave quickly, otherwise that silly girl Jing Xi would come looking for her.
In this world, she had troubled Jing Xi too many times. Every time, Jing Xi was dragged into dangerous situations by her. Yan Wan felt very guilty and apologetic.
This is the last time I have to face it alone. After all the twists and turns, all the stumbling and falling, I've finally come to this point.
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