“Yes, and me too. I not only want to learn the music, chess, calligraphy and painting that my great-grandfather taught me, but also to learn kung fu so that I can protect my mother in the future…” Zi Hui quickly chimed in after Zi Cheng finished speaking.
Seeing the two children like this, Han Yiyi felt a lump in her throat and took a deep breath before speaking.
"Alright, then I'll go back to Zhushan Village first. When the sweet potatoes are harvested, I'll bring some over and make roasted sweet potatoes for you all..."
It's already September, and the sweet potatoes should be ready for harvest soon. Han Yiyi was initially a little disappointed, but seeing the sweet potatoes being harvested, she's now relieved.
The two children told Han Yiyi to go back to Zhushan Village, but they were still reluctant to let her go. Now that they heard Han Yiyi say that she would be back in a while, they quickly said yes.
"Okay, let's pinky swear, it's a deal," she said, extending her little hand.
Seeing the two children like this, he couldn't help but laugh and quickly raised his hand as well.
The two little ones returned to the General's Mansion after dinner, and the next morning, Han Yiyi packed her luggage and prepared to return to Zhushan Village.
Yun Xiao naturally wanted to go back to Zhushan Village with her. He was happiest when Han Yiyi returned to Zhushan Village, because returning to Zhushan Village meant that there would only be the two of them in the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain again.
Thinking of this, Yun Xiao couldn't suppress the smile that had been playing on his lips, but when he saw Nangong Yuan, who was also holding a bundle and standing by the carriage, his smile froze.
Han Yi didn't believe that Nangong Yuan would abandon his job in the capital and follow them back to Zhushan Village. However, seeing that he was carrying a bundle, she couldn't help but ask him in confusion.
"The general will also be going to Zhushan Village for his mission in Kyoto."
"I have asked the Emperor for leave. Now that the border is safe, as for the duties in the capital, it is the same to leave them to someone else. So I will go back to Zhushan with you to visit. I haven't seen Aunt Zhang and the others for a long time..."
"General Nangong, General Nangong, urgent report from the border! His Majesty requests your immediate presence at the palace."
Before Nangong Yuan could finish speaking, the urgent voice of the imperial eunuch rang in his ears.
Upon hearing this voice, Nangong Yuan's face darkened, while Yun Xiao's lips curled up again.
Despite his dark expression, Nangong Yuan quickly turned around and followed the eunuch who was delivering the imperial decree into the palace, thinking of the people on the frontier.
Before leaving, he gave Han Yiyi a deep look, his eyes darkening and his emotions complex, but he didn't say anything.
Watching Nangong Yuan walk away quickly, Han Yiyi pursed her lips, seemingly lost in thought.
Upon seeing this, Yun Xiao's eyes flickered, and after a moment he suddenly spoke.
"Alright, let's hurry up and get going, lest that annoying brat catches up with us again!"
Hearing Yun Xiao address Nangong Yuan, Han Yiyi couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. If you dare to call the War God General of Beichen an annoying person, then you're probably the only one in the entire Beichen who does.
As soon as Nangong Yuan entered the imperial study, he heard Emperor Beichen shout at him.
"I think that Dongli was taught a lesson we didn't teach him enough last time, and he still dares to cause trouble. You go, you go, take the troops and wipe him out for me!"
Upon hearing that it was Dongli again, Nangong Yuan frowned. Logically speaking, after Dongli's crushing defeat last time, it would be impossible for them to send troops to Beichen again in a short period of time.
However, before Nangong Yuan could even ask, Emperor Beichen tossed him the urgent border report.
Upon seeing the contents of the urgent report, Nangong Yuan's brows furrowed even more.
It turns out that they were spies from Beichen. Recently, they discovered that people from Dongli were frequently traveling between Beichao and Nanjing. Therefore, they suspected that Dongli wanted to unite with the other two countries to launch an attack on Beichen.
If the speculation is true, Beichen has just experienced a major battle and is now suffering from floods. The granaries in various places can barely feed people, and there is no extra grain reserves to support a large-scale war. If war breaks out, Beichen will be in grave danger.
Emperor Beichen had also considered this point, and as soon as he received the urgent report, he ordered someone to summon Nangong Yuan, since no one knew more about the border matters than him.
After seeing that Nangong Yuan had finished reading the urgent report, Emperor Beichen hurriedly asked a question.
"Do you think Dong Li's actions are an attempt to instigate the Northern Dynasty and Southern Jing to launch an attack against us together?"
"Over the years, there have been constant conflicts among the three countries. Now it seems that Dongli suffered a great defeat and harbored resentment, which is why they thought of joining forces with the other two countries to attack us. However, whether the other two countries will agree is hard to say..."
As soon as Nangong Yuan finished speaking, seeing the anxious look on Emperor Beichen's face, he quickly spoke again.
"Your Majesty is being too anxious. If the Northern Dynasty and Southern Jing were willing to send troops, they would have done so during our last major battle with Dongli. However, just to be on the safe side, we should still send scouts to investigate. I will also return to Yanlang City tomorrow. If Dongli truly harbors such malicious intentions, I will eliminate them first."
Upon hearing Nangong Yuan's words, Emperor Beichen felt slightly relieved. Seeing that the man was about to leave, a hint of apology flashed in his eyes as he spoke.
"How about I bestow a marriage upon you, Changning? When you return, the two of you can get married."
Hearing Emperor Beichen's words, Nangong Yuan's eyes darkened.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I'll pass. I don't know if I'll be able to come back alive, and I don't want to hold her back. Of course, I will try my best to come back alive, and I will fight for my own happiness!"
Upon hearing Nangong Yuan's words, Emperor Beichen said no more. However, after he left, he still wrote an imperial edict and sent it to the princess's residence.
However, by the time Han Yiyi received the imperial decree, she was already almost at Ping'an Town.
Hearing the contents of the imperial edict, Han Yiyi was somewhat taken aback, but she didn't take it to heart, since she really had no intention of getting married today.
Upon hearing the contents of the imperial edict, Yun Xiao's face darkened, and he cursed Nangong Yuan for his treachery.
It turned out that Emperor Beichen, in order to ensure that his war god general of Beichen would not have any regrets, directly issued an edict forbidding Han Yiyi from marrying for two years.
When the two arrived in Ping'an Town, they saw that the once bustling Yunlai Restaurant was now closed and locked. Han Yiyi couldn't help but turn to look at Yun Xiao beside her, a hint of apology flashing in her eyes.
“It’s me…”
When Yun Xiao saw Han Yi looking over, she quickly concealed the melancholy in her eyes and interrupted Han Yi before he could finish speaking.
"What, has the princess changed her mind and no longer wants to support me...?"
Han Yiyi knew that Yun Xiao said this on purpose because he didn't want her to feel guilty. In fact, even if Han Yiyi had pleaded for the Yun family back then, given Emperor Beichen's stingy nature, he would never have returned the family fortune to the Yun family.
However, these things had nothing to do with the person in front of her. Thinking of this, Han Yiyi couldn't help but turn her head and look at the tightly closed door of Yunlai Restaurant again.
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