Chapter 185 Crisis

The Wuqiang Kingdom withdrew its troops, and there were no more wounded soldiers left on the battlefield, so they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She was leaning against a wooden pillar, dozing with her eyes slightly closed, when someone stuffed a hot cake into her hand, which woke Chen Shiyi up immediately.

The person who came was Cui Yongan. His wolf-like eyes looked at Chen Shiyi very gently, with a smile on his face, and he was very happy.

He sat down next to Chen Shiyi and leaned against the wooden pillar.

"Eat quickly, it's just out of the pot. I heard from your companion Miss Mo that you haven't had a good meal in recent days."

Chen Shiyi smiled sleepily.

"I don't have the time. I'm always competing with Prince Yan for people. By the time I want to eat, it's already past mealtime. I can just grab a few cakes to make do."

Cui Yongan looked at her and sighed.

"I finally gained some weight, but I lost weight again."

Chen Shiyi took a bite of the cake.

"Brother Cui, is there any water? I really don't want to move."

"Wait."

Cui Yongan brought a bowl of hot water and watched Chen Shiyi gulp down a large bowl of it like a little beast.

He put the bowl aside and sat next to Chen Shiyi again, quietly watching the burning bonfire, which was blazing hot.

"Brother Cui, you are a great hero."

He heard Chen Shiyi say again.

"Men who go to the battlefield are heroes."

Cui Yongan laughed.

"Eleven, you too."

Chen Shiyi sighed.

"I never thought that I could contribute to the border of Daye. I could be one of the thousands of little ants. I am so lucky, but I also feel unfortunate. I don't want war."

One of the wounded soldiers she was caring for was young and had been stabbed in the chest. When he was in pain at night, he kept calling for his mother.

He told himself that his mother would stand under the willow tree at the entrance of the village, waiting for him to come home. She would make long-lasting rice buns that were white, chewy and sweet. At night, she would use candlelight, with her needle and thread passing through her hair oil, to sew close-fitting clothes for him.

The next day, he died.

The two were silent for a long time.

Seeing that Chen Shiyi was very sad, Cui Yongan changed the subject.

"Eleven, do you know why I have a tattoo on my forehead?"

"Why?"

"There was a lot of intrigue in my family. I was not as smart as others and was schemed against. The government exiled me to Fangling for adultery."

"At that time, I was depressed, drinking and making trouble. I thought that this was how my life would be. Even if there was a general amnesty and I was pardoned for my crimes, I didn't want to return to the family. Later, I met Brother Lan, and he pulled me out of the hellish life."

"How lucky it is to meet someone who can pull you out of the mud in your life. No matter how others treat me, abuse me, and insult me, I know that I also have my own light."

"Who doesn't look forward to light from darkness?"

"War is dark, but every drop of blood we shed paves the way to light."

Chen Shiyi didn't say anything, his eyes were slightly narrowed, and he seemed to be asleep and not asleep.

"Brother Cui, why haven't you gotten married in all these years?"

Cui Yongan laughed.

"What kind of relative am I? It's bitter cold here. I don't want the girl to suffer with me. Besides, who knows when she will die on the battlefield."

"What about you? You're already a grown woman. If you keep dragging it out, there won't be any good men left."

"Well, you have to come to the wedding when I get married."

Cui Yongan said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll prepare a big gift for you later. Not now. I've used all the money I saved over the years to buy food."

Chen Shiyi asked doubtfully as he remembered something.

"Brother Cui, why doesn't the court provide you with food and fodder?"

Cui Yongan whispered in Chen Shiyi's ear.

"The guy above has always wanted to remove Brother Lan's military power. He has been thinking about it for many years."

"I don't understand all this, but I think since the king is suspicious of me, why not give up my military power and go out into the world with my wife and children? That would be a good thing."

Cui Yongan nodded.

"There are many things involved. It's not just a matter of resigning and handing in the seal of marshal. Do you think Brother Lan doesn't want to? His courtesy name comes from this. Do you know the meaning of it?"

Chen Shiyi was silent for a while, then suddenly laughed.

"When you are in a high position, you really have no choice. Just like this time when I was transporting grain, I always wanted to make sure everything went well. Many people below me were waiting for me to give them money to support their families."

When talking about food, Cui Yongan smiled awkwardly.

"Your batch of grain is timely rain, which solves our urgent needs. But if the grain and fodder from the court are not delivered in time, we will be in trouble again in half a month."

Chen Shiyi suddenly thought of something.

"Why don't you write a letter to Wen Zhiheng? He is now the Prime Minister of Daye. As long as he speaks, half of the matter will be settled."

Cui Yongan said solemnly.

"Brother Lan has already written about it, but he thinks it is useless. Wen Zhiheng is the current leader, and his opinion is basically the same as His Majesty's opinion."

Chen Shiyi understood that everyone has their own stance, and no matter how powerful one is, he is still a subject of the emperor.

While resting in the evening, Chen Shiyi found Mo Xunyan.

"I want to write some letters and send them out. Do you have anyone to send them to?"

Mo Xunyan asked.

"Can you send it to Lingnan?"

Chen Shiyi shook his head.

"It's too far. My way can't reach that far."

Mo Xunyan spread his hands.

"That's all."

Chen Shiyi pondered for a while.

"Sister Xunyan, I want to send a letter in your name, is that okay?"

Mo Xunyan was very puzzled.

"Who in my name would accept my letter?"

She thought again.

"You want to write a letter to Wen Zhiheng? Why don't you write it in your own name? He will obey you anyway."

Chen Shiyi looked embarrassed.

"I have fallen out with him, and he won't accept my letters."

Mo Xunyan frowned.

"Since you have a grudge against him, how can he read your letter? Besides, he may not accept what you write."

"But what he and I have are just small matters. The country is the big matter. Now the imperial court's grain and fodder are not delivered. My little money, no matter how frugal I am, will not last long."

Mo Xunyan said seriously.

"Have you ever thought that if you interfere in government affairs, you will lose your head?"

Chen Shiyi sighed.

"But we can't just sit there and do nothing."

She looked at the snowflakes falling outside the window and spoke softly.

"The local soldiers guarded the border and repelled the enemy, but their government did not provide them with food and grass. The person in charge is really a piece of shit."

Mo Xunyan covered Chen Shiyi's mouth and said.

"I see you don't want your life anymore."

Chen Shiyi's eyes were firm.

"Everyone in the court is trying to protect themselves, and no one can be trusted. So let the people ask the one who is in high position today for an explanation."

Mo Xunyan asked in surprise.

"What are you going to do?"