Chapter 142 Providing Her with a Safe Haven
To achieve great things and make a name for oneself.
These four words are undoubtedly very tempting to ambitious men.
"I want to." Qin Yanzhou replied without hesitation.
This is not a lie; he genuinely wants to.
Everyone wants it.
The past cannot be retrieved, and the present cannot be returned to. He, covered in blood, is out of place in that wonderful era. He should think about the future he has now.
Although the past ten years had been arduous, his martial arts skills were genuine. He did not want to waste the only gain he had made in those ten years, nor did he want people to refer to him in the future as only "the son of Marquis Wu'an".
Moreover, her mother's marriage to the Marquis of Wu'an was seen by outsiders who were unaware of the inside story as an orphan girl who had climbed the social ladder and was lucky enough to marry into a wealthy family.
His mother indeed had no noble family background and no reliable support. But that was in the past. From now on, he could be her safe haven, so that others would know that even if the Marquis of Wu'an were to become unreliable one day, he could still provide for his mother.
This achievement must be made!
Qin Shaozong said calmly, "Having ambition is a good thing. But you should know that you can't accumulate much military merit by working in a sinecure behind the lines."
The four great military achievements in the modern world are: being the first to scale the walls, breaking through enemy lines, slaying enemy generals, and capturing enemy flags.
Each of these achievements carries a very high risk, but high risk also means high reward. Any one of those four military merits is enough to earn the equivalent of more than ten years of hard work in a sinecure position in the military.
Qin Shaozong's words weren't very clear, but with the mention of bandit suppression and then the suggestion of a sinecure, Qin Yanzhou understood. He cupped his hands again and solemnly said, "Father, your son requests to go to the front lines."
Qin Shaozong said calmly, “The front lines are quick to fight and gain merit, but they are not as safe as the rear. Although you are my son, when you are on the front lines, I cannot set aside a team to do nothing but protect you.”
The Qin family has been guarding the border for generations. Not only Qin Shaozong himself, but also his father, his grandfather, and even the seventeen-year-old Qin Qinian have all been on the battlefield and fought against the northern kingdom.
Bleeding and injuries are unavoidable.
"I understand." Qin Yanzhou said without hesitation, "Going into battle is for killing the enemy; we can't put the cart before the horse."
The man sitting behind the desk subtly curved his lips into a smile. In the fading twilight, the curve was fleeting and indistinct.
"You have that divorce agreement, right?" Qin Shaozong suddenly said.
These words were completely unrelated to what had just happened, and Qin Yanzhou was stunned, a hint of suspicion appearing in his eyes.
The young man didn't speak, but Qin Shaozong tapped the table twice with his fingertips. "Most likely. Have you seen that agreement, kid?"
He asked if he had seen it, but his tone was exactly the same as his previous affirmative statement, without the slightest doubt.
He was certain that Qin Yanzhou had already seen it.
"I've seen it," Qin Yanzhou said truthfully.
The agreement had three clauses, two of which were related to him and were his mother's plans for him.
Qin Shaozong responded with an "Mmm".
She must have given her son a serious talk when she handed him this agreement, and since it involved his mother, the boy couldn't possibly sit still.
"The third point involves conflicts between children, and these conflicts are irreconcilable..." Qin Shaozong tapped his fingertips lightly on the table a few times. "Qin Er, if I were to offer to send you to the front lines, Madam would definitely cause a huge scene with me."
"I will volunteer for the mission. I will discuss this with my mother myself." Qin Yanzhou understood what he meant.
After a pause, the young man added, "When I talk to my mother in detail, I will never mention you. My father only needs to nod in agreement at the end."
Qin Shaozong chuckled, "You've got some talent, kid. Alright, you handle this yourself."
*
With their departure for Chang'an imminent, the fertilizer matter needed to be arranged quickly. After much deliberation, Dai Li finally overturned her previous plans and decided to concentrate her efforts on one district.
First, establish a base area to serve as a testing ground. This will facilitate subsequent fertilizer transportation and also benefit future comparisons.
After all, scattering fertilizer everywhere like petals from a fairy tale is far less effective than precise irrigation. Once a model is established in the first year, the composting method can be publicized in the winter after autumn, and farmers will surely be very enthusiastic.
Dai Li is about to head south, and the follow-up matters concerning the fertilizer need to be handed over to someone else, and that person is Yan San.
The Yan clan was personally promoted by Qin Shaozong. Yan San, as the current leader of the Yan clan, is not only efficient in handling affairs, but also has relatively few vested interests.
Qin Shaozong was very reassured when the matter of the salt stone was entrusted to him, and the same applies to the matter of fertilizer.
While Dai Li completed the handover, Nian Xia and Bi Po also packed their bags for the trip south. Dai Li's belongings alone filled three cars.
Everything is ready; we're just waiting to depart tomorrow.
...
In the main house of the main courtyard.
"...What, Rongrong is going south too? It's not very safe to go there. It's not a good idea to take her with us. What if she gets hurt? How will we explain it to Hongying?" Dai Li looked at Qin Shaozong in astonishment.
"Who told you it wasn't safe?" Qin Shaozong pulled her close, flicked the gold hairpin in her hair, and watched the gold tassels sway back and forth. "Military life is monotonous. The troops are all young men, each with their own duties, and they generally don't have time to chat with their wives. But Shi Rongrong is different. She is a lady and doesn't need to be busy, so she can help keep the ladies entertained."
“I came to Yuyang the same way back then, so why can’t I leave now?” Dai Li still felt it was inappropriate.
Putting yourself in Qin Hongying's shoes, you wouldn't want your daughter to go with the army either. Why give up a good life to suffer with the army, just to keep others company?
Qin Shaozong: "The conditions weren't right then, but they're different now. Besides, I've already spoken to Shi Rongrong about this beforehand, and she's very willing."
Dai Li choked.
She really hadn't expected the little girl to agree.
Qin Shaozong continued, “Madam, this time you will be traveling south with Shen Tianming and his entourage of imperial messengers, and I will initially accompany them under the guise of ‘escorting.’ The escort should not be too forceful, otherwise they will surely become suspicious. If those people send a letter to Chang’an, and the incident occurs there, some in the court will inevitably connect it with the north. Whether or not you receive a hint to find the ‘real culprit’ makes a world of difference.”
It's quite a contrast between traveling with your niece and several cartloads of young women's luggage, and having your wife travel light with only a few pieces of luggage, yet accompanied by thousands of cavalry.
The former was going to the capital to receive an official appointment and then taking the opportunity to travel and enjoy the scenery, while the latter was more like going to war.
But the destination is Chang'an, so who can it rebel against?
Dai Li frowned and then relaxed her brows several times. "I'll go write a letter to Hong Ying."
Qin Shaozong let the golden tassel in his palm slip away, but smiled without saying a word.
*
The inky blackness of the sky gradually faded, until finally a sliver of pale light appeared on the horizon.
A night passed in the blink of an eye.
Today is the day to set off, and Shen Tianming and his group woke up as the first rays of dawn touched the earth.
Get up, have breakfast, and then tidy up a bit.
Fully prepared and ready to go.
"What? The Lady of the Marquis hasn't gotten up yet?" Guo Nai was dumbfounded.
"Still not up?" Shen Tianming turned to look at the sundial, his expression somewhat grim. "It's already past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), why isn't she up yet?"
The court soldiers looked worried. "That's exactly what the maid said. She said her mistress usually gets up at the end of the morning, but it's still early today."
"Can we do things the same way as usual today?" Shen Tianming said with dissatisfaction. "There are priorities. Today is the day we set off. How can we be negligent?"
Guo Nai saw that the soldier seemed hesitant to speak, and said, "Speak if you have something to say."
The soldier swallowed hard. "General Shen, Attendant Guo, and Marquis Wu'an were in the room at the time. He said that he was going to Chang'an to receive his title, not to be in a hurry to be reborn. Why is he in such a rush?"
Shen Tianming: "..."
Guo Nai: "..."
Shen Tianming twisted his face, finally managing to squeeze out the word "arrogant".
Guo Nai gestured for the soldiers to retreat. "The Marquis of Wu'an has always been arrogant, so it's not surprising that he would say such a thing. Let's not argue with him over such trivial matters. Let's wait and see. It's a good thing that he's willing to let his wife and children set off."
They waited until almost noon.
The convoy finally slowly drove out of the Marquis's mansion, with Qin Shaozong riding a red dragon and Shen Tianming, the general of the escort cavalry, riding alongside him.
"General Shen truly deserves to be a commander; his patience far surpasses that of those lowly soldiers," Qin Shaozong said with a smile.
Shen Tianming's lips twitched.
The lowly soldier dared to urge him on, wasn't he doing it on his orders? This guy surnamed Qin was indirectly cursing him.
Shen Tianming gave a forced smile, "Actually, if we set off earlier, your wife can receive His Majesty's reward sooner, which is not a bad thing. You should know that there are only a handful of female emperors who have been granted titles in the court right now."
Women in the royal family or wives and daughters of high-ranking officials could be granted the title of "Lady". For example, Empress Dowager Wang was granted the title of Lady Xiangyu.
Once a lord is enfeoffed, he possesses his own fiefdom, and the recipient enjoys the power to collect taxes and conscript soldiers within his territory. He can be considered a minor feudal lord.
Of course, a title of nobility cannot be bestowed casually; it depends not only on the husband's status and identity but also on the woman's own abilities.
Shen Tianming was right; there are only five female rulers still alive today, including Dai Li, who has not yet been granted a title.
That is why this grace is clear and transparent, and at least in the eyes of the world, it is not false at all.
Qin Shaozong and Shen Tianming walked side by side, chatting as they went.
After leaving Yuyang County and walking another twenty li, Shen Tianming turned to Qin Shaozong and said, "Even a thousand-mile farewell must come to an end. I'll stop here, my lord. Rest assured, I will ensure that your wife and son are safely escorted to the capital."
Guo Nai chimed in, “Even if the Lord is not at ease with our twenty elite soldiers, he should have confidence in the three hundred-man guard he left behind.”
Qin Shaozong said, "The journey is long and arduous, and it will take at least several months to go back and forth. I finally got married, and we are deeply in love. A day apart feels like three autumns. It's too early to send her off for only twenty miles."
Guo and Shen both choked up, their expressions strange.
What kind of behavior is it for a grown man to show such sentimental feelings in front of others?
Aren't they ashamed?
"Besides, my niece is also traveling with my wife, so no matter how you look at it, twenty li is still too little," Qin Shaozong said slowly.
Guo and Shen remained silent.
And so the delivery continued until dusk.
Two fine horses pulled the carriage together. The horses were not only very strong, but also excellent breeds from the north, with outstanding endurance and fast speed. Therefore, although they set off a little late, the group still arrived at a small county south of Yuyang before curfew.
With a wave of his hand, Qin Shaozong directly booked several post stations to house his soldiers, and even had the famous chefs accompanying his troops replace the cooks at the post stations, making quite a show of power.
Shen Tianming and Guo Nai exchanged a glance.
It was at this moment that they saw Dai Li, who had remained hidden in the carriage.
The beautiful woman, dressed in the verdant hues of a thousand mountains, removed her veil. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through, completely enveloping her beautiful face, making her appear like a shimmering pearl, indescribably captivating.
The two were stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized something.
So that's how it is. No wonder the Marquis of Wu'an was so reluctant to leave.
Dinner was served in the main hall. Unlike the elaborate meals in aristocratic homes, the inn did not have individual tables for each person.
Everyone sat around the table, but men and women were separated.
Qin Shaozong and Guo Nai sat at one table, Dai Li brought Shi Rongyue, and Qin Yanzhou and Qin Qinian sat at another table.
After the meal, Dai Li had just put down her chopsticks when the young man at the next table also put down his chopsticks.
"Mother, I have something to tell you," Qin Yanzhou said in a low voice.
Dai Li glanced at Guo Nai and the other person not far away, then got up and went upstairs with Qin Yanzhou.
Their rooms were on the second and third floors. Since the stairs were empty, Dai Li asked, "Zhouzhou, what's wrong?"
Qin Yanzhou: "Mom, let's go back to our room and talk."
Dai Li raised an eyebrow. "So mysterious, keeping everyone in suspense."
After going up to the third floor, Qin Yanzhou followed his son into the room. Before Dai Li could ask anything, he said, "Mom, I want to ask you to grant me a request."
Author's Note: Here I am! [droopy-eared rabbit head]
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