Chapter 723 I Want to Go to the Battlefield
Zheng Wangfeng married the eldest daughter of a fourth-rank official in the He family, which was considered a significant step up for him, a minor official of the seventh rank.
However, after his wife became pregnant, he was promoted one rank and is now a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. With the He family's support, his official career is going smoothly.
"He only got promoted so quickly because of his father-in-law. He doesn't have any real skills at all, and he's not as good as our Zhao'er," Sister-in-law Cheng said sourly. "The He family is blind to have such a son-in-law. If they knew that Zheng Wangfeng had already taken a bunch of concubines in Fenghuang County and had a son, I wonder if they would have turned on him..."
"Alright, alright!" Old Mrs. Cheng glared at her. "What business is it of yours if other people's affairs are like this? You keep nagging. What good will it do you if the He family turns against you?"
Sister-in-law Cheng pouted.
She was dissatisfied that Zheng Wangfeng, a low-ranking scholar, had been promoted faster than Zhao'er, who was the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations.
However, now that Zheng Wangfeng has attached himself to the He family, if she were to reveal Zheng Wangfeng's dirty secrets behind his back and offend the He family, it would definitely cause trouble for Zhao'er.
She held back and didn't bring up the Zheng family's affairs again.
The first birthday banquet ended quickly, and the guests came one by one to say goodbye and go home.
Cheng Wanwan spoke a few words to Cheng Zhao, then left with her two sons.
For the past two or three years, she and San Niu had spent very little time together. Since there was nothing else to do, she took a carriage to send San Niu back to the military camp.
Inside the carriage, Zhao Sanniu chatted with Cheng Wanwan: "In the army, we take turns on leave during the Spring Festival. I'm on leave before the New Year, from the 20th of the twelfth lunar month until New Year's Eve. On the first day of the new year, I have to go to the garrison to be on duty..."
“You’ve worked so hard these past few years.” Cheng Wanwan patted his shoulder. “You’ve been in the army for so long, and I haven’t had a proper talk with you. You’ve been doing what you love for so long, have you gained any different insights?”
Zhao Sanniu thought for a moment and then said, "Back in Dahe Village, I always thought I was very good at martial arts. But after joining the army, I realized there are always people better than you, so I've been working even harder to improve my martial arts. It's just that my current position is a centurion in the Beijing garrison, which means I have to stay in Beijing. Actually, I want to go to the frontier, either the western or northern frontier..."
He let out a long sigh, his face full of regret.
Cheng Wanwan's heart skipped a beat: "You want to go to the front lines to fight?"
"The Great Yu Dynasty appears peaceful and prosperous, but in reality, small wars frequently break out on its borders. Some small countries always like to provoke the Great Yu Dynasty's national power and repeatedly stir up trouble." Zhao Sanniu clenched his fist. "If I were on the border, I could practice on those lackeys!"
Cheng Wanwan spoke slowly, "Do you remember how your father died?"
Zhao Sanniu's mood instantly soared: "I remember, I died on the battlefield, at the hands of barbarians... I know Mother didn't want me to go to the front lines, but Mother could do so much for the Great Yu Dynasty, and as Sui Shuren's son, I also want to do something for the country and its people. I'm not very bright, I can't read, I'm no good at farming, all I know is brute force, only on the battlefield can I find a place to shine..."
Since he's already said that, what else could Cheng Wanwan say?
A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier, and a soldier who doesn't want to go to the front lines is equivalent to a deserter.
Her son is so outstanding, she should be proud of him.
As the mother and son talked, the carriage soon arrived at the gate of the military camp.
Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, Cheng Wanwan heard a commotion coming from the entrance of the military camp, along with the angry voice of a woman.
"...Ruan Jingwei, don't think that just because this is a military camp, I won't dare to embarrass you! Mingzhu is a girl, and you actually brought her into the military camp! If it was her first time here, I could turn a blind eye! But I didn't expect you to keep her by your side for a whole year! Do you think I'm dead?!"
Cheng Wanwan lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. She saw a noblewoman in the middle of the crowd. Judging from her words, she could tell that this was probably Lady Ruan, the wife of the General of the Cavalry.
Madam Ruan pointed at the General of the Cavalry's nose and berated him. The dignified second-rank general was humiliated by the insults.
“Mother…” Ruan Mingzhu stood to the side, shrinking her neck, “There are so many people watching, so don’t scold my father. How can he put on airs as a general in front of these soldiers after this… If you want to scold someone, go home and scold them…”
"And you!" Madam Ruan raised her hand and poked her little girl's forehead. "How many times have I told you? You're a girl. I've never forced you to learn embroidery if you don't want to. If you want to learn martial arts, I've even hired a master to come to our house to teach you. You can do whatever you want. When have I ever stopped you? Why did you come to the military camp? It's full of men inside and out. What kind of behavior is it for you to mingle with men every day!"
Ruan Mingzhu whispered, "If Mother didn't make a scene here, who would know I'm a woman..."
"You still have the nerve to talk back!" Madam Ruan was furious, turning to the soldiers watching. "You all remember this face. From today onwards, if anyone sees her enter the camp again, tell me, and I'll reward you with one hundred taels of silver! Don't be afraid of offending your General. If he dares to use this to make things difficult for you, just tell me, and I'll make him regret it!"
"Mother!" Ruan Mingzhu, who had just been feeling guilty, suddenly exploded. "Before I came to the military camp, Father reported to the Emperor, and the Emperor agreed. I haven't violated any rules or regulations, so why can't I come to the military camp again! I like being here, I like training and learning martial arts. I'm a person too, why can't I do what I like! I never want to go back to the Ruan family again, I hate you so much!"
She turned and ran away.
While Mrs. Ruan was angry, she felt even more aggrieved.
She loved this youngest daughter with all her heart, but the daughter said she hated her to death, shattering her maternal love.
She only broke down for a moment, then rallied her spirits to chase after Nguyen Minh Chu.
But as soon as she took a step, Ruan Mingzhu ran even faster, as if afraid that she would catch up.
General Ruan Jingwei, unusually assertive, said, "So many people are scolding the child. How can she save face? Can't you vent your anger at home? What if something happens to her if she runs off outside alone?"
Madam Ruan gritted her teeth: "Quickly send someone to chase after them."
“I’ll go instead.” Cheng Wanwan walked over at some point. “The more people chase her, the faster she will run. The outskirts of the capital are surrounded by deep mountains and forests. It would be bad if she ran into the forest. Madam Ruan, go into the tent and rest for a while. I will definitely bring Miss Ruan back before dark.”
Madam Ruan knew her daughter's temper well; she couldn't be scolded or criticized, and she often ran away from home. If you sent someone to look for her, she would deliberately hide so that you couldn't find her.
In this situation, it would be more appropriate to have an outsider pursue the matter.
Madam Ruan said sincerely, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lady Sui. I will definitely visit you in person another day to express my gratitude."
Cheng Wanwan didn't say anything more and took a step to chase after Ruan Mingzhu.
She actually quite liked this girl; she was cheerful and generous, and even helped investigate clues during their trip to Linxi. She dared to question Princess Rongqing to her face, showing she was a bold and meticulous person.
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