Do not forget
Seeing him like this, Zhao Youyi felt a rare pang of guilt, but things hadn't gone as she wished. Everything had happened too fast back then. They were both people being swept along by fate, each with their own hardships and reasons. Why make things difficult for each other?
“Cousin, I didn’t mean to ignore your letter back then,” Zhao Youyi said, looking into his eyes. “It was not what I wanted. Since it has already happened, instead of dwelling on the past, let’s seize the present.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Chanyin chuckled softly, "Yes, cousin is right."
Chu Muqing leaned out of the carriage and asked, "Uncle, aren't you getting in?"
Chu Chanyin waved to him, signaling him to go back. Chu Muqing glanced between the two of them, muttering something to himself, and turned back before Chu Chanyin could hear him clearly.
"He's just a child at heart, please forgive him, cousin," Chu Chanyin said with an apologetic smile.
Zhao Youyi shook his head to indicate that he didn't care, and looked ahead thoughtfully, saying, "My cousin will definitely be a good father in the future."
Chu Chanyin was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Cousin thinks too highly of me. I treat Mu Qing just like my brother treated me and Nianling treated you back then. I'm just good at imitation."
Recalling all those rumors, Zhao Youyi looked at him with a hint of heartache.
Chu Chanyin took out an exquisite hairpin from his bosom. It was adorned with round and translucent pearls and surrounded by purple forget-me-nots in the center, which shone brightly in the sunlight.
Zhao Youyi was immediately drawn to the unique hair ornament and looked up at him in surprise: "Cousin, is this a gift for me?"
Chu Chan smiled without saying a word, carefully tucking the hair ornament into her hair. Since it was the first time he had put a hair ornament on a woman, his usually composed hands trembled. He had practiced in front of the mirror several times in private for this moment.
Zhao Youyi felt the weight on her head and looked at him with bright eyes: "Why did my cousin suddenly give me jewelry?"
“It’s not sudden,” Chu Chanyin said gently as he looked at her face. “It was supposed to be one of your coming-of-age ceremonies, but it was inconvenient to go to the capital at the time, and Brother Nianling wasn’t going back, so we had to put it aside. Now it’s just the right time to give it to you.”
Actually, he wanted to have someone send it to Shenjing, but Zhao Youli kept stopping him from contacting Zhao Youyi, saying that she was afraid that seeing things related to him would upset her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept secretly going to Shenjing to see her all these years.
He initially thought she didn't want to have any more contact with people related to that memory, but he didn't expect that she had simply forgotten him.
"Do you like it?" Chu Chanyin asked cautiously.
Zhao Youyi reached out and touched the hairpin. How could she say she didn't like it? This was the first man besides her brother to give her jewelry. Besides, Chu Chanyin's taste was far superior to her brother's. "I like it. Thank you, cousin. This hairpin is exquisite and delicate. I will cherish it."
Chu Chanyin stroked her hair gently, like an older brother treating his most beloved younger sister: "I'm glad you like it, cousin. Alright, it's getting late, cousin, you don't need to see me off any further."
Knowing she couldn't waste too much time, Zhao Youyi waved goodbye to him.
Before getting into the carriage, Chu Chanyin turned around and glanced at her. Today, he was unusually not tying his hair up; instead, his long hair was casually tied around his shoulder blades with a hairband. As he turned his head, the strands of hair fell and danced in the air. His eyebrows and eyes were like stars and paintings, as if he were a banished immortal who had fallen from the sky.
"Cousin, until we meet again," Zhao Youyi said with a smile.
Chu Chanyin turned around and smiled: "We will meet again."
After Chu Chanyin and his group left the city, Zhao Youyi also headed back home. There was no need to stay at the inn anymore. Zhao Youli had bought mansions in Wanzhou and Youzhou in his early years. The courtyards were not large, but they were fully equipped. Zhao Youyi and the others simply moved in with their bags.
Zhao Youyi had lived here when he was with the army in his early years. Looking at the three bright characters "General's Mansion" above, he felt as if he had lived in another world.
Xiao Qing was overjoyed to finally not have to stay at the inn anymore, and she jumped for joy. After all, she was still young, and Zhao Youyi didn't hold her back.
Upon returning to the General's Mansion in Wanzhou, Wu Yi and his group appeared. They were loyal bodyguards trained by Zhao Youyi's parents for him, and they usually hid in the shadows to protect Zhao Youyi's safety.
The steward of the manor rushed out to greet Zhao Youyi. These days, the gates of their general's manor have been tightly closed. Since Zhao Youli's death, there has been no peace in the border region. Moreover, the Southern Barbarian army is now openly stationed in Wanzhou, and everyone in Wanzhou is in danger.
"Uncle Xu," Zhao Youyi called out to him, "you've had a hard time these past few days."
“What are you saying, young lady? This is what this old servant should do,” Xu Bo said, as if he had seen his pillar of support. “These days, no one in the manor has gone out much. Why did you come to Wanzhou, young lady?”
As he spoke, Uncle Xu led Zhao Youyi and his entourage into the mansion. Upon hearing of Zhao Youyi's return, he specially instructed the kitchen to prepare Zhao Youyi's favorite dishes.
"If I want to revitalize the Zhao family army, I must return to the borderlands," Zhao Youyi said.
Upon hearing this, Xu Bo stared wide-eyed in disbelief. "Young lady... why are you doing this to yourself? The general risked his life for the Great Jin Dynasty for so many years, only to end up like this. Why... why do you have to follow in the general's footsteps?"
Seeing that he had misunderstood, Zhao Youyi hurriedly explained, "Uncle Xu, you're overthinking it. I'm not working for the Great Jin Dynasty; I'm working to bring peace and prosperity to all the people of the world."
Upon hearing her shocking remarks, Xu Bo was so frightened that he stumbled and lost his footing. "Miss... are you trying to rebel?"
Zhao Youyi turned her head and raised an eyebrow at him: "That's right, I not only want to rebel, but also to form a women's army and let women leave their homes."
Xu Bo was so frightened that he was speechless for a moment. Although the Zhao family had produced a female general, there was no precedent for forming a women's army. If this news were to spread, the people in the border areas would probably be in an uproar.
Xu Bo guessed correctly. Ever since Zhao Youyi formed the women's army, rumors in the city have never stopped. Although the women in the border areas are more fierce due to years of war, there is no precedent for a group of women to go to the battlefield. If they were to face the Southern Barbarian army, they would probably be ridiculed by the other side for having no men and sending women to the battlefield.
Zhao Youyi naturally heard the rumors in the city, but due to the Zhao family's prestige in the border region and her reputation for single-handedly storming into the military camp and killing Min Guo, the recruitment of the women's army went relatively smoothly. After these days of publicity, the number of applicants has reached three hundred.
Although it seems small compared to the existing 30,000-strong Zhao Family Army, it's already quite good to have achieved this result at the very beginning.
After settling down at the General's Mansion, Zhao Youyi went to the military camp to train the troops. The Zhao Family Army and the Women's Army were stationed not far apart. The Zhao Family Army was under the command of Zhou Huaiyuan, while the Women's Army was currently mainly led by Xiao Xuan and Qian Rui. They were both highly skilled secret guards who had learned the art of killing, and they were perfect for teaching these new female soldiers.
Zhao Youyi walked past the Zhao family army's tent and stopped to watch the army's drills. She sold all her dowry to buy food for the soldiers. Fortunately, the border region was quite prosperous under Zhao Youli's previous rule, and at least the food in the city was sufficient. However, this was not a long-term solution.
When Zhou Huaiyuan saw Zhao Youyi arrive, he called his subordinates over to oversee the army's training. He then jogged over to Zhao Youyi, beaming, and asked, "General, what brings you here?"
"I came to check on things, and I happen to have something to tell you," Zhao Youyi said calmly.
"Please give your orders, General," Zhou Huaiyuan said hurriedly.
"Although the border region is relatively prosperous, food supplies are still lacking. I wonder how you handled it in the past, brother?" Zhao Youyi had been troubled by the food supply issue recently, and his brows furrowed as he spoke of it.
"In earlier years, the General would purchase grain and fodder from wealthy merchants in Jiangzhou and Fuzhou. In recent years, the lives of the people in the border areas have improved, and grain and fodder have gradually become more abundant." Zhou Huaiyuan recalled Zhao Youli's past actions and could only sigh that heaven was jealous of talent.
"I see," Zhao Youyi thought to herself, considering the feasibility of this plan. Although the dowry money her brother left her was enough to buy most of the army's provisions in the early and middle stages, she still needed more provisions and more silver.
"Zhou Huaiyuan, send a few trusted men to Jiangzhou to secretly purchase grain and fodder. Remember not to alert the enemy." The rebellion should be suppressed for as long as possible. Let the dog emperor continue his decadent lifestyle for a while longer, and her army will become stronger.
Zhou Huaiyuan nodded in agreement, but then paused in his steps as he was about to leave. He tentatively asked, "General, I wonder how my younger sister is doing in the army?"
Zhou Huaiyuan's younger sister, Zhou Yaqing, was a clever girl with good martial arts skills. She was clearly a trained practitioner. With her wheat-colored skin and bright, sunny smile, she was unforgettable. Zhao Youyi recalled the first time he met this girl and couldn't help but exclaim with admiration, "Your sister is a promising talent. Given time, her martial arts skills will definitely be no less than yours."
Zhou Huaiyuan chuckled and scratched his head, saying, "My younger sister has loved playing with swords and spears since she was little. My father always said that if she joined the army, she would be many times better than me. I never expected that she would be appreciated by the general. Our family's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke!"
Zhao Youyi patted his shoulder encouragingly, "You're quite good too. My brother used to praise you to me often, saying that you're honest and kind, unlike Min Guo who's cunning and scheming. You're a good general."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Huaiyuan's eyes reddened with emotion. He had always lost to Min Guo in the past. Although he was not as talented as Min Guo and his relationship with Zhao Youli was not as close as that between Zhao Youli and Min Guo, he still respected this great general who cared deeply for the country and its people. He never expected that Zhao Youli had not only seen him but also knew about him.
"Alright, a real man doesn't cry easily," Zhao Youyi said, looking at him with amusement.
Zhou Huaiyuan touched his face, feeling embarrassed, and said, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, General. I'll go and get on with it right away."
Seeing Zhou Huaiyuan run away in a hurry, Zhao Youyi looked at his back and suddenly thought of Zhao Youli.
She used to feel that her brother had left her too little, that his farewell letter was too short, so short that her tears and longing had nowhere to go. Now she feels that her brother has left her a lot.
A loyal and kind subordinate, and a trustworthy cousin.
There is another home.
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