Love beans
"My lord, the letter has been delivered. Lady Liu has set off." After receiving the message by carrier pigeon, Zhao Youyi burned the note on the candle flame after reading it.
Xiao Xuan, standing to the side, cupped her hands and said, "General, the Women's Army has gained fifty more people today, saying they came from nearby counties."
Zhao Youyi cleaned up the ashes and picked up the list on the table: "Not bad, you did a good job. However, you need to investigate the backgrounds of these women to prevent spies from infiltrating."
Xiao Xuan nodded in agreement.
"Miss, His Highness has sent a letter!" Xiao Qing walked in excitedly, carrying a package in her hand.
Zhao Youyi found her reaction strange: "Your cousin wrote to you, why are you so happy?"
Xiao Qing eagerly handed the letter to her, "Of course it's because you'll be happy to receive His Highness's letter! You haven't smiled much these past few days since His Highness left Wanzhou."
Zhao Youyi pointed a finger at Xiao Qing's head: "You're so glib, just talking nonsense."
Xiao Qing glanced at Xiao Xuan and quickly pulled her into the group, "Xiao Xuan, tell me, hasn't the young lady hardly smiled since the prince left?"
Xiao Xuan nodded with a serious expression.
Zhao Youyi was both amused and exasperated by the two, and quickly waved them away.
Xiao Qing stuck out her tongue innocently and pulled Xiao Xuan away from the tent.
Seeing that the two had left, Zhao Youyi carefully took out the letter from the envelope. Chu Chanyin's handwriting was neat and beautiful, flowing smoothly with its own charm. There was even a flattened peach blossom on the letter paper.
"To Nianwan:"
I am delighted to receive your letter. I am doing well in Virginia. The peach blossoms in my backyard are in full bloom, and I have borrowed one to please my cousin.
I wonder if my cousin is doing well in Wanzhou? Along with this letter, I also sent some nourishing medicinal herbs that I found in the storeroom. My cousin is often worried, so please remember to take good care of yourself.
Written by my elder brother Huai Cong in Fuzhou.
Zhao Youyi opened the package beside him, and inside were indeed nourishing medicinal herbs that could not be bought anywhere else. Only the King of Chu was so generous, giving away such precious medicinal herbs as if they were beans.
Zhao Youyi carefully placed the medicinal herbs, read his letter again, and couldn't help but rub her fingers on the flattened peach blossom, her lips unconsciously curving upwards.
When she's a child, we use these tricks to amuse her.
Zhao Youyi shook her head helplessly, sat down and pondered for a moment before replying to him.
There was so much I wanted to say, but I wrote very little down. Firstly, it wouldn't make sense, and secondly, I was worried that Chu Chanyin would avoid answering. So I simply asked about some ordinary, trivial matters to offer some comfort.
After finishing writing, Zhao Youyi asked Xiao Qing to find some red beans. Xiao Qing was confused, but seeing that Zhao Youyi's expression didn't seem to be joking, she quickly went to find them.
"Girl, what do you need red beans for?" Xiao Qing ran back breathlessly and placed a few red beans on the table. Seeing Zhao Youyi pretending to be busy, she suddenly realized, "You're not going to give them to His Highness Prince Chu, are you?"
An ancient saying goes, "This is the most poignant symbol of longing."
Zhao Youyi smiled without saying a word, simply taking the red beans and putting them into the envelope.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Qing's curiosity grew even stronger. The two usually got along more like sisters than mistress and servant. Now, she boldly tugged at Zhao Youyi's sleeve and asked, "Miss, have you fallen for the King of Chu? Why did you send him love beans?"
“Of course not,” Zhao Youyi denied without hesitation. “He gave me the peach blossoms first, and I was just returning the favor.”
Xiao Qing exclaimed in confusion, feeling even more dizzy.
Zhao Youyi handed the letter to Xiao Qing and asked her to send it to Fuzhou. Seeing that her young lady didn't want to say more, Xiao Qing could only leave reluctantly.
"Master, Lady Liu has arrived!" Xiao Xuan said, lifting the curtain.
Zhao Youyi suddenly raised her head, her eagerness to find talented people making her quicken her pace.
The climate in the border region was still quite cold at this time. Liu Zhiming, wearing a cloak, dismounted and knelt on one knee before Zhao Youyi: "Greetings, my lord. Thank you for your appreciation!"
Seeing her perform such a grand ceremony, Zhao Youyi hurriedly stepped forward to help her up. "Sister Liu, there's no need for such formalities. I should be thanking you, Sister Liu. You are both learned and skilled in martial arts. Your addition has brought great honor to our Women's Army!"
Liu Zhiming got up with her help and carefully examined the girl in front of him. He had only seen her a few times in Shenjing before, but today he realized what a beauty was. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes were like apricots, and her eyes moved with a captivating charm. Her skin was as white as snow and her lips were as vibrant as a rainbow. Such a stunning beauty was truly rare in this world.
The girl's eyes were resolute, and anyone who looked at her dared not underestimate her. Her experience of fighting on the battlefield and killing enemies gave her a contradictory temperament, or perhaps she had the spirit of a military family in her bones, and just standing there made people want to bow down and submit.
"You flatter me, my lord," Liu Zhimo said, flattered. "I never expected to receive such favor from you. From now on, you may call me Zhimo. I am a few years older than you, but I am far less charismatic than you."
Zhao Youyi patted her shoulder with satisfaction, "Okay, Zhimo, I'll take you to see how the Women's Army is training these days!"
When Zhao Youyi brought it up, Liu Zhiming was naturally delighted, as she had been eager to see what it was like for women to join the army.
The two walked side by side, and saw a group of tall and strong women wielding swords under the scorching sun, shouting slogans that were as powerful as mountains and rivers. Among them were some petite women with resolute eyes, whose cheeks were red from the sun but who did not complain of hardship or fatigue.
Seeing that the army was well-organized and had a large number of soldiers, Liu Zhiming felt admiration for Zhao Youyi.
"Our lord is indeed a saint who saves the people from suffering. After seeing this, I am deeply moved," Liu Zhimo said with admiration.
Zhao Youyi waved to Zhou Yaqing, who was not far away.
Zhou Yaqing, who had jogged over, had a smile on her face. "General, is there anything you need?"
Zhao Youyi patted Zhou Yaqing on the shoulder, "Yaqing, this is Liu Niangzi, Liu Zhiming. From today onwards, she will be my deputy general, just like you. She is new here, so you can show her around the military environment."
Zhao Youyi then said to Liu Zhiming, "Zhiming, this is Zhou Yaqing, the younger sister of the deputy general in Zhao Family Army. You can get to know her better."
The two nodded in agreement. Before leaving, Zhao Youyi instructed Liu Zhiming, "Zhiming, come to my camp tonight."
After Zhao Youyi left, Zhou Yaqing warmly took Liu Zhiming's hand and said, "You're Liu Niangzi, right? From now on, you can call me Yaqing. The Women's Army was founded by the General. We all practice the martial arts that are suitable for women from the Zhao family ancestors. In order to support our Women's Army and the Zhao family army next door, the General even poured his dowry money into it!"
Liu Zhiming chuckled at her humorous tone, "Don't be so polite, just call me Zhiming like you do, General. I heard from the General that your brother is the deputy general of the Zhao family army, your kung fu must be amazing..."
As night fell and the stars twinkled in the sky, Zhao Youyi stood with his hands behind his back in front of the tent, gazing at the crescent moon in a daze.
When Liu Zhiming arrived at the camp, she saw Zhao Youyi admiring the moon alone. After listening to Zhou Yaqing's tales of Zhao Youyi's great achievements for a long time, she finally connected the omnipotent Zhao Youyi described by Zhou Yaqing with the Zhao Youyi who was now filled with loneliness.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Zhao Youyi looked in the direction of the sound and saw Liu Zhiming standing not far away.
"Lady Liu is here." Zhao Youyi smiled gently and beckoned her to sit down on the small chair next to him.
Liu Zhiming naturally complied, and only after Zhao Youyi sat down did he ask, "What brings you here, General?"
Zhao Youyi patted her on the shoulder, "Don't be nervous, I just wanted to ask if your parents know that you joined the Women's Army."
"I have already informed my parents and relatives, and they have agreed." After Zhao Youyi mentioned it, Liu Zhiming belatedly felt a pang of longing for his family.
A sudden realization dawned on her; she seemed to understand why Zhao Youyi was admiring the moon alone, feeling utterly lonely.
Because Zhao Youyi has no relatives left in this world.
The Zhao family was full of loyal and righteous men, with even the last woman joining the army, which is truly admirable.
"It was just a matter of being forced by circumstances." Only after Zhao Youyi answered did Liu Zhiming belatedly realize that he had spoken his mind.
Zhao Youyi sighed softly: "I originally wanted to live a simple life according to my brother's last wish, but now that the world is in chaos, I need military power to protect the peace of the region. Of course, I also don't want the Zhao family army to fall into the hands of outsiders."
After saying that, she smiled slyly, looking like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.
"By the way, how is Princess Fu'an?" Liu Zhiming asked, somewhat surprised when Zhao Youyi mentioned Princess Fu'an.
“I thought the general would dislike Princess Fu’an,” after all, Zhao Youli died because of the emperor’s scheme, and the empress dowager wanted Zhao Youyi to marry in place of the princess for her own selfish desires. Logically speaking, Zhao Youyi should not care about the princess’s life or death.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Youyi smiled and shook her head. "That's the Emperor's fault. Princess Fu'an is just a young girl who has just come of age. There's so little she can do. It's understandable that some people hate her and dislike her, but not me."
She is naturally emotionally detached, and very few people can take away her emotions. Why put your hatred on a little girl who can't even control her own destiny?
Liu Zhiming was stunned by her magnanimous attitude for a moment before he remembered to answer her question: "Princess Fu'an was implicated by our family and was demoted to Lingnan. In fact, at that time, the Empress Dowager's power was still strong, and she could have divorced and stayed in the capital. But for some reason, she refused to divorce, and the Empress Dowager went with her in a fit of anger."
“My younger brother lost his career because he married a princess, and he treats her coldly every day. She... must be having a hard time.”
Liu Zhiming couldn't judge Princess Fu'an. If it weren't for Princess Fu'an, her father would have died long ago, but her younger brother couldn't get an official position because he married the princess. She had mixed feelings about the princess, feeling sorry for her but also feeling that she deserved her fate.
Zhao Youyi couldn't persuade Liu Zhiming to let go or be magnanimous. Princess Fu'an was once a beloved legitimate princess, and with her dowry, she would never have a bad life. However, her relationship with Liu Feng'an was ultimately a tragic one.
After pondering for a long time, Liu Zhiming said, "If I have the chance to see her again, I will advise her that she is still young and does not need to tie her future to someone who does not like her."
Zhao Youyi smiled slightly, looked at the incomplete moon, and said nothing.
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