Chapter 123 This Love Will Never Change
The bright morning sunlight slanted in through the open window and sprinkled on the spotless table.
Shen Yuexi sat at the table, skillfully turning the brush with one hand, supporting her cheek with the other, staring at the ceiling and thinking hard.
What should I write in the letter to Xiao Zhuo?
The idea of writing the letter came from something she saw that morning.
Early in the morning, Meipu sent a messenger with his handwritten letter through the customs to deliver it to his sister, Consort Meidai.
In ancient times, without convenient means of communication like telephones and email, people communicated with distant relatives and friends by writing letters. For ordinary people, a letter might not arrive for a month. However, for those like the Prince of Xiliang, special messengers and riders were dispatched to deliver the letter.
When Shen Yuexi saw Meipu's messenger, she realized she hadn't heard from Xiao Zhuo in nearly a week. Her mind had been completely focused on the Xirong captives, so now was the time to write to Xiao Zhuo.
As for the Duke's Mansion in the capital, they had already severed ties with her and were not considered.
Spreading the paper, grinding the ink... After all the busy work, I finally sat down at the table and started thinking about what to write.
Xiao Zhuo should be made aware of the situation on her side, so she should start by talking about those around her.
Of the two chickens at home, one was eaten by Mrs. Li, and the other was used by Li Wan to make soup and given to Mei Pu. It was abominable. They weren't even grown yet, even though two roosters couldn't lay eggs. She was so angry that two tears fell from the corners of her mouth.
But why should Xiao Zhuo know about such a small matter? Change someone else.
Xiaogang Village was growing larger and larger, with a permanent population approaching 2,000. The fields surrounding the village were already teeming with crops, a scene of prosperity. Furthermore, with no war now underway, the village headman allowed villagers to mine iron ore, make farm tools, and sell them in Dongji Town. Money was pouring into Xiaogang Village.
She'd made a lot of money on that end, too. That week, while she was away, the owner of the Dongji Town pharmacy came to deliver his share of the garlic capsule sales—a whopping one hundred taels. Madam Li shamelessly claimed it was her elder and offered to collect it on her behalf. Fortunately, the owner wasn't stupid and didn't give it to her. Aunt Sun across the street had witnessed this firsthand; it was absolutely true.
Madam Li is Xiao Zhuo's aunt after all, so it's better not to say bad things about her. Xiao Zhuo will definitely be able to see through it.
Besides, such trivial matters are not suitable to be written in a letter. As Xiao Zhuo's wife, I can't be too petty. I have to show some heroic spirit.
Then say something domineering in the letter.
Last night, the Xirong captives were escorted back safely to the north by General Qiu.
Still no use. Xiao Zhuo was ruthless and ungrateful to his captives. They had different opinions, so he might not like to hear this news. He might even complain in his heart that she had unleashed five thousand more enemies. It was best not to write this news.
She had already begun treating Prince Mei's illness, and this morning she was going to the Dongji Town pharmacy to see if there were any suitable herbs. She was also going to pick up the silver she had earned along the way.
Mei Pu is Xiao Zhuo's good friend. She treated Mei Pu, and Xiao Zhuo would definitely enjoy reading about her. So, let's just write about this.
After thinking it through, Shen Yuexi stopped spinning the pen, sat up straight, and dipped the pen in the inkstone.
As the tip of her pen hovered over the paper, she was troubled again.
From birth to now, I have never used this primitive method to write a letter. In addition, I have never practiced calligraphy. If Xiao Zhuo saw my handwriting, would he laugh?
After a moment's hesitation, she finally made up her mind. It might be ugly, but the thought behind it was what mattered.
Lifting the pen, with her left hand holding up her right sleeve, Shen Yuexi held her breath and concentrated her energy, then tremblingly wrote the four words "husband is like face" on the white paper.
After writing four words, sweat appeared on her forehead. She picked up the pen, wiped the sweat with her sleeve, and looked at her handwriting.
These four characters are written in a shaky and twisted manner. If they were more abstract, they could definitely be considered oracle bone script.
Shen Yuexi became angrier and angrier as she read on. She reached out, grabbed the paper, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it under the table.
If someone saw this, they would laugh out loud and throw it away immediately.
The courtyard door rang, and footsteps were heard running over. Yang Cong's excited voice came from outside the door: "Madam, open the door quickly, there is good news."
Shen Yuexi quickly picked up a pen, tore off a piece of paper, drew an oval, and then scribbled a few strokes on it.
"Come in, I'm already up."
Yang Cong pushed the door open and came in, holding up the letter in his hand. "Madam, a soldier just came to our house on horseback and asked me to give this letter to... Hey, what are you doing, Madam?"
"Drawing," Shen Yuexi pointed at the paper on the table, "Isn't this it? I drew a... crab."
"Wow...it's a crab?" Yang Cong bent down in surprise to examine the graffiti on the paper. "How can a crab have ten legs?"
"The special variety in the capital... Oh, don't ask anymore," Shen Yuexi stood up and reached out to grab the letter held by Yang Cong, "What is this?"
"It's a letter from the young master. I just interrupted him and didn't finish."
Shen Yuexi exclaimed, quickly pulled out the letter, opened it and took a look.
I haven't even written a few words yet, but Xiao Zhuo has already delivered the letter. This is a bit embarrassing.
The words on the letter were written in a flourish, their power piercing through the paper. Even a novice like her, who had no appreciation for calligraphy, could see that Xiao Zhuo's calligraphy flowed like flowing water, with the style of a master.
With Yang Cong beside her, Shen Yuexi felt too embarrassed to read, so she read silently.
Xiao Zhuo began by expressing his longing for her, and then went on to describe the war situation.
When the Western Rong army of 100,000 surrounded Leshan, Xiao Zhuo did not lead his troops directly to Leshan for rescue. Instead, he led his troops to penetrate the main road between the enemy army and the rear supply of food and grass, cutting off the enemy's food supply.
The Western Rong army, unprepared for this strategy and still hoping to continue the siege, sent only 20,000 cavalry to engage Xiao Zhuo. Xiao Zhuo won three battles in three days, slaughtering over 6,000 enemy soldiers while suffering fewer than 1,000 casualties. Only then did the enemy realize their opponent wasn't Mei Pu, the crown prince of Xiliang.
Knowing their opponent was Xiao Zhuo, King Duoma of the Western Rong took him very seriously. He immediately lifted the siege of Leshan and ordered his 100,000-man army to divide into four groups and encircle Xiao Zhuo, blocking all possible routes of retreat.
Seeing this, Shen Yuexi couldn't help but feel a little panicked.
The siege of Leshan had been lifted, and Xiao Zhuo had fulfilled his promise to Mei Pu. Now, with a hundred thousand strong army surrounding him from all sides, it was unclear whether he could escape safely.
She then looked down.
Xiao Zhuo was temporarily unable to return to Xiliang, so he led his cavalry into the territory of Xirong, using the cavalry's mobility to shake off the enemy so that she didn't have to worry.
"Although I am far away, my love for you will never change." This was the last sentence in the letter.
Shen Yuexi put down the letter and lowered her head in thought.
Xiao Zhuo was now surrounded by the Xirong army, but as a cavalryman, he didn't have to worry about being caught up. He could write to her, explaining that the situation wasn't critical and that he could find a gap to break out. There was no point in her getting anxious here.
The most important thing at the moment is to rush to Dongji Town to see if we can find medicinal raw materials to treat leprosy.
As soon as Mei Pu's condition improves, he can persuade the King of Xiliang to send troops to aid Xiao Zhuo. Meanwhile, construction must begin on the Langya Pass checkpoint. If the Western Rong army were to attack us someday, with the checkpoint and advanced weapons like the repeating crossbow, we could be a single man holding a thousand at bay.
Xiao Zhuo was fighting outside, so she couldn't just sit at home doing nothing.
There is still a lot to do.
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