Chapter 294 I'm so glad you're back safe and sound
Jiang Ling sat down opposite her, curiously examining her.
"Did Sister Jiang bring any food? The food you brought last time was all gone a long time ago, and I've been craving it for ages. But my brother is useless; I've gone to see you several times and still haven't been able to."
Cheng Jiaojiao, however, was completely unaware, her eyes curiously darting around between Jiang Ling and Xiao Ran.
Seeing that they were all empty-handed, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
Jiang Ling took a deep breath and cut straight to the point: "Jiaojiao, I know everything about you."
Cheng Jiaojiao paused for a moment, and although she was still trying her best to control herself, her smile clearly carried a hint of bitterness:
"It's all over the capital, it's hard not to know. But I'm afraid I'll never be able to eat anything from Sister Jiang's shop again. Before the marriage delegation sets off, could Sister Jiang prepare some pastries and snacks for me as part of my dowry, so that I can have something to look forward to when I see them?"
Jiang Ling didn't follow her lead, but instead asked, "What...are you planning to do?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Jiaojiao's gaze fell out the window, her tone so calm it was unsettling: "What plans could we possibly have? The imperial decree cannot be disobeyed. My father is an official in the court and has received great favor from the emperor. Our Cheng family has been loyal and righteous for generations, eating the emperor's food and bearing the emperor's worries. Now that the time for sacrifice has come, naturally... there is no escaping it."
She said this calmly, but there was a sense of resigned helplessness in her voice.
Jiang Ling felt that the innocent and carefree little girl seemed to have grown up overnight.
"Do you really think so?"
She paused, then turned to look at Jiang Ling, her eyes filled with an almost cruel clarity:
“Our Cheng family comes from a military background. If one day my father and brothers need to sacrifice their lives on the battlefield for the sake of their family, country, and the world, that is their duty and destiny. Now, it is just my turn. But the battlefield I am heading to is one without gunpowder, where I must also risk my life.”
She gently tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing a smile that was extremely bitter. "I can only say that this is my fate."
Just as she was about to resign herself to her fate and give up all resistance, Jiang Ling suddenly reached out and covered her cold hand with hers, her tone resolute and unwavering:
"No! Jiaojiao, listen to me, this isn't your fate! There's still a chance to turn things around! Believe me, I'll fight for you!"
The moment Cheng Jiaojiao met Jiang Ling's gaze, the feigned resolve in her eyes seemed to shatter completely.
Her eyes instantly turned red, and tears that had been accumulating for so long burst forth like a dam breaking.
"Sister Jiang...!" She could no longer hold back and threw herself into Jiang Ling's arms, all her grievances, fears, and resentment turning into scalding tears.
In the end, she was still that little girl who longed for freedom and feared separation.
Jiang Ling held her tightly, letting her vent her emotions, gently patting her back, and whispering again and again, "It's okay to cry, it's okay to cry... Don't be afraid, I'm here."
After Cheng Jiaojiao's crying subsided and her emotions stabilized, Jiang Ling gently comforted her for a long time. Only after watching her drink the calming soup and fall asleep did she quietly leave the room.
At this moment, Cheng Fang also returned.
He was dressed in official robes, clearly having just stepped away from official business.
"Miss Jiang!"
As he approached, Jiang Ling put her index finger to her lips and gently shushed him.
Cheng Jiaojiao probably hasn't had a good night's sleep these past few days. Now that she's finally fallen asleep, let her sleep a little longer.
Cheng Fangxin understood immediately and led Jiang Ling to the reception room.
"You knew everything?" His voice was hoarse.
Jiang Ling nodded: "What are your family's plans?"
Cheng Fang lowered his head, clearly also unwilling for his sister to go on a political marriage. "Father went to see the Empress that very day, but the Empress's attitude was very firm, vaguely revealing that the conditions offered by the Great Sheng Dynasty were very generous, and the court could not refuse them."
"The Great Yu Dynasty has just experienced disaster and war, and it really cannot afford to be disrupted."
It seems that the Great Sheng Dynasty offered a great deal in order to win Cheng Jiaojiao's hand in marriage.
But why Cheng Jiaojiao?
She is the daughter of a military general and the niece of the current empress; it's not her place to be in the family.
Jiang Ling then asked, "Why was Cheng Jiaojiao specifically chosen? Is it really as rumored, that the Dasheng envoy believes Jiaojiao can ensure their good weather and abundant harvests?"
Cheng Fang shook his head: "That's just nonsense. Jiao Jiao has never met the envoys from the Great Sheng Dynasty. She was ill during the days the envoys were there and didn't even leave the house. This was a condition they had already put forward when they signed the reconciliation agreement."
Although the Cheng family was granted the title of Marquis of Wu'an for their meritorious service, they had fought against the Great Sheng Dynasty countless times. In terms of grudges, the Cheng family would not even rank in the top three.
The emperor of the Great Sheng Dynasty would not exchange a princess for a general's daughter over such a small grudge.
There must be something they don't know.
Cheng Fang looked at Jiang Ling, his tone complex: "I heard that you just promised Jiao Jiao that you would find a way. I know you were just comforting her, and she actually understands that. In any case, she will remember your kindness."
Jiang Ling's gaze was firm as she met Cheng Fang's questioning eyes. "No, I'm not just comforting her. I came prepared. Prince Cheng, I need to see the Crown Prince."
A hint of surprise flashed in Cheng Fang's eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions. He simply glanced at the completely dark sky outside and said in a deep voice, "It's already late, and the palace gates have long been locked. The earliest you can see the Crown Prince is after the morning court session tomorrow."
Jiang Ling knew she was late, so she nodded and said, "Okay."
Cheng Fang said, "I've had someone clean up that villa from last time. You can stay there for one night, and I'll make arrangements for tomorrow."
Cheng Fang personally escorted Jiang Ling and Xiao Ran out of the mansion.
Just as I stepped out of the gate of the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion, a familiar figure suddenly came into view.
The man was dressed in a dark casual suit, looking travel-worn, as if he had just arrived at the Cheng residence.
After more than half a year apart, he had lost a lot of weight, and the harshness of the border had taken away his former gentleness, giving him a more composed and sharp look.
Cheng Fang immediately bowed and greeted the prince: "Your Highness!"
Qin Qian's gaze, however, bypassed him and landed on Jiang Ling.
He stepped forward and stopped at just the right distance from her.
Jiang Ling admitted that she was happy to see him again.
Because she has so few friends in this world, she cherishes each and every one of them.
Jiang Ling forced a smile, but her eyes welled up with tears first: "I'm so glad you're back safe and sound."
Upon hearing this, Qin Qian's gaze softened even more, as if he had breathed a sigh of relief: "I am also very happy to see you safe and sound."
He was always anxious and uncertain about Jiang Ling. Every time he felt that the distance between them had narrowed, she would quietly drift away again.
He heard that the Crown Prince had approached her. He knew the Crown Prince's methods well: coercion and enticement, he would not give up until he got what he wanted.
Although I wrote to Jiang Ling every month during the past six months at the border, Jiang Ling rarely replied, usually only when the supplies arrived.
He assumed that Jiang Ling's unwillingness to see him meant she had already switched allegiance to the Crown Prince.
But Jiang Ling's words just now made him realize that the truth was not so.
Even though he was still in the midst of the vortex, his heart felt much more at ease.
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