Chapter 346 Returning to Qingzhou
Autumn has passed and winter has come; the year is drawing to a close once again.
This year has been a harsh winter. As soon as October began, the temperature dropped to extremely low levels, and two heavy snowfalls occurred, causing many old houses to collapse.
According to caravans traveling to and from the north, it is even colder further north than in the capital, and many cattle and sheep of the surrounding herding tribes have frozen to death.
In order to survive, the herders banded together to raid the border, stealing a lot of grain and massacring civilians in several villages.
This kind of thing happens almost every few years. The news travels back from the border at breakneck speed, but it doesn't attract much attention.
However, during this period, Emperor Jinghe seemed to be in a bad mood and took the opportunity to lash out at many people.
Many officials had their homes confiscated and were exiled, and were escorted to the frozen borderlands in the dead of winter.
Xu Jinnian also became exceptionally busy, leaving home before dawn every day and not returning until nightfall.
After a hurried dinner, he had to go to his study to work until late at night. When he returned to his room to sleep, Sheng An and her daughter closed their eyes early.
On the one hand, Sheng An felt sorry for the man's hard work, and on the other hand, she prepared delicious meals. Whenever Xu Jinnian was on duty at the Hanlin Academy, she would have the food delivered to him.
The meals delivered were very generous in portion size, far too much for Xu Jinnian to finish by himself, so they were given to his close colleagues.
The happiest person was Song Zhihang. He was so eager to try Sheng An's cooking, but he was too embarrassed to come over for meals every day.
Now he doesn't need to make excuses to enjoy the delicious food Sheng An makes, and he's incredibly enthusiastic about going to the Hanlin Academy to be on duty every day.
After a month of continuous work, and with the Lunar New Year shopping approaching, Xu Jinnian, who had just finished his tender moment, held Sheng An tightly around the waist and suddenly said:
"An'an, pack your things these next couple of days. You can take the kids, Dad, and Grandpa and Grandma back to Qingzhou for the New Year."
Sheng An, who had been drowsy, was instantly wide awake. She abruptly opened her eyes, turned over, and faced Xu Jinnian, staring intently at his face: "Has something big happened? Is that woman planning something?"
Seeing that she had guessed, Xu Jinnian did not hide anything and said in a heavy tone:
“A few days ago, Mu Yuanzhen was diagnosed with pregnancy. The Princess’s residence suppressed the news, and she will soon be secretly sent away by Princess Pingyuan.”
Sheng An blurted out, "So fast?"
She really didn't expect that Mu Yuanzhen's health was like that, yet she got pregnant only two or three months after getting married.
I really don't know whether to say Mu Yuanzhen has an iron body or that her new husband is too capable.
Before Sheng An could finish her shock, Xu Jinnian's next words hit her like a ton of bricks:
"The eighteen nomadic tribes in the north have united and intend to lead their armies to launch a war in collusion with Princess Pingyuan. The capital will not be peaceful for some time to come. It will be safer for you to return to Qingzhou."
Sheng An's heart leaped into her throat, and she instinctively grasped the man's hand: "What about you? How can I leave you alone in the capital?"
Xu Jinnian's cold eyes softened as he gently embraced her and comforted her, "Your husband, aside from anything else, still has the ability to protect himself."
Sheng An wouldn't listen and stubbornly said, "Let Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad take Zhuozhuo back to Qingzhou. I'll stay in the capital with you."
Xu Jinnian's face turned cold, and his tone was sterner than ever before: "An'an, be good!"
The more he acted this way, the more Sheng An sensed the danger, and her eyes began to redden uncontrollably: "I can't leave you alone in the capital."
Since they got married, they have only been separated twice.
One time, he went to Jinling to take the imperial examination, and they were separated for less than half a month.
One time was when he participated in the Jiang family's internal competition, and he returned after just over a month.
The two previous times were not life-threatening, but this time was completely different. Sheng An was extremely worried about leaving Xu Jinnian alone.
Xu Jinnian rarely saw her cry, and for a moment he panicked: "An'an, don't cry, it's my fault, I shouldn't have spoken to you like that..."
Sheng An let him frantically wipe away her tears, and said firmly, "Let Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad take Zhuozhuo back to Qingzhou. I'll stay in the capital with you!"
Xu Jinnian looked at her for a long time, sighed softly, and gently kissed her tear-filled eyelashes while coaxing her softly:
“This matter is of utmost importance. If you stay, it will only distract me. An’an, listen to me and go back to Qingzhou. Once this is over, I will personally return to Qingzhou to pick you up.”
Sheng An stared blankly at the man, seeing an undeniable refusal in his eyes.
She buried her head and hugged his waist tightly, unable to utter a word for a long time.
After a long while, reason finally prevailed, and Sheng An gently replied in the man's arms, "Okay, I'll go."
That night, the couple tossed and turned, unable to sleep well.
The next morning, Xu Jinnian went to the palace to take his duty, and Sheng An got up as well.
Looking at the somewhat haggard-looking person in the bronze mirror, she subconsciously picked up rouge and powder to cover it up.
Just as he was about to slap it on his face, Sheng An suddenly remembered something, put it down, and got up to go into the courtyard.
As Grandpa and Grandma Sheng get older, their sleep duration decreases, and they get up very early every day.
The elderly couple were surprised and puzzled to see their granddaughter up so early for the first time, and worried that the couple might have had a fight the night before.
Seeing the elderly couple's worry, Sheng An stepped forward, hugged Grandma Sheng's arm, and said dejectedly:
“Grandpa, Grandma, I’ve been dreaming about Mom these past few days. She said I haven’t been back to see her for two years and I refuse to bring Zhuozhuo back to burn paper money for her. Last night, Jinnian and I discussed it and decided to take Zhuozhuo back to Qingzhou for the New Year.”
The two elders looked at each other in bewilderment after hearing this.
Isn't this too sudden?
Sheng An feigned sadness and lowered her head to wipe her eyes:
“It is my fault for being unfilial. I forgot about my mother as soon as I came to the capital, and I made you two elders far away from your hometown. My mother doesn’t even have anyone to visit her grave and burn paper money for her. No wonder she has been appearing in my dreams for several days in a row.”
Seeing her granddaughter's haggard face, Grandma Sheng believed her without a doubt that her granddaughter was lying to her. She couldn't help but hug her and said with heartache, "It's not your fault that you can't offer incense to your mother. Your mother can't blame you."
Sheng An shook his head, his expression pleading:
“I am my mother’s only daughter. If I don’t go back to offer incense to her, who will remember her in the future? If I don’t go back, I’m worried that my mother will blame me. Please come back with me, Grandpa and Grandma.”
Grandma Sheng was very tempted and couldn't help but look at Grandpa Sheng.
Grandpa Sheng hesitated and said, "The river is frozen and we can't sail. The only way to get back is by carriage. It's freezing cold. Adults can handle it, but Zhuozhuo is so small, can she manage?"
Sheng An secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Children have plenty of energy, just dress her up more. Once we reach a navigable section of the river, we'll take a boat and get back to Qingzhou before the New Year."
Seeing her say that, the two elders no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement.
They had been wanting to go back and take a look for a long time.
After Xu Chenglin got up, he learned that the three of them had suddenly decided to take his beloved granddaughter back to Qingzhou for the New Year. Before Sheng An could ask him what he thought, he insisted on going with them.
In this way, Sheng An would not have to find an excuse to persuade him.
The decision to return to Qingzhou for the New Year was made, and everyone eagerly packed their luggage.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com