All good things must come to an end. As the night went on, only the mess of cups and plates remained in Fengle Tower. The young people had already gone their separate ways, vying for the last bit of warmth that would not last long.

Inside the room, a beautiful woman was folding her clothes one by one and putting them into a bag. She was seen by a man who walked into the room and snatched the clothes away.

"Chengxiu, don't do these things as I told you to do," Yan He pulled her to sit in front of the bed, "You are pregnant now, so you should be more careful. What if you get tired?"

Xia Chengxiu said: "I'm just pregnant, why do you have to make such a big deal about it?"

"Isn't it amazing that you're pregnant?" Yan He was surprised. "Anyway, the servants will do the rough work. You just need to take care of yourself."

Xia Chengxiu was silent for a moment, "I just remembered that I made two new sets of clothes before, and you haven't had time to wear them yet, so I'll bring them with you this time."

Yan He seldom returned to Shuojing in the past two years. Sometimes, he had not even put on the new clothes Xia Chengxiu prepared for him before he left Beijing again.

"I'm going to the war, why would I need to wear something so nice?" Yan He said without thinking, "You don't have to take so much."

Xia Chengxiu fell silent.

Yan He was a little flustered when she didn't speak. Before each expedition, he was most afraid of Xia Chengxiu's silence. This daughter of Lord Xia was gentle and strong. When Yan He was a child, he had seen military commanders go to war and their families cried to stop them. Even his own mother did the same. However, Xia Chengxiu never acted like this. At most, she would be silent, just like what she was doing now.

But this silence only aroused his inner guilt and pity. As a military commander, he had no choice but to serve the country when it was in trouble. He had grown up to be worthy of the heavens, the earth, the emperor and the teacher, but he owed his wife and children.

Yan He hesitated for a moment, then pulled Xia Chengxiu into his arms and sighed softly, "Chengxiu, I'm sorry for putting you through this."

Xia Chengxiu was stunned for a moment, then he smiled, "What kind of grievance is this? You went to Ji County to defend the territory of the Great Wei Kingdom. I was able to live in peace in the capital, wasn't it because of your protection that I received it?"

"But I..." Yan He frowned, "I couldn't be with you when you were pregnant."

It is a happy thing to have my own child with Xia Chengxiu, but it is also accompanied by regret and loss, worry and guilt.

"Since I married you, I have expected this day to come. If I complain to you, I would be hypocritical." Xia Chengxiu smiled, "The situation is critical. You are not in Shuojing, and the young man will understand."

Yan He looked at Xia Chengxiu's belly, covered it with his palm, and murmured softly: "I don't know if it's a young master or a young lady..."

"I heard you say that in Fengle Building today, and I thought you didn't care." Xia Chengxiu chuckled.

"I don't care whether it's a boy or a girl, they are all my Yan He's bloodline anyway."

"If he is really a son, do you really want him to be a military general like you?" Xia Chengxiu asked.

Yan He thought for a moment and said, "I hope he can become a military commander, but if he doesn't like it and wants to be something else, that's fine. Besides, if our Mucha wants to learn martial arts, that's fine too. My classmate General Feihong was just a woman, wasn't she? If our Mucha wants to become the second General Feihong, I, as her father, will definitely support her. However, I'm much better than the father of the He family. I will definitely teach her all my unique skills so that she can be even better than General Feihong."

Xia Chengxiu stared at him and nodded, "I see, you still like the young lady."

Seeing that he was exposed, Yan He was not annoyed and said, "That's right!"

Xia Chengxiu couldn't help laughing. After laughing, he gently leaned his head on Yan He's shoulder and said softly, "If... I mean if, when Mu Xia was born, it would have been nice if you were there with her."

Yan He was startled, but once the war started, who could tell when it would end? Maybe he could make it, maybe he couldn't... He held Xia Chengxiu's hand: "I'll try my best, Chengxiu, I also want to see our child being born with my own eyes."

…

The night in Shuojing City didn't seem as cold as it had been a few days ago.

All the heaters in the house were removed. After He Yan took a shower, as soon as he arrived at the bedroom, he saw Xiao Jue sitting at the table polishing his sword.

He held Yinqiu, which shone with light. It looked not like a sword but some rare treasure. It was hard to imagine such a beautiful sword being so sharp that it could cut off the enemy's golden sword and split the opponent's arrows in two in an instant.

He wiped the last speck of dust off the tip of the sword with a piece of silk. Just as he sheathed the sword, he saw another sword in front of him, accompanied by the scoundrel laughter of the people around him: "Commander-in-Chief Xiao, help me wipe it too."

Xiao Jue glanced at her, and He Yan looked at him with a smile. After a moment, he took it silently, pulled out the long sword, and really helped her start to wipe the sword.

He Yan followed suit and sat down at the table.

Qinglang and Yinqiu are two completely different swords. Normally, a woman's sword should be light and flexible, but Qinglang is very heavy. Even if a man holds it, it is not easy at all. The sword body is green and simple. At first glance, it seems ordinary, but when you look closely, it is very different. Just like the owner of the sword.

He Yan rested his chin on his hand and looked at the young man in front of him.

He had just bathed, and was only wearing a jade-colored undershirt with a casual coat on. He was not dressed properly. She was a lazy beauty, but she had to polish her sword meticulously, so she looked a bit murderous and cold. The contradictions mixed together made people unable to take their eyes away.

Xiao Jue noticed He Yan's fixed gaze and asked, "What are you looking at?"

"I was thinking," He Yan said without hiding anything, "your face is indeed worthy of the title of 'Jade-faced Governor'."

When a general can look like this, it is really an insult to other generals.

Xiao Jue curled the corner of his mouth.

It was strange that he didn't like others talking about his appearance. Judging people by appearance was superficial. However, whenever He Yan directly praised his appearance, he didn't feel disgusted and even enjoyed it. Xiao Jue sometimes reflected on whether he had become superficial and was happy about this.

He Yan waited for him to finish wiping Qing Lang, put the sword back into the scabbard, stood up, and hung the two swords on the wall.

As soon as Xiao Jue hung up the sword, someone hugged him from behind.

He Yan loved to hold him like this, like a child clinging to an adult. Maybe it was because she was too short, or maybe it wasn't He Yan who was short, but Xiao Jue was too tall. In short, every time she leaned over and hugged Xiao Jue's waist like this, her expression was pure happiness, and this happiness would make the people who watched it couldn't help but feel warm in their hearts little by little.

"Heroine," the young man stood still, with a hint of mockery in his voice, "are you going to strangle me to death?"

From behind, she heard a disapproving voice, "I haven't even tried my best, Commander Xiao, why are you so weak?" Then she reached out and started to touch his waist randomly.

Xiao Jue: "...He Yan."

He Yan touched the sachet on his waist, pulled it over, held it in her hand and said, "Xiao Jue, is this how you publicize my needlework?"

Xiao Jue turned around, looked at the sachet in her hand, and raised his eyebrows slightly: "That seems to be 'mine'."

He Yan was speechless.

She didn't notice it at first, but when she was leaving today, Lin Shuanghe said to her, "Sister He, what's the matter with that ugly sachet on Huai Jin? He is the second son of the Xiao family after all, and it's really ugly for him to wear such an ugly accessory. Since you are his wife, you should pay attention to it occasionally."

He Yan "paid attention" for a moment. It would have been fine if he hadn't paid attention, but once he paid attention, he felt both angry and amused.

Previously, Bai Rongwei gave Xiao Jue a peace charm, which was placed in a sachet. At that time, out of some secret thoughts, He Yan embroidered a moon in the sachet. To be honest, the moon was not really pretty. But it was her intention after all. Now it seems that Xiao Jue should have discovered the secret. But he discovered it, so why did he turn the sachet over, and the embroidered side was turned outside?

Anyone who sees it will think it is an ugly sachet.

"You didn't tell them I embroidered it, did you?" He Yan asked nervously, "It's so ugly, it definitely wasn't embroidered by me!"

Xiao Jue laughed and said, "Oh, I just told them that it was embroidered by my wife."

He Yan felt hopeless.

She returned the sachet to Xiao Jue: "Whatever, it's embarrassing anyway. But don't you think it's ugly if you wear it on your body?"

This is like the elegant young man Lin Shuanghe holding an iron hoe head as a decoration. The ugliness is secondary, the main thing is that it doesn't match.

"Do you have it?" Xiao Jue tied the sachet back to the buckle of her outer garment. "I think it's pretty good."

He Yan thought, could being blind also be contagious?

He turned around and looked at He Yan, "When I arrived at Yunzi, I saw it as if I saw you."

He Yan: "...Are you trying to find a way to say I'm ugly?"

He was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said leisurely: "Your ideas are always different from ordinary people."

He Yan also smiled. She was not different from ordinary people. She just wanted to travel for a night and didn't want to make the atmosphere sad. When facing separation, people are always particularly vulnerable and sad, but she didn't want to. If she knew her goal was ahead and her destination, she would walk forward with big strides and walk forward with ease.

The so-called soft spot is the other side of armor.

"Xiao Jue, can you promise me something?" she asked.

"What is it?"

"Jiuchuan and Yunzi are not in the same direction. If a war breaks out, it will take time for the news between you and me to be passed back and forth. I used to be alone and had nothing to worry about, but now you and I are husband and wife. I want you to promise me that if there is any news, no matter what it is, do what you need to do, don't affect the overall situation, and don't stop." She looked at the man in front of her, "Keep going forward."

No one can guarantee the outcome of a war.

It was also the first time for her to go to war with her lover. A person cannot be distracted. When a general is on the battlefield, all his energy can only be used on the battlefield and the enemy in front of him. Every distraction is a taboo. At that time, the so-called husband, son, father and other titles must be thrown away. On the battlefield, one is either a soldier or a general, nothing more.

Of course, so does she.

"This sentence also applies to me," He Yan said, "No matter what I encounter, no matter what I hear, I will lead my troops forward and will not retreat or stop for anything."

The girl's eyes sparkled, as if she was a little apologetic. She hesitated for a moment, "You might think I'm heartless..."

"I promise you." Xiao Jue interrupted her.

He Yan was stunned.

Xiao Jue said: "You also have to promise me one thing."

"…What is it?"

He leaned forward slightly and placed a gentle kiss on He Yan's forehead.

"Come back alive."

…

The early spring sun shone through the newly cut window grilles, and the sun was cut into tiny beams of light, which sprinkled on the ground in the yard.

A tall guard came in from outside, carrying a bundle in his hand. They were leaving Beijing to fight, and the original "guards" should also return to the Nine Banners Camp and go to Yunzi with them.

A petite figure was sweeping the yard. Chi Wu stood behind the girl and hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether he should call her.

In theory, he had stayed at the He family for a while before. Although it didn't work and his help to He Yan was almost zero, he did get to know He Yan's personal maid Qingmei. Chi Wu even thought that he had a good relationship with Qingmei. You know, this was the first time he was manipulated by a woman since he was a child. Perhaps the other party's attitude was justified and affected him. After a long time, Chi Wu also thought that this was justified.

But later, after He Yan married into the Xiao family, Qingmei would hide whenever she saw him, as if he were a plague god. Chi Wu was very confused, but he couldn't drag the little girl to ask for clarification. In addition, there were too many things to do later, so he didn't see Qingmei for many times.

But after leaving today, I'm afraid I won't be able to see this little maid for a long time. Chi Wu was hesitating whether to go up to her and say hello as a farewell.

Before he could think it through, Qingmei turned around and saw Chiwu. She was stunned for a moment and asked, "Chiwu guard?"

"Oh... I'm leaving." Chiwu scratched his head, "I just happened to pass by." After saying that, he didn't know what to say, so he planned to turn around and leave.

"Wait!" Qingmei called him, took out a cloth bag from the stone table beside her, and stuffed it into Chiwu's arms, "You came at the right time. If you hadn't come, I would have let the young lady hand it over to you."

"What is this?" Chiwu was stunned.

"The young lady said that Yunzi is close to the sea and it's very humid, so I made a pair of boots. The soles are a bit harder and waterproof. My craftsmanship is not very good, so you just have to wear them." She emphasized, "Consider it as a thank you for helping me sweep the yard before!"

Boots? Chiwu looked down at the cloth bag in his arms, feeling a little strange.

Seeing that he was still there, Qingmei put her hands on her hips and said, "Aren't you going to leave yet? Aren't you afraid that the young master will order you to serve me if you're late?"

Chiwu finally came to his senses, hesitated for a moment, said "thank you", and turned to leave.

Qingmei called him again: "Hey!"

"What else?" Chiwu asked.

She grabbed the broom beside her, turned around and walked into the yard, saying as she walked, "Knives and arrows have no eyes, so be careful!"

Chi Wu looked at her back, coughed lightly, and seemed to want to laugh, but held it back. He stuffed the cloth bag into his arms and strode away.

…

Outside the city gate, people were already crowded here to watch the excitement, and family members had come to see them off.

Beside Xiao Jing, Bai Rongwei held He Yan's hand and told her to be careful. She then handed her a peace amulet with great care, saying, "This is a blessing from the master of Yuhua Temple. I asked for two in total. One for you and one for Huai Jin. Ah He," she said, "I know you have a sense of justice, but... you have to protect yourself too."

He Yan hung the sachet containing the amulet together with the black jade on his waist and said with a smile, "I know, sister-in-law."

"Yanyan, don't worry about going to Jiuchuan. Dad will be waiting for you to come back home!" He Sui waved at her proudly, trying to act unrestrained and unrestrained, but his eyes turned red unconsciously.

There was also some moisture in He Yan's eyes.

He Yunsheng didn't say anything, but when He Yan walked up to him, he finally gritted his teeth and reminded him: "He Yan, you'd better keep your promise."

"I know, I know," He Yan nodded hurriedly, "I will definitely come back alive, don't worry." She touched He Yunsheng's head again, "When I'm away, I'll leave the He family to you to take care of, Yunsheng."

He Yunsheng: "Don't worry."

These three words were spoken with great force.

He Yan couldn't tell what she felt in her heart. In her previous life, she went to the battlefield alone every time. Now that she had so many ties, she didn't feel constrained. Instead, her heart was full of strength.

He Xinying also came today, hiding in the crowd. She was discovered by He Yan. She hesitated for a moment, then stood up and handed the bag in her hand to He Yan.

He Xinying said, "You are a woman, and it is inconvenient for you to do things in the army. Here are some clothes and small items I made by hand that you may need."

He Yan smiled: "Thank you, Xinying, you are so thoughtful."

He Xinying pursed her lips and said, "Since you are on the battlefield, this is all I can do. Sister," she called softly, "You must come back safely."

He Yan blinked at her, "Don't worry, when I come back, I'll use my military merits to exchange for rewards, and I'll buy you the most beautiful jewelry!"

He Xinying was amused by her words. On the other side, Yan He urged at the city gate: "Marquis Wu'an, what are you still hesitating about? Let's go!"

"Coming, coming——" He Yan said as he walked over and jumped onto the horse.

At her side, Xiao Jue was dressed handsomely in military uniform, with a long sword at his waist, riding side by side with her.

Xia Chengxiu was supported by a maid, looking at the figure walking out of the city with the troops. When he could no longer see him, he gently stroked his belly and murmured in a low voice: "Mu Xia, say goodbye to your father."

Cheng Lisu had escaped without telling his family. He was hiding in the crowd and asked Song Taotao, who had also escaped, "When do you think they can come back?"

The little girl was rarely impatient with his question and just said, "I don't know." After a while, she slowly continued, "But I hope every one of them can come back."

The city gates were wide open. In the sunlight, the wind made the grass and trees sway slightly. The troops and chariots moved forward like a winding dragon, rushing fearlessly to the battlefield.

The flags are fluttering, and the power is felt thousands of miles away.

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

I'm taking a leave of absence until the 14th. Remember to read the finale of the main article on the 14th~