The military camp was located in a mountainous area, and although it was late April, it was chilly everywhere. De Xuan had already prepared military tents after learning that Yan Ning and Fu Chang'an were coming. Yan Ning, however, couldn't rest for a moment and went straight to Fu Kang'an's tent after getting off the carriage.
Fukang'an's face was as pale as the snow that never melts from a cold mountain. He stood before the military map, supported by Zhao Xing, when Yan Ning rushed into the tent. A hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes, but he still bowed his head and instructed Zhao Xing on the key points of conquering the mountain stronghold. Yan Ning stepped forward and took Zhao Xing's arm from his.
After Fukang'an finished giving his instructions, Zhao Xing bowed and withdrew. Fu Chang'an also pulled Dexuan, whose face was beaming with joy at his mother's arrival, out of the tent. Once outside, Dexuan, clad in armor, looked back into the tent and grumbled discontentedly, "Mother finally came, why won't Fourth Uncle let me stay with her a little longer!"
Fu Chang'an patted De Xuan's white helmet, his face showing an expression of utter disbelief. "You brat, you grew up by my side, how come you're just like your father, only knowing how to march and fight!" Then, realizing his mistake, Fu Chang'an stroked his chin and shook his head. "You're not even as good as your father! Your father captured the heart of your mother, a beauty of unparalleled charm, and you don't even have a wife!"
De Xuan slapped Fu Chang'an's hand away. He had always been used to fooling around with Fu Chang'an since childhood, and he never respected his elders. "I don't want to be with a lecherous drunkard like Heshen, just like Fourth Uncle!" Fu Chang'an rolled his eyes at him helplessly, then went to rest in the military tent that De Xuan had prepared. He walked away with his back to De Xuan, but sighed inwardly: Silly boy, when a lecherous drunkard falls in love, he's not much different from your father!
Fukang'an's pale face showed a hint of a smile as Fu Chang'an pulled the reluctant Dexuan away. He withdrew his hand from Yan Ning's grasp, bent down, picked her up, and sat down on the bed. Yan Ning tried to get off his lap, but Fukang'an's strength seemed to hold her firmly, and he laughed, "You've gotten quite heavy while your husband's away! I thought you were losing your appetite all day!"
Fukang'an gasped for breath before managing to finish his sentence, causing the gaunt Yan Ning to burst into tears. "I never imagined my husband would be so careless with his health, falling ill in such a state! How can we grow old together?"
Upon hearing this, Fukang'an's smile vanished. He knew he couldn't avoid this illness, which was why he had promised his men to report it to the capital. Seeing Fukang'an's sudden change in expression, Yan Ning anxiously pressed him, "Once you're feeling better, hand over the affairs here to Helin and Fu Chang'an. We'll take Dexuan back to the capital, and then you can ask the Emperor to let you resign your official titles. We'll retire to the mountains and never concern ourselves with war again, is that alright?"
Fukang'an gently wiped away the tears on Yan Ning's face and smiled faintly, "Okay!" His promise did not reassure Yan Ning, but instead made her lose all hope of growing old together.
If Fukang'an hadn't known his body wouldn't survive the war, he wouldn't have agreed to retire with her. Yan Ning disregarded her age, disregarded being a mother of two, and wrapped her arms around Fukang'an's neck, leaning against his chest, the coldness of his armor seeping into her ears. She demanded unreasonably, "Fukang'an, you are a great general! A gentleman's word is as good as his bond! A promise made cannot be broken!" Her tears dripped onto his armor, each drop seeping into Fukang'an's bitter heart. He tightened his embrace of Yan Ning, his weathered face heavy with unspoken sorrow.
The enemy's stronghold was in excellent terrain, and Dexuan's men attacked it several times, but all attempts failed. Since he began fighting with his own army, Fukang'an had always looked down on firearms; each shot required reloading the gunpowder, a complicated and slow process. To him, the bow and arrows were far faster. He had only ever led a musket battalion under orders when he was under Agui's command; as a commander, he never led a musket battalion into battle.
Fu Chang'an, having nothing better to do, wandered around the military camp. Seeing the musketeer battalion conducting drills, his earlier playful mood with De Xuan vanished. Fu Chang'an knew Fu Kang'an's nature; now that the musketeer battalion was in his camp, it seemed his body truly wouldn't withstand this.
The military camp was cold and gloomy. Fu Chang'an's thin, moon-white handkerchief fluttered in the wind. He raised his head, his hands, bound behind his back, clenched weakly. Overwhelmed by grief, he could not face Fu Kang'an.
At that time, most of the military affairs were handled by He Lin. Yan Ning had heard his name several times, but had never met him. Like Fu Kang'an, he was constantly on the move. This time, upon meeting him in the army, Yan Ning saw a hint of the respectful manner He Lin had displayed in the past, always bowing respectfully to her while still in armor. "This humble general greets Madam!"
He Lin was about the same age as Fu Chang'an, but fate played a cruel trick on them. Fu Chang'an, Fu Kang'an's younger brother, was kept close by He Shen, while He Shen's younger brother, He Lin, became Fu Kang'an's best friend through countless battles. Fearing that Fu Kang'an's worries would worsen his illness, He Lin instructed De Xuan not to tell Fu Kang'an about the enemy's inability to capture the mountain stronghold.
De Xuan had a vague feeling that Fukang'an's illness was serious this time. Despite the repeated defeats, after returning from the front lines, he still happily fulfilled his filial duties in front of Fukang'an and Yan Ning. In his spare time, he would always fetch water and personally soak Fukang'an's feet to dispel the cold.
After several days of concealment, Fukang'an finally discovered that the mountain stronghold had remained unconquered. Ignoring everyone's advice, he donned his armor and personally led the charge. He Lin, left with no other option, had to consult Yan Ning. Yan Ning knew Fukang'an's temperament; if he were to die in bed, she feared the regret would be carried into his tomb. She rushed to the military council tent, took the helmet from Zhao Xing, and personally placed it on the pale-faced Fukang'an. A smile bloomed on her exquisite face, "If my husband, Yan Ning's husband, personally goes to the battlefield, what does this mountain stronghold matter!"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
