Chapter 200 Sword Gate
Ren Yao had to follow the emperor's orders, so having a New Year's Eve dinner with Li Huazhang and Ming Huashang was the limit. She returned to Beijing the next day to report. It was raining and snowing in Shangzhou, but Chang'an was in a state of panic. There were many more guards at the city gates. Passing through the deep and long towers, the view was a flat and white road with hurried pedestrians. Right in front of them was the Taiji Palace covered with white snow, like a palace in the sky.
After going through layers of investigation, Ren Yao finally met Empress Wei, no, now she should be respectfully called Empress Dowager Wei.
Ren Yao stepped over the high threshold, saw the figure on the Phoenix Throne, and bowed: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, the Queen Mother."
Empress Dowager Wei was admiring her nails. When she heard Ren Yao coming, she raised her eyes and glanced at him calmly, signaling the attendant to help Ren Yao up. "Marquis Pingnan, there is no need to be polite. I originally expected you to come back after the first month of the year, but I didn't expect you to come back today.
The day has come. You must have had a hard time on the road, right? "
The eunuch came to help Ren Yao with a flattering look on his face. Ren Yao avoided the eunuch's hand without making a sound, still with his eyes downcast, and said: "I am indebted to the Emperor and dare not delay. Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission. I have taken the Prince of Qiao and his followers who planned the rebellion back to Chang'an. I will leave it to the Empress Dowager to decide."
"They've all been caught?" Wei Hou was a little surprised. "Li Chongfu is still alive?"
"yes."
Queen Wei smiled, walked down the steps, and pulled Ren Yao to sit down. "I knew you wouldn't let me down. Tell me what happened along the way, and how you caught that traitor Li Chongfu."
Ren Yao suddenly stood so close to Wei Hou that her body tensed up. She weighed every word in her mind, cutting out the part about her correspondence with Li Huazhang and speaking it out.
When Queen Wei heard that Li Huazhang was also in Junzhou on the day Ren Yao attacked the city, her eyes twinkled and she asked casually, "Wasn't Prince Yong in Shangzhou? How did he appear in Junzhou?"
Ren Yao raised his head and said carefully, "King Qiao wanted to rebel but was afraid of being punished by the imperial court, so he invited King Yong to Junzhou in the name of celebrating the New Year, and wanted to use King Yong and his wife as hostages."
"Oh?" Wei Hou's voice was drawn out, and it was hard to tell whether she believed it or not. "What a coincidence?"
"Yes." Ren Yao lowered his eyes and said, "Fortunately, the vanguard team that opened the city gate was brave and alert, and they were not afraid of death. They helped the army open the city gate in time. Only then could I lead the troops to drive straight in, capture the rebels alive when Prince Qiao was not prepared, and rescue Prince Yong."
Ren Yao deliberately mentioned the vanguard team, so that as long as Queen Wei continued to ask for details, she could help Jiang Ling and others to claim credit. But Queen Wei didn't seem to care about the details of the siege. She just responded lightly, her eyes flashing, and after a moment she said: "I remember that your father and brother died on the battlefield, and now there is only a grandmother left in the mansion, right?"
Ren Yao didn't know why Wei Hou asked this, so he nodded and said, "Yes, as far as I can remember, my father and brother have been on the battlefield, and I was raised by my grandmother."
Empress Wei sighed, "It's not easy. When I was young, I heard from my family that the first Marquis of Pingnan, your grandfather, defended the city for three months with 200 soldiers. He stood with his gun in hand until he died in battle. The Tibetan soldiers dared not approach him. The court was impressed by his loyalty and made an exception to confer him the title of Marquis of Pingnan, and the title was passed to your father. Your father lived up to the reputation of the Ren family for loyalty and died on the battlefield. It was a pity for the women of the Ren family. My mother met the wife of the Marquis of Pingnan. She had a good temperament and looked good, but she was weak. After learning that her husband and son had died in battle, she fell ill and died at a young age. Your grandmother was a widow who raised your father alone. credit for the current status of the Marquis of Pingnan's mansion."
Ren Yao had no idea that Wei Hou knew so much about the Ren family's situation. She said earnestly, "Grandma is the person I respect most in my life."
She lost her husband when she was young, her son when she was middle-aged, and watched her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson leave her one by one. However, she could not show any weakness. She supported the mansion alone and raised her only granddaughter. Such an experience for a woman cannot be summed up by just the word "hardship".
Queen Wei may have thought of herself, and sighed: "I have also experienced the death of a young person, and I know it is the most difficult thing in the world. Your grandmother endured most of her life, which was not easy. I admire such a strong and sensible woman the most. Your grandmother should be given a first-class imperial decree so that she can set an example for the world."
Ren Yao was stunned for a moment, and was simply overwhelmed by the favor. He quickly stood up to thank the Queen: "What virtue and ability do I have to receive such an honor? I hope the Queen Mother will withdraw her order."
Queen Wei smiled and pulled Ren Yao up, holding her hand and saying, "Why are you refusing? I am not conferring the title on you, but on your grandmother. Besides, your grandmother raised you with great difficulty, don't you want to win an imperial decree for her and make her happy?"
Ren Yao certainly hoped that what she wanted most in her life was to repay her grandmother and gain her recognition. However, she also knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch, and she said anxiously, "I am new to the officialdom, I have no merit, and I have no talent or virtue. The Queen Mother has bestowed upon me such an honor, and I am truly humbled and terrified."
Queen Wei smiled. She tapped the table slowly with her long, thin nails, and said, "How can you not have any merit? If you can resolve the rebellion of the vassal kings and stabilize the government, it will be a great achievement. Not to mention conferring an imperial decree on your grandmother, even if your mother is conferred the title of First-Rank Lady, no one will dare to say anything."
Perhaps it was because the incense in Lizheng Hall was too strong, Ren Yao's brain was unable to work for a while, and he could not understand what Queen Wei said. The previous emperor had four princes, the eldest prince and the third prince were dead, the fourth prince, Prince Wen, was established as the new emperor, and the second prince, Prince Qiao, was just brought back by her from Junzhou. Which prince would rebel?
Junzhou…Ren Yao's mind was ablaze with thoughts, and then it went blank. Queen Wei looked at her calmly, and seeing that she had reacted, she said in a gentle and persuasive way, “Prince Qiao wanted to rebel, and Prince Yong happened to appear in Junzhou. Who can tell what exactly happened? You were the one who arrested Prince Qiao, and you know the situation best. Do you remember anything unusual about Prince Yong?”
Ren Yao understood that Wei Hou was hinting at her to frame Li Huazhang for reason. If she succeeded, Wei Hou would confer imperial decrees on the women of Pingnan Marquis's mansion. Ren Yao suddenly felt a surge of anger rising up to her head, burning her whole body and making her eyes red. She looked at Wei Hou in front of her, smiling leisurely and seeming to be sure that she would agree, and she could hardly hold back her fists.
What does Empress Wei think of their Ren family? The title of Pingnan Hou was obtained by their grandfather who refused to give it up even though he was shot by dozens of arrows, and it was secured by their father and brother who shed their blood on the battlefield. Of course, the women of their Ren family deserve the first-class imperial decree, but they must have won it honestly on the battlefield with the Ren family's spears, not by those despicable and cunning behaviors.
If she had framed her friend in order to confer an imperial decree on her grandmother, her grandmother would have cut off all ties with her on the spot. How could she have let the imperial decree enter the Ren family? Ren Yao tried his best to control his expression so as not to lose his composure in front of the crowd, and replied coldly: "I didn't see Prince Yong do anything unusual. Moreover, Prince Yong and his wife are selfless and dedicated to the public, and they care about the people. They have done many good things for Shangzhou. Everyone in the county praises Prince Yong's virtue. The Queen Mother has the new emperor who is filial and obedient at home, and the ministers who share her worries outside. The country is stable, and there is no need to be suspicious or worried."
Queen Wei's face immediately darkened, and she became a little angry: "Is the Marquis of Pingnan trying to defend the injustice of Prince Yong? The county and prefecture all praise Prince Yong's virtue, so I am the unvirtuous one?"
Ren Yao lowered his eyes and said, "That is not what I meant."
"You obviously have it!" Empress Wei Huo De waved her sleeves and was furious. "Don't forget, who gave the Pingnan Marquis' Mansion its current glory? If it weren't for me, how could a woman like you lead troops to fight and hold power?"
"I thank the Queen Mother for promoting me. I will never forget your kindness." Ren Yao stiffened his neck and said stubbornly, "But there are things I should do and things I shouldn't do. I am willing to risk my life and sacrifice my life for my country, but I will never frame a gentleman or betray my friends."
Wei Hou narrowed his eyes and said, "So, you don't want to do it?"
Ren Yao bowed his head and bowed deeply: "It's not that I don't want to, but this is an absurd thing that will anger heaven and people, and I can't do it. Prince Yong is selfless, virtuous and talented, and a true gentleman. I hope the Queen Mother will withdraw her order and not disappoint the meritorious officials and generals."
Queen Wei laughed coldly and said condescendingly: "Okay, okay, you are a good person who values friendship and loyalty. Then I will grant your wish. From today on, the rewards and military power of the Pingnan Marquis's Mansion will be taken back, and you will be expelled from the Yulin Army. Your whole family will be exiled to Jiannan and guard Jianmen Pass."
Ren Yao finally raised her head and looked at Queen Wei. Queen Wei looked at her coldly, with a look of satisfaction that showed she had won.
She knew what Ren Yao cared about most, so she deliberately used this punishment to punish Ren Yao. All Ren Yao wanted was to support the Pingnan Marquis Mansion so that his grandmother could live out her days, but Empress Wei exiled the Ren family and left Old Madam Ren unable to live in peace at such an old age. She thought Ren Yao would give in by using this method, but Ren Yao was silent for a while, then knelt down and kowtowed silently: "Thank you."
Ren Yao looked at the golden bricks in the Lizheng Palace, which were so bright that they could tell a person's true colors. He thought that opportunities and traps often looked the same when they came. What made her successful in the past could also destroy her.
She gained power because of the Shenlong coup, and when the Chongjun coup came, she did the same thing again, but pushed herself into the abyss, sinking deeper and deeper.
She just hated that after pursuing it for so long, she ended up burying everything with her own hands.
When Ren Yao entered the palace, he was still the popular Marquis of Pingnan, but when he left the palace, he became a criminal. In the past, she was always worried, afraid that she would do something wrong, offend the female officials and eunuchs, and bring disaster to the Marquis of Pingnan's mansion. But now, she felt extremely calm when she saw the eunuchs whispering and pointing in front of her.
Let those people say whatever they want, she is really fed up with all this bullying.
Ren Yao left the palace indifferently and went straight to the Pingnan Marquis's mansion. The servants reported that the Marquis had returned. Old Madam Ren was surprised that Ren Yao had come back so early after reporting to the palace. She was leaning on a cane and was about to ask the maid to help her out, but Ren Yao had already strode into the warm room and knelt heavily in front of her.
When she knelt down, there was a thud, which looked painful, and all the maids in the room were surprised. Old Madam Ren had experienced many ups and downs in her life, and most importantly, she knew Ren Yao well, and she knew immediately that something was wrong.
Madam Ren was very calm and calmly asked the maids to leave. After the maids closed the door and left, she sat back in her seat tremblingly and asked, "What's wrong?"
Ren Yao was not afraid when facing Empress Wei, nor was she afraid of the eunuchs pointing and scolding her when she left the palace. But when she returned home and saw her grandmother, she suddenly couldn't hold back her tears. She felt she had no face to cry, so she kowtowed and looked away, saying, "Grandmother, I was wrong, please hit me."
How could Mrs. Ren not feel distressed when she saw her granddaughter, whom she had raised, with red eyes? But she knew that Ren Yao was very strong, so she pretended not to see the tears in her eyes and said calmly, "Tell me what happened?"
Ren Yao refused to get up, knocked his head hard on the ground, and said, "I was wrong. You were right. I shouldn't have been so stubborn and shouldn't have entered the officialdom. Maybe if I had followed your advice, I would have found someone to marry earlier, at least I wouldn't have brought trouble to my family. It's different now. I've wasted all my efforts, and in the end, it's all in vain, and I've even dragged you down with me."
Old Madam Ren sighed. She had long felt that it was not a good thing for the Ren family to get too close to Queen Wei. However, as a minister, she had no power to refuse. Now the scalpel had finally fallen.
Madam Ren said, "You should get up and talk first."
Ren Yao refused: "I have done something wrong and it has affected my family. If you don't hit me, I will not be able to face you."
Old Madam Ren sighed, stretched out her hand to hold Ren Yao's arm, and pulled him up. Her hands were very old, with blood vessels crisscrossing like tree roots, but her hands were still very strong, like an old tree that can still hold the land firmly in the wind and rain. Ren Yao couldn't resist, so he could only stand up with the help of his grandmother.
"grandmother……"
The harsh words and scolding that Ren Yao had expected did not happen. On the contrary, Madam Ren's eyes flashed with guilt. She gently stroked Ren Yao's hair and said, "Silly boy, you are right. I was wrong. I should be the one to be beaten, not you."
Ren Yao was shocked: "Grandma!"
Old Madam Ren couldn't hold back her tears. The grandfather and grandson were both very strong-willed. She refused to let Ren Yao comfort her, but wiped away her tears herself and said, "Yao'er, you did a great job. I was old and confused, and I tried to stop you in every way. Based on my experience, I know that it is very hard for a woman to be strong-willed. I didn't want you to suffer, so I thought that you would be like other girls, only worrying about rouge and powder, and marrying a stable man. However, if I don't let you suffer, isn't it depriving you of the possibility of success?"
Because the wind was strong at high altitudes, she was forced to break her wings and become a canary for the rest of her life. She was also told that this was a good life, that she didn't have to take risks at high altitudes, and that someone would feed her rice and water every day. However, was it really good for her to lock her granddaughter in a cage and let her become a canary for the rest of her life?
Old Madam Ren often woke up in the middle of the night, dreaming that Ren Yao had lost her gun skills and was bullied by her mother-in-law and concubines after marrying into her husband's family, but she didn't even have the strength to resist. She was often terrified after waking up and couldn't fall asleep in the second half of the night. In fact, she was very lucky that her granddaughter had been rebelling and didn't listen to her arrangements, and really became a canary.
Madam Ren pulled Ren Yao to sit next to her and said, "Do you know why your father named you Ren Yao?"
Ren Yao shook his head. Old Madam Ren said, "When your mother gave birth to you, she originally wanted to name you Yao after Yao Chi. But your father wrote back, saying that although Yao is a beautiful jade, it is fragile, so it's better to change it to Yao. A long journey reveals a horse's strength, and a long time reveals a person's heart. Ren's family should not be afraid of wind, frost, rain, and snow, and steel is made by tempering. You are only 21 years old this year, and your life journey has just begun. There is still a long way to go. Don't be afraid if you make a mistake, just stand up and keep going. As long as you don't give up, no matter what difficulties you face, you will always get through them."
Ren Yao's heart, which had been tense since leaving the palace, gradually relaxed. When Madam Ren asked her what happened, Ren Yao told her exactly what Queen Wei had said to her. Madam Ren glared at her and said, "Well done. Our Ren family spears are stronger when facing strong opponents, and we would rather bend than bend. We have learned to kill the enemy in the battlefield and defend our country. We will never point the tip of the spear at meritorious officials. If you dare to harm Prince Yong, I will expel you from the family tree. It's just that you offended the Queen Mother. What's the big deal? I can still walk. I feel happy to go to Jianmen Pass to guard the border together. Ren Yao, remember, as long as you are alive, there is no obstacle that you can't overcome; as long as you act uprightly and do the right thing, the Ren family spear will never fall."
Ren Yao was so moved that he was speechless. He bowed his head and said, "Grandma, I am sorry for being unfilial and causing trouble for you."
Old Madam Ren looked at her granddaughter lying beside her. She was still like she was when she was little. She took the blame on herself and never told her family no matter what happened. She could not help crying around Old Madam Ren. In the blink of an eye, Ren Yao had grown up and became an independent female general, which was better than Old Madam Ren expected. Old Madam Ren smiled and gently stroked Ren Yao's head, saying, "Yao'er, as I told you before, a blessing in disguise. You never know what's going on in this world. I've long felt that the former emperor's family is not a long-term solution. It's better for Queen Wei to settle accounts with you now than for Queen Wei's political enemies to take action."
·
The news that the Pingnan Marquis family was exiled to Jianmen Pass shocked Chang'an. Jiang Ling wanted to find Ren Yao as soon as he heard the news, but the Pingnan Marquis Mansion had been sealed by the court and closed to visitors. He couldn't see Ren Yao, so he had to think of another way.
As soon as Jiang Ling got home, he went to find Marquis Jiang An, hoping that his father would come forward to protect Ren Yao. But Marquis Jiang An waved his hand impatiently before he even finished listening to him, saying, "The order to exile was issued by the Queen Mother. I don't know how she offended the Queen Mother. What can I do?"
Jiang Ling said anxiously, "All ideas are invented by people. Dad, she is a fool and has a bad temper. It is impossible for her to do anything evil. Go find Princess Taiping and think of a solution. You can't really let her family go to Jianmenguan."
Marquis Jiang An said calmly, "It is even more impossible for His Highness Taiping to intervene. Ren Yao was once a close confidant of the Queen Mother. No matter why the two of them quarreled, it would be a good thing for the Princess and the Prince of Xiang if one person is removed from the Wei Party. The Princess's Mansion has been under suspicion for many years. His Highness has been keeping a low profile and avoiding all kinds of things. It has been difficult to survive until now. Why would he break his wings for someone who has nothing to do with him?"
"An unrelated person?" Jiang Ling looked at Jiang Anhou in disbelief. "You can't be unaware of the relationship between me and her. In your opinion, the woman I like is an unrelated person?"
Jiang Anhou paused and said, "She is a public figure and has connections with the Wei Clan. She is not a good match. Even if her family didn't have this problem, I would never agree to you two. When the storm is over, you can meet your mother's niece and get married. You should also be more focused and stop being lazy and idle. The important thing is to continue the Jiang family's lineage as soon as possible."
Jiang Ling was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Dad, is it true that no matter what I do, you think I can't do it well and I'm never as good as my second brother?"
Jiang Anhou frowned slightly, and said impatiently: "What are you talking about? Your second brother is smart and motivated, and he is respectful and polite to you. As an elder brother, you say this about your younger brother?"
"I know my second brother is smart, filial, and good at studying, so my father likes him more, which is understandable." Jiang Ling looked directly at Jiang Anhou and said, "I also know that my stepmother is worried that I will harm my second brother, so she deliberately didn't hire a teacher for me and only let people take me out for fun. I used to think there was nothing wrong with this kind of life. Anyway, the Jiang family is big and prosperous, and there is no need for me to fight for anything. I will do as you wish and be an idle dandy. But now, I don't want to be ridiculous anymore."
When Marquis Jiang An heard him say this about his wife, his eyebrows raised. Just as he was about to get angry, Jiang Ling had already lifted his robe and knelt down: "I am an unfilial son. I know I can't drag the family into trouble because of my personal feelings, but I can't just stand by and watch my beloved suffer at the border. In the future, I can't be with you to fulfill my filial duty. I hope you take care of yourself. If I don't come back within five years, please pass the throne of the crown prince to my second brother, and let him inherit the family business in the future."
Jiang Ling kowtowed heavily, stood up and bowed three times. Jiang Anhou was shocked by Jiang Ling's action. He frowned and said angrily: "You idiot, do you know what you are doing?"
Jiang Ling stood up, his mind clear. He said, "I know. I have never known what I should do like I do now."
In fact, he has always envied Li Huazhang, Xie Jichuan, and Ren Yao. Their goals are always so clear and their actions are always so strong. Even Ming Huashang knows what he wants, but he never knows. In the past 20 years, he followed his father's arrangements and has been the son of Jiang Anhou. But now, for the first time in his life, he has something he wants to pursue. He wants to be Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling knew that his father would be angry, and he also knew that his stepmother would exaggerate things after he left, but this time, he would not listen to his father.
Jiang Ling bowed deeply for the last time, turned around and strode away, chasing after Ren Yao without looking back.
Here he comes, his great general, his little marquis.
·
In early February, when the willow trees in Chang'an had just sprouted green buds, the Pingnan Marquis family left the capital. In order to keep his title, Ren Yao had worked day and night, fearing that he would be criticized by his family members if he did something wrong. Now, the other members of the Ren family stayed away from Ren Yao and no longer coveted the Pingnan Marquis, fearing that they would be implicated.
Ren Yao was very careful when she was in the Yulin Army. Although no one came to her aid when she was in trouble, no one stepped on her either. She and her grandmother left Chang'an relatively peacefully, but after leaving the city, there was a dog-skin plaster that she couldn't get rid of.
During the lunch break, Ren Yao was afraid that Old Madam Ren might not be sitting comfortably, so he carefully helped her walk: "Grandma, do you want some water?"
Madam Ren shook her head, looked back, and said, "That person is still following us?"
Ren Yao was a little embarrassed, but pretended to be indifferent and said, "He is going to Yizhou for a trip, and happened to walk on the same road as us. He will leave tomorrow, so don't worry about him, Grandma."
Old Madam Ren glanced at Ren Yao and said nothing. After walking around, she sat down on a stone. Ren Yao hurriedly took out the dry food that he had prepared in advance and set the table for dinner. Old Madam Ren knocked on her knees and said calmly, "We've been out in the sun for the whole morning. Let's call that young man over to have dinner together."
Ren Yao was startled: "Grandma..."
"Don't worry about why he's here. Now that we've seen him, we can't lose our manners. Call him over. Jiannan is a safe place. One more person means more safety."
Ren Yao's lips moved as he looked at the mountain road where the snow was melting. He didn't say anything. After a while, Jiang Ling came over. He was no longer dressed like a rich and idle man. He changed into low-key clothes, but his expression was still so cheerful. He was a little nervous when he saw the steady Madam Ren. He greeted her politely: "Madam Pingnan, how are you? I am Jiang Ling."
Madam Ren nodded calmly: "So he is the eldest son of Marquis Jiang An. Master Jiang is also taking this path?"
Jiang Ling chuckled and said, "Madam, just call me Jiang Ling. I had a quarrel with my family, and now I am not considered a prince."
Ren Yao had no expression at first, but after hearing this, she narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at Jiang Ling in disbelief: "What did you say?"
Jiang Ling still had that carefree look on his face, and said, "It's really boring to be a crown prince with limited responsibilities, so I'm going to resign with my father and go out to travel. As for whether my father will give the title to me or my second brother, I don't care, I'll just have fun for a few years first."
When Ren Yao heard that Jiang Ling had actually handed over the prince to someone else, his eyes widened and he almost subconsciously wanted to hit him on the head: "What are you thinking about? Are you crazy?"
Madam Ren coughed, and Ren Yao realized that he was in front of his grandmother, so he quickly retracted his half-raised hand. Madam Ren said calmly: "This is the family affair of the Marquis of Jiang'an Mansion, and I shouldn't interfere, but I still have to remind Mr. Jiang that the title is not a trivial matter, and the road to Shu is difficult, and it is not a fun thing. I hope Mr. Jiang will think it over before speaking."
"I've thought it through." Jiang Ling still had a playful smile on his face, but his eyes were dark and bright, and he said seriously, "I've thought it through clearly. I'm serious about going to Jiannan, but life is short, so enjoy it while you can. No matter how difficult the road to Shu is, you can get there by just walking like you're sightseeing."
Old Madam Ren looked at Jiang Ling silently. She could see that he was rich and noble. He was innocent and optimistic like a rich young man, but he was sincere. His eyes were as clear as a puppy's, and he could not hide any thoughts. Old Madam Ren finally stopped talking and said, "We didn't build the road. Since Mr. Jiang wants to go to Jiannan, he can go as he pleases."
Jiang Ling blinked, not knowing what was going on, and subconsciously looked to Ren Yao for help. Ren Yao said with a cold face, "Let's eat first."
"Oh." Jiang Ling nodded, not quite understanding. But he changed his mind and realized that if he didn't refuse, it meant he agreed. He suddenly became happy and volunteered, "There's a stream over there. Where are your water bottles? Give them to me. I'll go get some water!"
Old Madam Ren originally thought that this young man who was raised in a pampered way was just on a whim, and would naturally go back after a few days when he lost interest. How could anyone leave the prince in Chang'an to suffer at the border? However, Jiang Ling followed them all the way, never complaining, living happily every day, and even complaining for a long time if a flower bloomed on the roadside.
Gradually, Madam Ren got used to Jiang Ling's presence in the team. The shade of the trees became thicker, the weather gradually became humid and hot, and Jianmen Pass was also reached.
Jianmen Pass is close to the border and is always under military preparation. The living conditions are of course very difficult. Ren Yao was a majestic general of the Yulin Army in Chang'an, but here, he is just an ordinary lieutenant who has to do everything himself.
When they arrived, the house they lived in was still leaking. Ren Yao had never suffered any hardship in his life, even though he had to practice martial arts. Jiang Ling had definitely never lived in a thatched house before, but he adapted better than Ren Yao. He lived next door to Ren Yao's family, and on the first day he arrived, he volunteered to help them fix the roof, even though he almost collapsed the roof. just a big game and there was nothing to be upset about.
Ren Yao patrolled Jianmen Pass during the day, and came back at night to clean the yard, repair the room, and cook. Jiang Ling was not on the list of soldiers, but he shamelessly followed them on patrol, running around on the steep mountain roads of Jianmen Pass all day without a single complaint.
The two of them climbed mountains together, practiced shooting together, watched the sun rise together, and watched the moon fall from the cliff together. It seemed as if time had gone back to Mount Zhongnan again. Every day they just had to do their job well. As long as they put in the effort, they would definitely reap rewards. It was tiring but fulfilling.
After a few months, even Old Lady Ren changed her opinion of Jiang Ling. One evening, Ren Yao came back from her night patrol and made the bed for Old Lady Ren. Old Lady Ren looked at her face, which had become much tanned but also became resolute, and suddenly said, "I originally thought that Jiang Ling was the son of Marquis Jiang An, and he was too good for me. But after watching him for so long, I find that he is a good boy."
Ren Yao was startled, and buried his head in tidying up the corners of the quilt: "Grandma, what are you talking about?"
Madam Ren said calmly, "I have lived for so many years, I still have a good eye for people. That child likes you, otherwise, he wouldn't have followed you all the way from Chang'an to Jianmen Pass. Money is easy to get, but true love is hard to find. You are not young anymore, it's rare to meet someone you like, so you should settle this important matter for your whole life."
Ren Yao didn't know why his grandmother brought up such a thing, and said awkwardly, "No way, he and I are just friends, what are you talking about?"
Madam Ren sneered and said, "I am old and confused. I can't tell whether it's a friend or a lover. There is no doubt that he likes you, and you are not indifferent to him. Otherwise, with your temper, how can you have the patience to teach others how to use the Ren family spear? It is a rare blessing to meet someone you like and who also happens to like you in life. You should cherish it. Although the child is innocent, he really loves you. No matter what his family is like, he is willing to treat you well. That's enough. While I am still in charge, let's arrange your marriage another day."
Ren Yao pinched the corner of the quilt unintentionally. After so much time, the bed had not become neat at all. In the past, she was determined to prove that she was no worse than men, so she did not allow herself to have any feminine things, including emotions. But after being in Jianmenguan for so long, she walked through the mountains, saw life and death, and witnessed the wind, frost, snow and rain of the soldiers guarding the border. After seeing real life, she realized how lucky she was to be born in a marquisate.
No matter how bad her body is, or how uncertain her future is, as long as the sun rises as usual, there is nothing to worry about. Ren Yao finally admitted that although she was strong in martial arts, she was timid at heart, so she strongly rejected things that she thought symbolized weakness. When she became strong and confident at heart, she would find that loving beautiful clothes and being strong and brave were never contradictory.
She was born a woman, but was born into a military family, so she became the Ren Yao of today. She didn't have to reject the part of her that belonged to a woman.
Ren Yao finally smiled and whispered, "Okay."
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