After Exile, I Married the Amnesiac General [Rebirth] Chapter 18

The soldier delivering the news galloped all the way to beneath the high platform. As soon as he dismounted, he knelt to report, “Reporting to the General, first place in the third round is Pei Er. Pei Er shot down the prize you personally tied.”

With the news confirmed, the field erupted once more.

Chen Qing excitedly hugged the underling beside him and wept with joy. “Won! Finally won! Pei Er truly is my brother! I bet on three rounds today and finally won one!”

Erzi, his face red from being squeezed, did not forget to remind him, “Brother Qing, if you had bet all on Brother Pei, you could’ve won at least two rounds.”

Chen Qing laughed loudly. “At least I’ve won my stake back now. By the way, Miss Shen must have won quite a bit!”

As he spoke, he turned to look at Li Chansiu.

A faint smile rested on Li Chansiu’s face as he watched the cheering soldiers on the field, yet his heart was not as calm as he appeared.

Pei Er had won. The heart he had been holding tight could finally be set down. At least he would not have to marry Centurion Jiang, and for the time being, he likely did not need to worry about his identity being exposed.

He let out a soft breath, and his gaze involuntarily drifted again toward the small hill in the distance, where a familiar figure was riding the jujube-red steed, galloping toward the drill ground.

A smile rose on his lips once more.

On the platform, after hearing the report, General Chen could not help but burst into laughter and rise to his feet, his expression sweeping away the gloom from the second round.

Beside him, Jiang He said nothing, his face dark as water.

Before long, Pei Er also rode back, raising a trail of dust.

Upon reaching the drill ground, the first person he looked toward was Li Chansiu.

Li Chansiu had already calmed from the excitement of hearing he had won. Now he looked at him with a smile in his eyes, which seemed to hold tiny, shimmering lights.

The corners of Pei Er’s lips lifted unconsciously, but when his hand touched the spot over his heart, a wave of unease rose, and his smile flattened in an instant.

Li Chansiu did not understand and his expression shifted to confusion.

But this was not the time to reunite. Pei Er had to present the prize to General Chen first.

He nimbly dismounted, stepped forward, knelt on one knee, raised the prize high, and said, “General.”

General Chen laughed heartily and actually stepped down from the platform to personally help him up, praising, “Good, good! Fine skill, accurate archery, and excellent horsemanship. Our camp truly has talent springing forth, haha!”

As he spoke, he turned toward the platform, where there was naturally a chorus of agreement.

Although Pei Er had lost his memory, he instinctively knew how to handle such a scene. Moreover, since Li Chansiu had planned for him to win, he had taught him beforehand what to say.

He immediately cupped his hands and replied, neither humble nor arrogant, “The General overpraises me.”

Seeing his steady bearing, neither arrogant nor impetuous in victory, and unlike other soldiers who grew timid and speechless before a general, General Chen admired him even more.

“I see you are not very old. You’ve likely just passed your coming-of-age, perhaps only in your early twenties? Rare to be so steady in bearing, and your archery is so exquisite. That arrow beneath the pine tree could be called piercing a willow leaf at a hundred paces, truly rare,” General Chen continued to praise, then sighed.

“They say that in Bingzhou, the Heir of the Pei family, when young, was unmatched in Luoyang for his superb archery, with a reputation for piercing a willow leaf at a hundred paces. Though I’ve never seen it with my own eyes, I feel that if you work hard, perhaps you could reach even one or two parts of ten of his ability.”

Those words were somewhat inappropriate. Although Pei Er’s archery was indeed superb, perhaps even not inferior to that Pei Shizi, it was improper to compare an ordinary soldier of the camp with a noble heir.

The people on the high platform behind fell tacitly silent, guessing that General Chen was simply too happy and had spoken without thinking.

Only Jiang He gave a cold snort.

Pei Er lowered his eyes, not particularly wanting to hear about that Pei Shizi.

“Speaking of which, you also bear the surname Pei. Only, the name ‘Pei Er’ does not sound like a formal name.” General Chen spoke again, pondering for a moment before suddenly saying, “How about this, I’ll give you a new name. In the future, you…”

Before he could finish, Pei Er suddenly knelt on one knee and said, “Reporting to the General, since I awoke, I remember nothing. I only remember this name. Though it may not sound pleasant, perhaps it was given to me by my parents. It is now my only connection to them. Pei Er is unwilling to change it.”

Saying that he only remembered this name was, of course, a lie.

In truth, after waking, he remembered only the single character “Pei.” It was just that when General Chen mentioned Pei Shizi and now wanted to change his name, he worried the General might give him a name related to that Pei Shizi.

But he had overthought it. However happy and careless General Chen might be, he would not go so far as to give a small soldier a name related to the Pei Shizi and announce it openly.

After all, that person was Yan Wang Shizi, a war god general who had campaigned in the northern lands since youth, someone they normally would never even see.

General Chen had only wanted to rename Pei Er out of a fondness for talent, perhaps even to take him as a godson and promote him in the future. If this young man proved promising and became a general one day, it would hardly do to call him “General Pei Er.”

But Pei Er’s blunt refusal inevitably left General Chen somewhat embarrassed.

At the edge of the drill ground, Chen Qing and the others could not help worrying for him. Li Chansiu also frowned slightly.

In his plans, having Pei Er valued by General Chen was not only to use the General to suppress Centurion Jiang, but also because he hoped Pei Er could be promoted.

First, this was a future he had planned for Pei Er and could be considered part of his compensation. Second, the higher Pei Er’s position in the camp, the more advantageous it would be for his desire to change the coming event in which the Hu forces would soon break through the northwestern defenses.

Only…

Seeing Pei Er’s stubbornly straightforward manner, Li Chansiu could not help sighing and press his fingertips to his brow. Though he had originally wanted someone a bit foolish, this was a bit too…

He even could not help wanting to press a hand to his forehead.

Physician Hu also perceived General Chen’s intention and hurried down from the high platform, anxiously scolding, though in truth helping Pei Er as he said, “Nonsense. The General being willing to give you a new name is great fortune for you. Why don’t you hurry and thank…”

“Eh.” General Chen raised a hand to stop him. Looking at Pei Er, he unexpectedly nodded and said, “He’s right. A name given by one’s parents, how can it be changed lightly? Someone so filial, who does not forget his roots, is even more rare. I like him all the more. Haha, just now I did not consider thoroughly.”

Hearing this, Physician Hu immediately let out a breath of relief, and Chen Qing and the others at the edge of the drill ground finally set down the hearts they had been holding up.

“Pei Er,” General Chen asked again, “having won first place in this grand competition, is there anything you want?”

At once everyone on the field lifted their hearts again. Many soldiers even cast envious looks.

Everyone knew this competition was meant to select talent. Now that General Chen had personally spoken, if the winner had been Centurion Jiang, the General might have been unwilling to promote him. But since it was Pei Er, perhaps he would directly promote him to centurion.

Wasn’t Centurion Jiang promoted exactly this way last year!

Who would have thought that after thinking seriously for a moment, Pei Er said, “I hope the General will reward me with some silver.”

Everyone: “…”

General Chen also froze again and asked, “Why?”

Pei Er: “I joined the competition in order to marry the person I like. But now my memory is blank, and I have not a single coin to my name.”

Everyone: “…”

General Chen: “…”

You truly are honest.

Outside the drill ground, Li Chansiu could no longer resist pressing a hand to his forehead.

“It’s like this, General…”

Physician Hu hurried to explain on his behalf, recounting one by one how Pei Er had originally been going to marry Li Chansiu, but Centurion Jiang had interfered midway, and then the two had made a wager, whoever won the grand competition would marry Li Chansiu.

After listening, General Chen immediately burst into hearty laughter again and said, “So that’s how it is. Truly youthful spirit, good! I shall make the decision for you and let you marry that Miss Shen. When the time comes, I will personally preside over your wedding.”

Having said this, he laughed again.

Originally, when Pei Er only asked for silver, he had worried the young man was short-sighted, possessing skill but lacking brains. Now it seemed he might instead be loyal and righteous, keeping his promises.

And he had not expected this matter to be related to Jiang Chong. Being able to make the Jiang brothers unhappy made General Chen happy.

Not only that, he also sighed, “There’s nothing wrong with wanting silver. When I first joined the army, it was only so I could eat my fill in the camp. And we fight for Great Zhou, aren’t we fighting so that we and our families can be safe, can eat their fill and stay warm!”

“Yes! Yes!!” The soldiers below clenched their fists and shouted loudly, inspired to fervor by these words.

After all, most of them came from military households or poor commoner families. Talk of fighting to show loyalty to the emperor would not resonate with them. It was far better to speak plainly of eating one’s fill, staying warm, and earning silver.

Thus, borrowing Pei Er’s words, General Chen instead gathered up a wave of military morale, an advantage someone like Jiang He, who had a good birth, did not possess.

Greatly pleased, General Chen then promoted Pei Er on the spot to centurion, both out of cherishing talent and to let the soldiers see that those with ability would be promoted.

In truth, he had even more wanted to promote Pei Er to commander of a thousand. By his judgment, Pei Er’s ability was far beyond this.

But first, if he promoted him directly to commander of a thousand, he feared provoking Jiang He.

At present Jiang He was in favor. Though they did not get along, they could not make matters too ugly and affect the important task of guarding the border. After all, he had no way to transfer Jiang He away, and Jiang He had always wanted to drive him out.

Second, Pei Er had only taken first place in the competition. To promote him straight to commander of a thousand would be hard to convince the masses. Better to wait until he earned some military merit before promoting him further.

Who knew that even so, Jiang He still spoke in dissatisfaction: “Pei Er has not established a single merit, and he also bears fault from the previous grain transport incident. How can he be promoted to centurion?”

General Chen was in a good mood and did not argue with him, waving a hand. “This grand competition was precisely to select talent. And it is only a promotion to centurion. Wasn’t your younger brother promoted the same way back then? As for the grain transport, he was only an ordinary soldier obeying orders. Moreover, he fought bathed in blood and was carried back covered in it, he had already done his utmost.”

The implication was that the matter of the grain was the fault of the officer in charge at the time, not the soldiers below. Of course, as the matter had not been fully investigated, it was not suitable to discuss in detail.

Jiang He still wanted to speak again, but General Chen raised a hand to interrupt him. “Right, your brother fell down the hillside just now. Why hasn’t he returned yet? Did something happen?”

Jiang He was startled and forgot the argument, hurriedly sending people to look for him.

Afterward, General Chen promoted several more soldiers who had performed well in the competition, most to squad leader or corporal, and many were also rewarded with silver.

When the rewards were finished, Pei Er knelt together with the others to give thanks. Once they rose and withdrew, he could not wait to head toward Li Chansiu outside the drill ground.

General Chen stroked his short beard with a smile and asked Physician Hu, “That is Miss Shen?”

Physician Hu glanced toward the outside of the drill ground and hurriedly nodded, saying yes.

General Chen sighed, “Truly a talented young man and a beautiful young woman.”

In fact, he had noticed earlier that each time Pei Er finished a round, he could not wait to head toward that young lady.

“This Miss Shen is the one I previously told you about, the one skilled at stitching wounds for injured soldiers,” Physician Hu quickly took the opportunity to praise her.

“Oh?” General Chen’s interest was immediately piqued.

Outside the drill ground, Pei Er strode quickly toward Li Chansiu. But when he truly stood before him, the joyful excitement in his heart gradually turned to nervousness.

Uneasily he touched the spot over his heart. Centurion Jiang’s slash had been forceful, the prayer beads must have been damaged. He was somewhat afraid to take them out.

Li Chansiu did not know his unease. Seeing him approach, he could not help stepping forward, smiling to offer congratulations, when suddenly a piercingly cold wind blew in, pouring through his sleeves and collar.

He shivered instantly from the cold. Perhaps it was from standing in the cold wind at the drill ground all day, and now that the heart he had been holding tight had finally relaxed, his whole body loosened. As he stepped forward, he suddenly felt weak. Blown by the cold wind, he felt an even deeper chill seep from between his bones, as though it would freeze his bones and blood vessels solid.

The setting sun at the horizon had already dropped behind the mountain ridge, leaving behind its last trace of icy afterglow.

Li Chansiu was so cold that he curled up tightly, subconsciously hugging his arms. Very quickly he was shivering so hard he could not speak, just like when the cold poison flared up.

Pei Er immediately noticed something was wrong. Forgetting all about the prayer beads, he hurriedly stepped forward and caught him.

“Miss Shen, what’s wrong with you?” His tone was tense and urgent.

When Li Chansiu was steadied by him, it was as if he could no longer hold himself up. Leaning against him, he crouched down, hugging himself tightly as he curled up, trembling as he said, “Cold…”

Cold?

Pei Er froze for a moment and hurriedly tried to take off his clothes to drape over him. But seeing the armor on his body, it was hardly something that could keep a person warm.

Fortunately, Aunt Xu quickly untied an outer robe and draped it over Li Chansiu’s shoulders, anxiously asking, “Oh dear, what’s going on? Has the chill worsened again?”

She tried to help him up so she could support him back, but found that Li Chansiu was trembling nonstop, his eyes tightly shut, he simply could not be lifted.

“Th-this…” Aunt Xu was momentarily at a loss.

Suddenly, Pei Er bent down, scooped the trembling Li Chansiu horizontally into his arms, and rose, striding swiftly toward the infirmary.