Qian Jiaoniang clenched her fists. Was the emperor trying to add yet another hostage? A cowardly and selfish emperor like this—truly, she had never seen the like.
Xing Muzheng coughed lightly. “Many thanks to His Majesty for his gracious thought. But as I am gravely ill, I cannot be without my worthy wife even for a moment. I beg you, Gonggong, to report this and ask His Majesty’s understanding.”
“This…”
Qian Jiaoniang spoke: “Gonggong, His Majesty has exhausted himself with care for the Marquis’ household. I am endlessly grateful. Yet my lord’s body is weak, and he will allow no one near. It has always been I who serve by his side—I truly cannot leave him even half a step! Besides, I believe our son, Pingchun, has already grown. As the heir of the Marquis’ house, how can he shrink back in Yongan when the country is in crisis? I had just intended to ask my husband to memorialize His Majesty, requesting our son’s return, to march to war alongside his father.”
“This must not be!” The eunuch who brought the decree, though not as powerful as Grand Eunuch Zhaohui, was still a clear-sighted man at court—otherwise, how would Emperor Yongtai have chosen him to deliver such a mission? He knew perfectly well that Xing Pingchun must remain in Yongan as a hostage and that ideally Madam Xing should also be brought there, so the imperial family could be at ease. But who would have thought this lady not only refused to go, but wanted to summon the young marquis back!
“How can it not be?” Qian Jiaoniang pressed deliberately.
The eunuch stammered for a while before saying, “This servant thinks…the Marquis and Madam have but one legitimate son, no other heirs. The young heir is not yet married, has not continued the incense of the house. How can he go to the battlefield? If anything were to happen…”
Xing Muzheng coughed heavily twice. The eunuch immediately fell to his knees. “Forgive me, my lord! This servant spoke out of turn. It was only that before I left, His Majesty mentioned such words in passing!”
“As subjects of Great Xie, how can the Xie family place their own safety first? What my wife said is exactly what I had in mind. I shall have a memorial drafted at once.”
Indeed, Xing Muzheng had a memorial written and sent by express rider to Yongan.
Two days later, a dusty figure returned to Yuzhou. Qian Meiniang was stunned—this man was none other than Zheng the carpenter, who should have been with Xing Pingchun in Yongan.
“Second Brother, why have you come back? Where is Ping Ge’er? How is he?” She greeted her husband with both joy and worry.
Carpenter Zheng happily looked over his wife, long unseen. “It was Ping Ge’er who sent me back. He said Yuzhou needs me more than Yongan does.”
“But how can he manage alone, just a child, in Yongan?” Qian Meiniang asked urgently.
Carpenter Zheng laughed. “Don’t worry. Ping’er is no longer the boy he once was. He is the young marquis of the Dingxi Marquisate, the master of the Yongan household.”
Qian Meiniang was somewhat tongue-tied. In just half a year, how much could a child truly grow?
Knowing his wife could not yet understand, Carpenter Zheng patted her head and went inside.
After washing away the dust of travel, Carpenter Zheng and Qian Meiniang went together to see Xing Muzheng and Qian Jiaoniang. He handed them a letter written by Xing Pingchun. After the couple read it together, they exchanged a look. Qian Jiaoniang’s eyes showed mixed feelings—worry, but even more pride.
“Chou’er has grown up.” For the first time, Qian Jiaoniang admitted her son had sprouted wings and flown from her embrace.
Xing Muzheng held her close. Together they stepped forward to bow to Carpenter Zheng and Qian Meiniang. “Thank you, elder sister and brother-in-law, for looking after our son.”
The couple hurried to raise them, flustered. “No need, no need!”
Qian Meiniang said, “We are one family—why such formality?”
Qian Jiaoniang smiled. “Sister, since you put it that way, I’ll have to thicken my face and trouble you with one more matter.”
Qian Meiniang patted her chest. “Whatever it is, just say it. If it’s within my power, I’ll surely do it for you.”
Qian Jiaoniang glanced at Xing Muzheng, then turned back. “Sister, I must go to the frontier with Yazheng. But Ni Xue is still so little. I cannot take him with me. Can you help care for him?”
Qian Meinang had yet to speak when Xing Muzheng said to Qian Jiaoniang: “You stay here with Nixue as well.”
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to read the rest of the chapters in the book in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
