The woman shot him a sharp glance, and Xing Muzheng found it amusing—so this was what it meant for a husband’s authority to falter. It really did prove Chou’er’s words true: there was a tigress in this tent.
Qian Meinang added: “Yes, Jiaoniang, fighting is a man’s business. If you go, it will be dangerous!”
Qian Jiaoniang said nothing, but her attitude was firm.
Xing Muzheng asked Second Brother Zheng and Qian Meinang to step aside for now, then closed the door to speak privately with Qian Jiaoniang. Once the maids had left, Xing Muzheng coaxed her in a low voice: “Nixue is still so young. As her mother, can you really bear not to be by her side? And you are a woman—you’ve never practiced martial arts, nor have you set foot on a battlefield. What would you do if you came with me? Be good, stay here with Elder Sister.”
Qian Jiaoniang knew Xing Muzheng feared for her safety if she came along. She was reluctant to part from Nixue as well. She also understood that she, Nixue, and Elder Sister together would indeed be safe. But still—
“I don’t want to go on living every day in fear anymore. When you were on the battlefield before, I worried about you every single day. I would constantly have nightmares, dreaming of your death. I don’t want that…” Qian Jiaoniang lowered her head, tugged on Xing Muzheng’s little finger, then lifted her eyes to look at him.
“Speak properly, no acting spoiled!” Xing Muzheng scolded in a low growl. He couldn’t keep his temper whenever she tried this trick, and now she was actually playing it on him again.
“When did I act spoiled? I’m already the mother of two children—how could I possibly be coquettish? I’m clearly speaking to you seriously.” Qian Jiaoniang denied it, still pinching the fleshy pad of his little finger. “I can entrust Nixue to Elder Sister without worry, but I cannot be at ease about you and Chou’er. Now both you and Chou’er walk the line between life and death—how could I hide in the rear, shrinking like a turtle?”
“I’ll be fine. Chou’er will be fine too.”
“I’ll believe it only if I see it with my own eyes.”
“Ah, woman… even if something should happen to me or Chou’er, you must remain safe with Nixue. You must carry Nixue and continue the Xing family line for me.”
Qian Jiaoniang gave a short laugh. “Spare me that. If you truly valued heirs, then back then you wouldn’t have left without even knowing whether the child in my belly was a boy or a girl. And after all these years, you only have Chou’er as a son.”
Xing Muzheng fell silent, unable to reply. Indeed, he had never cared for bloodlines or descendants. He only ever thought: if fate grants me, I am fortunate; if it denies me, it is my doom.
Qian Jiaoniang burrowed into his arms. “Husband, just let me go with you. I won’t drag you down, I’ll even find ways to help you!”
“I told you not to act spoiled!” Xing Muzheng scolded gruffly, but his arms tightened around her of their own accord.
Qian Jiaoniang raised her head, stood on tiptoe, and bit his chin. “I’m going.”
Xing Muzheng was already softening, though he struggled on: “You’ll be safe with Elder Sister…” As much as he wanted her by his side, the battlefield’s blades and arrows had no eyes, and the road ahead was full of thorns and brambles. He could be wounded, but she must not suffer even the slightest harm. “Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet—you still need rest.”
“I’ve recovered, I’m perfectly fine.” Qian Jiaoniang clenched her teeth and brought out her ultimate threat: “If you don’t take me with you, I’ll sneak there myself. No one else can stop me!”
“You—!” Xing Muzheng was utterly helpless. Indeed, aside from him, no one in Yuzhou City could stop Qian Jiaoniang now. Everyone in Yuzhou knew that to see the lord’s wife was as good as seeing the lord himself.
In the end, Xing Muzheng yielded to her. “You can come with me, but you must agree to three rules.”
“What rules?” Qian Jiaoniang asked warily, suspecting a trap.
Xing Muzheng pinched her nose with exasperation. “What rules? That when I say you must leave, you must leave. And under no circumstances are you to act on your own!”
Qian Jiaoniang’s brows arched as her eyes lit with a smile. She kissed him on the lips. “Agreed—settled!”
Five days later, Emperor Yongtai rejected Xing Muzheng’s memorial asking that Xing Pingchun also be sent to the frontier. His reasoning, conveyed by the eunuch who brought the decree, was no different: merely that he was showing sympathy for Xing Muzheng’s sickly body. But he did approve Qian Jiaoniang accompanying Xing Muzheng to the border.
The entire Marquis’ household had long been prepared. The next day, they set out westward. Second Brother Zheng wanted to follow the army as well, but Xing Muzheng stopped him. In secret, he entrusted him: once they departed, Second Brother Zheng was to take his family and Nixue to Zhiye in secret. That was the safest place, and there he must also oversee the weapons camp on Xing Muzheng’s behalf.
Burdened with this heavy task, Second Brother Zheng stayed behind.
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