Chapter 464: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 464: Crisis at Hand (4)
Finally finding a moment of leisure, Mo Yan sat in the courtyard, brewed herself a pot of tea, and immersed herself in a travelogue, thoroughly enjoying the read.
"Chirp, chirp—"
Just as she reached an exciting part, a series of chirps echoed faintly from above, interrupting her thoughts. Without needing to look up, Mo Yan guessed who it was from the sound alone.
Mao Mao flapped its powerful wings, circling persistently above Mo Yan's head, unsure whether it was looking for a perch or trying to catch her attention.
Pretending not to notice, Mo Yan took a sip of tea and continued to focus on her book.
Although Mao Mao had gained intelligence, it was still not human. Seeing Mo Yan ignoring it, it reluctantly landed on the small table, raising its claw which held a sealed letter.
Mo Yan was momentarily stunned. She set aside her travelogue and slowly opened the letter. Like clockwork, she received a letter every seven days, each varying in length and content. Despite months apart and thousands of miles between them, through these pages, she felt as if she were witnessing the battles at the frontlines, seeing him on horseback, sword in hand, facing enemies...
Mo Yan knew it was dangerous to receive these letters. She could resist not replying, but she couldn't stop her thoughts from wandering.
Looking at Mao Mao's round eyes, she sighed softly, lowered her gaze, and read through the ink-scented letter meticulously. When she saw the words "Mid-April, Must Return," her heart pounded violently, and her mind went momentarily blank!
He was coming back?
Mo Yan calmed her mind and read through the entire letter again, word for word, making sure she hadn't misunderstood. He was indeed coming back!
A strong surge of joy spread through her heart. She stood up excitedly, accidentally knocking over the tea cup. Ignoring the mess, she rushed to the study desk, spread out a blank sheet of paper, prepared the ink, and was about to start writing a reply when she suddenly froze!
The snow-white paper remained blank, the ink forming only a faint blot.
...
In the city of Shanhai, the first city conquered by the Ba Ren tribe from the Kingdom of Da Chu was also the last city recovered by the Da Chu army of over ten thousand soldiers.
Just three days ago, the Ba Ren tribe fell into the ambush meticulously laid out by Xiao Ruiyuan, with more than half of their troops killed or injured, leaving them unable to contend further against the Da Chu army. They had no choice but to retreat in defeat, leaving behind a ground littered with corpses. Thus ended a battle that had lasted for over five months.
In the temporary command post that night,
The empty letter box gradually dimmed the hope in Xiao Ruiyuan's eyes, transforming him once again into an icy figure. However, what happened next forced him to temporarily set aside personal emotions.
"How are the preparations for the return journey?"
After reading the confidential letter from the capital, a sharp glint flashed in Xiao Ruiyuan's eyes. His voice echoed deeply in the quiet room, filled with a sense of solemnity.
A shadow suddenly appeared, and Xiao Jiu knelt down on one knee, respectfully responding, "Everything is ready, Master. You can act according to plan at any time."
Xiao Ruiyuan nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "The journey back to the capital won't be smooth. The fewer people who know the exact return date, the better."
Xiao Jiu's expression turned serious. "Understood."
Those who coveted the position of heir apparent had long wanted to trap their master into a corner, ensuring the Crown Prince could never rise again. This time, after Xiao Ruiyuan's major victory over the Ba Ren tribe, the Crown Prince's prestige in the court would undoubtedly soar. Those people probably wished nothing more than to see him utterly defeated. The existence of the secret guards was to protect the safety of their master. In any case, he had to ensure Xiao Ruiyuan's safe return.
After Xiao Jiu withdrew, Xiao Ruiyuan pressed his forehead wearily.
Compared to the intricate and unpredictable politics in the capital, he preferred to stay on the border, riding on the frontier. However, ever since he was marked as a threat to the Princes faction, he could no longer choose the path he wanted. He used to think that if the Crown Prince could safely pass his twenty-fifth year and ascend to the throne smoothly, he might secure a lifetime guarding the border. If he couldn't... the worst-case scenario would be losing his life!
However, ever since meeting that woman, his heart carried a burden. In the past, faced with these hidden dangers, he wouldn't have taken them to heart and would have faced them head-on, eliminating all threats. But now, he didn't want to take risks anymore. He wanted to return alive to see her...
Since receiving the letter informing of Xiao Ruiyuan's imminent return, Mo Yan couldn't muster the enthusiasm for anything. Whenever she went into town, she would sit in the teahouse, listening to the rumors circulating among the people, trying to determine the exact date of the army's return.
However, the rumors were abundant and difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. It was the storyteller in the teahouse who used his vivid imagination to narrate Xiao Ruiyuan's brave deeds, attracting a full house almost every time and gaining widespread popularity among the common folk. Mo Yan listened attentively several times and could almost recite them by heart.
One afternoon, Mo Yan, Wu shi, and others sat around the table, counting the money earned from the stall over the past month. They planned to string together the copper coins and exchange them for silver at the bank.
"Sister, sister, you've been counting this string of copper coins for almost an hour. The characters on them are almost worn off from your touch!"
Xin'er looked at her sister, who seemed to be daydreaming again, feeling extremely helpless. She couldn't even remember how many times it had been today.
Wu shi, counting coins on the other side, looked up with a puzzled expression. "Yan, you've been like this recently. Do... do you have something on your mind?"
Mo Yan was startled, sweating nervously, afraid of being discovered. She quickly found an excuse to cover up, "Aunt Tang, maybe I've been too busy recently and haven't rested well. I feel my mind isn't as agile as before, sometimes I can't think straight!"
Wu shi glanced at her complexion, seeing that she didn't look fatigued at all, her suspicions deepened. However, since Mo Yan didn't want to talk about it, she didn't press further, just reminded her to rest more and not overwork herself.
Mo Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but just as she was about to relax, Mao Mao, who had been missing for several days, suddenly burst in like a cannonball, emitting a series of sharp, plaintive screams...
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