mtlumby2d Chapter 391: One City Separated
Chapter 391: One City Separated
The autumn wind howled outside the military tent, making the tent rustle. The wound under Chen Sanlang's ribs ached slightly, but it was no match for the anxiety in his heart.
Fu Jiezhi's words "thanks to the Wang family" were like a piece of red-hot charcoal, sizzling in his heart.
"General, do you recognize Miss Wang?"
At this time, he had completely confirmed that he was also a member of the Wang family. He casually brushed away the medicine residue on his knees, but his fingertips were trembling slightly.
Fu Jiezhi sat behind a low table with his sword in his hand, and the scabbard made a crisp "click" sound when it touched the wooden table.
The personal guards brought a red clay stove, and the boiling water in the copper kettle was filled with warmth.
"I don't know your name, sir?"
Fu Jiezhi sat upright and performed the greeting as an equal.
The firelight reflected the cloud pattern on his armor, which was a gilded dragon pattern that was only allowed to be used by military officers above the fifth rank.
Chen Sanlang supported himself and hurriedly returned the greeting:
"I am Chen Sanlang, from Xunyang Xunnan County, and I am currently working as an accountant for the Wang family."
He got up too fast, causing the wounds on his body to twitch, and Chen Sanlang let out a slight hiss.
The personal soldier picked up the pot to make tea. The tea leaves floating in the water gave Chen Sanlang time to sit up straight.
"I am lucky to have met you on the battlefield, and it is destined that I can trust you with my back."
Fu Jiezhi dipped his fingertips in the spilled tea and wrote two words on the table: Comrades.
Chen Sanlang looked at the water marks on the table that were gradually evaporating, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
The fire cast a deep shadow on Fu Jiezhi's brow. He raised the warm teacup and asked tentatively:
"Mr. Chen, do you still want to take the imperial examination? I have always wanted to find a secretary. Mr. Chen is both wise and brave, and we have a life-and-death friendship on the battlefield..."
Chen Sanlang stroked the edge of the teacup with his fingertips, and the heat from the cup wall made him tremble slightly. He had guessed long ago that General Fu must have something to discuss when he was invited to his tent. He hesitated for a moment to weigh the pros and cons of such a sincere invitation.
He looked at his own reflection in the tea and said softly, "Thank you for your kindness, General. It's just the account book clerk entrusted by the Wang family..."
"The four gates of Bac Ninh City are now under martial law, entry and exit are strictly prohibited."
Fu Jiezhi suddenly interrupted the conversation, dipped his hand in tea and drew a square on the table, "The military governor and grain are important places in the army. Brother Chen may not be able to enter the city in a short time. How about..."
The water in the copper kettle suddenly boiled more violently, and the steam made the lid of the kettle rattle.
Chen Sanlang remembered Zhao Chunming's hesitant expression before he left. He leaned over and stroked the wound under his ribs, and asked softly:
"General, can you allow me to continue to recuperate in the army? You can also try to see if I am suitable for being a military secretary."
Fu Jiezhi took out a copper talisman from his bosom and placed it on the table. The two characters "Beining" on the talisman were polished to a shine. "Tomorrow our army will set out to wipe out the remaining bandits in Beiyu Pass. We will be able to return in ten days. Then you can follow the army into the city."
He suddenly lowered his voice and said, "The lockdown order had been lifted by then."
Chen Sanlang stared at the small seal characters on the bronze talisman, and the two words "Jin Yi" printed on his T-shirt in his previous life appeared before his eyes.
He clenched the teacup tightly, not even noticing the scalding hot tea splashing on the back of his hand:
"Could you please send someone to Fengxian Post Station to deliver a message? Let the two people from the Xunyang Wang family who are traveling with me wait for a while. I will pick them up and bring them into the city when the army enters."
"Sir, are you really willing to go to Beiyu Pass?"
Fu Jiezhi asked calmly, "I want to remind you, sir, there are foreign enemies knocking at the gate, sir, you have to think about this."
"Didn't the general say he would be back in ten days?"
Chen Sanlang smiled and asked, "My injuries have not healed yet, and I also want to thank General Fu for saving me, but I don't know if I can be competent for the position of secretary..."
The fire cast their shadows on the tent wall, and hearty laughter could be heard from time to time.
The sound of patrol soldiers' clappers was heard outside the tent. After the third watch, Chen Sanlang was sent back to the medical tent.
Just as the sky was getting light, a horn sounded in the camp, and Chen Sanlang got on the carriage with the wounded soldiers.
The wheels made a teeth-grinding squeaking sound as they rolled over, and the curtains swayed with the bumps.
Chen Sanlang endured the pain and lifted the car curtain.
In the morning mist, the city of Bac Ninh stands tall among the inky black mountains in the distance, majestic and silent.
A sense of desolation rose in Chen Sanlang's heart. He didn't know whether it was because he couldn't enter the city gate five miles away, or because his pursuit was still on the way and had no end in sight...
In Beining City, two carriages were coming briskly towards the government office. In the front carriage, Wang Jinyi was lifting the curtain to ask Yuqing, who was sitting on the carriage.
"Since the Fu family army is stationed outside the city, Wu Mei and the others should go back to the city after delivering a letter to General Fu."
Yuqing shook his head and said:
"Miss, I heard that the four gates of Bac Ninh City are under martial law, and entry and exit are strictly prohibited. It may take some time before Wu Mei and the others can enter the city. However, the war in Bac Ninh has been resolved, and they will be back soon."
"I wonder how the Feng sisters are doing after they went to Beiyu Pass..."
"Miss, we have arrived at the government office."
In front of the side door of the government office, the leading official, wearing an indigo official robe, bowed and said, "Greetings, the head of the Wang family, Miss Xunyang Wang."
Wang Jinyi helped Yuqing get out of the car, lowered his head and followed his grandfather around the screen wall.
As soon as he entered the government office, Wang Jinyi felt that it was heavily guarded, and he had a vague feeling that it was the prince who invited him here today.
Her great-uncle coughed lightly in front of her and waved at her with his hand from his sleeve. Wang Jinyi caught a glimpse of the armored guards standing motionless under the pillars of the corridor. There was truly a guard post every five steps and a sentry every ten steps.
Suddenly a shrill voice came from the front.
"I pay my respects to Lord Wang and Miss Wang."
A eunuch in a brown round-necked robe, holding a whisk in his arms, bowed from a distance, the yellow silk around his waist revealing his status.
Wang Jinyi’s heart tightened—it was the eunuch in charge of ceremonies!
An official in an indigo robe stopped, and a eunuch came over, leading the Wang family's grandparents and grandchildren through three gauze doors, and then stopped outside a carved door.
A young eunuch walked out of the study and led the grandfather and grandson into the second door. The eunuch led the head of the family to the side hall and reminded him softly:
"The government office wants to see the head of the Wang family."
The great-uncle looked back at Yuqing who was following behind Wang Jinyi. Yuqing nodded slightly and followed the young lady into the main hall.
The prince sat up straight on the couch, with Canaan incense beads wrapped around his left wrist and a newspaper in his right hand.
The prince coughed uncontrollably and covered his mouth with his hand, with a few spots of scarlet blood leaking out from between his fingers.
Wang Jinyi even forgot to salute. Looking at the prince who was getting paler and paler, he felt vaguely uneasy.
After a long breath, the prince sat upright, and the eunuch shouted: "Etiquette——"
Wang Jinyi woke up as if from a dream, and hurriedly walked a few steps in an orderly manner, bowed his head, knelt on his knees, and greeted softly:
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince is safe and sound."
After a few moments of silence, the crown prince at the top spoke slowly, "Get up!"
Wang Jinyi stood up and bowed, and replied respectfully: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace."
The room fell into silence. Wang Jinyi was puzzled. After waiting for a few moments, she tilted her head slightly and saw a side door opened. An eunuch walked in holding a white cat with a jade pendant around its neck.