Zhao Jiaqi pointed at the sky, her voice filled with anger, "You've been chatting from morning till night. As a man, you don't fear gossip. But she's a princess. Have you considered her? If someone sees you, her reputation will be ruined for life!"
She was exasperated by the two of them. "Your brother is swamped with work and is about to head to the border. How can you still be in such a leisurely mood? What are you planning to do? Still want to be a grain official?"
"Being a grain official for a lifetime won't get me a wife. I'm just indulging in daydreams!"
Scolded by his sister-in-law, Xu Dong also collected his thoughts. He quickly apologized to her, found out where his brother was, and turned to leave.
When he didn't show up for a long time, Pingting went directly to the General's mansion. She saw her sister-in-law sitting in the front hall with a sullen expression. As intelligent as she was, she immediately knew something was wrong.
Pouting was always the right approach. Pingting cautiously stepped forward and called out, "Sister-in-law?"
"This princess's words are too kind. Please continue to call me the General's wife!" Though she spoke the words, her body turned away.
She clearly didn't regard her as a princess, but rather like a girlfriend having a spat.
"Sister-in-law~ I was just... you know, don't pretend you understand my plight when you're not in my shoes!" Pingting had developed a thick skin and spoke without shame.
Zhao Jiaqi was frustrated by her lack of ambition. She poked Pingting's head, "You are a princess. You cannot act as you please. Be careful not to harm Xu Dong. He's a coarse fellow, how would he understand that gossip can be deadly?"
Huangfu Pingting pouted, "This princess will see who dares to speak ill. If anyone dares to say a single word about Brother Dong, this princess will rip out their tongue and make them a mute for life!"
She was getting more and more worked up. This was not how one protected their loved ones.
Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath. She wasn't here for idle chit-chat.
"Pingting, I have some matters that require me to leave for a while. If you consider me your friend, then please, Princess, help me with something!"
Huangfu Pingting saw that her sister-in-law's tone and expression were not joking and felt a pang of unease. She quickly asked, "Sister-in-law, where are you going?"
"Don't ask. Just answer me, can you help me with this?"
"Yes, as long as it's something Sister-in-law asks, I'll help you to the end! I swear it with my life."
Zhao Jiaqi smiled, her heart filled with emotion. "The first is my closest family. If my husband and I don't return, please help me send them back to our hometown and ensure they have a peaceful old age."
Pingting's scalp tingled. Just as she was about to ask, Zhao Jiaqi interrupted her. "Second, the several restaurants I opened in the capital belong to my friends. They are honest and upright in their business dealings and have no ulterior motives. If anything happens, I hope the Princess can offer them some support. Even if... they lose all their fortune, it doesn't matter, as long as their lives are safe!"
Huangfu Pingting nodded heavily. These were minor matters; she could accomplish them with a single word. "Don't worry, Sister-in-law, I will definitely accomplish these two things!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded with relief. Finally, there was Xu Dong's matter, which was her greatest concern. "Pingting, this boy Xu Dong is loyal and righteous. Don't let his humble background fool you. Towards the person he loves, he will never betray her!"
Pingting had already come to understand this through their interactions.
She said shyly, "His monthly stipend is so meager, but he saves it all for me, leaving nothing for himself. He is indeed a man worth entrusting my life to!"
"If you two can be together, that would be best. If not... Sister-in-law also hopes you can marry someone else and live a happy life!"
Pingting shook her head. She firmly believed that Xu Dong would become a great general and come to marry her with grandeur.
"I only want to marry him. I will wait for him and will absolutely not give up."
Facing her determined gaze, Zhao Jiaqi couldn't say much more. This trip to the border would likely involve a fierce battle. Perhaps... she hoped she was overthinking.
"Sister-in-law, what are you worrying about? And where are you going? Why does it feel like you're giving a dying declaration!" Pingting felt that something bad was about to happen.
She was a little frightened, grabbing Zhao Jiaqi's hand and asking again, "Sister-in-law, don't scare me. Tell me if something's wrong. I'll beg Father Emperor. He dotes on me the most; he listens to everything I say!"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and held her hand, gazing at her deeply. They chatted about past events. "The first time I met you, your eyes were so clear, especially when you warned Xu Dong to be wary of Marquis Ningyuan. I found you quite endearing."
"The second time I met you, I learned that you were actually a princess, and such an arrogant and willful one..."
As they reminisced about the past, time unknowingly passed until noon, and her doubts were eased.
She stayed for a meal. During the meal, Xu Dong couldn't resist picking up food for Pingting.
They exchanged glances; they were more like a married couple than not.
By mid-January, with the New Year approaching, under Zhao Jiaqi's tireless instruction, Mengmeng finally learned to call her parents.
"Daddy's good baby, you can finally call me Daddy." The burly man held the tiny child in his arms and showered her tender little face with kisses.
Yu Meng didn't mind the stubble on his face. She giggled and laughed, her eyes darting around. She hugged her father's neck and turned her other cheek.
After receiving a few sweet kisses, she was content. Then she looked for her mother and repeated the same action.
With such a warm and loving family, Fan Zehao truly didn't want to leave. There were too many attachments here.
On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, in the middle of the night, the grand gates of General Fan's mansion were knocked upon. Someone had arrived from the palace.
Fan Zehao threw on a robe and came out of the bedroom. He saw that it was Xiao Ce. "Brother? Why are you here? Did something happen in the palace?"
The commander of the Imperial Guard, not on duty in the palace in the middle of the night, must have come because something was amiss.
"Quick, get dressed. The Emperor urgently summons you."
Xiao Ce spoke little, but his two sentences were as urgent as if he had coals under his feet, stamping his feet in his haste.
Fan Zehao immediately returned to the bedroom, put on his clothes, gave his wife a few brief instructions, and then rushed out.
After he left, Zhao Jiaqi couldn't sleep. She gazed at the bright moonlight outside the window, pondered for a moment, and then began to help Fan Zehao pack his luggage.
An urgent summons from the Emperor in the middle of the night likely meant war had broken out, and it wasn't good news.
In truth, she didn't have much to pack. Everything that needed to be prepared was ready. All that was left was to pack some dry rations and preserved sausages and cured meats.
As dawn broke, Fan Zehao returned, bringing even worse news.
"The border has fallen. Several cities have been lost consecutively. They are now advancing towards our hometown."
Zhao Jiaqi was stunned. "How could this happen? Losing one city is possible, but losing several consecutively... then... where are the messengers? They can't just be for show!"
Fan Zehao shook his head. "It's said they were assassinated on the way. The border sent five or six groups of people, but none of the messages got through. Finally, it was the soldiers guarding the city gate who, under the prefect's urgent order, managed to reach the capital. And they didn't even bring any secret reports or memorials."
"Then... what about the carrier pigeons? Were they shot down and roasted for food?"