Chapter 234

Chapter 234

Xiao Mu's tent was set some distance away from the emperor's tent, as the old man had requested. He feared that the noise from his medication during the night would disturb the Xingping Emperor's rest.

Xiao Zhen walked over slowly, his steps measured.

Muffled sobs emanated from inside the tent, and the two guards outside were teary-eyed.

Xiao Zhen stopped in his tracks.

After a moment, Qi Yun, Sun Dian, and Zhang Wengong came out one after another. Qi Yun had tears in his eyes but remained composed. Zhang Wengong was wiping his face with his sleeve, his body shaking with sobs, while Sun Dian, who had also cried until his eyes were swollen, turned to grab Zhang Wengong by the collar, shaking him slightly as he scolded in a low voice, "What are you crying for? He's not dead yet, do you have to wail like he's gone?"

At this scolding, Zhang Wengong let out a sob but quickly held it in.

Zhang Wengong had trained in the Xiao Family's martial arts since he was young. Xiao Zhen, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Ye had been away fighting for six years, leaving their grandfather without their company during that time. However, Zhang Wengong had always been by the old man's side. He was practically another grandson to the Xiao Family, and being seven or eight years younger than Sun Dian, his grief was more intense.

Qi Yun looked at the two and said to Xiao Zhen, "Second Brother, you should go in first. We'll come back later in the evening."

Xiao Zhen nodded.

After the three had left, Xiao Zhen entered the tent.

The tent was divided into an outer and inner section. Xiao Shouyi and Xiao She sat in the outer section. The older man had his head lowered, while the younger one looked dazed. Upon seeing his second brother, Xiao She's eyes finally moved, and two lines of tears rolled down his face.

Xiao Zhen proceeded into the inner section.

Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, Qiao Changan, and Tong Gui knelt in a row by the bed, their sobs rising and falling. Zhou Xian sat by the table, his face filled with sorrow.

Xiao Zhen looked at the bed.

It had been half a month since they left Bullhead Mountain, and in that time, the old man's condition had worsened. The once robust body of a martial general had withered into the frame of a scholar. His hair and beard were completely white, and his waxen face showed no sign of life.

Xiao Zhen stood at the door, shaking with emotion from head to toe.

Xiao Mu looked at him and sighed, "Come, come, come. You too, join them in kneeling. Cry your fill, and then that's it. No more adding to my troubles."

Xiao Zhen didn't kneel but instead walked to the spot farthest from the bed and turned his back.

Xiao Mu said, "Fine, do whatever you want. If you want to cry, do so quietly. Don't disturb my sleep."

The old man actually closed his eyes.

Xiao Yan said, "Which damn Liang soldier dared to strike Grandfather? I'll tear them to pieces!"

The old man said, "No need for you to do it. Those who chased and attacked me were all killed by your wife and her people."

Xiao Yan said, "Then I'll flatten the Liang capital, capture their emperor, and tear him to pieces!"

The old man said, "Ambitious. If the Liang Emperor doesn't die at your hands, don't come to my grave."

Xiao Yan wailed even louder at this.

Xiao Ye turned to look at his second brother, his eyes filled with hatred.

The Liang soldiers deserved death, but if the emperor hadn't insisted on attacking Liang and bringing the old man along, would their grandfather have suffered like this? Feng Ji had to guard the northern border, Fan Zhao was brave but lacked strategy and couldn't be used, Lu Gong was both wise and brave but was tasked with guarding the capital city. The emperor insisted on sending a man in his seventies and his wife to fight in Liang. In the end, the emperor trusted Lu Gong more, trusted him to guard the capital and his son, and though he didn't trust the old man as much, he was still willing to use him as a blade.

Qiao Changan caught the burning hatred in Xiao Ye's eyes and understood it. He shook his head, glancing at Xiao Yan beside him.

We can't say it; mentioning it would stir up Third Brother's hatred, and he can't hide his emotions.

Xiao Ye slammed his fist onto the bed.

Old Master opened his eyes and glared in their direction. "Who hit it?"

Xiao Ye stubbornly replied, "I did it. If you think you can, come hit me!"

Old Master scoffed and called for the fifth.

Xiao She immediately came in, his voice hoarse. "What for?"

Old Master said, "Hit your fourth brother for me, go do it outside."

Xiao Ye muttered, "...I was wrong, alright?"

Realizing Xiao She was about to grab him, Xiao Ye quickly wrapped his arms around Grandfather's legs, making it harder for Xiao She to act forcefully.

Grandfather chuckled, enjoying the scene unfolding before him.

The brothers spent the afternoon by Grandfather's side, alternating between crying and arguing, until they were finally shooed away after dinner.

Old Master kept only Xiao Shouyi and Xiao Zhen behind.

The uncle and nephew knelt in front of the bed.

Old Master said to his son, "Shouyi, you have the makings of a loyal and capable general. But when it comes to navigating official matters, you're not as adept as your second brother. In the future, no matter what happens—whether it's family or external affairs—if you're ever unsure, consult your Second Brother. If he's not around, there's Aman. If Aman isn't available, there's Ningfang. Can you do that?"

Xiao Shouyi replied without hesitation, "Yes, I can!"

Old Master continued, "As a general, you must follow the emperor's commands. You should dare to fight battles that have a chance of winning, and even dare to fight those that are certain to be lost. Battle injuries or even death are part of the job; don't blame anyone for what happens. I don't harbor resentment, and neither should you. If anyone complains to you, set them straight, so you don't bring trouble to the family. Can you do that?"

Xiao Shouyi said, "Yes, I can!"

Old Master nodded. "I trust you. Keep an eye on your Third and Fifth Brothers; don't give them the chance to cause trouble. That's enough for now, go get some rest."

Xiao Shouyi said, "I won't sleep; I'll stay here and watch over you."

Old Master replied, "You and the fifth have been on guard for several nights. It's time to let your second brother and the others fulfill their filial duties."

Only then did Xiao Shouyi retreat.

Xiao Zhen went to pour a bowl of warm water and spoon-fed Old Master. After he finished, he continued kneeling beside him.

Old Master looked at his grandson and for a moment didn't know what else to say.

Xiao Zhen spoke up, "With me and Xiaoman here, you don't need to worry about family matters."

Old Master said, "I've already arranged for Aman, so you don't need to worry about her."

Xiao Zhen fell silent.

Old Master sighed. "From a young age, you've been the most strategic among your brothers. When it comes to military strategy and political maneuvering, you're someone I trust completely. But your cold, rational nature concerns me. You tend to weigh every decision based on its benefits and risks, sometimes at the expense of personal relationships.

If it had been in the countryside, without him, if Liu Chu had been the second grandson's wife, Madam He wouldn't have dared to order her around like that. The second grandson would have directly separated from that branch of the family with his uncle.

Had they continued living in the village, a separation would have just been a separation. They would have lived their lives farming and dealing with trivial matters.

But now the whole family lived in the capital city. The eldest son wasn't sharp, the third son was too impulsive, and the fifth son was too naive—they all tended to get into trouble. They all relied on the second grandson to guide and take care of them. Xiao Mu feared the second grandson wouldn’t have the patience to handle them.

Xiao Zhen said, "Rest assured, even if bones are broken, they're still connected by the same sinew. I'm not as cold as you think."

Xiao Mu nodded, too exhausted to stay awake, and fell asleep again.

Xiao Zhen left only a single lamp in the corner. He spread a layer of felt and a quilt on the floor next to the bed and lay down fully clothed.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of the personal guards came from outside the tent, "Madam."

Tong Sui asked, "Who's inside?"

The guard replied, "Only the Second Master is accompanying the General."

Then came the faint sound of footsteps.

Xiao Zhen remained lying down, thinking of Tong Sui, whom he had seen briefly during the imperial reception earlier in the day. She was even thinner than when she had first married into the family at eighteen.

Tong Sui lifted the inner curtain and, by the dim light, saw that the old man was asleep, and Xiao Zhen, lying on the floor, seemed to be asleep as well.

Tong Sui watched the old man for a while, and just as she was about to leave, she saw Xiao Zhen reach out to her.

Tong Sui moved closer with even lighter steps and knelt beside him on the felt rug.

Xiao Zhen pulled her into his arms.

As soon as she touched his shoulder, tears welled up in Tong Sui’s eyes, and she bit down on his clothes, holding back desperately.

Xiao Zhen gently patted her, "Thank goodness you're here, otherwise, we wouldn't even have been able to see each other one last time."

The Liang soldiers would have cut off the old man's head just as Tong Sui had cut off Feng Yun’s head, taking it to the capital city for credit.

Tong Sui choked, "It didn't have to come to this."

Xiao Zhen took a long breath and said to the tent ceiling, "The thing Grandfather is most proud of in his life is that he helped a wise emperor ascend the throne. I imagine that when he fought alongside the Emperor on Jiange Road, even though it was tough, it was also exhilarating."

It’s better to fight bravely and die with honor than to live a quiet, unremarkable life.

——

On the afternoon of the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, the Emperor returned to the capital.

To the civil and military officials in Luoyang, the Xingping Emperor was the victor of this war.

Initially, both Liang and Ling Kingdoms had attacked Great Yu. The Xingping Emperor mobilized his troops, and while subduing Wu country and forcing them to submit, he also repelled the combined forces of Liang and Ling. First, Ling Kingdom lost 90,000 troops in Hezhou, greatly weakening their national strength, and their Emperor even fell ill and passed away because of it. Then, Liang was defeated at Jianmen Pass, losing four to five famous generals and over 200,000 naval and infantry soldiers.

Although there had been several moments of danger over the past half year, the Xingping Emperor ultimately returned victorious, far more heroic than the previous emperor, the Imperial Uncle!

The officials beamed with joy, and the Crown Prince had prepared a speech of praise. However, when they saw the Xingping Emperor’s now-gray hair, their smiles faded, and they quickly suppressed their celebratory mood.

Back at the Xiao Family, Qi Yun, Sun Dian, Zhang Wengong, and Tong Gui led the cavalry from the Southern Camp back to camp. Xiao Zhen and his nephews didn't waste time with the officials and instead escorted the old man's carriage back to the Duke’s residence.

The Xiao Family’s matriarch had already been informed of the old man's condition and had invited Doctor Zhou Jingchun over. The women of the two families waited together at the entrance in anticipation.

The carriage stopped, and Xiao Shouyi and Xiao Yan got into the carriage. They carefully lifted the old man out and handed him over to Xiao Zhen and Xiao She, who were waiting in front of the carriage. The brothers then carried the old man to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, with the women sobbing around them.

At this point, the old man was almost skin and bones, unable to speak more than a few words a day.

After examining the old man's injuries and feeling his pulse, Zhou Jingchun gave a prescription for medicine but informed them that it could only sustain the old man for another three days at most.

Xiao's aunts, Xiao Yuchan, Liu Chu, and Mianmian were all in tears. Yan Mingxiu, who wasn't as close to the old man, cried more restrainedly. Madam He, however, wailed loudly, showing more genuine emotion than when she cried for Queen Mother Guo, though her noise became too much, and Xiao Shouyi sent her away.

Lin Ningfang leaned on Tong Sui's shoulder, softly crying.

Tong Sui's mother, Zhou Qing, and her maternal aunt, Madam Jiang, were also present. Seeing Lin Ningfang like this, Madam Jiang advised, "Others can cry, but Ningfang, you need to hold back. You're still in your postpartum month; crying too much could hurt your eyes and overall health."

Xiao Shouyi, Xiao Zhen, Xiao Ye, and Qiao Changan all heard this and looked toward Lin Ningfang, but Xiao Yan and Xiao She were crying too loudly and still had their heads down.

Zhou Qing instructed her daughter, "First, help Ningfang back to her room to rest, then bring the child over for the old man to see."

Tong Sui nodded and helped Lin Ningfang leave.

Xiao Ye noticed that Xiao Yan was still sobbing uncontrollably, his shoulders shaking with each breath, and gave a rare smile at the others around him.

It wasn't the time for conversation, and after Tong Sui had seen Lin Ningfang back, she immediately brought the wet nurse and the child over; the baby was too small for her to dare carry it herself.

When they arrived at the old man's side, Zhou Qing, seeing her crying sister-in-law unable to kneel properly, took the baby to the old man. "Quick, take a look. This is your great-grandson, born on the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, weighing six pounds and five ounces. He cried loudly when he was born."

Xiao Mu was still lying on his side, with a pillow behind his waist for support.

He looked at the baby in the swaddle, a twenty-day-old infant with a tender little face. The expression on Xiao Mu's face...

Xiao Mu looked toward his third grandson, who was kneeling not far away.

Xiao Yan, with his swollen eyes from crying, stared straight at the swaddled baby with his mouth open.

A great-grandson?

It couldn't be from his elder brother's wife, and his second brother's wife had been away at war. That left his own wife and the fourth brother's wife...

Xiao Yan instinctively looked for Lin Ningfang but couldn't find her. Instead, he saw Fourth Younger Brother's wife, Yan Mingxiu.

Yan Mingxiu, half laughing and half crying, said, "It's not mine."

Xiao Ye slapped him on the shoulder. "Look at your silly self!"

Xiao Mu chuckled; he still preferred the lively antics of these grandsons.

Seeing the old man smile, everyone quickly joined in, trying to lift the mood.

Xiao Shouyi said, "Father, why don't you give this child a name?"

Xiao Mu looked around and let his gaze rest on Xiao Zhen's face for a moment before rasping, "Name him Huai Zu."

He hoped that when his second grandson saw this great-grandson, he would think of him and, for his sake, take better care of his two younger cousins.

---

On the afternoon of the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month (a traditional Chinese date), the old man's spirits had lifted somewhat, and he called each family member over to speak with them.

When it was Liu Chu's turn, Xiao Mu gestured for her to kneel and asked, "I want to adopt you as my goddaughter, no longer as a granddaughter-in-law. Would you be willing?"

Liu Chu shook her head firmly. "No, I want to be your granddaughter-in-law for life."

Xiao Mu: "We have enough granddaughters-in-law. It's better to be a granddaughter."

He looked at his daughter.

Aunt Xiao was prepared, holding a cup of tea for Liu Chu, asking her to offer tea to the elder and change her form of address.

Liu Chu's tears fell into the tea as she choked and said, "Granddaughter offers tea to grandfather."

The elder took a sip, pointed at Xiao Zhen, and said, "Liu'er, you will be their elder sister."

Having been the eldest daughter-in-law, it felt more natural for her to be called an elder sister.

Xiao Zhen, Tong Sui, Xiao Ye, and Yan Mingxiu cooperatively called Liu Chu "elder sister."

Another matter the elder needed to specifically address was Lin Ningfang. He mumbled, "They are all foolish, relying on you now."

Lin Ningfang understood that the elder was entrusting the second branch of the Xiao Family to her and tearfully said, "Rest assured, your granddaughter-in-law already considers this home."

As night fell, Sun Dian, Sun Wei, Zhang Wengong, Tong Gui, Qi Yun, Jiang Tiankuo, Zhao Jin, and Luo Xiao came in batches to visit the elder.

As for Lu Gong, Fan Zhao, Wei Qi, and Song Lan, the elder had already seen them on the day he returned to the capital, as they were colleagues.

The elder smiled weakly, unable to speak.

After the elder retired for the night, some guests bid farewell and returned home, while others stayed in the Xiao Family guest rooms. Xiao Zhen and the other young men stayed outside the elder's room to guard him.

There was a small bed outside; whoever couldn't hold on any longer would lie down on it for a while.

In a daze, Tong Sui was jolted awake by Xiao Ye's desperate cries from the inner room.

"Grandfather, don't leave us!"

Aunt Xiao and Madam He, who were sleeping nearby, got up crying and rushed inside.

Tong Sui simply pulled the blanket over her head, shielding her eyes from the scene.

——

On the eighth day of the twelfth month of the third year of the Xingping era, the founding hero of the Great Yu, Duke of Wei, Xiao Mu, passed away due to severe injuries.

The Xingping Emperor was devastated and posthumously named Xiao Mu the King of Nanping, personally writing an obituary to announce to the world.

In Luoyang, over 40,000 cavalry at the Southern Camp wept together upon hearing the news.

In Liaozhou, Qiao Changshun knelt facing the direction of Luoyang, sobbing uncontrollably.

In Jizhou, Feng Ji leaned against his father's tombstone, reminiscing about the old hero.

In Jinzhou, Zhao Liangchen, after reading the obituary, sighed deeply upon thinking of his second son's letter and ordered incense to be prepared.

In Chang'an, Yuan Loushan opened the window and gazed towards Guangyuan, his eyes seemingly still reflecting the shocking intensity of the battle against Liang.

In Hanzhong, Qi Ling angrily smashed a jar of wine.

In Jingzhou, the naval commander Xie Jian sat at the prow of the ship, clutching a burning piece of yellow paper until the flames seared his hand, before letting it drift into the river.

In Hezhou, Pan Yong wiped the tablet he had set up for the elder with his sleeve, placed it properly, stepped back three steps, knelt, and kowtowed.

The army lost its commander, the nation lost its pillar, and the entire realm mourned as one.