Chapter 121: Reunion (2)

Chapter 121: Reunion (2)

As Lin Yingxue gently tapped the broken arrow on Fu Jiaze's chest, Jian He's mental string suddenly loosened.

He recalled the day when the Di people held up the small child and laughed maniacally, "Do you know whose child I hold in my arms? It's the royal prodigy. I asked the wet nurse, and he doesn't even have a formal name, only the nickname Yangyang."

"General Jian, this Yangyang is your nephew, isn't he? I heard from the maid that you doted on him so much that you knelt on the ground to let him ride on your back and even carved little soldier figurines for him. You planned to teach him martial arts, right? Hand over our captive, or this Yangyang will lose his life!"

Yangyang wasn't a crying type. When Jian Yunyao played with him, she had also lifted him up like this, so at that moment, the child giggled.

The Di people also captured Yangyang's wet nurse and maid. The nurse's head was cut off and hung on the maid's body. The maid was terrified by the nurse's head that glared even in death, and she reeked of fear. She did everything the Di people told her to.

At that moment, the maid desperately looked up, wanting people to see her clearly, and said, "As long as we exchange the Di captive back, I can bring the little royal prince back! Please, General, the little prince is your nephew, save his life!"

There was no mistake about it; this was Jian Yunyao's child.

Jian He thought to save the child's life first, but suddenly, a hand took out a sharp arrow from his quiver.

It was his sister who had come over, her face pale as she drew the longbow.

Jian Yunyao said nothing.

She merely held the arrow and shot it towards the infant in the cradle, giving a simple and decisive command, "Kill!"

The Di person casually threw the child into the moat.

The injured child spun and floated on the moat's water. It was a time of rising water, and the current was strong. In the blink of an eye, the child was carried away by the water.

The Di person had intended to use the child to make Jian He open the city gate, but since the child's mother was so ruthless, the child was simply thrown away.

Jian He thought about how his sister had pierced the child's chest with an arrow and how there could be no chance of survival when Yangyang was thrown into the water. He couldn't help but pick up the broken arrow.

From this broken arrow, the timing matched.

At that time, they had just come out of the Laiyin Iron Mine, and that batch of iron was particularly pure. His storeroom contained arrowheads made from Laiyin ore, which showed no rust even after many years.

Jian He grabbed Fu Jiaze's clothes.

There should have been very few children shot by the Di people in Feng City, and the person before him, was he the smiling Yangyang?

As Jian He grabbed Fu Jiaze's clothes, Fu Jiaze's muscles tensed. He didn't make a move because Jian He was a general.

Jian He used force and tore open Fu Jiaze's clothes along with his undergarment.

The sound of silk tearing rang out, revealing half of Fu Jiaze's body.

The area hit by the arrow was on the left, the same as his nephew's.

Jian He remembered trying to find the child who had fallen into the river, wondering if there was still a chance of survival.

"No need to waste military resources; the priority now is to defend the city." His sister Jian Yunyao's voice was like that of a female ghost, her face devoid of any color.

How could she not love the child? She didn't have a beloved husband, and all her affection was given to this child.

But was one person more important, or was the entire city's populace more important? She ultimately chose the people of the city.

"My arrow pierced his heart. There's no chance of survival." Jian Yunyao's finger lightly touched her brother's left chest.

The child had fallen into the hands of the Di people, and since Jian Yunyao had chosen to sever the child's life, she was ruthless to the end, aiming at the child's left chest.

Thinking of his sister's words, Jian He looked at the wound on Fu Jiaze's left chest, his lips trembling.

His mind was dizzy.

Lin Yingxue and Fu Jiaze's eyes met instantly, and they had another understanding of General Jian He's actions.

Could it be a mistake? Was Fu Jiaze not a Han child but of Di blood? Otherwise, why such a solemn expression? Perhaps it was best not to clarify Fu Jiaze's lineage and let things be.

The anxiety made Lin Yingxue's stomach ache slightly, and it heaved.

Fu Jiaze frowned as Jian He's hand was firmly pressing on his shoulder, and the other hand was touching his chest wound, preventing him from standing up.

"General, could you please let me go? My wife is unwell."

Jian He wanted to examine Fu Jiaze's old wound more closely but remembered that Lin Yingxue was in her third trimester of pregnancy. Seeing her face as pale as snow, he was startled and let go of Fu Jiaze.

If Fu Jiaze was his nephew, then Lin Yingxue would be his nephew's wife, and their child would be of royal blood.

Fu Jiaze stood up and walked to Lin Yingxue's side, taking a pouch from her waist.

Jian He urgently asked, "Is she going into labor? I'll send for Doctor Cao."

Lin Yingxue felt relieved, thinking on behalf of Fu Jiaze that if her husband truly had Di blood and the other party cared so much for him, they should also pity her husband.

She thought that later, she could plead with General Jian. "I just need to rest for a bit; I was startled, but it's not time yet."

Lin Yingxue opened her mouth and turned her head to eat something Fu Jiaze took out of the pouch.

Inside the pouch was oil-paper-wrapped pickled apricots. When her stomach was uncomfortable, she liked to eat an apricot. Perhaps the child in her womb liked it, as the movements in her belly would quiet down after she ate one.

"I'll send for Doctor Cao." Jian He's expression was still tense. He noticed that Lin Yingxue's belly seemed a bit smaller. Could it be that she was going into labor? "Your belly suddenly looks smaller."

Fu Jiaze also touched it and, recalling the instructions of the doctor they had invited earlier, said, "It's alright. It should be the baby dropping. But we can also have Doctor Cao wait at the residence. If it's the baby dropping, it could be a day or two, or as long as seven or eight days before labor starts."

"Or I startled her..." Jian He meant to say Madam Lin, but if Fu Jiaze was his nephew, such a form of address wouldn't be necessary.

Jian He gave a slight bow and continued to Lin Yingxue, "I'll send for Doctor Cao right away."

Lin Yingxue grabbed Jian He's clothes and asked, "General, could you wait a moment? Is there something wrong with my husband's background?"

Jian He hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to begin.

"Is Fu Jiaze the child of Elder Sister?" he wondered. "Is he Yangyang? This needs to be verified; it's a matter of great importance."

Lin Yingxue, having misunderstood, frowned and said, "If my husband has foreign blood, but he doesn't remember his past since he was a child and was raised by his mother, could I ask the General to help conceal his heritage? From beginning to end, he has believed himself to be Han. He will have no connection with the Di people in the future."

Jian He's expression was one of disbelief. A descendant of a foreign race? How could this be?

Since Jian He remained silent, only slightly widening his eyes, Fu Jiaze spoke up.

"If what Yingxue says is true, I will resign from my official post and become a traveling merchant. I ask for the General's leniency."

As Fu Jiaze lifted the hem of his robe and bowed down, Jian He first jumped up as if scalded, and then hurriedly helped Fu Jiaze to his feet.

If Fu Jiaze were truly the son of the Emperor, how could he kneel before Jian He?

Breaking out in a light sweat, Jian He opened his mouth and, seeing the anxious expressions of the couple, said softly, "No. You are not of Di blood; do not overthink this."

If Fu Jiaze were simply the son of Elder Sister, Jian He could speak plainly. But the current position of Jian Yunyao...

What if someone were pretending to be Yangyang? The incident, where the Empress shot her own child, was so shocking that it was strictly forbidden to be spread outside. However, with so many eyes having witnessed it, it was possible that someone had found out.

But this couple had already speculated about being of foreign blood; a simple statement would not ease their minds.

Jian He then said, "You might be the son of someone I deeply respect. I had always thought her child had passed away, but now it seems you might be that child. I am filled with joy and confusion, some worry about making a mistake, and I wish to verify this again."