Chapter 105

Chapter 105

"Miss Jiang..." The maidservant walked over from the other side of the corridor, falling silent as she took in the scene before her.

Chen Yingchou cast a cold glance at the maidservant, who shrank back in fear.

Jiang Mo asked, "What is it?"

"General Jinzhi invites you and... to dine." The two words felt like they were burning her mouth, and the maidservant dared not utter them.

Jiang Mo understood immediately. News of the Great Qi emperor's presence in Li State would cause an uproar if the people here learned of it. Clearly, An Jinzhi had instructed the servants to pretend not to recognize him.

"Alright, we'll be there shortly."

The maidservant hurried away. Jiang Mo took Chen Yingchou's hand and led him toward the dining hall, saying as they walked, "I thought it would be a while longer before lunch. I didn't expect it to be so soon."

She turned to look at Chen Yingchou. "How long has it been since you last had a proper meal?" He had arrived early this morning, having traveled through the night, and likely hadn't eaten well for dinner yesterday, nor had he had breakfast today.

Chen Yingchou pulled her to him, pretending to be weak as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind, his forearm resting across her chest. "I haven't had a proper meal since you left—three months now, if you count it. A Mo, you left me for three months, and I have missed you for three months. For the rest of my life, you must make it up to me."

Jiang Mo turned around and cupped Chen Yingchou's face in her hands. "That depends on how you behave from now on, Your Majesty. For instance, right now I'm hungry. Shouldn't you accompany me to have a meal?"

For these three months, Chen Yingchou had never truly felt hunger. He ate a few bites when mealtime came, whatever was placed before him, indifferent to all food—except for jasmine flower cakes and lily porridge, which he could eat a bit more of.

"Alright, whatever you say."

Arriving at the dining hall, Jiang Mo looked at the large table full of dishes and exclaimed that it was such a waste.

"Seeing you off—a little extravagance is nothing much." An Jinzhi gestured at the table. "I had all these bought from the restaurant ahead. Come, taste the flavors of Li State."

Jiang Mo said, "General Jinzhi, there isn't much silver left in the mansion. If you keep being this wasteful, you won't have enough to eat and wear for long."

An Jinzhi seemed drained of spirit, a far cry from the woman she had been at the An residence. That spirited, radiant, and lively female general now appeared much more withdrawn and subdued.

She looked at Jiang Mo with a sorrowful expression. "I know Mother hasn't much time left. After she's gone, I'll dismiss all the servants and sell this estate. My younger brother and I will make do with a small courtyard. Don't worry—we won't starve ourselves. As long as we're willing to swallow our pride, we can still earn some silver. I've enjoyed wealth and splendor in the first half of my life; it won't hurt to endure a little hardship in the second. Having seen so much luxury and extravagance, it's time to see simplicity. Isn't that another kind of fulfillment in this life?"

Jiang Mo hadn't expected An Jinzhi to have thought it through so thoroughly. After experiencing the ruin of one's family, people's temperaments always change somewhat.

A female general of Great Qi, fallen to such a low point—Jiang Mo found it a great pity. Though a woman, An Jinzhi possessed the talent of a commander, just like An Zeyou. They could have served the court, but because of being on opposite sides, they could never return to their homeland.

She glanced at Chen Yingchou. In the emperor's heart, no matter how capable the An siblings were, they could never outweigh the stability of the realm. Rebel remnants would never be allowed into Great Qi. Wise ministers and good generals could be found again, but political stability and order in the court were hard to rebuild.

Chen Yingchou picked up a piece of fish for Jiang Mo. "A Mo, let's eat."

For the first time in three months, Chen Yingchou savored his meal.

After finishing, Chen Yingchou took Jiang Mo's hand and stood up, saying to An Jinzhi, "Tomorrow, when I return to the Northern Frontier, I will release An Zeyou."

An Jinzhi nodded, stood up, and saw them to the door. Looking at the waiting escort of guards, then at Chen Yingchou, she pulled Jiang Mo aside. "My younger brother is deeply in love with you—I fear he will never forget you for the rest of his life. Before he leaves Great Qi, please persuade him to get over you." She glanced toward Madam An's room. "From now on, it will be just my brother and me, relying on each other. I hope he can let go of everything in Great Qi and live well with me in Li State."

"Of course." Jiang Mo also looked toward Madam An's room. "Take care, General Jinzhi."

Boarding the carriage, as the vehicle began to move slowly, Jiang Mo lifted the curtain and waved at An Jinzhi outside. She thought to herself that they might never see each other again in this life.

Chen Yingchou took off his fur cloak and spread it on the wooden seat of the carriage. "Sit on this. The carriage is a bit crude—not even a cushion—but it's the best He Ji could find in this small town. We'll make do for the night."

Jiang Mo draped the cloak back over Chen Yingchou. "It's not uncomfortable for me. Your Majesty doesn't need to do this. It's the dead of winter—cold at night. You'll catch a cold without your cloak." She leaned against his shoulder and whispered, "If you get sick, I'll be worried."

Chen Yingchou looked down at her. Jiang Mo lowered her head even further.

"What A Mo just said—I, your husband, didn't hear clearly. Could you say it again?"

Jiang Mo blushed. She was never good at sweet talk, but she couldn't help wanting to express herself. Burying her head against his chest, she hugged his waist. "You didn't hear clearly, Your Majesty. Why should I have to say it again?"

Chen Yingchou held her tightly in his arms. "It seems in the future, when my A Mo speaks, I'll have to use my inner strength to listen carefully."

Jiang Mo bit her lip, fiddling with Chen Yingchou's belt. Squeezing her eyes shut and clenching her teeth, she said, "I said I love you and don't want you to get sick."

Chen Yingchou's body stiffened, his heart racing. Suddenly, he lifted her up and set her on his lap. Startled, Jiang Mo instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Chen Yingchou steadied her back to help her sit steadily.

"Like this, you won't have to sit on a hard seat, and I won't be cold."

He looked up at her. Her flushed cheeks had a unique allure, and her clear eyes shimmered like rippling water.

"Your Majesty intends to stay like this all night? Won't you get tired?"

"You're so light—how could I get tired?" He spread his cloak and wrapped it around her. "You must have suffered a lot these three months. You've grown thinner than when you were in the Plum Garden of Kunning Palace."

"At that time I was pregnant—it's not comparable."

Hearing this, Chen Yingchou felt even worse. "That day when An Shengwu attacked the city, the one strung up was you, wasn't it? And I even doubted it." He took Jiang Mo's hand and rubbed her wrist. "It must have hurt a lot."

Jiang Mo shook her head. She cupped Chen Yingchou's face and said earnestly, "It's all in the past. Let's not dwell on those sad things anymore. From now on, we'll be together forever, with nothing but peace and joy."

Chen Yingchou's eyes glistened, tears welling up. "A Mo, how fortunate I am to have met you in this life, to have you, to have earned your affection."

Jiang Mo blushed and curled up like a kitten, nestling into Chen Yingchou's arms.

A contentment he had never felt before filled Chen Yingchou's heart. He gently patted Jiang Mo's back. "Sleep for a while."

They had brought dry food in the carriage. As night fell, Chen Yingchou thought of waking Jiang Mo to eat something, but she slept so soundly in his arms that he couldn't bear to disturb her. He didn't dare move, so he ate nothing himself. Embracing her brought him such peace and warmth that he, too, drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

For three months, Jiang Mo had not had a single restful sleep. Yet here, in this crude carriage, in Chen Yingchou's arms, she slept soundly for several hours. Waking up refreshed, she found half her body numb from maintaining the same position. Seeing that Chen Yingchou was still asleep, she carefully tried to move without waking him.

Chen Yingchou, always a light sleeper, instinctively reached for her as she moved. Finding no one in his arms, he jerked awake, breaking into a cold sweat.

The moment he saw Jiang Mo, he let out a huge breath, but his emotions were still unsettled, his heart pounding wildly. He grabbed her hand, lowered his head, his chest heaving. The fear of losing her again nearly overwhelmed him.

Not understanding, Jiang Mo asked with concern, "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?"

Chen Yingchou looked at her with aggrieved eyes and pulled her into his arms. "I thought you had disappeared again. You scared me to death."

Jiang Mo pushed him away and held up her water pouch. "I was just thirsty."

Chen Yingchou knew his reaction was excessive, but after losing her again and again, he couldn't bear even the slightest disturbance. He didn't want Jiang Mo to worry, so he took the water pouch from her hand and drank a few mouthfuls, waiting for his racing heart to gradually calm down.

In truth, without Jiang Mo, he couldn't go on living. This time he had personally led the campaign, with no intention of returning. This was just another confirmation.

They ate some simple dry food. As the sky gradually brightened, Jiang Mo lifted the carriage curtain. The rising sun gently bathed the entire forest in its soft light. Sunbeams filtered through the bare branches, falling on the woodland path they traveled, and the carriage was cloaked in dappled gold.

"A Mo, do you remember the sky you described to me that day?" Chen Yingchou wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Back then, you had just arrived at the Yu Prince's residence. To help me feel better, you lay in the courtyard with me and created a gentle, peaceful haven. That brief hour or so was the most peaceful moment I had experienced since returning from Zhuoyang. At that time, I was truly grateful to you."

Jiang Mo deliberately teased him, "Really? That day you clearly refused to eat with me. I didn't feel any gratitude from you; instead, I thought you couldn't stand me."

Chen Yingchou grew anxious, quickly raising his hand as if to swear an oath. "I didn't mean what I said. From now on, I will never let you feel that way again, or may I be struck by lightning! A Mo, please don't be angry with me."

Jiang Mo chuckled, "Am I that petty? Besides, at that time you had no feelings for me at all."

"No, A Mo." Chen Yingchou turned his head to look at her. "Perhaps it was from that moment—or even earlier—that I knew I couldn't live without you."

Thinking back to everything that had happened, he couldn't even pinpoint exactly when he had fallen for Jiang Mo.

His mind returned to their wedding day, and he suddenly felt he had been rather ungrateful. That was their wedding night, and yet he had left her to stay alone in the room.

If he could do it all over again, he would never act that way.

Jiang Mo's gaze lingered on Chen Yingchou's eyes. "Before I took the bride's place, you were already a battlefield hero in my heart." She raised her hand to gently touch his eyes, and Chen Yingchou obediently closed them.

"Even if you can't see now, it can't erase your past achievements. I must have admired you from very early on."

Chen Yingchou opened his eyes. "In that case, I should thank Wei Chun. If he hadn't made you take the bride's place, we might never have met in this lifetime."

Jiang Mo wrapped her arms around Chen Yingchou's neck. "Good things are worth waiting for. This is the best thing heaven had in store for us."