si-mexico Chapter 63 He is hopeless at heart.
Chapter 63 He is hopeless at heart.
Jiang Mian quickly stepped forward and asked, "Peddler, where did you get this horse?"
The peddler, assuming she wanted to buy, excitedly introduced the horse to her: "Young lady, you have a good eye! This horse used to be a warhorse, it's been on the battlefield, it runs like the wind..."
“I’m asking you where you came from? Who gave you this?” Jiang Mian interrupted him.
Seeing her nervous expression, the seller did not hide anything and replied, "It was sold to me by a young master who said he was in dire financial straits and had to sell it because he loved it."
"What is the young master's name?"
"The receipt he signed seemed to have the surname Xiao... I can't quite remember."
Jiang Mian stood there, stunned, her mouth agape.
The surrounding noise seemed to quiet down, and that phrase kept echoing in my mind—
Surname Xiao...
It took her a while to come to her senses, and she hurriedly asked, "Can I see the receipt?"
The peddler glanced at her, seemingly thinking she was there to cause trouble: "Young lady, if you're not going to buy, don't delay my business..."
"I'll buy it! Show me the receipt, and I'll buy the horse."
The peddler looked at her with suspicion: "My horse isn't cheap, are you really going to buy it?"
Jiang Wan bent down, took out a purse, and tossed it to him: "Is this enough?"
The peddler's eyes lit up, and he quickly tucked the receipt into his pocket, saying, "That's enough, that's enough!" He then handed the receipt to her, saying, "Since you've bought the horse, the receipt is yours. Would you like me to write you a written agreement?"
Jiang Mian shook her head slightly, clutching the receipt in her hand, somewhat hesitant to open it.
Seeing that she didn't speak, the peddler pocketed the silver and walked away without paying her any more attention.
"Miss Jiang?" Ning Zhi called out softly.
"Huh?" Jiang Mian came back to her senses.
"This horse must be the one that was stolen back then, and the person who wrote this note must be the villain or an accomplice. Why don't you open it and take a look, Miss Jiang?"
Jiang Mian's heart pounded. She swallowed hard and hesitated for a long time before slowly opening the receipt.
When the name above caught her eye, her breath caught in her throat for a moment.
Xiao Hengzhi...
This handwriting...it really is his...
She clenched her fists. No wonder he suddenly appeared at Moon Bamboo Ridge that day—gathering herbs? What a coincidence...
But she wondered why Xiao Hengzhi had stolen the horse.
Could it be that they wanted to prevent her from attending the Empress's banquet?
Is there something at the Queen's banquet that she can't attend? Why is he making such a fuss to stop her?
Her heart pounded with anxiety, her emotions surging. She turned and hurriedly left the bustling street.
She was breathing heavily, feeling her affection for Xiao Hengzhi gradually fading, replaced by terrifying memories from her past life that kept resurfacing in her mind.
She thought she could put Xiao Hengzhi on the right path, but it seems he is hopeless at heart.
Even Cong Shuang was harmed because of him.
That madman never hesitates to sacrifice other people's lives in order to achieve his goals.
Seeing that she was pale and walking hurriedly, Ning Zhi quickly went up and grabbed her sleeve, saying with concern, "There may be some misunderstanding. Miss Jiang, you should ask about it first."
Suppressing her emotions, Jiang Mian forced herself to remain calm and replied, "I am feeling slightly unwell today and would like to return to my residence first. Your Highness, please excuse me."
"I'll see you off." Ning Zhi walked beside her.
He looked at Jiang Mian's profile, a strange smile playing on his lips, while the peddler accepted the gold ingots given to him by Lu Fang with satisfaction.
......
Xiao Hengzhi, who was far away in the military camp, had just received his military supplies.
Before setting out on a campaign, the army will first prepare its military equipment.
Jiang Xun's army was no exception.
The supply trains, carrying grain and military supplies on mules and horses, arrived at the front line ahead of schedule.
Jiang Xun would frequently patrol the area, personally inspecting supplies to ensure that the army had sufficient food and water.
The soldiers looked serious, understanding the difficulty and importance of this expedition.
Jiang Xun shouted encouragingly, "We will soon be setting out for battle. This expedition concerns the fate of our nation. I will stand with you, my soldiers, through thick and thin! We must strive for victory!"
The soldiers looked at each other, then responded one after another—
"I am willing to fight alongside the general!"
"I am willing to fight alongside the general!"
Soon, it was late at night.
The moonlight shone on the earth, making it appear exceptionally tranquil. Xiao Hengzhi slept in a room with two other soldiers.
He was dressed as an archer, and he remembered Jiang Xun telling him, "If you insist on going, be an archer. You don't need to go into battle unless absolutely necessary."
He knew that Jiang Xun was also afraid that if he died, Jiang Man would be a widow.
Ultimately, he still cared about his daughter, but his patriarchal mindset made him never believe her.
Only by letting him go to the battlefield and shed blood himself will he know that Jiang Mian was right.
Several soldiers nearby chatted idly while tidying up their bedding.
"Hey, did your wife prepare anything for you on this trip?"
"I embroidered a good luck charm." The person speaking couldn't hide their joy. "And you?"
"Just like before, I made clothes." He finished speaking and proudly lifted his collar to show off to the people next to him.
Xiao Hengzhi remained silent to the side. The two men looked over and asked, "Young man, are you new here? Has your wife prepared anything for you?"
Xiao Hengzhi lay down on the bed without saying a word.
The two men exchanged a glance and chuckled awkwardly, "So you're not married yet. Hey, where are you from? How old are you? My aunt has a young daughter who's also of marriageable age..."
“I have a wife,” Xiao Hengzhi interrupted him.
The two looked at each other in silence for a moment, then asked curiously, "So what did your wife prepare for you?"
Xiao Hengzhi turned over.
When he arrived at the military camp, Jiang Mian was not at home, so he didn't have time to say goodbye. But he did make some preparations.
He smiled faintly: "My wife said she prepared a birthday gift for me."
The two looked at each other, puzzled: "When was your birthday?"
"Yuanri."
After he finished speaking, the two men patted him on the shoulder and smiled knowingly: "Young brother, a war can last anywhere from three months to a year, let alone this is Fengyu Pass. It's already October, and I'm afraid you won't be able to make it home by New Year's Day."
"That's right, you'll probably be spending your birthday in the military camp."
Xiao Hengzhi smiled but didn't say anything.
Soon, three days later.
Jiang Mian waited anxiously at the main entrance of the front hall every day, waiting for a letter from Duan Zhi'an.
But several days passed, and there was neither an order from the court to replace the general nor anyone to deliver the message.
Didn't he say that his father would be home soon? Why is there still no news?
Jiang Mian was filled with anxiety, fearing something might go wrong.
"Second Miss, please have a seat. Who are you waiting for here every day?"
Granny Xu stepped forward with concern and helped her sit down, but Jiang Mian was restless and her eyes were fixed on the doorway.
Since Jiang Li got married and Jiang Xun and Xiao Hengzhi went to the military camp, the Jiang residence has been very quiet.
Especially now that winter is approaching, it seems even more bleak.
A lone leaf falling from a tree doesn't look like a good omen at all.
"No, no, I just can't feel at ease..."
Jiang Mian muttered to herself as she got up, intending to go to the ancestral hall to pay her respects before her mother's memorial tablet.
I had only taken two steps when I heard footsteps at the door.
"Second Miss," a maidservant announced.
"What is it?" Jiang Mian turned her head slightly, her heart tightening.
“A distinguished person has arrived outside. He said he was sent by Young Master Duan’s attendant to invite the Second Miss out for a talk.”
Overjoyed, she practically took off running outside.
He ran outside and saw that it was indeed Duan Zhi'an's attendant.
"What instructions did the Grand Tutor give?" she asked anxiously.
"The Grand Tutor asked me to convey a message that the Emperor has ordered the army to replace its commander."
Jiang Wan breathed a sigh of relief, then heard—
“We have already sent someone to investigate the Third Prince according to what Miss Jiang wrote in her letter. If Miss Jiang lied before, we will certainly not let her off the hook.”
He left after he finished speaking, and Jiang Mian clenched her fists tightly.
After Duan Zhi'an brought down the Third Prince, Ning Zhi will have no rivals left, and his ascension to the throne will only await an auspicious day.
In that case, the Empress would probably be even more eager to marry Chi Yu off.
To secure the position of Crown Princess is to secure the position of Empress.