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Early the next morning, outside the city gates, banners fluttered wildly, and war drums thundered.
The Emperor himself arrived to bid them farewell. He ascended a high platform, poured wine as an offering to the army banner, and then delivered an inspiring speech.
He then asked, "Those who slaughter our people, what shall be done to them?"
The hundred officials and hundreds of thousands of soldiers roared in unison: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The drums boomed, and the shouts shook the heavens.
"Good! Then I shall await the triumphant return of all my generals and soldiers! Come! Let us drink this bowl of farewell wine together! We shall not return until those villains are slain!"
With the farewell wine drunk, the bowls clattered to the ground, and the army set off!
"Advance!"
On the city wall, Su Li and Qu Zhirou watched Jun Mo and Ji Huaiyan, clad in armor and riding at the head of the army. Pride shone in their eyes, but worry weighed heavily in their hearts.
"Your Royal Highness Prince Jing, your wedding was just a few days away, yet now you must rush to the battlefield. What are your thoughts?" Ji Huaiyan, riding beside Jun Mo, asked with a chuckle.
Jun Mo replied frankly, "My thoughts? My thoughts are that if I don't sever the heads of those bastards, Liang Shao and his son, I won't be able to quell this burning rage."
Wei Yuanling laughed. "You've provoked Ziyan; the Southern Border should be wary."
He then looked around. "Why isn't Cousin here to see us off?"
"I told her not to. The pain of separation is too hard to bear."
Ji Huaiyan smiled faintly. "Great minds think alike."
Just then, Jun Mo seemed to sense something and turned his head to look towards the city gate.
Su Li, clad in a red dress, stood watching him from afar, as if to say she was waiting for him to return and marry her.
Ji Huaiyan followed his gaze. "They all came after all, those two disloyal ones."
Seeing Ji Huaiyan turn his head, Qu Zhirou, who had held back her tears for so long, instantly broke down, her eyes misty with tears.
Su Li heard her sobbing and turned to comfort her.
"Sister Qu, it's alright. At most, in a few months, they'll be back."
Qu Zhirou choked back a sob and nodded. "They will definitely return safely!"
Wei Xiyong and Ji Kui rode over.
"Even if you're rushing, a moment or two won't make a difference. Go say your goodbyes," Wei Xiyong said, looking at the two.
Ji Kui also nodded. "Go reassure those two girls. We'll go on ahead, and you can catch up afterward."
The main army moved slowly; the two of them on light cavalry could easily catch up without delay.
Wei Yuanling looked at the two with envy. "Poor me, no one came to see me off."
If Yaoyao hadn't twisted her ankle, at least his sister would have been there.
Wei Xiyong glanced at his son. "So you know you have no one to see you off?"
Wei Yuanling rubbed his nose, wisely shutting his mouth.
Su Li saw the two dismount and wondered, "Huh? Why aren't they leaving?"
Qu Zhirou was also puzzled. "This is...?"
Su Li suddenly realized and quickly pulled Qu Zhirou down from the city wall.
The moment they descended, they were embraced tightly.
The armor pressed painfully against them.
Jun Mo said, "Didn't we agree you wouldn't come?"
Su Li pulled herself out of his embrace. "I thought about not coming, but then, as if possessed, I woke up very early, ran into Sister Qu on the street, and we came together."
Jun Mo chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Silly girl, Li'er, it'll be quick."
Su Li gripped his large hand, looking earnestly into his eyes. "Ziyan, I don't want to let you go, but I have to."
The people of Border City needed him; Tianqi needed him.
Jun Mo pulled his beloved back into his arms, kissing the top of her head.
Su Li's eyes and cheeks reddened.
"Li'er, I'll make time to write to you. If you're bored, spend more time with Consort De in the palace." How could Jun Mo bear to leave her? But this was his responsibility as a son and as a subject.
Su Li nodded. "Don't worry about Consort De; I'll take good care of her. I'll write to you too. The battlefield is dangerous, so please be very careful. And tell Uncle and Cousin to be extremely careful as well."
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Uncle and Yuanling."
Seeing that the army had long disappeared from sight, Su Li urged him, "Hurry now, don't let Uncle and Marquis Wuyang wait too long."
Jun Mo held her, his voice low. "Just let me hold you a little longer."
Meanwhile, Ji Huaiyan pulled Qu Zhirou to the base of the city wall. Looking at her tear-reddened eyes, he said softly, "Rou'er, just stay home and embroider your wedding dress. Once it's finished, I'll be back."
Qu Zhirou nodded, fighting back tears. "Then promise me you'll protect yourself."
"I will. I'll definitely come back whole and intact," Ji Huaiyan promised repeatedly.
The two pairs of lovers reluctantly said their goodbyes. In the end, it was the two young women who, fearing they would delay the army's march, urged the men to leave quickly.
Jun Mo and Ji Huaiyan mounted their horses, turned around, and galloped away.
Only when their backs were no longer visible did Su Li and Qu Zhirou walk back together.
"Sister Qu, we have nothing to do today, why don't we go find Cousin?" With Jun Mo gone, Su Li felt an empty void in her heart and didn't want to return to her manor.
Qu Zhirou nodded. "That's a good idea. We haven't seen Yaoyao since she got married. I wonder what she's been up to."
Su Li leaned in, smiling. "Blissfully wedded, of course."
The two exchanged a knowing smile, got into their carriage, and headed towards the Ji Manor.
When the gatekeeper announced that Princess Changning and Miss Qu had arrived, Wei Yaoyao was lounging on a chair, eating fruit.
"Li'er and Yaoyao are here?" she said, about to get up.
Huamei quickly stopped her. "Miss, it takes a hundred days to recover from a serious injury. If you don't take it seriously, when will your foot ever heal?"
Qiandai added, "The two young ladies are still in Madam's courtyard. This servant will go invite them in; please, Miss, don't move."
Wei Yaoyao nodded. Rou'er had a marriage engagement with her elder brother, so it was proper for her to pay respects to her future mother-in-law first upon arriving at the Ji Manor.
When Su Li and Qu Zhirou entered, they saw Wei Yaoyao's right foot wrapped like a dumpling.
Su Li quickly stepped forward. "Cousin, what happened to you?"
Wei Yaoyao waved them to sit down, saying nonchalantly, "It's nothing, just a sprain. They're making a fuss over nothing."
Su Li carefully examined it, only feeling relieved after confirming there was no serious injury.
"If my foot wasn't like this, I definitely would have gone to the city gate today to see off my father and brother. I wonder how long it will be until we see each other again after they leave," Wei Yaoyao said, looking at her foot, her eyes downcast.
Su Li smiled. "It's alright, Uncle and Cousin won't blame you."
"By the way, Cousin, how is married life?" Su Li asked.
Wei Yaoyao pointed at Huamei and Qiandai. "Aside from these two constantly fussing over me, everything else is quite good. My father-in-law and mother-in-law are very open-minded, especially my mother-in-law. She didn't make me observe the morning and evening greetings or establish strict rules, and she sends all sorts of good things to our courtyard."
A happy smile graced Wei Yaoyao's face. She then looked at Qu Zhirou. "Rou'er, before I was married, I worried about encountering a wicked mother-in-law like in the storybooks. You have absolutely nothing to worry about now; our mother-in-law is truly wonderful."
Hearing her say "our mother-in-law," Qu Zhirou's face flushed.
Wei Yaoyao chuckled, then looked at Su Li. "Li'er, if Prince Jing is off to war and you're bored at home, come visit me often."
Su Li laughed. "I may not have that much free time."
Qu Zhirou looked at her, puzzled.
Su Li explained, "Campaigns and battles inevitably involve bloodshed and sacrifice. But right now, medicinal herbs are in short supply, so I need to acquire large quantities to send to Shuiyong City in time."
Wei Yaoyao's eyes lit up. Her cousin's awareness was truly higher than theirs.
"What else do you need? Count me in. Once my foot is better, I'll also help procure things to send to the battlefield!"
She had money in her private coffers. Besides her dowry, she also had dividends from Drunken Morning. When her cousin gave her the silver notes before the New Year, she was speechless with shock. She had only invested ten thousand taels, but the dividends were nearly five hundred thousand taels.
She didn't need the money right now, so it would be better to buy things to send to the front lines, to ease her father and brother's burden and help them return triumphantly sooner.
Qu Zhirou also said, "If you need my help, just say the word. Although I don't have as much money as you two, I also want to contribute."
Su Li nodded. "Alright, if there's a need, I will certainly ask."
With just a few words, the three women made their decision, unaware that in the days to come, they would achieve great feats that would earn the admiration of countless men.
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