sbdcsierra Chapter 172: Heart of the Stove
Chapter 172: Heart of the Stove
Chu Yunchuan also reacted immediately: "With Cheng Mao here, there's no need to worry. Judging from their speed, they should have just entered Ningzhou... Who sent the message to ask for help from Weizhou to reinforce the city gates? Lord Zheng?"
"It's Wei Fuguang."
"Kuai Fuguang is now in Shiling, which is the first county town from Weizhou to Ningzhou. There is no cold weather, so if we need to reinforce the city gate, maybe that's the place."
Bai Zhi said casually: "Fortunately, you are always concerned about Wei Fuguang, otherwise when the storm is coming, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack for me to find these two children... I should have asked them where they were going."
Chu Yunchuan frowned slightly and said impatiently, "I meant that she will be the future successor of the Thirteen States, so I have to send someone to keep an eye on her movements and ensure her safety. I have no other intentions."
"What else does it mean?"
Seeing Bai Zhi's confused expression, Chu Yunchuan scratched his cheek: "Didn't you... hear any rumors when you entered Ningzhou?"
"I ran all the way to the provincial capital without stopping, so I didn't have time to hear any rumors." Bai Zhi opened her eyes wide, curious, "What rumors are there in Ningzhou? Are they about Wei Fuguang?"
Chu Yunchuan: “…”
It's not just about Wei Fuguang, it's also about him.
He stayed in Ningzhou for two months and deployed many spies to catch Ge Zhen. Naturally, he also knew the rumors made up by the people about the affair between Prince Jing and Shengshilang.
Even though he knew that Bai Zhi would not take the rumor seriously and the suspicious Huozhu had no signs of catching fire at all, he still couldn't help but want to press Huozhu to death in the water.
Chu Yunchuan cleared his throat, sat up straight, and said seriously: "The people of Ningzhou have spread rumors that I have an affair with Wei Fuguang. I was short of manpower some time ago, so I really didn't have time to defend myself. When I have some free time, I will definitely explain it clearly to the people."
"Oh, so that's what happened. It's just some idle chat after dinner. Let them talk. You can't even take care of the Nanman's affairs, so why are you bothering with this?"
Bai Zhi didn't seem to care too much, but it made Chu Yunchuan feel a little depressed - how could this person not even frown when she heard her husband spreading rumors with others?
The instigator did not notice the slight disappointment on Chu Yunchuan's face. Her heart was filled with Qiaoqiao and Chuqi, and she muttered to herself: "It's not far from here to Shiling. A fast horse will get there in one day. I will come back after I persuade them to go home... If these two stubborn guys don't want to leave, I don't know if Cheng Mao has the ability to tie them all the way back."
Chu Yunchuan immediately said: "No, you go back too."
"Why should I go back?"
"If a war really breaks out, I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of you."
"Why do you care about me? What could possibly happen to me in your mansion?"
"I……"
Let alone a mere provincial government, even if it was Prince Jing’s palace back then, what could it be?
Chu Yunchuan choked on this sentence. The first thing he did after rebuilding the Thirteen States was to strengthen the city defense. King Jing was good at governing the country but not good at using troops. All he could do was to use the essence of the Lou family's mechanical skills to build three city defense wonders on the border between the two countries. The people called them the Three Wonders of the South.
He was not worried about the capabilities of the Three Great Scenes of the South, nor was he worried about the capabilities of the White Tiger Army under General Qiao. The Thirteen States today were no longer what they were in the past, and the chance of being defeated again at the hands of the barbarians was very slim.
But he couldn't help but recall the catastrophe.
What if?
"In short, it's impossible. Go home and wait for me. We can't reach Weizhou in this battle anyway..."
Bai Zhi suddenly covered Chu Yunchuan's mouth and whispered, "Shh...listen."
Chu Yunchuan was stunned, and subconsciously pricked up his ears to listen carefully - the sound of a clapper was heard from far away outside the mansion, and it was already the third watch. He hesitated and said, "...Are you talking about the night watchman's call?"
"The third watch is ringing, June 15th has arrived."
June 15th is Chu Yunchuan’s birthday.
Bai Zhi stood up and took out a very inconspicuous small purse from her bag. She handed it to Chu Yunchuan while he was stunned: "Happy birthday, Qiansui, this is your birthday gift."
The purse contained a wooden box, a branch of dried jasmine, and a piece of letter paper. Chu Yunchuan unfolded the letter paper, which had a vivid picture of a pot of jasmine flowers. He could tell at a glance that it was the pot of jasmine at home. This pot of jasmine flowers was in full bloom, and it was his favorite.
"I've been raising it for a few days, and somehow I killed one of the branches." Bai Zhi touched her nose, feeling a little embarrassed. "I thought since they were all dead, I might as well cut them off and bring them to you. Seeing dead branches is like seeing flowers."
Chu Yunchuan couldn't help laughing. He opened the wooden box again and found a small bag of black powder inside.
"Last month, Zhou Shensi and I went into the mountains to collect herbs. This ancestor wanted to mix herbs into milk tea to make some money from the old man. Guess what, we found a very good-looking heart-warming radish deep in the mountains, a treasure from head to toe!" At this point, Bai Zhi pinched her waist and said proudly, "I picked it first, and Zhou Shensi didn't snatch it from me, so it belongs to me. I took it home and steamed and dried it several times to make powder. I made a cup of it first, and it was so delicious that it left a lingering fragrance on my lips and teeth. No wonder the older generation said that the sky is the jade juice, and the heart-warming radish on the earth... Oh, by the way, Changfeng also prepared a birthday gift for you, but he came to my house that day and found it empty-handed."
At this moment before the battle, holding in his hands the fireworks that his sweetheart had brought from home thousands of miles away, Chu Yunchuan's mood unexpectedly calmed down, as if the giant hand that was squeezing his chest had suddenly disappeared, and only bursts of smoke were left around him.
I couldn't even remember what I was afraid of just now.
Chu Yunchuan suddenly laughed out loud, and Bai Zhi, who was preparing to make him a cup of radish, was startled. She turned around and wanted to ask him what was so funny. Could it be that he was laughing at her poor skills in steaming and drying radish? Upon closer inspection, the worry between King Jing's eyebrows was swept away, and he no longer looked haggard and miserable.
After a moment, Bai Zhi also started laughing.
No matter how long the night is, it will always dawn.
When the sky was getting light, a horseman jumped out from the side door of Prince Jing's mansion and ran towards the official road in a crooked manner.
In the house, Bai Zhi did not agree to let Chu Yunchuan go back to Weizhou honestly, but she could not persuade Chu Yunchuan, so she had to take a step back and agree to leave the city, but not too far. Maybe she would stay in the house she bought in Linzhou City for a few days, or maybe she would go to Enzhou to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Chu Yunchuan still felt unsafe and kept muttering that he must send someone to follow him. However, when he tried to persuade him again, Bai Zhi bared her teeth and scared him, "There is a shortage of manpower in the war. How can my kung fu be in danger? If you keep on dragging my feet, I won't leave."
King Jing Qiansui then agreed reluctantly.
After seeing Bai Zhi off at the side door, Chu Yunchuan's expression became dull. He shouted, "Someone come."
Immediately, two secret guards rushed out and stood behind Chu Yunchuan: "Your Highness."
"Send my secret letter to Lord Fang of Weizhou." Chu Yunchuan took out a thick letter from his clothes. He had written it in the White Tiger Army during the day. "This matter is of great importance. You must hand it over to Lord Fang in person. You must escort the things that Lord Fang has given you all the way. There must not be any mistakes."
"Yes."
"Moreover……"