webnovelfull Chapter 468 Tears Fall One by One
Chapter 468 Tears Fall One by One
"The Li family will not divorce."
Qin Jiuwei slowly spoke, "No matter how bad things get behind the scenes, even if they resort to knives today or kill someone tomorrow, the Li family is unwilling to sever this marriage alliance on the surface. They still need to use the Xie family's name."
Xie Jing held the teacup, "You really know how to calculate."
“The Li family refuses to release her, and the Xie family is unwilling to stand up for Xie Wanning. She can’t leave the Li family.”
Xie Wanning knew this, which is why she hasn't come back since she stabbed someone.
Xie Jue seemed to understand but not quite, and asked in a low voice, "So she'll stay in the nunnery from now on?"
"Perhaps." Qin Jiu smiled slightly.
Anyway, she wouldn't stand up for Xie Wanning or get involved in this matter.
Outside the city, at Jingyun Nunnery.
A mountain breeze, carrying a chill, swept into the temple, making it bitterly cold.
The temple was dark and damp, with water stains and mud splattered on the blue brick floor.
Xie Wanning knelt at the door of the woodshed, her fingers red and swollen.
She stared blankly at the large bundle of unchopped firewood, her eyes vacant.
His hair had already been shaved off, leaving only a short stubble, which made his face look even paler.
She, who was once dressed in fine silk and jade, is now dressed in coarse linen clothes, with a rope tied around her waist for binding firewood, and deep red marks have been left on her back.
Several older nuns walked past her, glanced at her, and said sarcastically, "Don't want to chop wood? Fine, go back to the Li family."
“How can she go back? Do you think the Li family will tolerate her? The Li family said that she should either go to jail or become a nun.”
"That's right, you chose the nunnery, but you're not chopping wood. What do you want? If you don't chop wood properly, you can expect to go hungry tonight!"
Xie Wanning gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with anger and resentment.
Just as I was about to speak, a chill ran through me again.
No one is backing her up anymore...
The Li family dared not return, and the Xie family had long since abandoned her...
There was no way out for her.
How... how did things get to this point?
Xie Wanning lowered her head, her fingers trembling as she gripped the axe, raised it, and fiercely chopped at the firewood in front of her.
Large tears fell silently as the temple bells rang out softly.
A month later.
Amidst billowing smoke, an urgent report reached the capital of the Great Liang Dynasty at top speed.
Li Wuyang sat leaning back on the dragon throne, casually fiddling with a soft sword in his hand.
The messenger, kneeling below, reported, "Your Majesty, the 30,000 troops of the Great Jin suffered a complete rout at Jianglingkou yesterday. Our army pursued them relentlessly and has already captured three cities!"
With a flick of his fingertips, Li Wuyang's soft sword curled up with a "whoosh," like a serpent spitting out its tongue.
He then stood up, looked down at everyone in the hall, and his voice was full of pleasure.
"I told you long ago, the Great Jin Dynasty has no one capable!"
"All these years they've only known how to hide in palaces and pavilions raising pigs and training dogs. When it comes to the battlefield, they can't even last three rounds!"
The crowd shouted in unison, their voices echoing throughout the golden hall.
"The Great Liang will prevail! The Great Liang will prevail! The Great Liang will prevail!"
The capital of the Great Jin Dynasty.
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, frost hung heavy, and the atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
The civil and military officials stood on both sides, none daring to utter a sound, their expressions solemn.
Gao Xian forcefully threw the battle report onto the imperial desk.
"Jianglingkou has been defeated again, three cities have fallen, and morale has plummeted! General Deng is seriously wounded and his life is in danger!"
"I shouldn't have hastily sent General Deng on the expedition!"
"Your Majesty." A deep voice broke the silence.
Shen Xingjian stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice, "Your humble servant is willing to lead the army and personally go to the front line to wipe away the national humiliation."
Gao Xian paused, turned around and looked at him, his eyes full of uncertainty.
Although Shen Xingjian was highly skilled in martial arts, he had no experience in commanding an army.
And his age...
Shen Xingjian stepped forward with his head held high. “Your Majesty, although I am young, I have served in the army for seven years and have experienced dozens of battles, large and small. I am familiar with the terrain of the border region and I understand the military situation!”
He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "Your Majesty, grant me military command! If I fail to defeat the enemy within ten days, I am willing to offer my head as atonement!"
The hall was silent. Gao Xian's eyes flickered as he looked at the young general kneeling before him.
After a long silence, he finally spoke: "Shen Xingjian, listen to my command—"
"I hereby appoint you as the General Who Conquers the West, commanding the three armies. Set off immediately to reinforce the border!"
Shen House.
"You're going to war?" Jiang Yunzhu's face turned pale immediately upon hearing this.
"How long will it take?"
Her voice trembled, and her eyes were already red.
Shen Xingjian took a few steps closer and gently pulled her into his arms. "It's not certain yet."
He looked down at her, intending to say it would only be a couple of weeks, but he changed his mind before he could finish the sentence; he didn't want to lie to her.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yunzhu's tears welled up.
She didn't speak, but like a frightened little animal, tears fell one by one.
Shen Xingjian's heart clenched, and he reached out to wipe away her tears, "Don't cry, don't cry."
However, she couldn't hold back any longer and started sobbing, her words becoming incoherent, "We haven't even had a few days of peace... and you're leaving..."
"I can't bear to part with you..."
Shen Xingjian hugged her tighter, lowered his head and kissed away her tears one by one, gently comforting her.
“I know you’re reluctant to part with me, and I’m reluctant to part with you too. But as a general, I can’t just let personal feelings get in the way. But I promise you, Yunzhu, I will definitely come back.”
"No matter the wind and snow or the mountains of knives, I will come back to see you."
As he spoke, he lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.
Jiang Yunzhu's breath caught in her throat from his kiss, and she sobbed softly, "You said you'd remember... you'd come back, I'll wait for you."
Shen Xingjian held her tightly in his arms, gently patting her back as if to soothe a frightened fawn.
After a long silence, he whispered, "I will come back. I will come back to buy you jewelry and new clothes, and accompany you to the temple to fulfill your vows and to the countryside for a spring outing... We have a long life ahead of us."
Jiang Yunzhu gripped his clothes tightly, her tears already soaking his chest.
Shen Xingjian held her tightly in his arms and silently stayed with her until she finished crying.
He knew that once he left, she would have to bear it all alone again, so every extra moment he held her was precious.
Jiang Yunzhu cried for a while, then raised her head and looked at Shen Xingjian.
"I want to stay with you..." her voice was soft, "I don't want to stay in the mansion alone and wait."
"Wherever you go, I will go."
She clutched his collar, looking at him cautiously yet stubbornly.
Shen Xingjian's heart clenched, and the tenderness in his eyes was almost overwhelming.
He reached out and gently touched her cheek, as if soothing a child: "No."
Jiang Yunzhu's eyelashes trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
"why?"
Shen Xingjian lowered his eyes and sighed softly.
"The border is not a place for you. The wind and sand are strong there, the roads are bumpy, the marches are irregular day and night, you live in military tents, eat dry rations and wild vegetables, and sometimes you don't even have enough water."
"You're so frail, how could I bear to let you suffer like that with me?"
Shen Xingjian coaxed her softly, "Wait for me in the manor, take good care of yourself, and live well."
"As long as you're here, I have a reason to come back."