TFSRITA Chapter 182

When Yan Qing spoke, it was merely a guess. She couldn’t tell them she knew the future fate of the Duke of Pingwu’s household. She hoped her hypothesis would catch their attention so that when the time truly came, they could find an excuse not to go.

Yan Qing didn’t know the exact timing of the war, because this novel was a family drama, and the female protagonist wasn’t concerned with matters of the battlefield.

Who would have thought the war in the Northwest would happen so quickly?

The Duke of Pingwu’s expression darkened slightly, but contrary to what Yan Qing had expected, he wasn’t angry. Instead, he said calmly, “You are a good child, Ji Jiaxun will be left in your care.”

Yan Qing was stunned. “You’re still going to the battlefield? Even knowing it’s a one-way road, you still plan to go?”

The Duke of Pingwu smiled faintly, his expression resolute and steady. “I know the Emperor will come after me, and I’ll be on guard. Besides, this country is also something I’ve been guarding. If I don’t go, who will? At least the Northwest Rebellion is real. Knowing that I have no choice but to go.”

“Then are you willing to watch your wife…” Go die with you?

Yan Qing wanted to ask more, but the Grand Princess smiled and shook her head. “It may not come to that. I’ll ensure his defenses in the rear; I’m the person he trusts most.”

Yan Qing tugged at Ji Jiaxun, wanting him to speak up.

But when she turned around, she saw Ji Jiaxun’s face was also grim. He pursed his lips tightly and didn’t say a word.

Back in their courtyard, Ji Jiaxun finally spoke, as if resigned. “It’s always been like this. They only have each other, and that bond is so deep that it’s like life and death are the same to them.”

His father was a military general. In his memories, they went to war every two years, and each time, his mother would go with him, fully prepared to die together on the battlefield. They had made plans for her and even written her will.

Yan Qing couldn’t understand, but when she saw the will Ji Jiaxun had given her, she fell silent.

Everyone has their ideals. She had never understood the ancient saying: “The emperor demands his subjects die, and the subject cannot refuse.” She was from the modern world, where she had never thought about dedicating her life to anyone. But the Duke of Pingwu was a general. In his eyes, he was ready to give his life for this country.

Three days later, the Duke of Pingwu and the Grand Princess led the army out of the capital. The citizens of the capital spontaneously gathered to send them off, and they followed them for ten miles. It was only when the Duke of Pingwu had someone stop them that they couldn’t go any further.

Yan Qing and Ji Jiaxun also went to see them off. Watching so many people, filled with hope and admiration as they watched the Duke of Pingwu depart, Yan Qing seemed to understand something.

It was just… so damn inspiring!

Having such a crowd admire you, Yan Qing thought, if only she were stronger, she’d want to go to the battlefield too.

After the Duke of Pingwu left for the war, the capital quieted down again. The Fourth Prince didn’t come looking for them, and everything seemed normal.

Though the Princess’s residence did feel a bit empty.

Sometimes, when she was bored, Yan Qing would drag Ji Jiaxun to stay a couple of days with the Yan family or the Song family.

The Song family had a cousin who also went to the battlefield.

Therefore, when they saw Ji Jiaxun, they treated him especially well, serving him delicious food and drinks. Yan Qing seemed to understand why some vendors had been unwilling to accept Ji Jiaxun’s money last time.

Having returned there a few times, Yan Qing had gathered some information.

It seemed that Xu Chengxiao and Yan Yue’s relationship wasn’t going so smoothly.

According to the plot, after the Duke of Pingwu went to war, Yan Qing had a big argument with Ji Jiaxun, then returned to her family’s house and witnessed Xu Chengxiao and Yan Yue’s engagement.

This engagement had been arranged privately by both families, with Xu Chengxiao reporting to the emperor, who would issue a decree. To make the engagement look proper, Yan Yue would be registered under the Song family’s name. However, the original protagonist refused to accept this, and the Song family didn’t relent either, almost leading to a divorce.

Luckily, in the end, Yan Chengxiang managed to pressure the Song family into agreeing.

But after the death of the daughter, the Song family completely severed ties with Yan Chengxiang, and later, the Song family’s matriarch went to a nunnery.

But now, there was no sign of any proposal?

Could it be that without the malicious female antagonist, things were going wrong between them?

…

Yan Qing’s guess was almost right.

Perhaps after that incident, where Yan Qing and Ji Jiaxun’s actions had deeply impacted Yan Yue, she suddenly realized something. She began consciously trying to build a closer relationship with Xu Chengxiao.

She didn’t want her husband to treat her with polite distance.

Because if that happened, it would be better to marry someone with an ordinary background, who could still be controlled by her under the guise of being the daughter of the Prime Minister. But if it were a prince, she could only watch him marry more wives, especially if he were to ascend the throne.

However, the results of Yan Yue’s efforts were disappointing.

Xu Chengxiao was not the warm, affectionate man she had imagined. Instead, he seemed cold inside, and she couldn’t obtain the little affectionate interactions that couples usually have. If she pushed too far, he would give her a cold look, making her passion dissipate.

Slowly, Yan Yue began to grow repelled by him.

So when Xu Chengxiao mentioned marrying, she rejected him.

As a prince and the emperor’s chosen heir, Xu Chengxiao naturally had his pride. He spoiled her not just because of affection, but also for convenience. But he was not ready to let her ride on top of him and lower his dignity as a prince.

There was no longer that fear of losing her.

Thus, the relationship between the male and female protagonists stalled.

Of course, Yan Qing suspected this, but let it go. Her main focus now was on martial arts training and finding things for the Third Prince to do.

She wasn’t their obvious obstacle anymore, but rather, their covert one.

The Cuihong House, the largest brothel in the capital, was backed by the Third Prince. It was also a significant source of information for him.

Taking advantage of this idle period, with the Fourth Prince’s support, Yan Qing and Ji Jiaxun staged a raid on the Cuihong House, destroying it. The Fourth Prince then encouraged the officials to criticize it, making Cuihong House the target of public scorn and ensuring it could no longer operate.