Chapter 192
**Chapter 190: Liu Family Village**
As night fell, the fish was ready.
The Liu brothers were still out hunting in the mountains, yet to return. Shen Wei had saved half a pot of fish for them. The evening air was cool, and Shen Wei, the Yan Wang, and Granny Liu sat in the courtyard enjoying the meal.
“Drink more fish soup; it’ll help your wounds heal faster,” Shen Wei said, ladling a generous bowl of fish soup for Yan Wang. She patiently picked out the fish bones and mixed the tender fish meat into the broth.
Granny Liu teased, “Young lord, it’s rare to find such a good wife. You’d better treat her well in the future.”
A smile danced in Yan Wang’s eyes.
After finishing the fish and soup, darkness enveloped the village. Most villagers went to bed early, and without candles, Shen Wei and Yan Wang squeezed into a small bed.
The bed was cramped, the thin wooden slats creaking under their weight. Shen Wei couldn’t sleep, rubbing her sore back. After giving birth, her vitality had taken a hit, leaving her with persistent back pain that flared up at night.
Yan Wang’s broad hand reached over. “Don’t move; let me help you.”
Shen Wei lay on the bed, her voice muffled. “Your shoulder injury isn’t fully healed yet; you don’t need to worry about me.”
“It’s nothing,” Yan Wang said softly, gently massaging her back.
Having faced life and death together, Shen Wei remained steadfastly by Yan Wang’s side. In his heart, she was not just his woman but also his confidante, the one who held his heart.
The weight of Shen Wei in his heart grew heavier with each passing day.
Yan Wang’s touch was just right, easing the ache in Shen Wei’s back. She squinted, her eyelids growing heavy, murmuring, “You’re so good, Wang Ye... I wish it could always be like this...”
Soon, she drifted off to sleep.
Moonlight streamed through the broken window, and Yan Wang lowered his gaze, lingering on Shen Wei’s peaceful sleeping face. He sighed silently, longing for a simple, ordinary life with her, but the burden on his shoulders was far too heavy.
The country came first; personal feelings had to take a backseat.
...
...
Night enveloped Kun Ning Palace.
The Empress was still awake, cradling her chubby granddaughter, Xiao Le You, and teasing her with a small agate horse.
Xiao Le You opened her pudgy arms, her big, dark eyes gazing up at the Empress, calling out in a sweet, baby voice, “Fang Zhu Mu... Fang Zhu Mu...”
Now over a year old, Xiao Le You could speak and recognize people.
The Empress couldn’t help but smile softly. “That’s right, it’s your royal grandmother. Come on, say it again, ‘Royal Grandmother.’”
Xiao Le You skillfully grasped the Empress’s fingers, repeating, “Fang Zhu Mu... Royal Grandmother...”
A warm feeling spread through the Empress’s heart.
Perhaps it was the bond of “intergenerational affection.” Holding her chubby granddaughter every day, listening to her sweet calls and innocent laughter, the Empress felt as if the entire Kun Ning Palace had come alive, buzzing with joy.
“Your Majesty,” Mama Qian entered with a serious expression.
The Empress looked up. “Has Yan Wang returned?”
Mama Qian replied, “Not yet. The lord always has a backup plan. The Tiger Guards have found the missing horses; they should locate the lord soon.”
After a pause, Mama Qian continued, “I’ve set everything up as you instructed.”
The Empress smiled. “Tonight, we’ll wait for the fish to bite.”
Xiao Le You opened her mouth, mimicking the Empress’s voice, “Bite, bite~”
The Empress gently stroked her granddaughter’s chubby face, saying softly, “If Le You says it will bite, then it surely will. Even if it doesn’t, we’ll make sure to pin the blame on her.”
In the dead of night, Kun Ning Palace was eerily quiet.
The wind rustled through the lush leaves of the courtyard trees. In the side hall, two infants lay sleeping in their cradles, while the wet nurse dozed off beside them.
Two palace maids entered the side hall, their heads bowed, moving quietly. They revealed sharp daggers and lunged toward the cradles—
Bang—
The wet nurse, pretending to sleep, sprang up instantly, her movements swift and ruthless, capturing the two palace maids in the blink of an eye.
The lights in Kun Ning Palace flared to life, and the Empress appeared in her nightgown, coldness flashing in her eyes. “Attempting to murder the young ones, how malicious. Surround Qi Hua Palace with the Imperial Guards and capture Concubine Qian.”
The Imperial Guards were dispatched.
In the cradles, the two infants continued to sleep soundly, blissfully unaware that they had just become bait for their royal grandmother.
...
...
In Liu Family Village, it was the fifth day at Granny Liu’s home.
The afternoon sun shone brightly. Liu Da Niu and Liu Er Niu squatted in the courtyard, preparing the six wild rabbits they had caught the night before. Shen Wei and Granny Liu were busy in the kitchen.
“Brother, you’re in great shape! You took an arrow and have several knife wounds, yet you’re up and about so quickly,” Liu Da Niu said, moving a stool for Yan Wang to sit on.
Yan Wang replied, “I’ve practiced martial arts since childhood; my body is quite resilient.”
His gaze drifted to the kitchen, where Shen Wei was kneading dough with Granny Liu. Yellow flour dusted her nose, and she was completely unaware, focused on learning from Granny Liu.
She was truly adorable.
Yan Wang pulled his gaze back, focusing on the six plump rabbits. Liu Da Niu and Liu Er Niu skillfully skinned the rabbits, their movements practiced.
Yan Wang noticed that these two hunters had impressive archery skills; even in the dim light of night, they could accurately shoot the running rabbits.
“Your archery is quite good,” Yan Wang casually complimented.
Liu Er Niu grinned. “Of course! The three of us have been hunting with our father since we were little. I had hoped to go to Liangzhou to fight when I grew up, but unfortunately, the third brother went first—he wrote last year saying he’s already a captain. He also mentioned that General Shen Mie Yue is incredibly brave, driving the enemy back!”
Mentioning Shen Mie Yue, admiration shone in the Liu brothers’ eyes.
Protecting the homeland was the aspiration of every man from Da Qing.
Yan Wang said, “A man’s ambition lies in the world. If you can’t go to Liangzhou to fight, you can still serve as a city guard in Yan Jing.”
Liu Er Niu, skinning a rabbit, spoke with a hint of melancholy, “Brother, to be honest, the two of us admire two people the most—one is General Shen, and the other is Yan Wang. General Shen defends the borders for the country, while Yan Wang protects the peace of the people. Five years ago, when the bandits were rampant in the mountains near Liu Family Village, it was Yan Wang who sent troops to eliminate them, restoring peace to the nearby villages.”
“Yan Wang cares for the common people, so we can’t take his kindness for granted. We also want to go to Yan Jing to serve as city guards. But city guards also require connections; without money, it’s impossible. They’re not really protecting the royal city; they’re just a bunch of thieves looking to profit off the common folk.”
Yan Wang fell into deep thought.
The city guards meant to protect Yan Jing had become so corrupt? When he returned to Yan Jing, he would have to implement strict reforms. The soldiers under the emperor’s feet could not be a bunch of good-for-nothings looking to line their pockets.
“Since you came from Yan Jing, have you seen Yan Wang?” Liu Er Niu asked curiously. “Is he as formidable as General Shen?”
Before Yan Wang could respond, the ground suddenly trembled slightly, as if a large troop was approaching, startling everyone in the courtyard.
Liu Da Niu and Liu Er Niu quickly stood up, grabbing the hunting knives hanging on the wall. “Could it be bandits again? Mother, you and Shen Niangzi should hide inside and don’t come out.”
A dark mass of iron cavalry halted at the courtyard gate.
Outside the courtyard wall, a black flag fluttered in the wind, emblazoned with the golden character for “Yan.”
The wooden door swung open, and two armored Tiger Guards strode in, kneeling on one knee and clasping their hands in salute. “We apologize for our tardiness, Wang Ye!”
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