Dandere General and His Lord - Chapter 65

In Shijia Village, in a farmyard, a woman with white hair and a hunched back was busy driving the chickens in the yard into the chicken coop.

She was less than 40 years old, but due to the harsh life she endured when she was a slave, she looked like a woman in her sixties. She had once had many children, but most died young or were sold by her owners and could not stay by her side. Dengzhu, the only son who grew up by her side, also died in battle not long ago.

The blows of life had already made her almost numb.

A day alive was a day to waste; the future was bleak, and there was nothing to look forward to.

Once the chickens were back in the coop, she rubbed her cold hands and looked up at the falling snow with cloudy eyes.

The winter snow was particularly heavy today, but at this moment she was wearing thick cotton clothes and living in a large house that was sheltered from the wind and rain. The barn was full of grain handed over by the tenant farmers, and there was even a big pot of old hen soup stewing on the stove in the kitchen.

Several voices suddenly called out to her.

“Godmother,  we’re hungry and waiting for your delicious meals.”

“Godmother, we are back. Liu Houer is starving. If you have anything delicious, let me have it first.”

“Godmother!”

“Godmother.”

As the year drew to a close, the military camp was on break, and several young men without families gathered in Yang Sheng’s mansion where they now resided.

They were carrying the firewood they had just chopped in the mountains and holding the pheasants and snow rabbits they had caught.

They had to make a lot of noise wherever they went. Before entering the yard, they were already  shouting loudly.

Deng Zhu Niang wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and started to busy herself with the preparations.

With all the hustle and bustle, the sorrow in her heart gradually faded away, and life slowly seemed to be able to go on.

—

In the capital city of Haojing under Quanrong’s occupation.

Zhang Fu sat in front of the brazier, reading the letter in his hand page by page next to the warm light.

He was extremely cautious. Even if important things were written in secret code, he would still burn them in the brazier immediately after reading and memorizing them.

There was only a tiny rolled-up note, which he held between his fingers and rubbed gently. On it was a line of elegant and familiar handwriting: “Everything is up to you. The safety of you and Xiu is the most important. Do not forget!”

Zhang Fu read these few lines several times before throwing them into the charcoal basin. The flame in the charcoal basin lit up, burning up the words that were carefully delivered from Bianzhou.

This small flame brought a feeling of warmth to him who was alone in danger.

The young boy whose head rested on his arms was lying on the table beside him, accidentally falling asleep due to overwork in recent days.

Zhang Fu stood up and put a piece of clothing on Xiao Xiu.

He looked up and watched the snow falling outside the window. The snow this year was particularly heavy. The white snow seemed to cover all the ugliness in the world.

When the snow melted in the spring of next year, perhaps a completely new and different world would be revealed.

—

In the Xishan Villa in Bianzhou.

Cheng Qianye had indulged in some wine and was a little drunk. She sat on the edge of the balcony on a brocade cushion that Biyun brought her, leaning against the balcony pillar and holding a cup of hot strong tea.

Soft snowflakes fell from the sky.

In the open courtyard, a group of men were sitting around a campfire in the snow, roasting venison, clinking glasses and drinking happily.

Cheng Feng stood up, took the large jar of wine that Xiao Qiu brought, and handed her the plate of roasted venison in front of him.

Yu Dunsu would clink glasses with Cheng Feng from time to time, or turn sideways to talk in a low voice with Xiao Jin.

Helan Zhen was a little drunk and was talking to Mo Qiaosheng, laughing heartily from time to time.

Mo Qiaosheng spoke very little, but his expression was relaxed, with a barely perceptible smile on the corner of his mouth. Occasionally he raised his eyes and looked at Cheng Qianye.

“What are you looking at?” Yao Tianxiang came to Cheng Qianye and sat down next to her.

“Snow.” Cheng Qianye stretched out her hand and caught the snowflakes falling from the sky. “I wonder if the world will be different next year, after the snow melts. Can there be change?”

“Qianyu, you may not have noticed, but thanks to you, a lot has changed around here.” Yao Tianxiang held Cheng Qianye’s arm and leaned her head on her shoulder, “When I first arrived in Bianzhou and came to Xishan, the roads were a mess and there were almost no people. Now as we go up the mountain, how many more houses do we see?

“Smoke was rising from every household along the way, and most of the children and the elderly had clothes to protect them from the cold. It’s much better than before.

“This year is a good year. I believe that next year the lives of ordinary people here will only get better and better, and more and more people will settle here.

“Forget everything else, just look at Qiao Sheng. The first time I saw him, he was a boy in the stables. He was a slave who couldn’t even lift his head. Now, when you look at him again, not only can he stand confidently with his head raised, but he even shines.”

Cheng Qianye looked at the people in the yard.

It was unknown what Helan Zhen said. He was holding Mo Qiaosheng’s neck with one hand, rubbing his hair with the other, and laughing.

Mo Qiaosheng’s face turned slightly red, and he raised his eyes and looked towards Cheng Qianye.

“No, it’s not just because of me.” Cheng Qianye spoke softly, “To have this little change today, each of them has tried their best to fight. For this change, countless people have worked hard, shed blood, and even lost their lives. Even at this moment, there are still people who go alone to take risks and go deep into the enemy camp, just to achieve this goal that everyone is looking forward to. ”

Cheng Qianye turned her head and looked at Yao Tianxiang’s bright face. “Even you, Tianxiang, could have enjoyed your life in peace and comfort. Didn’t you open a women’s college recently to provide opportunities for women who have never had an opportunity to learn to read or write?”

Yao Tianxiang said with a smile, “That’s because you brought us hope. Once people have hope, they won’t feel bitter or tired no matter what they do. I have always felt that we women should not be born to be just assistants of men, but I didn’t have the chance to struggle for us to be more before. Now I feel I can do a little for myself and for women all over the world.

“So, I must thank you very much.”

Yao Tianxiang spoke solemnly, her eyes sparkling.

—

On the way down the mountain.

Mo Qiaosheng sat in the carriage, feeling a sense of inexplicable anxiety.

The lord was sitting not far in front of him, glancing at him every so often.

Mo Qiaosheng looked at the person in front of him that kept sneaking glances at him and felt as if a fire had inexplicably ignited inside his body. What was worse was that the fire was burning more and more vigorously, and was gradually threatening to spread across the prairie.

When the carriage finally drew to a stop, he stood up with a red face and said, “My Lord, I, I will go rest for a while.”

Cheng Qianye quickly reacted and held onto Mo Qiaosheng whose face was flushed.

She looked at the shy man in front of her who didn’t dare take the initiative. “Are you sure you want to leave?”

Mo Qiaosheng’s face burned a deeper red, and he didn’t dare to meet her eyes.

Cheng Qianye touched her nose, shyness finding way to her cheeks as well, but looking at this person who was a hundred times more embarrassed than she was, she had to take the initiative.

She took Mo Qiaosheng’s hand and slowly asked him to sit down beside her.

She reached out, gently touching his hot face as she asked, “Qiaosheng, do you like me?”

Mo Qiaosheng looked at her for a moment before looking away and nodding.

Just that one move took all his strength.

“There are some things I can’t tell you right now.” Cheng Qianye sat up straight, turned Mo Qiaosheng’s jaw and gave him a soft peck.

“Whether you’re willing to accompany me or refuse me, I won’t wrong you.” She tightened her grip on the trembling hand. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I only wish for your happiness.”

Mo Qiaosheng let the man push him down.

He watched helplessly as the man leaned over, parted his lips, and whispered in his ear, “If you don’t want to, you can still refuse now.”

He didn’t know why he was so bold. He reached out his hands and put his arms around the man’s neck. Trembling slightly, he took the initiative to kiss the red lips that he longed for every night for the first time.

Cheng Qianye held his hands down and pinned them to the ground, revealing a captivating look in the night, with the corners of his mouth raised in a half-smile.

“No, I am the lord.”

The carriage drove slowly along a long road in the silent snowy night.

After going down the West Mountain, they passed through and entered the city of Bianzhou.

After the carriage stopped outside the palace gate, Biyun looked at the motionless car door, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and had to ask quietly, “My Lord, we have arrived at the palace gate.”

After a long while, Cheng Qianye’s dry voice came from the car, “Let’s go around again.”

Biyun’s face turned red instantly, and she gestured to the guards to follow her, turn around, and walk around the palace wall.

Xiao Qiu was confused and wanted to ask about the strange order.

Biyun covered her mouth and whispered, “Don’t ask, just go. Don’t stop until the lord says something.”