Chapter 812: Si Fuqing: I’ll Be With You (2)

Wuyi.

He remembered this name.

**

The capital, Yong’an.

After seven days of hard riding, Si Fuqing finally arrived in Yong’an.

She was dressed in white, with JIANG Haiping’s coffin behind her, and the JIANG family army’s banner ahead.

The citizens of Yong’an automatically stepped aside to make way, watching the escort pass with tears in their eyes.

This journey was exceedingly long, and when Si Fuqing reached the Marshal’s Mansion, she hesitated to enter.

It was Lady JIANG who heard the commotion and came out herself.

Si Fuqing spoke softly, “Lady.”

Lady JIANG was startled, “You are…”

With a loud thud, Si Fuqing knelt on one knee, holding up JIANG Haiping’s armor with both hands. Her voice was faint, “Lady, I am sorry.”

To Lady JIANG, the words “a family of loyal martyrs” were unbearably heavy.

After sending off her husband, she sent off her son, and after her son, her daughter.

She had waited in the Marshal’s Mansion for so many years, only to see one lifeless body after another, draped in white cloth.

Lady JIANG was stunned, her eyes momentarily vacant, and she did not shed a tear. She said softly, “So it wasn’t an illusion…”

Steadying herself, she immediately went forward to help Si Fuqing up, “Come in, you must be hungry? I’ll have Xuanjin prepare some food for you.”

Si Fuqing was led into the Marshal’s Mansion.

With no one around, Lady JIANG finally embraced JIANG Haiping’s head and wailed.

But even while crying, she had to control herself, so as not to disturb JIANG Zhaoyue, who was still waiting for JIANG Haiping to return.

In the inner courtyard, JIANG Zhaoyue reached out her hand, “Big brother, when will father come back? I miss him.”

JIANG Xuanjin said softly, “He has already returned.”

He was in the sky, still guarding his country and home.

“Oh.” JIANG Zhaoyue blinked, “Then why can’t I see him?”

This was the first time Si Fuqing saw the living JIANG Zhaoyue.

She was only seven years old then, still an innocent little girl.

Si Fuqing took out a sandalwood box, “The marshal had other matters, he asked me to bring this gift to you first.”

JIANG Zhaoyue happily accepted it.

“Little sister.” JIANG Xuanjin crouched down, ruffling her hair, “Big brother has to leave, to the north. When I come back, I’ll bring you beautiful jewelry and prepare plenty of dowry for your grand wedding.”

“Hey, big brother, don’t steal my job.” Beside him, the second son of the JIANG family elbowed his chest, “I’ll handle little sister’s dowry. Watch me kill thousands of barbarians and bring their heads for little sister.”

“Great, great.” JIANG Zhaoyue clapped her hands and jumped, “Whoever kills the most enemies will be my best brother.”

“Then I am surely the best brother.” The sixth son of the JIANG family said proudly, “I’ll trample big brother and second brother under my feet.”

The second son of the JIANG family roared in anger and chased after him.

JIANG Zhaoyue was their only sister, and naturally, she was to be cherished.

Si Fuqing stood aside, listening clearly, her fingers clenched.

But JIANG Xuanjin never returned.

None of the nine brothers of the JIANG family returned.

In the summer of 682, JIANG Xuanjin charged into the barbarian commander’s tent alone, fighting a hundred enemies and ultimately dying in battle, at barely twenty years old.

“Brother Wuyi, I have something to tell you.” JIANG Zhaoyue suddenly grabbed Si Fuqing’s sleeve, “Come with me.”

Si Fuqing was momentarily stunned and was pulled aside by Jiang Zhaoyue.

At this moment, she put away her smile, “Actually, father is already gone, isn’t he? I know, you don’t have to hide it from me.”

Si Fuqing was silent for a moment, “Yes, but the marshal was preparing to see you marry.”

“Marry? No.” JIANG Zhaoyue said with a calmness and composure beyond her years, “The JIANG family guards the nation’s borders. I am a JIANG.”

Si Fuqing’s body trembled.

The earlier innocence and laughter were actually a façade to comfort Lady JIANG and JING Xuanjin.

“I often heard my father and brothers talk about how the barbarians massacred the people of Northern State.” JIANG Zhaoyue raised her head, “Brother Wuyi, if you were me, what would you do?”

Si Fuqing was taken aback, her fingers slowly clenching into a fist, “The hatred of the nation and family cannot be forgotten, and will not rest until death!”

During the old emperor’s reign, the barbarians had nearly occupied all of Northern State, establishing their own court.

Countless citizens of Xia were humiliated and killed, many people displaced.

There were even two occasions when they reached Yong’an City in Central State, threatening to overthrow the Great Xia Dynasty.

The court ignored Northern State, letting cities fall.

In such isolation and helplessness, even JIANG Haiping was powerless.

Until Emperor Yin ascended the throne, Northern State began to be reclaimed.

But it wasn’t something that could be eradicated in just a few years.