Jin Shanyao was completely unaware of what was happening in the capital and was following Fu Congzhao all the way to Dengzhou Prefecture.
The Fu Household Army belonged to the navy and was stationed along the coast year-round to defend against Japanese pirate raids.
Due to the tense situation along the coast, Fu Congzhao's father and uncle had already rushed back to their post on horseback, leaving him to escort and take care of Jin Shanyao.
Halfway through the journey, Fu Congzhao spoke up, "Grandma, would you like to rest for a while?"
"Huh?? Resting again..." He's already rested three times along the way, when will we ever reach the border?? Jin Shanyao asked sincerely, "Are you tired? Or is your horse tired?"
Fu Congzhao could travel a whole day's journey at top speed, but he wanted to rest every now and then so that Jin Shanyao would suffer. Unexpectedly, Jin Shanyao misunderstood him.
"No... I'm afraid the old ox won't be able to keep up."
The old ox stiffly turned its head to look at Fu Congzhao. What had it heard? It couldn't keep up with the two horses? If it weren't lost, would it be walking so slowly?
Jin Shanyao and said, "You don't need to worry about me, just go at your own pace, my ox can keep up..."
Fu Congzhao looked at the old ox and seemed to see contempt and anger in its eyes. He shook his head, pretending that he was just tired and his eyes were blurry.
"Alright then... let's keep going," he said, kicking the horse's belly.
The horses trotted off, and the old ox followed closely behind. Fu Congzhao kept a close eye on the oxcart and, seeing that it could keep up, increased its speed.
Gradually, Fu Congzhao unleashed the full speed of his horse, galloping five or six miles in one go. The warhorse was panting heavily, its legs trembling, and it would collapse from exhaustion if it didn't stop soon.
In contrast, the old ox didn't even pant, still closely following behind the horse. Fu Congzhao found a village to rest for the night before continuing his journey.
He gave the farmers two taels of silver so they could prepare some food and add some fodder for the cattle and horses. As he looked up, he caught a glimpse of a black eagle.
Fu Congzhao had been watching the eagle all the way. It had been circling above their heads the whole time. At first, he thought it was just an ordinary mountain eagle and didn't pay much attention to it. He never expected that it would follow him all the way here.
Fu Congzhao suppressed his doubts and pushed open the door to enter the room. "Grandma, let's make do for one night... things will be fine once we reach the border."
Seeing Jin Shanyao Fu Congzhao had taken care of everything perfectly, leaving her with no worries, Jin Shanyao's eyes filled with satisfaction. She thought to herself: Is this what people often refer to as enjoying the blessings of children and grandchildren?
She pondered what to say that would be appropriate for the occasion, but couldn't find any relevant knowledge, so she followed the way Shopkeeper Wang and Xiao Huzi interacted.
She took Fu Congzhao's hand, held it in her palm and gently stroked it, looking at him with a kind expression.
"I've always thought you were a smart and sensible child, destined for greatness. My dear... tonight you won't go anywhere, you'll just sleep in my room. I'll cuddle you..."
Fu Congzhao's heart stopped in fright. He abruptly withdrew his hand, his face flushed red, and he stammered, "Um... I went to check if the... the cow... the food is ready."
Jin Shanyao watched his retreating figure and sighed silently, "Just holding hands, look how excited this child is, he can't even speak properly. No one has ever doted on him since he was little, it just won't work. Look at Anzhi, Anci, and Xiao Huzi, aren't they all happy when they're cuddled to sleep? This child, poor life..."
She got up and went out of the room to check on Fu Congzhao, but after searching around, she couldn't find him. Finally, she found him in the next room, where he was putting on clothes.
"Why are you wearing so much so late at night? You'll have to take it all off later... Listen to your grandma, don't bother."
Jin Shanyao suddenly spoke, startling Fu Congzhao, who whirled around. "Grandma... my mother has arranged a marriage for me. I really like the girl, and I'll get married as soon as the mourning period is over."
Jin Shanyao her hand to interrupt him, "Child, don't say anything more. Your aunt understands... Your aunt isn't the kind of unenlightened elder. As long as you like this marriage, your aunt won't object."
She thought for a moment, then took out a bottle of ginkgo nuts from her handbag, poured out one nut, and handed it to him.
"When you get married, I don't even know if I'll still be alive. Take this pill; as long as you have a breath left, it can save you. Consider it my wedding gift to you."
Fu Congzhao had seen this ginkgo fruit at Lu Chi before. A single fruit cost over a thousand taels of silver, and the key point was that you couldn't buy it even if you had the money. The Empress treasured it like a precious gem, even more important than the Phoenix Seal.
He immediately knelt on the ground with a thud, "I will never forget your kindness, my Congzhao aunt."
"Hey... stop saying that useless stuff. You've been so good to me too, bringing me food and water all the way. Even Su Wenqian isn't as considerate as you..."
Fu Congzhao felt a little embarrassed by what was said. He carefully put the ginkgo away before speaking, "Grandma, I want to sleep alone tonight."
Jin Shanyao smiled and knew the answer to the question, immediately reciting Shopkeeper Wang's explanation.
"Alright... I'm getting old and a light sleeper. I can't handle you kids making a ruckus. Be careful not to fall off the bed when you sleep!"
Fu Congzhao's blush never faded...
The next day, after breakfast and getting ready, the two continued their journey to Dengzhou Prefecture.
Even if Fu Congzhao were riding a warhorse, it would still take him ten days to travel from the capital to Dengzhou Prefecture. However, he never expected that the oxcart Jin Shanyao would be so durable. Not only was the old ox incredibly strong, but even the axle remained intact throughout the journey.
Upon entering Dengzhou, the coastal atmosphere intensified, and the sea breeze carried a salty, fishy smell. After a brief stop in the prefectural city, the two headed straight for the naval camp by the sea.
The soldiers in the camp were drilling in formation, their battle cries echoing along the coast. Upon seeing Fu Congzhao return, they all stopped their drills and shouted, "Young General!"
As soon as the shout fell, many eyes quietly fell on Jin Shanyao.
She had fair skin, clear and bright eyes, and an aura completely different from the women who were exposed to the wind and sun by the sea. The soldiers' burning and curious gazes lingered on her.
Jin Shanyao suddenly turned her head, startling the group of soldiers who turned their backs in panic, their hearts pounding like drums. A moment later, they secretly turned their heads to look, but the figure from before was long gone.
Inside the main hall of the military camp.
Fu Congzhao's eldest uncle... Fu Zhenhai..., dressed in military uniform, strode forward to greet him. His face was resolute, and his brows and eyes showed the wear and tear of years of sea battles.
"Master, you must be tired from your journey. Please take a seat and rest."
Jin Shanyao slightly, but her gaze fell on the sand table in the hall, where a miniature Dengzhou Prefecture and an extended coastline were covered with various small flags.
She withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "General Fu, there's no need for such formality. On my journey here, I noticed a faint smell of blood on the sea breeze. Have you been through a fierce battle recently?"
Fu Zhenhai hadn't expected Jin Shanyao to have such a keen sense of smell. His smile faded slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "The Japanese pirates somehow learned of my father's death and launched a large-scale attack while I was back in the capital for the funeral. Although our army fought valiantly to repel the pirates, we also suffered heavy casualties."
Fu Congzhao added from the side, "The Japanese pirates have always been like rats in the gutter, accustomed to night raids, yet they are ruthless and vicious, causing unrest and anxiety among the people and soldiers of the Sheng Dynasty."
It's common for animals to fight and bite each other over resources, but Jin Shanyao didn't take it to heart. "General Fu, may I look around?"
"Of course... Master Jin, please follow me," Fu Zhenhai stood up and led the way. They had only taken a few steps out of the main hall when they were stopped by a soldier who came to deliver the message.
"General Fu... the fishermen have brought food again."
Fu Zhenhai, "If you refuse, then so be it."
"I can't refuse, I have to see you this time no matter what..."
Fu Zhenhai hesitated for a moment, then apologized to Jin Shanyao, "Master, I'll go take a look first. Let Congzhao accompany you around..."