A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Chapter 108: The Battle of Yinan

Brothers Xiao Yi and Xiao Fan arrived in Yinan County with a large army on the 20th day after leaving Jinhan City. The people in the city did not seem to be affected by the war ten miles away. Brothers Lin Mutang and Lin Mufeng in the camp area in the front were looking at the defensive battle formation map and discussing the next countermeasures. The eldest son-in-law Zheng Linfeng listened carefully and tried to learn more about military strategy from his father-in-law and uncle who had rich combat experience. Then Lin An led a troop to the county city to meet up with brothers Xiao Yi and Xiao Fan.

"Brother-in-law, what happened to you along the way?" Lin An took off his armor, and Qibao took over his Meiling sword. Calculating the date, it was nearly five or six days late, so Lin An asked in confusion.

"We encountered an assassin in Baimu County. He was from Dayan, and General Xia Ting was injured. The Sixth Prince did not ambush near Ji Nei, but actually ran to the vicinity of Dayi, catching us off guard. However, our marching route this time was originally kept secret. I don't know how Dayan found out." Xiao Yi sat down, and the doctor next to him re-applied medicine and bandaged his injured arm.

"How is your injury?" Lin Ancai looked at Xiao Yi's arm and asked the doctor next to him.

"No problem." Xiao Yi signaled the doctor to leave, then instructed, "Go check on Fan'er's back injury."

"Brother-in-law, didn't you receive the letter that father sent to you?" Lin Ancai asked curiously.

"He Xin, who is coming to see him off?" Xiao Yi asked, lowering his sleeves.

Lin Ancai slapped his thigh and said angrily, "That's it. The person who leaked the secret you mentioned never thought that there were Da Yan's lackeys in our Lin family army."

"Damn it, bastard, if I see him again I will chop him into pieces and feed him to the dogs." While the two were talking, they heard the old General He Bin walked in cursing, perhaps he had already known about the betrayal and leak.

"Mr. He, why are you here?" Lin Ancai stood up and asked.

"It's all my fault for being blind. I didn't even know there was a thief from Dayan next to me, and I almost made a big mistake. General Xia and I have been through life and death together for so many years, and he was injured so seriously, and the two Lords Xiao were also injured. If anything happens to the military rations this time, I'm going to chop off my own head." He Bin said with great annoyance.

"Mr. He, this matter cannot be blamed on you. We were all negligent. But how could Wang Dawu be a traitor of Dayan? He has been in the Lin family army since he was a teenager." Lin Ancai asked with some confusion.

"Hmph, you can judge a person by his appearance but not by his heart. I was wondering how come this old fellow's affairs were so clean after his death, with no wife, children or elderly relatives. Turns out he was just a big dog. Lord Lin saw that he was not afraid of death and was brave, so he valued him very much for the past ten years. It's really a waste of kindness." Old General He Bin was extremely anxious and furious at this time. He wished he could cross the border immediately and skin alive this ungrateful person who had been by his side for the past ten years.

"Fortunately, most of the military rations were preserved this time. Only a part was lost, but it is slightly less than expected. How is the war going on the front?" Xiao Yi saw that General He Bin was so upset, so he spoke.

"Brother-in-law, Dad guessed that it would be impossible for Gong Zheshan of Dayan to just watch our military rations being delivered safely, so he secretly asked General Lie to secretly send a lot of them from the west, which will not affect the urgent needs of the soldiers at the front." Lin Ancai said.

"My father-in-law is really thoughtful." Xiao Yi nodded.

"We won the first battle and started off with a great victory. Next, we want to drive these southern barbarians back to their homeland in one fell swoop and ask their king to offer silver and land to commemorate our unjustly killed civilians and sacrificed soldiers." Lin Ancai said.

"When I entered the city, I saw that the people were still living and working in peace and contentment, and were not affected by the war at all." Xiao Yi said. The peaceful atmosphere in the city was in stark contrast to the fierce struggle outside the city.

"Dad and second uncle said that the common people should live and work in peace and contentment after working hard and paying taxes. Fighting is the job of us soldiers, so it has always been like this in Yinan County." Lin Ancai said proudly.

"We must win this battle. We can't let the people down." He Bin stood up and said, "Okay, I'm going to the front line. Lord Xiao, take good care of your injuries and we'll come back after we win the battle."

After seeing off the old General He Bin, Lin Ancai began to complain that he was very hungry. The housekeeper of the Yinnan Palace hurriedly ordered the cook to prepare food. Xiao Yi was also very tired after the bumpy journey. He ate some food casually, took a look at the seriously injured Xiao Fan, and went to rest first. He had to go to the front line with Lin Ancai early tomorrow morning.

In the Xiao Mansion in Jinhan City, Lin Qinghuan and Xiao Qiannan were having lunch with Liu Ji. Liu Ji picked up a large piece of venison and put it into Lin Qinghuan's bowl.

"Huan'er, eat more. I see that you have lost some weight recently." Liu Ji said with concern.

Xiao Qiannan also tilted her head and glanced at Lin Qinghuan, "I'm with my sister-in-law every day, but I can't tell whether she has gained weight or lost weight. I just thought she has always been very slim, but..." Xiao Qiannan suddenly smiled sullenly.

"But why are you so funny?" Liu Ji asked her daughter lovingly.

Lin Qinghuan also looked at her sister-in-law with a puzzled look. Why was it so funny? But looking at her malicious look, it didn't seem like a good thing either.

"Mother, look at how thin my sister-in-law is. I saw her changing clothes that day, and she wasn't small at all." After Xiao Qiannan finished speaking, the meat that Lin Qinghuan had picked up on the chopsticks fell into the bowl in astonishment.

Liu Rong shook her head helplessly and laughed. When Liu Ji saw Liu Rong's smile, she realized what Nan'er meant.

"You clever boy, how can you say such things casually in front of others? You made your sister-in-law blush." Liu Ji couldn't help laughing when she saw Lin Qinghuan with a blushing face.

"Hehe, mother, I'm praising my sister-in-law." Xiao Qiannan said mischievously.

Lin Qinghuan could only smile awkwardly. His sister-in-law always said shocking things.

"I received a letter a few days ago. My husband and brother-in-law will soon arrive in Yinan County. I hope they have a safe journey." Lin Qinghuan said to Liu Ji, remembering the letter sent by Xiao Yi himself.

"That's good. I just hope that Lord Lin can return victorious this time and that there will be no casualties among the soldiers of Dasheng." Liu Ji said softly.

Xiao Yi had been gone for more than a month and had only sent back one letter. Lin Qinghuan didn't know what had happened to Yinan, so she called Chuxia to go back to the Lin Mansion to see if her mother He Su had the letter sent back by her father and An Cai.

As soon as I walked to the gate of Fuyunju's courtyard, I heard the quarrel between Lin Qingyi and He Su coming from inside.

"What's going on? It's so lively in there." Lin Qinghuan couldn't help but say as he looked at Chu Xia next to him.

"It sounds like the voices of the fourth lady and the mistress." Chu Xia said in a low voice.

"Well, let's go in and take a look." Lin Qinghuan said.

"I don't want to marry Xia Hong. I said it last time." Lin Qingyi said angrily to He Su in the yard, her voice choked with sobs.

"General Xia was born into a prominent family, so how can he not be worthy of you? You go against me every day. Don't you see how old you are now?" He Su shouted with her hands on her hips while standing at the door.

"Then you can't force me to do it. Don't promise it to me so casually. After all, it is my lifelong event." Lin Qingyi couldn't hold back her tears.

"Didn't I choose carefully for you? Your father said that if you continue to be picky and disobedient, Jin Hancheng, you will be married to the Prince of Bian County's Mansion. Then there will be no one to support you and do whatever you want." He Su said deliberately to scare Lin Qingyi.

"You don't understand anything. I don't care about being born into a famous family. As long as I can read and be educated, it doesn't matter if I'm a poor scholar. I don't want to be a reckless man." Lin Qingyi felt more and more aggrieved as she spoke. She sat on the stone bench and cried aggrievedly, wiping her face with her sleeve.

"Mother, Fourth Sister." Lin Qinghuan stood at the gate of the yard and watched the whole excitement, then called out somewhat awkwardly.

"Huan'er is back, come in quickly." He Su smiled again when he saw Lin Qinghuan.

"Ask Huan'er if I'm the type who must marry into a wealthy family. I just want my future husband to be educated like my brothers-in-law." When Lin Qingyi saw Lin Qinghuan coming over, she stood up and said, with tears on her face.

He Su looked at his two daughters in astonishment, then frowned and said, "Who among the scholars would like your personality? They wouldn't dare to marry you."

"Mother, in fact, to outsiders, there are many scholars who speak highly of my fourth sister. My fourth sister likes scholars, so mother and father will go and arrange it. There are so many people in Jinhan City who are looking forward to marrying my fourth sister." Lin Qinghuan looked at Lin Qingyi who was holding his arm and spoke.

"With your fourth sister's impetuous temper, which scholar would dare to provoke her? I'm afraid that she will be in great trouble in the future, and her husband will only be able to scold her for being unreasonable." He Su said helplessly. She knew her daughter too well. She had never suffered any loss since she was a child and had always grown up in love.

"Mother, if Fourth Sister, with her personality, marries a military commander whom she dislikes, her life will be filled with swords and sabers every day. Not everyone can be as loving and loving as you and father are. If she is a scholar, he will not bully her." Lin Qinghuan walked to He Su and said softly. Lin Qingyi kept pouting and looking at her mother behind her.

He Su looked at Lin Qinghuan in surprise. She had never thought that this quiet girl would have such an idea. Then she looked at Lin Qingyi thoughtfully.

"Okay, I'll think about it. Your elder brother will be back tomorrow, and I'll discuss with him to see if there's a suitable candidate." He Su said in a gentle tone.

Lin Qinghuan smiled and turned back to wink at Lin Qingyi. The fourth girl of the Lin family wiped her face and then secretly looked at her mother.

"Mother, have Daddy and An Cai sent any letters home about the current war situation? Huan'er is a little worried." Lin Qinghuan helped He Su into the inner room and sat down and asked.

"We received news of the victory in the first battle yesterday morning, and Yi'er also arrived safely with military supplies. Why didn't Yi'er write a letter home?" He Su asked.

"My husband's letter home seems to be earlier than this one. It only said that the journey was smooth and there was nothing unusual." Lin Qinghuan could only sigh that the traffic was too long and the letters from home were too slow. She estimated that it would have been quite a while before the victory in the first battle.

"Huan'er, you don't have to worry. Your father and second uncle are here this time. Yi'er and Ancai are very skilled in martial arts, so naturally nothing will happen. Although Nanbang is rampant, its military strength is nothing compared to our Dasheng. We should teach them a big lesson this time." He Su's tone was particularly domineering when she spoke. Lin Qinghuan looked at her and thought she was as majestic as Mu Guiying who was in command. She was worthy of being the heroine Gonglie who had fought in the wars of Dasheng.

"Well, Huan'er feels much more relieved with what mother said. I was just about to go see my grandmother and elder sister, but I didn't expect that they were both asleep." Lin Qinghuan said.

"Yao'er is feeling heavier and heavier now, and is very sleepy. Hey, Huan'er, how about you? Are you okay?" He Su asked.

"I... I have had poor health since I was a child, and my menstruation is not very regular. Maybe I won't be that lucky." Lin Qinghuan is a little anxious now, especially with an even more anxious mother-in-law who puts invisible pressure on her.

"Huan'er, I heard that the Xiao family has a rule that the eldest son must be born of legitimate parents. Is the Xiao family putting pressure on you?" He Su asked, looking at her poor daughter with some heartache.

"Not really. My mother-in-law and husband treat me very well. It's precisely because they are so good that I feel... ashamed..." Lin Qinghuan lowered her head as she spoke. She was originally a timid person. If others treated her well, she would feel very indebted and guilty. Sometimes Lin Qinghuan thought that if she had the original owner's personality, she would not be like this.

"What are you talking about? You must always remember that you are the legitimate daughter of the Lin family and the daughter of your father, Lin Mutang. You must always keep your head up. Besides, your body is different now. You will be pregnant sooner or later. Has Mo'er taken your pulse? What did she say?" He Su raised her voice when she saw Lin Qinghuan so depressed.

Lin Qinghuan looked up at He Su and suddenly felt that being a child of the Lin family was truly a matter of great honor. He felt that being so cowardly had brought shame upon the Lin family.

"Sister Mo said Huan'er is now in good health. Maybe she just had no luck. She said...she said..." Lin Qinghuan thought of what Lin Mo whispered to her and felt a little embarrassed to speak out.

"What did she say? Tell me now." Lin Qingyi asked urgingly.

"Fourth sister, you must not listen...Anyway, what Sister Mo means is that I can...I will definitely be pregnant in the future, and I have already started taking the folk remedy given by Sister Mo." Lin Qinghuan glanced at the virgin Lin Qingyi, and said to He Su with some stammering.

He Su glanced at Lin Qingyi helplessly, then smiled and patted Lin Qinghuan's hand, "Child, don't worry. If you think about this every day, he will play tricks on you and won't do what you want. If you ignore it, he might come. Believe in your own body and your sister Mo's medical skills."

"Yeah." Lin Qinghuan smiled shyly and nodded after hearing this.

Lin Qingyi was cracking melon seeds on the side, looking at the other two people who were in love with their mother. Now these were not her worries. What she needed to worry about most was which brave scholar could come and marry the fourth daughter of the Lin family who was quite famous in Jinhan City.

He Su and Lin Qinghuan continued to chat casually about family matters. When they talked about something funny, they burst into laughter. Lin Qingyi, who was dazed and yawning beside them, also looked at them curiously.