CH 42

Thinking of this, Lian Binglan said, “This matter of the Old Princess Consort being anxious to get married, father and mother can’t agree to it. But if you were to reject directly, it will hurt the harmony between the two families. If not, just say that I am sick, have a rash, and can’t stand the coldness of the wind. In this way, we can not only politely decline the Old Princess Consort’s intention of forcing marriage, but also wait for my cousin to return from the Jinjia Checkpoint and discuss the matter again in the long run.”

Lian Binglan thought for a long time before she came up with such an expedient measure.

When Lian-Chu heard this, she could not help regretting why didn’t she come up with such an excuse when she first spoke to the Old Princess Consort Chu. Why did she not push the matter away?

The Lian family agreed on this. On the same day, they invited a familiar doctor and sent a maid to buy medicine. What’s more, some precious medicinal materials must be found in the royal residence. They can spread some news to the people in the royal residence.

So the news that Lady Lian had been diagnosed with emergency rashes had spread slowly.

When the Old Princess Consort Chu recovered from the pain of her son’s expedition a day later, she solemnly found her son and discussed the matter of getting married before leaving for the battle.

Cui Xingzhou was summoning the soldiers and mobilizing them to fight in the northwest in the past two days. He was so busy all day that he had no time to take care of these.

However, if his mother feels that doing so will make her feel more comfortable, he should get married in advance. So when the Old Princess Consort asked him, he agreed.

However, when the Old Princess Consort called the Lian family to discuss the ceremony, only Lian-Chu came.

Lian Hanshan is thin-skinned and dull. Lian-Chu was afraid that he would expose himself in front of her sister, so she came alone.

“The Old Princess Consort Chu, how can Binglan make me so worried? She has been saying she is not feeling well a few days ago. It is said that after this child hears that Xingzhou is going to the battlefield. She was so anxious that she had a psychological attack and was covered with red rashes, and every one of them was red. According to the doctor, if she didn’t take good care of herself, there would be no medicine to cure her. She was a hundred percent willing to accept the ceremony, but as her mother, I know that she can’t withstand the trouble. If I nod my head and agree regardless of her body, in case the wind aggravates her condition… My precious… If something bad were to happen to her, what should I do in my next life? ”

As she spoke, she burst into tears.

Cui Xingzhou responded to his mother and came to meet the Lian family today. As long as he gets married tomorrow, he will leave for the northwest the next day.

He was not as simple-headed as his mother and took all his aunt’s words seriously. Cui Xingzhou wanted to sneer at her mother’s persistent inquiry about Lian Binglan’s condition.

Isn’t it obvious that his aunt means to decline? They were only worried that he would never return and that her daughter would become a widow…

In fact, this is also human nature. But when the situation occurs to him, it makes him feel unhappy from the bottom of his heart.

After his aunt left, it was time for Cui Xingzhou to return to his Military Camp.

However, when he came to the door, he paused again, turned back, called for Steward Gao, and said, “Go and find out when Lady Lian’s illness started and how it is… Be smart, and don’t make it too public.”

Steward Gao is a smart person. When he saw Lian-Chu coming alone today, he knew what the Lian family meant. He immediately understands it and takes the order with confidence that he is going to do well.

When Cui Xingzhou checked the temporarily allocated army provisions supplies in his Military Camp, the errand boy under Steward Gao came to the barracks, whispered to Mo Ru, and waited outside the barracks.

Mo Ru went in to deliver the message and whispered, “Steward Gao uses some money to bribe an internal servant of the Lian family, saying that Lady Lian was always fine. But on the day when the edict was passed, Lian-Chu hurried back to the mansion and called upon The Master, her eldest son, and Lady Lian together. After closing the door in the study for one night, Lady Lian became ill the next day… Those intimate internal servants were all asked to keep their mouth shut and not to talk to outsiders.”

This was exactly how Cui Xingzhou had expected, but he was still feeling a little angry.

After receiving the edict, his heart was filled with rage. However, in front of several generals, even in front of his mother, he could not show half a depression.

But he did not expect that his future wife would move to alienate him at this juncture.

At this moment, the depression in his heart was no longer suppressed. He suddenly raised his foot and kicked the table in front of him with a bang.

The guards and Mo Ru in the camp all lowered their heads and frowned, and they dared not breathe.

Cui Xingzhou’s temperament has always been able to decide without hesitation. Since his uncle’s family is full of worries and they are not easy to take the initiative to repent that they can only let his cousin take medicine and pretend to be ill. Then why don’t he be more sensible and not delayed his cousin’s marriage further?

Thinking of this, Cui Xingzhou calmed down a little, and let Mo Ru straighten the table, lay a white paper again, grind the ink, and write down the document of dissolution of marriage.

The reason for the dissolution of the engagement sounded quite high. He said frankly that he would fight for his country and that he would die. He would drive all the barbarians away and would never return home.

However, a woman’s youth should not be wasted. This is because his marriage to his cousin Lian Binglan is indeed a blessing, and he hopes to continue in his next life. The marriage letters of the two families were solved, and he hope that his cousin can find a good marriage again and make each other well.

The words in the marriage letter were awe-inspiring and polite. However, when Cui Xingzhou turned around, he immediately ordered Steward Gao to the Lian’s Mansion to inform the Lian family. The words of their internal servant and the servant of the Prince’s Residence a few days ago had already passed the ears of The Prince.

He had to let the Lian family know that he has already understood the calculations of their family so that when the marriage dissolution documents are sent, they will not be confused.

When the marriage dissolution documents written by The Prince and the seals were all sent to the Lian Mansion, Lian Hanshan was so anxious that he stamped his feet. He regretted that his position was not firm. After listening to his wife’s incite, they set up such a clumsy deception.

The letter of the marriage dissolution was sent by Steward Gao himself, but the meaning of the words was too strong for them to lift their face.

“Look! Our Lian family’s face is almost lost by you both mother and daughter. Prince Huaiyang sacrificed his life for the country and went to the battlefield, but our Lian family tried to get pick and choose what is beneficial for us and calculated to act sick. How…… How will Binglan be able to face people in the future?”

Lian-Chu never thought that Prince Huaiyang would make such a decision. For a moment, she said angrily, “He’s not a good person either? Before he got married, he raised a mistress in Lingquan Town. Our daughter and I have known this for a long time and have been whitewashing him in front of the Old Princess Consort. However, he turned around and got sour and annoyed with my girl… He… He’s unreasonable! I’ll go to my sister and comment on his action. How can there be such a reason?”

Lian Hanshan slammed on the table angrily and said, “What time is it now? All the soldiers in the State of Zhen are packing up for the northwest battle. Even the warm-blooded youth from other countries come to join the army enthusiastically. Those old mothers who are faithful with loyalty and righteousness are holding ink needles to tattoo characters on their sons’ backs to show their determination for the country. As the family members of an official, you ignore the general interest. Do you still intend to go to the Old Princess Consort to instigate their relationship of mother and son? If the matter were to spread, how can I put my face up in front of my colleagues?”

Lian Binglan gnawed her teeth and said nothing.

She didn’t expect her cousin to be so heartless after seeing through her act to pretend to be ill, leaving no room for the Lian family to maneuver.

Is he angry with herself, or has he been thinking about quitting this marriage for a long time?

Although Lian Binglan didn’t want to get married before the war, she never thought of destroying her marriage with her cousin. For a moment, she was more upset than she was to receive the sad news of her cousin’s death in the battle.

At this time, Lian Xuan returned from the government office. When he heard his mother quarreling with his father, he was so anxious that he stomped his feet in, “Mom, what are you two arguing about? I don’t know who spread it. But the story of Prince Huaiyang withdrawing from his marriage and sacrificing his life for the country is being spread all over the State of Zhen now. All of them are full of tears of admiration. Don’t you seem to be ignorant when you are still making a fuss?”

Lian Xuan’s words are not false. Maybe the people of the two families have said something wrong. In addition, they all know that Prince Huaiyang is gone, and they’re afraid that he will never come back again. Therefore, in the eyes of the people, the inscription of Prince Huaiyang’s withdrawal from marriage is also a righteous gentleman’s method. He does not want to delay the lady and let her become a widow!

A young Prince who is loyal and righteous, who doesn’t nod their head and praise him?

Listening to what her father and brother said, Lian Binglan stopped her tears.

She knew that the most correct way to save her life at this time was to rush to her cousin’s horse and tear up the letter of withdrawal in public and make a note to express her determination to wait for him to return.

If she acts like this, even the best pen in the world, can’t write the same beautiful love story of them.

However, she was feeling a little suffocated.

Her cousin’s action didn’t take into consideration of the Lian family’s face, nor did he care about her. He saw through her selfishness. Even if they were to get married later, they would still have a knot in their hearts.

For a moment, Lady Lian thought of the path she had taken with her cousin under the moon. It looks very short, but it felt very long when she walked. She walked silently. He didn’t walk too fast, but she just couldn’t keep up…

However, she also thought about her cousin had given her the document to withdraw from the marriage. The reason sounded quite high, not to say that it didn’t damage her reputation, It seems like he did take into consideration of her too.

After being angry for a while, Lian Binglan straightened out and eased a little of her anxiety.

The matter has come to this point, and she can no longer care about the face of a young lady.

Only when the army leaves tomorrow, she will put on her veil and rushes to her cousin’s horse to show that she is willing to wait for him.

Anyway, by then, her cousin will be ready to leave. Even if she wants to, she can’t get married.

In this way, it can not only repair the relationship between the two families of the Cui and Lian but also redeem her cousin’s mind in withdrawing from their marriage. More importantly, she doesn’t have to get married in a hurry to her cousin before the war and cut her way…

Thinking of this, Lian Binglan felt a little relieved. She waited for the dawn the next day and went to the roadside to wait for her cousin’s troops to pass by.

At dawn the next day.

Just after dawn, the streets were bustling with people from all directions.

Early in the morning, the Lian family occupied a teahouse on the roadside. They didn’t have to crowd with the crowd to wait for the soldiers of the State of Zhen.

However, Lian Binglan could see clearly from a high place. The third daughter of the He family from Lingquan Town unexpectedly came, with her eyes outstretched and her neck in front of her, holding a bouquet in her hand.

It seems that the news of her cousin’s withdrawal of marriage has also reached Lady He’s ears. Who is she going to give this wreath to? Doesn’t she know what kind of her background she has? Even if her cousin quits his marriage and marries another person in the future, will he still marry a merchant woman?

Lady He is not the only one. The road is crowded with young girls, all holding flowers in their hands, ready to worship the group of hot-blooded loyal youth.

Lian Binglan sneered.

In a moment, she must catch up before Lady He, stop the chariot and horses, and tell her cousin what she really wants so that he won’t believe the instigation of the bad-hearted servants in her mansion. She is sick, and she didn’t deliberately find an excuse not to marry.

To convince her cousin, she also drank the medicine specially made by the doctor. Since last night, red rashes have appeared on her body and face. Her cousin will not be so heartless!

Thinking of this, Lian Binglan scratched her arm unbearably. It was the effect of the medicine that was uncomfortable and her body itched unbearably. She hopes her cousin can come soon. So that she could cry in front of his horse and ask her cousin to take back the marriage withdrawal letter. After that, she could go back to her mansion to drink the antidote…

But after a while, a government official banged the gongs and shouted, “Please disperse away! The Prince’s troops and horses were already on the road last night! Please disperse away…”

Lian Binglan was shocked at this news. She sat stunned on a chair, and all she was thinking is, What should she do if her cousin just left like that?

It turned out that Cui Xingzhou felt that the time of the journey was very tight after checking the route, so he packed his bags last night and set off quietly with his soldiers.

He has no choice. The Emperor’s edict had urged him to go. Therefore, even a proper departure ceremony was not held, and they had to hurry forward.

When going out of the State of Zhen, Cui Xingzhou took the time to think of Miantang, who was placed in North Street.

Although he doesn’t want to think ominously to himself, to be realistic, it is very likely that he will never return after his departure.

At that time, if Miantang loses his protection and falls into the hands of the bandits of the Mountain of Yang, she will then be fraught with grim possibilities.

Cui Xingzhou didn’t have time to settle her down before setting off. However, she felt that Liu Miantang could not stay in Lingquan Town where the good and bad people are mixed for long. She had better go somewhere else to hide her name and lay low.

So he simply wrote a letter of divorce.

In the letter, he said frankly that the country was in danger. He had followed several friends to join the army and followed the troop of Prince Huaiyang to the northwest. He went with the determination to sacrifice his life for the country, and might not come back. Fortunately, Cui’s family still has plenty of land and houses in other places, and she has not been informed of them. He has given them all to her now. As for the place to go, Mo Ru will take her and settle her down safely.

In the future, she will marry at will and live her own leisure life.

Perhaps he wrote two letters in a day to sever his relationship with the women. Cui Xingzhou is familiar with the writing now.

However, this second letter was not written smoothly for some reason. He felt that some words were too blunt, and he was afraid that Lady Liu’s eyes would be red and swollen after reading them.

Therefore, it took a little effort to consider and revise it again and again.

Along with this letter, there was a yellowish marriage letter from the fake Cui Jiu, and the other was a letter of divorce.

Since then, Cui Xingzhou has also broken the shackles of Liu Miantang’s engagement. She doesn’t have to think that she’s the wife of someone else anymore. Without scruples, she can marry someone else.

Nowadays, chaos is beginning to appear, and the battlefield is changing rapidly. No one knows what he will be like in the future.

Cui Xingzhou knew that these were the only things he could do for Lady Liu.

As for what Liu Miantang would think, Cui Xingzhou did not think deeply.

However, there is a good saying that goes, husband and wife are birds in the same forest, and they fly separately in the face of disaster.

Similar to his cousin, Lian Binglan. Although she seems to love him very much normally, once she knows that he may never return, she makes another set of calculations to leave herself a safe future.

As for why he didn’t expose his lies, and still lied to the young lady in the name of Cui Jiu, there was a little subtle thought in Cui Xingzhou’s mind.

If he did not return, he hoped that the impression he left for Lady Liu is the merchant, Cui Jiu, who cared for her, instead of Prince Huaiyang that is full of lies and deceived her.

In the future, if he died in a foreign country, there will always be a woman who will shed a little love and tears for him when she can’t sleep at night… As for the issue of her losing her chastity in the Mountain of Yang, he will also hide it. It’s better to be divorced than to be tainted by bandits. Why would he tell her the cruel truth?

However, two days after he set out on the road, Mo Ru hurried over to him. He said that after Lady Liu received Cui Jiu’s divorce letter, she didn’t say a word. She only asked people to take care of the shop and hand over the shop affairs to the shopkeeper. She then closed the door and dug up the money, and asked the servants and maids to pack their bags.

In other words, after Lady Cui received the letter of divorce, everything was clean and tidy, without any hesitation or tears of abandonment.

Mo Ru originally wanted to take Lady Liu to the other counties and towns where The Prince has arranged to settle her. However, Lady Liu suddenly asked him to go to the shop to buy hemp rope and other sundries. When he came back, the lady, the maids, and even Servant Li were gone.

However, Servant Li left a message to one of the secret sentries to inform Mo Ru. She only said that Lady Liu didn’t want to go to the place arranged by The Prince, so she send him away and left herself.

Mo Ru thought that the secret sentries are still following Lady Liu, so they should be fine. Thus, he came back to The Prince to report the situation first.

Lady Liu’s reaction to taking care of the silver taels first was also expected by Cui Xingzhou.

However, she accepted so frankly that he had gone to the gate of death, and didn’t even shed a tear to pretend she was sad. She didn’t think of their relationship in the past made him feel uncomfortable.

Normally, she tends to put the word “husband” in her mouth which makes his bones tingle.

But when he was going to the battle, she packed the silver taels and left without shame. It can be seen that Liu Miantang has such a nature that even if she loses her memory, she will observe the times and judge the occasion and leave with the silver taels!

For a moment, Cui Xingzhou felt that he could quite understand the feelings of the Young Master Ziyu who had also encountered her running away with the money…

If he had the leisure, Cui Xingzhou might smash things in a room and scold her parents severely. But he doesn’t even have the time to give unspoken criticism now.

The army is rushing their way day and night, striving to go to the northwest in the shortest possible time.

Although some warm-blooded youths resolutely join the army and actively resist the enemy, there are naturally some timid deserters in the army. Therefore, on their way heading northwest, the inspection cavalry responsible for catching these deserters were also coming back and forth for inspection.

Once the deserters were caught, the army immediately stopped moving forward. Those deserters were stripped of their clothes and beheaded in front of the public.

Along the way, there are countless deserters, and the butcher’s knife was about to be rolled.

Cui Xingzhou was expressionless and merciless. He also let his people send his message of the names of these deserters will be sent back to their hometowns, and their names will be written on the announcement and pasted on the fields. When the time comes, not only will there be no pension money issued by the Imperial Court, but their parents and wives will be ashamed and unable to lift their heads in front of the villagers.

“Like all the generals and soldiers here, I abandoned my family and property and went to the battle to fight the enemy with the determination of death. I wanted to make my family be able to live peacefully and defend our home and land. If you refuse to fight the enemy and be a deserter. I will never have mercy on these people. Since it’s death either way, why don’t you go to the battlefield and fight the enemies like tiger and wolf to the death, so that you can die more bravely? Besides, wealth and honor are the most important thing! If you want to be successful, isn’t it a good time to start by making contributions to the 10000-miles battlefield ahead? ‘There’s a high-rise pavilion with portraits of meritorious officials built by the Court to commend meritorious officials’! Isn’t that sentence the meaning of what I said? Don’t you want to make contributions and become the famous officials and good generals of the Great Yan Dynasty? ”

After killing a group of deserters, Cui Xingzhou rode on his horseback, stood on the road filled red with blood, and shouted to a group of soldiers.

He didn’t say much, but every sentence was reasonable. Who doesn’t knows the generous deeds of Prince Huaiyang who withdrew his marriage from Lady Lian to fight the enemy with the determination to die?

Prince Huaiyang as the Royal Highness had tremendous wealth and properties. But he still led the army out for battle. They are just some poor people who have no land and no property, what are they afraid of?

Just like what The Prince said, “the Court will commend meritorious officials”. Since they have to go to the northwest, why don’t they fight with the enemy instead of being a deserter and die tragically on the deserted road?

After this time, the phenomenon of desertion suddenly decreased, and the soldiers of the State of Zhen were all of one mind and went to the front.

However, after rushing the journey for five days and five nights, the head of the cavalry inspection came all the way quickly and reported to Grand Marshal, Cui Xingzhou, with some hesitation, “I’d like to inform you, Commander, that a carriage has been sneaking behind the troops. My subordinates suspected that it was a spy on the military, so they ordered people to stop the carriage.”

Cui Xingzhou was looking at the map on his horse’s back. When he heard this, he didn’t look up and said, “Interrogate yourself. If there are any suspicious things, punished them on the spot.”

The leader naturally knew this principle, but just when he was trying to capture the people, a black-faced woman handed him a waist token of The Prince’s Residence, saying that she wanted to find Cui Jiu, Lord Cui.

However, while one of the young women was not paying attention, the black-faced woman whispered to him, “Please report to The Prince and take this waist token to him. Otherwise, if you delay any important event, The Prince will surely punish you with the name of serious crimes!”

The waist token is real, and the black-faced woman’s stare is a little scary, so the leader is ready to report to The Prince with the beatings.

Cui Xingzhou saw that the waist token indeed belongs to The Prince Residence, and according to the leader’s description, the black-faced woman looked like Servant Li who should have left with Liu Miantang.

Cui Xingzhou was stunned and ordered Mo Ru to go and have a look first.

After a while, Mo Ru ran back and reported, “Your… Your Highness, it’s indeed Lady Liu!”

Before Mo Ru finished, Cui Xingzhou had turned over and dismounted, and walked towards the rear of the troops with his long legs.

However, after walking a few steps, he seemed to the thought of something again. He pointed to the armor of a commander next to him and motioned him to take it off and put it on himself.

After he had taken off his gold armor and replaced it with half-worn leather armor, he strode to the end of the troops.