Granny Song had never heard of this matter before. Hearing about it from her daughter-in-law now, she felt both nervous and curious, "What did Master Xu Yun say?"
Granny Song was different from Song Wei; she was superstitious and had long heard of Master Xu Yun. Knowing her son could be personally advised by such a highly esteed master made her feel blessed.
Wen Wan replied truthfully, "The master said that my foresight ability does indeed go against heavenly principles, but as long as I don’t use it for evil, it won’t bring disaster, and there’s no talk of divine retribution. He also said that my husband is a fortunate man with a protective star."
"Oh my, did the master really say that?"
"Would I lie to you?" Wen Wan said, "Third Son went with . If you don’t believe , you could ask him?"
"No need for that." Granny Song recalled the words ’fortunate man with a protective star’ and felt excited, "No wonder that old fortune teller in town said you two were destined to be together. It’s like making you marry in was a great choice."
When Wen Wan first married into the Song family, she’d often heard her mother-in-law mutter about her being a daughter-in-law matched by eight characters. She never asked about it in detail, but hearing her ntion it again now, she couldn’t help but inquire, "Mother, what exactly did you do before I married Third Son?"
"What could an old lady like do? I just had soone match your eight characters."
Wen Wan suddenly understood, "No wonder the marriage went so smoothly back then!"
"Of course." Granny Song wasn’t modest, "If you weren’t blessed, would I have agreed to let a daughter-in-law who couldn’t even speak enter the family six or seven years ago? Did you really think I was that eager for you?"
Wen Wan shalessly replied, "It didn’t matter if you weren’t keen six or seven years ago. What matters is that you like now."
Granny Song snorted, "Now that you’re like a protective star over my son, how could I not like you? If I weren’t afraid you’d drop from the pressure, I’d want to burn incense and set you up on a pedestal!"
...
After chatting with her mother-in-law for over half an hour, Wen Wan returned to her courtyard.
Song Wei asked her why Second Lang’s wife had co.
ntioning this, Wen Wan couldn’t help but sigh, "The circle in the capital is really small. I had to go through so much trouble to figure out the identity of that little girl downstream of Mile Mountain. Yet Second Sister-in-law spotted her on the street today too."
"Did she co looking for help?"
"Yes, from what she said, it seems she really saw the one from Kangding Bo Mansion."
Song Wei asked, "Then what did you tell her?"
"Of course, I couldn’t let her know that Li Huairu is Sanyang. I told her that it’s not unusual for people to resemble each other, that the other is a young lady, and that our Sanyang went missing in Ningzhou. It’s irrelevant and doesn’t even connect."
Song Wei hadn’t expected the second branch to discover Li Huairu’s presence so quickly, "No matter what, we need to do our best to keep this under wraps."
...
Returning to the alleyway courtyard, Second Lang’s wife thanked Uncle Lin and asked him to take his ti on the way back.
As she entered, Song Erlang saw her looking defeated and asked, "What happened?"
Earlier, upon seeing Li Huairu, Second Lang’s wife had hurriedly sent their son ho and rented a carriage directly to Song Mansion without even telling her husband. Now, hearing his question, she looked up.
"Erlang, if I say I saw Sanyang, would you believe ?"
"In broad daylight, what’s this nonsense you’re spouting?" Song Erlang said, bending down to continue peeling shrimp, which was for tomorrow’s wonton filling.
"I really saw her." Second Lang’s wife’s voice carried helplessness.
She had already explained more than ten tis that she truly saw their daughter and it wasn’t an illusion or mistake.
If she weren’t her own child, the feeling wouldn’t be so imdiate at first sight.
Why then does no one believe ?
"Where?"
Song Erlang responded nonchalantly.
"On the street, she got down from a carriage," thinking her husband might believe her, Second Lang’s wife explained in detail, "I wanted to call her over then but held back seeing she had company."
"I think you’re obsessed," Song Erlang splashed cold water over her claim, "Sanyang passed in our hotown Ningzhou. You’re saying you saw her in the capital? What, did she grow wings and fly here?"
"Dad, Mom, what are you talking about?" Song Jiao brought over tea after brewing it, hearing the couple’s conversation.
Song Erlang was forthright, "Da Ya, you better talk so sense into your mother. She just said she saw Sanyang on the street. Isn’t that nonsense!"
Song Jiao’s eyes flickered, looking at her mother, "Mom, did you really see Sanyang?"
"Don’t ask anymore." Second Lang’s wife was irritated, "Anyway, even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe it."
"I believe it!" Song Jiao said.
"Da Ya, do you really believe Mom?" Finally, soone was willing to stand on her side; Second Lang’s wife seed slightly excited.
"I believe it." Song Jiao placed the tea tray on the table, sat down, and looked at her mother seriously, "Because I saw her too."
Hearing this, Song Erlang paused in peeling the shrimp, casting a peculiar glance over, "What’s this about? You mother and daughter teaming up to go insane together?"
Second Lang’s wife frowned, "Even the girl said she saw it, can’t you let people finish talking? Da Ya, don’t listen to your dad, tell mom quickly, where did you see Sanyang, and when did you see her?"
"Just a few days ago," Song Jiao replied truthfully, "With Third Aunt."
"Then why didn’t your Third Aunt tell the truth today when I went to see her?"
"Mom, don’t get agitated yet, let finish." Song Jiao said everything in detail, "That day, I accompanied Third Aunt to the street, and midway, a pickpocket swiped my purse. While we were chasing after it, we bumped into a cart, fell in the middle of the road, and blocked a carriage’s path.
In that carriage was soone Third Aunt knew. As she spoke with her, the other party lifted the curtain, and then I saw the little girl sitting beside her.
At first, I also thought it was Sanyang because they look so alike. But that girl has such tender and delicate skin; our Sanyang can’t compare, can she? Besides, that girl is the young lady of Kangding Bo Mansion, surnad Li, called Li Huairu."
Finally, Song Jiao concluded, "Mom wasn’t wrong; there is indeed soone in the Capital who looks like Sanyang. But if you et her again in the future, don’t get excited and rush over to grab her. Our Sanyang is a village girl from the countryside; the one in the Capital is an honorable lady from the Uncle Mansion!"
Hearing this, Second Lang’s wife had mixed feelings.
It was hard enough to find soone who stood by her side and was willing to believe she had really seen her daughter, but this is what she got.
Afraid she had overlooked sothing, Song Jiao tentatively asked, "Mom, did you go to Third Aunt’s house today? What did Third Aunt say to you?"
Second Lang’s wife replied casually, "She said it’s not impossible for people to look alike in this world, told not to take it to heart."
"There’s your answer." Song Jiao said, "Third Aunt advised you not to overthink. So what is it that you can’t let go of? Third Uncle has quite a few capable people at his side. If she really were Sanyang, Third Uncle wouldn’t have ignored it to investigate."
Faced with the situation, Second Lang’s wife had no choice but to accept the reality, "Alright, stop talking about it. I won’t bring it up in the future, okay?"
——
As autumn arrived, the sudden drop in temperature, with the dry, cold wind howling, gave one the illusion that winter would arrive early this year.
After several months, the battle in the Northwest was nearing its end, with victory reports constantly coming in, greatly pleasing Emperor Guangxi, who ordered rewards for the three armies.
Su Qing found ti to submit a morial to Emperor Guangxi.
The morial expressed that the enemy leader was actively seeking negotiations, willing to exchange twenty cities for a century of peace and truce between West Yue and Great Chu.
The West Yue army had engaged the Chu Army many years ago and was not unfamiliar with War God Lu Xingzhou’s combat tactics.
The Great Chu army had initially been losing ground, having already lost seven cities. Who would have thought that within just half a month, tactics would drastically change, employing unexpected maneuvers to counterattack, reclaiming lost cities, and being on the verge of breaking through six states at the West Yue border.
The West Yue side had no choice but to beco vigilant and start studying their opponent’s tactics.
Then, from certain details, they vaguely sensed Lu Xingzhou’s handiwork, and the Great General imdiately sent a ssage back to the Imperial City to consult the Monarch.
The West Yue Monarch didn’t expect Lu Xingzhou could still join the battle, and seeing the opponent advancing aggressively, had no choice but to actively seek negotiations.
Pursuing a cornered enemy is a well-understood principle by all in military strategy.
Lu Xingzhou, Su Qing, and Xu Guangfu all held a unified opinion that they could consider the opponent’s proposal; besides the cities, they could also demand silver tael compensation and open markets between the two countries.
But no one expected that after the morial was sent, what they got back wasn’t Emperor Guangxi’s agreent but a military command.
Emperor Guangxi directly ordered them to deploy border stationed troops to reinforce and pursue victory, with the goal of annihilating West Yue. If they couldn’t annihilate it, they should at least capture half of the cities.
Xu Guangfu received the military order, and for quite a while, couldn’t react.
"Why would the Emperor issue such a command?" Su Qing was puzzled.
Lu Xingzhou didn’t speak.
Xu Guangfu analyzed, "To annihilate West Yue, it would take seven to eight hundred thousand troops. Let alone we’ve just ended a months-long war, exhausted and lacking energy; even if we had the energy, gathering troops would take ti. Food and grass are also an issue. Most importantly, this kind of large-scale war requires a more rigorous and thorough plan.
Right now, we have nothing. Just with a few words, how could we easily wipe out a country?"
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