Three days passed quickly.

Chen Xinwan had been busy for two days, gathering everything Jiang Fengyuan and Jiang Yuanwu needed for their departure.

Early in the morning, she gently woke her daughter from her warm bed.

Seeing her daughter’s confused expression, Chen Xinwan stroked her little face.

“Your father and second brother are about to leave. Yuanxi, get up and see them off.”

Jiang Yuanxi immediately shook off her sleepiness and climbed out of bed.

At the entrance of the Jiang residence, Chen Xinwan’s eyes were red.

Jiang Fengyuan felt heartbroken seeing his wife cry.

Even as a tall and strong man, his eyes turned misty.

This time, the Xiongnu had suddenly invaded the Yufeng border, and the war would last at least seven or eight months.

“Xinwan, wait for me to return,” he comforted her.

Jiang Yuanwu was also reluctant to leave.

Other families, including the Han State Duke’s mansion and the Chen family, came to see them off.

The Han State Duke warned, “The Xiongnu must have made thorough preparations for this sudden attack. Be careful.”

Seeing his father’s melancholy expression, Jiang Yuanwu confidently replied, “Rest assured, Duke. We will not return unless we reach the Xiongnu King’s court!”

The Han State Duke nodded.

It was good for young people to be full of ambition.

Master Chen patted Jiang Yuanwu’s shoulder and said sincerely, “Stay safe and come back in one piece.”

Jiang Yuanwu looked toward the gate. “Mother, where’s Yuanxi?”

Chen Xinwan replied, “She was just here a moment ago.”

That little rascal must have run off somewhere again.

Jiang Yuanwu gazed down the street, his eyes filled with longing as if he was waiting for someone.

When Jiang Yuanxi finally came out, she saw her father holding her mother and crying.

If someone didn’t know better, they would think it was her mother going off to war.

The generals who had come to see them off sneered.

Who would have thought that the famous General Zhengyuan, known far and wide, would act like this in private?

Tears streamed down his face like a broken dam.

Jiang Yuanxi took out several talismans from her pocket and folded them into triangles.

“Second Brother, these are protection charms. One for you, one for Father, and this one is yours—don’t lose it!”

Jiang Yuanwu’s heart skipped a beat.

He clenched the talisman meant just for him.

If he had an extra one compared to his father, then this expedition would be especially dangerous.

But with countless citizens behind him, no matter how bad things got, he had to hold on.

Jiang Yuanxi thought for a moment and added, “Second Brother, your fate star is in the north. Remember to go north!”

“Alright,” Jiang Yuanwu agreed. He remembered every word his little sister said.

Mounting his horse, Jiang Yuanwu called out, “Mother, I’m leaving!”

Jiang Fengyuan wailed.

“Xinwan, you must wait for me to return!”

Tears welled up in Chen Xinwan’s eyes as she waved at their retreating figures.

Jiang Yuanxi sat at the doorway and shouted.

“Father, come back soon!”

“Second Brother, I’ll watch over Second Sister-in-law for you. I won’t let a third person appear!”

Jiang Yuanwu nearly fell off his horse.

Could his little sister not be so loud?!

If Yuting heard that, what would she think?

But he still replied,

“Take good care of her. If someone tries to win her over—”

“I know, I know!” Jiang Yuanxi interrupted eagerly. “I’ll break his legs and wait for you to deal with him when you return!”

Jiang Yuanwu burst out laughing. As expected of his sister.

Chen Xinwan took a deep breath. These two were both too unruly.

She had no idea whom they took after.

“Xinwan! You must wait for me!”

…

Meanwhile, at the entrance of a nearby alley, Mo Yuting blushed again.

That fool had no shame.

The little maid behind her asked, “Princess, why not see Second Young Master off in person?”

Mo Yuting snapped back to reality. “Why would I send him off?”

Then she called out to the maid, “Take this sachet to the city gate.”

The little maid smirked mischievously. “Princess, aren’t you going yourself? Second Young Master looks so heroic. You should see him off personally.”

Mo Yuting huffed, “Oh, so even you are teasing me now!”

“Hurry back before they leave.”

“Yes, Princess!”

..

At the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, chaos ensued.

The Grand Preceptor paced anxiously outside.

Even the usually carefree Wang Hanqi stood guard with a worried expression.

“Terrible news! The madam is having a difficult labor!”

The Grand Preceptor staggered.

Difficult labor!

That was life-threatening!

“Someone, hurry! Call the imperial physicians from the palace!”

The empress sent her best physicians, but it was still of no use.

Inside the room, Shi Ruomei lay weakly on the bed.

The physicians were panicking.

“The child is too large, madam. You must hold on!”

A little maid kept feeding her ginseng soup, but it didn’t help.

Shi Ruomei felt her strength fading and her consciousness drifting away.

She slowly closed her eyes.

Suddenly, all the pain vanished, replaced by an eerie cold.

Then, a surge of warmth radiated from her chest.

A powerful energy entered her body, snapping her awake.

A moment later, the room echoed with a baby’s cries.

“It’s a girl!” The maid wept with joy.

After handing the baby to the midwife, the maid rushed outside with the news.

Soon, the Grand Preceptor burst in.

Ignoring the newborn, he rushed straight to his wife.

“Mei’er, are you alright?”

When he learned of her dangerous labor, he had been scared stiff.

Shi Ruomei pulled out a talisman given to her by Jiang Yuanxi.

Right before their eyes, the paper burned into ash without a single spark.

The couple immediately understood.

Tears welled in Shi Ruomei’s eyes. “Husband, if not for Yuanxi, I—I wouldn’t have made it.”

Just moments ago, she felt as if she had been at the gates of the underworld, only to be yanked back by an unknown force.

The Grand Preceptor held her hand tightly. “Don’t worry. The Jiang family has saved us. No matter what happens in the future, I will always support them.”

..

Back at the Jiang residence, Jiang Yuanxi had just sat down with Chen Xinwan when Chunzhi rushed in.

“Madam, the Grand Preceptor has sent many gifts! They’re outside!”

Chen Xinwan was puzzled. “Gifts from the Grand Preceptor?”

They hadn’t had much interaction with his family recently.

“Did he send gifts to other families as well?”

Chunzhi shook her head. “Only to us.”

Jiang Yuanxi calculated with her fingers.

[“Looks like she gave birth. With my talisman protecting Pretty Auntie, even the King of Hell had to send her back.”]

Chunzhi added, “I heard the Grand Preceptor’s wife had a difficult labor but finally gave birth safely. No one knows why he sent gifts only to us.”

Chen Xinwan glanced at her daughter and whispered, “Accept the gifts.”

They belonged to Yuanxi.

..

“Madam,” Chun Zhi hesitated before adding, “Master Kong’s disciple came again. He’s been waiting at the Imperial Academy for three days.”

Chen Xinwan frowned and turned to Jiang Yuansheng.

“Didn’t the master say Yuanxi should start school in five days because he was sick?”

Jiang Yuansheng raised an eyebrow. “Mother, Master is perfectly healthy.”

Realizing something, Chen Xinwan’s face darkened as she turned to Jiang Yuanxi.

Jiang Yuanxi immediately lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers.

Moments later, wailing filled the room.

“Eldest Brother, save me! Waaaah!”

Jiang Yuansheng calmly turned away and stuffed cotton into his ears.

Jiang Yuanxi: …

Waaah! That old man was unreasonable!

He tattled on me!