Chapter 195: Left Behind Women

Xiao Huai’an hadn’t intended to speak about it so soon.

But since Ye Xin Ran had asked, he didn’t want to keep hiding it anymore.

The question was, how should he start?

He hesitated for a long moment before finally saying, “I… might have to leave here.”

“Leave here?”

Ye Xin Ran thought of many possible reasons, but this wasn’t one of them.

She anxiously asked, “Didn’t you get exiled here?

I remember Uncle Li Zheng mentioning before that because you were exiled to this place, you can’t leave without the emperor’s order. That’s why he wanted us to enter the Zhang family tree.

How is it that you can leave all of a sudden? Did the emperor issue a new decree?”

Ye Xin Ran didn’t have much of a concept of the emperor, but she knew that in this dynasty, the emperor’s words were law, and no one could easily defy or change his decisions.

“Yes,” Xiao Huai’an said.

“But I haven’t decided yet.”

“Why?” Ye Xin Ran asked.

If he could leave here, wouldn’t that mean he would be free?

He could go anywhere, do anything, and wouldn’t have to stay in this one place forever.

Why would Xiao Huai’an still need to think about it?

Seeing her expression, Xiao Huai’an realized she misunderstood, and he explained, “The emperor didn’t set me free.

The situation in the northern region is urgent, and they need someone to lead the troops. My former deputy general submitted a petition to the emperor, requesting that I return to the military.”

“The damn emperor agreed?” Ye Xin Ran immediately looked displeased.

“Yes,” Xiao Huai’an nodded.

He didn’t correct her disrespectful words toward the emperor.

“You can’t go!” Ye Xin Ran said without thinking.

“When he exiled you, what was he thinking? Now that there’s a war, he suddenly remembers you? Is everyone who can fight in Da Liang already dead?”

Ye Xin Ran became quite emotional, leaving Xiao Huai’an a bit stunned.

He hadn’t shared with her what had happened to his family.

If she knew that his entire family had been executed, leaving only him and a few children alive, she would be even angrier!

Seeing Ye Xin Ran getting upset on his behalf made Xiao Huai’an feel a warmth in his heart.

But he knew that he had no choice.

The “haven’t decided yet” was merely an excuse.

“In truth, I have no other choice!”

Xiao Huai’an spoke.

“The emperor has already promised me that if we win this war, he will reopen the investigation into the Xiao family’s case.

This is also a great opportunity for me!”

A chance to regain military power and take control of his own destiny.

Ye Xin Ran had just spoken out of anger.

She knew that as long as the emperor had ordered it, he couldn’t refuse. He didn’t have the right to say no.

“When will you leave?” Ye Xin Ran asked.

Having said the difficult things out loud, Xiao Huai’an finally had the courage to face this question.

“The exact date hasn’t been set yet. I’m just worried…”

He looked at Ye Xin Ran, his eyes filled with reluctance and concern.

“Worried that I won’t be able to live like a widow, or worried that I won’t take care of the kids properly?”

Ye Xin Ran didn’t expect that after traveling through time, she would have to live as a “left-behind wife” with children to raise!

And her husband wasn’t off to work, but off to war.

The outcome was uncertain, and his return date was unknown.

“I’ve already arranged for people to protect you. You don’t need to worry,” Xiao Huai’an said, knowing that no matter what he said, Ye Xin Ran wouldn’t be happy. So, he gritted his teeth and told her his next plan.

“What do I need to worry about? We treat others with kindness, and we don’t have any enemies. We should be safe,” Ye Xin Ran replied.

She didn’t want to be disappointed or angry, but she couldn’t control her temper.

She had promised herself that she would focus on earning money and not care about men.

But somewhere along the way, she had let this man into her heart.

She had thought that they would make money while they were young and then retire to the mountains to live a peaceful life.

Fish-keeping, flower-gardening…

But Xiao Huai’an had secretly been planning to leave without telling her anything.

Since he had already arranged for someone to protect them, this wasn’t a sudden decision.

He had known he would leave for a long time but never mentioned it to her!

That scoundrel!

“If you hadn’t married, would you still leave? Have you thought about what will happen to the three children?” Ye Xin Ran asked.

Xiao Huai’an thought for a moment and gave a difficult answer.

“The people I arranged to protect you were also meant to help take care of the three children.”

“Oh, so you had already planned everything. I was the only unexpected part!” Ye Xin Ran said, expressing her anger.

But deep down, she knew that no matter what she said, it wouldn’t change the situation.

“Forget it, I shouldn’t be this angry!”

Ye Xin Ran thought about the business, thought about the obedient and sensible children.

Even without Xiao Huai’an, her life would still go on.

“I know you won’t stay here forever, I just didn’t expect this day to come so quickly.

If you trust me to take care of the three children, I’ll make sure they study well and wait for you to come back.”

“I naturally trust you!” Xiao Huai’an quickly replied.

He hadn’t expected this day to come so fast, especially in this way.

He had originally thought that by the time he left Yun Bian Village, everything would be prepared, and all the necessary arrangements would be made.

“Then what about you, will you wait for me to come back?”

He asked the question that had been bothering him.

Ye Xin Ran didn’t answer but asked instead, “And you? Will you definitely come back?”

“I will definitely come back!”

If it had been before, Xiao Huai’an might not have felt such a strong attachment to returning.

But now, he knew he had to come back.

The children would grow up, and he would have his own life, but Xin Ran, since they were married, he had to be responsible for her.

And she was focused on making money, needing someone by her side to take care of her.

He had to come back, to give Xin Ran a better life.

“As long as you come back, I’ll wait for you!”

Ye Xin Ran finally said this calmly.

There were no promises to make hearts flutter, no grand words.

Just a simple “I’ll wait for you as long as you come back,” which finally calmed Xiao Huai’an’s restless heart.

In his heart, he silently swore: no matter what happened in the future, no matter what kind of life they led, as long as Ye Xin Ran was willing to be with him, he would make sure she was happy!

“Chang An will be taking the exam next year. Will you wait until after his exam before you leave?”

Ye Xin Ran asked cautiously.

Xiao Huai’an hadn’t mentioned when he would leave.

But Ye Xin Ran really wanted to know how much longer this man would stay in Yun Bian Village.

“No.”

Xiao Huai’an answered.

“As soon as the people I arranged to protect you arrive, I’ll leave.

When the time comes, I’ll need your help.”

“My help?”

Ye Xin Ran was confused.

“What help could I provide?”