[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army":3,"chapter-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-201":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","A Little Soldier of the Late Ming Border Army",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1205490,1561,"Chapter 201: A Moth Flying into the Flame","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-201",201,"\u003Cp>Wang Dou left the Provincial Governor’s residence. Xie Yike, leading several guards, had been waiting outside the main gate the whole time. Seeing him as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, Wang Dou naturally understood what was on his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the moment he saw Wang Dou emerge, Xie Yike came up and asked cautiously, “Brother-in-law, what did the Provincial Governor say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou glanced at him. “Governor Ji wants me to divorce my wife and remarry. I refused, and he was very angry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike said with delighted surprise, “The Provincial Governor was very angry? That’s terrible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou looked at his beaming face — it didn’t look like a terrible situation at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike inwardly breathed an enormous sigh of relief. Wonderful — the thing he had been worrying about would not happen after all. His brother-in-law was still his brother-in-law, and his sister remained the principal wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grateful for Wang Dou’s steadfast devotion to his sister, he studied Wang Dou’s expression and edged closer with careful caution. “Brother-in-law, the Provincial Governor is very angry. What are you going to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said crossly, “Just go get properly married to your little Miss Chu. Why ask so many questions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Wang Dou had scolded him, Xie Yike was elated. He looked around. “Brother-in-law, we’re in the garrison city. Shall we have a good look around?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou cursed, “Look around my ass. We’re going back to Bao’an Department.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group rode at full speed back to Bao’an Department. It was already dark by the time they arrived. As soon as he entered the Guard Commander’s residence, his mother, Lady Zhong, asked anxiously, “Dou’er, how did it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou recounted his meeting with Ji Shiwei. His mother, Lady Zhong, felt both relief and worry. She glanced at Xie Xiuniang beside her, whose eyes were shining, and sighed. “You understand the principle that a wife who shared your hardships must not be cast aside — as your mother, I am comforted. But now Governor Ji holds a grudge against you. What is to be done?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, “Mother need not worry. Your son has his own plans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong only sighed with concern. Xie Xiuniang said, “Husband, Sister Ji is in the courtyard. Go see her quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The term “husband” was something Xie Xiuniang had learned from Ji Junjiao over the past two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou went to Ji Junjiao’s courtyard. The moment she saw him, Ji Junjiao wrapped her arms around his neck and said in a coquettish voice, “Husband.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou let her be affectionate for a while, then smiled. “Junjiao, I’ve just returned from the garrison city. Don’t you want to know how it went?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Junjiao’s eyes roamed over Wang Dou’s face. She sighed softly. “Judging by your expression, you don’t need to tell me. I imagine you suffered many grievances?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes gazed intently at Wang Dou, and warmth filled his heart. Ji Junjiao did not ask about the outcome first, but whether he had been wronged. She truly was a perceptive and charming woman. He had never seen that in her before, remembering only her coquettish, wild side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said gently, “Suffering a few grievances is nothing, only…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat down and told her everything about meeting her father. Ji Junjiao hung onto Wang Dou’s body. When she heard that Wang Dou had vowed to the death not to divorce his wife, a flash of admiration crossed her eyes. When she heard how Wang Dou had left her father and brothers speechless, she giggled, her delicate body constantly nuzzling against him. Finally, hearing her father’s heartless and unfeeling words, her expression turned despondent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou looked at her and said, “Junjiao, following me like this, without title or status — I fear it will be hard on you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Junjiao’s small hand pressed against Wang Dou’s mouth. Her gaze turned to the lantern outside the window, where several moths were circling the lantern without cease, their bodies colliding with the shade, their wings breaking, yet they paid no heed. She said, “See those moths? Junjiao is just like them. Junjiao searched long and hard, wanting only to find a man after her own heart. But once she has chosen, she will never turn back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had long since changed her maiden’s double-loop chignon into a married woman’s flying-phoenix coiffure. Her profile was graceful and beautiful, a pleasure to behold. Listening to her heartfelt words, Wang Dou was deeply moved. He said, “Junjiao, do you truly not mind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Junjiao said, “Mind what? Mind that you won’t divorce your wife and remarry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She added, “If you did, I would look down on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed. “Everything has an order of precedence. Why should I contend with Sister Xie? She is a pitiable person too. She has only you. If I snatched you away, wouldn’t that be taking her life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Wang Dou with a smile. “Nor do I fear you betraying me. If that day ever comes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From somewhere she produced a dagger gleaming with cold light and gestured toward Wang Dou’s chest. “I will stab it in right here, and pull out your heart and liver to see whether they are red or black. Then I will take my own life. We’ll go to the underworld together and be a pair of wild lovebirds — no more quarrels and troubles between principal wife and concubine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she smiled, her expression was solemn. Seeing her dagger and her manner, Wang Dou was momentarily stunned. Then he burst out laughing. “Good! I promise you — if I ever betray you, I will submit to your disposal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Junjiao’s expression turned coquettish. She put away the dagger and raised her thumb to Wang Dou with a charming smile. “Good! Worthy of being my man, Ji Junjiao’s man. Wang Dou, this is exactly what I love about you — your heroic spirit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou stood up and said, “I’ve been riding all day. I’m going to wash up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blush flew across Ji Junjiao’s cheeks. She tugged at Wang Dou’s clothes and said shyly, “Wang Dou, I want to go too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her bashful look, Wang Dou’s heart stirred. He scooped Ji Junjiao up in his arms and laughed. “Good, then we’ll take a lovers’ bath together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Junjiao giggled, her arms clinging tightly around Wang Dou’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later, Wang Dou got wind of news released from the Provincial Governor’s residence: it was said that Governor Ji’s daughter, Ji Junjiao, had suddenly died of a violent illness, and her previous betrothal to Yang Guanbi, the second son of Department Magistrate Yang of Wei Department, had been annulled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, many officers and officials in Xuanfu Garrison knew about Ji Junjiao fleeing her marriage to the Guard Commander’s residence in Bao’an Department. But the Provincial Governor’s posture made his fury abundantly clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of fear, no official dared spread the matter further. A few tactless officers who still wagged their tongues were, once Governor Ji learned of it, mercilessly made to suffer for it. And so the matter of Ji Junjiao became taboo throughout Xuanfu Garrison, and no one dared discuss it anymore. The affair died down unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Wang Dou knew the hatred burning in Ji Shiwei’s heart. He did not care. Confront soldiers with generals, and stem water with earth — he would deal with whatever came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The historical Qing army incursion was not far off. He redoubled his energy and threw himself into war preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>※※※\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old White Ox:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This evening I looked through the review section. A reader said I had been in a car accident — that’s going too far. Any man with a family knows the burden of supporting them, especially someone in business like me. It’s not like sitting comfortably in an office. Sometimes after running around outside all day, I come home, lie down, and simply don’t want to move — let alone after running around for days on end. Of course, I also understand the drawbacks of online serialization. I’ll try my best to keep updates stable from now on. If there’s a next book, I’ll definitely finish it, or at least half of it, before posting online, so there won’t be the headache of interrupted updates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past days, readers have been arguing endlessly about the character Ji Junjiao. Actually, in the late Ming, social mores were quite open. Wang Dou and Ji Junjiao going to bed together is really nothing to make a fuss about. This book has been laying the groundwork for Ji Junjiao’s character since Chapter 13, and now over a hundred chapters and seven hundred thousand words later, it’s about time they went to bed. For Wang Dou, if he wants to take a woman, he takes her; if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. Taking or pushing away a particular woman is just a trivial matter. The so-called harem or womanizing debate is really unnecessary. Just follow your heart — that’s my style too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some readers may worry that now that Ji Junjiao has been bedded by the protagonist, her appeal will decline, since that’s how women in web novels usually are. But experienced readers know that when a man and a woman go to bed, or get married, the story has only just begun. Like the other female characters, I will delve deeply into Ji Junjiao’s thoughts and inner depth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The war plot is coming up soon. Matters of women will be set aside for now.\u003C\u002Fp>",1594,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","ecc9a7b12b931f0319314fa5977ae6790358f6ebf9de52d93ab5ba6fc9237d1f","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-202","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-200",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]