Chapter 152: Opening One's Heart

Tuke Tuke Siluo remained in high spirits; he took up the thread of conversation and said, "What else could happen? Those Xi Xia soldiers who couldn't even get a meal would dare to seek revenge? If they still had any capacity to advance troops, how could I have led men thirty li deep into Xi Xia and not seen a single person? Rest assured, I can guarantee that from now on, upon hearing my lord's name, these Xi Xia beasts will only have the option to scramble away in terror."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu heard this with some confusion and pressed, "What do you mean by that?" Tuke Tuke Siluo chuckled, "I left my lord's banner beside the corpses of those Xi Xia people, so they would know who defeated them. Therefore, I assert that as long as my lord's banner flies over Great Feng for one day, the Xi Xia people will not dare to relax for one day."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a bitter smile rise within him, while Zhu Ge Yu still wore an expression of worry.

Although everyone celebrated the victory, they also understood that this battle might only be the beginning, and the challenges of the future could be even more severe.

Zhu Ge Yu's warning reminded him that although the Xi Xia people were currently in difficulty, hunger and despair might ignite greater ambition and determination. Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in agreement: "You are right; we cannot let our guard down because of the victory before our eyes. The Xi Xia people cannot eat now, but once they survive this winter, they will surely return. Great Feng may face even harsher challenges, and we could be utterly annihilated at any moment."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's words caused everyone to fall into silence; they understood this was not the time to slacken. Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued, "Even saying this is optimistic. If they are truly driven to starvation, besides invading Great Feng again, where else can they go? Therefore, the most urgent thing now is to quickly organize Great Feng's defenses and prepare to fight again at any time."

As the conversation proceeded, Jiang Jiang Mingyu and the soldiers behind him had already crossed the border and returned within Great Feng's territory. Snowflakes covered Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face, but his eyes were firm; he understood that action must be taken immediately. He nodded in agreement with Zhu Ge Yu's suggestion: "Exactly, Zhu Ge Yu is right; being prepared prevents trouble. After returning to the city, immediately tally the casualties and replenish the missing soldiers as soon as possible. Also, today we captured many warhorses; this official estimates there are at least ten thousand. Miss Zhang, later you select personnel and train the cavalry as quickly as possible."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu had always been troubled by the lack of cavalry; now that he had this opportunity, he was naturally overjoyed. After returning to the city defense camp, he personally stood before the roster and began tallying the casualties, while Tuke Tuke Siluo could not wait to report: "My lord, you may not believe it, but today our army's total casualties were less than two thousand."

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was nearly dumbfounded. Casualties of less than two thousand had resulted in the destruction of forty thousand elite Xi Xia cavalry; this victory was almost unbelievable to him. He silently reflected that perhaps since the founding of Great Feng, there had never been such a glorious military achievement.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu handed over all affairs in the city to Zhu Ge Yu, then turned to Tuke Tuke Siluo to express his intention to go to the prefectural city tomorrow morning to report the merit. This glorious military achievement meant his official promotion was imminent.

However, suddenly, Lord Lord Murong changed into clean clothes, knelt before Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and said with emotion, "Brother Jiang Xingqiu, until today, you have finally avenged my deceased family. I have waited for this day for far too long. I said what I would do; from today on, this life belongs to my lord. I will go into water if water comes, and into fire if fire comes; there will be no second words."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt immense emotion and respect for Lord Lord Murong's decision. Watching Lord Lord Murong's departing back, he did not know what to say for a moment. He sighed, shook his sleeves, and rode back to the county yamen.

Upon returning to the county yamen, he immediately ordered the guards to post a notice informing the city residents that the Xi Xia people had retreated and Great Feng had achieved a major victory. He also instructed the kiln factory to continue operations and accelerate the production of glass and iron to meet the needs of the prefectural city.

After the guards received the order and departed, Jiang Jiang Mingyu coughed a few times, then walked into the main hall of the county yamen.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu had not sat down for long when Liu Liu Yifei, dressed in red, rushed in hurriedly. Her face was full of anxiety, as if she feared Jiang Jiang Mingyu had been injured. She said, "Jiang Xingqiu, let me see quickly; are you alright? Do you know? Hearing that you led the great army onto the battlefield, I was nearly scared to death."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled, gently embraced Liu Liu Yifei, and softly comforted her: "Rest assured, Liu Yifei; am I not very well? What, are you afraid I died in battle and didn't..." His words were gently blocked by Liu Liu Yifei's small hand.

Liu Liu Yifei looked superstitious, repeatedly spitting and saying, "Pah, pah, pah; do not speak like that; it is unlucky." Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt her small hand smooth and slippery, so he kissed it, causing her eyes to become tender.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu joyfully shared the abundant battle results achieved by everyone with Liu Liu Yifei, but she cared little about these things.

She only cared about Jiang Jiang Mingyu's safety and the peace of Great Feng.

Liu Liu Yifei's fearful look warmed Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart, and he finally gently kissed her beautiful red lips.

The moment their lips touched, Liu Liu Yifei trembled all over, and then her mind went completely blank.

In this moment, it seemed as if time had stopped.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Liu Liu Yifei's kiss grew more passionate; their lips and tongues intertwined as if recounting endless emotions.

Liu Liu Yifei's body gradually became soft; her hands slowly circled Jiang Jiang Mingyu's neck, hugging him tightly as if trying to merge him into her embrace.

Liu Liu Yifei's breathing was rapid and irregular; her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were hazy and full of passion.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sank deeply into her eyes, as if finding a world belonging to them there.

After a long while, their lips parted, but their eyes met; in this moment, they both understood that this emotion had sunk deep into their hearts and would not be easily forgotten.

Then, Jiang Jiang Mingyu gently kissed Liu Liu Yifei's forehead and said softly, "Liu Yifei, no matter what happens, I will protect you, forever."

Liu Liu Yifei nodded, her eyes full of happiness and dependence; she knew that in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's embrace, she had found her safe haven.

Releasing Liu Liu Yifei's hand, Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed into her beautiful eyes and asked softly, "I have another piece of good news here; do you want to hear it?"

Blushing, Liu Liu Yifei also became interested in this good news and asked, "What good news? Tell me quickly."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed deeply into Liu Liu Yifei's large eyes and said without hesitation, "I plan to take advantage of this great victory to propose to your father, marry you into my home, and let you become my wife in a grand and glorious manner."

Liu Liu Yifei asked in surprise, "Why are you always thinking about proposing?"

In that instant, Liu Liu Yifei suddenly recalled everything Jiang Jiang Mingyu had done for her.

To seek justice for her, he publicly struck down the Zhu family prodigal Zhu Zhu Tianxiang; he bravely opposed Huang Huang Chaoran, the prefectural city's Chief Clerk; he even risked execution to privately mobilize fifty thousand troops, solely to pursue Che Ting who had kidnapped her.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's moves to move her were truly too many.

Seeing Liu Liu Yifei somewhat moved, Jiang Jiang Mingyu quickly seized the opportunity and said, "Of course; you are such a good Miss. If I do not act in time, and someone else snatches you away, I will have nowhere to cry."

Then, Jiang Jiang Mingyu became serious and asked, "Liu Yifei, are you willing to be my wife?"

Liu Liu Yifei's face turned so red it seemed to extend to the roots of her ears, but just as she was about to nod, she seemed to think of something.

She said, "Letting me marry you, I do not oppose it, but I have one condition."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was willing to agree to any condition Liu Liu Yifei proposed, whether it was one, one hundred, or one thousand.

He said firmly, "Speak; I will definitely agree."

Liu Liu Yifei gazed into Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes and said, word by word, "I want you to promise that in this life you will marry only me, and in your heart there can only be me; are you willing?"

In this world filled with three wives and four concubines, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's status gave him the ability to marry multiple wives; even eight would be reasonable.

However, the innocent Liu Liu Yifei did not want to share Jiang Jiang Mingyu with anyone.

Fortunately, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was not someone who fell in love with everyone he saw or could not move his feet when seeing a woman. Thus, he solemnly nodded and said, "I am willing."

Then, Jiang Jiang Mingyu told her, "Before you nod, I have one more thing to tell you."

Seeing his tone become even more solemn, Liu Liu Yifei quickly asked softly, "What is it? Speak."

Next, Jiang Jiang Mingyu recounted the grievances between him and the Prince of Qi without holding anything back.

He described to Liu Liu Yifei the unfavorable situation in the current court; if the Prince of Qi ascended, he would face the threat of death.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked, "Liu Yifei, in this predicament, are you willing to marry me?"

Facing the current situation, Liu Liu Yifei had no heart to consider matters of marriage; she hurriedly asked, "Then will you just sit with your hands tied and await death, without any plan to respond?"

But she immediately realized her words were somewhat rash and quickly corrected herself: "What I mean is..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand, smiled, and said, "No need to explain; I know you are also thinking of me; I understand."

He looked around, confirmed no one was nearby, and continued in a low voice, "Since matters have come to this, I will no longer hide anything from you."

"Did you see the fifty thousand troops in the city defense camp? That is my reserve hand prepared to deal with the Prince of Qi."

He told Liu Liu Yifei his entire plan: if he were driven to a dead end by the Prince of Qi, he would rise in rebellion.

Liu Liu Yifei looked at him in surprise, while Jiang Jiang Mingyu said with a bitter smile, "From the moment I began recruiting these fifty thousand men, my fate has left only two paths."

"Either to barely survive, only to die in the Prince of Qi's hands one day, or to become a rebel despised by all."

He stared tightly into Liu Liu Yifei's eyes, his gaze filled with helplessness and desolation.

"So, Liu Yifei, even if you do not agree to marry me, I will not blame you."

"You are a good Miss; how could you follow me, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, through such a perilous life?"

Liu Liu Yifei gazed at his bitter smile and slowly asked, "Besides us, who else knows about this matter?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat opposite her, lifted his teacup, and took one sip.

He replied, "There are also Tuke Tuke Siluo and Zhu Ge Yu; they only found out recently as well. You are all the people I trust most. What is it?"

After the tension just now, Liu Liu Yifei gradually calmed down.

She said, "Jiang Xingqiu, this matter is of great importance; we cannot mention it to a fourth person from now on."

"No matter how the future develops, our safety is the most important."

If this matter were to spread, Jiang Jiang Mingyu would only face the fate of being hunted down.

Hearing her say so, Jiang Jiang Mingyu paused for a moment, then nodded with a bitter smile. He understood that Liu Liu Yifei was considering them both.