Chapter 741: I

Ji Xiang was not as agitated as before. He simply looked at Chen Sheng and Wang Zhaojing and asked, "Second Brother, Third Brother, what do we do now? Is Big Brother going to rescue her or not?"

Chen Sheng ignored him, simply strode out of the room with his saber. Wang Zhaojing shook his head and said, as if casually, "Get ready first. If he doesn't go, you don't need to make a sound. If he does, your personal guard will probably have to mobilize too."

"That's not hard. Our personal guard is always ready for battle," Ji Xiang replied.

Wang Zhaojing nodded, was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll go over to Wang Ziyang's place and let him know. We'll need to keep enough horses ready."

Li Yuliang's arrival and the reappearance of the name Mu Shulan caused no impact whatsoever on the Zhao Camp or Xuzhou. Everywhere was busy yet calm, as if nothing had happened at all.

Although it was already dark, Zhao Jin came home earlier than usual today, stirring a flurry of activity inside and out. His mother, He Cuihua, was quite happy about it and said with a smile, "Finally, I don't have to keep your food warming in the pot."

Children can be raised frugally or lavishly. Zhao Feng and Zhao Long had ten people attending them at all times, so their grandmother He Cuihua and mother Xu Zhenzhen only needed to keep an eye on things. With Zhao Jin back early, the family could rarely share a meal together.

Zhao Feng was just over a year old, and Zhao Long was a little over three months — exactly the age when they're hardest to look after. Seeing her father come home early, Zhao Feng kept trying to push her way toward him. When Zhao Long saw his sister moving away, he opened his mouth and started wailing. The meal was hardly peaceful, but the whole family was very happy, and even Zhao Jin had a smile on his face.

Perhaps his mother He Cuihua and Xu Zhenzhen had arranged something beforehand. Around the dining table, aside from the serving women tending the children, only Meng Ziqi was allowed to attend closely — clearly a sign that they did not treat the Meng family's younger sister as an outsider. Meng Ziqi, however, was both hopeful and bashful, her head lowered and hands fidgeting. Several times she nearly made mistakes, which only made her more embarrassed, and she didn't dare look at Zhao Jin at all.

But Zhao Jin didn't notice Meng Ziqi's behavior at all. In truth, his attention was entirely on Xu Zhenzhen and his two children, Zhao Feng and Zhao Long. He watched them so intently that his mind began to wander.

His family was very considerate and did not ask why he had come back early. They all assumed Zhao Jin was exhausted. After the meal, Zhao Jin and Xu Zhenzhen returned to their room.

Small children have plenty of energy, but they tire quickly. Zhao Feng happily clung to Zhao Jin for a while, then began yawning endlessly. Zhao Long, lying in his cradle, alternated between crying and laughing, and before long, he too was fast asleep.

"You've worked hard during this time."

"What hard work? With so many people serving, I've actually gotten fatter."

Once the bedroom was quiet, the husband and wife spoke softly. Zhao Jin rarely said such caring words. Xu Zhenzhen answered casually with a smile, but after she spoke, she realized something was off and looked at Zhao Jin curiously. Zhao Jin sat on the bed in silence. Xu Zhenzhen smiled and said, "Does my husband have something on his mind? Whether you speak of it or not is up to you — there's no fixed rule about these things."

"We've been married for over three years now, right? But I still don't really understand what it means to be husband and wife, to be a family. After all, it's my first marriage — I don't understand anything." Zhao Jin said this somewhat incoherently.

Xu Zhenzhen shot Zhao Jin a glare and said, exasperated, "It's my first marriage too. Do I understand everything, then?"

Zhao Jin was taken aback, then couldn't help laughing. Xu Zhenzhen punched him in the chest and couldn't help laughing either. Ever since their marriage, the two of them had each been preoccupied with their own affairs, constantly busy. They rarely had such a relaxed moment to tease each other. Still, they had to keep their voices down so as not to wake their sleeping children.

"Today, a youth was sent over from the north bank. He said he had an urgent matter to see me about. The men below didn't dare delay and sent him straight over…"

"Delaying Master Jin's business — that would be like the sky falling." Xu Zhenzhen teased with a smile, leaning against Zhao Jin's chest.

"A matter of such urgency had to be serious. I saw him. I never expected he would ask me to rescue Xiaolan." Zhao Jin sat there and said quietly.

Xu Zhenzhen froze and turned her head to look at Zhao Jin. The candlelight in the room was dim, and she couldn't make out his expression clearly — only a blur.

"I never imagined that all these years, Xiaolan has been in Linqing Prefecture, Dongchang Commandery, pushed to the front as a figurehead by those two scoundrel uncles of hers. She's suffered a great deal. And now, at the very end, with all the infighting in their sect, Xiaolan has been captured and taken to Yuncheng. I only learned all of this today." He still spoke softly, his tone betraying no emotion, as if recounting something that had nothing to do with him.

"Husband…" Xu Zhenzhen began.

Before Xu Zhenzhen could finish, Zhao Jin slowly shook his head and cut her off, saying, "From Dongchang Commandery to Xuzhou, even riding a fast horse without stopping takes three or four days. By the time he got here and I go back, the person would likely already be dead. I'm just sighing. After all these years since she disappeared, the first news I hear is this."

"Husband, if they made such a big show of capturing her and spreading so much news to set the stage, they certainly didn't capture her just to kill her immediately. They'll probably make a grand spectacle of it and pick a day for the execution. The person might still be alive — there's still a chance." Xu Zhenzhen spoke with a touch of urgency.

Zhao Jin smiled and stroked Xu Zhenzhen's hair, saying, "I'm telling you this not to ask whether you're willing for me to go rescue her. I'm just telling you about it. It's only been a few years, but everyone has grown up."

Xu Zhenzhen punched Zhao Jin in the chest again, exasperated, then propped herself up and sat straight. With a serious expression, she said, "Right now, all the prefectures north of the Yangtze in South Zhili respect and submit to you, my husband. But Shandong has always treated us as an enemy. The Smelling Incense Sect has stirred up trouble time and again, and every time they just retreat back into Shandong and that's the end of it. What is Shandong compared to our South Zhili? Why should my husband recognize this provincial border?"

Zhao Jin laughed again and teased, "My wife's insight is truly remarkable. Among my brothers, only two or three could see what you've just said."

"Husband, don't tease. I only know these things because I've heard you speak of them so often. I know my husband doesn't want to stir up trouble right now, but the Smelling Incense Sect only behaves for a while after being taught a lesson. Better to hurt them so badly once that it's decisive. This matter with Sister Xiaolan is the perfect pretext to begin…"

"Let's sleep. I'm a bit tired." Zhao Jin yawned.

Xu Zhenzhen said nothing more. She simply tidied the pillows and bedding, then went to blow out the candle. Just then, it sounded like Zhao Feng and Zhao Long were about to wake up nearby. Both husband and wife lowered their voices at the same time. After a moment, the children didn't wake, and only then did they both breathe a sigh of relief.

"Husband, when I only had Xiaofeng, saying these words would have been insincere. But now that I have Long'er, I can say this with a clear conscience. If both Sister Meng and Sister Xiaolan are to be brought into the household, I must insist that Sister Xiaolan comes first…"

Zhao Jin lay there without making a sound, as if he had already fallen asleep. Xu Zhenzhen, usually a woman of few words, began to ramble: "I'm not thinking of myself, nor am I thinking of my husband. I'm thinking of our children…"

"Sleep, sleep!" Zhao Jin couldn't help but speak up after all. His voice was very low, but his tone was resolute.

Xu Zhenzhen muttered something under her breath and snuggled closer to Zhao Jin. Listening to his steady, deep breathing, she slowly drifted into dreams as well.

As the elders would say, Zhao Feng and Zhao Long far surpassed other children their age in vitality and physical robustness. For example, Zhao Long woke very early every morning and cried very loudly. His crying would startle Zhao Feng awake, and she would cry out even louder. Then the nursemaids and wet nurses would have to go soothe them, and so another day in the Zhao household would begin.

Before the crying started, Zhao Jin turned over and sat up, waking Xu Zhenzhen beside him in the process. Before Xu Zhenzhen could speak, Zhao Jin turned, patted his wife, and said with a low smile, "I'm going out for a few days. Just wait at home, at ease."

Without waiting for Xu Zhenzhen to reply, Zhao Jin got up, dressed, and strode out of the room.

"Have Chen Sheng, Wang Zhaojing, Ji Xiang, Liu Yong, and Ruhui come to the council hall. Send breakfast over there!" Zhao Jin spoke as he walked, his pace very quick. The household servants heard him and ran off swiftly in all directions.

Everyone was already accustomed to such councils. By the time Zhao Jin reached the council hall, the others had all arrived as well.

"Wang Zhaojing and Ruhui will stay behind to hold the fort. Chen Sheng, Ji Xiang, and Liu Yong will accompany me to Shandong to rescue Xiaolan!" Zhao Jin stated it directly.

Everyone was jolted, then solemnly rose to acknowledge the order. But immediately, smiles spread across their faces. Wang Zhaojing even teased, "Big Brother always plans thoroughly before acting and considers everything. Why so impulsive today?"

"We're still young. Young people should be a little impulsive sometimes. You and Mister Cao stay behind and guard the home well." Zhao Jin answered with a smile, and everyone burst into laughter.

"Xiaoyong, send men to Shandong to scout right now. We'll advance north along a fixed route. We'll move slowly the first few days, so have them report back at any time. Activate every informant you can. Bring all the capable, skilled men you can muster. Bring Li Dajin and Ma Chonghao this time as well. Go now!"

"Dasheng, Daxiang, select loyal elite men from your commands who can ride. They must be fully equipped with weapons and armor — men who can truly fight both on horseback and on foot. Muster a total of four hundred. Have them assemble now."

"Mister Cao, I need three days' worth of field rations, five thousand taels of silver, and five hundred taels' worth of copper coins. Also, organize fodder and supplies, all loaded onto the packhorse train, ready to follow and provide support at any time."

"Zhaojing, you keep watch over Xuzhou. Transfer two thousand militia and one full battalion to the area between Feng County and Pei County and have them stand by, awaiting my orders at all times."

Every person whose name was called answered with a loud shout, then strode out quickly to make arrangements. Around He Family Village in the early morning, there was not a trace of calm — it had already begun to boil with activity.

Four hundred battle-hardened elites. Once the men were selected, their weapons and armor were immediately issued to match. The horse train's own horses and tack, plus the horses and tack from Wang Ziyang's side — over a thousand horses were quickly assembled. For a swift raid, having multiple horses per man was essential to maintain mobility and combat strength.

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