Chapter 349 - 348: Footsteps (Monthly Ticket 370+)

Chapter 349: Chapter 348: Footsteps (Monthly Ticket 370+)

Mu Lianxiao faced Mrs. Zhou, clearly seeing the melancholy in her eyes.

"Mother..."

Mu Lianxiao had just begun to speak when Mrs. Zhou interrupted him.

Mrs. Zhou shook her head, her gaze moving to the large bow hanging on the wall, staring at it deeply.

It was the longbow once used by Mu Yuance.

Mrs. Zhou smiled faintly: "In the past, your father said that of the entire northwest border, Lindong’s Shanyu Pass is not the closest to Ancient Meili City, yet it’s the most likely to reach."

Mu Lianxiao’s eyes suddenly tightened, and Du Yunluo’s heart followed suit, pounding.

"Nothing can be hidden from you," Mu Lianxiao said in a lowered voice.

Mrs. Zhou laughed bitterly: "The so-called most likely is merely the tallest among the dwarves.

The desert terrain is perilous, with no oasis along the way. Even the Dazi prefer to detour through the grasslands to invade the Northern Border than to disrupt Shanyu Pass."

Mu Lianxiao lowered his eyes: "Garrison is unavoidable, the Dazi are more familiar with the desert, and if they don’t find benefits in the Northern Border, perhaps they will come to Shanyu Pass."

Mrs. Zhou looked at Mu Lianxiao, raised her hand to groom her son’s forehead hair, and said, "Do you want to go to Shanyu Pass?"

Mu Lianxiao tightly pressed his lips, his jawline firm, eyes burning: "The Holy Emperor has this thought, wants me to consider it before the year’s end."

"Then you consider it yourself. Your wife and I can only listen to you speak; in matters of military affairs, we can’t make decisions for you," Mrs. Zhou smiled gently. "This matter is only known to the three of us."

Mu Lianxiao nodded.

Once the time was about right, the three headed to the Flower Hall together.

The night before the festival was lively and bustling.

Sister Niang looked around with wide eyes; before long, she became sleepy, and Mrs. Liu Menghai took her away.

Mu Yuanjing naturally did not come; everyone in the family understood the situation, and no one would bring it up.

Only Mrs. Lian was worried about Mu Lianyu, eating this meal without any taste.

Urged by Madam Wu, Du Yunluo drank a few cups of alcohol; during the banquet, it wasn’t noticeable, but once she stepped out of the Flower Hall and the cold wind blew, she felt slightly dizzy.

Mu Lianxiao noticed she staggered while walking, so he half-supported and half-embraced Du Yunluo to take her back to Shaohui Garden.

Jin Rui and Jin Lan served Du Yunluo in washing and changing clothes.

Du Yunluo, stimulated by the warmth of the underground fire dragon in the house, became drowsy once she lay on the pillow.

Mu Lianxiao emerged from the clean room; Du Yunluo was already deeply asleep on the bed, dreamily lost in clouds. He blew out the lamp and dropped the account. Just as he lay down, Du Yunluo clung to him.

Soft breaths sprayed on his neck, hot enough to make Mu Lianxiao tremble all over.

Soft warmth and delicate fragrance in his arms, a slender body clung tightly. Mu Lianxiao’s sleepiness vanished entirely as his vitality surged.

He looked down at Du Yunluo, seeing her deep slumber, relaxed brows suggesting sweet dreams. Mu Lianxiao couldn’t bear to disturb her, forcing himself to sleep.

Half-awake into the midnight hour, Du Yunluo whimpered for water.

Mu Lianxiao already slept lightly; her noise awakened him immediately. He didn’t call for the night maid but coaxed Du Yunluo to release him and got out of bed to pour her a cup of water.

Du Yunluo drank with closed eyes, the mildly cool tea slowly waking her, her almond eyes moist like water.

Mu Lianxiao pinched her nose lightly: "Drank too much?"

"Didn’t drink that much..." Du Yunluo mumbled, "Didn’t feel uncomfortable during the banquet."

"The alcohol has a strong aftereffect." Mu Lianxiao embraced her to lie down, carefully tucking the quilt corners.

Du Yunluo had slept a while already, not at all drowsy now: "Have you been to Lindong two years ago, Princely Heir?"

Back then, not long after meeting, Mu Lianxiao was ordered to Lindong, bringing back a folding fan from Shengxiang Pavilion in Xuancheng, Lindong’s capital.

This folding fan was the first thing Mu Lianxiao ever gave her in this life, stored in her dressing box, occasionally taken out to behold.

Mu Lianxiao acknowledged with a sound: "It was a brief trip, quick arrival and return, spending only two or three days in Xuancheng."

"My uncle’s family is in Xuancheng; he is Lindong’s Prefect. There’s been occasional talk of resettlement over the past two years, yet he remains in Lindong." Du Yunluo commented with a smile.

Mu Lianxiao tucked Du Yunluo’s loose black hair behind her ears, holding her tender hand: "If I go to Lindong, I’ll be stationed at Shanyu Pass, rarely in Xuancheng."

Du Yunluo savoring Mu Lianxiao’s words, replayed Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou’s discussions in her mind, asked: "Why does the Holy Emperor wish for the Princely Heir to go to Lindong?"

This was Du Yunluo’s puzzlement.

Mu Yuance had thoughts of a surprise strike on Ancient Meili City in the past, and based on the discourse at Jingshui Hall earlier this afternoon, Mu Lianxiao was also quite clear about Shanyu Pass’s situation.

Considering Mu Lianxiao’s disposition, he would desire to follow in his father’s footsteps, fulfilling what his father hadn’t accomplished.

If the Holy Emperor proposed such in the previous life, Mu Lianxiao wouldn’t have refused; he would have gone to Lindong instead of the Northern Border.

Yet actually, those years of the past life saw Mu Lianxiao constantly in the Northern Border.

In this life, what truly brought about such changes?

Mu Lianxiao pondered: "After grandfather and father and uncles died in battle, Old General Shao has always guarded the Northern Border.

Old General Shao is straightforward, and his sons and grandsons can each stand alone.

The Holy Emperor likely worries that my two brothers, the second brother and fourth brother, are together in the Northern Border, and unnecessary troubles might arise with the Shao Family in the future."

Du Yunluo furrowed her brows.

Back then, the three brothers were also together in the Northern Border, though Mu Lianyu went later. At that time, Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liancheng gained various victories and were greatly valued by Old General Shao.

Perhaps hence, the Holy Emperor did not transfer any of them from the Northern Border.

Now in this life, Mu Lianyu went too early, prompting the Holy Emperor’s thought, and Lindong happened to need personnel, thus falling upon Mu Lianxiao.

Du Yunluo curled her lips slightly, herself willing for Mu Lianxiao to go to Lindong.

The arrangements of the second house are all in the Northern Border; Mu Lianxiao heading elsewhere, unlike Mu Liancheng and Mu Lianyu, would make it difficult for those two to take action.

Du Yunluo slightly propped herself up, smiled: "The Princely Heir wants to go to Lindong, doesn’t he?"

Mu Lianxiao chuckled softly: "Lindong isn’t a place to accumulate military accomplishments."

Beyond Shanyu Pass lies the desert; when Dazi do not invade, the garrison cannot exceed the desert; defense is tediously dull.

Lindong is inherently not wealthy; though its capital Xuancheng is bustling, other towns and cities lack in comparison, life under Shanyu Pass is far harsher than the Northern Border.

Du Yunluo pursed her lips, said: "But it’s somewhere that must be defended, right?"

Mu Lianxiao smiled, his dark eyes shining: "Yes, it is a place that must be defended; the Northern Border must be guarded, Lindong equally so."

Regardless of hardship, regardless of military achievements or not, every inch of land needs protection.

Moreover, Shanyu Pass might be a place of miraculous creation.

Things Mu Yuance once aspired to accomplish, even if only a possibility, Mu Lianxiao prepared thoroughly for.

Opportunities are fleeting, only with proper preparation can regret be avoided.

If the desert can be crossed, Ancient Meili City conquered, causing Dazi to be thrown into chaos, losing the ability to invade, he could return to the Capital, solely guarding Du Yunluo.