[Marriage first, love later] She is happy after marrying a widower

"You know what my man does. He guards the border, and the safety of thousands of people depends on it."

As Mrs. Xiao Chang, Cui Jingshu, spoke, her eyes instantly turned red and tears welled up in them. She hurriedly pressed the corners of her eyes with the handkerchief in her hand, and her voice became a little choked.

“But Lord Shen actually proposed to the Emperor that my general lead his troops back to the court.

Think about it, this is unacceptable! If the general abandons his duties and rushes back just because I'm trapped in Beijing, what will happen to the people at the border?

Those people live under the threat of the Turks all day long, relying on the general's protection to barely survive. The children are eagerly looking forward to a stable life, and the elderly are also looking forward to a peaceful retirement. Without the protection of the army, they will all fall into dire straits.

Her hand was held tightly by Song Yanzhi, and she seemed to draw some comfort from the warmth. Her emotions gradually calmed down, and she unconsciously moved closer to Song Yanzhi, lowered her voice, and confided in her with a sad face.

As Song Yanzhi listened, her eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief and shock, her brows furrowed tightly into the shape of the Chinese character "川".

She knew in her heart that in recent years, the emperor of the Red Moon Kingdom had changed as frequently as changing clothes, and wars were raging everywhere. Seeing the chaos in the Red Moon Kingdom, the surrounding small countries began to become restless, especially the Turks. There was naked ambition in their eyes, like wolves staring at fat meat.

The northwestern border guarded by General Xiao Chang faces the Turkic frontier. It is the first and most important line of defense for the Red Moon Kingdom against foreign enemies, and is as crucial as a magic needle that stabilizes the sea.

She really couldn't understand why Shen Huanjun was instigating the emperor to order the recall of General Xiao Chang at this time. Could it be that he was planning to give up the vast territory on the border and only defend the eight cities next to the capital?

Every inch of this land was won by our ancestors and soldiers with their blood and lives. How can we treat it so lightly and give it up just like that?

Song Yanzhi felt a surge of anger rising from the bottom of her heart, burning her chest and making her chest heave violently. After a while, she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her emotions and make her voice sound as steady as possible.

"Sister Cui, this... this is too ridiculous! How did you escape?"

Cui Jingshu sighed softly, his eyes filled with exhaustion and helplessness. "I'm from the Qinghe Cui family. How could my family just watch me being detained and used as a pawn to threaten the general? They mobilized many of their connections and went through a lot of trouble to help me find an opportunity to escape."

She paused, her eyes growing more determined. "I absolutely cannot drag down my general, and I cannot stand by and watch the people on the border fall into despair. Even if it costs me my life, I will get out."

Song Yanzhi held her hand tightly, her eyes burning with admiration: "Sister, I admire your righteousness from the bottom of my heart.

But now that you've lost your maids and guards, it's too dangerous to be alone. How about this, you come back to our hometown with us first, so we can take care of you along the way.

I'll pick out a few smart and reliable people and send a letter to General Xiao Chang, explaining the situation and asking him to send someone to pick you up. Do you think this will work?"

Cui Jingshu smiled bitterly, his expression filled with gratitude, yet also a touch of caution. "Sister, brother-in-law, I'm in such a mess right now. I'm really worried about causing you too much trouble. Am I bothering you too much?"

Song Yanzhi quickly clapped her hands and scolded her, "Sister, what are you talking about? We were like sisters when we were in the capital, and our relationship was as close as if we were one person. When you come to my house, it's like coming home to yourself. Staying for a few days is not a big deal. Don't be so formal with me."

Cui Jingshu's eyes moistened again after hearing this, and he nodded repeatedly with emotion: "Thank you so much, sister and brother-in-law. I have to rely on you to take care of me along the way. I will remember this kindness."

On the rest of the journey, no one dared to slack off. The guards whipped their horses, the wheels rolled, raising dust all the way and quickening their pace.

After a few days of sleeping in the open air, the familiar outline of the town finally appeared before their eyes, and the group arrived at Song Yanzhi's hometown in a mighty manner.

Such a massive force suddenly surged into the tranquil Red Stone Town, like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves and alerting the town's chief. Upon hearing the news, the chief, frantically leading a group of militiamen, rushed over. Upon taking in the scene, his eyes widened in shock, his face filled with horror as he gazed at the endless stream of horsemen pouring into the town.

Although the militiamen held the long wooden sticks tightly in their hands, their legs were still shaking uncontrollably and their teeth were chattering. It was obvious that they were extremely scared. These few self-defense weapons could not give them much sense of security.

"Captain, what's wrong? Don't you recognize me?" Han Heming sat steadily on a large chestnut horse, with an upright posture, a smile on his face, and a look of familiarity in his eyes. He shouted loudly to the captain.

The origins of this story go back several years. That year, the village chief's son, along with some other young men, on a whim, went hunting in Hongya Mountain. Unexpectedly, they stumbled into wolf territory. The wolves' green eyes flickered in the darkness, their howls chilling and terrifying, leaving the men terrified. At that crucial moment, Han Heming and his men arrived, and after much difficulty, they rescued them from the wolves' encirclement. Afterward, the village chief prepared a generous gift and personally visited the Han family to express his gratitude for saving their lives.

When the headman heard the familiar voice, he was stunned at first, and then he looked carefully. Only then did he realize that the man in silk clothes, sitting majestically on a big chestnut horse, was actually his son's savior - Han Heming.

"Brother Han, why is it you? Aren't you..." The words were on the tip of his tongue, but the chief swallowed them back, the words "dead?" stuck in his throat. He was worried. Han Heming had returned to Hongshi Town with so many people and such a grand gesture. Judging by his demeanor, he must have made a name for himself, most likely a well-known small-time leader. What if he said something wrong, got in trouble, and got angry, and had him killed? That would be terrible.

Han Heming seemed to see through his thoughts. He laughed heartily and said cheerfully, "Did you think I was dead, Chief? Don't worry, I'm blessed with a long life! That year, my house was suddenly burned down. Fortunately, I reacted quickly and escaped with my wife and children. Now, after wandering around for a few years, I've always missed the good things in my hometown, so I brought my wife, children, and these brothers who had been with me through thick and thin to return home."