Divorced woman with child travels through time

Wang Erniu sighed, his voice muffled on her back.

"Chu Yi said that there was a traitor on the Jiang family's boat. They poisoned the food, but the few of them were alert and didn't eat it. They were ambushed and almost died. The boat was also covered with kerosene. Of the more than one hundred people on the boat, only Qi Siliu survived by chance. Everyone else died."

Chen Wenfang felt his heartbeat like a drum, pounding against her back, making her feel hot.

"Has the traitor been found?"

“Found him. He died by the sea, but he was just a pawn. Jiang Mingxin said that the Huang and He families were behind this.” Wang Erniu raised his head, his sadness fading from his face.

"What can I do for you?" Chen Wenfang put down her pen, turned around and hugged him, her eyes full of concern.

Wang Erniu smiled warmly, "You don't need to do anything, just take care of yourself. It's enough that you're here with me."

Chen Wenfang didn't say anything, but hugged him tightly.

Wang Erniu didn't tell her about the internal strife in Japan, or why these 30,000 Japanese people had come to Song for no reason. The details were too trivial to mention.

The next day.

The Ouyang residence was filled with joy, decorated with red silk and flowers everywhere, completely different from its usual simple elegance. Many servants were busy shuttling around the residence, welcoming and seeing off guests.

Ouyang Jin, accompanied by Jiang Mingxin, greeted the guests at the entrance.

"Patriarch Jiang, congratulations!"

"Lord Zhang, congratulations! It's already a great honor for us that you came."

"This must be Jin'er! What a heroic young man!"

Ouyang Jin smiled in agreement and bowed.

"Yes, yes! Please come in!"

Jiang Mingxin welcomed Zhang Jing in with a big smile. It was a pleasant surprise. Although Zhang Jing was only a prefect, he had been an official for many years and had been transferred several times, from the north to the south, from a Beijing official to Jiangnan, and then to Lingnan. Although he was exiled, he was appointed to important positions. Therefore, many people did not understand him, and Jiang Mingxin did not understand him either.

Zhang Jing smiled slightly and took his seat as instructed. The Wang family and the Ouyang family were on good terms, so he naturally had to give them face, not to mention that this Prefect Ouyang was a good official.

Ouyang Junyan was also quite surprised, and quickly came out to greet him and chat with him.

Wang Erniu, who came in later, happened to see Zhang Jing's profile and his eyes lit up. Hey, he's here too.

"General Wang, you've arrived! Please come in!" Jiang Mingxin greeted Wang Erniu and his group with even greater enthusiasm.

"Well, come and see my nephew." Wang Erniu was very relaxed and patted Ouyang Jin on the shoulder, saying, "He will be the head of the family in the future, so you should study and practice martial arts even more diligently and not slack off."

Ouyang Jin will also be going to Chun Wai next year. If he can pass the imperial examination, they will be even happier.

"Yes, nephew will heed the general's words." Ouyang Jin looked up and saw Chen Xuanyu winking and smiling at him. Chu Yi found it amusing and smiled back.

As soon as Wang Erniu and the others followed Jiang Mingxin inside.

Chen Xuanyu and the others immediately pulled Ouyang Jin, who was acting as a mascot at the entrance, aside.

Chen Xuanyu asked mysteriously, "Brother Jin, has your wife arrived yet? I want to see her, I'm leaving tomorrow."

Ouyang Jin knew this, and said with a smile, "It's not time yet, they'll be here soon, you'll see them, what's the rush?"

"Uh, okay, I'll go in first then." Chen Xuanyu, feeling embarrassed for his blunder, dragged Xiao Hao and the others away.

Chu Yi stood at the door, with two guards behind him, thoughtfully observing his surroundings.

Ouyang Jin greeted the guest with a smile and a cupped-fist salute, then took a moment to ask him in a low voice, "So? Did you find anything?"

Chu Yi smiled slightly, turned around and went inside. "No, just be careful."

"knew."

"Lord Ning of the Ning family of Zhangzhou has arrived!" the servant at the gate shouted. Ouyang Jin was immediately excited. Before he could go out to greet him, Jiang Mingxin accompanied Ouyang Junyan out, and the two of them personally welcomed the Ning family inside.

Ning Chuchu glanced at Ouyang Jin in the crowd, and he caught her gaze. The two looked away at each other without prior arrangement, but soon their eyes met again, and they smiled sweetly.

Inside the house, everyone sat together, discussing the marriage between the two families.

Normally, Wang Erniu and his family wouldn't need to attend such a marriage ceremony. However, Ouyang Junyan is an only son who was transferred from Hubei Road to Quanzhou. He doesn't have any relatives there, and the Jiang family only has two brothers. But since Wang Erniu and Jiang Mingxin both hold high positions, they definitely have to come and make an appearance.

At this moment, Ning Tao, the head of the Ning family, was bowing and talking politely to Wang Erniu. "I heard that this great victory in Huian was entirely due to General Wang's strong support. Otherwise, Huian would have been surrounded by 30,000 Japanese soldiers and would have been doomed."

Wang Erniu returned the greeting, saying, "The Japanese are just a bunch of refugees, they're not going to amount to anything. It's only right that I go to help them. If I hadn't gone, they would have retreated on their own. It's really not something I could have done alone."

Upon entering the city, Wang Erniu realized, thanks to Ouyang Junyan's reminder, that he might have made a huge mistake: to slaughter all 30,000 Japanese. The current emperor, though kind, is suspicious and loves his reputation. The fact that the He and Huang families conspired to set such a trap for him was probably because they wanted to make him appear as a cold-blooded and ruthless killing machine in the emperor's eyes.

"General Wang is too modest. The Japanese are despicable people, worse than beasts. Killing them is justified. I think you did the right thing, General. You are truly a hero!"

Ning Tao, dressed in blue, had the same temperament as Ouyang Junyan and was also a member of the Censorate. However, it was unexpected that he was also such a cynical person.

"Thank you for your praise, Lord Ning. I am unworthy of it. It was a victory achieved by all of us soldiers who fought together. I dare not take it all for myself."

Wang Erniu smiled with rare relief. It felt good to be recognized. Perhaps only officials and people in coastal areas who had suffered at the hands of the Japanese for many years could understand him.

If the officials suspect him because of this, he will accept it. After this battle, the Japanese have been severely weakened. Whether the Japanese are cooperating with the He and Huang families to trick him or to trick the Japanese, this battle was worthwhile. He can only take 10,000 elite soldiers with him on this trip north, but nearly 30,000 to 40,000 elite soldiers participated in this battle. Even if he leaves in the future, these people are all experienced, and there will be no need to fear the Japanese in the future.

Zhang Jingli, who was two seats away from Ning Tao, couldn't help but glance at him and bow to him from a distance to express his gratitude.

Ning Tao did not recognize Zhang Jing, so he asked Ouyang Junyan. After learning his identity, he also stood up to return the greeting.

Firecrackers suddenly went off outside! "Take your seats!"

Ouyang Junyan stood up and greeted everyone with a smile as they took their seats.

Jiang Mingyue also led a large group of female relatives out of the inner courtyard, and Chen Xuanyu took advantage of his young age to squeeze through.

"Mother, I'm starving!" she said, but her eyes were wandering as she looked at the group of women inside. Which one was she?

Chen Wenfang didn't understand his thoughts, so she deliberately said, "Have Sister Chuchu take you to find Jin'er. He has a lot of delicious food that I gave him."