Reincarnation and Rebirth

A few days later, Xiao Yunting set off for Ziyan with a small number of followers.

Madam Xiao was filled with worry and could not sit still. Xiao Yunshen quickly comforted her, saying, "Mother, Yunting has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood. He will surely return safely."

"Alas, Yun Shen, I am truly ashamed of Yun Ting. It is all my selfishness that left him alone in the capital while I hid in that remote Baiyi Town, leaving him all alone here. Every time I think of this, my heart aches."

Xiao Yun Shen's eyes also reddened. "Mother, none of this is your fault. If anyone is to blame, it's me. If it weren't for me, Mother wouldn't have brought Fang Ru back to Bayi Town."

Xiao Yun Shen knew perfectly well that although his father's death was ostensibly due to the war, he would never believe that the emperor hadn't orchestrated it. During that time, his father's old illness relapsed, but the late emperor, while telling his father to rest and recover, also sighed and lamented in court that there was no one capable of helping him.

At that time, Xiao Yun Shen was already sixteen years old. Although young, he had been closely following his father and had been influenced by him for a long time, so he was extremely talented in military affairs. He had already followed his father into battle when he was thirteen. That year was also the year he got engaged and was preparing to get married the following spring.

When war was imminent, and the late emperor was once again troubled by the lack of capable men, someone seized the opportunity to suggest that Xiao Yunshen lead the army into battle. General Xiao, naturally reluctant to send his newly engaged son to the battlefield, stepped forward and volunteered. A barely perceptible glint flashed in the late emperor's eyes as he exclaimed, "General Xiao is truly a man of great principle!"

It was on that occasion that General Xiao passed away and never returned. At that time, Xiao Yunting was only ten years old. Due to General Xiao's death in battle, Xiao Yunshen had to observe three years of mourning. Even if his son could wait, the Zhou family's daughter could not. So, on the third day after the old general's death, during the period of mourning, they hurriedly got married.

After their marriage, the couple spent little time together. Xiao Yun Shen repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, and his handsome appearance naturally made him a sought-after figure in the capital, making him a confidant and a major threat to the late emperor. Many families tried every means to send their daughters to the general's mansion, even as concubines, they were willing to do so.

Ministers often racked their brains, using all sorts of elaborate pretexts to send people to the general's mansion. On one occasion, an arrogant woman, acting like a clown, made a scene before Lady Zhou. Lady Zhou was so enraged that she suddenly fainted. After examination, the doctor was shocked to discover that she was more than a month pregnant. Unfortunately, she was constantly depressed and her body was as weak as a candle in the wind; in the end, she could not save the child.

Upon learning the news, Xiao Yun Shen flew into a rage and swept all the beautiful women in the mansion out. Some powerful ministers rushed over to take their children back, while others could only watch helplessly as their daughters were sold off.

As a result, Xiao Yunshen's reputation soared in the capital, and no one dared to send anyone to the General's Mansion anymore. However, while the ministers dared not, the people in the palace were emboldened. The Empress Dowager and the late Emperor sent people over one after another. Xiao Yunshen was in a difficult position and could not refuse. So, after Zhou Shi finished her postpartum confinement, the old lady Xiao insisted on returning to her hometown of Bayi Town under the pretext of missing the old general.

However, the Crown Prince at the time strongly demanded that Xiao Yunting accompany him in his studies. Madam Xiao knew perfectly well that if they did not keep Xiao Yunting, their family would be like fish on a chopping board, and would never be able to escape the Emperor's control.

I still remember Xiao Yunting standing in front of Old Madam Xiao with a calm and composed expression, like a little adult. "Mother, please take my sister-in-law back to our hometown. Your son has grown up and can stand on his own."

Madam Xiao patted his shoulder with a guilty look on her face. “Yun Ting, don’t blame your mother. Your sister-in-law has just lost her child, and your elder brother is no longer young. He is stationed in Qingzhou for a long time. Bayi Town is at least closer to your elder brother, which will make it easier for him to come home and visit often.”

"Mother, I understand. Besides, when I'm a little older, I'll be able to visit you too." Old Madam Xiao cried tears of joy, wiping away her tears with a smile. "I'll still come back for holidays and festivals. Once your sister-in-law is settled over there, I'll come back to the capital to keep you company."

Xiao Yunting nodded heavily.

Before her departure, Madam Xiao was still worried about her youngest son and repeatedly instructed him, "Yun Ting, serving the emperor is like walking on thin ice. You must be careful in the palace. Say what you should say, and keep what you shouldn't say to yourself. I've left behind the steward and servants I trust most, and the rest have all been arranged. You don't need so many people to serve you in the capital; too many people will cause gossip. Also, of the secret guards your father left behind, I'll keep half for you, and your eldest brother will take some of the rest, while the other half will stay with me and your sister-in-law. Do you have any objections?"

"Mother, your son doesn't need so many people, you can take them all with you."

“Silly child, Bayi Town is just a small town after all. How many troubles could there be? I really can’t bear to leave you alone in the capital. If possible…” As she spoke, Madam Xiao’s eyes reddened again.

“Mother, I understand. My elder brother has made numerous military achievements and has even surpassed his father. My staying in the capital is to protect him. I have grown up and can no longer hide under his wing.”

"Alright, alright." Old Madam Xiao quickly got into the carriage, afraid that if she stayed any longer, she really wouldn't want to leave. Zhou Shi, pale-faced and weak, poked her head out of the carriage, "Uncle, if you need anything, go find my elder brother."

The Zhou family has already passed the position of patriarch to Zhou Fangru's eldest brother. The Zhou family are imperial merchants and do not participate in court politics, so the emperor does not have much suspicion of them. Zhou Shi said this simply because she was worried that her brother-in-law might encounter some danger, and how she would face her husband then.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, Yunting has remembered everything."

Thinking of all this, Zhou felt ashamed. If she hadn't been so useless back then, her mother-in-law wouldn't have worried about her and accompanied her back to her hometown.

Xiao Yunshen also felt sorry for his only younger brother. "Mother, this time when you come back to the capital, don't go back. Stay and take care of Yunting. Yunting is getting old, and you still need to worry about his marriage."

Zhou hurriedly said, "Yes, Mother, I'll stay with you too. Anyway, Shan'er and An'er are all grown up and it's time for them to go to school. Staying in the capital to study is better than going back to Bayi Town."

Madam Xiao looked at the couple with satisfaction. "It's good that you think this way. However, Qingzhou is really far from the capital, and I can't bear to see you two separated. Back in Bayi Town, we could see each other at least once a month."