Chapter 45: Replacement
"Greetings, Second Young Master." Song Fan, brought by Wenjin to Yan Jingshu’s presence, still bore the dust and fatigue of his long journey from the south.
Yan Jingshu quickly urged him to dispense with formalities and invited him to sit before asking, "So? Did you find anything about that Zhao Dali?"
Knowing Yan Jingshu’s eagerness, Song Fan wasted no time and replied, "Following the address you provided, we did find a man named Zhao Dali. However, this Zhao Dali is just a short, stout, ordinary middle-aged farmer—not the tall, lean man in his thirties that you described."
In his past life, when Yan Jingshu had investigated, he had learned of Zhao Dali’s appearance from those who knew him. He had relayed this description to Song Fan and the others before sending them to investigate. Yet now, Song Fan reported that the Zhao Dali they found did not match the one he remembered. This puzzled Yan Jingshu.
If Song Fan’s findings were accurate, the only explanation was that this Zhao Dali was not the same person as the one from his past life. Most likely, at some point, the original Zhao Dali had been replaced by the man from his memories.
After a long silence, though Yan Jingshu had his suspicions, he did not voice them directly to Song Fan. Instead, he said, "You’ve worked hard. After such a long journey, rest here for a few days. We’ll discuss other matters later." He then instructed Wenjin to prepare a guest room for Song Fan.
Since the Dowager Lady Yan had assigned Song Fan to serve Yan Jingshu, he naturally deferred to his orders. When told to stay and rest, Song Fan did not refuse and soon followed Wenjin out.
After Song Fan left, Yan Jingshu returned to his inner chamber. He no longer felt like napping and instead sat by the window, eyes closed, deep in thought.
When Jiang Chenghan returned from his duties, he found it odd that Yan Jingshu had not come out to greet him as usual. He asked Wenjin if something had happened at home, and upon hearing Song Fan’s name, he understood.
Back when Yan Jingshu had confided in him about his rebirth, he had also mentioned sending someone to investigate a man named Zhao Dali. It seemed there were now results.
Entering the inner chamber, he found Yan Jingshu lost in thought. Jiang Chenghan walked over, sat beside him, and waved a hand playfully in front of his face.
Yan Jingshu snapped out of his reverie. "You’re back."
Jiang Chenghan smiled. "Just got home. What’s on your mind? You seemed so absorbed."
Yan Jingshu straightened slightly and recounted Song Fan’s visit and his findings. Finally, he said, "...I suspect the Zhao Dali from my past life was likely an imposter. But right now, we have no leads to track him down. However, according to Zhao Dali’s military records, he’ll be conscripted the third month next year. If we keep watching him, we should eventually find the man who replaced him."
Yan Jingshu’s reasoning was sound. While Jiang Chenghan couldn’t speak for other armies, Kou Shijun’s troops were strictly managed—impersonation would be impossible. If Zhao Dali had indeed been replaced, it must have happened either before conscription or during the journey north to Ningcheng after enlistment.
Sharing his thoughts, Jiang Chenghan said, "...Right now, I can’t leave Ningcheng, so Song Fan and the others will have to continue their efforts for a while longer."
After discussing the matter, the couple went together to see Song Fan. Following their instructions and entrustments, Jiang Chenghan gave Song Fan a thousand taels of silver to facilitate their work. Yan Jingshu had already provided funds, but since this was for his own affairs, Jiang Chenghan felt it necessary to contribute as well.
Knowing that uncovering the truth and finding the culprit would take time, Yan Jingshu had prepared himself for a long wait. After Song Fan left, he tucked the matter away in his heart.
Another month passed, and by the eleventh month, with the New Year still nearly two months away, Yan Jingshu began preparing gifts to send to his grandmother and family in the capital. Though Ningcheng was thousands of miles from the capital, the distance necessitated early preparations.
Despite its harsh northern climate, Ningcheng was rich in rare medicinal herbs like lingzhi (Ganoderma Lucidium), ginseng, and snow frog, as well as various wild animal pelts—all far cheaper than in the capital. Yan Jingshu had people purchase large quantities in the city and nearby towns. Along with other assorted gifts, they filled five large carts. He also included a long letter with greetings to his grandmother, father, sister-in-law, and nephew, as well as updates on his own life, before sending everything to the Duke Residence in the capital.
[Snow frog (雪蛤, xuě há): Chinese forest frog (Rana chensinensis), specifically the female's dried fallopian tubes, which are a prized ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, believed to nourish the body and enhance vitality.]
Though their household was small, there was much to prepare and manage. After a few more days meeting with the stewards of his dowry estates and reviewing accounts, Yan Jingshu realized it was already the twelfth month—time to prepare for the New Year.
However, as per custom, Jiang Chenghan would accompany Kou Shijun on a border inspection, touring the entire northern frontier where Da Qi bordered Bei Di and Danu. They would assess defenses and garrisons, a journey that would take at least twenty days, meaning he wouldn’t return until just before the New Year.
This left Yan Jingshu to handle the New Year preparations alone, and Jiang Chenghan couldn’t help but feel guilty.
As a soldier, Jiang Chenghan was bound by duty, and Yan Jingshu had long known this would happen. He assured him not to worry, urging him to focus on his mission and stay safe—he would be waiting at home for his return.
Though reluctant, Jiang Chenghan departed with Kou Shijun and the troops on the scheduled day.
After seeing him off, Yan Jingshu didn’t return home immediately. Instead, he went to the charity home. With Jiang Chenghan gone for over twenty days, he needed to inform the children so they wouldn’t wait in vain. On the way, he bought snacks and sweets to bring along.
Compared to his first visit months ago, the charity home hadn’t changed much. But as a shelter for the homeless and orphaned, it had since taken in two more children and an elderly person.
As for Huang Sanniang, she no longer avoided Yan Jingshu as she had before and now spoke with him normally. After she declined the match Jiang Chenghan had proposed, Aunt Zhao introduced her to a distant nephew—a steady, hardworking man from a well-off family, though not as promising as Xiao Qingfeng.
This time, Huang Sanniang didn’t refuse outright. She even met the man under Aunt Zhao’s arrangement. According to Aunt Zhao, they were both favorably impressed. With the New Year approaching, the wedding would likely take place afterward.
Yan Jingshu was delighted that Huang Sanniang had finally moved on and found happiness. But with Jiang Chenghan away, the good news would have to wait until his return.
After spending the day with the charity home’s elderly and children—even sharing a meal there—Yan Jingshu returned home by carriage in the evening.
Though he had braced himself for Jiang Chenghan’s absence, after months of eating and sleeping together, being alone now left Yan Jingshu feeling lonely and disinterested in food.
Worse, within days, he found himself restless and unable to focus even on his favorite books. Disgusted with his own weakness, he resolved to keep himself busy. After a few days of this, his spirits improved, though his appetite remained poor. Then, on the tenth day of Jiang Chenghan’s absence, he suddenly vomited during lunch.
Wenjin, Wenxiu, and the others were terrified, and even Yan Jingshu realized something was wrong. It wasn’t summer, and his diet had always been light—why was he losing his appetite and now vomiting for no reason?
Lacking experience, Yan Jingshu initially thought it was just longing for Jiang Chenghan affecting him. But when the doctor Zheng Er summoned took his pulse and delivered the diagnosis, he was stunned.
"...Doctor, are you certain? You’re saying I—I’m pregnant?" Yan Jingshu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Hadn’t they said shuang'er rarely conceived? He’d resigned himself to a childless life, yet after just a few months of marriage, he was already with child?
The doctor, having practiced for decades, was unfazed by his reaction. Smiling, he said, "In over thirty years of medicine, I can still recognize a pregnancy pulse. You’re nearly three months along—congratulations."
Three months? Yan Jingshu blinked. That meant he’d conceived around the tenth month?
Staring down at his belly, Yan Jingshu broke into a dazed smile. He was carrying Jiang Chenghan’s child—their child...
The doctor patiently waited for the initial shock to pass before offering detailed advice on prenatal care. Yan Jingshu listened attentively, even having Wenjin take notes.
With no elders to guide him, the doctor’s thoroughness was a blessing. After nearly half an hour of instructions, Yan Jingshu expressed his gratitude, paid a generous fee, and had Zheng Er escort the doctor back to his clinic in their carriage.
Once alone, Yan Jingshu went to his study to write his grandmother about the pregnancy. Though he longed to tell Jiang Chenghan first, military duties made that impossible—he would have to wait until his return.
Even with official couriers, letters took over half a month to reach the capital. If all went well, Jiang Chenghan might still learn the news before the Dowager Lady. Yan Jingshu could only imagine his astonishment and joy.
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