The Young Master Becomes a Wife Chapter 38 Part 1

Chapter 38: Ningcheng  

The next day, before dawn, Yan Jingshu was awakened from his sleep by Jiang Chenghan. He splashed his face with the water Jiang Chenghan had prepared in advance to clear his mind. Once Jiang Chenghan dismantled and packed up the tent, the group set off again under the cover of night.  

Thanks to Jiang Chenghan applying medicinal oil and massaging Yan Jingshu every night, along with his attentive daily care, even after ten days of continuous travel—enduring the same hardships as everyone else—Yan Jingshu showed no signs of discomfort and remained in high spirits. This eased Jiang Chenghan’s worries considerably.  

After three more days of riding, before they even reached Ningcheng, Jiang Chenghan’s group encountered officers from Ningcheng who had come to meet them after receiving the carrier pigeon message. They also received updates on the military situation in Ningcheng.  

The Bei Di and Danu tribes had indeed clashed, but the scale was small—hardly a full battle. Instead, it was sparked by Prince Mutuo of Bei Di, who, after being rejected in his proposal to Princess Fuya of Danu, attempted to kidnap her by infiltrating Danu territory.  

Fortunately, Mutuo’s plan failed. Not only did he fail to take the princess, but his forces were discovered by Danu soldiers. Though he managed to escape, his troops suffered heavy losses. The so-called "battle" was merely skirmishes between Bei Di forces rescuing their prince and Danu soldiers pursuing Mutuo.  

Since Mutuo had already sustained serious injuries during his escape, the Danu considered the matter settled. Though Bei Di wanted revenge, they were in the wrong, and Danu, while not as powerful as Bei Di, was not to be trifled with. Thus, both sides withdrew, restoring a superficial peace.  

As for the Da Qi border villagers harassed during the conflict, it turned out to be the work of nearby bandits posing as Bei Di and Danu raiders. Ningcheng’s garrison had already tracked their movements and was ready to launch a suppression campaign once Kou Shijun gave the order.  

Hearing this news and learning that the border crisis had been a false alarm, Jiang Chenghan and the others sighed in relief. Still, they continued toward Ningcheng, though they no longer needed to travel day and night and could proceed at a more relaxed pace.  

Even with only a third of the journey remaining, it took them another ten days to finally arrive.  

Compared to the prosperous, refined, and meticulously crafted capital, Ningcheng—a military stronghold on the border—was far more rugged and austere. The wind itself felt harsher, and armored patrols with stern expressions were a common sight, giving the entire city a heavy, solemn atmosphere thick with the scent of blood and warfare.

A newcomer would surely find it hard to adjust—at least, that was what Jiang Chenghan thought. So he turned to Yan Jingshu, intending to explain Ningcheng’s nature, only to see a look of nostalgia in his eyes. Pausing, Jiang Chenghan swallowed his words.  

Upon entering the city, Kou Shijun said to Jiang Chenghan, "Chenghan, since you’re newly married, I’ll grant you a two-week leave to settle in at home. Don’t worry about anything else—if there’s urgent business, I’ll summon you."  

Just as Jiang Chenghan was about to respond, Zhang Zhao chimed in, "That’s right, Brother Jiang. You can’t just leave your new fulang neglected at home! Don’t worry, I’ll handle your duties for you—consider it repayment for covering for me when I got married two years ago."  

Naturally, Jiang Chenghan wouldn’t refuse Kou Shijun’s orders. He clasped his hands and smiled, "Then I’ll respectfully accept. Thank you, General, and thank you, Brother Zhang."  

Zhang Zhao waved off his thanks, and soon the group split up. Zhang Zhao and the others followed Kou Shijun to the Governor’s residence, while Jiang Chenghan took Yan Jingshu to the house he had bought years ago in Ningcheng.  

[In some Chinese dynasties, high-ranking military commanders in border regions held both military and administrative authority, effectively acting as both generals and governors]

Like the rented house in the capital, this was a two-courtyard residence. However, unlike the refined elegance of the capital’s homes, this one was much larger due to the open northern terrain, even including a garden with a pond. In total, its area matched that of a four-courtyard mansion in the capital.  

Since Jiang Chenghan had mostly lived in the barracks or the Governor’s residence in the past, the house had remained largely empty, with few furnishings. Fortunately, while still in the capital, Jiang Chenghan had sent a message via Kou Shijun’s courier to friends in Ningcheng, asking them to prepare the house with at least the essential furniture.  

Though most rooms were still bare, it was now livable for Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu. However, dust had settled over time, so Jiang Chenghan had Yan Jingshu wait on a stone bench in the garden while he fetched water to clean the rooms and aired out the bedding.  

He worked tirelessly until the smell of food interrupted him.  

"Take a break. Eat something before continuing," Yan Jingshu said, carefully carrying a large tray of food in both hands, with a basket tucked under his arm.  

"Did you make all this?" Jiang Chenghan asked in surprise, eyeing the steaming, fragrant dishes. He quickly took the tray and set it on the stone table, then reached for the basket—only to find it packed with sixteen buns.  

Yan Jingshu smiled as he arranged the bowls and chopsticks. "I made these two dishes. The braised meat and buns are from the shop at the street corner. I wasn’t sure if you’d like them."  

Jiang Chenghan glanced at him. Though he hadn’t mentioned it before and they hadn’t passed the shop on their way back, Yan Jingshu’s familiarity with it no longer surprised him.  

"Of course I like it, I’m a regular there," he said with a grin.  

Yan Jingshu wasn’t surprised by the answer but smiled happily. "Good. Eat as much as you like, you’ve worked hard today."  

"You eat too," Jiang Chenghan said, serving him food. "After more than twenty days of rough travel, you’ve lost weight."  

He thought back to their wedding, when he had hoped to plump Yan Jingshu up—yet now, he was only getting thinner.  

After a quiet and warm simple meal, since it was already late, Jiang Chenghan didn’t bother cleaning up. He then boiled a pot of hot water for himself and Yan Jingshu to bathe properly before putting away the bedding and laying it out anew. Soon, the two of them went to sleep.