After reading the letter, Ge Liang smiled instead: "Brother Huo was really farsighted, having prepared the provisions in advance."
Huo Shu didn't elaborate further on the matter, only saying to Ge Liang: "You go and supervise the provisions. Once everything is assembled, pack them up immediately."
Ge Liang straightened up seriously: "Alright! I'll go right now!"
Ji Taoyu watched Ge Liang walk away, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Huo Shu's hand hanging at his side.
Huo Shu looked down, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Go."
A slight curve lifted the corner of Ji Taoyu's mouth, his expression gentle: "At a critical juncture like this, escorting provisions to the south is no easy task. Even if the men on hand are already capable of handling things independently, this is an exceptional time. Without you personally taking charge, they will surely feel unsettled."
"Besides, even the Sixth Prince has sent a token. After all, he is of imperial lineage, lowering himself to request assistance. Even if not for these reasons, do it for the recovery and pacification of Tongzhou."
"Xiao Taohe hasn't seen his hometown yet."
Huo Shu pulled Ji Taoyu tightly into his embrace. He was always so understanding, afraid that Huo Shu felt awkward and couldn't speak his mind, he instead tried to persuade him.
This deep understanding was something they had built between them over the years.
He rested his chin on Ji Taoyu's neck without speaking, yet this silence expressed more than any words could.
When the family in the courtyard saw the two of them standing like that, they understood Huo Shu's decision without needing to ask a single question.
A wave of unease washed over everyone in the courtyard. They had only just started to enjoy a period of relative peace and stability. The thought of Huo Shu heading off into danger once more filled each of them with a deep and unavoidable worry.
Ji Yangzong, holding Xiao Taohe who was looking around curiously, sighed softly: "This child isn't even a year old yet."
Huang Yinsheng straightened the bib on Xiao Taohe that had been grabbed askew: "His father is no ordinary man. The capable have more responsibilities. In times like these, we always need such people to bear the burden at the front."
"Fine. Young people have their own decisions. Let's just hope nothing goes wrong."
Ji Yangzong comfortingly patted Huang Manjing's hand.
That night, Ji Taoyu cried.
He couldn't tell if it was because he was worried and reluctant to let Huo Shu go, or because Huo Shu had been too intense and he couldn't handle it.
The summer night breeze was clear, again and again.
Huo Shu didn't seem to want to hold back either. He held the waist of the person in his arms, making those pitiful, pleading sobs break until they couldn't form a continuous sound.
His energy was more than enough to make Ji Taoyu sink into deep sleep before it was over, but in the end, he couldn't bear to do that and stopped before Ji Taoyu lost consciousness.
"I will come back as soon as possible."
Ji Taoyu was too tired to open his eyes. Before completely falling asleep, he clearly heard Huo Shu say this in his ear.
He wanted to say a few more words to Huo Shu, but he didn't know if the words he wanted to say were actually spoken or if he said them in his own dreams.
Because of this, he didn't know when Huo Shu left, nor did he know that Huo Shu held Xiao Taohe for a long time before leaving.
In the ninth month, the sky lightened early, but the grain convoy set off before dawn.
This trip deployed most of the horses and livestock from the pasture, with over sixty people escorting and guarding the convoy.
The group set off directly galloping along the official road, whipping their horses to deliver the relief grain quickly.
By the time Ji Taoyu woke up, Huo Shu's team had almost reached the border of Lianping Prefecture.
Ji Taoyu looked at the brightly lit room and knew Huo Shu must have left long ago. His whole body felt sore and weak.
After giving birth to Xiao Taohe, he had been recuperating. Even when they were intimate, they were restrained, it was never as unrestrained as this time.
He lay dazed in bed for quite a while before managing to get up. Xiao Taohe had already been taken out long ago.
The crib was empty, just like the room.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of loss and let out a soft sigh.
"Taoyu, why aren't you up yet? Tian Yin brought lots of winter melons. Let's make soup together."
Before he could sink into his loneliness for more than a moment, the door was knocked on with a loud banging sound.
Ji Taoyu could tell just from the vigorous, forceful knocking that it was Jin Kelu.
He quickly threw on his clothes and went to open the door, afraid that if he was any slower, the door would be pushed down.
"Have you been crying?"
Jin Kelu slipped into the room and saw Ji Taoyu's red, swollen eyes. He was taken aback for a moment: "Aiya, don't cry."
"I'm fine. I didn't sleep well last night, that's all."
Ji Taoyu poured him a cup of tea first: "Sit down first. Let me get dressed." Jin Kelu said: "I know you're sad that Brother Huo is gone. Don't worry, this place isn't that far from Tongzhou. The round trip should be doable within a month."
"It's a man's duty to go out and make something of himself, to achieve great things. With Brother Huo's capabilities, what is there to possibly worry about?"
"A-Liang hadn't even planned on going initially, but I directly chased him out. What's he doing staying home at a time when we need manpower the most?"
Ji Taoyu laughed. After putting on his clothes, he turned to Jin Kelu and said: "If they allowed you to go, I'm sure you would have run off with them too."
"That wouldn't do."
Jin Kelu shook his head: "I've already sent capable clansmen with horses ahead. Even though they haven't been gone long, someone still needs to keep an eye on things here."
Ji Taoyu said: "After all, our Jin ger has a better grasp of the bigger picture."
When the two went out, Ji Taoyu could clearly see that the village was much quieter. Probably every household was also worrying about the men who had left.
However, Tia Yin came with his son, Xiao Duanyan. With his boisterous voice, the courtyard couldn't stay quiet.
"Uncle! Can I play with the wooden sword again!"
"The wooden sword from last time!"
"The broadsword! And the long spear!"
"This time I won't go poke the little cabbages in the field!"
Xiao Duan Yan saw Ji Taoyu and immediately followed at his heels, his little mouth chattering nonstop, exactly like his little father.
Ji Taoyu went into the house and brought out the wooden swords and knives that Huo Shu had made for Xiao Taohe, letting Xiao Duan Yan play with them.
Little boy like him adored these kinds of things. The last time Xiao Duan Yan visited, Huo Shu let him play with them for a while, and the boy had been so fond of them he couldn't bear to put them down. This time, on the way over, he had chattered to his little father about them dozens of times.
Seeing Ji Taoyu bring out a whole armful, Xiao Duan Yan jumped for joy. He equipped himself with a short sword on each hip, strapped a long spear to his back, and still clutched a large broadsword in his hand, unwilling to let it go. The sight was truly hilarious.
Now, finally, he stopped pestering people and went off to play by himself.
Thank you for the update!!
ReplyDelete