The next day, Zhao Jiaqi helped Junjun find good feng shui for her grandmother, bought a coffin, and assisted Junjun in burying her. Only after the little girl kowtowed three times to her grandmother did Zhao Jiaqi lead her away.
On the carriage, she asked, "Junjun, where are you and your grandmother planning to go?"
"Big sister, my name is Ren Yingjun. I live in Puzhou Prefecture. Last month, my mother died due to the war. The household servants and maids stole valuable items from the mansion and ran away. My grandmother and I had no choice but to return to the capital to find my father."
"What is your father's name? Sister will send people to escort you back!"
The little girl shook her head, full of disappointment, "Grandmother didn't say, she just gave me a jade pendant and said that when we reach the capital, she will tell me who my father is and take me to recognize him!"
Zhao Jiaqi touched her forehead. Oh dear, she was too careless.
"Big sister, I have nowhere to go now. Please be kind and take me with you. I can do any work, and I eat very little. I guarantee I will serve you comfortably!"
She looked at her pitifully. Zhao Jiaqi's heart softened immensely. She stroked her soft hair and nodded, "Don't call me sister anymore. You are only four years younger than my daughter. How about I recognize you as my goddaughter?"
Ren Yingjun smiled, her smile tinged with tears. She immediately knelt down to Zhao Jiaqi in the carriage and changed her address, "Mother, Mother, Yingjun has a mother now!"
Outside the carriage, Xiao Ce shook his head. She had a mother now, and they would have to take care of another little one.
The further north they went, the more people they saw on the road. Some even looked at horses with starved expressions, as if they wanted to slaughter and eat them.
In the eyes of these refugees, horses were dry rations, things that could fill their stomachs and prolong their lives.
Seeing this, Zhao Jiaqi leaned by the carriage window and asked him, "Brother Xiao, how much longer until we arrive!"
Xiao Ce looked at the devastated prefectural city ahead. The bloodstains on the ground had seeped into the earth, turning dark red. It seemed that a war had just occurred here not long ago.
He took a deep breath and said, "Two days at the earliest, three days at the latest."
Another two or three days of endurance and the doubts in her heart could be resolved.
The next evening, Xiao Ce and his party finally arrived at the camp. Zhao Jiaqi, leading the child, had also changed into men's clothing and disguised herself.
Inside the general's tent, some soldiers in armor were gathered around a table, arguing animatedly while pointing at drawings. Fang Jingchen and Fan Zehao stood together, staring at the blueprints in silence for a long time.
Upon seeing Xiao Ce's arrival, everyone in the command tent was momentarily stunned. Then, Fan Zehao recognized his wife, who was in disguise.
His face turned ashen with fright, and he hurriedly ordered everyone to leave.
After everyone had left, Fan Zehao strode forward, intending to reprimand her loudly. His eyes widened, and his imposing aura rose. Fang Jingchen and Xiao Ce, seeing this, were wide-eyed.
Fang Jingchen thought: This is serious, General Fan is going to rebel. No, he must stay and watch.
Xiao Ce thought: Good heavens, my younger brother is about to assert his authority at home!
He had made Zhao Jiaqi so angry because of the saying "all's fair in war." She had lost face in front of the Emperor.
Now, his younger brother was giving him face and would vent his anger on his behalf.
"Are you stupid? This place is so dangerous. If you have something to tell me, you could have written a letter and had Brother Xiao bring it. Why did you have to come in person! You're not allowed to do this again!"
Zhao Jiaqi pouted, admitting her fault, and nodded. She said softly, "I'm hungry."
Hearing his wife say she was hungry, he was filled with tenderness.
Fan Zehao immediately called a subordinate and asked him to go to the logistics department to get some food from the cooks. The situation took a sharp turn, stunning the two men.
This was not the look of someone about to reprimand her; it was practically a public display of affection in front of two old bachelors.
Fang Jingchen, being observant, grabbed the stunned Xiao Ce and pulled him out of the tent.
After stepping out into the cold wind, Xiao Ce's mind cleared up. He looked at General Fang and pointed at the tent. "See that? She's completely embarrassing us men. Let me tell you, General Fang, if I ever get married, I'll make sure my wife behaves properly and knows who's the boss in this house!"
Fang Jingchen glanced at him from the corner of his eye and said ungraciously, "Don't put on airs. Your younger brother is honest and hot-tempered, and his wife, while not of high status, is still married. At least he married!"
Xiao Ce was heartbroken after hearing this.
Before he could beat his chest and lament, he heard Fang Jingchen continue.
"You're a noble young master, with a good family background and appearance, and you hold an important position in the palace. Why can't you find a wife? Even a village girl would do. And you have the audacity to talk about setting rules for your wife? First, you need to find a woman!"
After speaking, he flicked his sleeves and left.
What a joke, to say that his godson was afraid of his wife?
If he didn't retort a few words, he wouldn't know that the sun rose from the east.
Only he, the godfather, could speak about his son being henpecked!
Xiao Ce scratched his head for a long time, unable to understand why Old General Fang would say such a thing. Perplexed, he went to find the deputy general, Zhang Heng.
From him, he learned that Fan Zehao was Fang Jingchen's favorite disciple and had even recognized Fang Jingchen as his godfather. Now, General Fan had a son, and his lineage would continue. This matter was already well-known in the camp, and they were just waiting to return to the capital for a banquet to formally recognize the adoption.
Upon learning this, his head felt even bigger. It seemed he had spoken ill of the godfather of Fan Zehao's godfather. He was truly an idiot, but he also truly admired Fan Zehao for his incredible luck.
In the tent, his wife and child were eating steamed buns and gnawing on meat, looking like they had just escaped a disaster.
"Wife, whose child is this?"
Zhao Jiaqi looked at Ren Yingjun, stroked her hair, and smiled at him, "Her grandmother, who is also her mother's wet nurse, died on the way fleeing. Her own mother also died during the war. Her father... is unknown. This child is now an orphan. When I saw her, I was reminded of our daughter, so I took the liberty of recognizing her as my goddaughter!"
Fan Zehao understood his wife's intention. She was accumulating merit for their daughter. Moreover, they were not lacking in resources to raise a helpless child.
"Okay, this is our eldest daughter. The more children, the better. We will form our own clan!"
Zhao Jiaqi's face was smiling, but she knew in her heart that her husband was still sad about being excluded from the clan. This wound was still a scar that could not be touched.
"Junjun, come here, this is your father!"
Ren Yingjun, a small child, had learned her manners very well. She slowly walked over and bowed to Fan Zehao, "Daughter Junjun greets Father, Father is well!"
Fan Zehao was overjoyed. Seeing that she was clearly a child from a prominent family, he was a little flustered. He quickly helped her up from the ground, "Quick, quick, get up, silly child, the ground is cold. We are all from humble backgrounds, we can't do this!"