......
A large bird soared across the sky.
Its shadow swept over the grassland.
The sun climbed higher.
Icicles slowly melted into water,
Gradually soaking the yellow grass.
Come next year, as soon as the spring breeze blows,
Tender shoots will emerge from the damp earth.
By then, the wild grass will have withered into mud, becoming fertilizer for the new grass, helping them grow strong and bloom in midsummer.
When autumn and winter arrive, the grass will turn yellow again, covering the ground like a blanket, its dry body sheltering next year's new life.
The cycle continues, life persists.
This place was beautiful.
The resting spot had a grove of trees, a small river, and backed onto a grassland. It was hard to leave.
This scenery was so stunning that if they had phones, a simple photo could turn it into a ticketed attraction.
Jiang Mianmian tucked her small sword away, as her mother had warned of an ambush.
She stood facing the grassland, her rabbit fur coat billowing in the wind, holding her sword with a serious expression.
Jiang Yu called out, "Mianmian, come here."
"Coming!"
Jiang Mianmian trotted over.
Elder Sister handed her a walnut kernel sprinkled with sesame seeds.
"Try this, it's deliciously fragrant."
Jiang Mianmian looked at her sister's belly.
It was frighteningly large, and she kept eating.
Though not a gynecology specialist, based on Jiang Mianmian's limited experience, the chances of twins were high.
The good news was that the Meng Family's single-child curse might finally be broken.
The bad news was that in ancient times, childbirth relied on natural delivery, and the risk of complications with twins was high.
The good news was that Jiang Mianmian could perform a C-section if needed, as it was now the simplest surgery. Grandma also knew how to deliver babies.
The bad news was that they were on the road, unsure of the due date, and twins were prone to premature birth, making postpartum care tricky.
The good news was that Elder Sister was as strong as a young bull, seemingly not needing C-section equipment.
Jiang Mianmian watched her sister jump down from the carriage, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"Elder Sister, be careful! When others are pregnant, even harsh words are off-limits, yet here you are jumping around."
"It's fine. I feel like when I jump, the babies in my belly laugh. They must be as active as I am."
Grandma, who hadn't managed to catch her in time, felt her eyebrows twitching.
As an experienced woman, seeing such a large belly made Aunt Yin worried too.
The most important matter in the palace was undoubtedly pregnancy.
As a seasoned professional servant, to secure a place by the master's side, one had to be an expert in the full spectrum of pregnancy care, from childbirth to postpartum recovery.
Sister Yu seemed to be carrying twins.
Twins were difficult to deliver.
And they were on the road. If labor started early...
Fortunately, Sister Yu looked robust, with hips that seemed good for childbearing. Aunt Yin had been careful with her diet and encouraged appropriate exercise. It should be fine.
Although this sudden journey to the capital was unexpected.
Still, Sister Yu's husband's family was in the capital, so they would have gone there eventually. Going together as a family now was actually a good thing.
But now, they were stopping to rest, with a potential ambush ahead.
Aunt Yin's right eyelid kept twitching.
This journey was unlikely to be peaceful.
Meanwhile, Jiang Changtian and his wife, along with their son and son-in-law, Jiang Feng and Meng Shaoxia, were discussing strategy.
They knew there was an ambush in the valley ahead.
The ambushers outnumbered them several times over.
Passing through would certainly lead to a fierce battle.
So what should they do?
Jiang Feng said, "That's the only way through. If we detour over the mountains, it'll add two days to our journey. Plus, we have women with us, and Jiang Yu is pregnant. Mountain paths would be difficult."
Meng Shaoxia suggested, "Father, why don't we rest now and launch a night attack? Strike first for the advantage."
Jiang Feng turned to look at his brother-in-law. You've changed, he thought. Not only has your square face become rounder, but your heart has also grown darker. You never used to suggest sneak attacks. Could it be that proximity breeds similarity... No, I'm not a pig.
Seeing his brother-in-law's innocent gaze, Meng Shaoxia quickly explained, "They dare to ambush government officials. With so many of us, and them lying in wait, they clearly don't intend to leave survivors. We must strike first."
Jiang Feng patted his brother-in-law's shoulder and looked up at the clouds racing across the sky. "Father, Shaoxia is right. We should strike first. Those people are lying in ambush without food or water. We can't poison them, but we could use fire attacks, then throw in poisonous herbs. They still need to breathe. Fire plus poison - that should finish them off!"
Jiang Changtian gave his son an approving look.
His half son-in-law Shaoxia was clever, but his thinking was too straightforward. The enemy was well-prepared for their ambush. Attacking them from below, while a counterattack of sorts, would still result in heavy losses. Every person they had brought was an elite among elites, and he was reluctant to waste them like that.
A true villain prioritizes achieving the goal, regardless of how despicable the means.
Qin Luoxia offered, "I'll start the fire. I have experience from cooking every day."
Jiang Changtian replied, "Sister Xia, this is too dangerous. Let Feng and Shaoxia handle it."
Meng Shaoxia: ... There was love there, but not much.
......
That night, Jiang Mianmian was still awake when she heard a distant commotion. She saw smoke rising from the far-off mountains, with patches of bright light.
In the endless dark night, a glow had appeared.
It was beautiful.
Like a grand firework blooming on the grassland.
Jiang Mianmian wondered if there might be wild goats, if there were any kebabs, if there was any delivery service. She craved a midnight snack.
She lay down, her stomach making gurgling noises.
The journey was long, and midnight snacks were necessary.
She got up and climbed out of bed.
......
