The legitimate daughter was reborn, and the emperor’s little Jiaojiao went crazy.

The night wind swept through the tent, the candlelight flickered, and Tang Xinghe's gloomy brows were reflected.

He was silent for a long time, and finally sighed heavily, "You are right, my battle in Guicheng was not reckless, and I don't regret it. But when it comes to getting married... I really lost my mind. Fortunately, you didn't do the same as me and write a letter to ask Miss Chi to marry you, otherwise the mothers at home would be worried to death."

Ma Chuyang: “…”

Is it so quick to hurt each other? He wiped his eyes tactically.

This subtle movement did not escape Tang Xinghe's eyes, "Why? You also wrote a letter... to ask for Miss Chi's hand in marriage?"

"Cough, cough, cough!" Ma Chuyang was suddenly choked by his saliva, and his face turned red from coughing, and he almost fell off the couch. It took him a long time to catch his breath, and he stared with wide eyes, "I'm different from you!"

He grabbed the water bag and took a sip, then said sullenly, "I have never had anyone in my heart... Ever since I knew Hong Que liked you, I have no other thoughts."

Tang Xinghe was startled, then he reached out and patted his shoulder, "You are better than me."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chuyang couldn't help but curl up his lips and said proudly, "That's right. After all, I'm a few years older than you, so my mind is naturally clearer."

Tang Xinghe sneered, "Then am I still your 'Brother Xinghe'?"

Ma Chuyang immediately leaned over and said with a grin, "Yes, yes, you will always be my Brother Xinghe!"

The two smiled at each other, and the depression they had just felt seemed to have eased a little. But as they smiled, they fell silent again.

The night wind brought the sound of a night watch drum in the distance. Tang Xinghe looked at the flickering candlelight and murmured, "Kexin has been sent out."

Ma Chuyang scratched his head. "How about... we write another letter? Just say that you are seriously injured and unconscious, talking nonsense, and that letter doesn't count?"

Tang Xinghe raised his eyes and glanced, "Do you think my mother is a fool?"

Ma Chuyang was dejected, "That's it, you're done, just wait for Hong Que to chase you and chop you with a knife..."

It would be fine if she really chopped it off, but I was afraid that she wouldn't. From then on, I pretended that I didn't know her, ignored her when I looked for her, and didn't respond when I talked to her. Then... she married someone else.

It’s over, it’s over, Brother Xinghe is finished!

Tang Xinghe obviously thought of this as well. His face turned extremely bad and he felt very nervous.

Outside the tent, the footsteps of the patrolling soldiers faded away.

The two young men lay side by side, looking at the ceiling of the tent, each with their own thoughts.

The most difficult thing in this world is never the flashing of swords and sabers on the battlefield. It is the young people who are full of passion but don't know how to clean up the mess they have made with their own hands.

In the capital, at the Chi family mourning hall, it is the third day of mourning.

The blue-gray sky was hanging low, and the drizzle was like silk, soaking the newly hung white banner in front of the gate of the Chi family's side courtyard, causing it to droop heavily.

Inside the mourning hall, a long-burning lamp was dimly burning, the flame flickering in the draft, making the black lacquered coffin in the middle look even more eerie.

There was no corpse in the coffin, only a bloodstained military uniform, neatly folded, with a green jade pendant with a dragon pattern lying quietly on it - it was tied around Chi Yue's waist by his eldest sister Chi Shuang before he left Beijing.

Chi Shuang knelt on the futon, wearing a plain linen skirt and a wooden hairpin in her black hair. Her fingertips gently stroked the crack on the jade pendant, which was the mark left by the arrow.

The imperial envoy who returned the relics said that Chi Yue was stabbed by several arrows and knives, but he held the jade pendant tightly and refused to let go when he died.

There were footsteps outside the door. The old servant of the Chi family led two officers from the Ministry of War in and presented a document. "Miss Chi, this is the compensation order for your brother's death in battle. According to the regulations, there are 20 taels of silver for cremation and burial, plus 5 taels of silver for offering to the Martyrs' Shrine..."

Chi Shuang didn't answer, but asked with red eyes, "When can his body be returned to the capital?"

The officers looked at each other, and the older one replied with gritted teeth, "The road to Guicheng is long, and... your brother died on the battlefield. According to the rules, he should be buried in the military tomb."

Chi Shuang cried again when she heard that.

The officer put down the silver and documents and left in a hurry.

The mourning hall returned to silence, leaving only the sound of rain hitting the bluestone slabs.

Tick-tick-tick! Tick-tick-tick! Every sound is like the sky crying.

A woman in red brocade clothes walked in from outside the courtyard, with a sarcastic look on her face.

"You didn't let your brother join the army, and you said we were blocking his way!" The woman sneered and pointed at the pension money on the table. "Now it's all good! Twenty-five taels of silver is not even enough to hold a funeral!"

Chi Shuang knelt on the mat, her back straight, her fingertips tightly pinching the cracked jade pendant, without saying a word.

Seeing her silence, the woman's tone became more harsh, "Don't be so deadpan, pack up your things, and go to the Luo family in two days. It's just a remarriage, why do you need to be so ostentatious? Besides--"

She glanced at the empty coffin in the middle of the mourning hall and said maliciously, "Your brother is still in mourning. You can't even wear a red veil. It's unlucky!"

Chi Shuang slowly raised her eyes, her eyes were dead silent, but her voice was as cold as ice, "Second Aunt, Ah Yue's body is still warm, are you so anxious to sell your niece for fame?"

The woman's face darkened. "How dare you! What do you mean by selling out? The Luo family is a wealthy family after all. For a girl like you who lost her father, mother, and brother, to be able to marry into this family is already a great honor from your ancestors! Besides, your grandmother also agreed."

Chi Shuang sneered, her eyes were cold, "Really? Then why didn't Second Aunt let my cousin go and do good deeds? Mr. Luo is fifty-three years old, two of his wives have died, and the number of concubines who have been carried out of the backyard cannot be counted on one hand - such a "good marriage", why didn't Second Aunt leave it to her own daughter?"

"You!" The woman's face suddenly changed and she raised her hand to slap him.

"Hit me." Chi Shuang raised her face, not dodging or evading, with flames burning in her eyes, "Hit me here, and make my face covered in blood! I'm going to ask the Ministry of War, why is it that my family is forcing me to marry my brother's second wife even though my brother's body is still warm!"

The woman's hands froze in mid-air, her face livid, and she gritted her teeth, "You unlucky star! You still want to complain to the Ministry of War? Who do you think will pay attention to you! Quickly remove this unlucky mourning hall, no one will come to pay their respects!"

"No retreat!" Chi Shuang straightened her back and spoke loudly, "I will not retreat whether anyone comes or not! My brother is a hero! He died fighting for Guicheng! The court will never forget him!"

The woman laughed sinisterly, "Then just leave it there! If anyone from the capital comes to pay their respects, I'll let you sit on my head!"

"Then sit on it as a stool." A female voice came from outside the yard. The voice was as clear as a girl's, but it was particularly majestic.

"Princess Haiyan is here!" Bei Hui hailed loudly.

The woman was suddenly struck by lightning, and her mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg.

But a group of guards in brocade clothes came in one after another, standing on both sides. In the middle, two maids carefully supported a very beautiful woman and walked in slowly.

The woman had an extremely noble demeanor. She was wearing a moon-white brocade robe, and the bulge in her belly was very obvious.

She wore only a white jade phoenix hairpin in her hair. The pearl in the phoenix's mouth swayed gently with her steps, emitting a warm glow.

Chi Shuang was stunned on the spot, until Bei Hui coughed lightly, then she knelt hurriedly, "I pay my respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess."