Rebirth: Marry a General instead of a Prince

It was getting dark, perhaps because it had rained, and there were no stars or moon.

The Imperial Palace, the Queen Mother's bedroom.

The Queen Mother sat in the seat of honor, while Xie Yunsong sat quietly drinking tea below. For a moment, the bedroom was unusually quiet.

The Queen Mother kept rolling the Buddhist beads in her hands and looking at Xie Yunsong intently.

After a while, the Queen Mother spoke slowly, "Song'er, you will leave early tomorrow morning. The Royal Grandmother has nothing good to give you. This golden silk soft armor is invulnerable to swords and will keep you safe on the battlefield."

The nanny beside him handed the soft armor on the ink-colored tray to Xie Yunsong.

Xie Yunsong bowed: "Thank you, Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother looked at Xie Yunsong fiercely and asked tentatively, "Song'er, did you know about what happened in Changle today in advance?"

Xie Yunsong raised his eyes and said calmly: "Of course I don't know. I live outside the palace, how can I know what's going on inside the palace walls?"

The Empress Dowager continued, "You followed the Emperor on the spring hunt earlier, and I heard that you spent a night alone with the Princess Rong'an. Song'er, tell me honestly, what is your relationship with her?"

Xie Yunsong's expression was cold and stiff, and he said unhappily, "Your Majesty's question is very strange. Since Your Majesty knows that Princess Rong'an and I were alone together for a night, don't you know who caused us to almost die in the mouth of a wild beast? As for Miss Bai and I, it's innocent. Why is Your Majesty testing us here?"

The Queen Mother said sternly, "Song'er!"

Xie Yunsong was silent.

The Queen Mother sighed and said, "Forget it, Song'er, have you visited your mother since you returned to the capital? The Buddhist temple is poor, is she okay in Puhua Temple?"

Xie Yunsong curled his lips and said sarcastically: "It's not like the Queen Mother doesn't know that she never wants to see me. How can I know if she is okay or not?"

The Queen Mother was startled and murmured, "Song'er...you..."

Xie Yunsong interrupted impatiently, "If the Queen Mother has nothing else to do, I will take my leave first. I need to set off early tomorrow morning."

The Queen Mother said sadly, "Forget it, Song'er, you should go back soon. The swords on the battlefield are blind, so you must be careful. The Imperial Grandmother will wait for your triumphant return."

Xie Yunsong said mockingly: "Don't worry, Queen Mother. I will never die in the wilderness like my father."

After saying this, without even performing any formalities, he strode out, walked all the way to the palace gate, jumped on his horse, and galloped all the way back to Xie's house.

Steward Lin was still waiting. When he saw Xie Yunsong coming back, he hurried forward and said, "Master, I prepared some food for you. I'm afraid you didn't have a good meal in the palace."

Xie Yunsong turned around and said, "Uncle Lin, it's getting late. You don't have to wait for me. Go to bed early."

Steward Lin said happily: "Master, is the one who came to the mansion today the Princess Rong'an? You and her..."

Xie Yunsong said helplessly: "Uncle Lin, go back to sleep."

Steward Lin continued to chatter, "Master, look at the huge Xie Mansion. You are the only master here. It would be even more deserted if you were away. If Master could get married soon and have a few more children, then the Xie Mansion would be lively..."

Before he could finish, Xie Yunsong had already strode out.

Butler Liu Lin was still there, imagining the beautiful scene.

Xie Yunsong went back to his room and lay down. All he could think about was Bai Zhiyuan standing in the rain today. He couldn't fall asleep for a moment, so he stood up again, stood in the yard, and looked up at the sky. There was no moon tonight, and the sky was dark. Xie Yunsong felt a little confused, sighed lightly, and turned back to the room.

On the other side, Bai Zhiyuan was tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. She simply got up and sat in the room for a while, weighing her Baihong sword. After thinking about it, the image of Xie Yunsong, who was full of vigor and vitality in the martial arts training ground that day, emerged in her mind. She really wanted to see his style on the battlefield.

Bai Zhiyuan shook her head, put down her sword, and climbed back onto the bed. In a daze, she thought, Xie Yunsong and her father didn't want her to join the military camp, but why couldn't she follow them secretly?

Thinking of this, Bai Zhiyuan was completely awake. She jumped up from the bed, and the more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Her father was going to the southern border, and most of his men knew her, so she couldn't take the risk. Xie Yunsong was going to the northern border, so she could just disguise herself, sneak into the new recruits' camp, and follow him to the northern border. It wouldn't matter if he found out by then, since they were already there, what could he do?

Bai Zhiyuan made the decision.

Bai Zhiyuan became more and more excited as he thought about it, so he simply did not sleep. He sat down, lit the lamp, and began to write a letter to his father word by word, telling him that he would go to the northern border with Xie Yunsong and that he would take care of himself.

After writing the letter, Bai Zhiyuan glanced out the window. The sky had begun to turn white and it was almost dawn.

Bai Zhiyuan hadn't slept all night, but at this moment he was unusually awake and excited.

After she was dressed and ready to go out, Ling Xiao walked in sleepily. Seeing her, he asked curiously, "Miss, why are you out so early today?"

Bai Zhiyuan was in a good mood and said, "My father, mother and brother are leaving today, so I naturally have to get up early to see them off.

Ling Xiao was stunned. Wasn't the young lady unhappy about this matter a few days ago? Why was she so happy today?

Before Ling Xiao could think about it, Bai Zhiyuan had already walked a long way, and Ling Xiao hurried to catch up.

It is a sunny day today. It is not yet completely light, but Princess Duanhui and Bai Tingxuan are already ready to go. The southern border is thousands of miles away from Shangjing, so the sooner they set off, the better they will arrive sooner.

Seeing Bai Zhiyuan coming, Bai Tingxuan and Princess Duanhui looked at each other. Princess Duanhui's eyes were slightly red. She took Bai Zhiyuan's hand and said, "Ayuan, mother can't bear to leave you. You have to take good care of yourself in Shangjing. Shangjing is not peaceful now. You have to be more careful. If there is an emergency, you can write to your grandfather. After all, he is the emperor's uncle, and the emperor still gives him face."

Bai Zhiyuan smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, mother. I know what's going on."

Princess Duanhui shed tears, "Mother's Ayuan has grown up."

After saying that, he put his arm around Bai Zhiyuan's shoulders and leaned in her arms. Bai Zhiyuan smelled the motherly scent on Princess Duanhui and felt sad for a moment.

Bai Tingxuan felt a little uncomfortable when he saw this. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Ayuan, don't blame father for not allowing you to go with us. Father only wishes you safety and health. Shangjing is now under attack from all sides. Why don't you go to Zhongnan Mountain? With Master Qingyi here, you can avoid the troubles in Shangjing."

Bai Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Father, you are too kind. How can your daughter blame you? Don't worry, father. After sending you away, I will go to Zhongnan Mountain. Everything in Shangjing will have nothing to do with me."

Bai Tingxuan felt relieved after hearing this and said, "Father is relieved now. Ayuan has reached the age of marriage. Father is always worried about you being alone in the capital. Next time I return to the capital, I will personally choose a good husband for you."

Princess Duanhui rolled her eyes at him, but felt more and more guilty towards Bai Zhiyuan. No man was worthy of her precious daughter.

Bai Qiuze also said reluctantly: "Sister, please take care of yourself when your brother is not with you."

Bai Zhiyuan nodded and said, "Don't worry, brother."

Then she said to the three family members who were staring at her, "Father, mother, brother, you guys go ahead. I'm sorry I can't see you off. I'm packing my bags and heading to Mount Zhongnan. I don't know how long it will take before we meet again. Take care on your journey. I look forward to your triumphant return."

After saying this, he knelt down and kowtowed to his parents.

Princess Duanhui couldn't bear it and turned her head away. Bai Tingxuan and Bai Qiuze also looked reluctant. After Bai Zhiyuan finished kowtowing, Bai Qiuze hurriedly helped him up.

The three of them then walked out of the mansion, looking back every few steps, and mounted their horses. Princess Duanhui got on the carriage, held onto the curtain, and looked at Bai Zhiyuan with a nostalgic look on her face.

Bai Zhiyuan waved to them, and the three of them set off.

Bai Zhiyuan watched the three people walk farther and farther away, then she turned around and returned to her own yard.

She changed into a set of men's clothes, tied up her long hair, and looked neat. She didn't bring anything with her, but only took her sword and wrapped it carefully to avoid being discovered by Xie Yunsong. She also inserted the dagger for self-defense into her boots, and then called Ling Xiao in.

Ling Xiao came in and saw Bai Zhiyuan dressed like this, and asked curiously, "Miss, where are you going?"

Bai Zhiyuan said seriously, "Ling Xiao, listen to me. I am going to the northern border with Xie Yunsong. I will leave the Bai Mansion to you and Uncle Wang. Tell him to keep an eye on Prince Yan's Mansion while I am away. If you have anything, write to me and I will definitely receive it."

Ling Xiao was shocked and stammered, "Miss...you can't...you are a woman...the master and the princess don't know..."

"Okay, Ling Xiao, I have to go. Don't worry about me. Stay in the mansion. I will come back safely." After saying that, she took out a letter from her bosom. It was the letter she had written in the morning. "I will send this letter to my father after I leave. I have already told him in the letter that I am going to the northern border."

"Miss," Ling Xiao held her and sobbed, "Don't go. What should I do if you leave? How about you take me with you? Miss, the northern border is bitterly cold. I'm worried that you won't be able to eat or sleep well. What if you get hurt again..."

Bai Zhiyuan smiled, wiped away her tears and said, "Silly girl, you should know that no one can stop your lady's decision. Relax and remember what I said. I will come back safely. I promise that not a single hair will be missing. You also know that the northern border is bitterly cold. I am a martial artist and you are a delicate girl. Why would you go there? Just wait for me at home and I will write to you."

Ling Xiao burst into laughter. She knew that no one could change the decision made by the young lady. She said worriedly, "I'll go get some dry food for the young lady. Don't get hungry on the way."

Bai Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Don't take it. I have to go. If it's any later, Xie Yunsong's team will have left Shangjing. Take care, Lingxiao!"

Ling Xiao said with tears in his eyes, "Miss, take care." He stuffed some dried meat and silver into her arms and then stopped.

It was already dawn. Bai Zhiyuan left the house, mounted his horse, and headed out of the city.