Chen Xi hastily wrote the order, stamped it with his seal, and placed it on the desk before rushing out. If he arrived too late and Lujiang had already fallen, and if only Lu Xun and Lu Ji escaped, it would be a tragedy.
Leaving the administration hall, Chen Xi quickly jumped into a carriage. Liu Bei's sword and his presence were essential, so he couldn't afford any mistakes. He ordered the driver to hurry to the Chen family residence.
"Master, what urgent matter has arisen?" the old housekeeper asked as Chen Xi burst through the door. Without waiting for a response, Chen Xi hurried toward the inner courtyard, leaving the housekeeper behind.
"I have urgent business and will be gone for a while. Make sure to inform Jian'er and Lan'er; I won't be able to tell them myself," Chen Xi called out as he passed through the outer courtyard. He knew that if he stopped to explain, their sad, disappointed looks would only make things harder for him.
He rushed through the corridors, grabbed Liu Bei's sword from his study, and was about to leave when a voice called out from behind.
"Husband, what is the rush?" It was Fan Jian, who appeared at the door, curious about why her usually calm husband was in such a hurry. "Weren't you the one who always said, 'Even if Mount Tai collapses in front of me, I remain calm, and even if a deer passes by on my left, I won't flinch'? What changed today?"
"I have urgent matters that may require me to leave for three months!" Chen Xi sighed, feeling guilty. He had just gotten married two months ago, then left for nearly three months, and now, after only five days back, he was leaving again. How could his newlywed wives, Fan Jian and Chen Lan, accept this?
"Husband..." Fan Jian protested, dragging out her words.
"This time, it's really urgent," Chen Xi said apologetically. Just as he finished speaking, three more people arrived—Chen Lan, Mi Zhen, and Zhen Mi.
"Greetings, Lord Chen." "Husband." The three of them greeted him politely, curious about why Chen Xi had returned from the administration hall so early.
"Forget the formalities. Were you three planning to go with Jian'er to Madame Cai's for lessons?" Chen Xi glanced at them, his gaze lingering on Zhen Mi for a moment, and then asked knowingly.
"Madame Cai told us to take a day off," Mi Zhen replied. Unfortunately, Madame Cai had canceled classes today, allowing them to enjoy some leisure time.
Chen Xi was speechless. He had hoped that the three of them would take Fan Jian along and give him some peace. But today's situation left him in a bind. "Well, since that's the case, why don't you all go shopping with Jian'er? Anything you want, just put it on my tab. I have some urgent business to attend to, so I must leave now."
As he spoke, Chen Xi waved his hand and quickly made his way through the central courtyard. "Lan'er, Jian'er, you both stay home. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Chen Lan's face turned pale, but she still gave him a polite bow. "I wish you victory, husband."
"Lord Chen, take me with you," Mi Zhen suddenly called out, chasing after him. Since her family wasn't around, she had been staying with Madame Cai, who had taken her under her wing. However, Mi Zhen found herself growing bored with the constant lessons in the arts.
The more time Mi Zhen spent learning under Cai Yan, the more restless she became. Although she excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, her playful nature made her eager for excitement. Cai Yan's composed and mature demeanor added pressure, forcing Mi Zhen to follow Cai Yan's instructions obediently.
As Mi Zhen tugged on Chen Xi's sleeve, he felt a headache coming on. The girl before him was nothing like the mature and composed Mi Zhen he knew from later years. Her personality reminded him a bit of Sun Shangxiang's—perhaps it was because she had never experienced hardship.
Chen Xi turned to face the four women. Except for Zhen Mi, who remained calm, the other three were all eager to join him. "No, absolutely not."
"You're so stingy," Mi Zhen pouted, clearly displeased. "Can't you guarantee our safety?"
"I can, but no," Chen Xi replied. Taking women to the battlefield was something he couldn't do. Even if it wasn't a big deal, if the commander-in-chief didn't follow the rules, how could he expect his soldiers to?
"Why not?" Mi Zhen asked, even more dissatisfied.
Chen Xi, no longer in a rush, explained, "Because you're a woman."
This was a strong reason, and Mi Zhen, with her limited understanding of the world, couldn't argue against it. She shot a frustrated glare at Chen Xi.
"Alright, now that you understand, stop bothering me. I have to go." Chen Xi waved them off. If he took Mi Zhen along, Mi Zhu would surely give him a murderous look upon their return.
"No way!" Mi Zhen ran back to Zhen Mi, dragging her along as she returned to Chen Xi. Pushing Zhen Mi forward, she said, "Look how cute Mi'er is. I'll give her to you if you take me along."
Chen Xi sighed, covering his face with one hand as he looked at the blushing Zhen Mi. "You... step aside. Absolutely not."
"Hmph! What if I insist on going?" Mi Zhen challenged.
"You're not going," Chen Xi sighed. "And don't even think about sneaking along. Once I leave, I'll station ten teams of city guards to keep an eye on you. If you try to convince my wives to join you, I'll ask Madame Cai to give you extra lessons on women's conduct. Zhen Mi, keep an eye on Mi Zhen for me."
"Oh, alright," Zhen Mi responded softly, her face still flushed. Compared to Mi Zhen, Zhen Mi was truly a model of good behavior.
"Traitor," Mi Zhen grumbled, displeased with her friend's betrayal. "Hmph! I heard my brother say... mmph mmph..."
Before Mi Zhen could finish, Zhen Mi, now composed, covered Mi Zhen's mouth and bowed to Chen Xi. She then promptly dragged Mi Zhen away.
"You three stay home and behave. I'll be back soon," Chen Xi called out to Chen Lan and Fan Jian, who both bowed in silence as they watched him leave.
As Chen Xi walked away, he shook his head slightly. The initial shock of meeting Zhen Mi in Jizhou had faded. Although she was still beautiful, the aura that had once captivated him was no longer as strong.