It was a hopeless situation.
Two hundred soldiers fought desperately, forming a human wall to protect the young officer within.
It wasn't until the traitor in the army fled and the conspiracy was uncovered
that reinforcements finally arrived.
By then,
Second Uncle had already shielded the young officer from several attacks, allowing him to survive.
It was both tragic and a stroke of immense luck.
Second Uncle left such a deep impression on the young officer that he gave him a bloodstained cloth strip bearing his final message—
And entrusted someone to deliver it to Eldest Uncle, along with the promise to settle the family in Chang'an.
When Eldest Uncle joined the team sent to collect the remains, he found the enemy had already burned and destroyed the bodies.
The ashes of the 200 soldiers were mixed together—impossible to tell apart.
The soldiers had no choice but to suppress their grief,
each taking a scoop of ashes according to the roster list.
Second Uncle had gambled.
He had gambled on that last sliver of hope—
using the young officer's survival, his noble birth, and his own mistake—
to send this blood-written message.
He knew this cloth strip would eventually reach Eldest Uncle's hands.
It wasn't just about honor—it was about ensuring real benefits for the family.
On that cloth, four smeared yet firm characters:
"Protect my wife and child."
—
Xia Youmi recalled the stable world she had once known.
Or rather, the kind of country that could offer true peace, one that protected its people so well.
This was the first time she had come face-to-face with such cruelty.
And she realized—
War and sacrifice weren't always glorious.
Sometimes, it could start from a deception.
Sometimes, it stemmed from internal power struggles.
And sometimes, it was no more than a joke.
Human lives were so easily discarded.
She had known that her seventh year would mark a turning point.
In the original book, there was a line in her character's bio:
"In the sixth year of Qiyuan, she moved with her mother to Chang'an."
She'd always assumed the family had encountered some great fortune to be able to settle in a city where every inch of land was precious.
She never imagined—
That the price had been paid with lives.
And because of this reward, Eldest Uncle was now deeply troubled.
This was a personal gift from the noble; even if it was unfair, it couldn't be refused.
He had no right to exchange the protection Second Uncle had secured for his wife and son
for some generic compensation shared among the families of all 200 fallen soldiers.
The battle had been disgraceful. If they tried asking for rewards, they might end up with nothing at all.
In the end, Eldest Uncle took the initiative to accept the task of delivering the belongings.
He visited each family personally, checking the names, publicizing the soldiers' achievements, and ensuring the promised assistance was delivered.
At the same time, he requested a transfer to logistics and reported his injury for discharge.
Once he returned to the capital, he could receive a non-combat post in Chang'an.
By now, everyone probably still didn't understand—
That Eldest Uncle's transfer out of active duty likely meant he had already been seriously injured and could no longer fight.
He had probably stayed on,
not out of duty, but because he wanted to turn the last of his value into security for his family.
—
Several days later, the young officer named Zhao returned.
He informed the Wang family that the noble had already returned to the capital,
and that the residence gifted to them had been properly arranged.
It wasn't in a central district, but it was peaceful and away from conflict.
There was also a shopfront attached for them to run a business—
all the details had been considered.
The household registration was to be transferred to Wang Shaoyan, Second Uncle's young son.
The procedures—death notification, updating records, property transfer, household move, tax registration—were all complex and had to be completed quickly while the noble was still willing to help.
In addition, Wang Shaoyi and his mother, along with Xia Youmi and her mother, would also be included in the move.
This had been Eldest Uncle's intention.
He wanted the two sisters-in-law to look after each other, and the two brothers to support one another.
He would be responsible for supporting the entire household.
As for Xia Youmi and her mother,
this was a personal request from Eldest Uncle.
Though Wang Xiu had married out, after so many years it was clear that Xia Li had become the equivalent of a live-in son-in-law.
He himself never denied that their family had survived under the Wang clan's protection.
In unspoken agreement, both siblings offered to pay monthly rent at market price to Second Uncle's household for using the Chang'an residence.
They also had a plan for their livelihood: opening a breakfast stall to sell steamed buns and flatbread.
With Wang Xiu's excellent cooking skills and the two sisters-in-law helping, the small business could be sustained.
As for transferring the two older cousins to new schools in Chang'an,
they decided not to bother the noble further.
They would wait for Eldest Uncle's return and figure out another way.
Time was short.
After everyone absorbed the information, they split up to prepare.
Wang Family Village was just about 100 li (50 km) from Chang'an.
With a fast horse, they could arrive in half a day.
Wang Shaoyan quietly assisted with all the legal and logistical procedures.
But Xia Youmi couldn't help noticing—
Her cousin's expression was growing darker by the day.
They were all overwhelmed with work these past few days.
Second Aunt Li Shi was gravely ill and bedridden, needing constant care from Xia Youmi.
Her mother and Eldest Aunt were busy tallying household items and discussing farmland with the village head and clan leader.
Wang Shaoyi accompanied his cousin Shaoyan through all the arrangements set by the noble.
Only after everything had been handled did they gather again—
And only then did they notice:
Wang Shaoyan and his mother were both gaunt and skeletal.
"I'm not moving to Chang'an," Shaoyan said calmly.
There it was—the moment they had all feared.
"Shaoyan!"
"Is it because of your mother's illness? I already told Shaoyi—
once we're settled in Chang'an, we'll ask Fang-niang to seek out a physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Fang-niang was Eldest Uncle's second daughter who had married into a local official's family in Chang'an.
Their life wasn't rich, but they had some spare resources.
This time, she was reportedly pregnant, so couldn't travel.
These past few days, Eldest Aunt Liu Shi had found several strands of gray in her hair.
She was worried about her injured husband, afraid her sister-in-law would give up, concerned about her newly pregnant daughter, and anxious for the boy who had taken up too much responsibility.
Now that Wang Shaoyan had said he wouldn't go to Chang'an—
it had to be something he and his mother had decided together.
But how were they supposed to explain this to Eldest Uncle?
They were going to live in the house earned with Second Uncle's life, yet the rightful heirs wouldn't be there?
How would that look?
Madam Liu tried again to persuade him:
"Shaoyan, you should think of your mother's health.
The doctors in the village and county aren't very capable.
When your uncle returns, he'll plead with the noble for medicine. Surely that man wouldn't—"
"Cough, cough!"
Second Aunt Li Shi weakly interrupted her sister-in-law.
Everyone fell silent to listen.
"Sister-in-law… cough! Don't… persuade me… I know how much time I have left.
Even with medicine… cough! I fear I still wouldn't catch up to Jinglang…"
Tears broke free again. Quiet sobs filled the room.
Eldest Aunt pressed her sleeve to her mouth, afraid that her crying would spill out and interrupt Li Shi's last words.
"I'm going… Shaoyan…"
Shaoyan stepped forward and gently held her hand, nodding firmly, eyes locked on his frail mother.
He didn't want to hear those words.
He wanted to block his ears.
"I fear…"
"Jinglang… He went first… to find our three bratty boys.
We… we'll reunite… down there… cough cough we should have long ago…"
Li Shi's lips closed slowly, curving faintly upward—
As if she were smiling, a peaceful, contented smile.
Gradually,
Her hand slipped from his grasp.