The atmosphere in the hall grew tense.
Chen Yuan stood below, meeting Huo Tingshan's sharp gaze without flinching. The smoke of their silent clash began to spread imperceptibly.
Meng Ling'er blinked, snapping out of her daze from the previous scene. Her cherry lips parted in astonishment; there were things she wanted to say, but she felt the timing was inappropriate now.
Pei Ying sighed inwardly. She couldn't let the stalemate continue and could only try to smooth things over with a smile. "Commandant Chen... no, I should address you as Envoy Chen now. First, congratulations on your promotion. Regarding the matter of the unfamiliar young lady coming to your residence, we will have someone investigate it thoroughly later. You need not worry too much."
Pei Ying then asked Chen Yuan if he had eaten lunch, suggesting that if he hadn't, they could add another set of chopsticks for him to join them.
Chen Yuan replied that he already had.
Huo Tingshan sneered inwardly.
It seemed the fellow still possessed a shred of awareness, knowing he wasn't qualified to eat at their family's table.
Lunch had been nearing its end, and after this incident, it concluded swiftly.
"Father, Mother, I shall take my leave now," Meng Ling'er said, bidding farewell to her parents as usual.
Huo Tingshan glanced at Chen Yuan, who had retreated to stand by the doorway like a guard after reporting his "important matter," and spoke leisurely, "Your mother was just mentioning you last night, saying it's been a long time since she played chess with you. It happens you don't have classes to attend lately. Come, play a couple of games with your mother."
Pei Ying was momentarily taken aback. Had she said that last night? But she quickly understood. "Indeed, that's right. Nannan, come play a few games of chess with me."
Meng Ling'er pressed her lips together, then finally nodded in agreement.
The afternoon was peaceful and serene. Brilliant sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows of trees. In the past, Meng Ling'er would have cherished such moments: her mother present, her father nearby, a pot of tea warming nearby, listening to the gentle bubbling as it boiled, occasionally exchanging a few words of casual conversation with her parents. For an instant, it was as if she had returned to the time before the military troubles, when she was still that carefree young lady.
But today, Meng Ling'er was somewhat distracted, losing her "chariot" and then her "horse" one after another to Pei Ying.
Pei Ying teased, "Nannan, there's no need to go easy on me. Your mother hasn't reached the age of dim eyesight where she needs concessions."
"It's not that..." The young girl's earlobes flushed slightly pink. She then focused her attention to finish the game.
But the disadvantage before her was clear, difficult to reverse. She lost, unsurprisingly.
Pei Ying cleared the board. "Best of three."
The second game began, lasting longer than the first, but in the end, Meng Ling'er lost again.
"It seems your touch is off today, Nannan. Is something on your mind?" Pei Ying looked up at her daughter across the board. The young girl visibly grew a little more restrained and nervous after her words.
"Not at all. It's just... it's gradually turning to summer, and there are many insects chirping outside the window at night. I was disturbed and slept a little late last night, that's all," Meng Ling'er said, lowering her gaze.
Pei Ying picked up a chess piece from the side. "In that case, Nannan, you should go back and take a nap."
Huo Tingshan raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised.
Meng Ling'er nodded. "Father, Mother, your daughter will retire now."
Pei Ying tilted her head slightly to look towards the doorway. She saw her daughter, after stepping out, turn and say something to Chen Yuan, who stood to the side. Then the two walked out, one after the other, finally disappearing from her view.
"You let her go yourself. Regretting it now?" Huo Tingshan rose from his original seat and sat in the place his daughter had just vacated.
A trace of worry appeared on Pei Ying's face. "No. Everyone has a rebellious streak. I just don't want to be too clever by half and make things worse."
Seventeen years old—in modern times, that would be a tender, green high school student. Once caught in the throes of adolescent rebellion, it becomes all about "me against the world" and "the whole world is wrong."
Pei Ying shot a reproachful look at the man across from her. "And you were the one who said it was foolproof, talking so grandly. I think now it truly has backfired. A strategic natural fortress you can capture just like that, but you can't handle a simple little matter."
Huo Tingshan: "..."
The man gave a light cough and began resetting the chessboard. "Pride goes before a fall. Previously, I underestimated that young fellow. I didn't expect him to have a shrewd core. Who knows how many schemes he's harboring? Don't worry, my lady. If this plan fails, there are others. Wait until I—"
"Stop right there," Pei Ying interrupted, somewhat exasperated. "No other plans for now. You tell me carefully about Chen Yuan. Last time I asked you, you changed the subject."
Her knowledge of Chen Yuan was truly limited.
Besides knowing he was twenty-seven, still unmarried, from the Chen clan affiliated with her husband, and having received her husband's assessment of "loyal to his lord, quite capable," she knew little else.
She didn't know his family situation or his past experiences.
And there was a rather important point: men of this era often had concubines, and even before marriage, they might have "tongfang" maidservants. A tongfang was a personal servant, even lower in status than a concubine—while the latter might have maids to serve her, the former had to do the work herself.
What about Chen Yuan?
He was twenty-seven. How many tongfang had he had? Were there any illegitimate children?
Huo Tingshan also remembered the previous occasion. His wife had indeed asked about Chen Yuan, but due to certain private thoughts, he hadn't answered seriously then.
Now, while playing chess with Pei Ying, he came clean. "Previously, when you asked me why he wasn't married and if there was some unspeakable difficulty, I can tell you now there's no unspeakable difficulty. It was purely a matter of timing not being quite right. When Chen Yuan was fifteen, his parents arranged a marriage for him, planned for a year later. But before the bride could cross his threshold, her entire family was killed by bandits while traveling. The marriage alliance fell through."
Pei Ying pressed, "What about later? Was another match arranged?"
The bride's family was gone, but Chen Yuan's parents were still alive. Normally, they wouldn't delay arranging another marriage for their son indefinitely.
"Later..." Huo Tingshan chuckled. "Chen Yuan stood out from over a hundred young men of the Chen clan, entering the Huo family's personal guard unit with top marks. He was seventeen that year. His parents thought he was sure to have a bright future ahead, so they weren't in a hurry to arrange a marriage for him."
The personal guard unit was the Huo family's private force, composed of the most outstanding youths from several affiliated clans of varying sizes.
First came a collective selection process. After entering the unit, they underwent training, which included following orders and executing various tasks. After two years, the youths in the unit would face their own assessment. Upon passing and "graduating" from the unit, they would enter the Youzhou army.
Those entering the army from the personal guard unit didn't start as common soldiers; they typically began as commanders of a hundred men.
After hearing the selection process for the "personal guard unit," Pei Ying understood. It seemed Chen Yuan's parents back then thought the same as Huo Tingshan did now—believing the future would hold better prospects, neither were in a hurry to arrange marriages for their children.
Chen Yuan entered the personal guard unit at seventeen, joined the Youzhou army at nineteen, and was twenty-five when they met him in Beichuan County. From nineteen to twenty-five, there were six years. No marriage arrangements in six years?
"When did Chen Yuan's parents pass away?" Pei Ying picked up a chess piece, pondered for a moment, and placed it on the board.
Huo Tingshan had casually looked into Chen Yuan's background a couple of days prior and could now answer, "His mother passed away first when he was twenty. Half a year after his mother's death, his father wanted to arrange a marriage for him, but the situation in Youzhou was rather bleak at the time. The court had stopped the military pay, and coincidentally, the Xiongnu in the north were causing frequent trouble. It was truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly—we were short on both funds and provisions. I had to lead troops to suppress bandits in the forests, pay visits to local magnates, and still worry about the northern border where Xiongnu incursions occurred from time to time. Being constantly busy with no leisure was one thing; another was that many wealthy families avoided our Youzhou army like the plague, steering clear from afar, terrified their money bags would shrink a few more sizes."
Pei Ying understood and couldn't help but wear a complicated expression.
Under those circumstances, the once highly sought-after Youzhou military officers had probably become a liability.
Families with substantial means likely wouldn't consider marrying their daughters to them, while young ladies from less affluent backgrounds probably didn't meet Chen Yuan's father's standards.
"Three years passed like this before Youzhou gradually emerged from its difficulties. Chen's father wanted to arrange a match for his son again, but unfortunately, before he could select a suitable family, he was taken by a sudden illness." Huo Tingshan sighed. "Due to the Chen family precept, Chen Yuan's father's line had only him; he is the sole son of the family."
"What family precept?" Pei Ying paused while placing a chess piece.
She had always heard that ancient people had family precepts. Having been here for so long, she was finally hearing about one.
Huo Tingshan opened his mouth, then hesitated and changed the subject. "It's your turn, my lady."
Pei Ying glanced at the board, placed a piece casually, and repeated her question. "What family precept?"
Huo Tingshan said plainly, "In short, Chen Yuan has no other brothers or sisters."
He's acting strange. Pei Ying furrowed her delicate brows. "Is this a precept I cannot know about?"
Huo Tingshan: "...It's not that."
Seeing her growing more and more intent, Huo Tingshan could already foresee that if she didn't get an answer from him, she would likely find a roundabout way to ask others, even asking Chen Yuan himself.
The man said helplessly, "Their family forbids taking concubines before marrying a wife."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the expected look of approval on her face.
"Chaste and self-disciplined," Pei Ying praised sincerely, just as she spotted an opportunity to take one of his "chariots." She reached out and captured the piece.
Huo Tingshan's mouth twitched. He looked at the board and moved another piece.
"Just on this point alone, many men couldn't catch up to Chen Yuan even if they tried," Pei Ying continued her praise, then noticed one of his "cannons" was also vulnerable and took that piece as well.
Having captured two of his key pieces in a row, Pei Ying raised her eyebrows slightly and looked up at Huo Tingshan.
The man opposite had his gaze fixed on the chessboard, seemingly oblivious to her scrutiny, wholly focused on figuring out how to break the situation.
Pei Ying rolled her eyes inwardly but didn't press the matter. They had already agreed not to bring up old grievances anymore; when this man dredged up the past, it was truly a headache.
Huo Tingshan quickly shifted topics. "After Chen's father passed away from illness, Chen Yuan observed the mourning period. After he completed the mourning, some elders of the Chen clan wanted to act as matchmakers for him, but Chen Yuan himself seemed to have no intention of marrying, so the matter of his marriage never progressed."
Pei Ying thought for a moment. "Does he have any bad habits? Is he fond of gambling?"
Huo Tingshan answered without hesitation, "Chen Yuan is a bit dull by nature."
Pei Ying said meaningfully, "Dull by nature? Who was it that just said he's actually black-hearted inside?"
Huo Tingshan: "...The two are not mutually exclusive."
Pei Ying picked up a piece and leisurely put him in check. "If 'a bit dull' is all you can say about his faults, it seems he has no significant bad habits. It's a pity he's ten years older than Nannan. He will surely pass away before her in the future."
Life after losing a husband is not easy. Even though her union with Qiao Wen was hasty, after so many years together, there were certainly feelings. She was also very sad when he suddenly passed away from illness.
Huo Tingshan moved his "general" to another position and grunted in agreement. "Chen Yuan is indeed somewhat older."
Pei Ying had other worries. "On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. Huo Tingshan, you can chop off someone's right arm on the battlefield, and others can do the same to Chen Yuan. What if in the future..."
Just imagining her daughter weeping day after day if Chen Yuan were to lose an arm or a leg someday made Pei Ying feel like she might faint.
"My lady's concern is understandable. Chen Yuan's experience and martial skills are not as profound as mine. There is indeed a possibility his arm could be chopped off." The man curled the corner of his mouth.
Pei Ying: "..."
Sometimes, there really was a generation gap between them.
Meng Ling'er and Chen Yuan left the main hall one after the other. The young girl walked ahead, Chen Yuan followed behind, two steps between them. They didn't speak the whole way.
Over the past few days, Meng Ling'er had explored the temporary military headquarters and now led the way familiarly to the rear garden.
The summer afternoon was sweltering. No one had the leisure or mood to admire flowers at this hour. The garden was quiet and still. Trees cast shadows under the sunlight. At a certain moment, a patch of brilliant, dappled light was shattered underfoot.
"Why are you following me?" Meng Ling'er glanced at Chen Yuan, then immediately lowered her head to look at her own toes.
"Before my parents passed away, they hadn't had time to arrange another marriage for me. The young lady who came looking for me earlier, I don't know her. She has no relation to me." Chen Yuan's voice was slightly gentler and slower than usual.
"Why are you telling me this..." The young girl still didn't look at him.
Chen Yuan: "I don't want you to misunderstand."
He clearly hadn't moved, but after his words fell, Meng Ling'er felt as if an invisible hand had gently brushed her temple, making her want to look up.
She did look up, unexpectedly meeting those dark, deep eyes that, under the dappled tree shadows, seemed inexplicably clear and transparent.
For a moment, it was as if she had returned to that warm, sun-drenched hot spring pool in winter. The warm spring waters enveloped her, yet, perhaps due to the difference in season, it evoked an indescribable sense of shy warmth. "Is... is whether I misunderstand or not really that important?"
"Important." The two words weren't uttered with great force, but the reply was quick, without hesitation.
The summer heat seemed to climb to the tips of her ears, turning into an unbearable flame on her earlobes. Meng Ling'er thought with chagrin that her ears must be completely red. "I am no kin of yours. Why would it be important? Under heaven, there is no disciple who, after only a year and a half of instruction, would presume to meddle in their teacher's personal affairs, nor would any teacher be pleased by such impertinence."
Chen Yuan didn't speak, just looked at her with a gentle gaze.
Meng Ling'er grew both anxious and annoyed by his attitude. "Commander Chen, what do you mean by this?" Are you saying you like me...
The young girl's face was thin-skinned; the final question ultimately didn't leave her lips.
"I have someone in my heart. Unfortunately, she is too young compared to me. The things and people she has seen are not even half of what I have experienced. I cannot be too aggressive while she is still naive, lest she regret it deeply in the future." Chen Yuan said softly.
He could completely understand his lord and lady's resistance. The age gap between him and her was indeed considerable, and currently, he was merely a Central Protector of the Army.
The position of Central Protector of the Army is indeed considered "prestigious" for a commoner, yet in the eyes of my lord, it is nothing remarkable.
My lord commands many Central Protectors of the Army, and above them are Generals of Chariots and Cavalry, Generals of Agile Cavalry, and so on, with countless fierce generals under his command.
But my lord has only one daughter, and moreover, this daughter is the apple of her mother's eye, cherished so dearly she is afraid she might break if held in her hands, or melt if kept in her mouth.
For a man like me—unknown, orphaned, and nearing thirty—to set his sights on a young lady who has only just come of age two years prior, by any measure, it is I who is reaching above my station.
Meng Ling'er's little face flushed completely red: "What do you mean by saying this? Do you want me to convey it for you? But you haven't named anyone, I don't know who your beloved is."
"There's no need to convey anything. The present situation is quite good. I believe she already knows my feelings. After some years have passed, if she still thinks well of me then, I will go to her family to propose marriage," Chen Yuan said gently.
Meng Ling'er furrowed her brow. "How long is that wait? Aren't you worried that during this waiting period, she might happen to meet another young gentleman and be captivated by someone else? It's possible your beloved initially had feelings for you, but after waiting and waiting, those feelings fade instead."
A rare, faint curve lifted the corner of Chen Yuan's mouth—he actually smiled. "That would be fine too. She is still young and ought to see more of the world and meet more men. In a few years, when she is a little older, her perspective will be more mature than it is now, and she will have new considerations. If she then favors someone else, it would only mean that person is more suitable for her than I am."
Meng Ling'er muttered, "You're a strange one. If you wait any longer, you'll be thirty."
"Anyway, there's no one at home to rush me," Chen Yuan said without any burden.
Meng Ling'er pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Chen Yuan sighed softly. "Moreover, I also need time to build some merit and reputation. I can't very well still be just a Central Protector of the Army if, in the future, she does decide to choose me."
