IDWBE -Chapter 294 Meeting an Old Friend

Thinking of this, he could not help but feel a surge of sorrow. How could his life be so miserable?

Anyone and everyone could press him down a notch.

At times, he truly wished that while he was still unburdened and not yet old, he could cast aside all restraint and indulge in a bit of reckless abandon.

Unfortunately, he did not have the courage.

Better to live in disgrace than to die in glory.

Best not to court death on his own.

In short, he was the most insignificant one of all.

Yet the moment he thought of Peng Guishou being imprisoned, he felt immediately comforted.

No matter what, he was doing far better than that man.

At least his own actions were not restricted. He could remain by his family’s side, free from want in food and clothing.

Moreover, it wasn’t as if he had never looked ahead to the future.

Today, by personally supervising the executions and beheading the sons and nephews of the Six Great Families, their power in Jinling City had vanished like smoke. With so many troublesome people gone from before his eyes, would life become a little easier from now on?

He even dared to think further—if in the future the Prince truly ascended the throne, would he count as a meritorious follower who had supported the dragon?

This was no idle dream. It was entirely possible. After all, the Prince had once advanced his troops to the gates of Ankang City and then withdrawn safely.

Now he commanded eight prefectures and was at the height of his power. Even Prince Yong, who once commanded a hundred thousand soldiers, was no longer favored. Rumor had it that the Prince had been driving Prince Yong back at every turn.

If the Prince could not ascend the imperial throne, he truly could not imagine who else could.

So for Shen Junru, the future held promise.

One autumn rain brings one layer of chill; ten autumn rains, and it is time to put on cotton-padded clothes.

The cold air arrived suddenly, catching the people of Sanhe off guard.

Worse still, less than half a month later, the sky—once waxen-yellow and ashen—suddenly began to shed snow.

The people of Jinling City seemed accustomed to it. Once the weather turned cold, they merely added a layer of clothing and carried on with life as usual.

The ones who suffered most were the people from Sanhe.

At the sight of goose-feather snow, they felt as if the heavens had collapsed.

They had thought Nanzhou, where they once stayed, was cold enough. Who would have imagined Jinling City would be even colder—so cold their bones felt numb?

In such severe weather, tents were no longer livable. People either rented houses or stayed in inns, yet they still could not endure it. They shivered even indoors, let alone outside.

Many had never spent a winter here before and fell ill outright, unable to do anything.

And if they stayed any longer, the expenses would become unbearable.

Aside from the newer arrivals from Yuezhou, Nanzhou, and Hongzhou who chose to remain, the laborers born and raised in Sanhe began returning home in groups.

They truly could not endure it.

After this trip, they understood clearly: there was no place under heaven better than Sanhe.

What if summer was a bit hotter? At least the heat would not kill you.

But if they stayed in the northerners’ territory, they might truly freeze to death.

This damned place was no fit dwelling for human beings.

Besides, wasn’t it far more comfortable to take their silver home and sleep in a big bed with their wives?

Only now did they sincerely admire the northerners—they were truly resistant to the cold.

On the city walls, the Sanhe soldiers stood shivering, hugging their shoulders and shrinking their necks, casting envious looks at the cheerful laborers leaving Jinling City.

They were cold too.

After all, they wore armor outside, and there was no room to fit padded jackets underneath.

Fires were lit along the battlements one after another, yet it was useless—they still trembled from the cold.

If not for military discipline forbidding them from abandoning their posts, they would have run off long ago.

“With pride we laugh at the raging waves,
Our hot blood burns brighter than the red sun,
With a heart vast as the heavens and vision stretching ten thousand miles,
Let sea and sky gather strength for me—”

Gradually, many soldiers began to sing, giving themselves a bit of spirit.

“We must steady the army’s morale,”

Seeing the scene, He Jixiang said to Shen Chu, “Our southern troops are still unaccustomed to this climate. If the armor can be taken off, let them take it off and change into padded coats. These days, slaughter more pigs and sheep. Do not treat the soldiers poorly. There’s no need to be overly rigid with regulations—give them some wine as well. It will help them endure the nights.”

Shen Chu cupped his hands. “Rest assured, my lord. Quilts and padded coats were prepared early and are already being distributed.”

He Jixiang narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. “Wang Tuozi, didn’t you say Mr. Xing’s carriage would arrive soon? Why is there still no sign of it after so long?”

He had come out today specifically to receive Xing Keshou, yet more than an hour had passed without a trace.

Wang Tuozi smiled. “It’s been snowing along the road from Yong’an as well. With snow piled on the roads, travel is difficult—it’s only natural they’re delayed. Lord He, don’t worry. I’ll go take another look.”

“No need,” He Jixiang waved his hand. “It’s freezing. Stop fussing and keep warm if you can.”

“Thank you for your consideration, my lord,” Wang Tuozi replied sincerely.

Though not born in Sanhe, his hometown of Yuezhou was nowhere near as cold as Jinling City. No matter how skilled he was in martial arts, he could not withstand the chill. Once he exerted lightness skill and ran even a little faster, the howling wind poured down his collar, making one want to weep.

Unlike Ye Qiu or the Blind Man, who wore only a thin long robe in the depths of winter—

Truly impervious to heat and cold!

The snow continued to fall. Heaven and earth merged into one color; the whole world was left with only white—hollow and boundless.

A thousand mountains—no birds in flight.
Ten thousand paths—no trace of human footsteps.

Suddenly, a small black dot appeared in the distance. As it drew nearer, Shen Chu called out loudly, “My lord, that must be Mr. Xing’s carriage!”

He Jixiang stroked his beard with a smile. Supported by Shen Chu, he carefully descended the icy city wall, exited the inner city, and went to welcome them at the gate.

“Greetings, Lord He! Lord Shen!”

Hong An, cloaked in black, rode at the front. Behind him was a spacious carriage, followed by some twenty cavalrymen.

“No need to dismount—enter the city at once. It’s too cold outside.”

After waving Hong An onward, He Jixiang hurried forward and stopped Xing Keshou, who was stepping out of the carriage.

“We’ve known each other for over twenty years—why stand on ceremony with this old man? Besides, you’ve only just recovered from illness. Do not expose yourself to the cold again. If you fall ill once more, the blame will be mine.”

“Haha…”

Xing Keshou laughed. “Then, Master He, please join me in the carriage.”

“I shall accept the courtesy.”

With the help of Shen Chu and Wang Tuozi, He Jixiang climbed into the carriage, trembling slightly.

Once inside, he declined the hand warmer Xing Keshou offered him and said with a smile, “You keep it. I am not cold.”

Xing Keshou coughed twice into his fist before saying, “This old body of mine truly isn’t what it used to be.”

He Jixiang sighed. “You must take better care of yourself.”

“Rest assured. These old bones won’t fall so easily. I am still a third-rank official, after all,”

Xing Keshou forced down the phlegm in his throat and continued, “I met your great-grandson. A remarkably clever child. As you wished, Xie Zan has taken him as a student. Though only eight years old, he carries himself like a little adult—diligent in study and most respectful to Master Xie. If this continues, he will surely accomplish something in the future.”