booknovelhub
Chapter 477 - 473: In a sorry state_1
Chapter 477 - 473: In a sorry state_1
Chapter 477: Chapter 473: In a sorry state_1
With Xiao Mo’s death, the formations of the Jin Country’s Iron Cavalry were thrown into chaos, quickly collapsing.
Wei Zhan, Zhou Fu and Zhong Chuyan attacked from three sides, driving the Jin army out of the central plains in no time.
They pursued the defeated army all the way to the Jin capital, setting fire to the Imperial Palace.
When they returned, they brought back a group of former royal family members who had been captured by the Jin, as well as surviving princes and ministers and many skilled craftsmen. These people were all ragged and emaciated, looking like beggars.
Doctor Li and his grandson were a bit better off, but not by much.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers depleted the entire Jin dynasty’s food stores, taking everything of value. Every soldier returned with spoils of war.
Upon their return, Emperor Zhou Wuchang promoted all military leaders by one rank. He also bestowed the title of Protector of the State on Wei Zhan, made Wei Zhan’s father an honorary duke, and his mother a lady of the third rank. He also awarded Yingbao’s father, Jiang Sanlang, with the title of Honorable Duke, and his mother, Xu Chunniang, with the title of a County’s Duke’s Lady.
In addition, he granted the title of Founding Baron to Old Man Jiang, a hereditary title, and the rank of Anren to his wife, Jiang Liu.
When the imperial decree reached Dongchen Village, the entire village was buzzing with excitement.
Old Man Jiang, at his age, had been granted a title – and a hereditary one at that! What great favor from the Emperor!
From now on, not only the Clan Leader and Lizheng had to pay respects to Old Man Jiang, even the senior official of the county had to respectfully call him Elder Jiang when meeting any member of the Jiang Family.
In West Village, Old Man Chen and his wife sat on a warm brick bed, shelling Gleditsia sinensis, while the sounds of gongs and drums could be heard from the Jiang Family’s banquet.
Chen’s wife was old and frail, with white hair and a hunched back. As she slowly shelled the Gleditsia sinensis, she sighed, “If our second son hadn’t abandoned Yingbao back then, he might be a duke now, and we would have a hereditary title, bringing wealth and honor to our descendants.”
Old Man Chen remained silent, his face hard.
His son had become a ruin, why mention those things?
“Old woman, never again say that Yingbao is ours. If word gets out, we could be charged with pretending to be relatives of a government official. Can you bear that responsibility?” The Jiang family was not what it used to be, not something his family could afford to provoke. He just wanted to live a peaceful life for a few more years.
Chen’s wife fell silent.
At that moment, Chen Xubao walked in, carrying two bowl of dumplings: “Grandpa, grandma, my sister sent over some dumplings.”
Old Man Chen nodded, set down the Gleditsia sinensis in his hand, took a bowl of dumplings, stirred it with the spoon inside, and asked, “Did you drain the water from the rice seedling field?”
“Mm.” Xubao handed the other bowl to his grandmother, then sat down to help shell the Gleditsia sinensis.
Old Man Chen glanced at his grandson, saying, “Once we sell these seeds, let’s find a matchmaker for you. A few days ago, matchmaker Zheng came by, she said there’s a girl from the next village over. She’s agreeable and hardworking, capable both inside and out. But her family demands a dowry of fifty coins and four bolts of cotton cloth. Your grandmother and I agreed.”
Xubao shelled the Gleditsia sinensis quietly, answering in a low voice: “It is all up to you two.”
Old Man Chen sighed in relief.
This grandson was a good boy, although he was quite quiet.
Two years ago, he was ruined by his father, couldn’t pass the imperial examination, and ended up giving up on studying. Since then, he had helped with the farming at home, occasionally setting up a small stall in the market to sell the fruits grown at home. Taking each day as it came.
Whenever Old Man Chen thought of his useless second son, he would get irritable.
A once promising scholar who had become useless thanks to his messy life. Lazy at home, he would disappear for days. When he came back, he either demanded money or slept. He should never have spent all that money on his education. As it turned out, it was all wasted. He couldn’t write a decent script or properly wield a sword. Let him weed the field, and he would accidentally uproot the young plants.
Another round of drums echoed through the village, Xubao set down the Gleditsia sinensis, left the courtyard, and looked towards Dongchen Village.
A figure shuffled in that direction, hair a mess, face full of stubble, clothes rumpled, looking quite shabby. It was his father, Chen Changping.
Xubao frowned, quickly caught up, and grabbed him: “Father, come home for dinner.”
Chen Changping shook off his son’s hand, mumbling, “I’m going to find Yingbao, she’s my daughter, I want to bring her back home.”
“Father! Are you out of your mind? Yingbao belongs to the Jiang family, stop making a fuss.” Xubao grabbed his old father again, trying to drag him back.
Chen Changping struggled fiercely and shouted loudly, “No! She is my daughter, your sister, all those ranks belong to our family, they’ve all gotten it wrong!”
Old man Chen came out of the house at the noise, he slapped his son fiercely, “Shut up! You’ve had too much to drink!”
Chen Changping was stunned by his own father’s slap, Xubao dragged him back into the room in a daze, and slumped him onto the heated platform.
While helping him remove his shoes, Xubao wiped away his tears.
So what if Yingbao was his sister? She doesn’t like the Chen Family, she doesn’t even like him, he knew that from an early age.
Chen Changping was lying on the heated platform, mumbling continuously, “She is my daughter, my daughter… I know, I know everything…”
…
Another year begins. Yingbao is taking a walk in the garden with her daughter. With a gentle touch of her hand, all the flowers in the garden stretch out their branches and leaves, their buds sprouting from the ground and gradually blooming.
Nuannuan widened her eyes and exclaimed, “Mother, I want to learn it too!”
Yingbao smiled, “Once I’ve opened your Spirit Veins, you’ll be able to learn.”
Nuannuan blinked and asked, “Like father opening his Spirit Veins?”
Yingbao nodded.
She’d already helped Wei Zhan open his Spirit Veins. Not only did his lifespan increased, his strength was also several times that of an ordinary person.
Since there was no Spiritual Energy in this world, she bathed father and daughter in Holy Spirit Water every day to assure their daily cultivation.
Once he breaks through the realm of mortals, he can start learning spells.
Nuannuan was overjoyed, “Mother, when will you help me open my veins?”
“Once the next batch of Spiritual Medicine matures.” Yingbao stroked her daughter’s hair, “It won’t be long, just a month away.”
With her Divine Power, those Spiritual Medicines were thriving in her Divine Mansion.
She also sent some Spirit Grass for her daughter to plant in her Divine Mansion, which also grew rapidly.
However, there was only a limited amount of Spiritual Flowers and Spirit Grass, so she let some of the Spiritual Medicine flower and seed for propagation before she harvested them.
Currently, her Divine Mansion was about several hundred acres in size and was not only filled with a pool of Holy Spirit Water but also filled with various Spirit Plants.
Once this batch of Spiritual Medicine matures, she will not only be able to open her daughter’s veins, but there will also be enough Spiritual Medicine left for her two younger brothers.
If both brothers successfully open their veins, she can also give their parents a try.
While thinking about this, Yingbao asked Xuanwu in her heart, “Can you send me to the Fairy World for a trip?”
“Yes, but it’s dangerous there and your strength hasn’t fully recovered yet, so you might encounter strong enemies.” Xuanwu knew what his master was thinking.
To rob someone’s Spirit Veins, one must have strength because the cultivators guarding the Spirit Veins are not likely to be weaker than those at the Transcendence stage.
If she were to confront them alone, the master might win, but she’s going to stir things up and is bound to be besieged.