After stripping down to just his inner garment, he prostrated himself on the ground, attempting to squeeze through the small door of the grain bin.
Under normal circumstances, his build would certainly not allow him to pass through, but he had not eaten a full meal for several months, his body so emaciated that he could just barely fit through the small door.
Lady Chu and Wei Momo seemed to sense something, watching him nervously, only to see him crawl directly through the small door into the grain bin.
Lifting his gaze to the inner wall of the grain bin, Chu Ye’s deep eyes were instantly covered with disappointment.
It seemed he could not reach the immortal’s abode like Rui Rui and Shu Shu.
A flicker passed through Lady Chu’s eyes, and she too prostrated herself and tried to squeeze through the small door.
Sure enough, she also failed.
Finally, even Wei Momo attempted the same method, but still could not succeed.
“Mother, wait here for a moment, and do not leave under any circumstances!!”
Suddenly, Chu Ye flipped over and leaped out from the high grain bin. Without even taking the time to put on his padded jacket, he dashed outside.
Bursting through the study door, Chu Ye swiftly ground ink and took up a brush. Overwhelmed with excitement, his hand trembled uncontrollably, the struggle and anticipation in his heart like two beasts tearing violently at each other.
Bloodied, yet neither could claim victory.
Taking a deep breath to steady his emotions, he supported his right hand with his left and began writing quickly on the paper with devout concentration.
“Rui Rui…”
After finishing the letter, Chu Ye swiftly returned to the granary, crouching down before Rui Rui and Shu Shu. “Uncle needs you and Shu Shu to do a big favor…”
As he spoke, he carefully tucked the letter into the little one’s clothing at the chest, instructing them with utmost seriousness and gravity, word by word, “Go find the immortal sister again, and make sure to deliver this letter into her hands.”
Though he had never seen her in person, from the children’s descriptions, this immortal sister not only prepared food for them but also allowed them to bring back so many precious provisions, enabling their family to stave off hunger. From these small details, he could sense the compassion of this immortal.
She might be the last hope for Northern Liao!!
Rui Rui’s little face showed reluctance. “Uncle… Sister said we shouldn’t go find her again…”
Shu Shu also nodded. “Mm-hmm, if we don’t listen, Sister will get angry…”
Chu Ye’s throat tightened, and he spoke with difficulty yet determination, “Rui Rui, Shu Shu, Uncle cannot go through, so only the two of you can help Uncle with this…”
“Just this once. If the immortal sister gets angry, come back immediately. Then Uncle will seal this small door of the grain bin and never disturb the immortal sister again, alright?”
At this moment, an uncontrollable wetness welled up in his eyes.
A man does not shed tears lightly.
On one side was the safety of his own flesh and blood, his little niece and nephew; on the other was the life and death of Northern Liao’s soldiers and civilians. Whichever he chose felt like cutting flesh from his heart.
If they went, there was still a sliver of hope.
If they did not go, Rui Rui and Shu Shu, and even the entire general’s residence, along with Northern Liao’s soldiers and civilians, could only suffer and await death in hunger.
As the helmsman of Northern Liao, he could only make the right choice, not the one his selfish heart desired.
Sensing the gravity in his uncle’s eyes, Rui Rui nodded firmly. “Alright, Rui Rui will listen to Uncle. Rui Rui will go…”
Having finally finished taking inventory of the Farm’s supplies, Fang Jinzhu rubbed her neck and turned to close the livestock shed’s large door.
“Sister!!”
Just as the door was halfway closed, a clear, familiar call came from inside.
Fang Jinzhu’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly stopped what she was doing and hurried inside, only to see Rui Rui and Shu Shu running over from the chicken coop’s gate.
Perhaps because they were in too much of a hurry, Shu Shu tripped and fell to the ground.
Fang Jinzhu rushed forward, reaching out to lift the little one up. “Did it hurt, Shu Shu? Don’t cry, don’t cry…”
Shu Shu wiped her tears with the back of her small hand, pouting and shaking her head repeatedly. “Shu Shu doesn’t hurt, doesn’t hurt…”
“Shu Shu came looking for sister, didn’t listen…”
As she spoke, she turned her little body around and stuck out her bottom toward Fang Jinzhu. “Sister spank!!”
Rui Rui quickly imitated his sister, also sticking out his little bottom. “Rui Rui is the older brother, it’s Rui Rui’s fault. Sister spank Rui Rui, don’t spank Shu Shu, okay…”
Fang Jinzhu was taken aback. Her eyes, along with her heart, melted into a puddle of tenderness. She couldn’t help but marvel once again at how sensible and well-behaved these two little ones were.
She gently patted their bottoms and said softly, “Did you run into trouble, so you came looking for sister?”
The two little ones nodded repeatedly.
Rui Rui carefully took out the letter from his embrace and handed it over. “Sister, this is a letter from Uncle, for Rui Rui to bring to you.”
“A letter?”
Fang Jinzhu was puzzled. She reached out, took it, and unfolded it.
The paper was coarse, but the vigorous and powerful handwriting instantly captivated her eyes.
‘Immortal, though we have not yet met, I dare to send this letter. I kneel in apology!’
I am Chu Ye, General of the Northern Garrison of the Tangwu Dynasty. Rui Rui and Shu Shu are my own nephews. They remembered your instructions and also explained to me that they must not disturb your noble abode again. This time they came to deliver the letter was truly under my coercion. I beg the immortal to forgive them for this forced transgression.
I have the audacity and impoliteness to send this letter to the immortal, truly because I have reached a dead end and have no other choice. I hope the immortal will grant me an opportunity to explain.
The land under my jurisdiction is the desolate frontier of Northern Liao, extremely poor and bitter, lacking water sources, and where crops struggle to grow.
Now, we have encountered a great war. The imperial court has also abandoned us like worn-out shoes, cutting off our provisions and pay. They have strictly ordered the fifty thousand soldiers and civilians to hold the border, not to leave Northern Liao City even half a step, otherwise they will slaughter the city.
This is treating the soldiers and civilians of my Northern Liao City as human shields against foreign enemies!
At present, the fifty thousand soldiers and civilians in the city are gnawing on tree bark, eating weeds, consuming yellow mud, and even resorting to the inhuman act of exchanging children to eat…
Though my heart aches with grief, I can only lead the soldiers and civilians in a struggle for survival, clinging to the belief that as long as we live one more day, there is hope of finding a way out.
Now, I have already sold off all valuable items from various mansions and even those visible in the city to neighboring prefectures and cities, exchanging them for food so that the soldiers and civilians can barely survive for the time being.
But even with just one meal a day, the remaining food in the city is not enough to last another three days. If this continues, Northern Liao City will perish!!
My nephews, by chance, encountered the immortal. I am overwhelmed with excitement and dare to commit this great transgression to disturb the immortal.
I dare not make any presumptuous requests. I only hope the immortal can point a way out for the fifty thousand soldiers and civilians of Northern Liao. Even if it means condemning me to hell in exchange, I would not hesitate for a moment.
When this letter is sent, I will already be kneeling in my residence. Not for any other reason, but to let the immortal see my sincere devotion.
Your faithful follower, Chu Ye, with sincere and loyal brushstrokes!
……
After reading the letter, Fang Jinzhu’s gaze remained fixed on the paper for a long time, not moving away.
Coarse paper and humble brush, yet they could not conceal the awe-inspiring image of a great general loyal to his country and protective of his people.
Every drop of ink was soaked with the general’s heart-wrenching blood.
Even without witnessing the tragic state of Northern Liao City he described, she could still empathize deeply.
No wonder.
No wonder the two little ones were so hungry they fought with chickens for food. What they reflected was the desperate, dying state of an entire city.
Fang Jinzhu wiped away the tears welling at the corners of her eyes, suddenly feeling somewhat at a loss.
She was just a debt-ridden graduate, not some immortal.
The life and death of a city was far too heavy a burden for her to bear.
“Light the flame of life, meeting you is the answer, the clock of life keeps turning…”
Suddenly, her phone rang, startling Fang Jinzhu back to reality. Dazedly, she pulled out her phone.
It was a call from the buyer.