Chapter 333: Transfer
Editor: Atlas Studios
After running out of the room and gently closing the door, Mu Yangling heaved a sigh of relief. She pinched Bosi’s face and asked Bowen, “Why didn’t you guys shout to let us know that Dad is back?”
“Right after we opened the door for Father, when he heard that Mother was sick, he immediately rushed over,” Bowen complained. “That commotion even frightened Bosi and Kejia. However, Father seemed to have been standing at the door for a long time just now. What did you say to Mother?”
“Nothing.”
Seeing that his sister refused to tell him, Bowen didn’t ask further. He just said, “Sister, Fei Bai is outside. He said that he has something for you.”
Mu Yangling’s face turned slightly red. She left them behind and went out first.
Fei Bai was here to deliver a gift on behalf of Qi Haoran who was still in Hanzhong Prefecture and could not come over.
Fei Bai handed the wooden box to Mu Yangling and said with a smile, “Miss Mu, I spent a lot of money to snatch this from the barbarians. Try it and see if you like the grip.”
Inside the box was a short dagger with a black sheath. When she pulled out the short dagger, she saw that the dagger was also pitch-black. When her fingers swiped across the blade, a chill seeped into her heart. Holding the short dagger in her hand, Mu Yangling felt that this dagger was about twice as heavy as the one she used in the past. Her eyes lit up slightly.
With her incredible strength, daggers usually felt light in her hand, and sometimes even weightless. However, this dagger felt just right.
Mu Yangling asked Xiulan to go into the kitchen and fetch a kitchen knife. She slashed the kitchen knife with the short dagger. She moved too quickly and Fei Bai couldn’t stop her in time. He could only watch as the kitchen knife was cut into two. Even Mu Yangling was surprised. Then, she exclaimed happily, “Excellent dagger! How much did Qi Haoran buy this for?”
Fei Bai chuckled and did not say the number. He only said, “Miss Mu, my master said that good daggers are hard to get even with a thousand taels of gold1.”
Mu Yangling put away the dagger and smiled. “As long as he didn’t truly pay a thousand taels of gold.”
‘Even if it’s not a thousand taels of gold, it’s not far from that.’ Fei Bai cursed in his heart.
“When is your master coming back? I-I have something to say to him.” Since she wanted to try to accept him, she naturally had to spend more time with him. Besides, there were some things that she had to clarify to give him a heads-up.
Fei Bai scratched his head and said, “Master might not return to Xingzhou Prefecture. He will only stay in Hanzhong Prefecture for two days before going out again. He might not even be able to come back during the New Year.”
“Doesn’t that mean that my father can’t come back for the New Year, too?”
With a smile, Fei Bai said, “No, that’s not the case. I heard that General Mu has already been transferred to the general’s charge. He should be staying in Xingzhou Prefecture for the time being.”
Mu Yangling heaved a sigh of relief. Although she didn’t know why her father was transferred to Qi Xiuyuan’s camp, this was obviously good news. Putting everything else aside, he would only be promoted faster.
Mu Yangling sent Fei Bai off. When she ran into the house, Mu Shi had already come out of the room. His expression had softened quite a bit. At this moment, he was teasing Bosi and Kejia with something, hoping to hug them.
Seeing his eldest daughter enter, Mu Shi nodded slightly and said, “After dinner, come to the study with Father. I have something to tell you.”
Not only did Mu Shi call Mu Yangling along, he even called Bowen and Xiuhong along. This surprised Great-aunt. Then, her eyes turned red and she felt grateful to Mu Shi.
She knew that this was a sign that Xiuhong was participating in the Mu family’s decision-making. Although she had always treated the Mu family as her own family and worked hard, she had always placed herself on the side of the guests when it came to making decisions. She felt that this was the only way to not make them dislike her.
Seeing that Xiuhong had followed them into the study, she turned around and went to the kitchen. She didn’t know how long their discussion would last, so she decided to make some supper for them.
Mu Shi sat behind the desk and glanced at the three children. Smiling, he said, “I know everything you’ve done. You’ve done very well. I won’t stop you from doing what you’re doing now, but I hope that you can be more thorough in the future. At the very least, you can’t let the family worry.”
Mu Yangling hurriedly nodded. “Father, we didn’t think it through this time. This won’t happen again.”
“I’m not blaming you. Despite your young age, you’ve already accomplished so many things. I keep feeling that I’m being too hasty, and I feel even more guilty…” After all, this was originally his responsibility. Self-reproach flashed across Mu Shi’s eyes.
Mu Yangling went forward and hugged her father’s arm. She said with a smile, “Father, you’ve been risking your life for our family. If in spite of that we can’t live well, we should blame ourselves.”
Bowen nodded repeatedly. “Father, don’t worry. I’m already grown up and can take care of Mother and my siblings.”
Mu Shi looked at his tenacious eldest son and vaguely felt that even though he was still that delicate child yesterday, he had suddenly grown up.
Mu Shi immediately felt a little tired. In the past three years, he had missed many important milestones in his children’s growth. In the past, he rarely left home. In the morning, he would go hunting in the mountains and return from the city at noon. In the afternoon, he would make some small wooden swords and horses for his daughter and son. In the evening, he would bring his son to the river for a walk…
If it rained or snowed, he would stay at home to teach his son how to read and supervise his writing. However, now, he did not even know when his son had grown taller. He had no idea when his son had read that book. He did not even know when his daughter had developed feelings for the little general.
Mu Shi felt that he had failed. At this moment, he felt disgusted by the war. He wondered when he would be able to return to his old life with his family.
However, when he thought of how angry and incompetent he had been when he was drafted into the army, he felt resolute about his goal again. No matter what, he would not allow his family’s fate to be in the hands of others, not even his wife’s family.
Mu Shi took a deep breath and patted his daughter’s back. He looked up and said, “I’m now under General Qi’s command. Although I’ve returned to Xingzhou Prefecture, I might not be able to come back for the New Year, but I will often send someone back to deliver a message. Bowen, you’ll be nine next year. Read more books when you’re at home. Our family still has to rely on you to bring glory to our ancestors. Only by becoming a scholar can you better protect your family.”
Bowen nodded fiercely and said confidently, “Father, don’t worry. I’m the best student in the academy now.”
Mu Shi did not feel that there was anything wrong with being proud. When he heard this, he even nodded in relief and said, “That’s good. In the future, not only do you have to be first in your academy, but you also have to be first in the entire Mingshui County. As for the entire Xingzhou Prefecture, you just have to be in the top five. If nothing goes wrong, you should be able to take the exam in two years.”
This meant that Mu Shi should be promoted to assistant commander within two years. And he could only be promoted so quickly because of war and military achievements.
Mu Yangling frowned, but looking at the two children in the room who were looking at Mu Shi respectfully, she did not ask. She planned to ask her father when they were alone.
Just as Mu Yangling thought of this, Mu Shi said, “Xiuhong, your cousins aren’t meticulous enough. You’re a capable girl. Do keep an eye on things and remind them if they do anything wrong.”
Xiuhong agreed happily.
Then, Mu Shi got Xiuhong and Bowen to come out, leaving his daughter alone. Mu Shi looked at his usually sensible daughter and sighed. “General Qi has already discussed the Qi family’s marriage proposal with me.”
Mu Yangling’s mouth fell open. Qi Xiuyuan knew?