Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 854 Dreaming of the sun in my arms

Although Xu Erya, as a key member of the medical school, was truly a seasoned veteran, she still showed a strange expression because of Liang Su's nonsensical words: "Strategist Liang, how could it be so fast?"

Liang Su realized he had lost his mind and slapped his forehead, saying, "I was confused..."

"Your Highness, the Prince of Han."

Liu Huai had also arrived by then.

He wasn't nervous at first, but when he saw Liang Su transform into a sprint champion, he immediately realized that things were different now than in later generations, and that women giving birth was indeed a life-or-death experience. His heart started pounding.

"Physician Xu, how is my wife?"

Xu Erya bowed and said, "Reporting to the eldest son, the lady is indeed pregnant, but she is only two months along and the pregnancy is still unstable. She needs to be careful these days."

Although Liu Huai had some suspicions in the early morning, he was still overjoyed when he heard the confirmation and stood there grinning foolishly.

Seeing this, He Boqiu and Liang Su didn't say anything. After exchanging a few words in private, they also smiled.

The Jiedushi Mansion was the power center of the Han army's territory. The fact that three people, who could be considered the highest point of the power pyramid, made such a gesture together attracted the attention of those coming and going, who also stopped to inquire.

The news spread like wildfire, and the entire military governor's office was in an uproar.

Several shopkeepers who were approaching from a distance sensed the opportunity and immediately instructed their servants to bring fireworks and firecrackers to sell.

After a moment, Liu Huai finally came to his senses. Seeing the scene around him, he frowned and tried to put on a stern face: "Go back to work! Don't you care about important military and political affairs?"

The officials of the Jiedushi Prefecture immediately responded loudly and then dispersed, leaving the merchants who had just brought in several carts of fireworks bewildered on the empty street.

Just as Liu Huai was about to rush to the backyard, he turned around and saw the several large trucks of fireworks, so he immediately turned around and went to meet them.

"Shopkeepers, you don't need to take these away. I'll buy them all, no matter how much they cost!"

Liu Huai beckoned to the accompanying clerk, took a few strings of coins, and handed them over: "Is this enough?"

The shopkeeper took the money, his eyes crinkling into slits with laughter: "That's more than enough."

Liu Huai waved his hand: "Any extra is a reward. Send these fireworks to the back residence."

At this point, Liu Huai hesitated again: "Doctor Xu, is it okay for a pregnant woman to watch fireworks and listen to firecrackers? Won't she be frightened?"

Seeing Liu Huai's cautious appearance, Xu Erya couldn't help but laugh and quickly shook her head: "As long as it's not intentional fright, it's fine. Making the lady happy on a daily basis is a hundred times more effective than medicine."

The eldest son and his wife are both in their prime; they will surely have a son.

Liu Huai burst into laughter, then took more than ten small silver ingots from the clerk and stuffed them into the hands of several physicians, saying "Congratulations, congratulations!" which made it difficult for the physicians to refuse.

When Liu Huai returned to the backyard, he saw Wei Rujun already sitting on a chair in the hall, her hands stroking her flat belly as if she were already ten months pregnant.

When she saw Liu Huai return, she straightened her coat and said somewhat shyly, "Brother."

Liu Huai quickly stepped forward, helped Wei Rujun up, and said with a smile, "Ajun is our family's precious treasure now, and we absolutely cannot allow any mishap to happen to her."

A sly look appeared on Wei Rujun's face: "Oh? I don't understand what you're saying, brother. Were I not a treasure before?"

Liu Huai chuckled and patted Wei Rujun's head: "Brother misspoke."

The two whispered sweet nothings in the back room and gradually embraced, only separating when it was lunchtime.

Wei Rujun pressed her small face against Liu Huai's chest and said somewhat dejectedly, "Brother, do you have to deal with government affairs again later?"

Liu Huai looked up at the sky, gritted his teeth and said, "Today I will stay with A-Jun and make the most of the day. The sky won't fall down."

Wei Rujun shook her head slightly: "Wouldn't that make me a character like Daji? I'd be made into a story and scolded for it."

Liu Huai patted his chest and said, "With Brother Wei here, I'd like to see who dares to slander A-Jun."

During this half-day, Liu Huai truly put aside all political affairs and leisurely strolled under the trees with his wife. By evening, Liu Huai gave Wei Rujun a big surprise.

As the fireworks rose, countless people in Jinan looked up and gazed at the sky. When they saw that it was in the direction of the military governor's office, they asked curiously what was going on. The King of Han, who was usually not known for disturbing the people or for extravagance, was making such a fuss.

Those who are well-informed will naturally offer their explanations.

The news that the King of Han would have an heir spread very quickly.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard allocated by the medical school, Xu Erya played with a small silver ingot, gazing silently at the fireworks outside the window that reflected the setting sun.

Her thoughts inevitably drifted back to four years ago.

It was a similarly hot and humid day back then, and Xu Erya didn't have a formal name yet, only the nickname Eryatou. At that time, Haizhou was in chaos, and her whole family perished. Only she and her three-year-old son, Cheng Ada, managed to survive by hiding in a haystack.

Later, a strange army, flying the banner of expelling the Tartars and restoring China, launched a public trial against the Jin army. Xu Erya also submitted a petition, seeking revenge for his blood feud.

The person who tied up his enemy and handed him a knife was none other than the current King of Han.

The person who later took her in, taught her to read and write, and recommended her to become a military doctor, is none other than the current Princess of Han.

It can be said that the two men were incredibly kind to Xu Erya, and logically, Xu Erya should have been the happiest person to have children with them.

But for some reason, Xu Erya felt a strange sense of melancholy amidst her joy.

This feeling came strangely yet was very real, so much so that Xu Erya barely ate a few bites of dinner and just stood outside silently watching the sunset.

Only after the fireworks had burned out did Xu Erya realize the source of her feelings, and then she shook her head and chuckled.

She was already eighteen years old, which in later generations would be equivalent to a high school graduate, but in the Song Dynasty, she was undeniably an old maid.

The saying goes that youth is fleeting and beauty fades quickly, and this is especially true for women.

"Sister, sister, would you like to eat some more?"

Seven-year-old Cheng Ada poked his head out of the house and said in a pleading tone, "Today I only ate a bite or two again. How can this continue?"

Xu Erya turned around and smiled: "Ah Da, you eat first, your older sister will be here shortly."

A moment later, Xu Erya and Cheng Ada sat facing each other.

The saying goes that children from poor families mature early. When the Cheng family suffered a great calamity a few years ago, Cheng Ada was only three years old. Even now, he is considered a teenager. However, because Xu Erya often accompanied the army on missions, Cheng Ada could only live in the military academy and receive military-style management and education, which shows that he was somewhat precocious.

Cheng Ada sipped his millet porridge and mumbled, "Brother Hou brought something again today."

Xu Erya frowned and asked, "You accepted it?"

Cheng A-da nodded: "I can't not take it. He dropped it and ran away. With my small arms and legs, how could I possibly catch up with him?"

Xu Erya sighed softly, "What has been delivered this time?"

"A pork ham, a bolt of silk, and two bolts of linen."

Xu Erya shook her head: "The item is too valuable. I'll return it tomorrow."

Cheng Ada put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth: "Sister, what are you thinking?"

"what?"

Cheng A's face was full of seriousness: "I want to ask what my elder sister thinks of Brother Hou."

Xu Erya picked up a shredded radish, chewed it carefully, and said after a moment, "Hou Anyuan is a man with a bright future, a good character, and is skilled in both literature and martial arts. He is a person worth getting to know well."

Cheng Ada immediately puffed out his cheeks: "Sister still treats me like a child."

Xu Erya patted Cheng Ada's head: "Ada is a man now, not a child anymore."

Cheng Ada turned his head away from Xu Erya's hand: "Sister, I think Brother Hou is a good man. Why don't you marry him?"

Xu Erya paused with her chopsticks in her hand, then shook her head and said in a low voice, "Ah Da, you don't understand."

Cheng Ada jumped off the stool and said excitedly, "How could I not understand? When Mother adopted my older sister, wasn't it because she wanted to have a child bride?"

Xu Erya put down her chopsticks and slightly composed herself: "Did someone gossip about you?"

Cheng Ada immediately knelt down on the ground: "Sister, no need for others to gossip. I'm all grown up now, and I understand what I need to understand."

But our family has suffered a great disaster, and my elder sister raised me alone. She is like my own sister and mother. If I were to marry my elder sister, wouldn't that be breaking the moral order?
Besides, a woman's youth only lasts a few years; we can't let my older sister wait any longer.

Now, Brother Hou is a good person, and he is truly sincere towards Sister. If it's truly impossible for us to find a good match again, then I would be the one who has committed the most heinous crime.

As he spoke, Cheng Ada was about to kowtow.

Xu Erya pulled Cheng Ada up directly, and was about to scold him, but when she saw the boy's determined eyes, she couldn't help but hesitate.

After a moment, Xu Erya finally asked, "Ah Da... is that really what you think?"

Cheng A's face turned bright red, and he was about to kneel down again: "If you don't believe me, I will now swear an oath of brotherhood with you and serve you as a sister in the future."

Xu Erya thought for a moment, a blush appearing on her face: "In that case, let's summon Hou Anyuan tomorrow."

Cheng Ada breathed a sigh of relief, feeling fortunate that he had not guessed wrong, and then he became somewhat impatient.

(End of this chapter)