Quick Transmigration: Playing the Role of a Devoted Tool

The winter snow came quickly, much more suddenly than in previous winters.

Fortunately, the fighting has eased somewhat, giving the people a chance to catch their breath.

In the capital of the Great Yan Kingdom, the Chu family army was in charge, and Chu Nanxing unified the six departments, taking charge of the national affairs.

There were voices of opposition from various prominent families, as well as some who supported it.

Compared to allowing the young emperor to be exploited by those with ulterior motives, the Chu family can be considered loyal subjects of the emperor, with several generations of their ancestors serving as great generals.

Even Chu Nanxing's father, General Chu, was a companion to the late emperor when he was young.

Chu Nanxing held power in the court, and although rumors and gossip seemed to be rampant, he actually helped the Great Yan Dynasty repel its enemies and preserve its thousand-year-old foundation.

The newspaper was filled with articles about Chu Nanxing. Ji Fan was passing by when he happened to see the contents of the newspaper. Shocked, he bought a copy to take home.

"Mom, I'm back!" Ji Fan ran into the yard and went to his mother's room.

With nothing to do, Yuna sat by the stove calculating her savings.

Ji Fan put down the newspaper and leaned on the table to watch his mother count the money. "Mom, why are you counting it again? Is there not enough money at home?"

"No, just looking around out of boredom. What's this?" Yuna tightened her purse and locked it in the wooden box, then picked up a newspaper.

The front page of the newspaper featured Chu Nanxing's face. If it weren't for the large characters that read "Chu Nanxing," Yuna wouldn't have recognized the woman in military uniform at first glance.

"Mother, she's really something. No wonder she doesn't want to be with Father," Ji Fan sighed softly.

"Your father doesn't love her at all, Xiao Fan." Yuna pulled her son and put down the newspaper.

"Did the father love the mother?"

Yuna paused in her tea-drinking, then chuckled softly. "He doesn't love anyone, and he never will. Xiao Fan, remember this: Ji Chen is the last person who will ever fall in love with anyone else. He only loves himself and power."

Yuna undoubtedly understands Ji Chen best.

From the moment she met Ji Chenzui, she realized that he was a cruel and ruthless person. Even when he brought her and her son back, it was only because his former concubine had died that he remembered them.

Otherwise, he would never have remembered that he had a mistress, kept in Zhongdu.

Ji Fan was afraid of upsetting his mother, so he watched her fingertips carefully as he poured her more tea.

Did your mother hate your father?

"I don't hate her." Yuna wasn't lying about this.

Ji Fan didn't quite understand what his mother meant.

I neither love nor hate.

"My relationship with your father was never equal. Back then, I needed money, and he just needed a woman; we each got what we wanted."

Ji Fan's heart clenched at his words. "Mother, do you love me?"

He struggled with this issue throughout his childhood.

His childhood memories told him that his mother did not love him at that time, and that her feelings for him were complicated.

Yuna thought for a moment before seriously telling Ji Fan, "Of course, when you were little, I didn't know how to be a mother. I had no sense of belonging to this world. I always felt that I might leave, but I didn't know exactly when."

Getting pregnant with Ji Fan was an accident.

Yuna didn't actually intend to give birth to him, but after taking the medicine, she couldn't abort the child. Later, her belly got bigger, and it became difficult to abort, so she simply gave birth to him.

After Ji Chen found out about this, he would send her a sum of money every month to help her raise the child and barely make ends meet, but that was all.

His mother started saying things that Ji Fan couldn't understand again.

What kind of world is this?

Ji Fan shook his head. "Mom, are you hungry? I'll go cook."

"Besides cooking noodles, what else can you do?" Yuna sighed.

"Is Brother Qi here?" Ji Fan asked. He hadn't seen Qi Ran since he came back.

"Qi Ran has gone out." Yuna put down her teacup, got up, stretched, and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Ji Fan tidied up the table and went over to help.

In the dead of winter, the cold air seeped straight in through the window holes.

The northwest wind was pounding against the windows, and even the persimmon tree in the yard couldn't withstand the damage. Several persimmons hanging on the tree fell and landed on the stone table.

Ji Fan picked up the persimmons, put them in a bamboo basket, and went to the woodshed to fetch a pile of firewood.

He sat in front of the stove and lit the fire, imitating Qi Ran's actions.

He can start a fire now.

Yuna poured the chopped vegetables into the boiling pot. With a sizzle, the evenly cooked pork glistened with oil under the heat, and the aroma of the meat filled the kitchen, making Ji Fan's mouth water.

When Qi Ran returned, the dishes were already prepared.

The three of them sat around a small square table. Yuna served a bowl of soup to Qi Ran, then a bowl to her son, and finally her own.

The spinach and tofu soup has a light flavor, and when paired with stir-fried pork with chili peppers, it's just the right amount to cut through the richness.

Ji Fan took a sip of soup and ate his rice. Suddenly, he remembered something, but he didn't know if he could speak up at this moment.

Yuna glanced at her son and knew he had something on his mind.

"Ask whatever you want."

"Mother, I want to join the army."

“…………”

Yuna paused in her grip on the chopsticks, and the food she had picked up fell into her bowl.

Ji Fan lowered his head, not daring to look into his mother's eyes.

"Are you tired of living?" Yuna asked coldly.

Ji Fan shook his head, knowing that it would upset his mother, but he still didn't want to sit idly by and wait for his fate, seeking protection behind his mother.

"Mother, I'm all grown up now, and there are recruiting soldiers everywhere on the streets. I'm going to join the Chu family army."

"That won't work either."

"Why..." Ji Fan didn't understand; he also wanted to do his part for Da Yan.

Yuna put down her bowl and slammed her chopsticks down on it, startling Ji Fan. Qi Ran glanced at Yuna, then at Ji Fan, deciding not to interfere in their mother-son conflict.

"Ji Fan, I'm just asking you, why did you go?"

"I also want to protect my mother, and I also want to protect this land." Ji Fan raised his head, his eyes filled with tears, but his gaze had never been so firm.

Yuna looked into her son's eyes and seemed to see the old woman from years ago through those innocent, childlike eyes.

She said no more, took off the bracelet from her wrist, and put it on her son's wrist.

Ji Fan was stunned, his nose tingled, and he hugged his mother's knees and burst into tears.

He was still too naive; faced with his mother's compromise, he was filled with guilt and sadness.

Qi Ran poured a cup of tea for the two of them, remaining silent throughout.

Yuna felt uneasy during the meal. It wasn't until her son was about to leave that she realized how much she loved this child, how deeply she loved him, and how much she cherished him.

She returned to her room, locked the door, and refused Ji Fan's visit.

Qi Ran was entrusted to visit, but was also kept outside the door.

"Sister You, I packed some things for Xiao Fan. He's leaving early tomorrow morning. Is there anything you'd like to give him?"

A muffled sound came from inside the room.

"No, just tell him to be careful."

Ji Fan stood beside Qi Ran without saying a word, his hands clenched tightly at his sides.

Qi Ran patted his shoulder, shook her head at him, and the two went to the courtyard to talk.

"Your mother cares about you a lot, so you must take good care of yourself." Qi Ran took out a letter from her bosom and gave it to him. "Give this letter to the Chu family army, and they will take you to see Madam Chu. At that time, you will follow Madam Chu's arrangements."

Ji Fan nodded, his eyes reddening, and hugged Qi Ran, crying silently.