Chapter 28: Preparing for the Journey to the Capital

"Is a trip to the capital truly unavoidable?"

Mother Yan was deeply resistant, feeling an instinctive dislike for the capital. "Must you be the one to go?"

As a man who had navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for years, Father Yan quickly grasped the gravity of the situation. "I fear war is brewing—a major one."

"War?"

Mother Yan’s heart sank to the bottom of her chest, and she grew frantic. "And they want our son-in-law to go again? Didn’t he just return from a victorious campaign?"

In the eyes of a mother or a wife, no merit or honor could compare to the importance of the family being together. Her daughter had finally found such a good man; if something were to happen to him... "He’s barely been back. Are there no other generals in the entire imperial court?"

Father Yan sighed. "This is the way of the court. When a general leads troops into battle, the court takes his family into its 'care'—ostensibly to ensure he can fight without distraction."

Mother Yan was not a naive woman. She understood the true meaning of that "care" instantly. She opened her mouth several times to speak, but no words came out, ultimately dissolving into a heavy sigh.

Father Yan soon made up his mind. "Your mother and I will accompany you to the capital." He truly loved their current life—carefree and at peace—the very life he had dreamed of during his scholarly years. But no matter how much he loved it, his daughter came first.

Mother Yan nodded repeatedly. "Yes, we shall all go together. Little Xun is still so young; he cannot do without me."

Yan Chaonian pulled them down to sit, trying to help them calm down. "Father, Mother, listen to me. The Southwest cannot be left unattended. Eldest Brother will not be coming; he will remain here to hold the fort. The textile workshop is at a critical juncture, and my two uncles are not always thorough in their considerations. I will have to trouble you, Mother, to come out of retirement and help oversee things. Eldest Brother needs to settle down and marry, and there are countless matters to manage, both inside and out. If we all go to the capital, what will become of the workshop? What will become of Eldest Brother?"

Caught between a daughter who was effectively being taken hostage and a son who needed their support, the elderly couple was deeply troubled. When Mother Yan suggested she go to the capital while Father Yan stayed behind, Yan Chaonian replied, "I fear our workshop would fold within two months."

"Don't forget," Yan Chaonian added, seeing their mounting anxiety, "that Father and Grandfather haven't even spoken on this yet. My trip to the capital this time is different from before. The court will not let any harm come to me, nor will they allow me to be mistreated—not while they still need Yuan Shen to risk his life on the front lines. As long as the war continues, I am safe. And if he wins, my status will only rise."

"And if he loses?"

As soon as Mother Yan asked this, both Father Yan and Yan Chaonian looked at her. She immediately spat on the ground three times for luck. "My son-in-law is a peerless strategist; he must be victorious."

Yan Chaonian nodded. "Exactly. So, Father, Mother, do not worry for me."

The couple’s brows remained furrowed—how could they not worry? Yan Chaonian feigned a relaxed air, sitting beside her mother with a smile. "Remember how destitute and humiliated we were when we left the capital three years ago? Things are different now. Once I reach the capital, I intend to make life difficult for the Earl's mansion. The first thing I will do is reclaim every bit of my dowry they have kept. I’ll make that old woman boil with rage."

"I was constrained everywhere before. Even with Jiang Wencheng arriving in the Southwest, I had to avoid his锋芒 (sharp edge) and tread carefully. But in the capital, with the court’s backing, I must take this opportunity to settle every old score."

Mother Yan looked up. "What if she stubbornly refuses to return it?"

"Then I shall donate the entire dowry to the imperial treasury as a gesture of my loyalty. I’ll earn a reputation for virtue, and I’m sure the court will be quite pleased."

A smile finally touched Mother Yan’s face. "That’s my daughter. You were never one to be bullied."

"Only a fool lets wrongs go unavenged."

Father Yan opened his mouth, then closed it, fearing he might draw fire upon himself—after all, he was the one who had taught her the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues," a fact for which he had been chided many times.

Having persuaded her parents, Yan Chaonian set to work. She had Shui Yun pack their luggage for the capital while she made arrangements for the workshop.

Yuan Shen returned late that night, holding Yan Chaonian as they slept in their clothes, only to leave again before dawn. The next morning, little Xun came happily looking for his father, still hoping to be taken for a ride on his horse. When he learned his father had left, he ran toward the gate. After being chased and brought back, he wailed inconsolably, distressing Mother Yan to the point of tears.

Yan Chaonian’s heart ached. The child was at an age where he needed his father, but... she had no time to wallow in sorrow; there were too many things to arrange.

Fearing that Yuan Shen might have already left by the time she arrived in the capital, she had to arrange for someone to purchase medical supplies in advance. The list was prepared by Dr. Liu, and to her, the cost did not matter—everything had to be obtained.

"Madam, might I request a quantity of fabric?"

Dr. Liu, who would be traveling with Yuan Shen, was also making preparations. Yan Chaonian was curious about his request for fabric. "Of course. How much do you need?"

"I know of a place where one can obtain top-tier medicinal supplies, but they do not accept silver. They require barter. I wish to trade for some."

Yan Chaonian nodded. "Tell me how much and what kind of fabric you need. Once you have decided, come to me directly, and I will arrange it."

Dr. Liu was moved. "You trust me that much, Madam?" She hadn't asked what the medicine was, nor if it would truly be effective, yet she had agreed instantly.

"Once the General is injured, his life will be in your hands. If I cannot trust you, whom can I trust?" Yan Chaonian was not the type to manipulate hearts; in her mother's words, she was perhaps a bit too honest. But she had her own virtues, the greatest being her sincerity. "I don’t understand medicine, but I will not be stingy with money for anything that benefits the General. Dr. Liu, please proceed as you see fit."

With that, she asked Shui Yun to bring a medical text from her bedroom cabinet. "I acquired this by chance some time ago. I had intended to have someone verify its authenticity before gifting it to you, but today I shall give it to you directly. You must judge the contents for yourself."

Authentic medical texts were rare treasures, seldom seen on the market. This one had come from a pawnshop. Dr. Liu hurriedly wiped his hands on his robes and took the book with trembling care. As he turned to the first page, Yan Chaonian could see his excitement. "It seems this book is of use to you, Dr. Liu."

Dr. Liu tucked the book carefully into his robes and bowed deeply. "This is a rare treasure. Thank you, Madam." He knew without asking that it had not come cheap.

"As long as it is of use to you."

When Dr. Liu left the garrison office, his eyes were red with emotion. In these times, learning was difficult, and a good medical text was a profound kindness to him.

However, to Yan Chaonian, this was no great matter. She turned her thoughts to the next task: inviting the Li family to the office. "The discord between Grandfather and Father was caused by me; it is only right that I be the one to resolve it."