Married the Princess First, Fell in Love Later - Chapter 3

As the end of the year approached, the people of the Dongning Kingdom would usually have hung lanterns and decorated their homes in celebration, a tradition followed even by the citizens in the border towns. This year, however, every household in the border town remained firmly shut, for fear that encountering enemy spies would cost them their lives.

On the city watchtower, General Wen, draped in a heavy cloak, gazed into the distance. Seeing the flickering fires dotting the horizon, his brows furrowed deeply, his face etched with worry.

He and his wife had been stationed at the border for over six months. The Western Liang and Northern Yan kingdoms had launched intermittent attacks, refusing to give up their wicked ambition to annex their territory.

Since the war with the two northwestern kingdoms began, Dongning had closed its borders, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving. Yet, the enemy always found ways to slip into the country, such as by water. Furthermore, the prolonged isolation had resulted in a dwindling supply of provisions for Dongning.

General Wen was deeply troubled. He was unsure if the grain supplies in the army would be enough to see them through this brutal war.

A sudden weight settled on his shoulder. He turned and saw the pained, loving face of his wife.

“Stop looking,” Hua Qiuyu said. “No matter how much you stare, the enemy won’t simply retreat.”

Wen Changsheng had no rebuttal; he could only sigh.

“My lady, why are you here again? The watchtower is dangerous. In your current condition, you cannot afford any trouble. Please, go back.”

Hua Qiuyu was over seven months pregnant. She was no longer as nimble on her feet as she once was, let alone capable of going to the battlefield. Determined to keep her safe, Wen Changsheng had settled her in a local family’s home, entrusting them with her care.

For the sake of the child in her womb, Hua Qiuyu complied with her husband’s wishes, but she insisted on walking a distance every day to see him and offer her counsel.

This was why Wen Changsheng used the word “again.”

Pointing to the food box on the ground, Hua Qiuyu said, “Today is New Year’s Eve. Our children are not by our side, but you and I are together. As husband and wife, we ought to eat this reunion dinner together.”

Her eyes were filled with anticipation, making it impossible for Wen Changsheng to refuse.

He nodded, bent down to pick up the food box, and then carefully helped his wife into the inner quarters of the watchtower.

Inside, Wen Changsheng placed the box on the table and unpacked the food.

The selection was meager: a plate of sliced beef in soy sauce, a plate of peanuts, and a large bowl of dumplings—that was all.

Yet, to Wen Changsheng, this was more than enough, for his beloved wife was by his side, sharing this New Year’s Eve meal with him. This alone was enough to make the soldiers under his command envious.

Wen Changsheng picked up a dumpling. It was round, plump, and filled with pure pork; the skin was thin, and the meat was succulent, bursting with juice with every bite.

“How is it?” Hua Qiuyu asked, her eyes full of expectation.

Wen Changsheng nodded and replied, “Good, it tastes wonderful!”

He was a rough man, skilled only in battle and unversed in flowery language. Even when he wanted to praise his wife’s cooking, he could only manage to say it tasted wonderful.

Fortunately, Hua Qiuyu did not mind his awkwardness. Just hearing that it tasted “wonderful” made her beam with joy.

“If it’s good, eat more. I wrapped plenty. Try the beef, too. It’s a pity—if we weren’t on the battlefield, having to remain vigilant at all times, I would certainly have prepared two jars of fine wine.”

“It won’t be long now. The Western Liang and Northern Yan have been wearing themselves out against us for over half a year; they have suffered heavy losses, just like us. Furthermore, their nations have mobilized every citizen for war, leaving no one to farm the land. They should be even more desperate for this war to end than we are.”

Though he spoke these words, Wen Changsheng felt uneasy. No one knew when the northwestern kingdoms would retreat—himself included.

Sensing the gloomy atmosphere, Hua Qiuyu changed the subject. “Enough, let’s not talk about those unpleasant things. Let’s eat the dumplings, or they will get cold.”

“Right. You should eat too, my lady.” As he spoke, Wen Changsheng picked up a piece of beef and held it to Hua Qiuyu’s lips.

Before Hua Qiuyu could take the meat, a soldier came running toward them in a frantic rush: “It’s bad, it’s bad! General! It’s bad!”

Disturbed during their intimate moment, Wen Changsheng felt a flash of anger, but his reason suppressed it. He set down his chopsticks and looked sternly at the young soldier. “What is the meaning of this rush?”

“The Western Liang… and the Northern Yan… they have suddenly launched an assault on the city!”

“What!” Upon hearing the soldier’s report, Wen Changsheng could not sit still, and the appetizing New Year’s dinner was forgotten.

The Western Liang and Northern Yan would not attack without cause. An assault meant either that the enemy had recovered their strength, or that spies had infiltrated the city. Either possibility spelled a brutal battle. The former would spare the citizens, but the latter could drag the entire nation into ruin.

“Pass the order: guard the city gates. Under no circumstances are the gates to be opened to the enemy. If there is anyone in our ranks who intends to open the gates, execute them on the spot!”

“Yes, sir!” The soldier received the order and left immediately.

Wen Changsheng glanced at the nearly untouched meal on the table, his eyes full of regret. He did not know if he would survive this battle, if he could return home with his wife, or if he would see his daughters—Azhao, Asheng, and Axin—or his unborn child ever again.

Anxiety stirred in his heart, but he feigned composure, not wanting Hua Qiuyu to see his fear. “Qiuyu, the battle is about to begin. Go back quickly; the watchtower is not safe.”

“I am not leaving. If we die, we die together!” Even though Wen Changsheng tried to hide his worry, she had been his wife for many years; how could she not guess what was in his heart?

“Qiuyu, even if you don’t think of yourself, you must think of our children! Azhao, Asheng, and Axin are waiting for us at home! And the child in your womb—he has yet to see the beauty of this land.”

Hua Qiuyu hesitated, moved by her husband’s words. She longed to see her daughters and did not want them to become orphans, nor did she want her unborn child to be denied the chance to experience the world.

However, a promise is worth a thousand gold pieces. She had promised to live and die with her husband, and she intended to keep that vow—just not today.

With this thought, she calmed herself and said, “Very well. I will return to Auntie Liu’s house. I will wait for you to come back to name our child.”

Hearing her words, Wen Changsheng was finally relieved. He said tenderly, “Travel slowly. Wait for me.”

As if facing a final farewell, both Hua Qiuyu and Wen Changsheng shed tears the moment they parted.

Walking down the tower, Hua Qiuyu looked back for a long while before continuing on her way.

“Woo—” The long, mournful sound of a war horn echoed, resembling a song of parting.

Hearing the horn, the child in her womb seemed agitated, kicking her repeatedly.

Hua Qiuyu winced in pain and gently stroked her belly. “Child, don’t be afraid. Mother will take you home to wait for Father,” she murmured while walking slowly toward Auntie Liu’s house.

The further she walked, the more she felt the abdominal pain intensify, and her legs grew weak and soft.

She felt as though she had been walking for a long time, but in reality, she had not gone far; she was still beneath the shadow of the watchtower.

The soldiers at the foot of the tower all recognized her. They knew she was a decorated general, and they admired her for daring to face the front lines even while pregnant.

A soldier near her noticed she had been clutching her stomach for a long time with a pained expression. No matter how dull-witted he might be, he could guess what was happening.

“General Hua! What is wrong? Are you going into labor?” Several soldiers clustered around her, their faces filled with worry.

Hua Qiuyu was in too much pain to speak, which only confirmed their suspicions.

“General Hua is going into labor! Quickly, inform General Wen!”

Upon hearing the word “Wen,” Hua Qiuyu used the last of her strength to grab the arm of the nearest soldier, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s buzz: “No—don’t… the battle is about to begin. Do not distract him!”

The men were at a loss. They could not go to General Wen, but they could not let General Hua suffer to death before their eyes, either.

“General Hua, forgive me!” Saving a life was urgent; neglecting the social etiquette of gender, a burly soldier scooped Hua Qiuyu up in his arms and ran toward the center of the city.

“Is there a midwife? General Hua is in labor! Come quickly!” The soldier shouted as he ran through the city.

Soon, a door swung open, and an old woman emerged holding a candle.

Using her free hand, she gestured to the soldier carrying Hua Qiuyu and said, “Little brother, quickly bring General Hua inside. I am a midwife; I can deliver the baby!”

The soldier felt as if he had seen a savior. Without a second thought, he carried Hua Qiuyu into the old woman’s house.

“Auntie Wu, we are here to help too!” The old woman watched as the soldier placed Hua Qiuyu on the bed. As she turned to close the door, she saw a dense crowd of women gathered in front of her home.

The old woman thought that she was getting old and her strength was not what it used to be, so having help would be better. She said, “Little brother, you can’t help in here; wait outside. Sister Zhao, Sister Li, you two come in to help. The rest of you, go home.”

The soldier scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, realizing that as a man, he truly could not assist, so he retreated outside and joined the crowd of grandmothers and aunts to stand guard.

Inside the room, cries of agony soon erupted. Those outside paced back and forth, anxious but not daring to push the door open.

Within the humble room, Hua Qiuyu was exerting every ounce of her strength to bring forth a new life. Outside, above and below the city walls, her husband led the soldiers, fighting with everything they had to defend the lives of everyone in the border town.

The sky gradually turned pale, and a ray of morning sunlight broke through the darkness, landing on the bricks and tiles of the city tower. Moments later, countless beams of light fell upon every living soul.

Outside the city walls, bodies lay scattered, a shocking, crimson sea of blood.

Inside the city, the Dongning soldiers were exhausted. The archers, in particular, had their hands rubbed raw and bleeding.

Perhaps realizing the heavy casualties, the Western and Northern kingdoms finally withdrew their troops.

Once the danger had passed, Wen Changsheng descended from the tower to assess the wounded, but he was grabbed by several soldiers. After they spoke a few hurried words, he ran off in a panic.

Exhausted from the night, Hua Qiuyu wearily opened her eyes. She caught a hazy glimpse of her husband’s face and wondered if it was a hallucination.

She heard her husband’s voice, filled with heartache: “Qiuyu, I’m back. You had to give birth alone—it was a hardship for you.”

She immediately knew it was no hallucination. Her husband had truly returned.

She was overjoyed, but her entire body was in pain; only her mouth could move. She whispered, “Give our child a name.”

Wen Changsheng held the baby, rose from the edge of the bed, and paced a few steps. As if struck by a thought, he sat back down on the edge of the bed.

“She brought light to the Dongning Kingdom. Let us call her Wen Chenxu.”