When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26

Jiang Yan no longer spoke. She sat in her wicker chair, basking in the sunlight.

She knew what Yuan Zhao meant, but she didn’t want to lie to him, and she didn’t want to lie to herself.

It was fake to say she didn’t miss her.

When she closed her eyes now, that person’s face and smile were still incredibly clear. But she was willing to deceive herself until she gradually forgot about her.

As for how long this process would take, she would leave it to fate.

What she had the most of right now was time, and she could take her time with it.

Usually, when the Japanese pirates came to attack, it was always Jiang Chengsha who went to war. It wasn’t because the Japanese pirates were particularly powerful, but because the Kingdom of Yu had no other generals to use. This was also why the Emperor of Yu had appointed Jiang Zhen.

Throughout history, there have been very few women who have led armies as generals. As the only female general on this continent, Jiang Zhen was deeply trusted by the Emperor and the people of Yu, so she was determined to win the war and prove that she didn’t get her position by relying on her father.

It was precisely because of this urgent feeling that she fell for the enemy’s trap.

As they passed a village, an old man offered them tea, saying many grateful words, sounding very sincere.

Jiang Zhen didn’t suspect anything. She drank the water he offered and led her team forward. Later, she found a small group of Japanese pirates and wanted to pursue them to victory, but when she activated her energy, she found her meridians were blocked, and her blood flow was reversed. Then she fainted.

Fortunately, the poison was not a quick-acting one, so she was able to hold on to her life and wait for her father’s rescue.

Jiang Chengsha took his personal team and went to the border on a rainy day, leaving quietly.

Jiang Yan found her father’s sudden departure strange. ‘Didn’t they already send people to deal with the rebellion? Why did he have to go as well?’

But she didn’t understand what happened on the battlefield, so she didn’t ask too many questions.

This trip lasted for half a year.

Good news of victory kept coming, and Yuan Feng looked overjoyed every day. She was invited to every banquet in every family.

Even the empresses in the palace would summon her to talk every now and then, giving her great honor.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was Jiang Yan’s coming-of-age ceremony.

These days, Yuan Feng was busy arranging Jiang Yan’s coming-of-age ceremony and was overwhelmed with work every day.

Her daughter’s ceremony had to be lively and grand. Even if it couldn’t compare to a princess, it had to be better than any other young lady in the capital.

Jiang Yan used to look forward to her coming-of-age ceremony because she would be able to do many things as an adult.

Now, she found it both troublesome and boring. The preparations alone had exhausted all her enthusiasm.

On the day of the ceremony, Jiang Yan saw friends she hadn’t seen in a long time, and her mood improved slightly.

Tang Rong gave her a phoenix hair ornament carved from jade. The sisters Zhang Zhiyan and Zhang Zhihui gave her a pair of eastern pearl earrings and a wide-sleeved dress they had embroidered themselves.

Jiang Yan took them to her courtyard, where the girls could have a private chat.

Zhang Zhiyan was wearing a red dress with a white fox fur collar around her neck, which complemented her fair skin.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she ran to the blooming plum blossoms and commented on how beautiful Jiang Zhen’s courtyard was. Then she asked, “Sister Yan’er, when is your sister coming back? Is she not even attending your coming-of-age ceremony?”

Jiang Yan’s smile froze for a moment before she replied, “My sister is still at the border. She probably won’t be able to make it back in time.”

Zhang Zhihui noticed Jiang Yan’s discomfort. She walked up to Zhang Zhiyan and discreetly poked her arm.

Zhang Zhiyan understood. She ran to Jiang Yan, held her hand, and said, “It’s okay, it’s okay. You have us. We’re all older than you, so we’re all your older sisters.”

Jiang Yan looked at her sincere face and smiled faintly.

In the past, during the winter, the border of the Kingdom of Yu was always plagued by wars. But this year, Jiang Zhen led her army and subdued the surrounding countries. She returned triumphantly on New Year’s Eve.

This time, she proved herself and won over the hearts of those who had not been optimistic about her. She was named Grand General, a rank even higher than Jiang Chengsha’s.

At the same time, it was rumored that the Emperor was going to marry the Grand General to the Fifth Prince.

When Jiang Yan heard this news, her hand trembled slightly, and then she smiled with a complex expression.

Jiang Zhen was already seventeen this year, an age when she could start talking about marriage.

That evening, the family had dinner together, and Jiang Chengsha and Yuan Feng also brought up the matter. Yuan Feng asked if the rumor was true, and Jiang Chengsha nodded, saying that it was most likely true.

Jiang Yan’s chopsticks fell to the ground. She bent down to pick them up, rubbing her sore eyes.

Yuan Feng glanced at her daughter, her eyes changing, and suddenly said, “Yan’er, you always used your young age as an excuse not to let me worry about your marriage. Now that you’re of age, it’s time to consider a lifelong partner.”

Jiang Yan put on a smile, her voice soft and sweet. “You can make the decision, Mother. I’ll listen to you completely.”

Yuan Feng was still a little incredulous and asked tentatively, “Do you really mean that?”

Jiang Yan nodded, the smile on her face becoming even more bright.

“Your cousin is still unmarried. I’m sure you know his feelings for you. Your uncle, aunt, and I are also very optimistic about this marriage. If you have no objections, then we’ll settle it?”

Jiang Yan had become an emotionless automaton. She nodded to everything her mother said, obedient to a terrifying degree.

After she left, Yuan Feng looked at her back, and her eyes darkened.

‘Yan’er, one day you will understand that everything Mother is doing is for your own good.’

‘You and Jiang Zhen must never be together!’