Work overtime

Chapter 797

Jiang Yuebai personally bent down and helped up the young man who had decisively killed the key rebel general.

It was he who saved her and established her prestige as a concubine. Later, when she was pregnant, Li Beichen arranged for her to be by his side, to protect her and teach her how to ride a horse. The past of living and dying together seemed to be covered with a gentle veil, making her feel like an old friend who cherished each other.

Meng Shu respectfully accompanied Jiang Yuebai to inspect the security of Liaodong Town, climbed the Great Wall of Liaodong Town, and introduced the reinforced city and the staggered artillery towers and watchtowers.

Liaodong Town was located in a very special place. It was guarded by Xie Chuanfeng's eldest son Xie Yizhong. The town was surrounded by enemies on three sides, the Mongols in the west and the Jianzhou Jurchens in the north and east. Unlike Ji Town, it did not have a natural barrier, and many places were undefended.

Entrusting such an important throat to Meng Shu to guard, it can be seen that Jiang Yuebai trusts his character and ability, just like Li Beichen's trust in Xie Yizhong back then.

Meng Shu did not disappoint Jiang Yuebai's trust. He was strict in military discipline, clear in rewards and punishments, focused on training and management, and paid attention to the study of tactics.

He applied the methods of training palace servants that he observed from Jiang Yuebai to border garrison, paying special attention to ideological and political construction and consistent, strict and procedural training.

His seriousness and personal example had a great impact on the army which had become lax since Xie Yizhong left.

In addition to training the army, Meng Shu also vigorously strengthened the Great Wall defense line of Liaodong Town, established a chariot camp, and updated the troops' firearms equipment, greatly enhancing the defense capabilities of Liaodong Town.

Jiang Yuebai stood on the Great Wall, the whistling mountain wind ruffled her hair, so strong that she couldn't open her eyes. She gathered the broken hair around her ears and looked at the Great Wall winding between the mountains, with great pride in her heart.

What a magnificent land!

Meng Shu bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, the wind is strong, please take care of yourself. Let's move to the camp."

"it is good."

Jiang Yuebai nodded and shivered in the wind. She put on the black golden dragon cloak from Jie Geng's hand. It was left to her by Li Beichen. She brought it with her on this trip, one to keep warm and the other to boost morale.

The wind blew the cloak, which then puffed up and floated behind him. Jiang Yuebai's profile was cold and tough, his eyes were firm and domineering, and he looked heroic and awe-inspiring.

This look was exactly the same as when Meng Shu first met Jiang Yuebai. It was as if he saw her again with cold eyes, swinging her sword to kill the rebels with a decisive and calm look on her face.

Forty years had passed, and the strong beat of his youth once again surged in his heart, making his cheeks hot.

"My lady..."

Jiang Yuebai heard the unusual emotion in the voice and was stunned for a moment.

A word suddenly popped into my mind: "loneliness".

For more than 40 years, she has burned everything for this country and her children. After Li Beichen, she has never been moved or emotional again. She seems to have gotten used to living alone, shouldering everything by herself, and has hardly told anyone about her worries, but endured them silently.

At this moment, I suddenly realized that I had been walking alone for so many years since I was 22 years old for the sake of my responsibilities and ideals.

Yes. She was lonely too. She had also felt lonely all night, tossing and turning, longing for love and comfort.

Her position means that she cannot fall in love with anyone, but it also means that she can fall in love with anyone. She already has absolute power and the capital to do whatever she wants. She only needs to go for the body and not the heart. Even if she does go for the heart, she has the ability to control the situation.

It was her love and longing for Li Beichen and her responsibility to the children that kept her going strong and endured the loneliness alone.

Jiuru, do you still remember me? Do you still miss me?

Or fall in love with someone else, start a new family, and start a new journey of life.

Just like here, will you favor others and have feelings for others?
Am I the only one who still foolishly insists on believing in the empty promises in a letter?

Forty years.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuebai couldn't help but burst into tears and covered her face with her hands.

When Meng Shu saw Jiang Yuebai suddenly cry, he was at a loss like a young boy who had just fallen in love, and could not help blaming himself for losing control of his emotions.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was rude just now. I was just feeling a little emotional. I felt that time flies."

Jiang Yuebai forced a smile, "I am also moved. After forty years, I have finally completed the task entrusted to me by the late emperor and unified Mongolia. This can comfort the late emperor's spirit in heaven. How wonderful it would be if he could see it."

Meng Shu didn't believe in ghosts and gods, but at this moment he couldn't help but comfort her, "The late emperor can see it in heaven. Empress Dowager, please don't be too sad, it will hurt your eyes."

"I know." Jiang Yuebai said in a light tone.

Meng Shu couldn't help but lower his eyes, not daring to look at her, "I have overstepped my bounds."

Jiang Yuebai smiled faintly, "General Meng, I am very grateful for your caring words. Let's go back to the camp. The wind is really too strong and it gives me a headache."

Meng Shu was in a trance as he looked at the smile on Jiang Yuebai's face. He couldn't help but laugh. He wasn't an 18-year-old boy. He was 58. Ridiculous.

As they walked down the city wall, Jiang Yuebai casually asked, "Does General Meng have any adult grandchildren?"

Meng Shu was suddenly asked this question. After a long pause, he replied awkwardly, "Your Majesty, I have not yet married."

"Why?" Jiang Yuebai was quite surprised.

He is the same age as her. Logically, he should at least have grandchildren. Soon, he will have great-grandchildren like her.

"General. General." Meng Shu shook his head painfully, "General will not marry anyone but her in this life. If it's not her, there's no need to marry her."

Jiang Yuebai laughed and glanced at Meng Shu, "I never thought that General Meng was so infatuated. I wonder which woman has won General Meng's favor. Does she know? Do you want me to be your matchmaker?"

Meng Shu laughed dumbly, a little sadly, "She's already married."

Jiang Yuebai raised his eyebrows and said in a domineering tone, "As long as she has a daughter or granddaughter, I can also propose marriage for you."

Meng Shu smiled and shook his head, "It's still not her. What I want is only her, not anyone of hers."

Tana, who had been silent the whole time, couldn't help but sigh, "General Meng is so affectionate."

Jiang Yuebai sighed, "If that's the case, then forget it."

I asked myself, will Li Beichen be so infatuated over there? Will he keep the feelings between us and not change his mind? My mind was full of thoughts and I was a little distracted for a moment. I slipped and was about to fall from the high steps, but a strong hand grabbed my arm.

Only after making sure that she stood firmly did Meng Shu slowly let go of her hand.

Tana stepped forward and took her grandmother's hand, and asked anxiously, "Grandmother, are you okay?"

"It's okay." Jiang Yuebai felt a piercing pain in his ankle while speaking.

I sprained my foot.

Following them were several young and strong eunuchs. They immediately ran up and carried Jiang Yuebai down the city wall.

Meng Shu followed Jiang Yuebai, staring at her back, feeling happy and distressed at the same time.

I was happy because I could see her again in my lifetime, and my sprained ankle meant I could stay here for a few more days. I was also really heartbroken.

But he didn't need to look for medicine to treat the injury. Jiang Yuebai brought four imperial doctors with him on this trip. They had a lot of good medicine. The key was that Jiang Yuebai also had a strong plaster provided by the system, which was specially used to treat sprained ankles.

At night, Mengshu and his brother Mengfa sent everyone away and ate and chatted alone in the house.

Meng Fa asked in confusion, "Brother, wouldn't it be good for the Queen Mother to grant you a marriage? It's a great thing that many people would dream of. But you refused it because you had a lover. After all these years, how come I didn't see that you had a lover?"

Meng Shu hesitated to speak, and finally said calmly, "Liaodong Town has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. How dare I, who has my head hanging on my waist, delay the good girl's visit?"

Meng Fa said angrily, "You are talking nonsense! Isn't it because you have to put your head on the belt that you want to get married and have children? You are already fifty-eight, hurry up."

Meng Shu smiled gently, "You have a son, doesn't that mean I have a son? It will be the same if I let my nephew take care of me in my old age. Wouldn't it be good to give all my property to them?"

"If you don't have a son, your title will be taken back." Meng Fa said seriously, "You risked your life to get this title. It's the glory of our Meng family, and it also provides food for hundreds of households. How can you just give it up like that? Brother, just get married. Not only for yourself, but also for our family."

Meng Shu said "hmm" and did not comment.

Meng Fa couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother, you don't really have a crush on someone, do you? Are you so infatuated?"

Meng Shu glanced at his brother, made up a lie, and said in a low voice pretending to be in pain and suppressed, "I was injured in the war before, and I can't have sex anymore. If I get married, people will definitely find out."

Meng Fa felt guilty and slapped himself in the face. "Damn it. I'm such a piece of shit! I'm sorry, brother. I didn't know it was like this. It's not that. I'll give this kid to you for adoption and take care of you until the end of your life."

He had such doubts before, but he just laughed it off as a joke. When he heard his brother say that today, he panicked, fearing that his brother would be upset.

Meng Shu sighed and said quietly, "So don't say those words just now anymore."

"Okay, okay. I won't tell you. I absolutely won't tell you. I won't tell you even if you kill me. If you tell me again, I'll be a beast." Meng Fa immediately bowed and said.

Meng Shu clenched his fists, smiled bitterly, stood up and walked out.

Although it is already March in the Gregorian calendar, the nights in the north are still cold.

He walked forward with a lot on his mind, and unknowingly arrived at the gate of Jiang Yuebai's yard.

The guards outside the door immediately saluted and asked him if he had anything to report to the Empress Dowager.

He stopped, his expression calm and his tone normal, "The Empress Dowager sprained her ankle and felt uneasy, so I wanted to ask about the situation. Please inform her, both of you."

After getting Jiang Yuebai's permission, Meng Shu took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and then walked in.

When she saw Jiang Yuebai, she was leaning against the head of the bed with her eyes closed. Tana was sitting on a chair beside her, and the two were listening to Kikyo reading.

When Jiang Yuebai saw clearly that it was Meng Shu, he suddenly felt a little flustered.

She was always calm and composed. This kind of panic was something she hadn't experienced in years, and it was so unfamiliar. It surprised her secretly.

In short, it's like a lake with thick ice all year round, which is big enough for tanks to run on. Suddenly, a weak spot is melted by the sun, and the lake is rippling.

These thoughts whizzed through her mind. Jiang Yuebai couldn't help but laugh. She stroked the diamond ring and wedding ring on her hand, feeling a little disappointed.

A kind of loneliness that comes when you have experienced many things, achieved your ideals, your children and grandchildren have grown up, and your life is complete, but when you have some free time, you find yourself alone and have no one to talk to. There are also primitive desires that have not been released for many years and have always been suppressed.

Perhaps it was because Mengshu's eyes were too passionate, perhaps Mengshu himself reminded her of her youth, or perhaps it had been too long since she had a single chat with a non-blood-related male, and the content of the chat had nothing to do with government affairs.

She knew clearly that this feeling had nothing to do with love, but was just about loneliness.

"General Meng!" Tana stood up happily.

Jiang Yuebai's mood turned cold. He glanced at Meng Shu and asked calmly, "General Meng, you came so late, do you have any military information to report?"

Originally, everything around him had faded away, and only Jiang Yuebai's magic could be seen. He was awakened by the coldness in the tone, and he bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty injured your ankle this afternoon, and I came to ask about the injury."

"It's okay since the imperial physician is here. Get some sleep and you'll probably be fine tomorrow." Jiang Yuebai looked calm, "General Meng, do you have anything else important to say?"

Meng Shu stared at the woman in front of him in a daze and nodded woodenly.

He lowered his eyes and looked at the ground. He felt like he could dig a hole in the ground with his eyes and bury himself.

She only smiled calmly, but his heart trembled. The emotions that had been pent up for many years began to stir.

In his eyes, Jiang Yuebai at this moment was not the queen mother, not the powerful woman who ruled the world, and she was not sixty years old.

She was just the sixteen-year-old girl in red.

Meng Shu stood where he was, feeling the surging love and burning desire in his chest.

Jiang Yuebai thought Meng Shu had important military matters to discuss, so he asked Tana and Kikyo to leave and said softly:
"General Meng, please take a seat."

Meng Shu was stunned for a moment, kept his eyes down, looked at the ground, and slowly walked to the couch.

It's only a few steps, but it feels like trekking through mountains and rivers.