Tang Dynasty: Starting with 3,000 elite cavalry, a bloody battle to retake the city.

Han Ye was completely confused.

What are you trying to achieve by telling me all this?

He took a sip of water and tentatively asked, "Uncle Li, Sister Yingge is exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts. She is a female general of divine might bestowed by the imperial court. Countless wealthy and noble families are eager to marry her. Finding her a good husband shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"Hmph!" Li Jing sneered. "Those pretty boys, do they even deserve to marry my daughter?! They're all useless, good for nothing, all slick and effeminate. I don't want any of them! Not a single one of them!"

Han Ye blinked and asked cautiously, "Then... do you already have someone in mind?"

Li Jing smiled.

His laughter was meaningful, yet harmless.

He slowly leaned closer and said, word by word:

"Han Ye, are you still pretending? You and my Yingge are engaged, a marriage arranged by your father and me back then! It was a marriage ordained by our parents and a matchmaker, are you trying to renege on your promise?!"

"puff--!!"

Han Ye spat out a mouthful of water, choking and turning his face red as he coughed violently.

His eyes widened, almost doubting that he had misheard.

This old man...is he here to force me into marriage?!

He waved his hand with a wry smile: "Uncle Li, I am but a commoner, how dare I presume to be worthy of the mighty female general..."

"Whether he's worthy or not is up to me!" Li Jing flicked his sleeves, exuding domineering arrogance. "The son-in-law I've chosen is worthy!"

"The engagement took effect the day it was made! If you dare to back out—" He narrowed his eyes, lowered his voice, "I'll make sure the whole of Chang'an knows about your father's drunken promise to this marriage!"

Han Ye was speechless.

This guy... why does he sound more and more like Cheng Yaojin possessing him?

Unreasonable, speaks nonsense without thinking, and even uses his elders to intimidate people!

He was about to speak in rebuttal—

However, Li Jing didn't give him a chance to speak at all, but just gave Han Ye a meaningful look.

Then, he leaned down slightly, close to Han Ye's ear, his voice low but booming like thunder: "And... my daughter is simple-minded, there are some things she can't see through, but I can—"

"Han Ye, this isn't just a cold; it's war wounds, isn't it?"

boom!

Before he could finish speaking, Han Ye's pupils suddenly contracted, and his breath caught in his throat!

Li Jing, however, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, looking at him with a half-smile, his eyes so sharp they seemed to pierce through skin and go straight to the heart.

If a great military genius of the Tang Dynasty couldn't even see his old wounds, wouldn't all those years of leading troops into battle and shedding blood on the battlefield have been for nothing?!

Han Ye's gaze darkened as he silently stared at the old fox before him.

Li Jing chuckled lightly, then his expression turned solemn: "I have no interest in your young people's intricacies, nor do I care who you are..."

All I know is that you are Han Ye, and my future son-in-law, Li Jing.

That's enough.

He's too smart; some things are best left unsaid and don't need to be explored further.

Sometimes, playing dumb is the true sign of clarity.

Han Ye was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this.

What does this have to do with anything?

I haven't even agreed yet, how did I become your prospective son-in-law?!

But then again...

Refuse? It's really hard to say that.

After all, the Li family had treated him well, and Li Jing even personally visited them, setting aside his status to discuss the marriage.

If he continues to make excuses, it would seem too pretentious, or even ungrateful.

Thinking of this, Han Ye could only smile helplessly and cup his hands, saying, "Then... I'll leave everything to Uncle Li's arrangements."

"Hahaha! Good! Well done, just listen to my arrangements!" Li Jing laughed loudly, his eyebrows dancing with delight, as if he had won a great deal.

With the marriage arranged, he didn't linger, only patting Han Ye on the shoulder: "Take good care of your injury and don't move around too much."

After saying that, he turned and left, his steps crisp and decisive.

As he reached the door, without turning back, he tossed out, "Oh, and let's strike while the iron is hot—we'll get married in a month! It's settled!"

The words had barely left his lips when he was gone.

Inside the room, Han Ye was still sitting on the edge of the bed, frozen in place.

marry?!

Wait... that's it? Not even a chance to discuss it?!

Li Jing, Li Jing, you've practically arranged all the major events in my life!

Han Ye rubbed his temples, feeling both amused and exasperated, and could only shake his head and smile in the end.

Outside the courtyard, Li Yingge had just returned from outside and happened to bump into her father coming out.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and she couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Father, what did you say to him?"

Li Jing laughed heartily, his face full of pride: "Your marriage will take place in a month, it's a done deal!"

"What?!" Li Yingge's face instantly turned crimson. She bit her lip, stomped her foot, and rarely showed such girlish behavior. She turned around and ran away as if fleeing.

As Li Jing watched her retreating figure, his smile faded, but his gaze became profound.

"Daughter...you might not be able to keep that boy in check..."

"This Han Ye is hiding his true abilities too well..."

He slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the courtyard where Han Ye lived, his brows furrowing slightly.

This young man appears gentle and refined, but in reality, he is unfathomable, like an ancient well with deep, still waters.

It's...unpredictable.

Time flies, and seven days have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the past few days, Han Ye's health has gradually recovered.

Although his complexion was still somewhat pale and his movements were still slow, he was able to walk freely and was no longer bedridden.

More importantly, he thoroughly digested the two ancient traditions in his mind—Hua Tuo's Medical Classic and the Mo Family's Mechanical Arts.

Today, his understanding of these two lost disciplines has been completely transformed.

not only that.

In the past few days, he has cultivated a piece of wasteland in his yard and quietly planted the [genetic rice] seeds released by the system, waiting to witness a miracle.

"Young Master! Young Master! It's time to change your dressing and clothes—"

A clear, crisp sound came from afar, and the maid Xiao Tuan skipped in, carrying a fold of clean clothes in her hands.

She spotted Han Ye standing on the edge of the field, staring at the patch of soil and grinning foolishly, and immediately pouted angrily:

"You've been staring at this soil for three days straight! Do you expect it to sprout a flower for you?!"

Han Ye turned around and smiled, reaching out to pinch her round cheek: "Blooming is impossible, but if it produces an 'auspicious omen,' it's not impossible."

Xiao Tuan blinked, looking surprised. "What auspicious omen?"

"An auspicious omen... capable of feeding half the population of the Tang Dynasty."

After saying that, he took the clothes, turned around and went back to his room, leaving behind a sentence that drifted leisurely in the wind.

Xiao Tuan was stunned on the spot, her mouth agape enough to fit an egg.

"Supporting half of the Tang Dynasty?! With this worthless land?!"

"Young Master is trying to fool me again! I believed him last time when he said the earth was round, and now he's trying to trick me into growing magic rice? Humph!"

She put her hands on her hips, stomped her feet, looked incredulous, and angrily turned her head away.

As everyone knows--

This time, everything Han Ye said was true.

A moment later, Han Ye changed his clothes.

A long, plain white robe hung down, and the sword at his waist gleamed coldly, complementing his unparalleled handsome face, making him look like an immortal who had stepped out of a painting.

In terms of appearance, there is probably no one in this world who can compare with him.

One glance and you're amazed; a second glance and you're captivated.

The moment Han Ye stepped into the main hall of Li Jing's residence, the entire hall fell silent.

It wasn't because of the strict rules, but because everyone was stunned.

He was dressed in a black robe, his features were sharp and cold, and his steps were so steady that they seemed to tread on people's hearts.

Those eyes were unfathomable, as if they held the secrets of a vast army and a mighty land.

Even the wind seemed to pause for a moment as he passed by.

"Young master... he's so handsome!"

"My young lady is truly blessed! She doesn't look like an ordinary person at all; she's clearly a celestial being descended to earth!"

"I heard that even Miss was no match for him; that battle caused sand and stones to fly outside Chang'an City..."

"Hehe, in another month, it will be the big day..."

The servants below whispered in hushed tones, their eyes glued to Han Ye.

Even though Li Jing didn't announce the marriage, there are no secrets in this mansion. Everyone knows that a month later, the person General Li Yingge, the Divine Might General, will marry is none other than this mysterious and unpredictable Ghost-Faced General.

But today is not a joyous day.

Today is the seventh day.

Seven days have passed since Li Shimin returned to Chang'an, and seven days have also passed since General Qin Shubao was buried in the imperial mausoleum—today is his funeral.

The entire mansion was draped in white, as white as snow, with white banners hanging in the sky.

The three people in the hall were already waiting: Li Jing stood solemnly in white, his expression serious; Li Yingge stood to the side, her eyes lowered, holding a bunch of white chrysanthemums in her hand.

Upon Han Ye's arrival, Li Jing simply said:

"Since you're here, let's go."

Han Ye nodded, without saying a word.

The three of them stepped out of the courtyard gate and headed straight for the Qin residence.

Before even entering the door, a sense of sorrow overwhelmed me.

Qin Shubao's mansion has long been transformed into a sea of ​​white, with white cloth hanging from the eaves, spirit banners fluttering, and incense smoke swirling like mist.

Although Li Jing arrived relatively late, veteran generals such as Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong had already gathered in the mourning hall, all dressed in plain clothes, burning incense, and kneeling in silent worship.

"Old brother... I've come to see you."

Li Jing walked heavily into the mourning hall. Looking at the memorial tablet that read "The Spirit Tablet of Duke Qin Shubao," his eyes suddenly reddened, and his voice trembled slightly, as if a sigh was squeezed out from the depths of his chest.

Then, he led Han Ye and Li Yingge to kneel down together.

Three bows and nine kowtows, solemn and dignified.

Han Ye knelt there, his gaze fixed on the memorial tablet, but his mind seemed to be drawn back to the banks of the Wei River.

That night, blood stained the yellow sand, and corpses littered the fields.

He beheaded Jieli on the battlefield and forced back 100,000 Turkic cavalry, but he could not hold back the old general who was clad in armor and wielding a halberd and fought to the death.

Qin Shubao lay in a pool of blood, still roaring, "Protect my Great Tang!"

Memories surged, and Han Ye's throat tightened.

He slowly bowed his head, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "General, may you rest in peace..."

"If any soul still remains, behold this glorious age—the Tang Dynasty, which has lived up to your expectations!"

The moment the words left my mouth, my vision suddenly blurred.

A figure appeared—the same blood-stained armor, the same weathered face.

Qin Shubao stood by the Wei River, the wind ruffling his clothes. He turned back, smiled, and said loudly:

"General Ghost Face, thank you! I have no regrets in this life!"

Light and shadow shattered, and everything returned to nothingness.

The next instant, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in my mind:

[Ding! Qin Shubao, a fierce general of the Han Dynasty, requests reincarnation. Host, do you agree?]

Han Ye closed his eyes.

A tear slid down from the corner of her eye and fell silently to the ground down her cheek.

He knew that was a signal of farewell.

A light tap of the fingertip—

【pass】.

He did not ask for any reward, nor did he extract any martial spirit, cultivation technique, or inheritance.

He only wanted this veteran, who sacrificed his life for the country, to pass away peacefully.

Silently, I said: Respectfully bidding farewell to the old general!