The God of War Who Protects the Nation: Starting with Saving a Mother and Daughter in Distress

Qin An was somewhat surprised to hear Li Qingwan's words; he hadn't expected her to bring this up on her own initiative.

He originally thought that women would be somewhat jealous, especially when they had just married into the family.

"I'm glad you think that way," Qin An said gently. "But we'll have to wait a little longer before we bring them here."

Li Qingwan looked at him, puzzled.

Qin An has now achieved great success and settled down in the capital.

He's a man of great loyalty and affection; shouldn't he bring his wife and daughters over to enjoy a better life?

Qin An had completely accepted Li Qingwan in his heart, so naturally he had nothing to hide from her.

To lay bare one's innermost thoughts.

"As you can see, although the capital is prosperous, it is not necessarily safe."

"Rebellions are breaking out everywhere. Although the court has temporarily stabilized the situation, no one can say for sure what will happen in the future."

"Baiji just suffered a defeat and won't dare to attack again in the short term. The border is actually safer than the capital."

These words could be described as somewhat blasphemous.

This clearly shows a lack of optimism about the future of the Daxing Dynasty.

If even the capital is not safe, wouldn't that be a sign of the country's impending destruction?

If it were an ordinary person, hearing such blasphemous words would probably terrify them, but Li Qingwan merely frowned: "Is the situation really that serious?"

"This is just my personal guess, it may not come to that." Qin An didn't want to say more on this topic, and instead sighed.

"Actually, what I'm more concerned about is how long I can stay in the capital. It's uncertain. Maybe one day an imperial edict will be issued, and I'll have to lead troops to quell the rebellion elsewhere. If they come and I leave, it will only make them worry."

As Li Qingwan listened, she gradually understood his concerns and nodded, "I hadn't considered things thoroughly."

"It's not your fault." Qin An squeezed her hand. "Once the situation stabilizes, I will definitely bring them here so that you sisters can get along well."

Li Qingwan smiled, her eyes filled with satisfaction: "Okay."

Just then, Li Jing ran in, his face full of anticipation: "Brother-in-law, lunch is ready. By the way, about joining the army this morning, sister, what do you think..."

Qin An had indeed forgotten about this matter, and immediately told him about Li Jing's desire to join the army and gain experience on the battlefield.

"Wan'er, this matter is far too important; I cannot make a decision for you on my own!"

Li Jing immediately stared nervously at Li Qingwan.

Li Qingwan looked at her younger brother, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes, which was then replaced by determination.

She turned to Qin An and said slowly, "Husband, let him go."

Qin An was taken aback: "You agree?"

"Hmm." Li Qingwan nodded. "If he really wants to join the army, there's no stopping him. Rather than letting him sneak around looking for connections, it's better for him to follow you. At least you can take care of him."

"Besides, my husband, don't you also think that chaos is coming? It might not be a bad thing to hone your skills on the battlefield early on. If the world really descends into chaos in the future, having some skills is better than being at the mercy of others."

Her words were clear and logical, revealing a wisdom beyond her years.

Qin An became increasingly convinced that he hadn't misjudged the person.

"Since you agree, then it's settled." Qin An looked at Li Jing. "From today onwards, you will follow me and become my personal guard. Start by learning the basics. If you dare to slack off, I won't forgive you."

Li Jing was overjoyed and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you, brother-in-law! I will definitely study hard!"

"Get up, let's go eat." Qin An smiled and helped him up.

Lunch was a lively affair, with Li Jing frequently serving food to Qin An and Li Qingwan, his excitement barely concealed.

Looking at her younger brother's joyful expression, Li Qingwan felt a mix of worry and relief.

……

As evening fell, Qin An was instructing Li Jing on horse stance in the training ground. Watching the boy grit his teeth and persevere, he nodded inwardly.

When he returned to the room, Li Qingwan was sitting under the lamp reading a book. Seeing him come in, she stood up and said, "Husband, are you tired? I've had some hot water prepared, why don't you soak your feet?"

Qin An sat down, watching her busy figure, and suddenly said, "Tonight... you should rest."

Li Qingwan understood what he meant, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

She glanced at Qin An, knowing that her husband was energetic and powerful, and after thinking for a moment, she made a decision.

He then walked to the door and called out, "Jin Ping."

Jin Ping entered in response to the call, and bowed to Qin An upon seeing him.

Li Qingwan said softly, "Jin Ping, you should serve the master tonight so he can rest. I... I'm still feeling a little unwell."

Jin Ping was taken aback for a moment, then understood. A hint of embarrassment appeared on her face, but she still replied, "Yes."

Qin An looked at Li Qingwan, but she avoided his gaze and said softly, "You two rest, I'll go sleep in the next room."

After Li Qingwan left, Jin Ping stepped forward to help Qin An undress. Her movements were more practiced than last time, but she still seemed a bit reserved.

Qin An looked at her and suddenly said, "You don't need to be nervous. Just stay here from now on."

Jin Ping raised her head, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes, and whispered, "Yes, sir."

Hot water washed over my ankles, carrying a faint medicinal scent, dispelling the day's fatigue.

Qin An leaned back in his chair, gazing at the moonlight outside the window, a sense of peace settling over him.

Li Qingwan's maturity and generosity, Li Jing's youthful spirit, and even Jin Ping's cautiousness all contributed to the warmth of home in this newly built courtyard.

"This stability probably won't last long!"

Thinking this way, Qin An felt it was necessary to seize the time and enjoy himself as much as possible.

If we go on another expedition, who knows when we'll be able to enjoy meat again?

With this in mind, Qin An's gaze immediately fell on Jin Ping.

Since Li Qingwan was so magnanimous, he naturally wouldn't care about so many things.

After all, in this world, the existence of maids who share rooms is quite common.

Qin An never intended to talk about equality for all.

……

For the next period of time, Qin An's life was as comfortable as lukewarm water.

Ever since Li Qingwan married into the family, the flowers and plants in the courtyard seem to have become more vibrant, and even the sound of the morning dew dripping has become gentler.

These days, Qin An has completely relaxed from the tension of the battlefield. During the day, he instructs Li Jing in martial arts or takes him to the military camp to familiarize him with military affairs.

When I return home in the evening, there is always a warm meal and soft lighting waiting for me.

Li Qingwan's gentleness is ingrained in her very being. When serving tea, she would first test the water temperature with her fingertips, and when making the bed, she would tuck the corners of the quilt in perfectly.

She even personally wiped Qin An's discarded armor with a soft cloth, saying that the servants did not wipe it as diligently as she did.

But after spending more time with her, Qin An discovered another side of this gentle and talented woman.

That afternoon, the two were playing chess under the grape trellis. Qin An deliberately gave Li Qingwan a few moves, and Li Qingwan's eyes sparkled as she suddenly smiled.

"My husband, instead of just playing chess like this, it would be more fun to gamble with some stakes."

"Oh? What do you want to bet on?" Qin An raised an eyebrow.

"Let's bet... the loser has to drink a shot of strong liquor."

She turned and asked the maid to bring a jar of strong liquor. When the porcelain bowl was filled, the liquor shimmered with an amber light.

"Although I am a woman, I also love this drink, but I dare not be unrestrained at my uncle's house."

That day, Qin An learned that Li Qingwan, who seemed to be unable to hold her liquor, could actually drink three bowls of wine without changing her expression.

On the contrary, fueled by the alcohol, she spoke with a charmingly naive and cheerful tone, completely different from her usual gentle demeanor.

She would point at the chessboard and laugh at him, saying, "That move was like a reckless fool's." After winning, she would secretly tiptoe and plant a kiss on his cheek, her eyes burning with an astonishing light.

What surprised Qin An even more was that she was particularly good at "playful games" such as pitch-pot and guessing games.

At a family dinner, Luo Kai brought a set of dice and suggested playing a game of guessing whether a number was high or low.

Li Qingwan initially declined, but after being persuaded by the crowd, she sat down and won five rounds in a row, even surprising Luo Kai, who called himself the "God of Gamblers," who slammed his fist on the table in astonishment.

"With your luck like that, it's a waste that you're not gambling!"

Li Qingwan simply smiled and shook her head, pushing the silver coins she had won to the maid to distribute, but a sly glint flashed in her eyes.

Looking at her "gentle on the outside but wild on the inside" appearance, Qin An grew to like her even more.

This vibrant and lively spirit is the true nature of being free from constraints.

After a period of relative peace, Qin An prepared some nourishing medicinal herbs and silks, and took Li Qingwan back to the Han family for her homecoming. Han Anjiao was already waiting in front of the Han residence.

Seeing Li Qingwan wearing the lotus-root-colored dress Qin Anxin had made for her, her face rosy, and her brows filled with an unconcealable smile, a warmth immediately welled up in his eyes.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." He held Li Qingwan's hand and looked her up and down. "Judging from your complexion, Qin An has treated you well."

He still felt somewhat guilty towards this niece.

No matter how optimistic he was about Qin An's future, no matter what, she would still be someone else's concubine.

What woman from a normal family would willingly become a concubine?

This is also why he never considered arranging a marriage between his daughter and Qin An.

Without even saying a word, he knew that if he really did it, the resistance would be enormous.

I can only make this sacrifice for my niece.

Seeing that she is clearly doing very well now, I naturally felt relieved.

Li Qingwan lowered her head shyly, and Qin An smiled and said, "General, rest assured, Qingwan will not be mistreated in my household."

As tea was served in the main hall, Han Anjiao looked at the two of them with tacit understanding and nodded repeatedly: "It is my greatest comfort that you two live a good life together. Qingwan is gentle by nature, so Qin An, please be more tolerant of her. Qin An is in the army all year round, so Qingwan, please take good care of his daily life as well."

"Yes, Uncle!" the two replied in unison, exchanging a smile, their eyes filled with an overwhelming warmth.

After Li Qingwan was pulled away to the inner courtyard by the women of the Han family to talk, the smile on Han Anjiao's face faded.

He gestured for Qin An to follow him to his study, and after dismissing the others, he said in a deep voice, "Qin An, are you aware of the current situation outside the capital?"

Qin An's heart skipped a beat, and his smile vanished: "Uncle, are you saying... the internal situation in Daxing has become turbulent again?"

As he said this, he already had the answer in his heart.

I'm afraid I'm not far from going into battle again!