Time flies, and several months have passed in the blink of an eye.
Miao Guilan looked haggard and was restless, having long lost the dignified demeanor of the old matriarch of the Jiang family.
Although her beloved grandson Jiang Tao, due to his extraordinary talent, was taken in as a personal disciple by Gu Shouchang, bringing her a moment of comfort.
But this comfort was quickly replaced by anxiety.
Her withered hands gripped the dragon-head cane tightly, her knuckles turning noticeably white from the force.
The letter Jiang Yuan sent her a few days ago, a letter of farewell, was like a sharp arrow piercing her heart; every word tore at her heart.
Counting the days, Su Wantang's due date is just a few days away.
This is also the final deadline given by His Majesty.
If she still gets nothing after Jiang Lin is born.
The next thing we'll receive is Yuan'er's head.
No, she absolutely cannot let that happen.
Miao Guilan composed herself, got up under the cover of night, and walked out of the courtyard toward the residence of the military supervisor, Du Zhigui.
His hunched figure quickly blended completely into the night.
...
...
Meanwhile, inside a tent at Xishan Camp.
Jiang Zai, who had just finished making arrangements, had just entered the camp.
Su Wantang then asked, "This time, the demon race is clearly conducting a small-scale probe. They are unlikely to launch a large-scale southward invasion. Why did you personally go north?"
Jiang Zai laughed and said, "If I don't go north myself, how will those treacherous people dare to jump out and besiege the royal palace in the city? Our Lin'er is about to be born, and I don't want to have a traitor like Linghu Yan hiding by my side."
After thinking about it carefully, Su Wantang also felt that there was some truth to what was said.
In the past, they would never have taken Zhao Zhen's planted flag seriously.
A few rats are nothing; they can't cause any trouble at all.
But now, things are different.
Now, they and Zhao Zhen are mortal enemies.
All those who obey Zhao Zhen and pose a threat to Lin'er's safety must be uprooted as soon as possible.
Su Wantang pondered for a moment and asked, "You're not going to tell me that the unusual movements of the demon race in the north were something you deliberately leaked, are you?"
Jiang Zai shook his head: "No, I merely added fuel to the fire."
"As for this fire, it must have been set by that old dog Zhao Zhen."
"He wants to take this opportunity to cause trouble, so I'll play along."
"Let him see who's really in charge in the North these days."
Su Wantang laughed and said, "Aren't you afraid of angering Zhao Zhen to death?"
"Hmph, if that's the case, then he's getting off easy!"
Su Wantang reminded, "No matter what, the fact that the Northern Demon Clan chose to come out and test us at this time shows that Zhao Zhen's henchmen are secretly colluding with the Demon Clan in the Northern Territory. We should investigate this thoroughly."
"Don't worry, I have already arranged for people to investigate."
"I will never tolerate such traitors who secretly collude with the demon race."
"My only worry is you and your child."
"Although I have been going to the warm pavilion every day these days, I have also arranged for a substitute and a midwife in the palace to attract their attention and make them think that you are in the warm pavilion of the palace."
"But after all, I am not by your side..."
"Just do your job, don't worry about us," Su Wantang reassured her. "There are tens of thousands of Feathered Guards protecting us here, nothing will happen."
As she spoke, she touched her lower abdomen, "Right, Lin'er?"
Upon hearing his mother's words, Jiang Lin slightly moved his feet in response.
However, at this moment, he was filled with anger.
That damned old dog Zhao Zhen!
He was just as insidious as he was in his previous life.
Even more ruthless and vicious than in her previous life.
In order to deal with his father and mother, he secretly revealed his mother's due date to the demons of the northern border, attempting to use them as a tool to kill them.
This behavior goes beyond simply discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose.
He's a complete traitor.
He is the greatest scum of the entire human race.
After I am born, I will personally cut off his dog's head sooner or later to sacrifice for the conquest of the heavens.
On the other hand, if he remembered correctly, this system task seemed to award higher ratings to those who made a great commotion at birth.
Just in time, my father also wanted to use this opportunity to set up a trap and eliminate these people.
In this life, he will use this overwhelming carnage as a baptism of birth, and pave the first stepping stone for his arrival in the world with the blood and fear of his enemies.
He wanted to make all those who had humiliated him in his previous life pay a bloody price!
As Jiang Lin was pondering this, he heard his mother, Consort Su Wantang, ask again, "When do you plan to set off north?"
"We'll leave tomorrow," Jiang Zai said, his gaze falling on Su Wantang's pregnant belly, his eyes filled with reluctance. "If we're too late, I'm afraid they'll be too timid to take action."
"It would be a shame if I put together such a grand show but no one is there to continue it with me, wouldn't it?"
Su Wantang nodded gently, her fingertips unconsciously stroking her lower abdomen, the continuation of her bloodline with Jiang Zai, and the core of this storm.
She could clearly feel the pulse of the tiny life beneath her palm.
"Okay," she looked up and gazed into Jiang Zai's eyes, a thousand words unspoken in them, "Be careful in everything."
Jiang Zai's cold, hard facial features softened instantly.
He leaned down, his broad palms gently covering Su Wantang's belly, as if he could touch the tiny life inside.
"Lin'er, your father has some business to attend to and needs to leave for a few days."
"You must listen to your mother and not be naughty, do you understand?"
Jiang Zai's gentle voice carried a barely perceptible hint of nervousness, a lurking undertone from his impending fatherhood.
Su Wantang scoffed, "How old is he? How could he understand all this?"
Before he finished speaking, a small bulge appeared clearly on his round belly, resembling a tiny fist or foot.
Jiang Zai's hands, which usually commanded thousands of troops, were now somewhat at a loss.
I was afraid that I might accidentally hurt this fragile little life.
"Lin'er, you're so good. You don't want your father to leave either, do you? Don't worry, your father won't go far. He'll be back soon..."
Jiang's voice was filled with reluctance.
As a father, he really wanted to stay and witness the birth of his son.
Helplessly, for the sake of their child's safe growth.
He had to take this step; he had to eliminate all potential threats as soon as possible.
Jiang Lin naturally understood his father's good intentions.
My father is the king in the North, and his word is law. He is practically the ruler of the North.
But for himself, and for his mother.
He was always responsive to requests and obedient to every whim, never uttering a single complaint.
Jiang Lin also hoped that his father could stay by his side.
However, eliminating spies is a matter of great importance to the entire North, and it cannot be delayed by personal feelings.
Therefore, he moved his body slightly to show his support for his father.
Jiang Zai laughed and said, "Father knows. Listen to Mother well, and Father will definitely come back soon!"
Having said that, he strode out of the tent and disappeared into the night.
The next day at noon, the news that the Prince of Zhenbei was leading his army north spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Luoyan City.