"No, how could I have the heart to let her go to the battlefield again? Since she has become my wife, from now on, all she needs to do is enjoy the peaceful and prosperous world I create for her at home. I'll take on the responsibility of defending the country for her."
Suddenly, Qingcao turned to look at him, as if in a daze. Enjoy the peaceful and prosperous world at home?!
No, it's not right! How could someone like Miss ever be content to just enjoy the peaceful days at home? "General Gu, shouldn't you use your position as the deputy commander to secure a general's position for Miss in the army? And then guard the border cities together with her?" Qingcao seemed to be talking to herself and also asking him.
"General... General Gu. Didn't Miss ever tell you that even if she gets married in the future, as long as she has the chance, she still wants to go to the battlefield?" Moreover, now that she has accidentally lost the memory of finally getting to be the commander-in-chief, which means she will never fulfill her dream. How could she just stay at home like this?
"But the battlefield is a dangerous place, and swords and arrows have no eyes. Since she has married me, she has entrusted herself to me. How could I have the heart to let her go to the battlefield again?" Gu Jingtian seemed to have made up his mind. Besides, Uncle Su had the same intention. He had already discussed with me that I must protect Wan'er at all costs. How could I send her to the battlefield myself?
"No, this is wrong. You and Miss grew up together. You should understand her. She has talked to you so much." Qingcao seemed to be talking to herself and also trying to explain something to Gu Jingtian. "Master is often guarding the border or on military expeditions. He doesn't stay at home often, so he doesn't really understand Miss. How could you just listen to what he says?"
"Why are you arguing with me about this, little girl? Before marriage, a woman should obey her father; after marriage, she should obey her husband; if her husband dies, she should obey her son. Wan'er should listen to Uncle Su at home. After she marries me in the future, she must listen to me. Naturally, I will also protect her for the rest of her life, ensuring her safety and happiness."
The more Qingcao listened, the more something seemed amiss. How could Miss be happy like this? Even if she was safe, she would probably be depressed and unfulfilled.
Gu Jingtian seemed to not care about what she said at all. He shook his head with a smile. "What are you thinking about, girl? You've never been married, so how could you understand these things? I won't talk to you anymore. If it gets any later, Wan'er will go to sleep."
Qingcao stood there stunned, watching him walk back slowly. After going upstairs, she knocked on her miss's door.
Then, unconsciously, she started to laugh where she stood. It seemed like self - mockery or a bitter smile.
So... all these years, the so - called perfect match and mutual affection were all just in her imagination. The so - called care and love were just about "Before marriage, obey your father; after marriage, obey your husband; if your husband dies, obey your son."
She didn't know how to describe her feelings at this moment. All these years, she had whole - heartedly believed that General Gu understood Miss as well as she did. General Gu loved Miss so much. If the emperor hadn't appeared, they would surely have been a perfect match.
But it was all wrong! It was really all wrong! Sure enough, Miss was extremely intelligent. She was the only one who truly saw through everything!
The reason Miss always regarded General Gu as an elder brother was that he could only be like a brother to her. Because she would never be restricted by anyone, so she would never give General Gu the status of a husband who could restrict her.
The one who truly hoped to live a peaceful and happy life at home was herself, a little maid who had lost her parents since childhood and thus longed for a family, not the noble and talented daughter of a military family who was both literate and martial, not the young woman who had been specially appointed as a female general by the former emperor.
At this moment, Qingcao seemed to have an epiphany. After coming to her senses, instead of worrying about what Su Wan'er and Gu Jingtian were talking about, she wanted to find the national advisor.
She would help him. She would agree to the plan he had mentioned and help the national advisor match the emperor with Miss. Moreover, Miss couldn't marry General Gu and mustn't marry General Gu! This shouldn't happen, or everything would be wrong.
Whether the emperor was a good match for Miss remained to be seen, but General Gu was definitely not. He was no longer a good match for Miss.
At this moment, Gu Jingtian, who knocked on the door and entered, was still full of ambition. He seemed to be holding his breath as he faced Su Wan'er seriously.
Seeing his expression, Su Wan'er thought something serious had happened. "Brother Jingtian, is there something wrong in the army? Did the soldiers not rest well and cause trouble?"
Gu Jingtian let out a soft laugh. "No. Why do you still think about the army at this time? With me, your father, and your elder brother, we can handle the affairs in the army. You will step down from your position in two days, Wan'er. You don't have to bear this burden anymore." Gu Jingtian seemed very happy for her.
Su Wan'er frowned. She didn't think it was something to be happy about. "I'm still the commander - in - chief now, so I should naturally worry about the army. Moreover, even if I'm idle at home, I'm still a member of the Su family of the Jin Kingdom. Naturally, I'll always keep the soldiers of the Su family army in my heart."
"Good, good, good. My commander - in - chief really lives up to her title. But now that we've returned in triumph and will reach the capital in a few days, could the commander - in - chief put aside official business for a while and talk to me about something personal?"
"Personal business. Is it... something wrong with Father and elder brother?" After inexplicably losing a section of her memory and learning that her father and elder brother had been injured, although everyone had told her they were fine, she still hadn't seen them yet, so she was very worried.
"No," Gu Jingtian placed his hands on her shoulders. "Wan'er, can't you just look at me?"
"Brother Jingtian, if you have something to say, just say it quickly." Why was he being so mysterious and coming to her place so late at night?
"Wan'er, the war is over, and the expedition is done. No matter what happened in the past, now we've finally seen the light after the clouds. I've decided to go to your home to propose marriage three days after we return to the capital."
Finally saying this, Gu Jingtian let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't as difficult as he had imagined. "Although I shouldn't have told you this in advance, but we've had a betrothal agreement. Even Qingcao said it's not easy for us to have waited for so many years. So I thought I should let you know earlier."
"Propose marriage?" Su Wan'er glanced at him. "You mean you're going to the Su Mansion to propose marriage?" Su Wan'er originally wanted to ask whose hand in marriage he was going to propose for, but now she naturally understood. Her Brother Jingtian was going to the Su Mansion to propose marriage to her parents for her hand.
"Yes. When do you think it would be better for me to go? Since your parents are not around, everything will have to be arranged by Uncle Su. I'm sure he hopes I'll go earlier, so I thought three days after we return to the capital would be good."