The day after Xiao Shitou left, An Ran heard that the frontier general had been killed in battle, and the war situation was extremely unfavorable.
An Ran was always holding Zi Heng in a daze these days, sitting in the room for half a day, until Ding Changhe came back ten days later.
When Ding Changhe arrived home, he held his youngest son in his arms and saw that An Ran had lost his usual energy. "What are you doing? As a military general, you will rush to the border at any time. Besides, Xiao Shitou is not the main force this time and will not face the enemy head-on for the time being. There is no need for you to be like this."
An Ran lowered his head and said nothing. After a while, he raised his head and asked, "Is the uncle leaving too?"
Ding Changhe sat down next to Ding Anran, "Father led the troops and set off first."
An Ran was surprised, "Why is it that I am going, but I am not going?"
Ding Changhe said with a solemn face: "Dad has been idle for so long, and the regent made a big effort to send dad to the expedition. After all, dad has been with him for a long time, so he is still a little worried about dad, but he is still suspicious of me."
"When something happened to the eldest son of the regent, were you involved?" An Ran had always suspected that Ding Changhe was responsible. ?.?????.???
Ding Changhe did not deny it, and smiled coldly, "At that time, I was only Xiao Shitou's son, and I was still up to par. After he wanted to break up with me, how could I let him go. If he wanted Xiao Shitou to die, I would let him go first. die."
really.
"But after all, dad has been idle for so long and is getting old. He is really not suitable for going on an expedition."
Ding Changhe's stern face said in a cold voice: "Dad, there is no problem in protecting yourself. Although I can't go for the time being, I will go sooner or later."
"How do you say this? Doesn't it mean that the regent doesn't want you to grow up?"
"He doesn't want to, but the emperor does. There is someone who can compete with the regent's military strength. How can the emperor let him go?"
Then he turned his head, looked at An Ran solemnly and said: "I believe that I will be announced to the court soon. If you think the situation is not right, go to Fucheng."
An Ran said softly: "I understand."
An Ran thought to herself, if there was a real situation, it would be troublesome to go to Fucheng. It would not be that easy to find him if he hid in the countryside or in the mountains.
Ding Changhe chuckled lightly and looked at An Ran, "I found that no matter how big the matter is, you never panic. Why."
He thought that something was going on in the house, which made people panic. The women in the house were either crying or making trouble, with tears in their eyes all day long.
An Ran also whispered: "Are you afraid it will be useful? My grandfather once said that it is best if a person can take one step and see three steps. If he can't, then take one step and see one step. There is always a way to survive."
From the time she married into the Ding family, she had taken it one step at a time. I have been afraid in my heart, but the days have not passed like this day by day.
The weather was getting colder day by day, so Ding Changhe burned the secret letter and watched it turn into ashes.
Ding Shengkang was able to defend the city, but he was defeated again. He knew that he was about to enter the capital.
Sure enough, Ding Changhe was right, but the emperor did not allow him to enter the capital and ordered him to rush directly from the capital to the frontier.
After receiving the order, Ding Changhe went back to the military camp to gather the troops and let the generals and secret guards go ahead. He took advantage of the night and came back first.
An Ran looked at Ding Changhe, who was wearing a battle robe and looked cold and stern. He was very different from what he had seen in the past, "Master, are you leaving right now?"
An Ran asked tremblingly.
"Come back to see you and see your son." Then, he took out a box from his arms and handed it to An Ran.
An Ran opened it and saw two pieces of jade jewelry inside, like locks worn by children, and couldn't help but look up at Ding Changhe.
Ding Changhe picked up two and buttoned them together to form one. "This is called the Tongxin Lock. It is carved from warm jade. I found the materials with great difficulty. I made this pair and cannot take it off after wearing it."
Ding Changhe separated the two warm jade locks and took the smaller one and put it on An Ran's neck.
An Ran felt like his neck felt heavy. It was really weighty.
Ding Changhe held another piece in his hand, picked it up An Ran, asked Ding Changhe to lower his head slightly, helped him put it on, then stuffed it in through the collar and wore it close to his body.
"This is what the uncle told me before to give me. I thought it was the pair of hairpins."
"The hairpin is for you to wear every day. You will wear it for a lifetime. You cannot take it off if you wear it. Remember."
An Ran smiled and nodded. If you don't want to pick it, don't pick it off.
Then he took out two purple gold medals, which were long square plaques with names engraved on one side and peace and longevity on the other.
"Give this to Zi Heng, and I will hand this to Xiao Xiao Shitou myself, one for each of the two brothers."
"Are there other children too?"
Ding Changhe raised his lips and smiled, "It's good for you to be Zijin, that's all, no more."
An Ran took the purple gold medal engraved with Ding Ziheng.
An Ran looked directly at Ding Changhe and said, "You must protect the small stones."
"I will. Remember what I told you before. If anything happens, take care of yourself first."
"I am afraid that the regent will use tricks behind your back."
"Just in case, money and things can be thrown away. The most important thing is to save people."
"I know, I know how to do it."
Ding Changhe hugged An Ran tightly, kissed her ear, hugged his son again, turned around, got on his horse and left.
Just like that, both Xiao Shitou and his son left.
An Ran lived her life with her heart in mind for several days, feeling that the weather that was slowly getting colder seemed to freeze her heart.
On the third day after Ding Changhe left, a letter came from the Ding family saying that Ding Zhou had given birth to a son.
An Ran was not in any mood at the moment, so he took the gift back and said that the child was too young to travel and would see him again during the New Year.
Fortunately, Ding Ziheng was with him this winter. When Ding Ziheng started talking, An Ran felt that life was not so difficult.
unconsciously
