Dai Zhanxiao immediately frowned and Dai Mingrong’s first reaction was the same, saying sternly, “I cannot accept this gold! Please also ask Inner Official Jiang to bring it back to that man!” Jiang Kangchen smiled slightly and said, “Generals, you misunderstand. The Emperor, the Empress, as well as Old General are all aware of this matter. This 3,500 taels of gold is not for you, Young General, but for your vanguard troops. Do you recall a centurion named Wang Shijing among your ranks?”

Dai Zhanxiao immediately responded. “I remember. He was brave and loyal, even after killing an enemy general and losing an eye and half his face, he attributed the credit to his superior to get more compensation. His name was Wang Shijing.”

Jiang Kangchen nodded and said, “Your memory serves you well. Shijing has always remembered his comrades on the border and you, Young General. Now that he has earned some money, he is also concerned about his brothers on the border who may not have enough to eat or wear. In fact, this gold was donated by his male partner on his behalf. It’s because of this that the Empress had the idea to establish the Relief Fund.”

Jiang Kangchen explained the details of the matter to the two generals without missing anything. Dai Mingrong and Dai Zhanxiao were both surprised and grateful. After Jiang Kangchen finished, Dai Mingrong said, “Wang Shijing’s male spouse must be a capable individual, turning all Wang Shijing’s misfortune into fortune.”

Jiang Kangchen added, “That’s not all. I don’t want to hide anything from you, General Wang Shijing and Shao Yunan consider my younger brother, Jiang Kangning, as their sworn brother. Jiang Kangning is also the adopted son of Cen Yuebai, the head of the Country Academy in Yongxiu County and a younger disciple of the Emperor’s Teacher, Weng. Lord An also regards them as his nephews. 

This ‘Relief Fund’ was also proposed by Yunan. He said that they donated 3,500 taels of gold because Shijing came from your vanguard troops, but the contributions of others should not only benefit you Young General so, they suggested establishing this fund to collect donations from various sources and aid those in need. The Emperor and the Empress hold the couple in high regard.”

Dai Mingrong… “Wang Shijing is indeed a person of deep emotions and strong sense of righteousness. In that case, he seems to have hit the jackpot by marrying such a talented person. His own family, on the other hand, appears to lack foresight.”

Jiang Kangchen… “Exactly. Both families have completely severed ties now and Shijing has moved away from the Wang clan, gaining his freedom.” However, at this moment, Dai Zhanxiao asked, “The male spouse of Wang Shijing is named ‘Yunan’?”

Dai Zhanxiao was particularly sensitive to names that included the character “An.” As he asked this question, Dai Mingrong’s expression darkened slightly. Jiang Kangchen explained sympathetically, “His real name is Shao Yunan, a villager from the Shao family. However, he is an adopted son. His adoptive parents forced him to marry Wang Zhisong, Shijing’s younger brother, in exchange for money. Later, when the marriage between the Wang and Shao families fell apart, the Shao family caused a scene in Xiushui Village and Shijing’s parents pressured Shijing to marry on behalf of his brother, leading to an unexpected turn of events.”

Upon hearing that Shao Yunan was an adopted son, both Dai Mingrong and Dai Zhanxiao immediately asked in unison, “He was adopted?” Dai Mingrong added, “Do you know what happened to his biological parents?”

Dai Mingrong had lost a son and had been searching for him for over a decade. Thinking about Shao Yunan’s background, Jiang Kangchen was feeling increasingly tense due to the coincidence.

“Yunan doesn’t know who his biological parents are. He’s certain that he wasn’t adopted through proper channels by his adoptive parents. Yunan mentioned that he had a fever a few times when he was a child and he doesn’t remember anything before the age of seven or eight. It was only when his adoptive parents privately expressed regret for adopting him, saying they should have sold him, that he realized he was adopted.”

Dai Mingrong’s brow furrowed deeply as he asked persistently, “He doesn’t remember anything at all?” Jiang Kangchen replied, “I haven’t inquired about that and Yunan hasn’t mentioned it either.”

Dai Zhanxiao continued to press, “How old is he?” Jiang Kangchen answered. “He just turned 18 this year by traditional reckoning. I didn’t ask the specific month of his birth. I met him last November and he said he had already turned 16. So, if we calculate, he was born in the 32nd year of Kangsheng.”

Dai Mingrong and Dai Zhanxiao’s hearts skipped a beat. Dai Zhanxiao hastily asked, “Mr. Jiang, do you think he looks like me?”

Jiang Kangchen didn’t believe things would be so coincidental, but he still carefully examined Dai Zhanxiao’s face and then Dai Mingrong’s face before reluctantly saying, “Uh, I’m afraid I have poor judgment. He doesn’t look like either of you.”

Dai Zhanxiao appeared visibly disappointed, while Dai Mingrong thought for a moment and asked, “Mr. Jiang, do you happen to be skilled in painting?” Jiang Kangchen nodded. “Yes.”

Dai Mingrong said, “I’d like to request that you create a portrait of that child. I hope you can understand, Mr. Jiang. My youngest son has been missing for many years and I can’t find peace until I locate him.”

“I understand. I’ll start painting right away.” With Jiang Kangchen’s background, playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting were all basic subjects. Dai Mingrong personally prepared the rice paper, Dai Zhanxiao ground the ink, and after some contemplation, Jiang Kangchen began to paint. As the features of Shao Yunan gradually emerged on the paper, Jiang Kangchen didn’t notice any change in Dai Mingrong’s expression. 

Dai Zhanxiao furrowed his brow as he looked at the image of the youth who seemed to be of a similar age to his missing brother and he didn’t notice his father’s abnormality. However, as Jiang Kangchen continued to apply colors, someone suddenly reached out and snatched the rice paper, leaving a long red streak where Jiang Kangchen’s brush had been about to touch.

“General!”

Seeing his father’s image, Dai Zhanxiao’s movements abruptly halted. Jiang Kangchen’s red brush nearly dropped from his hand.

Dai Mingrong, had been staring at the portrait with quickened breath and wide-open eyes. The fearless general who remained unruffled in the face of a million enemy soldiers suddenly had a redness in the corners of his eyes and a drastic change in complexion. Dai Zhanxiao’s scalp tingled and he cried out. “General, this can’t be, can it be my younger brother?”

The brush in Jiang Kangchen’s hand fell onto the table, leaving a puddle of red ink. Dai Mingrong, however, couldn’t hear anything else as he stared at the drawing paper, muttering, “Alike. Really alike! It’s him, it’s Zhanan, my Zhanan! He is Zhanan! My Zhanan!”

Raising his head, tears welled up in Dai Mingrong’s eyes. “Zhanxiao! This is your younger brother! He looks very much like your grandfather!”

Dai Zhanxiao grabbed the drawing from his father’s hand upon hearing this. His memories of his younger brother had long been blurred, but the elders at home always told him how much his brother resembled their grandfather. Because of this, his grandfather loved his cousin Dai Yingsi, who resembled their grandmother, and his brother Dai Zhanan the most.

Jiang Kangchen quickly reacted and saluted, “Congratulations, General! Congratulations, Young General!” But he felt somewhat uneasy inside. Dai Zhanxiao almost jumped up. “Father! I will leave for Xiushui Village immediately!”

At this moment, Dai Mingrong forced himself to calm down and said, “You are the commander of the vanguard army; you cannot leave the camp without authorization. Your brother…” Dai Mingrong’s voice choked for a moment and he took a deep breath. “Your brother doesn’t remember the family affairs anymore. If you go like this, it will frighten him. Furthermore, he is in Xiushui Village. Wait until the situation at Huxing Pass stabilizes a bit more and I will request permission from the Emperor for you to return to the capital so you can meet him then.”

Dai Zhanxiao wished he could grow wings and fly to Xiushui Village right away, but his rationality repeatedly reminded him to stay calm. He was not only a brother searching for his sibling for many years, but also a general leading thousands of soldiers. He couldn’t afford to be impulsive.

Jiang Kangchen said, “At this time, Yunan is busy with tea picking and processing. After I return to the capital, I will report to the Emperor and invite their family to come to the capital to meet the Old General.”

Dai Mingrong said, “That’s good, that’s good. We are truly indebted to you, Chief Jiang, for coming. We will trouble Chief Jiang in the future.”

Jiang Kangchen hastily replied, “General, you are too kind. Yunan is also my younger brother. Finding his relatives is a big deal. By the way, I brought some special food gifts for the two generals, many of which were personally made by Yunan.”

“Where are they?” Jiang Kangchen opened a box containing paste and said, “This is paste, made by Yunan for the Empress and Emperor. The Emperor has allocated some for me to bring to the Grand Marshal and the Young General.”

He then opened another box and said after inspecting its contents, “This is goat’s milk wine and longjing tea, both made by Yunan. In the entire Great State of Yan, only Yunan knows how to brew this goat’s milk wine and produce this longjing tea.”

Dai Mingrong and Dai Zhanchu already knew from Jiang Kangchen that the Emperor was now in the business of making new tea and wine, which was why they had the silver to buy them so many supplies. While Dai Mingrong tried his best to restrain his emotions, Dai Zhanxiao dryly picked up a small jar of goat’s milk wine and slapped open the clay seal.

Edited by: Jaisland

Proofreader: 

Support translation: