Reborn in a Noble Family - Chapter 194
Chapter 194 People To Be Remembered
The mountain breeze was very refreshing.
Qiao Yunxi took a quick glance.
The flat ground was very spacious, so spacious that it looked a little desolate.
There were stone tables and stools on the side for people to rest, and the surrounding plants were randomly planted, which made people feel relaxed and happy.
Afterwards, she looked at the maple forest.
“You are quite keen.” Gu Jinzhen praised and led Qiao Yunxi towards the Maple Leaf Forest.
Qiao Xi felt much more refreshed when she was comforted by the cool morning breeze when she climbed the mountain.
Maple leaves were the unique vegetation of Fragrant Mountain, but this Fragrant Mountain was completely different from the Fragrant Mountain in Qiao Yunxi’s memories. It was not as flashy as those in later generations, so it was more solemn.
Qiao Yunxi had a hard time walking.
Although Fragrant Mountain wasn’t tall, her body’s foundation wasn’t good. Even though she had been recuperating, she was still doing recovery training. She wouldn’t be able to reach the state she was in before wearing it for a while.
He gasped for breath, and his footsteps became even heavier.
After walking a few steps, her palm suddenly warmed up. Before she could understand what was going on, her body was gently pulled forward by a gentle force, and the weight on her body lightened considerably.
Qiao Yunxi was slightly stunned. He subconsciously followed his body and quietly raised his head.
A probing gaze hung at the tip of Gu Jinzhen’s ear. Through the dawn reflected by the maple leaves, a faint pink color appeared.
Qiao Xi smiled evilly.
He didn’t know if his rapid breathing had affected his senses, but there were traces of indescribable emotions in his heart.
The maple forest was very large and dense.
The two of them followed the path through the forest and their vision gradually widened.
It was only a hundred meters away, and Gu Jinzhen seemed to have used up all of his strength for a lifetime.
His fingers secretly poked at the back of Qiao Xi’s hand, causing Gu Jinzhen’s entire body to drift lightly.
Stand still.
This was an extremely spacious flat ground, even wider than the previous bluestone slate.
The entrance was a circle similar to a tomb. It was so large and magnificent that Qiao Yunxi could not imagine it.
Just standing in front of them gave rise to a majesty that was so heroic that it caused one to feel reverence.
Qiao Yunxi raised his head slightly and looked at the towering stone tablet at the center of the circle.
She could not distinguish the material of the stone stele. Its entire body was black, carrying an inherent domineering aura. There was no extra carving on it. Under the dynasty totem, there were dense regular scripts.
Qiao Xi knew that those were the names of the soldiers that the dynasty had sacrificed.
The stone stele was polished into a rectangular shape, dozens of meters tall and several meters wide.
Qiao Xi could not say the exact size, she could only feel how insignificant she was standing under the stone stele.
“Qiao Qiao, are you shocked?” Gu Jinzhen asked as he pinched Qiao Yunxi’s finger.
Qiao Yunxi nodded.
Even though he had imagined it countless times in his mind, he still couldn’t imagine the feeling of standing in front of the stone stele.
Gu Jinzhen led Qiao Yunxi around the “circle” slowly.
This “circle” was very simple and crude. It was built from mud and looked like a tomb. Beside the circle, there was a huge maple tree. It was completely different from the surrounding maple trees. It was thicker and bigger, like a king, towering into the clouds. The surrounding maple trees crawled at its feet like officials, and the stone stele was right in the middle of the circle, safely covered by the maple tree’s crown.
“General.” A loud voice came from the corner of the circle.
Qiao Yunxi tilted his head and took a look.
It was an old man. He was forty or fifty years old. His body was tough and thin. He looked like a martial artist at a glance.
From the way he addressed Gu Jinzhen, it wasn’t hard to guess that this old man was once a soldier.
Gu Jinzhen nodded and his aura suddenly changed.
This was an aura that Qiao Xi had never come into close contact with before, but she had seen countless times on TV, and every time, it was filled with excitement.
The aura of a soldier.
“Uncle Hao.” Gu Jinzhen had a very respectful attitude towards the old man.
Uncle Hao’s sharp gaze landed on his hand holding Qiao Yunxi’s, seemingly wanting to laugh, but his face was stiff and he barely pulled the corner of his mouth.
Gu Jinzhen explained to Qiao Yunxi, who was beside him, “This is Uncle Hao, a personal soldier by my uncle’s side. He retreated from the battlefield after being injured and has been guarding this place for ten years.”
“Uncle Hao.” Qiao Yunxi greeted respectfully.
Uncle Hao nodded his head in satisfaction and looked at Gu Jinzhen teasingly.
The latter was serious.
“Every maple tree in this maple forest corresponds to a dead soul on a stone stele. It was planted spontaneously by the people. The largest maple tree was planted by the High Ancestor Emperor himself during the founding of the dynasty. Later, it was transplanted here to represent a faith.”
Qiao Yunxi understood.
Every country had its own beliefs, and it had nothing to do with religion.
Gu Jinzhen said a lot, but Qiao Yunxi listened quietly without disturbing him.
She knew that Gu Jinzhen needed to talk.
Every name on the stone tablet was worthy of respect. It was they who defended the people of the dynasty and the throne of the emperor.
Only the military understood the meaning of these names best.
As if he had found a close friend, Gu Jinzhen spoke a lot. His voice was very soft, and the corners of his mouth seemed to be filled with a faint smile.
She clearly said her favorite things, but carefully looked at Qiao Xi’s expression.
Without noticing impatience on the other party’s face, Gu Jinzhen’s mood was getting better and better.
Gu Jinzhen said more and Qiao Yunxi asked more.
The two of them circled around the Maple Forest before returning to the wooden house on the bluestone road.
Uncle Hao cooked the tea and took out his own snacks.
This made Qiao Xi very surprised. She pinched a piece and tasted it carefully. “I didn’t expect Uncle Hao to have such a skill.”
“They were all trained beside the Crown Prince.” The heir in Uncle Hao’s mouth was Shen Huaihao.
Gu Jinzhen explained, “Uncle Hao is my uncle’s personal soldier. Apart from protecting my uncle’s safety, he is also responsible for his clothing, food, and daily necessities. Uncle Hao watched my uncle grow up and treated my uncle very well.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have learned this skill.
“Do you come often?” Qiao Yunxi asked without a word.
“Every time I return to the capital, I will come. When I was young, my grandfather and uncle brought me here. Now, I am here alone.” Gu Jinzhen’s tone was indifferent, but Qiao Yunxi understood that his heart was not calm.
It was an indescribable feeling, just like how those who had served as soldiers had an inseparable bond with their military uniforms.
Gu Jinzhen continued, “Every generation of monument keepers are soldiers who have retired from the battlefield. Their monthly silver will be paid by mansion of Marquis Zhen Yuan. Until they are unable to continue guarding here, a new monument keeper will replace them. They will be transferred to another place to provide for their retirement.”
Qiao Xi guessed that the other places that Gu Jinzhen was talking about were probably the villas of the Duke’s Mansion of Zhen Yuan.
Those who had made special contributions to the dynasty should be treated well in their later years. Moreover, there was only one guardian of the monument. Sending it to the manor did not add to the burden on the manor. This was also the last bit of gratitude that Marquis Zhen Yuan had for the soldiers.
“Normally, there are people here. Ordinary people, students, and even merchants will clean up the maple forest. Merchants will donate money to maintain this place. After paying respects to the soldiers, students will write poems to commemorate it. Every name engraved on the stone stele is worthy of respect and remembrance.”
While Qiao Xi sighed with emotion at the righteousness of the dynasty, she guessed in her heart that Marquis Zhen Yuan had probably done a lot of effort in the middle to enable the people of the dynasty to have such a high level of awareness and unity.
Compared to the people in the court who only knew how to earn more power and money for themselves, Marquis Zhen Yuan was the real father and mother!
Uncle Hao had been looking at Qiao Yunxi. His gaze was not sharp. On the contrary, it carried the kindness of an elder. It was neither abrupt nor offensive.
“The general has grown up. It’s time for him to start a family.”
Boom!
Uncle Hao was puzzled and muttered to himself, causing Gu Jinzhen and Qiao Yunxi to blush.
The former was the embarrassment of being poked at the center, while the latter was the embarrassment of being called by name.
Uncle Hao’s meaningful gaze shuttled back and forth between their faces, and the more he looked at them, the more satisfied he became.
“Uncle Hao, it’s not what you think.” Gu Jinzhen said as if he wanted to cover it up.
Uncle Hao, however, did not take it seriously.
Although Fragrant Mountain wasn’t the best place for men and women to date, it was the softest place in a soldier’s heart and the place where he could express his emotions. Bringing his beloved woman here wouldn’t be a cold shoulder.
From chatting about everything in life to national affairs, this place was the most relaxing, and there was no restriction on any topic to chat about.
He looked at Gu Jinzhen with admiration.
Brat, you’re amazing!
At lunch, Uncle Hao took out game.
“I took this out of the trap this morning. It’s very fresh. Let’s have a simple meal for lunch.”
“This isn’t simple. Even restaurants can’t eat such fresh food.” Said Qiao Yunxi.
Uncle Hao looked at Gu Jinzhen and said, “It’s okay to eat once in a while. I’m tired of eating too much. Brat, why don’t you cook it?”
Qiao Xi was a little surprised when she saw Gu Jinzhen nod.
Not to mention Gu Jinzhen bringing dumplings and rice cakes, she also brought Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis. Since when did she need Gu Jinzhen to cook?
“Little girl, you haven’t eaten the food that the general has cooked, have you? Today, I’ll fill your stomach. The general’s cooking is not bad. You can say that you can leave the hall and go down to the kitchen.” Uncle Hao spared no effort to help Gu Jinzhen win Qiao Yunxi’s favor, regardless of whether the words were inappropriate.
“Uncle Hao.” Gu Jinzhen looked at Uncle Hao, who was familiar with him, and even called him “daughter”. He couldn’t wait to send him out.
Uncle Hao was very conscious and went to the vegetable plot to dig some vegetables.
“Sit down for a while, I’ll be fine soon.” Gu Jinzhen said to Qiao Yunxi and brought the pheasant and rabbit to the well.
After thinking for a while, he seemed to be afraid of scaring Qiao Yunxi, so he changed his direction and turned his back to her.
Qiao Yunxi followed, “I’ll help.”
“Aren’t you afraid?” Gu Jinzhen’s movements were very agile, and he had already taken off the rabbit skin.
Qiao Xi shook her head, “They’re all going to be eaten in the stomach. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Gu Jinzhen chuckled. It was one thing to eat into his stomach, but seeing the production process was another.
However, Qiao Qiao was the girl he liked, so she was naturally different from others.
Qiao Xi had eaten quite a bit of game, and was not an artificial person. She helped Gu Jinzhen deal with the pheasant, plucking its fur and removing its organs.