Feng Qingxue’s military region, located far on the frontier, had not yet been affected, and she felt grateful every moment that they were so distant from the Emperor’s immediate reach.
However, as a high-ranking officer, Lu Jiang had access to documents sent from the Capital, read newspapers from there, and understood the specific situation. Because of this knowledge, his worry only deepened.
A blood moon hung in the sky, and killing filled the land.
Unexpectedly, Feng Qingxue’s words had turned into a grim prophecy.
Wasn’t this August, the August of the Capital, a blood moon itself?
To stabilize the military’s morale, the high-ranking officers had held meetings for days and nights on end. They ultimately decided to remain silent about the events in the Capital, unless there was a requirement from above to disseminate the upper echelons’ thoughts. Otherwise, they preferred not to disclose any information to avoid agitation among the ranks. Even the military school continued its lessons as usual, unlike other places where classes had been suspended.
With the growing number of families stationed with the troops, the school had expanded its size, now housing nearly two hundred children of various ages.
The least affected by the situation were probably these carefree children.
Seeing others carrying their school bags to class, Xibao also insisted on going to school, but he was too young, just over four years old, or five by traditional reckoning, quite a span away from the entry age of seven.
"You’re still young," Feng Qingxue said.
Although many older children brought their younger siblings to school to lessen their parents’ burdens, and Xibao could speak clearly and use the toilet on his own and could have sat in on the classes, Feng Qingxue, during these tumultuous times, did not feel at ease if he was not within her sight.
"I’m very big now!" Xibao insisted.
To prove his point, he stood in front of Fubao and compared their heights, saying with pride, "Mom, look how tall I am. I want to go to school, I want to study hard every day!"
Fubao swiftly moved away from him, "Brother’s bad!"
The little girl pulled out Feng Qingxue’s large red silk scarf, draped it over her head, and shook her head, looking self-admiringly beautiful.
"Mom, do I look pretty?" the little girl asked Feng Qingxue.
Before Feng Qingxue could answer, Xibao rushed to say, "Not pretty at all, Mom is the prettiest. Fubao is not pretty, Fubao is Little Fatty! Little Fatty!"
"I’m not Little Fatty!" replied Fubao, tears swelling in her eyes.
Xibao made a face, "Then you’re Little Skinny!"
Fubao burst into tears, "I am not Little Skinny."
"Then you’re Little Clown, Little Scabby!"
"I’m not Little Scabby, I’m Fubao, my name is Fubao, my full name is Lu Tianhui! Dad is Lu Jiang, Mom is Qingxue, Grandpa is Lu Zhiyuan, big brother is Lu Tianjun, second brother is Lu Tianzhi, and I have a Brother Guan Cheng and a Brother Guan Yu, but no Brother Xibao," Fubao turned her head towards Feng Qingxue, her face upturned and sobbing, "Mom, I look pretty, don’t I?"
"Our Little Fubao is of course beautiful, and very smart too, able to say so much," Feng Qingxue did not spare her words of praise, leaned down to kiss her forehead over the silk scarf, "Mom will make something delicious for Fubao. Brother is going to study, so he gets nothing!"
"Nothing for brother!" Fubao said indignantly, "Brother is an ugly egg!"
"Not fair, I want to eat!" As soon as Xibao heard about food, his mind moved away from school, he exclaimed loudly, "Mom, I want to eat meat, not vegetables. If there’s meat, I won’t go to school."
As Xibao got older, Feng Qingxue dared not carelessly take out food from her space.