Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 166 Shen Lang, I'll Wait for Your Return

Raindrops pattered against the windowsill, carrying a slight chill that seeped into the room. Chai Nianci, her face flushed, was being kissed passionately by Shen Daoyuan against the table, and the air in the room suddenly became tense.

"Waaah..." Chai Nianci was breathless from Shen Daoyuan's kiss. She pushed him away forcefully and asked in a trembling voice, "Shen Lang, will you be in danger this time when you go to the border? It seems that the Jin army also has 20,000 troops stationed outside the border, right?"

Shen Daoyuan simply stared at Chai Nianci's swollen lips and nodded gently, then asked her softly, "Ci'er, although I am the Vice Minister of War, I have never led troops into battle. His Majesty's decision to send me to the border does not mean that I will actually fight against the Jurchens. It's just that he feels more comfortable letting me lead troops to guard the border."

Chai Nianci blinked her tear-filled eyes and asked with a hint of disbelief, "Shen Lang, you're not lying to me, are you? Is it really safe to go this time?"

Seeing that the little woman was determined to get to the bottom of things, Shen Daoyuan gently pinched her cheek and comforted her, "Don't worry about your future husband, I will take good care of myself. Besides, it's not a good idea for me to keep hiding my abilities in front of the Emperor. He probably already knows that I'm not content to be a mere armchair strategist. He's just testing my strength this time. Gao Qiu and his son, on the other hand, want to use this opportunity to get rid of me, as well as the officials who are on good terms with me."

“I knew it must be Gao Qiu and his son who wanted to harm you. No! I won’t let you go to the border. I heard from Shi Niang that Gao Qiu and his son were colluding with the Wolf King. If you go this time, there’s no guarantee they won’t conspire with the Jin army to secretly murder you.” Chai Nianci said worriedly, pressing her face against Shen Daoyuan’s chest.

“Ci’er, disobeying an imperial decree is a capital offense, and I cannot refuse to go to the border. However, the Jin people are eyeing the three cities of Yanmen Pass of our Song Kingdom, and General Zhou has disappeared. I am afraid that I will have to stay at the border for a long time. I am afraid that I will not be able to return for a year or two.” Shen Daoyuan said helplessly, looking into Chai Nianci’s eyes.

"Shen Lang, no matter how long it takes, Ci'er will wait for your return. When you come back from the border, we will get married, okay?" Chai Nianci said excitedly in Shen Daoyuan's arms.

Just then, the door to the side room was suddenly pushed open forcefully, and a gruff voice entered Shen Daoyuan and Chai Nianci's ears: "Marriage? Junior sister, how could you so easily agree to marry this corrupt official?"

"It seems that the man surnamed Shen is unlikely to return from the border this time. I received a message from the Liangshan brothers saying that the Jin Kingdom has added another 10,000 troops and is heading towards Yanmen Pass."

Seeing Lu Zhichen walking towards her and Shen Daoyuan, Chai Nianci quickly left Shen Daoyuan's embrace, straightened her clothes, and then asked Lu Zhichen, "Senior brother, is the news you received true? Has the Jin Kingdom really reinforced its troops at the border again? Didn't we agree to play against their Jin Kingdom women's football team?"

“Junior sister, I heard that there was unrest in the Jin Kingdom at the end of last month. The Wolf King has taken control of the Jin court, and now we don’t know what the Jin king is planning. He might cancel the football betting agreement between the two countries. You should come back to Xiangshan Temple with me. Master will definitely take us in.” As Lu Zhichen spoke, he beckoned to Chai Nianci, signaling her to come with him.

“No! Senior brother, since His Majesty has appointed me and Sister Shuang’er as members of the Song Kingdom’s women’s Cuju team, we must fulfill our mission in the Cuju match against the Jin Kingdom. Even if this match is fraught with conspiracy and unforeseen risks, I will still participate.” Chai Nianci’s tone was resolute, which annoyed Lu Zhichen.

Lu Zhichen stepped forward and grabbed Chai Nianci's hand, saying loudly, "Junior sister, this man surnamed Shen is about to die at the border. You can't promise to wait for him to come back and get married. Come with me to Xiangshan Temple to escape this scoundrel's harassment!"

Chai Nianci was in excruciating pain from his grip on her wrist, her face contorted in agony. Seeing this, Shen Daoyuan flew into a rage, drawing his soft sword and thrusting it at Lu Zhichen's right shoulder. Lu Zhichen released his grip and jumped away, then brandished his staff to exchange blows with Shen Daoyuan. The two fought fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Stop! Brother Lu, you can't hurt Lord Shen." At this moment, a powerful male voice rang out into the room. Lu Zhichen looked up and saw that it was Lin Chong. Lin Chong stepped forward and used his spear to separate Shen Daoyuan and Lu Zhichen, and then advised them, "Let's talk this out, Lord Shen, Brother Lu, you should put away your weapons and stop fighting immediately."

"Senior brother, please stop! I'm going to stay with Shen Lang tonight. He's leaving for the border tomorrow. Don't try to persuade me anymore. Whether Shen Lang lives or dies, I will always be his wife!" Chai Nianci stood in front of Shen Daoyuan and loudly declared her feelings.

After hearing Chai Nianci's words, Lu Zhichen and Lin Chong exchanged glances, feeling that they were superfluous and shouldn't disturb the lovers. So, Lin Chong pulled Lu Zhichen away from Chai Nianci's room.

Seeing that only he and Chai Nianci were left in the room, Shen Daoyuan pulled the woman into his arms and said gently, "Ci'er, what you just said came from the bottom of your heart. Whether I live or die, you are willing to be Shen Daoyuan's wife."

"Of course!" Chai Nianci replied shyly in Shen Daoyuan's arms.

"Since that's the case, why don't we become husband and wife under the moon tonight, with heaven and earth as our witness and the moon as our oath? Ci'er, what do you think?" Shen Daoyuan gently kissed Chai Nianci's forehead and asked her. Chai Nianci nodded gently.

Therefore, not wanting to disturb Du Shiniang and Lin Chong, Chai Nianci only summoned Xiaoqin and asked her to set up a table in the courtyard outside the room.

On that peaceful night, under the bright moonlight, Shen Daoyuan and Chai Nianci looked at each other with joy and anticipation, then knelt down together and made an eternal vow to the moon, officially becoming husband and wife.

With a tender heart, Xiaoqin meticulously prepared everything for the two of them. She not only lit warm candles to create a cozy atmosphere, but also hand-cut an exquisite "double happiness" character for the window, carefully pasting it onto the windows and doors, adding a touch of joy to this special moment. Furthermore, she thoughtfully chose a bright red dress for Chai Nianci to wear, so that she could better blend into this loving scene.

Looking at the brightly burning red candles and Chai Nianci in her bright red dress, Shen Daoyuan was overwhelmed with emotion. He had begged her to marry him several times before, but she had always refused. Now, as he was about to go to the border to fight the Jin people, this woman had finally agreed to marry him. Looking at everything before him, Shen Daoyuan could hardly believe it. He asked Chai Nianci gently, "Ci'er, you really married me? Is this not a dream?"

“My husband, Ci’er is your wife from tonight onwards. If you don’t believe me, you can pinch your nose.” As soon as Chai Nianci finished speaking, she gently pinched Shen Daoyuan’s nose with her hand, and the man winced in pain.

"Madam Shen, are you trying to murder your husband? It hurts so much!" Shen Daoyuan pretended to cry and cried loudly while touching his nose. Chai Nianci didn't suspect anything and leaned closer to the man to examine his nose. Unexpectedly, the man suddenly grabbed the back of her head and kissed her lips fiercely.

The red candles in the bridal chamber crackled and popped, the ambiguous atmosphere growing increasingly intense. Shen Daoyuan pressed Chai Nianci down beneath him and asked her in a hoarse voice, "Ci'er, my fate is uncertain this time at the border. My Shen family has only had one son for nine generations. Are you willing to continue the Shen family line?"

“I do! I…” Chai Nianci replied softly with those three words, swallowing the rest of her vows of eternal love. The bed curtains fell gently, the red candles burned out unnoticed, and the moon silently hid behind the clouds.

The next morning, when Chai Nianci dragged her aching back to get out of bed, Shen Daoyuan was nowhere to be seen. She sat on the bed and called out to Xiaoqin, who rushed into the room and said anxiously, "Madam, you're finally awake! Lord Shen left just as dawn broke. He left you a letter and told me not to wake you."

Upon hearing this, Chai Nianci, with tears in her eyes, opened the farewell letter Shen Daoyuan had left for her. She saw two lines written on it:

Ci'er: Don't see me off! I don't want to see you cry for me.

When I return alive, I will surely bring you home in a grand wedding procession with a magnificent red bridal procession.