Flowers Bloom from Battlefield

Xiao Meng sat on the carriage calmly, yet her movements were a little sluggish, showing the fact that she was quite shaken by the meeting. Tang Xuan looked at the princess worriedly.

"Are you alright, Princess Meng?"

"I'm fine, Tang Xuan," Xiao Meng answered and quickly got into the carriage. This was the first time she felt rather frustrated when talking with other women. Whenever she tried to find out about the hidden matter in the Long Kingdom, Jun Hua would shift the conversation back into the previous course.

No matter how many times she tried, she didn't have any result. From what Tang Xuan told her, the little princess was supposedly someone who lived her life by waving sword all day. Now, she realized that the girl was also someone who was quite capable in terms of talking.

However, it was better for things to be this way.

Tang Xuan retreated back to his carriage as he sighed inside his mind. The Jun Hua he knew from before was still very young and more innocent. Well, only slightly as he knew that she was also quite cunning at that time. She was not this difficult before.

"Finish the trade first."

"I understand."

….

Several days later, Jun Hua looked towards the person before her with a complicated feeling. She was happy yet startled at the same time.

"Grandpa, why did you come during these kinds of time?" she asked with a helpless tone.

Jun Zhenxian laughed out loud, "There is nothing wrong with me visiting my cute granddaughter, right?"

Jun Hua shook her head in helplessness. This grandfather of hers was still the same as usual, loud and extremely annoying, "Has Grandpa finish the matter on the Mountain Kingdom?"

"I have handed everything to that young boy, Qing'er," Jun Zhenxian laughed, "This old bone is already unsuited to work behind the desk all day. It is already the time for my retirement."

"Grandpa…" Jun Hua looked at her grandfather worriedly. Although the other party didn't say it, she knew that her grandfather was not the same as the one in her early stage of life. He was already growing old and with him losing his arm, his movement became more restricted.

The old general might be able to use martial art as before, but his old body wouldn't be able to handle that much pressure anymore. If not because he was already this old, he would never put his sword away just a few years before.

"Don't worry, this old bone is not going to go anywhere. I still could live for at least a few years. Before that, I want to see my great-grandson first!" he laughed again.

Jun Hua stared at her grandfather and shook her head lightly. He was just trying to lighten the situation because he didn't want her to worry about his condition at all. Really, he should just tell her if he already felt the backside from forcing his body countless times even when he was already too old and wouldn't be able to life that long anymore.

She smiled, "What if I had a daughter instead of a son?"

"That's fine, either one is good as long as the child comes from you," Jun Zhenxian smiled widely.

"Let's get inside, Grandpa. I bet Soujin is already itching to have a good game with you after several rounds of draws previously."

Jun Zhenxian smirked, "This time I'm going to make that young man admit defeat!"

Jun Hua didn't comment and merely brought her grandfather inside the room. Soujin already heard about the old man coming and seeing the old man looked weaker compared with several months before, he frowned for a moment.

"Did you come in order for me to beat you up again, General Jun Zhenxian?"

"I will be the one saying that word, youngster!" Jun Zhenxian retorted.

The two of them continued to play chess for several hours after that. This time, there were times when Jun Zhenxian won and there were times when Soujin won instead. The battle became even heated because their score, in the end, remained the same.

Jun Hua yawned at the sight of these two still fighting intensely. She was busying herself by either reading or watching their battle, "We are not going to finish the game anytime soon if it continues like this."

"You better rest first, Jun Hua. It is already night," Soujin suggested.

Jun Hua nodded and stood up, "Don't take too long. Both of you also need to sleep."

With that, Jun Hua and Xia left the room silently. The two of them continued to stare at the board for the next several minutes before Soujin moved his piece. Jun Zhenxian's face contorted at the good move Soujin showed him, but he let his mind wander to think for a better counterattack.

"General Jun Zhenxian," Soujin said, "Did you come here to meet with your granddaughter for the last time?"

Jun Zhenxian's face changed a little, but he laughed it off in the end, "What are you talking about, youngster? I'm still healthy and there is no problem with living for the next several years."

As he spoke, he moved his piece. Soujin swept a glance on the board before making his move, "Don't lie, General Jun. Your condition already deteriorates, and you won't be able to live for several years. Did you already sick for a long time?"

Jun Zhenxian sighed, "Not that long. I guess I'm just too old. After all, I was married quite late before and I'm already fortunate enough to live until my granddaughter gets married and pregnant."

"Do you think you can stay until our child is born?" Soujin asked. He knew that Jun Hua loved her grandfather because he was the one taking care of her as a father figure. No matter how shameless this old man usually was, she didn't mind them and accepted his antics.

Jun Zhenxian put his piece down. This was one of the matters that he didn't want to talk the most. From several months before, he already saw that his condition already deteriorated and he didn't have that much time. Human's life was finite and he knew that his time was near.

When he first found out about his condition, he hid it for a long time, but he knew that he only has at most several months left.

"I will just try and see whether I can see him or her," Jun Zhenxian said, "Just don't tell this to her. I don't want her to get worried before she can deliver safely."

Soujin placed the next piece. His eyes drifted to the door for several seconds before he turned it back to the board in front of him.

"General, I don't think it would be possible with her martial art."

That worry and helpless expression she showed to her grandfather before, that was clearly the sign of her knowing the truth. He knew that she would hide the fact that she noticed it. Still, he didn't want her to get hurt knowing that fact.

Jun Zhenxian smiled wryly. He placed his piece on the board and moved his aged finger back.

"You're right."

Soujin glanced to the old man, "Come and accompany her tomorrow. I'm sure there are a lot of things you want to say to her."

"You're only giving me this chance when I almost had no time? Can't you let me meet with her anytime I want?"

"She is my wife," Soujin said as a matter of fact and put the last piece of the chess, "She will stay with me for the rest of her life."

Jun Zhenxian laughed despite losing the game. This young man was correct, and he knew, the time will soon come for him to leave her life eternally.