After their morning exercise, with the New Year approaching and only two days left in the month, Captain Haitao had given permission for soldiers whose families lived nearby to return home and spend the remaining two days with them. Those who had no family in a nearby village would take their leave after the New Year.
Timicin found himself walking slowly behind his six friends in the open market, feeling a little down. He had suggested to Misheel to retire and move to Pojin Village, but Misheel had declined, saying the kingdom needed his services more than ever. So, Timicin would have to wait until the New Year to return home and visit his mother.
"Od, over there," Chaghatai said, pointing at two soldiers arguing with a butcher and two women.
Terbish said, frowning slightly, "It seems like those two soldiers are having a disagreement with your father."
Muunokhoi, who didn't like trouble, said, a cautious look on his face, "Hmm... don't jump to conclusions. Maybe they're just bargaining for a price."
Erden retorted, rolling his eyes, "You are such a loser! When it comes to fighting, you'll leave us behind, and when it comes to sticking your nose in other people's business, you'll drag us down with you."
Muunokhoi insisted, shaking his head, "I don't like trouble."
The seven men then saw Anu waving his bloody butcher knife menacingly at the two men standing before him.
Och said, his eyebrows raised, "Okay, that's not bargaining for a price." He pulled up his sleeve and rushed forward with Od and the others, leaving behind Muunokhoi and Timicin.
"Hey!" Timicin shouted after the five men, who were already a few yards away.
Muunokhoi shouted, a look of panic on his face, "Guys... don't leave me!" He chased after them.
After listening to Anu lecturing Chinua and Khawn and seeing him wave his bloody butcher knife at them for some time, Chinua stepped closer to Khawn and whispered, a curious expression in her eyes, "Why does this butcher look so similar to Od...?"
Khawn replied, trying to sound casual, "We're just buying tea and flowers, and we'll be on our way."
"Grandmother Li, don't be afraid of these two youngsters," Anu said, his voice firm. "As long as I'm here, I will not let anyone bully you and your granddaughter." He looked at Chinua and Khawn, his gaze sharp. "So, which tea bags or flowers do you want? Pick quickly, pay, and leave."
Chinua looked at Anu and asked, her expression neutral, "Sir, is your son's name Od, the private who serves under Captain Haitao?"
Anu said proudly, puffing out his chest slightly, "That's my son. Not just that, he's a very good friend of the Eastern General." He looked up and saw that Od and his six friends were fiercely rushing towards them. A grin spread across his face. "You two are so done..."
"Hey!" Od shouted, his voice loud.
Od grabbed Chinua by the shoulder and threw a heavy punch at Chinua's face, which was caught by Khawn. But Terbish's foot had already landed on Chinua's abdomen, causing her to stagger back towards the table, knocking some flower bouquets and tea bags to the ground.
"Who kicked me!" Chinua shouted, grunting in pain, feeling discomfort in her left lower back.
"Chinua!" the seven men said in unison. Then everyone pointed to Terbish. "He kicked you!"
"Hey! Traitors!" Terbish exclaimed, holding his hands up defensively.
Timicin asked, his brow furrowed with concern, "Are you okay?"
Muunokhoi said, nodding vigorously, "See. See. See... I told you guys not to rush to conclusions." He quickly made his way to Chinua and checked on her.
Anu looked over Khawn's shoulder and said, curiously, "Son, do you know these two?"
Od nodded, his expression unreadable.
Muunokhoi asked with a smile, a hint of mischief in his eyes, "Where did you hurt more? Your abdomen or your lower back?"
Chinua looked at Muunokhoi and said, a pained smirk on her face, "Let me kick you. You'll get your answer."
Muunokhoi smiled and said, stepping back slightly, "Don't..." He looked at the others. Clapping his hands together, "What are you still standing there for? Come help the Lady Qinru reset her vendor stall."
Chinua asked, surprised, "You know her?"
Muunokhoi said, "Yeah, we all know her from about three or four months ago."
In pain, Chinua stepped back, letting the men help set up Qinru's table once again. "So... how do you know her?" she asked, watching them.
Muunokhoi said, "We helped Chief Behrouz relocate them. Their house is close to Od's father's house. We often eat there and often met Qinru and her grandmother." He thought for a moment and suddenly had a eureka moment. His eyes widened. "Heh... don't tell me that Khawn came here every morning because he..."
Chinua nodded, a knowing look on her face.
Muunokhoi said, stammering, "But... but..."
Chinua asked, amused, "But what?"
"Od's father is very nice to Qinru and her grandmother, in hopes of asking Qinru to marry Od," Muunokhoi whispered beside Chinua's ear, his voice low. "We brothers know it."
"Huh!" Chinua exclaimed through her pain, her eyes widening in surprise. "Really?"
Muunokhoi nodded.
"That's not good," Chinua murmured, her expression turning serious.
"Son," Anu said, approaching Od, a proud look on his face. "Are these your friends?"
Od said, "Father, they are my friends. This is Chinua... our Eastern General."
Anu's mouth widened, his eyes going wide. He quickly stepped forward. "Oh, General, I am sorry," Anu said apologetically, bowing slightly. "I've not seen you before, so I thought you were looking for trouble. I hope..." He scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "...I hope you didn't take this old fool's foolishness to heart."
Chinua smiled through her pain and said, her gaze steady, "I don't blame you; instead, I praise you for standing up for the common citizens." She looked at Od, a slight smile playing on her lips. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Grandmother Li quickly walked forward and said, her voice respectful, "I apologize, I didn't realize that the person standing before me was indeed His Grace."
"Sorry, Chinua," Od said, looking concerned.
"It's a misunderstanding," Chinua said, waving a hand dismissively, turning to look at Qinru and the others helping to reset the table. "Grandmother, is your granddaughter engaged to anyone?"
Grandmother Li looked at Chinua, who was smiling at Qinru, and came to understand that Chinua might have taken a liking to Qinru. She shook her head and said, a gentle smile on her face, "My granddaughter is not engaged to anyone or currently has anyone in mind."
Chinua smiled and asked, her eyes sparkling, "Would it be alright if I confirm this with the young maiden?"
Grandmother smiled with a nod.
Chinua walked up to Qinru and the others. "This young maiden," Chinua said with a smile. "I've talked with your grandmother, and she said that you are not in a relationship with anyone. Is this still true?"
Qinru looked at Chinua shyly and said, her cheeks coloring slightly, "Why does the General suddenly ask?"
Chinua said, her smile broadening, "I was hoping for a marriage proposal."
Qinru was taken aback and dropped the handful of flowers in her hand to the ground, her eyes wide with surprise.
Anu quickly made his way to Chinua with Grandmother Li. "General, maybe you didn't know, but I was going to have my son Od propose to Lady Qinru," Anu said, a hopeful look in his eyes.
Chinua looked at Od and asked, raising an eyebrow, "Od, is that right?"
Od shook his head, looking uncomfortable, and said, "I don't know about that."
Anu looked at Od and said, his expression one of confusion, "If you don't like Lady Qinru, then why are you helping her and her grandmother all this time? I thought you liked her."
Od looked at Timicin and said, shrugging slightly, "I thought Timicin liked Lady Qinru, and as a good brother, I was just looking after her."
Timicin walked up and said, gesturing emphatically, "Hey... hey... what are you talking about? Don't drag me down with your problems."
Od turned to look at Timicin and said, his arms crossed, "You were the one who carried Grandmother Li and helped them settle down. You put more effort into helping them than others."
Chaghatai looked at Timicin and Od and said, a look of realization dawning on his face, "So... it was Timicin and not you? We all thought it was you."
Od put his hands up and shook his head, a sheepish grin appearing. "No... no... no... not me."
Erden murmured, to himself, "Well, this is quite embarrassing."
Muunokhoi grabbed Timicin's front collar and said, his eyes narrowed playfully, "Explain yourself."
Timicin sighed, resigned, and said, "I helped her and her grandmother because of the donkey."
Chinua and the others turned to look at Timicin with confused expressions. Eyebrows were raised.
Erden asked, puzzled, "Donkey? What does a donkey have to do with this misunderstanding?"
Timicin said, launching into his explanation, "I saw the donkey that was with Qinru on the day that we helped the citizens move here. I recognized the reins. That donkey was the one I found for..." He rolled his eyes towards Khawn. "...him when we were short on horses. So, I thought Qinru must be a special person for Khawn since he had given his donkey to her. And since Khawn is on a mission to the south with Chinua, I thought it was the right thing for us, as good brothers, to look after someone special to him."
Khawn pulled Timicin aside and said, his voice low and urgent, "We are not lovers.... I don't even know her name..."
Timicin was taken aback. "Huh...." Timicin's mouth dropped wide open, a look of utter shock on his face. "This... this... what do you mean...?"
Och mumbled, shaking his head, "Well, that's even more of a misunderstanding than Od's situation."
After hearing Timicin's explanation, Chinua remembered the situation that happened a few months ago. She knew that if she didn't take action, Khawn would never approach Qinru, and with Qinru's well-mannered attitude, she would not approach Khawn either. Seeing that the entire situation was misunderstood due to a lack of clarification and communication, Chinua stepped forward and came face to face with Qinru and Grandmother Li.
"Grandmother Li and Lady Qinru, what do you think about my proposal?" Chinua asked, her expression open and hopeful. She looked at Qinru. "Lady Qinru, if you are unsure, let's get to know each other first, and then you can decide later."
Qinru looked sadly at Grandmother Li. Grandmother Li took Qinru's hand and said, her voice gentle but firm, "It is you who is going to spend the rest of your life with the General, so I will let the decision be yours."
"Huh?" Chinua and the eight men said in unison upon hearing Grandmother Li's words, their faces showing surprise.
Chinua said, quickly, "Wait... wait. Grandmother Li, I think you misunderstood me. The marriage proposal was not for me." She grabbed Khawn and put him right in front of Grandmother Li and Qinru. Grinning now, "The marriage proposal was for him." Chinua peeked over Khawn's shoulder and saw the shy smile from Qinru. "Like I said, if you don't agree yet, how about you and him get to know each other first? Marrying my man is a gain, and there is nothing to lose."
Muunokhoi added, nodding enthusiastically, "That's right... Khawn is a very faithful man. He will never have a second wife or cheat on you."
By this time, people on the street had gathered around the flower stall and meat stall, creating a small crowd.
Grandmother Li said, a warm smile on her face, "Oh... I remember you. The young soldier who left us the donkey and the water." She smiled. "Thank you. That day you left in a hurry, and we have not properly thanked you."
Terbish said, grinning broadly, "Then thank him properly by allowing your granddaughter to be his bride."
The crowd cheered.
Grandmother Li smiled and said, looking at Qinru, "Like I said, it is Qinru who will spend the rest of her life with her husband, so the decision will be hers."
Khawn gathered his courage, sighed, walked forward, and took out the cuff bracelet from his waistband. "If you agree," Khawn said shyly, looking down on the ground, his voice barely a whisper.
Qinru smiled shyly and took the cuff bracelet from Khawn's hand, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment. "Let's get to know each other first," she said with a shy smile.
The small, gathered crowd celebrated with a loud cheer.