During harvest time, the only time of relaxation was during the nighttime where everyone gathered outside to take in the breeze and gaze up at the stars. Typically, nights like this would be separated into two: Bai yan, Ye bing, and Long Yin with the kids on one side, and everyone else on the other. With the addition of Xue Hua and the two older brothers out in town for the day, the order suddenly shifted a little-- with Long Yin suddenly deciding to be around their group.

The grouping wasn't the only thing that changed that night-- the atmosphere did so as well. Naturally, there was anxiety filling the air on the fact that Hong Hui and Hai Lin haven't returned yet, and the 'hidden' little glances Jin qing would notice Xue Hua would often give her.

With a wild guess, Jin qing would be able to deduct that Xue was giving her those strange looks because of the story she just told her. The one about what happened in the Liang and who she was, her story with the family in the countryside, and then how she got into the Wei. There were parts where she had to summarize, but she answered as many questions Xue Hua had for her (which, wasn't a lot).
It was plenty for her to take in, so Jin qing decided to leave her to her thoughts for the night.

Meanwhile, the elderly woman wasn't the only one who was starting to grow anxious. After all, her two sons weren't back from their trip to town for needed supplies. A journey to and from the town shouldn't have taken them all day-- an afternoon at most. A million things could have happened during that time, and a worried mother's mind could race through each and every one of them in an instant. 

"Xue Hua, did anything happen that we should know?" The old woman asked, struggling to keep the worry out of her voice. "Something that happened in the capital that could affect us normal citizens..."

Xue Hua looked troubled and looked away shamefully. "I... There were talks about drafting a new army since the existing ones has chosen to side with... side with Jin qing. I didn't think they would follow up with it. Maybe--?"

She didn't need to finish her sentence as everyone in earshot had filled in the blanks. It was entirely possible that the two men were dragged in by the drafters and forced to join the army. With the state of the Wei in dreadful peril, Jin qing wasn't surprised if such a thing happened. 

Long Yin shot to his feet. "If so, then we have to go and get them! We all know how dangerous war is. The entire purpose of us staying low here is to avoid that type of conflict! We have to--"

Jin qing pulled him back down onto his seat. "Sit down. You going to town and causing a ruckus would only result in you getting drafted." she turned to Xue Hua "Was there any talks of when it would be happening?"

Xue hua shook her head. 

"It's in the middle of the harvest season." Jin qing took in a deep but shaky breath. "The emperor would be stupid to drag out farmers to serve in the army when war already puts a stress on food supplies."

Yu Qi looked sideways at her. "However, from your description of the emperor of Wei, he is exactly the type of idiot to do so."

"... you have a point. But I'm sure Kai Feng or someone in the court is intelligent enough to stop him. "

"If the same court that got you banished is whispering in his ear, would they really have the reason not to?"

Jin qing gave her an annoyed look for coming up with reasonable points, then glanced over at the elderly woman as a signal for Yu Qi to shut up. 

The old woman rubbed her chest with the heel of her palm as if to soothe a tightness there. "If Hai Lin and Hong Hui were drafted... the only combat they have ever experienced was some wild animals and odd lessons your old man gave them. Only heaven would be able to protect them now..."

Jin qing wasn't too sure what to say to comfort the old woman. The old man had fallen asleep in his chair and was oblivious to the conversation, and she didn't have the heart to wake him up for his valuable input. 

So? What else could they do except wait in silence for the sound of a rattling cart to sound down the forest road? Eventually, they did have to move indoors to duck away from the bugs and the night chill, but everyone except the children stayed up to wait for the brothers.
Choosing to burn up fire to keep them warm and give light into the dark world was expensive, but none of them said anything. 

It was much later at night when Jin qing finally heard something outside. She shook Xue hua-- who had begun to fall asleep on her shoulder-- away from her so she could stand and hurry to the door. 

"Hong Hui! Hai Lin--" Jin qing stopped, her eyes adjusting to the dim light outside. Horror soon crept in when she realized only one brother was walking towards her on the road, and the other wasn't right behind him. "Hong Hui, where's Hai Lin?"

"I-- Its a long story. We tried to bring both of us out but in the end--"

The old woman was on her feet now too, ushering in the shivering man into the warmer comforts of the home. "Oh sit down. Bai Yan, can you heat up the bit of rice and vegetable I saved on the counter? Ye Bing, grab a spare set of clothes I made yesterday."

"Right away!"

Judging from his clothes, Hong Hui had clearly stumbled his way back from the town in complete darkness. Long Yin hurried to pry his soaking shoes off his feet as Jin qing snatched a towel to warm him up. She was vaguely aware of Yu Qi heading out to check if anyone had followed him back, but she knew that if anyone had, they would be there by now. 

After a flurry of getting him changed (with Xue Hua looking away, of course) and keeping his warm, Jin qing was again the first one to ask the question. 

"What happened in the town?" She asked. "Was Xue Hua right? Are they forcing a draft on the population?"

Hong Hui nodded. "We were unlucky: they had started seriously implementing it when Hai Lin and I were packing up and getting ready to go. They shut down the town gates and forbade anyone to leave-- doing a count of every eligible man that wasn't taken in the first draft."

"Then how were you able to leave?"

"Hai Lin did the quick thinking and told the officers I had a bad leg and a limp and was in town. to get it checked." Hong hui accepted the food from Bai yan, took a bite, and continued talking. "We couldn't use the same excuse twice, and I nearly had to break my leg for real to get out. Hai Lin was dragged in though."

Long Yin looked up. "Dragged?!" he exclaimed, clearly outraged. "What have we been reduced to? We're soldiers that will be soon serving in war! Why are they treating us like prisoners?" He looked around sheepishly when everyone glared at him, reminding him that there were still two children sleeping in the other room, and sat back down. 

Xue hua let out a long sigh. "I won't be surprised if the official's actions have only made you even more popular, Jin qing. When I left, even those in the capital were starting to openly criticize anyone that spoke in favor of the emperor. "

Hong Hui nodded, looking Jin qing in the eye. "Xue Hua is right. A mob had gathered around the office, all of them voicing their disapproval toward the emperor and their favor towards you."

Jin qing rubbed her face with her hands, annoyed at where the conversation was going again. "And of course they turn to me to solve all their problems. As if it was as easy as they think! I can't just walk into court and restore heaven."

Long Yin looked at Jin qing with a plead in his eyes. "But Xin er, surely you can do something about it!"

Jin qing was about to answer when the old man, who hadn't said a word this entire time, cleared his throat to get their attention. 

"I didn't raise my sons to be naive ladies!" He said loudly with a little scowl on his face. "Hai Lin has a good head screwed on his neck. He won't die as soon as he walks into the army camp." Everyone in the room stared at the old man, surprised at his outburst. While everyone stayed silent, stunned, Jin qing began to laugh. 

"Of course." She said with a smirk, her head tilting higher to ease the mood of the room into a less anxious state. "Father didn't raise us to bend and snap at the slightest breeze. Hai Lin will be alright."

"Old man, are you sure?" The old woman asked, obviously still concerned. After all, she was a mother, and worrying over her children is something a mother does. "This is the army, and you would know better than anyone."

"And Hai Lin is my son! He'll be fine if he's anything like his old man."

Though neither of them was sure of the truth behind their bold statements, both the old man and Jin qing knew the family looked to them for guidance and reassurance. With their words, the atmosphere in the room relaxed to a more comfortable level. 

Exchanging glances, both of them knew how the military of the Wei works and how harsh it can be... especially during war and especially during a time like this where most of the army is in revolt. Those who cannot hold the standards of anxious generals would be sent to the front lines to die, paving a way for the more experienced and talented fighters in the back. It was a common military strategy, except that it's usually reserved for prisoners of war or criminals to distract and send the front into a disarray. 

If Jin Qing really wanted her wish of keeping this family intact... well, having one being sent back wrapped up in cloth wouldn't do. Of course, asking Xue Hua to relay a simple request of pulling a solider out to Kai Feng wouldn't be too difficult, but to save him and make sure this side of her world goes untouched, she'll have to go back into the Wei and personally hand pick him out of danger. Only that way, can her heart be free of worry. 

But... Her pride was on the line here. Going back would mean facing those who wanted to banish and possibly execute her. 

Jin qing let out a sigh. Hai Lin's wit and courage should buy him some time for her to make a plan, but as usual, time was beginning to run out.