Xue Zhongfu held the jade token tightly in his hand, as if he could feel Li Shurou's body temperature and deep affection.
His heart was filled with gratitude and determination. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Princess, I will always remember your kindness. This time, escorting the silver is a heavy responsibility, but please rest assured, Princess, I will do my best to fulfill my mission and return safely."
Li Shurou listened to his words, a glimmer of relief flashed in her eyes. She believed that Xue Zhongfu was a man who would keep his word, and his promise was the most solid guarantee.
However, the time of parting finally arrived.
Xue Zhongfu bid farewell to Concubine Shu and Princess Ning'an. Li Shurou stood at the palace gate, watching his back gradually disappear into the distance, her heart filled with reluctance and anticipation.
She knew that in the days to come, she would be trapped in endless longing and waiting, but she also believed that Xue Zhongfu would keep his promise and return safely.
…
The atmosphere in the Imperial Household Department's meeting hall was solemn and dignified. Candlelight flickered on the rustic desk, casting dappled shadows. Chen Jin sat at the head of the table, his gaze piercing as he made final arrangements for tomorrow's escort of the official silver.
"Tomorrow, you will escort a large amount of government silver to the border." Chen Jin's voice echoed in the meeting hall with unquestionable majesty. "This mission is of great importance. We must ensure that everything goes well."
He glanced at the captains of the Royal Guards present, and each of their faces was etched with determination and resolve.
"I have selected you all as elites who are calm and decisive in their actions."
Chen Jin continued, his gaze lingering on each captain's face for a moment, as if confirming their determination. The Royal Guards accompanying this trip were all carefully selected elites.
"We must ensure that this batch of official silver arrives safely at the border. There must not be any mistakes."
The captains responded in unison, their voices firm and powerful. They knew the importance of this mission was self-evident and that everyone had a heavy responsibility.
As the night deepened, the candlelight in the meeting hall became brighter.
Chen Jin reminded again, "We will set off early tomorrow morning. Everyone must be fully prepared to deal with any situation that may arise."
The captains nodded one after another, indicating that they were ready.
As the lights in the council hall gradually dimmed, the Royal Guards left one after another to make final preparations for tomorrow's mission.
As dusk fell, the light in the hall gradually dimmed.
A eunuch walked cautiously into the meeting hall, his voice filled with humility and flattery: "Second Master, it's getting late. It's time to return to the wing room and rest."
Chen Jin frowned, and a cold tone appeared in his voice: "Slap!"
The eunuch was startled, realizing he had said something wrong. He quickly raised his hand and slapped himself twice: "My words have gone astray. Please forgive me, Eunuch Chen!"
Chen Jin rubbed his brows lightly and said slowly: "Forget it, go to the porch and get my bedding. I will stay here tonight to keep watch."
"How dare I trouble Eunuch Chen with such a trivial matter as night duty..." The eunuch muttered in a low voice, but did not dare to disobey.
"Don't say any more words, just go!" Chen Jin interrupted him, his tone revealing unquestionable majesty.
"Yes, yes! I'll do it right away!" The eunuch responded quickly and retreated in a hurry.
Chen Jin remained alone in the dimly lit meeting room, his mind racing. The old lady of Xingyuan Marquis's mansion's warning echoed in his mind: bandits at the border were becoming increasingly rampant, and the safety of military pay was in jeopardy.
However, what made him even more alert was the possibility that Xiao Gan might embezzle money. If this were true, this might be an excellent opportunity to eliminate the power of the foreign king Xiao Yan.
The meeting hall was silent except for the slight rustling sound of the letter in Chen Jin's hand. He unfolded the secret letter that had been read over and over again, and the handwriting sent by Xue Yuanchu from the border came into view.
Besides the usual greetings, the letter also revealed surprising news: a young man who might be Chen Jin's long-lost brother had been found at a distant border crossing. A portrait was also included at the end of the letter. Though the painting was simple, it revealed a stubborn and unyielding spirit.
The boy's name is Meng Liang. He has experienced many vicissitudes of life at a young age. He once worked in a theatre troupe and later became a spy for the Western Rong by mistake. Now he is imprisoned in the county jail of Xiguan Town.
Chen Jin slowly lifted his gaze from the letter paper to the mountain of memorials on the desk. An inexplicable emotion welled up in his heart, and he sighed.
When his brother was lost, he was still a baby in swaddling clothes. Now, many years have passed, and he cannot even guess what the child looked like.
However, the young man named Meng Liang mentioned in the letter, whose characteristic of having six toes on his left foot, was like a key that opened the long-closed door deep in Chen Jin's heart.
This secret detail made it impossible for him to remain calm.
He sat quietly at his desk, thinking for a long time. Finally, he picked up his pen and wrote a reply letter. The words in the letter were concise and powerful, revealing his unquestionable determination.
"Punish severely according to the law and show no leniency!"
After sealing the reply letter with red wax,
The young eunuch had already brought bedding from the wing room and diligently boiled hot water for Chen Jin to wash.
"Eunuch Chen, let me help you wash your feet." The young eunuch said humbly, trying to relieve Chen Jin's fatigue of the day.
Chen Jin waved his hand and said calmly, "I'll do it myself. You still have to go out of the city with me to see off the Imperial Guards tomorrow morning. Don't miss the opportunity because you're half asleep."
Upon hearing this, the young eunuch nodded quickly in agreement, but still insisted on washing Chen Jin's feet. Then he took the basin of water and retreated quietly.
There was only a dim light left in the hall, adding a touch of warm light to the quiet night.
Chen Jin lay on the couch in the inner room, covered with a soft quilt. The heavy workload of the Imperial Household Department over the past few days had left him feeling an unprecedented sense of fatigue. His thoughts drifted in the darkness, and he couldn't help but think of the distant border and the batch of official silver that was about to be escorted.
Chen Jin's breathing gradually calmed down and he fell into a deep sleep. Distant memories quietly emerged in his dreams, making it difficult to tell whether they were true or false.
"Please adopt my brother. He will definitely be filial to you when he grows up!"
"Go, go, go! Having six toes on this foot is so unlucky!"
"...I beg you kindhearted people, if anyone wants a boy, please take my brother home, feed him, and raise him."
"We are already well fed, so how can we have enough food to feed our children?"
"...This kid looks pretty good. If he didn't have those six toes, I could take him in as my apprentice. He could even sing female roles in the future."
"Really? You'll take my brother in as long as he doesn't have these six toes?"
"Why would I lie to you? My opera troupe is known to everyone in the surrounding area..."
In the midst of illusion, he saw a scarlet scene before his eyes, and then a pair of sharp scissors was picked up to cut it off, followed by a burst of crying. Of course, when he grew up, he would forget everything and would not remember anything.
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