Mu Jingrui let Shangguan Wanning rest for two days in Anyuan County. Only after she recovered her strength did he lead everyone to continue their journey to Mingdu City.
They encountered pursuers and blockades along the way, but thanks to Mu Jingrui's careful arrangements, they basically got through it safely.
As the imperial court and Xiao Yujue's forces officially confronted each other, many places began to respond. Mu Jingrui recruited at least 250,000 people on the way.
He took a part of the troops to rush to the Ming capital for support, and left another part to garrison in the captured county town in order to pave the way for the future fight back to the capital.
It was the early twenties when Mu Jingrui arrived at the capital of Ming with his 80,000-strong army.
Heavy snow began to fall from the sky. Shangguan Wanning stepped down from the carriage and shivered involuntarily.
Mu Jingrui stepped forward and stretched out his hand to Shangguan Wanning, wanting to help her get off the carriage.
"elder brother……"
Mu Jingyan rode his horse at full speed, and before the horse had stabilized, he used his lightness skills to fly in front of Mu Jingrui.
"Brother, you are finally back. I was so worried about you."
Mu Jingrui hugged his sister and patted her shoulder gently.
He pulled Mu Jingyan out of his arms and looked at him carefully, then said with a smile, "He seems to have lost some weight..."
"What are you talking about? You're willing to sacrifice your life to save Wan Ning. I'm so afraid that you won't come back."
"I'm back now, am I not?"
Mu Jingyan nodded, then looked at Shangguan Wanning.
She took off her cloak and put it on Shangguan Wanning, expressing her welcome and friendliness. She said softly, "Your parents and your master are all very good. They must be very happy to know that you are back."
"Thank you." Tears welled up in Shangguan Wanning's eyes.
The strange Ming capital city before her made her feel as if she were in another world.
In order to show his respect to Ming King Xiao Beiming, Mu Jingrui left the recruited troops outside the city and only brought a few trusted men into the city.
"General Mu is a young hero. I have heard His Royal Highness the Crown Prince mention him many times. Seeing him today, I can see that he is indeed a man of great bearing and his reputation is well-deserved."
Xiao Yujue and Xiao Beiming were actually waiting in front of the palace, which made Mu Jingrui feel a little guilty, so he hurried forward to pay his respects.
He secretly looked at Xiao Beiming.
There is a hint of heroism between Xiao Beiming's eyebrows. He looks gentle and refined, like a weak scholar. He has a handsome face and a slender figure. When he smiles, his eyes are curved with a hint of peach blossom.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and greetings to the King Ming."
"It's cold outside, let's go inside."
As Xiao Beiming spoke, his gaze rested on Shangguan Wanning who was beside Mu Jingrui.
This legendary most beautiful woman in the capital really lives up to her reputation.
However, it was definitely not just her beauty that made Mu Jingrui abandon his wife and come back to rescue her. She was willing to give up Xiao Zhenting's promise of marrying her in a formal ceremony and becoming the mother of the country. It seemed that she was also a girl with integrity and pride.
Xiao Beiming held a banquet to welcome Mu Jingrui, and Shangguan Wanning was arranged to meet his parents first.
When the mother and daughter met, they hugged each other and cried.
"Let me take a good look at you." Madam Shangguan held her daughter's face, tears streaming down her red eyes. "You are such a worrying girl. I thought... I would never see you again..."
"Mom, didn't I tell you? As long as we are still alive, there will be a day when we can be reunited."
"Alright, alright, Ning'er is back safely, ma'am, don't be sad." Shangguan Yue came forward and hugged his wife, wiping her tears, and turned back to admonish, "Ning'er, Doctor Lu is also thinking about you. Now that you are back, go and pay your respects to him."
"Um."
Shangguan Wanning went back to her room and changed her clothes, then followed Lutong's instructions to the courtyard where Lu Xiangzi was staying.
"Master."
Shangguan Wanning knocked on the door and walked in. Lu Xiangzi was tinkering with developing a new medicine. When he heard the voice, he turned around hurriedly, a rare look of joy on his face.
"Girl, you're finally back." Lu Xiangzi picked up the towel beside him and wiped his hands, then looked behind Shangguan Wanning, "Where's that brat?"
Shangguan Wanning's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.
She lowered her head, not daring to look her master in the eye. After a moment of silence, she knelt in front of Lu Xiangzi.
"Master, I'm sorry... Ning'er is unfilial... I can't bring Brother Yao back safely."
Lu Xiangzi trembled all over, and his eyes immediately showed a bit of sadness. He stood there blankly for a while, and his voice became hoarse.
"Get up first and tell me what happened."
Shangguan Wanning didn't dare to get up. She knelt on the ground and recounted what happened on the road.
"I watched Brother Yao jump down with my own eyes, and I couldn't save him..."
Lu Xiangzi turned his back, looked at the heavy snow outside the window, and slowly shed tears. "I don't blame you... I don't blame you, this is his own choice."
After saying this, Lu Xiangzi felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground.
Shangguan Wanning quickly stood up and supported him. "Master, you must take care of yourself."
Lu Xiangzi waved his hand gently. "I'm fine... I'm fine... Ning'er, you just came back, you must be tired. Go back and rest, I want to be alone."
Shangguan Wanning was still worried and wanted to stay by his side, but when she saw Lu Xiangzi's firm attitude, she had to give up.
She ordered Lutong and Putao to take turns guarding outside and keep an eye on Lu Xiangzi's movements at all times.
Xiao Yujue waited for Mu Jingrui to come back and rested for only two or three days before he began to plan and deploy a counterattack against Xiao Zhenting.
Now, whether in terms of military strength or influence, Xiao Yujue can compete with Xiao Zhenting.
Shangguan Wanning didn't know what method her father used to convince Xiao Beiming that he was willing to give up his peaceful life and lend all his military and financial resources to Xiao Yujue for deployment.
"Master." Shangguan Wanning knocked on Lu Xiangzi's door and brought him breakfast.
She saw Lu Xiangzi packing his bag and was shocked. "Master, what are you doing?"
Lu Xiangzi stopped what he was doing, turned around and walked towards Shangguan Wanning.
He sat down at the table and said, "I have been away from Medicine King Valley for a long time. My leg injury has almost healed. So, I want to go back."
Shangguan Wanning looked at Lu Xiangzi's face which seemed to have aged suddenly, and a wave of sadness welled up in her heart.
How could she feel at ease letting Lu Xiangzi go back alone?
"Master, you are old, and you are going back to Medicine King Valley alone. There is no one to take care of you on the way..." Shangguan Wanning sat down opposite Lu Xiangzi and said, "I will go back with you. Please stay for one more day, and I will tell my parents about it, and then we can go together."
Lu Xiangzi stared into Shangguan Wanning's eyes, with a little more relief in them, and asked, "Are you willing to give it up?"
"I..." Shangguan Wanning lowered her head and replied, "My parents can still take care of each other, but you only have me..."
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