It's a new year again.
At the beginning of the year, the most attention-grabbing event was undoubtedly the war in northern Xinjiang.
A few days after Xie Shaoling went to the northern frontier, news of his victory was sent back to the capital.
After all, he had been away from the northern frontier for seven years, and his understanding of both the Divine Might Army and the Northern Barbarians remained at the level of seven years ago.
To make up for the seven-year gap, after going to the northern frontier, he did not immediately take command of all the Divine Might Army. Instead, he first led his old troops out of the pass, circled around to the left flank of the Northern Barbarian Army, and fought several brilliant ambush battles. After he had worked well with his former comrades, he led his army back to the pass.
These battles allowed him to re-establish his prestige within the Divine Might Army, and only then did he begin to deploy troops and arrange formations to confront the Northern Barbarians head-on.
Only when he was able to take control of the overall situation did the Duke of Zhenguo set off to return to the capital.
When the Duke of Zhenguo returned to the capital, he ostensibly only brought a few personal guards, but Xie Shaoling secretly arranged for many people to escort him, and Xie Chang'an also arranged for people to meet him along the way.
There are many people who don't want to see Zhenguo Gong return to the capital safely, just as there are those who don't want to see Xie Shaoling arrive safely on the northern frontier battlefield!
When Xie Shaoling went to the Northern Frontier, he rode at full speed, but encountered five waves of assassination attempts along the way. If Xie Chang'an hadn't arranged for enough people to escort him, Xie Shaoling might not have been able to reach the Northern Frontier safely.
When news of this reached the capital, the emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation.
His dislike for Xie Shaoling was his own business. Although he had no choice but to use Xie Shaoling, once he had used him, he would not allow anyone to sabotage him in secret!
Even if Xie Shaoling is to be killed, he has to do it himself. If someone else tries to kill him, it would be a slap in his face and an enemy!
Therefore, the emperor dispatched hundreds of imperial guards to investigate along the route, especially in the area where Xie Shaoling was assassinated. They dug deep and found everyone connected to the assassination, some were killed, and others were dismissed from their posts.
When the emperor is enraged, countless corpses lie in wait.
Even so, when the Duke of Zhenguo returned to the capital, he still encountered several assassination attempts on the way.
However, thanks to the proper protection arranged by Xie Shaoling and Xie Chang'an, they escaped unharmed.
"Father, the Duke of Zhenguo has guarded the northern border for decades. Now that he has finally returned, will you lead all the officials to welcome him?" Ye Jingchen asked the emperor after learning the date of the Duke of Zhenguo's return to the capital.
"He's not returning victorious, so why should I lead all the officials to welcome him?" the emperor asked, puzzled.
"He is the guardian deity of the Great Abyss, shouldn't we welcome him?" Ye Jingchen retorted, resenting his father's lack of understanding.
Isn't this the perfect time to demonstrate the virtues of a benevolent ruler?
"Even if he is a guardian deity, he is still a subject. I am the sovereign. How can a sovereign welcome a subject?" the emperor said dismissively.
"The Northern Frontier still relies on Prince Xie to lead the Divine Might Army to fight against the Northern Barbarians. We can't let the Duke of Zhenguo's family down. How about I go and welcome them on behalf of Father Emperor?" Ye Jingchen asked cautiously.
"Xie Shaoling wouldn't dare to be disheartened!" the emperor said with a cold laugh.
Sometimes, Ye Jingchen would have some rebellious thoughts, especially when his father was too self-centered and unyielding!
"The world is watching! Father is a benevolent ruler, and he should treat meritorious officials well! Father respects the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and only then will noble families and meritorious officials respect the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion! Otherwise, perhaps one day the young master Xie will be assassinated by his own people in the army or on the battlefield, and the situation in the northern frontier will be difficult to resolve!" Ye Jingchen smiled on the surface, but rolled his eyes in his heart.
The emperor's expression immediately darkened, perhaps because he was thinking of the five assassination attempts Xie Shaoling had faced in three days on his journey to the northern frontier.
"Then you and Jingming go in my place. I don't want to see anyone from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!" The emperor's disdain was written all over his face.
So, that morning, after Ye Jingchen and Ye Jingming finished their morning court session, they led dozens of Eastern Palace guards to meet Xie Chang'an at the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and went to the post station outside the imperial city to welcome the Duke of Zhenguo back.
Ye Jingchen wanted to make the scene bigger, but he was afraid that it would hurt his father's sensitive and fragile heart, so in the end he did nothing.
Many of the Eastern Palace Guards were the emperor's spies. In front of them, Ye Jingchen and Xie Chang'an were separated by Ye Jingming, and the three of them did not communicate at all along the way.
When they arrived at the post station, Ye Jingchen and Ye Jingming sat together, while Xie Chang'an sat alone at a table, with his back to Ye Jingchen.
Ye Jingming asked Ye Jingchen with his eyes.
"Ignore him!" Ye Jingchen said silently.
Before long, a guard from the Eastern Palace who was stationed on the official road ahead came to report that the Duke of Zhenguo was almost there.
The three arrived at the official road and saw a group of people on horseback in the distance, protecting a carriage, getting closer and closer to the post station.
When the carriage and horses arrived, six armored soldiers dismounted in unison and saluted Ye Jingchen and Ye Jingming, who were surrounded by the Eastern Palace Guards.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Highness the Second Prince!"
Since the emperor decided to send Ye Jingchen and Ye Jingming to welcome the Duke of Zhenguo, Xie Chang'an had already informed the Duke of Zhenguo, who was still on his way, of this matter.
"You all have worked hard escorting the Duke of Zhenguo all the way, no need for such formalities!" Ye Jingchen said gently.
At this moment, the Duke of Zhenguo also emerged from the carriage.
He was an old man with graying temples, but his figure was not hunched over at all. Although he was wearing ordinary clothes and was injured, he had an indomitable and unstoppable aura about him.
"This old minister pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Second Prince!" After alighting from the carriage, the Duke of Zhenguo also bowed to Ye Jingchen.
Ye Jingchen quickly stepped forward and supported the Duke of Zhenguo's arms to prevent him from bowing down, saying, "Duke of Zhenguo, there's no need for such formalities!"
As you get closer, you can feel the imposing aura emanating from this old man even more.
"Grandson greets grandfather!" Xie Chang'an walked over and knelt down to the Duke of Zhenguo.
Ye Jingchen quickly stepped aside before he could kneel down.
However, Xie Chang'an was not able to kneel down, because the Duke of Zhenguo simply raised his arm and lifted him up.
Xie Chang'an was somewhat bewildered.
"You're Chang'an? I didn't expect you to have grown so tall! Good! Very good!" After Xie Chang'an stood up, the Duke of Zhenguo patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction.
"Duke Zhenguo, you are injured, you should go and rest in the carriage. Today, let me, Jingming, Chang'an, and I clear the way for you and escort you into the city!" Ye Jingchen said to the Duke Zhenguo, suppressing a laugh.
“Your Highness, you are the sovereign, and I am your subject. This is not appropriate!” said the Duke of Zhenguo.
"You are a meritorious official of Dayuan, there is nothing wrong with that, this is also my father's wish! He should have come in person today, but he was too busy with state affairs to come, so he sent me and Jingming in his place! Chang'an, quickly help grandfather to the carriage." Ye Jingchen said the first words he had spoken to Xie Chang'an since they met today.
"Grandfather, we cannot disappoint His Highness's kindness. Please get in the carriage!" Xie Chang'an advised.
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