Inside the commander's tent.
Upon seeing Wang Ren, dressed in a gray robe, walk in, Wang Yuluan, her eyes red, went to greet him.
"Father, you shouldn't have come!"
"Why are you crying?" Wang Ren looked at Wang Yuluan with a reproachful gaze and said, "When your older brother was still alive, you were always very weak. I thought you weren't like me and wouldn't amount to anything. But since your older brother died, you've finally become a bit of a man. You didn't embarrass me when we were in the three counties of Xinbei. You have to be strong now, and you have to be even stronger in the future!"
Wang Yuluan held back her tears and said with self-blame, "Father, I've dragged you down with me."
Wang Ren said, "Since it's a game that has to determine a winner and a loser, there will inevitably be a winner and a loser. You've done your best, so there's no shame in losing."
"I was careless and fell for their trick..."
"Your father isn't wearing a sword or armor today, so let's not talk about the war. Let's talk about something else."
Wang Ren patted Wang Yuluan on the shoulder and said, "Where do you plan to go after today? Are you going back to Changsui to find your mother and sister, or will you continue to stay in Xijing?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yuluan's eyes widened in surprise, and she exclaimed, "Father, you're not with me? Could it be that Zhao Cheng...?"
Wang Ren shook his head and said, "In games where there are winners and losers, there are naturally conditions. You don't need to hold a grudge against Zhao Cheng for this. He will take good care of your sister, and if you return to Changsui, he will also take good care of you."
Wang Yuluan clenched her fists tightly, and this time she could no longer hold back, tears streaming down her face.
This time, Wang Ren did not blame him.
"What choice does Father want me to make?" Wang Yuluan asked, her eyes closed and her voice choked with emotion.
"Child, from now on, it's your own path."
"I'm choosing the Xijing Army again!"
"Why?" Wang Ren asked calmly, but his gaze toward Wang Yuluan became more intense. He then asked, "If you surrender to Zhao Cheng, you will not only be able to reunite with your family, but you will also have more options for the future."
"Because my dad didn't surrender!"
Wang Yuluan said with a firm gaze, "Even if I return to Changsui and reunite with my mother and sister, given my sister's current status, my mother and I would only be living under someone else's roof. We are all men of the Wang family, and my father is a great general of the empire, while my elder brother dares to act arrogantly in Yanchuan City at such a young age. How can I live a life of ignominy?!"
Wang Ren was satisfied but did not show it. He asked, "Your chances of dying in the Xijing Army are very high."
Wang Yuluan proudly declared, "What is there to fear in death?!"
"I've finished speaking." Wang Ren smiled and patted Wang Yuluan's shoulder heavily once again.
Wang Yuluan threw herself into Wang Ren's arms.
After a long while, Wang Yuluan realized something was wrong. She pulled her father away and saw that he had placed one hand on his chest and was already lifeless.
"father!!!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Cheng and the others walked in and stood silently to the side.
After Wang Yuluan calmed down, Zhao Cheng gave the order: "Give General Wang a proper burial and escort his remains back to Changsui."
Wang Yuluan slowly stood up and looked at Zhao Cheng.
Zhao Cheng said, "It seems you have made your choice."
Wang Yuluan said, "Give me a fast horse."
"I'll give you a fast horse, and I'll also give you paper and pen."
Wang Yuluan was puzzled. Zhao Cheng turned and walked out, saying, "Write a letter to your mother and your sister. You should be the one to inform them of your father's death."
...
Changsui City.
The damage to the city caused by Yang Taozhi and Luo Ying's battle has been gradually repaired. The traces of the Left Prime Minister's Mansion and the Marquis's Mansion have been completely erased, and they have been connected and built into a commercial street according to Zhao Cheng's plan.
Huang Hua stayed in Yanchuan, and Dong Hua, who had been transferred by Zhao Cheng, was in charge of Changsui Commercial Street.
Accompanied by a hundred guards, Zhao Zhan and Wang Yucen strolled through the commercial street.
Although many storefronts still have interior decorations to complete, the overall basic structure is already taking shape.
"Donghua is really capable; she's been thoroughly trained by my older brother."
Zhao Zhan looked around with interest and then said to Wang Yucen, "Why don't we have Donghua come and accompany you for a stroll? She can explain things to you from the side."
Wang Yucen shook her head and didn't say anything.
Wang Yuluan's letter arrived yesterday. After hearing the news of Wang Ren's death, Wang Yucen has been in a very low mood.
She's romantic and lovesick, but she's not stupid.
Just as Zhao Cheng said to Wang Yuluan, among you siblings, your sister is the smartest.
Because Wang Yucen knew that the relationship between the Zhao family and the Wang family was irreparable, and that the Great Jing Dynasty had split up again, the Zhao family father and son and the Wang family father and son would eventually have a life-or-death struggle.
Her cleverness lies in not thinking about things before they happen, so she doesn't have to worry or make choices.
But when that day actually came, she was still very sad.
Zhao Zhan understood her emotions and took her out to relax early on.
"Sister Donghua is busy, so let's not bother her." Only after hearing that it would be troublesome for someone else did Wang Yucen finally speak up.
“Yu Cen, you must try to think more positively. No one can separate us. If this time... it wasn't your father, but my older brother, I would also be very sad, but I would never blame you.”
“I know.” Wang Yucen looked up at a building with an unusual shape. Her rosy cheeks were tender and she pouted. “Since you knew all along, why blame me? I’ve shown you my second brother’s letter. Father told him before he died not to blame Brother Zhao Cheng.”
"You are such a sensible and good girl."
Zhao Zhan couldn't help but hug Wang Yucen from behind and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, our lives will get better and better in the future. I will make you the happiest woman in the world, or at least one of the most powerful women."
Wang Yucen said, "Happiness is enough, what's the point of power?"
Zhao Zhan said smugly, "Father personally led the troops to reinforce Feng Jing, and has already appointed me to oversee the country and assist His Majesty. Don't you understand my father's arrangements?"
Wang Yucen thought for a moment and said, "The Prime Minister is on a southern expedition, and my eldest brother is on a western expedition. The Prime Minister never lets my third brother participate in court affairs, but he has put you in charge of overseeing the country. Do you mean... the Prime Minister is training you to govern the country?"
Zhao Zhan's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Yu Cen is so clever! What does Father's arrangement mean? It means that in his heart, when it comes to managing a family and governing a country, besides my eldest brother, it's me. This empire will belong to the Zhao family sooner or later. When I have a high position, won't you have power too..."
Wang Yucen gently covered Zhao Zhan's mouth and said, "My elder brother repeatedly told me before he went to war that you should keep your mouth shut."
“They’re just too cautious.” Zhao Zhan took Wang Yucen’s hand and said confidently, “Father and my elder brother both think I’m young and outspoken, but little did they know that I had already foreseen the situation in Dajing. I dare to say this because I have absolute confidence.”
Zhao Zhan, with Wang Yucen in his arms, continued walking, saying with certainty, "The victory on my brother's side is already secured. Father's trip south this time will surely reclaim Yunjing and drive Yang Qingzhi and Zhou Jinghuan back to Southern Zhou!"
“My father was tired of fighting, but why did he still go south to personally lead the army? Because my father’s surname is Zhao, and my eldest brother’s surname is also Zhao.”
"After this battle, the Zhao family's position will never be shaken!!"
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