Chapter 253: Heart Blooming
There is an old saying that he who knows the times is a hero.
Shen Yuexi felt that Lin Kui could be called a "hero".
Xiao Zhuo's 12,000 infantry, along with Mei Dai's 3,000 cavalry, spent the better part of a month marching and arrived at Zhangwu in early May. While the army was still en route, they received news that Lin Kui had fled.
Shen Yuexi didn't believe victory came so easily. After the army arrived in Zhangwu, she asked the people in the city and finally found out.
At the time, King Duoma of the Western Rong was leading his army to attack the city. The two sides were already engaged in a fierce battle, but upon hearing that Xiao Zhuo was leading his troops, the Western Rong immediately withdrew. Lin Kui, perhaps feeling that he could not stand up to Xiao Zhuo, also led his troops to retreat towards Yongwei.
Xiao Zhuo occupied Zhangwu without losing a single soldier.
Before Shen Yuexi's joy had died down, more news came from Leshan. The Leshan garrison commander was probably afraid that Xiao Zhuo would attack him next, so he withdrew his troops early and went to Yongwei to meet up with Lin Kui.
Xiao Zhuo had already taken two of the four Xiliang counties, leaving only Nanping in the north in the hands of the Xirong army and Yongwei in the south in the hands of the Dingbei army.
A man's reputation is like a tree's shadow. Shen Yuexi now knew how Xiao Zhuo held a high position in the eyes of his enemies.
Since she had occupied Zhangwu, she immediately ran to find Mei Dai, intending to ask about Bai Ling.
Mei Dai was offering sacrifices at the tomb of Mei Cheng, the King of Xiliang. At that time, Yongwei was occupied by Xiao Kai, and both the King of Xiliang, Mei Cheng, and his wife were buried in Zhangwu.
Looking at Mei Dai who was kneeling solemnly in front of the king's tomb, her shoulders twitching as if she was crying, Shen Yuexi felt that it was not appropriate to disturb her at this time, so she quietly left.
When I returned to the prefectural mansion of Zhangwu and just entered the door, I heard a woman's crying voice coming from the hall.
"No one can take it away from you. Look, I got it all back..."
The person who made the comment was none other than Madam Li.
Shen Yuexi entered the hall, and Mrs. Li and Li Wan were showing their joy of reunion in front of Xiao Zhuo.
Madam Li was wiping tears from her eyes, and Li Wan, who was supporting her, also shed tears. As they cried, the two embraced each other again. Next to them stood a middle-aged man who looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
This scene is exactly the same as when Mrs. Li and her daughter first arrived in Xiaogang Village.
Xiao Zhuo stood there awkwardly, looking up and seeing Shen Yuexi approaching, he quickly winked at her. Shen Yuexi understood and stepped forward to Madam Li and said, "Aunt, reunion after separation is a happy occasion..."
Before she could finish, Madam Li turned around and saw her, and hugged her: "Oh, my nephew's wife."
"Cousin, I never thought that we would meet again one day." Li Wan also came over and hugged her from behind. The two women sandwiched her and started crying.
Shen Yuexi stood upright, thinking to herself that these mother and daughter were simply elusive. Xiao Zhuo had just occupied Zhangwu when they appeared. It would have been better if she hadn't said anything; the moment she spoke, they cried even harder.
With Shen Yuexi dealing with Madam Li and her daughter, Xiao Zhuo finally had some time to spare and said to the middle-aged man:
"Master Liu, Xiliang is in constant war. Thanks to you for protecting my aunt and cousin..."
"Ah, Liu Yi," Shen Yuexi heard Xiao Zhuo's words and turned to shout at the middle-aged man, "You are the governor of Liangzhou who arrested us before."
Liangzhou Governor Liu Yi smiled awkwardly and said to Shen Yuexi, "This is a different time. Your Majesty has given an order, and I dare not disobey."
After explaining things to Shen Yuexi, Liu Yi turned back to Xiao Zhuo, knelt down, and said, "The Prince of Qi attacked the capital and forced Your Majesty to burn himself to death. This is treasonous. Although I am not talented, I will never surrender to this traitor. From today on, I am willing to serve the Crown Prince at his side and help him defeat this traitor."
Xiao Zhuo reached out and helped Liu Yi up, saying, "Liu Taishou, the four counties of Xiliang have been at war for years, and the people are living in poverty. They need an official like you to govern them."
"Your Highness, rest assured. Although I am not good at fighting, I am confident in governing the local area. The three counties of Dongliang are within the pass and have not been damaged. I can now recruit soldiers and collect food for the Crown Prince..."
"Okay, let's go to the side room and talk in detail." Xiao Zhuo said, and went to the side room with Liu Yi.
Shen Yuexi blinked. Is it possible that an official at the prefectural level is loyal to Xiao Zhuo?
With the death of Emperor Yongde, officials from prefectures and counties across the country must now make a choice: to be loyal to King Qi or Xiao Zhuo.
The governor of Liangzhou was the first to pledge allegiance to Xiao Zhuo.
She remembered that this guy had led his troops to chase her and Xiao Zhuo. If the hot air balloon hadn't taken off, they would have been caught by him. She didn't expect that he would now be loyal to Xiao Zhuo. How unpredictable things are.
Turning back, Madam Li and Li Wan were still hugging her and crying. She thought to herself, what a headache! Xia Lan stayed in Xiaogang Village to take care of her sister, and Yang Cong and Feng Zhang were stationed at Langya Pass, so they hadn't brought them with them. Without those around to help, it would be hard for her to cope.
She reached out and patted Madam Li's shoulder: "Aunt, you have suffered a lot these days. Let's go inside and talk in detail."
"Oh, I haven't taken you to see someone yet," Mrs. Li seemed to remember something, took her hand and walked to the other room, "My nephew has already met him, and you happened to be away."
Shen Yuexi was a little puzzled and followed Madam Li into the room.
Inside the room stood a man, tall and strong, with a bronzed complexion. He was fully dressed and about to leave. Upon seeing Shen Yuexi enter, he immediately knelt on one knee and said, "I pay my respects to the mistress."
Shen Yuexi was surprised and delighted, and said, "General Qiu Liming, you are still alive."
She always thought that Qiu Liming died in Nanping, but she didn't expect to meet him here, it seemed like a lifetime ago.
Qiu Liming raised his head, tears glistening in his eyes, and said, "If it weren't for the armor made by the mistress to protect me, I would have been dead long ago."
Shen Yuexi thought for a long time before she remembered what had happened.
She had originally crafted an inner armor for Xiao Zhuo, who later gifted it to Qiu Liming. Unexpectedly, the armor saved Qiu Liming's life.
"I was struck by several arrows and fell into the moat from the top of Nanping City, narrowly escaping death. On the way back to Leshan, I met Madam Li and her daughter, and escorted them to Yongwei to find our lord. On the way, we encountered the Second Prince's army and learned that our lord had been defeated and his whereabouts were unknown, so we had no choice but to head east. We met Liu Yi, the governor of Liangzhou, who protected us. Upon learning that our lord had returned with his army, we immediately came to meet him."
After listening to Qiu Liming's story, Shen Yuexi said, "General Qiu fought bravely in the Nanping battle and made great contributions. Now he has returned to my husband's army. It is truly a great joy."
"I was incompetent and couldn't defend Nanping for you, my lord. I felt deeply guilty, but you didn't care at all," Qiu Liming said. "I am deeply moved and willing to mount my warhorse and fight for you again."
"Okay, okay." Shen Yuexi agreed happily.
Her husband had obtained the Zhangwu and Leshan counties, Madam Li and her daughter had returned safely, Prefect Liu Yi had declared his loyalty, and General Qiu Liming had returned. With so many happy events coming one after another, she was overjoyed.
She planned to go to the street to see if she could buy some delicious food to celebrate.
Just as they reached the gate of the prefectural government, Qiang Lin came towards them, supporting a white-haired old man.
"Doctor Hua is here too!" Shen Yuexi was already happy, and when she saw Doctor Hua again, she almost jumped up.
Doctor Hua smiled and said, "I have been practicing medicine in Yongwei. When I heard that King Zhao was leading his army to Xiliang, I hired a carriage to come here."
While they were talking, Mei Dai came over from the other side.
Doctor Hua turned around and saw Mei Dai. He covered his head and said to Shen Yuexi, "I am a little tired on the way. Please let me go into the house to rest for a while."
Shen Yuexi smiled and said, "Doctor Hua, Sister Mei is well now and won't hit you with a stick anymore."
Mei Dai bowed deeply to Doctor Hua and said, "Doctor Hua, I was rude that day because I was afraid you would see that I was pretending to be crazy. I'm sorry for that."
Doctor Hua said, "I see. It's nothing serious. The blow wasn't severe."
Mei Dai turned to Shen Yuexi and said, "Sister, I have something to tell you. Let's go for a walk on the street together."
Shen Yuexi didn't know what she wanted to say, so she said to Qiang Lin, "Let Doctor Hua go to the mansion to rest first. Sister Mei and I will go out to the streets to relax."
Mei Dai looked serious, as if he had something important to say to her.
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