Chapter 114 Twenty Years of Wandering, Returning Home
"Let's go see General Yang first thing tomorrow morning."
Ever since she left the palace, this sentence had been lingering in Yang Xiao's mind.
She absentmindedly returned to her bedchamber, dismissed the servants as usual, and nestled in her room, taking out her array diagram from her sleeve.
The layout on the map was already clear, and there were still dense markings on it, but at this moment, these ink marks could only float thinly on the surface, and did not touch Yang Xiao's heart at all.
Feeling irritated, she rubbed her head and reluctantly put the diagram away. Looking up at the darkening sky outside the window, she collapsed onto the bed in frustration, forcing herself to sleep with her eyes tightly closed.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, the image of Chixiao Palace would appear in his mind and he couldn't shake it off.
There was a father she had never met, an older brother she had fought alongside, and a home in name only that she had never had.
So-called kinship had almost never appeared by her side, and there had been no news of her for more than 20 years. But in this one day, she came to her so-called homeland in the name of a surrendered general.
Her father was demoted to the frontier, her mother was murdered, and even her brother was bound by Xiao Yan and treated as a puppet. All of this was the initial reason for her to become a general, and the answer she had been yearning for for many years.
Now, the answer lies in the Crimson Cloud Palace, right here in the Chang'an Formation, yet she panicked and hesitated to move forward.
She had witnessed the loving kindness and filial piety of Cen Fei and his daughter, and the genuine brotherly affection between Zhong Li'an and Zhong Li Shuo. The thought of these long-awaited relatives suddenly appearing in her life filled her with a sense of bewilderment.
Having never met in twenty years, the long-cherished wish in my heart finally turned into confusion and helplessness the moment it was within reach.
Are they truly blood relatives, bound by deep affection, or are they like strangers, distant and unapproachable?
A jumble of chaotic thoughts grew wildly in Yang Xiao's mind like weeds. She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to shake the chaotic thoughts out of her mind, but then she heard a few faint chimes.
When I opened my eyes again, dawn was breaking.
Yang Xiao frowned and sat up, rubbing her throbbing head. She took a deep breath, closed her sore eyes, wiped the wetness from the corner of her eyes, got up to wash and change, as if nothing had happened last night.
"Reporting, General!"
Yang Xiao had just tied the arm guards Lu Qi had given her to her hands when she heard someone come to report from the door.
"General Fan is waiting at the door."
"Wait a moment, I'll be right out."
Yang Xiao looked at the bronze mirror, closed her eyes again, and walked towards the door.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, General Fan." She lifted the curtain and stepped out of the tent, where she saw Fan Kun standing outside, looking energetic and waiting.
"Good morning, General," Fan Kun clasped his hands in greeting to Yang Xiao, then smiled and said, "No, I should call you Miss now."
Yang Xiao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled and shook her head, "You got up so early, yet you're not sleepy at all."
"Although my name contains the character '困' (kun, meaning sleepy), I'm actually not that sleepy." Fan Kun smiled as he led Yang Xiao's red-bridled horse over and handed her the reins. "On the contrary, I've arrived too early today and disturbed your sleep, General."
Yang Xiao took the reins and led Chi Lian towards the door. "It's alright, I just woke up and you came."
Fan Kun seemed completely oblivious to the weariness on Yang Xiao's face, and still said excitedly, "General Yang heard that you were coming to the mansion, and he barely slept all night. He sat in the room before dawn today, preparing tea and waiting for you."
"Is it really true?" Yang Xiao mounted her horse and looked at Fan Kun beside her. "What...did Father say?"
“Ever since you fought with the young general, General Yang has been thinking about you constantly.” Fan Kun looked ahead and sighed. “It’s strange, though. In the past, the old general thought about you day and night and couldn’t wait for you to appear before him. Now that you’re really coming, he seems a little at a loss, as if he is… afraid to face you.”
He unconsciously tightened his grip on the reins, his heart pounding faster and faster in his chest.
“However, the old general has always been a kind person. Perhaps what I said just now was just my imagination.” Fan Kun seemed to notice Yang Xiao’s unease and turned to look at her reassuringly. “Don’t worry about it. You will know when we get to Chixiao Prefecture.”
Yang Xiao looked at Fan Kun and chuckled lightly, "Why are you so excited about my reunion with my father? You're just like a kid who's just entered the army."
"After all, I have followed the two generals for more than ten years. I am naturally happy from the bottom of my heart that you can come home."
"Going home?" Yang Xiao gazed at a corner of a building bathed in the morning sun, and the knot in her heart suddenly disappeared.
The word "home" had been absent from her memory for far too long, and she no longer had a definite concept of it.
But if someone calls her home, the joy and warmth in her heart are real.
Thinking of this, she relaxed on the horse, looked back and smiled at Fan Kun, "Then let's hurry up, don't keep our family... waiting too long."
Fan Kun looked into Yang Xiaoming's bright eyes, smiled and nodded. The two warhorses galloped in the sunlight, heading straight for Chixiao Mansion.
Before even reaching the gate, a black horse could be seen lingering and waiting in front of the mansion.
"Ah Xiao!" Upon seeing Yang Xiao's figure, Yang Song could not hide his joy and hurriedly urged his horse to come forward.
"Brother," Yang Xiao greeted Yang Song with a fist salute from afar, and said with a smile, "You can just sit in your residence, why come to greet me in person?"
Yang Song chuckled and shook his head. "You're being a bit too formal. Let's go back to the manor first." He turned and smiled at Yang Xiao. "Father has been pacing back and forth in the house since early this morning, without stopping at all."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao gently pulled on the reins and looked up at the gilded plaque—"Chixiao Mansion".
She stood still, took a deep breath, then dismounted and followed Yang Song into the mansion.
"Report! The young general and the young lady have returned!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Zhen, who was pacing back and forth inside the room, was startled. The majesty of the former General Chixiao vanished. He quickly walked towards the door, but then stopped abruptly.
He clenched his fists slightly, staring intently at the closed door.
With a creak, a ray of golden light burst through the door.
Yang Zhen leaned forward slightly, and the next moment, Yang Xiao's slightly furrowed brows appeared before him.
A hint of struggle flickered in his bright and clear eyes, and his maroon battle robe was neatly draped over his slender and upright figure. Yang Zhen felt a sudden sense of disorientation, and the all-too-familiar figure instantly appeared before his eyes.
The blurry, hazy reflection gradually overlapped with the person before him, then the unrestrained and arrogant expression faded, replaced by a hint of hesitation, composure, and anticipation as he gazed at him intently.
"Ah Xiao..." Yang Zhen's voice was a little hoarse as he took a step toward Yang Xiao in front of him.
Yang Xiao also came to her senses immediately. She lifted her clothes and knelt on the ground. "Daughter Yang Xiao greets Father." She looked up at Yang Zhen's slightly red eyes. "It has been many years since we last met. I hope Father will forgive my unfilial daughter."
Upon seeing this, Yang Zhen felt a surge of sadness. He rushed forward to help Yang Xiao up, his eyes already welling up with tears. "I'm so sorry, Xiao, why do you have to bow to me..." He choked up, letting a hot tear fall onto his clothes. "Come on, get up quickly."
“Father, why do you say that?” Yang Xiao helped Yang Zhen to his feet. Seeing the earnest look in Yang Zhen’s eyes, she was filled with mixed emotions. “You went to great lengths to keep me safe abroad. If it weren’t for you, how could I have survived until now…”
"For twenty years, I've never fulfilled even the slightest responsibility of a father, I didn't even know where you were..." Large tears streamed down Yang Zhen's wrinkled face, but he didn't bother to wipe them away. "I'm incompetent, yet I've made you suffer so much for nothing... Xiao, I'm so sorry..."
Yang Xiao's eyes also reddened. She sighed softly, shook her head, and gently wiped away Yang Zhen's tears. "How could I not know your good intentions? Besides, I have no dissatisfaction or regret along the way. In the end, I should be thanking you... for giving me this opportunity to experience the world."
“You…” Yang Zhen’s tears streamed down his face. He looked at Yang Xiao through his teary eyes, smiled with heartache and emotion, and hesitantly raised his hand to gently touch Yang Xiao’s head. “I never thought that after so many years away, you would finally become a general, a true and genuine general.”
A broad, warm touch landed on Yang Xiao's head, warming her heart. A strange surge of blood welled up in her heart and rushed through her entire body.
She could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down her face.
This must be what family love is; this is the family she has always dreamed of.
“Father…” Yang Xiao looked at the tall figure in front of her with teary eyes, all the grievances she had felt before suddenly welling up in her heart. Before she could take a step forward, Yang Zhen pulled her directly into his arms.
"Don't cry, Xiao Xiao, it's Daddy's fault." Yang Zhen immediately hugged Yang Xiao like he was comforting a child, gently rocking her and occasionally rubbing his eyes.
Yang Song and Fan Kun exchanged a glance, and a bitter feeling welled up inside them.
"After wandering alone for so many years, you've risen to the rank of general through your own abilities..." Yang Zhen looked out the window, tears still streaming down his face. "If you still consider this family, you will be our eternal pride."
“I acknowledge it…” Yang Xiao choked back tears in Yang Zhen’s arms, “How could I not acknowledge it…”
“Our family has been generals for generations; even your mother was the top general of the Northern Qiang. But to be honest,” Mayor Yang sighed, holding back tears, and looked down at Yang Xiao in his arms, “I didn’t want you to follow our path and suffer this hardship again. But I never expected…”
"I never imagined that I, all alone and through my own efforts, would still find myself on this path." Yang Xiao wiped away her tears, looked up at Yang Zhen with a smile, and said, "Do you think it's possible that bringing peace to the world is our family's mission?"
Looking into Yang Xiao's eyes, Yang Zhen burst into laughter through his tears. He reached out and ruffled Yang Xiao's hair, saying, "You're right. But you must have had a hard journey."
“There’s no such thing as hardship or not,” Yang Xiao sniffed and shook her head. “After all these years away from home, although I haven’t had family to protect me, all the people and things I’ve met along the way have gradually shaped me into who I am today. I suppose what I’ve gained along the way,” she smiled and looked at Yang Song beside her, “is not much different from what my brother has achieved.”
Yang Song chuckled and shook his head, "You are far superior to me. You don't need to be modest at home."
“You’re better than that kid. I could tell when you first clashed.” Yang Zhen smiled and pointed at Yang Xiao, pulling her to sit down at the table. “Not only could you fight him to a draw, but you also saw through Xiao Yan’s intentions and took down Cheng Feng in one fell swoop.” He poured a cup of tea with a smile. “Although I didn’t see the battle, I could tell how exciting it was just by listening to it.”
"Father, you flatter me," Yang Xiaogang nodded and accepted the tea offered by Yang Zhen. Then she looked up and saw Yang Song carrying a stack of something towards her. "Brother, what is this?"
Yang Zhen followed Yang Xiao's gaze and, upon seeing what Yang Song was holding, quickly stood up to stop him, "Hey, Song'er, listen to me and put it down."
Yang Xiao curiously turned to look, but Yang Zhen blocked her way completely.
The usually imposing general was unusually embarrassed, standing between his children, unable to move forward or backward.
"Dad, it's not shameful."
"Oh no, that won't do. Your sister just arrived..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yang Song nimbly dodged past, and the stack of things appeared right in front of Yang Xiao.
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