Chapter 643 Xie Liangchen Returns to the Capital?
Outside the city, in a forest.
Under the moonlight, a campfire slowly spread with the wind, its orange flames licking at the withered grass and low trees. It was a warm and cozy scene, but the faint war song that drifted from afar startled the birds and beasts around, creating a chilling atmosphere.
The patrolling soldiers had just gripped their long swords at their waists when they passed by in groups. The imperial carriage in the very center was surrounded and protected by a cluster of other carriages and horses.
Before long, an elderly man with his temples covered in frost came out of the temporary tent next to the carriage, and mounted his horse with almost red eyes.
"Respectfully seeing off General Lin."
Behind him, a young man in white stood at a distance, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
"Please return, Young Marquis Xie. I have urgent business to attend to today and am afraid I won't be able to see the General. Let's have a drink and chat later."
When Xie Liangchen heard the word "General," a cold glint flashed in his peach blossom eyes, but he immediately followed it with a light smile and clasped his hands in greeting: "General Lin, it is late and the dew is heavy now. I'm afraid your body can't take it. Why don't you rest for the night? There's still time."
"No, no, no." Although Lin Du was talking to Xie Liangchen, his eyes were already looking towards the camp. He waved his hand and said in a hoarse but firm voice, "It's alright. I never dared to dream that I would see the general leading the army again before I die. Now I have no regrets in this life."
As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.
Xie Liangchen's dark eyes darkened slightly, but he ultimately said nothing, only offering a faint smile as he said, "Then I wish the general a safe journey."
General Lin Du nodded, then spurred his horse and led his troop of men toward the forest path ahead, slowly disappearing into the darkness.
Further away, two younger eunuchs, having finished their service, came out and huddled together by the fire, rubbing their hands and whispering amongst themselves.
"How many is this now? General Lin, the garrison commander of the capital, has been retired for many years, hasn't he? At his age, he is still braving the night to rush back. He really doesn't care about his health."
"That's right, but it's not surprising anymore. That old Duke has been traveling in foreign lands for many years. Didn't he also return after hearing that the capital was raising troops? I've seen countless people like that in the last two days."
"Who says otherwise? Such a grand display of force, it can't just be aimed at that General Li Rong, can it? Do you think the Emperor is going to lead the expedition in person? But isn't our Emperor ill?"
"Who knows? We'll find out when we return to the palace with the Empress Dowager."
Xie Liangchen glanced at the two eunuchs warming themselves by the fire. They were talking very quietly, and he couldn't hear them clearly, but he could guess that they were pretty close to what was going on.
For a moment, his eyes were filled with turbulent emotions that were impossible to decipher.
His steps never faltered, and he walked all the way to the outside of the tent, lowering his hands and eyes: "Your Majesty, I have returned."
"Young Master Xie, please come in."
As she spoke, a smiling old woman lifted the curtain and welcomed Xie Liangchen in.
"How many is this? I've seen so many old friends in a long time."
The Empress Dowager was resting on a soft couch by the window. She had just received a hand warmer from a palace maid. She tilted her head, seemingly listening intently to the faint sound of horns approaching from afar. Her voice carried a hint of languor.
Xie Liangchen stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting: "Your Majesty, General Lin is the eleventh person you have summoned. There were seventeen other senior officials before him, but you did not summon them. In addition, we encountered sixty-nine carriages heading to the capital along the way. According to my rough calculation, I can confirm that at least half of them came to the capital after hearing the news of Li Rong's return."
The Empress Dowager slowly raised her eyes and glanced at Xie Liangchen before her, a faint smile playing on her lips: "You child, you've become increasingly outstanding after several years of training in the Great Wilderness. To be honest, it's a bit of a waste for you to serve in my presence."
As she spoke, she looked at Xie Liangchen with a half-smile.
Xie Liangchen paused slightly, then immediately knelt down and bowed her head: "Your Majesty! Liangchen has received great kindness from you, how could I feel wronged?"
The next second, he looked up at the Empress Dowager, his eyes clear and his words earnest: "If you hadn't been willing to give Liangchen the opportunity to return to the capital, Liangchen would probably have been buried in the Great Wilderness for the rest of his life. It is Liangchen's blessing and the Xie family's blessing to be able to serve the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager gently stroked the intertwined floral pattern on the brazier with her fingertips, then suddenly laughed: "What are you doing? When the imperial carriage was frightened earlier, if you hadn't risked your life to protect me, I might be bedridden now. Good child, why do you kneel all the time? It breaks my heart. Come on, sit down and talk."
The nanny beside him, being very perceptive, brought over a chair.
Xie Liangchen stood up, looking somewhat flattered, but his palms under his sleeves were still covered in cold sweat.
"Your Majesty is blessed with good fortune. I never expected that you would be in the carriage on that auspicious day. It was truly a blessing from a lucky day."
The Empress Dowager listened and stared at him intently: "You look like your father, but your temperament is quite different."
Seeing Xie Liangchen in a daze, the Empress Dowager suddenly smiled and said, "You speak much better than your father."
Xie Liangchen's already pale face turned even paler. For a moment, he didn't know how to reply and just listened with his head down.
"If your father were here, he would probably be in that tent too. Speaking of which, your Xie family's achievements were earned through real battles. It's just that the Xie family later fell into the hands of that arrogant and foolish Xie Zhang. It's truly a pity."
The Empress Dowager's voice was light and airy: "Liangchen, as long as you are loyal, once we get rid of traitors like Xiao Yuanshan, I will assist the new emperor in ascending the throne, and the Xie family will still be yours."
Xie Liangchen clasped his hands in a fist salute, and upon closer listening, his voice was tinged with emotion: "Liangchen thanks Your Majesty."
Just then, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves behind them.
The old nanny beside the Empress Dowager went out to look and returned shortly to report: "Your Majesty, another group of people has gone to the capital. It's the Wei family's carriage. Ever since their young master and Li Sheng both died at Huguo Temple, the Wei family has lived in seclusion and we haven't seen any of them for many years."
The Empress Dowager's eyes held a deep look, and after a long while, she sighed, "That person has returned; it's truly alarming."
The next second, she placed the hand warmer beside the couch and said in a deep voice, "Get ready, we need to set off early tomorrow. We must hurry, or something unexpected might happen if we fall behind!"
"yes!"
After responding, Xie Liangchen slowly withdrew from the tent.
He walked to the campfire without realizing it. The firelight reflected in his pale eyes, but it did not bring him any warmth.
Afu, standing beside him, handed him a cup of hot tea, his voice filled with excitement: "Young master, please moisten your throat. We were just about to head to the capital, and I never imagined we'd actually be back."
Previously, due to a case of a convicted slave cheating, no one in the entire Great Wilderness was allowed to take the imperial examinations. Even the young master's previous examinations were cancelled. Afu really thought there was no hope at that time, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. The young master locked himself in his room for two days, and then went out and actually managed to find them a way back to the capital!
Xie Liangchen took the teacup, and the warmth of the cup seeped through his fingertips, allowing him to regain his composure.
Yes, they're finally coming back.
He lowered his head and took a sip of tea, then murmured, "By all accounts, Li Junping should be heading to the capital soon, right?"
(End of this chapter)
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