It had been a long time since the soldiers who were in a hurry to report the news had marched through the city shouting and waving like this.

According to the rules, great victories must be announced along the way.

It’s just that there is nothing good to report during the period before and after the New Year.

In fact, strictly speaking, this cannot be considered a great victory, but being able to lead the army back alive after penetrating deep into the Jin territory is enough to be called a great victory for any officer or soldier of the Great Zhou.

The streets were in an uproar because of the news. Princess Jiuli, who was in a house deep behind high walls, put down her needle and thread and listened with her ear tilted.

"What's going on outside?" she asked.

The princess likes to ask questions outside more and more.

But how could they know what was happening outside? The maids and servants lowered their heads.

"I'll go and ask." A maid said, and just as she was about to leave, Lu Yunqi walked in.

"Outside, reporting victory." He answered directly.

The maids lowered their heads and retreated, and Princess Jiuli showed a look of joy.

"Good news?" she asked.

"Duke Cheng is not dead." Lu Yunqi said.

He got the news earlier than the hurried soldiers, just when Duke Chengguo and others entered Dingzhou.

Naturally, he reported the news to the emperor as soon as he got it.

The emperor was inexplicably moved after hearing this.

"Should I be happy or unhappy?" he said.

These words seemed to be spoken to himself.

There was not even a eunuch in the room, only Lu Yunqi.

"Why didn't he die?" The emperor looked at Lu Yunqi and said with a frown.

It was obvious that the news did not make him happy.

His expression was gloomy and he did not hide his anxiety. He did not have the gentle and kind face that the ministers were familiar with.

The emperor in front of Lu Yunqi is different from the emperor in front of court officials.

"Because His Majesty has not let him die yet." Lu Yunqi replied.

The emperor looked at him and laughed.

"That's right," he said. "He can't die until I let him die."

Just then, the eunuch's shrill voice of joy was heard outside.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, great joy."

The emperor waved his hand to Lu Yunqi, who lowered his head and stepped back, watching the door in the hall open and the eunuch rushing in with a report in hand.

"…Duke Cheng is alive and well."

"…We have already arrived in Dingzhou…"

The emperor asked with joy and hurriedly ordered his ministers to come.

The officials in the government offices came upon hearing the summons, and the palace became even noisier.

"... Thousands of soldiers were killed! This is the crime of greed for war!"

"…That can't be said. The Jin army is powerful after all, and there is nothing we can do about the casualties..."

"...That's all Duke Cheng's fault. It's not easy to maintain an army, and it's easy to lose it. His Majesty repeatedly told him to avoid fighting, but he just refused to listen..."

Listening to the officials' indignation, the emperor looked partly happy and partly excited.

"No matter what, it's good to be alive," he said.

"Your Majesty is so kind." A minister said immediately, "It is because of your Majesty's kindness that Duke Cheng has become more confident and fearless."

"Okay, stop arguing." The emperor patted the dragon table, "Now that the person is fine, the most important thing now is to deal with the aftermath."

"Yes, let's wait until Duke Cheng comes back to talk about it." Huang Cheng, who had been silent all this time, also said.

When it comes to the aftermath, there are many relationships, merits, rewards and punishments involved, and the officials in the hall once again expressed their opinions.

Lu Yunqi had already left the hall, signaled the eunuch to close the hall door to block out the noise, then turned and walked away.

Naturally, he would not tell these things to Princess Jiuli. But when she heard Lu Yunqi say that Duke Cheng was still alive, a smile appeared on Princess Jiuli's face.

"Good people deserve long life," she said.

"It's all the same," Lu Yunqi said. "You'll die sooner or later."

"Although we will die sooner or later, one death after another can be different," said Princess Jiuli.

"There's nothing different." Lu Yunqi said lightly.

Princess Jiuli did not argue any more, but lowered her head and continued to do her needlework.

Lu Yunqi did not turn around and leave, but stood there and watched her embroidering a flower that seemed to never be finished.

"Princess, don't you want to know about Miss Jun?" he said.

Princess Jiuli stopped sewing and smiled.

"No news is good news," she said.

…

But for many people, the news about Duke Cheng was really great news.

When the rumor spread that Duke Cheng had died in battle, the people in the south cried in panic, while those in the north wept in grief.

After losing Duke Cheng, the entire north was plunged into gloom, and a group of officers and soldiers on the Xiongzhou border even fled without a fight when they encountered the Jin soldiers.

The officers and soldiers all fled, and the common people decided to head south with their families.

Of course, the wife of Duke Chengguo did not leave, nor did she look as sad as everyone imagined. She looked indifferent, as if she had not heard the news of Duke Chengguo's death at all.

"What's so sad about death?" She said to the little girl beside her, "Everyone will die, it's not a big deal."

But no one wants to die, the little girl thought.

"That's not necessarily true. Some people really want to die." Mrs. Yu said with a smile.

The news came at this moment, and Liang Chengdong rushed in with his excited voice changed its tone.

"It is absolutely true that we have arrived in Dingzhou," he said.

Since Miss Jun led the army back to Hejian Prefecture, everyone became suspicious. They sent people to inquire and learned that there was no trace of Miss Jun and others in Bazhou. Everyone guessed what was going on.

But I still find it hard to believe, it's too scary.

Although everyone was surprised when Duke Cheng led his army to invade the Jin territory, they also felt it was acceptable. After all, he was Duke Cheng. But a woman also ran away with the Shun'an Army. Wasn't this simply...seeking death?

I didn't expect that she actually did it.

Mrs. Yu had a complicated expression, she seemed excited and sad at the same time, she said a lot but in the end she just sighed.

"This child," she said.

"Are we going to Dingzhou now?" Liang Chengdong asked excitedly, "The prince should have already gone there."

Pacing back and forth again.

"I wonder how badly the Duke is injured."

Mrs. Yu smiled.

"There's nothing to worry about," she said, "Miss Jun is here."

…

At Anyangkou, Tang County, Dingzhou, a large camp was stationed at this time, with soldiers coming and going continuously, but many people were blocked outside, including the Dingzhou Bingbeidao and other civil and military officials.

"Mr. Cheng Guogong is recuperating from his injuries and cannot be disturbed." The soldier stationed outside the camp said with a wooden expression.

The military officials were somewhat annoyed by this, but because Duke Cheng was among them and the troops in this camp looked particularly fierce, they had no choice but to give up.

"Could it be that Duke Cheng is not only seriously injured, but dead?"

The officials murmured among themselves.

Otherwise, why not?

"It is said that the wife of the Crown Prince of Chengguo led the troops to rescue them."

"Is this true? I've never heard of the prince of Chengguo getting married."

Although they were denied entry to the camp, these officials did not leave, but waited not far away. Among them were not only the officials and their attendant soldiers, but also some people who looked ordinary yet extraordinary.

"Your people." Lei Zhonglian retracted his gaze and looked at Jin Shiba who was standing beside him.

Although Jin Shiba and the other fifteen Jinyi Guards were all injured to some extent, their lives were safe. At this time, they were still wearing armor and looked no different from the soldiers around them.

Upon hearing this, Jin Shiba looked cold and ignored it.

"These people can't get in, so you'd better behave yourself and don't have any evil thoughts." Lei Zhonglian said, "Otherwise I'll lock you up for another half a year."

"What is there to hide? What can be hidden?" Jin Shiba said coldly.

While they were talking here, there was a commotion outside the camp, and it seemed that someone else was about to come in.

"Why can't I go in?"

A man shouted in a loud voice.

"Don't you know who I am?"

Hearing the voice, Lei Zhonglian knew who was coming without even looking, and his expression became somewhat excited.

“…I am the prince of Chengguo.”

Since he was the prince of Duke Cheng, he would naturally not be stopped. The officials who came over saw Zhu Zan and had to stop their horses and rush in.

"Where's my dad?"

"Where's my mother?"

"Where's my wife?"

"Where is the Crown Prince's wife?"

The loud sound immediately filled the quiet military camp, making the whole world seem to be bustling with activity.

Following the shout, a tent was opened and a woman walked out.

"Who's looking for the prince's wife?" she asked loudly.

Zhu Zan saw it out of the corner of his eye and ran over immediately.

The woman, who was in her teens, had her face covered and was playing with a whip.

Is this the wife of the prince? She is indeed martial and plays with weapons.

A thought flashed through Zhu Zan's mind, and the smile on his face deepened.

"I," he said, "I am your husband..."

Before he could finish his words, he saw another person lifting the curtain and walking out.

She was wearing a bright spring dress and had a graceful figure. She lowered her head slightly because she was going to go out from behind the curtain. Her hair was dark black and there was a pearl flower on her head.

"Husband, you are here." She said.

So that's what it is... Zhu Zan curled his lips inwardly, feeling the countless gazes from behind, his expression became even more intense.

"Mom..." he shouted loudly and jumped off the horse.

The woman raised her head and looked over, smiling slightly.

Seeing this smile, Zhu Zan felt his body go limp.

"ah……"

The sound of "wife" turned into "ah", and the man fell off the horse with a thud.

Miss Jun pursed her lips and smiled.

"My dear, my mother is not here. She is rushing over from Hejian Prefecture." She looked at Zhu Zan in front of her with crooked eyes, "Don't worry, my mother-in-law is fine."

Zhu Zan leaned on his horse, holding the reins and looking as if he had seen a ghost.

"Oh my god." He blurted out again.