Huang Cheng watched the emperor walk forward, with civil and military officials following him in a line.

The emperor's order had been conveyed. Drums and music were playing, the ceremonial processions were in order, and people on the streets were kneeling one after another, in a scene of flowers and decorations.

Amidst all the flowers, Huang Cheng looked very ugly, and he did not hide it at all.

"Sir, please get up." The two eunuchs advised carefully.

"I won't get up." Huang Cheng said, "What am I afraid of? Honest advice is unpleasant to the ear. What's so shameful about being rejected when giving advice? This is the duty of a minister."

As he spoke, he simply sat down, looking as if he wasn't going to get up.

When a child starts to tantrum, you can just beat him. But when an elderly person starts to tantrum, there is really nothing you can do as you cannot beat him.

The emperor didn't care anyway, so the eunuchs looked at each other, shook their heads and walked away.

The sound of horse hooves drowned out the people's cheers.

When the plain-clothed army appeared before the imperial city, surrounded by ragged refugees, although they were not as majestic as the soldiers in bright armor, they had a different kind of majesty.

Especially when they saw the emperor appear, Duke Cheng stepped forward and shouted that he was guilty and had failed to live up to the trust placed in him by His Majesty. The soldiers dismounted and knelt on one knee to greet him respectfully. Tens of thousands of refugees from the north knelt down and cried and kowtowed excitedly. The atmosphere in front of the entire imperial city was both tragic and inspiring.

The emperor did not hesitate any longer. He stepped forward, held Duke Cheng's hand, and burst into tears. He also comforted the agitated refugees. All officials knelt down, and the people shouted "Long live the emperor!" The whole capital was shocked.

The area in front of the imperial city became a bustling center. The street where the northern refugees and the Duke of Cheng's army had just passed by became quiet. This quietness was of course relative. The people on the street were still excitedly discussing what they had just seen, while more people were flocking to the imperial city.

Standing at the window of the restaurant on the street, King Xian clicked his tongue twice.

"It's wonderful, wonderful, the style of Duke Cheng is really unstoppable." He sighed, thinking of something and looking back, "People say that the disciple is better than the master, but you, as a son, are really not as good as your father. When your father goes out, the streets are deserted, but when you go out, the streets are full of chaos."

This is a large and luxurious room, but at this moment, there is only one person sitting in front of the exquisite banquet inside.

The man was wearing coarse cloth, had messy hair and a beard. He was sitting cross-legged, holding a wine pot in one hand and gnawing on half a roast chicken in the other.

This looked just like the northern refugees who had just passed by on the street; they really did not fit in with this indoor environment.

"You are jealous." He said, pulling down his beard, revealing his clean and handsome face, and raised his head with his hand, "When have I ever gone out without a crowd of people?"

Then he pointed outside.

"Do you believe me? I'll show you a bet right now. How much will you give me if you lose?"

King Xian laughed.

"Let's not talk about money. Talking about money hurts our feelings," he said.

He seemed to know that he would not gain any advantage by arguing with Zhu Zan, so he stopped talking about this topic and pointed outside.

"Those people are really pissed off this time. They spent so much time planning and money making such a big scene, but in the end they didn't even get to see Duke Cheng before they were dispersed."

Zhu Zan sneered and poured the wine from the jug into his mouth.

"They deserve it," he said. "They are a bunch of brainless and unscrupulous little idiots who took the money."

The wise king shook his head.

"But even a bunch of little idiots can make a person look bad." He said, "If the refugees from the north hadn't come, you would have had to come out to meet them."

"No ifs." Zhu Zan said clearly.

The wise man uttered two clicks of his tongue.

"Look how proud you are. It's because your wife is so amazing," he said.

Zhu Zan glared.

"Your wife!" he said.

"My wife is at home. There are several of them. Which one do you want to find?" King Xian also said with a glare.

Zhu Zan made a "Pooh" sound.

"Stop glaring. It won't make any more noise." He said, reaching out to pick up the chopsticks and taking another bite of food.

King Xian sat down next to him.

"Hey, where's your wife? The big show is over, but she hasn't appeared yet?" he asked curiously.

Zhu Zan pushed him away with his arm.

"Be careful with your words. Don't call me your wife all the time. I'm still a young man with a clean conscience." He said unhappily.

King Xian pouted.

"You are so fair!" he laughed, and while picking up the wine he drank it happily.

Although there were only two people in the room, the atmosphere was cheerful and lively, matching the liveliness of the imperial city not far away.

As for the huge crowd at the city gate farther away, they had long disappeared. Only the officers and soldiers on duty were standing there discussing what had just happened. A group of people came over from outside the city. When they saw them, the officers and soldiers couldn't help but exchange glances with each other and stood up straight.

They were a group of people wearing Confucian robes and square scarves, but compared to their usual elegance and handsomeness, they now looked a little shabby, perhaps because their tattered clothes were stained with dust, or perhaps because of the decadent expressions on their faces.

The soldiers guarding the city, who used to show respect to these scholars, no longer had the same respect as before, and their expressions showed undisguised ridicule.

"His contributions are all due to his merits, and we have not denied his contributions," said a scholar with some shame. "It is wrong for him to ask for credit and reward."

Before the person next to him could answer him, a sneer was heard nearby.

The scholar turned his head and saw that it was the soldiers at the city gate.

"According to what you said, scholar, we can't even ask for our salary?" He said with a smile.

The scholar looked even more embarrassed because his words were refuted by a vulgar soldier.

"What is deserved should be deserved, and what is not deserved should not be deserved." He said, "Don't confuse our meaning and be deceived by the Duke of Chengguo."

The soldier was about to say something when they heard a heavy hum and chaotic footsteps. Everyone looked and saw a group of scholars walking towards the city.

The soldier couldn't help but feel frightened, but in the final analysis he still didn't dare to confront the scholars. Just as he was about to take a step back, he saw an elder who was the leader of the scholars coming from the city stop and spat heavily at the students and literati here.

"Song Wencai, you have really brought shame upon scholars." He shouted fiercely.

Eh? It turned out to be... The soldier's expression changed, and his eyes turned to the two scholars.

The expressions of these scholars from outside the city also changed.

"Mr. Zhou." A scholar stepped forward, "We are doing this for the sake of the scholars of the Great Zhou. He is a military general, and he is too arrogant. Historically, the military is on the left and the scholars are on the right. How can a civil official pay salaries to a military general?"

"That's right, Mr. Zhou, we must not allow military generals to be so domineering, otherwise there will be chaos." Many people behind him also followed suit.

The elder known as Mr. Zhou looked at them and sneered again.

"I don't see any civil officials or military commanders, I only see people," he said, "and you, let alone scholars, are not even human beings."

These words were very serious. The faces of these scholars turned red and pale. When they tried to figure out what was going on, Mr. Zhou had already pointed at one of them.

"Kang Liangchen," he said coldly, "how much did you take from them? How did you get the house in Maoer Hutong?"

After these words were spoken, many people were shocked and looked at one person.

This was a slightly plump middle-aged man standing among the group of scholars. He looked terrified and stepped back subconsciously.

"I, I didn't," he stammered.

Mr. Zhou did not ask any more questions, but glanced at them coldly.

"Don't wear scholar's clothes in the capital anymore. There are no students like you in the Imperial College." He said in a cold voice, turned around and strode away.

The many students and scholars who followed him also shook their heads at these people with disdain on their faces.

"It's insulting."

"What a scumbag."

They talked a lot and then left in anger.

The students here fell into chaos, and many of them rushed forward to grab the man who was named and started to make a fuss.

The soldiers guarding the city were happy.

"Hey, hey." They crossed their arms in front of them, laughing as if they were enjoying the fun, "You can't win over them by talking, so why not just have a fight?"

"Hey, hey, don't talk if you can do it with your hands."

A commotion also came from a tavern near the city gate.

Looking at the scholars running around the city gate with their faces covered, Chen Qi clapped his hands against the window and laughed.

"First they lost face, and now they are expelled by Mr. Zhou. There is no place for them in the capital." He said, spitting in hatred, "Ten years of hard study have been wasted here, they deserve it."

"This is how things are done. The outcome is unpredictable. If they succeed this time, it will be Duke Cheng who deserves it." Fang Jinxiu said.

Chen Qi looked at her and smiled.

"You didn't see how dangerous those two battles outside the capital were." He said exaggeratedly, "I asked you to go with me outside the city, but you refused to go."

"We will go into the city anyway, so I'll just wait and see the outcome," Fang Jinxiu said.

Chen Qi chuckled.

"Are you so sure?" he asked.

Fang Jinxiu sneered but said nothing.

Chen Qi smiled and clapped his hands.

"Well, now that the result is settled, let's go back." He said, and was about to go out, but Fang Jinxiu sat by the window without moving.

"What's wrong?" Chen Qi said, "It's not exciting anymore, let's go."

Fang Jinxiu listened to the noise coming from the imperial city in the distance, looked at the quiet outside the city gate, and clenched her hand holding the tea bowl slightly.

What about her?

In the next room, Ning Yan was shaking his head and walking away from the window.

"Sweep the floor," he said.

Ning Shiyi walked in quickly from outside the door.

"Father, Duke Cheng has already entered the palace. His Majesty is hosting a banquet today, and His Majesty has also asked the various tribes to properly resettle the refugees in the north and relocate them to various provincial capitals," he said.

"Fortunately, Your Majesty did not continue to be deceived by treacherous villains." Ning Yan nodded and said, and the father and son went downstairs.

Ning Shiyi laughed when he heard this.

"Father, Your Majesty was deceived into doing this," he said. "At that time, Your Majesty was held by Huang Cheng's legs and was about to enter the palace to avoid him."

Ning Yan stopped and looked at him.

"Tenth brother stood up and asked His Majesty to stay." Ning Shiyi said while trying not to laugh.

Yun Zhao.

Ning Yan was slightly surprised but felt that there was nothing surprising about it.

How could his nephew, who was so smart, be willing to be a mediocre vassal?

…

"Yun Zhao, you really scared us to death this time."

The bustle on the street was still going on. The ceremonial guards in front of the imperial city had been removed and everyone was heading towards the palace.

Ning Yunzhao, who was at the back of the queue, was surrounded by several colleagues and whispered.

Ning Yunzhao looked forward with a smile.

"So do you feel dead or alive now?" he asked.

Now...several officials also looked forward. The emperor was sitting in a sedan chair, accompanied by Duke Cheng Zhu Shan.

This scene today pleased the emperor deeply. Compared with those who advised him to return to the palace, their congratulations were certainly more beneficial than harmful.

This time, it left an impression on the emperor.

"Life and death," said an official.

Several people started laughing. As they were talking and laughing, a eunuch came hurriedly over and saluted Ning Yunzhao with a smile.

"Master Xiaoning, please come with me," he said.

Is the emperor going to talk to him?

Several officials showed joy on their faces. Ning Yunzhao looked calm and responded with a slight smile and a smile.

The eunuch walked ahead, but Ning Yunzhao did not immediately follow him in response to the congratulatory looks from his colleagues. Instead, he stopped and looked back with some anticipation.

What are you looking at?

What are you waiting for?

Colleagues looked back subconsciously.

"It's lively." Ning Yunzhao said.

Bustling?

The crowds on the street had not yet dispersed and it was still lively as before, but that was all. I was tired after watching it for half a day.

"Don't watch it, it's not lively anymore." A colleague laughed softly.

Ning Yunzhao smiled and said nothing more. He retracted his gaze, bowed to everyone, and followed the eunuch forward.

His colleagues looked at him from behind with joy.

"It's the same official robe, why does Lord Xiaoning look so good in it?" a colleague said happily.

His companions laughed at his remark, and because it was too noisy, he attracted an unpleasant glare of warning from Yu Shi at the side. Everyone quickly put away their appearance, lined up and filed forward.

"It turns out that following Lord Xiaoning won't go wrong." An official murmured suddenly as he walked, with a sigh and relief.

…

Ning Yan walked down from the tavern. The noise in front of the city gate had dissipated with the departure of the scholars. There were no crowds of people on the street, and it seemed very quiet.

"With fewer people, the road won't be blocked and we can get home quickly." Ning Shiyi smiled and watched the servants driving the carriage over. Just as he finished speaking, someone ran out from the building.

"I'm coming."

The man shouted and passed by Ning Shiyi like the wind, and Ning Shiyi was almost knocked down.

"What are you doing?" Ning Shiyi shouted angrily, "Who is coming? Are you in such a hurry? Are you here to pick up the Bodhisattva?"

The man ignored him and ran straight to the city gate.

Ning Shiyi looked over subconsciously and saw a man riding a horse coming on the road outside the city gate.

I couldn't see her face clearly, I could only see her pretty figure, dressed in a fiery red dress. However, because of her gentle posture, she didn't seem aggressive. She was a combination of gentleness, elegance and grace, attracting attention yet not ostentatious.

Who is this?

"Miss Jun!"

Chen Qi raised his hands and shouted loudly.

Miss Jun?

Which Miss Jun?

The shout caused the few pedestrians on the street to stop and the guards at the city gate to stand up straight, with all eyes looking over there.

The woman was getting closer and closer, and had already arrived in front of the city gate. The veil that had shielded her from the wind, sand, and scorching sun had fallen in front of her, revealing her beautiful face.

The street seemed to freeze for a moment, and then shouts broke out.

"Miss Jun!"

"Miss Jun is back!"

"The miracle doctor from Jiulingtang is back!"

Along with the shouting, a lot of people suddenly poured out of the street, as if they came out from the ground. People from restaurants, teahouses and hotels also poured out, filling the street in an instant.

Ning Shiyi was squeezed all over the place and carefully protected Ning Yan.

"This is really a Bodhisattva." He said, looking at the crowded streets, stamping his feet helplessly and annoyed, "It's over, the road is blocked again, I can't get out for a while."

There was a new bustle on the street. The bustle in front of Yu Street was fading away. As the news spread, more people flocked in from there. The scene was no less than welcoming Duke Cheng into the city.

"People who don't know would think that Duke Cheng hasn't arrived in Beijing yet," said Jiang Qianhu.

At this time they were standing in a dark little room under the city gate, out of the sunlight and out of people's sight.

Captain Jiang looked at Lu Yunqi who was standing beside him with his hands behind his back looking outside.

"Just as you expected, Miss Jun really arrived today." He complimented.

Lu Yunqi walked over the threshold with an expressionless face, but did not step into the sunlight. He remained in the shadow of the corner of the city wall, so that the crowds of people who were only concerned about seeing Miss Jun did not notice him.

But a pair of eyes looked at him as he walked out.

Because he is riding on a horse and looking down from above.

Lu Yunqi raised his head slightly and looked at him blankly.

The woman in red in the field of vision tapped the whip gently in her hand, smiled slightly, and moved her lips silently.

I'm back.

Lu Yunqi understood what she said silently.

I'm back.

Lu Yunqi only felt that the sunlight suddenly became dazzling and his heartbeat stopped for a moment.

Not because of what she said, but because of the way she looked.

She is back.

His her, not someone else, this is his her, she is back.