Chapter 246 The Imperial Edict Arrives
Not long after Mrs. Wan and her family left the village, a noise was heard at the entrance of the village. Then, a team of well-equipped and well-trained troops arrived at the village.
Leading the way was a team of cavalrymen riding tall horses and holding brightly colored flags. The flags fluttered in the wind, rustling.
Behind the cavalry, there followed a gorgeously decorated carriage with exquisite carvings on the body and creaking wheels. The whole team was mighty and majestic, raising dust wherever it passed, like an unstoppable steel torrent.
When the team arrived at the village entrance, it immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding villagers.
Some curious villagers stretched their necks to look, wanting to see where this group of people came from.
However, faced with such a huge lineup, many people couldn't help but feel a sense of fear and awe.
At this time, the leading cavalryman sat high on his horse, wearing armor and looking majestic, holding the reins tightly in his hands. He glanced around casually with his cold eyes, and asked condescendingly: "Are the Wan family members in this village?"
The villagers were so frightened by the cavalryman's momentum that they dared not speak easily. They were trembling with fear and their faces were as pale as paper. For a moment, everyone huddled together, lowered their heads, and no one dared to speak.
Seeing no one responding, the cavalryman raised his voice again and shouted impatiently: "I'm asking you a question! Are the Wan family members in this village? Tell me now!"
At this time, a villager had already reported the matter to the village chief Jinniu. After learning about it, Jinniu hurried over. Although he was a little nervous, as the head of the village after all, he still stepped forward and said to the cavalryman: "Soldier, there are two families with the surname Wan in our village. I wonder which one you are looking for?"
The cavalryman looked Jinniu up and down and replied in a cold tone: "Wan Jinshu, is General Wan in your village?"
Jinniu immediately bowed his head respectfully and said, "Yes, sir, please come this way. I will lead the way for you."
Taurus was muttering to himself in the front, wondering what the Wan family had done wrong to alarm the army and come to arrest them.
Along the way, the villagers followed from a distance, wanting to see what was going on.
Jinniu brought the officers and soldiers to the door of Wan Jinshu's house, and then stepped forward and knocked gently on the door: "Jinshu! Are you home? An official is looking for you, come out and greet him quickly!"
With a creaking sound, the brand new wooden door was slowly pushed open, and Wan Jinshu walked out with a puzzled look on his face.
When he saw a group of cavalry standing behind Taurus, his face suddenly became solemn, but he did not panic like the other villagers.
After all, as a general who once commanded thousands of troops, Wan Jinshu had seen all kinds of scenes.
Just as Wan Jinshu was looking at the cavalry, a gorgeously decorated carriage slowly approached.
The curtain was lifted, and a fair-faced, beardless man stepped down from the carriage. He was dressed in eunuch's attire and held a golden imperial edict in his hand.
Seeing this, Wan Jinshu's heart tightened, as if he realized something.
At this time, the cavalrymen who were originally lined up in an orderly manner dismounted and quickly made way.
The eunuch walked towards Wan Jinshu with a smile, holding the imperial edict in his hand, and said, "General Wan, long time no see! This time I come to bring you good news, please be ready to receive the edict!"
After the eunuch said this, he raised the imperial edict above his head with both hands and then slowly and carefully unfolded it.
Upon seeing this, Wan Jinshu hurriedly knelt down, followed by Zhao, Wan Xingchen and Wan Yirou who had come behind him.
As for the villagers who were there to join in the fun, this was the first time they had ever seen an imperial edict! This was equivalent to indirectly paying homage to the emperor! They were so scared that they quickly knelt down respectfully and lowered their heads deeply into the loess.
The eunuch unfolded the imperial edict and read aloud, "The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: There were many suspicious points in the case of General Wan in the past. Now that I have ascended the throne, I have ordered the Dali Temple to thoroughly investigate the case of the Wan family's affair. Now that the truth has been revealed, it turns out that the Wan family was framed. The Wan family is ordered to reinstate their positions, return all of their confiscated property, and return to the capital immediately from the day they receive the imperial edict. No mistakes are allowed. I decree this."
After hearing this, Wan Jinshu immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude, but his heart was calm. After all, he had already lost an arm, so how could he go to the battlefield again?
"I accept your order and thank you. Long live the emperor." Wan Jinshu shouted.
Afterwards, the people around also kowtowed and shouted, "Long live the emperor."
Wan Jinshu looked up at the eunuch in front of him. This eunuch was a favorite of the emperor. He actually came to pick him up in person today. It seemed that he was really going back to Beijing this time. However... Wan Jinshu looked down at his empty sleeves, a self-deprecating smile appeared on his face, and he said in a light tone: "How can I be so worthy that I have troubled the eunuch to come all the way here."
The eunuch quickly stepped forward to help Wan Jinshu up, and said with a smile: "General Wan is very happy. He has finally cleared his name and can return to the capital. Now that the emperor is in need of people, General Wan must seize the opportunity."
Wan Jinshu shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Eunuch, I appreciate the emperor's kindness, but I am already a broken man and I am afraid I can no longer serve Da Qi. I hope you can tell the emperor that I have failed him."
The eunuch then noticed Wan Jinshu's broken arm, his face changed, and he couldn't help asking, "General Wan, what's going on?"
Wan Jinshu replied calmly, "It's nothing. I met a tiger on the way here and that beast took away my arm."
The eunuch said with a look of pity: "Alas! General Wan has suffered a lot. Don't worry, the emperor will definitely compensate you after returning to the capital."
Wan Jinshu shook his head helplessly and said, "Eunuch, in my current condition, I can no longer serve the court. Please report my situation to the emperor truthfully."
The eunuch frowned and advised: "General, I'm afraid you will have to go and tell the emperor in person. Please don't embarrass me. General, you should pack up quickly and follow me to the capital."
Wan Jinshu knew that this return to Beijing was a foregone conclusion, so he turned around and looked at his wife and children behind him.
Zhao's eyes were full of anticipation. She longed to return to the capital because her relatives were there, and her daughter was about to come of age and needed to consider marriage.
She absolutely did not want her daughter to marry casually in this remote place.
"Husband, the imperial edict is hard to disobey. Let's go back to Beijing first and then make plans!" Wan Jinshu nodded helplessly in agreement.
Zhao hurriedly welcomed her father-in-law into the house and began to pack her luggage. Although there was nothing missing in the general's mansion in the capital, Zhao's mood was completely different. She decided to take the things she had used here with her to remind herself that she must be careful in the future.
At this time, the father-in-law suddenly noticed that one person was missing, and asked anxiously: "General, where is General Xiao Wan?"
My father-in-law knows that the road to exile is difficult and dangerous, and he is worried that Wan Xingmo will die in exile.
Wan Jinshu hurriedly explained: "My son is out doing business and is not at home at the moment. I will leave a letter, and once he sees it, he will return to the capital immediately, so don't worry, father-in-law."
The father-in-law secretly breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. The father and son of the Wan family are both talented generals. Even if Wan Jinshu had a broken arm, he could still command thousands of troops. Wan Xingmo was even more of a wolf on the battlefield, making the enemy terrified. This father and son combination was simply invincible.
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