Chapter 394 Return to Jiangdu
Xiao Nanyan left the main army to garrison in Qixing City, and he only took Han Xiao, Mo Ren, and two hundred elite personal soldiers, carrying dozens of carts of valuable gifts, and rushed to Nanzhao Jiangdu again.
As the horse's hooves stepped into the outskirts of Jiangdu City, he looked at the endless rice fields in front of him. The rice waves rolled into golden waves in the evening breeze. Farmers on the ridges were bending over to pick up ears of rice. Children were chasing each other in bamboo baskets by the field. Smoke rose from the distant village, mixed with the fragrance of new rice, and filled his nose.
This scene of peace and prosperity dispelled all his anxiety of the past few days, and his mood suddenly became clear.
It turns out that this is the country and homeland that Yanyan is defending with her life, and it is the worldly affairs that she would rather set up an array to block than not protect.
He suddenly understood her previous stubbornness - perhaps, she was not unwilling to go with him, but was reluctant to leave the peace of this land.
"Your Highness, the Jiangdu city gate is ahead." Mo Ren reminded.
Xiao Nanyan reined in his black horse and looked at the city made of blue bricks and black tiles. There was a hint of seriousness in the eagerness in his eyes.
He raised his hand to straighten his collar:
"Go into the city."
Then he rode his horse towards the city gate.
The unique fragrance of hibiscus flowers from Nanzhao wafts in the wind, bringing a touch of sweetness.
This time, when he entered Jiangdu City again, his mood was completely different from the last time.
At that time, it was a tense confrontation, but now, there is an irrepressible joy.
Emperor Xie Zhen of the South has sent a letter to the country, agreeing to the marriage, but only requiring him to go to Jiangdu in person and saying that the wedding between the princess and him will be held in Jiangdu City.
When he came, Deputy General Jiang Peng was worried that the Southern Emperor was plotting something and was afraid that he would be detained in Jiangdu again.
Xiao Nanyue remained silent. His army was still stationed in the territory of Nanzhao. What was the point of detaining him alone?
However, it is a real show of force.
Getting married in Nanzhao clearly meant that he, the Regent of Tianqi, would become Nanzhao's son-in-law.
In fact, this was not a humiliation at all for him.
What he cared about was seeing his woman, Yin'er, as soon as possible.
What he cares about more is what he has been looking forward to for a long time——
The wedding night.
He had waited for this day for so long - from the time she faked her death and escaped last year, to their reunion at Qixing Mountain, to now finally getting married, those sleepless nights, those unforgettable longings, were finally going to come to an end amidst the flickering red candles in the Jiangdu Imperial City.
Han Xiao and Mo Ren followed behind, looking at the back of their master riding his horse at full speed, both of them smiled knowingly.
Their ruthless and decisive prince ultimately fell into the hands of the little girl he had raised with his own hands. However, this "fall" clearly concealed a sweet and tender acceptance.
…
As soon as Xiao Nanyue's cavalry arrived at the Jiangdu city gate, they saw Xie Zhan, dressed in a green shirt, standing under the city wall.
The Second Prince of Nanzhao frowned, and his eyes were as cold as ice when he looked at Xiao Nanyue.
A month ago, the hostility from the confrontation on the battlefield had not yet dissipated, but due to the Southern Emperor's instructions, they did not draw their swords on the spot.
"Prince Xiao has come from afar, and my father, the Emperor, and my mother, the Empress, have ordered me to greet you here."
Xie Zhan spoke calmly, without a hint of happiness in his voice. Thinking that this cold-faced demon in front of him was his future brother-in-law, he felt a pang of pain in his heart.
Xiao Nanyue smiled and nodded, clasping his fists in return.
"Come with me." He turned and left without even saying hello.
Xiao Nanyue didn't care and rode his horse to catch up.
Xie Zhan led them to the Jingping Posthouse—
This posthouse is located in a busy street near the Nanzhao Palace, with sentry posts set up inside and outside the walls.
"Prince Xiao, your men will be stationed here for a few days. As for the betrothal gifts you brought, I will have them counted."
The one hundred boxes of betrothal gifts were now being opened, counted and registered one by one by the postmen.
The first few boxes contained tribute pearls from the Western Regions, each large and round, gleaming with a lustrous luster in the sunlight; further down were neatly stacked Yunjin and Shujin brocades, with intricate patterns and colors, all treasures of the Tianqi Weaving Bureau;
Deeper in the cave were gold and silver vessels, including wine jugs inlaid with gems, carved incense burners, and even a whole box of pure gold ingots, neatly stacked.
There were also several boxes of rare treasures that Xiao Nanyan had specially found: coral trees collected from the East China Sea, white fox furs hunted in the northern desert, and a box filled with rare medicinal herbs from the northern border that could cure all kinds of poisons...
Xiao Nanyan watched as the betrothal gifts were all moved into the side courtyard of the inn. He had no grudge against Xie Zhan's indifference, but instead said loudly:
"This humble gift is not a token of respect. I hope Your Highness will tell Queen Nan that I come here with the full sincerity of marrying Princess Zhaoning."
Xie Zhan snorted coldly and turned away:
"The betrothal gifts have been accepted. My father will make his own arrangements. Prince Xiao, please bathe and change your clothes. At noon, please accompany me to the palace for dinner."
After saying that, he turned and left, obviously unwilling to stay with Xiao Nanyan for a moment longer.
Xiao Nanyan was not annoyed. He asked Han Xiao and the others to pack their luggage and disperse, while he himself rested for a while in the inn.
When the sun reached its zenith and the sound of noon clappers could be heard from the streets, Xie Zhan came in again, his tone still cold:
"The time has come. Follow me into the palace."
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