Chapter 408 Return to the Capital
In the autumn of the second year of Jingping, Regent Xiao Nanyan's trip to Nanzhao finally came to an end.
This expedition, which began with fighting, ended with his marriage to Princess Zhaoning Xie Tian.
When the group arrived at Luoshui City, Xiao Nanyue and Xie Lan completed the handover of military power. He personally returned the six cities captured in this battle one by one.
Xie Lan accompanied him all the way until they reached the border of Xinzhou.
From then on, Xinzhou became a jurisdiction of Nanzhao.
Xiao Nanyue and Xie Lan made a formal handover on the Xinzhou issue, and the battle of Nanzhao came to an end.
Xiao Nanyan led the army on the return journey.
Before leaving, Xi Yan looked at her brother, who was born of the same mother, with tears in her eyes. Thousands of words got stuck in her throat, and finally she could only say one sentence:
"Take care, brother."
Xie Lanyi's eyes were red. He patted the back of her hand and kissed Yin'er. He turned around and told Xie Zhan a few words, asking him to stay in Tianqi for a while and not to rush back to Nanzhao. Xie Zhan nodded, and he felt relieved.
Looking at the mighty army setting off, the flags fluttering in the wind, and the sound of horses' hooves shaking the earth, Xie Lan breathed a sigh of relief.
After this farewell, the mountains are high and the waters are long. I only hope that my imperial sister and Yin'er can resolve their heart knots as soon as possible.
He could see that Xiao Nanyue was sincere towards the imperial sister, but the imperial sister still had resentment about the past and had not yet truly accepted it. Although Xiao Nanyue had married her, it would take time to completely warm her heart.
…
Apocalypse, Chiyu Peak.
The mountain wind was chilly, making the tent curtains rustle.
Helian Feng sat upright at the desk, his face as gloomy as the dark clouds outside the window.
Listening to Mingying's report, his fists clenched tighter and tighter, his eyes filled with uncontrollable anger and bitterness.
"I can't believe... Xiao Nanyan ended the battle so quickly, married Xiyan so smoothly, and returned to the capital with her and the child that same day."
He growled softly, his tone full of resentment.
That was the person he held dear to his heart, but now she had become someone else's wife. This feeling was even more painful than being pierced by thousands of arrows.
However, he himself did not have the courage to lead troops south like Xiao Nanyue.
He only had 100,000 soldiers and horses, making it difficult for him to compete with Nan Zhao. Moreover, he would have to confront Xiao Nanyue head-on. Not to mention that his mother would not allow him to be so impulsive, even he himself had multiple considerations in his mind.
The most important thing is that he realized that Xiyan and Xiao Nanyan had a daughter, but what was there between him and Xiyan?
They had only been together day and night for two months, and Xiyan once said in person that he was not in her heart.
In what capacity did he appear in Nanzhao?
However, he felt too much resentment in his heart. If the Yunqiu mutiny hadn't happened and everything hadn't changed, he would have found a way to warm Xiyan's heart.
But now, he was like a stray dog, having lost everything. He had to watch helplessly as the person he loved married someone else.
…
At this moment, Su Qinyao, who was sitting next to Helian Feng, had a sinister smile on her face. She looked at her son with a look of disappointment in his ability.
"Feng'er, what did mother say? You're just too cautious. The last time I asked you to go to Nanzhao, what happened? You went for nothing! You didn't kill Xiao Nanyan, and you didn't catch that woman. What's even more hateful is that you even lost Chu Jin for nothing!"
She became more and more angry and slammed the table:
"Chu Jin is such a worthless wretch. For the sake of a lowly maid, he's willing to stay in Nanzhao and raise a child. He hasn't even sent a letter in the past six months. In my opinion, he must have already betrayed me."
Helian Shu was playing with a handkerchief beside her, and sneered, her tone full of contempt:
"In the final analysis, it's still the people in Xiao Nanyan's house who are not disciplined. Those two maids, one by one, are unexpectedly good at seducing men. Look how they have bewitched every man."
Helian Feng shouted, "Shu'er, you are not allowed to insult Xiyan. She is a true princess, of noble status. From now on, if you dare to insult her, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"You...you actually spoke to an outsider!"
Helian Shu's face turned pale and blue. Was her royal brother mocking her and saying that she was a fake?
"Okay, what are you quarreling about, brother and sister?"
Su Qinyao suppressed her anger and glanced sharply at Helian Feng:
"Right now, Xiao Nanyue is about to return to the capital. We've been stuck in a stalemate with Fu Yunqing in Yandu for so long, and we've been repelled several times when we attacked the city. If this drags on, when Xiao Nanyue returns and has time to deal with us, there's really no way we can turn things around!"
There was a hint of urgency in her voice:
"We must find a way as soon as possible to break the deadlock and capture Kyoto before he returns."
Helian Feng frowned:
"However, Fu Yunqing holds the military seal and controls the 100,000 imperial guards of Jingdu. He has been besieging the city for many days but still cannot take Yandu. Our old subordinates in the city are being suppressed by Fu Mingyuan. How can we achieve internal and external cooperation?"
The tent fell into silence for a moment.
Suddenly, a loud laugh was heard from outside the tent, startling several people inside the tent and making them look up at the same time.
But then the curtain was pulled open by someone, and a gray figure walked in with his hands behind his back. It was Xiao Beicheng.
"Are you guys discussing how to breach the Imperial City? What a coincidence! I do have an idea."
"Daddy?"
When Helian Shu saw Xiao Beicheng, her face was filled with joy and she hurried forward to hug Xiao Beicheng's arm.
Now, since the incident at Yunqiu Paddock more than a year ago, Helian Shu's personality has changed drastically, and she no longer has the trust and closeness she once had towards her mother and royal brother.
After all, the family affection that was willing to sacrifice her life at the critical moment had long since deteriorated and was far less reliable than her wise and capable father Xiao Beicheng.
Besides, she had thought about it in her mind that no matter whether her father became the emperor or her brother Helian Feng became the emperor, she would still be a princess. It was like her current status was not right and she was ridiculed behind her back.
However, her father had disappeared for several months, and no one knew what he had been planning. He suddenly appeared today, so she was naturally very excited.
After struggling with his mother and brother for half a year, nothing has been achieved. It seems that if he wants to take back the imperial power, he has to rely on his father Xiao Beicheng. After all, his political skills are no worse than Xiao Nanyue's.
Xiao Beicheng smiled and touched his daughter's head.
"Shu'er, I haven't seen you for a long time. Do you miss your father?"
Although he was cruel by nature, Helian Shu was his biological daughter after all, and he still loved her sincerely.
"Of course." Helian Shu smiled and helped Xiao Beicheng sit down at the table, and personally poured him a cup of hot tea.
Helian Feng and Su Qinyao looked at each other. They were both afraid and wary of Xiao Beicheng, especially Helian Feng, who had no good feelings towards Xiao Beicheng at all.
The Helian family is in such a miserable state today thanks to Xiao Beicheng.
If you trace it back to the root cause, it was Xiao Beicheng who was the cause of all the disasters. He wished he could cut this old man into pieces, but it would still not ease the hatred in his heart.
However, he also knew that if he wanted to overthrow Xiao Nanyue, he could not do without Xiao Beicheng.
After a while, he narrowed his eyes and said lightly:
"General Xiao, what are your thoughts on attacking the city?"
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