40. Return
A few months passed, and the dark clouds over Longcheng dissipated, and the sky became blue, quiet and peaceful.
The solution to the plague has already been found, but the disease of the withering roots of fertile fields will take several years to cure.
Longcheng has gradually calmed down and order has begun to be restored.
The weather was a little chilly that day, and the wind blew the curtains on the carriage. Yun Zhihe got on the carriage and turned around to look at the place where he had lived for a long time.
The head of the Liu family looked very weak and old. He bowed to Yun Zhihe and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"County Magistrate Yun, have a safe trip."
After the pain of losing her son, she almost spent all her family wealth and almost donated the entire Liu family to the government.
Only now did she realize that money was useless and how worse than pigs and dogs she had been before.
It was retribution.
"Thank you, Master Liu."
Yun Zhihe nodded and saluted, then she got into the carriage and sat down.
Everyone in the city knew that Yun Zhihe had left. Since a few days ago, someone had been sending gifts to the government office every day, crying and thanking them incoherently, but was then quickly pulled up by Yun Zhihe.
After living in Longcheng for a few months, she has matured a lot.
He no longer showed his joy on his face, and looked like a banished immortal who was detached from the world. He was calm and composed, and no longer had the immaturity of a newcomer to officialdom.
Just as she was about to reach the city gate, she saw a large crowd of people at the gate.
Ah Zhi peeked outside, then returned to tell Yun Zhihe, "The people of Longcheng knew you were leaving, so they came to see you off. They were carrying a lot of local fruits and vegetables."
Yun Zhihe paused and looked out the window.
Almost all the people in the city gathered here, it was a sea of black, and Yun Zhihe was a little touched.
She leaned out the window and said, "No need to say goodbye, it's been a few months in Longcheng. Thank you for your cooperation."
As soon as the words fell, someone shouted loudly, "County Magistrate Yun has devoted himself to the country and the people. I wish you a bright future. Don't forget the common people!"
Others echoed in agreement, some already had tears in their eyes.
"If it weren't for County Magistrate Yun's good management, Longcheng would have fallen long ago! You saved the lives of the common people!"
There was noise everywhere she looked. Yun Zhihe was stunned. She looked at everyone's faces carefully, and her heart was inexplicably touched.
Everyone knew that she had set fire to the prison, but no one blamed or insulted her.
But her hands, which were used for writing and painting, were also stained with bloody sins.
Yun Zhihe closed her eyes, got off the carriage, and bowed to everyone to express her gratitude.
"Thank you for your kindness. I am deeply grateful."
She was not good at dealing with such situations, and even with her heart filled with rage, she could only utter a few words.
The carriage swayed away without anyone organizing it, but the people followed it out of the city and walked along with her carriage.
The guards were talking loudly and shouted, "Everyone, there's no need to follow us anymore, no need to follow us anymore..."
Yun Zhihe closed his eyes and listened to the crying and shouting behind the carriage gradually fading away.
They also wanted to ask the emperor to let Yun Zhihe stay.
But they knew very well that Madam Xiaoyun would not stop.
She will move towards a wider world and protect the dawn of all people.
Xuanyuan He pursed his lips, looked at the people behind the carriage, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his chest.
He looked at Yun Zhihe's carriage again, feeling confused.
He also made an indispensable contribution to the battle of Longcheng. As the crown prince, the foundation of the country, he suppressed Longcheng and appeased the people. History books will also praise him for his fearlessness of life and death and his willingness to go deep into dangerous areas.
But...the credit should be hers.
The people all looked at Madam Yun.
...She deserves it.
The journey was long and bumpy, and we finally arrived in the capital.
The city gates of the capital were crowded with people. The army had returned to the capital, the plague had dissipated, and the emperor personally welcomed them. It was a great honor.
Xuanyuan Ying stood on the city gate, staring at Yun Zhihe's approaching carriage with his eyes lowered, his lips pursed.
He dreamed of her day and night.
She entered his dream, and his dream was filled with moonlight and Madam Xiaoyun. He was drowning in the dream and didn't want to leave.
Palace servants stood quietly at the city gate holding the imperial edict, and court officials also stood on both sides of the city to welcome them.
Thanks to Yun Zhihe's great contribution, the crisis in Longcheng was turned around in just a few months. Longcheng is now thriving, which is rare from ancient times to the present.
Although she was guilty of burning civilians to death, no one gave her the cold shoulder at the moment. The current welcome ceremony was organized by His Majesty himself, and no one dared to offend Xuanyuan Ying.
It’s not too late to confess this sin later.
"Longcheng County Magistrate Yun Zhihe, listen to your order—"
As the palace attendant's long voice came, Yun Zhihe got off the carriage and kowtowed to listen to the order.
Return
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Yun Zhihe, the Magistrate of Longcheng County, has eliminated the mob, protected Longcheng, and eradicated the plague. He is honest and upright, has demonstrated his virtue and grace, and has upheld his integrity and friendship, ensuring the safety of the country. I greatly commend him."
"Appointed as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Public Administration—"
"—I hereby order."
Yun Zhihe kowtowed to express his gratitude.
The others were a little stunned. They knew that Yun Zhihe had made a great contribution this time, but it shouldn't be like this.
However, after one year in the court, he was promoted to the official rank of the fourth grade. He originally thought that this time he would be conferred an official rank of the fourth grade at most.
Everyone exchanged glances and concealed their feelings.
Qin Zhi sat in the carriage, looking at her motionlessly, his eyes red, and he pursed his lips to hold back his tears.
He was in a trance all day and thought of her shadow even in his dreams.
Seeing the sachet still hanging on her clothes, his eyes trembled and his heart was deeply touched.
He embroidered it himself.
...His embroidery skills have improved greatly in the past few months, and the palace tutors have been generous with their praise. He no longer looks embarrassed with his fingertips covered in wounds from embroidery.
Yun Zhihe took the imperial edict, and Xuanyuan Ying on the city wall also walked down and slowly came to her side.
"Get up."
Xuanyuan Ying helped her up personally, and when he felt her body temperature, his eyes became dazed.
The voice is low and hoarse.
She looked much changed.
The girl's clear and gentle temperament became cold, her brows were firm, and she stood tall and graceful, like a fairy in the clouds, and had matured a lot.
Xuanyuan Ying was in a trance for a moment.
He knew how much suffering there was in Longcheng, and how much she had endured. She almost got sick and died, and had experienced being attacked by mobs. She had burned a whole prison of mobs with her own hands, and her eyes were filled with tears.
Abandoned his youthfulness and innocence.
Xuanyuan Ying took his fingers away reluctantly, and with a cold and calm expression, he gave her a few instructions and compliments, then went to the palace to discuss the affairs of Longcheng.
After entering his study, Xuanyuan Ying paused, pursed his lips and looked at Yun Zhihe's face.
He looked her over inch by inch with a deep and greedy gaze, and when she looked back at him, he quickly concealed his emotions.
He didn't listen to her clear report, but just looked at her with his eyes lowered.
...It's hard to control my emotions.
The raging flames in his chest grew more intense, his breathing became heavier and trembling, and he glanced away to conceal it.
His Jinniang is still out of reach.
Perhaps because he looked strange, Yun Zhihe paused before speaking, "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?"
Xuanyuan Ying froze for a moment, and in order to cover up, he said "hmm" softly.
"…I have a headache."
He has always suffered from headaches and abdominal pain, which is especially worse during menstruation and is unbearable.
Even after adjusting my body, I still had unbearable abdominal pain during my period.
Yun Zhihe knew about his headache problem. She was raised by Xuanyuan Ying and often massaged his forehead. Thinking that they hadn't seen each other for several months, she thought for a while before speaking.
"Your Majesty, I will rub it for you."
"……Um."
He half-closed his eyes, looking extremely lazy. It was a rare occasion for a noble man to let go of his courtesy. He leaned on the beauty couch and had his forehead rubbed.
The fingertips are warm and soft, and the nose is filled with a familiar fragrance.
His Jinniang is back.
He had been unable to sleep at night for the past few days since he knew she was coming back. Now sleepiness filled his eyes, but the pain in his abdomen held back his tiredness.
Xuanyuan Ying looked up in a daze, looking at her jade-like face. She was rubbing it seriously, as she had often used it to comfort him before.
He pursed his lips, and after a long time, he spoke in a hoarse voice, his Adam's apple trembling, and his voice was inaudible.
"I have a stomachache."
Yun Zhihe paused his fingertips.
She knew that he was having his period these days, and she had known it for a long time.
He was emotionally unstable during his menstrual period and would always ask her to play the piano to calm his mind. Judging from this, it must have been the case in the past few days.
Perhaps because of his unstable emotions, there was a hint of trembling in the last part of his voice, as if he knew it was difficult to say.
"Please rub it for me..."
He knew that these words were vulgar, and were probably something that would be uttered when competing for favor in the backyard.
But...it's still the same sentence, it's hard to control one's emotions.
Yun Zhihe was a little confused.
According to the rules between men and women, you shouldn't touch a man's... abdomen, right?
But His Majesty's eyes were closed, his breathing was trembling, and he looked like he was in great pain.
When she was a child, she had shared a room and a bed with him without any problems.
Yun Zhihe thought about it, and his fingertips slowly covered his lower abdomen.
"Your Majesty, are my hands cold?"
Xuanyuan Ying was silent for a while, deliberately maintaining his breathing, and the warmth in his abdomen almost burned him, and his Adam's apple moved up and down.
“…Not cold.”
A scorching flame seemed to be burning from Xuanyuan Ying's chest, causing him great pain.
…
When night fell and the sunlight faded, Yun Zhihe was about to leave Shengchen Palace. As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, he saw Young Master Wen walking towards him with a lantern.
The breeze is like the moon, the black hair is flying, and he looks like a banished immortal.
After not seeing each other for a few months, Master Wen's demeanor has become even more calm and steady, with some of his mother's style.
Eunuch Li acted as a love protector and disliked Wen Yanhe in every way. He sent him away early and did not let him get close to the Shengchen Palace.
But she never expected that he would be guarding outside the palace from noon to night.
The two hadn't seen each other for a long time. The moon was high in the sky. They looked at each other from afar, but neither of them spoke first.
It was like this for a long time before Wen Yanhe spoke.
"...Congratulations to Madam Xiaoyun for returning to the court."
Listen carefully, there is a trembling hint of drunkenness in the ending tone.
"Um."
Yun Zhihe suddenly smiled like a summer flower, his eyes full of tenderness.
Wen Yanhe also suddenly sneered, and this laugh instantly broke the previous coldness. He narrowed his eyes and said, "Madam Yun has now been promoted to a fourth-rank official. Congratulations."
Yun Zhihe walked towards him, took the lantern from his hand and walked towards the palace gate together.
The sky was full of stars today and there were few palace people. The two of them were walking on the road, and there was a rare silence.
Wen Yanhe said nothing more, not even a word of reminiscing about the past. The two of them walked together in tacit understanding.
As soon as they arrived at the palace gate, Wen Yanhe suddenly took the lantern from Yun Zhihe's hand and walked quickly towards the Wen family's carriage.
Yun Zhihe stood at the gate of the palace, looking at his back, which was as beautiful as a jade tree, and the horses in the carriage made a slight nasal roar.
Then I saw him suddenly look back, his black hair was soft, and his eyebrows were also as soft as a painting.
His eyes were a little red, and then he spoke in a hoarse voice.
"……I miss you."
"I miss you so much."
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