Chapter 432 Returning to the Capital
"Yes, so from now on I have to call the Crown Prince Brother, Second Imperial Brother, or Brother Crown Prince Brother? How strange."
The brother and sister didn't dwell on the topic for too long, because Sheng Sheng had been playing outside all day and her stomach was already rumbling.
The two returned to their tent for a meal. Xie Yun was so eager to tell all the ideas in his head to the craftsmen that he didn't eat and didn't return until late at night.
Fortunately, the craftsmen understood immediately. They were professionals after all, and they stopped arguing and worked together overnight to create a prototype based on Xie Yunyang's sketches and methods.
Sheng Sheng never expected that playing by the river would inadvertently solve a problem for them. Therefore, when she learned that the craftsmen had actually adopted Xie Yun's suggestion and that construction had officially begun in Linxi City, Sheng Sheng was quite proud.
The craftsmen were all experienced veterans, and everything that followed went very smoothly.
Xie Yunli was still a little worried and wanted to stay in Linxi City for a few days. Shengsheng and the others stayed in Zhennan Pass with him to wait for him to return to the capital.
It just so happens that Sheng Sheng's seventh birthday is also approaching, so let's just celebrate it together at Zhennanguan.
Conditions here are not as good as in the capital, and Sheng Sheng didn't want to be too high-profile in the military camp. She simply had a meal with her siblings to celebrate her seventh birthday.
After some time, Xie Yunli finally felt relieved. He handed over military affairs to his several deputy generals and then embarked on the journey back to the capital with Sheng Sheng and his entourage.
Because Xie Yunli was also on a mission to report military intelligence on his return to the capital, and was accompanied by a troop of border troops, Sheng Sheng and Xie Yun could not change their routes as they had when they came, and could not go wherever they wanted on a whim. Their routes were all planned in advance.
However, Sheng Sheng had a lot of fun this year, so she didn't feel bored.
As summer turned to autumn, the group set off later than originally planned due to a slight delay caused by the events in Linxi City.
However, the siblings were worried about Xie Yunchuan saying that he would ask the emperor to grant them a marriage at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, so they had to speed up and finally arrived in the capital a few days before the banquet.
The border troops had previously won a victory against the barbarians. In order to show their appreciation and respect to the soldiers, and also to demonstrate the power of the nation to the people, the imperial court arranged for several princes and palace ministers to gather together at the city gate to welcome the border troops as they entered the capital.
Under the autumn sun, the Vermilion Bird Gate was half open, and officials stood by the vermilion gateposts, their colorful official robes crowded together, looking like a brocade spread out.
Xie Yunchuan stood in the center, with Xie Yunqi peeking around beside him, and even Xie Yunwen was there.
Following on both sides, the ministers lined up neatly according to their rank, each with a stern face, their hands tucked into their sleeves, occasionally glancing out of the city.
Further in, the streets were packed with people who had come to join the excitement and wanted to see the might of the border troops.
Having not seen her younger sister for so long, Xie Yunqi was extremely anxious and paced back and forth.
"Second brother, why haven't they arrived yet?"
Xie Yunwen sighed helplessly, "You only think about Shengsheng and don't mention the eldest prince at all. If the eldest prince finds out, he will definitely teach you a lesson."
"Who said that?" Xie Yunqi quickly clarified, "Fourth Brother, don't frame me! I'm the younger brother who cares about his older brothers the most. I've always been caring for people since I was a child!"
As soon as he finished speaking, dust billowed in the distance, and the sound of horses' hooves thundered.
Xie Yunqi raised an eyebrow, disregarding his image, and rushed forward, grabbing onto the doorpost and shouting, "They're here! Is it the eldest prince's entourage?"
Xie Yunchuan pulled him back and warned him, "With all the officials present, be mindful of your image."
"oh."
The Ministry of Rites immediately began playing celebratory music. As the music played, Xie Yunqi quickly stood still beside the two men, not daring to move, but her eyes were still straining to look outside.
The armored troop drew closer, their hooves pounding the cobblestones, the clanging of their armor mingling with the dust.
Xie Yunli, clad in black armor, led the way, his red tassels fluttering in the wind. Behind him, his soldiers stood in neat rows, their imposing presence awe-inspiring.
"My goodness, my brother is so impressive now!" Xie Yunqi exclaimed in surprise.
Like him, Xie Yunchuan and Xie Yunwen were also seeing Xie Yunli for the first time in several years.
In my memory, Xie Yunli was a carefree and passionate young man when he first ran away from the capital. A few years later, after experiencing the baptism of the battlefield, Xie Yunli has long since become a calm, resolute, and iron-blooded general.
The black armor outlined his tall and strong figure, and his face had lost its youthful immaturity, gaining a sharp edge etched by the hardships of life.
He arrived on horseback, majestic and spirited, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
Feeling both strange and familiar, Xie Yunchuan and the other two were taken aback until Xie Yunli's gaze fell on them, and then he grinned broadly at them.
When he wasn't smiling, Xie Yunli looked serious and cold.
When he smiled, his big white teeth were revealed, instantly exposing his straightforward and somewhat silly nature.
Xie Yunchuan paused, and the corners of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
The eldest prince is still the same eldest prince.
With a light laugh, Xie Yunchuan led his two younger brothers forward half a step, his gaze fixed on Xie Yunli.
Xie Yunli reined in his horse and dismounted with swift, clean movements, the clanging of armor ringing out crisply. He bowed to Xie Yunchuan and the others behind him, his voice loud and steady: "Xie Yunli, the eldest prince of Yu Kingdom, has successfully led the border army back in triumph!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Yunchuan took another half step forward and helped him up: "Brother, you must be tired from your journey."
Xie Yunchuan's fingertips touched his somewhat rough fingers, and his voice became even more moved, "The hardships of the battlefield have worn away the youthful spirit. Now, you are truly a pillar of the Yu Kingdom."
Xie Yunli smiled and met his gaze; everything was understood without words.
Xie Yunqi couldn't contain himself any longer. He leaned over and grabbed his arm, his voice booming, "Big brother! You're finally back! Your armor is so impressive, even more majestic than the generals in those stories!"
Xie Yunwen wasn't particularly close to his elder brother Xie Yunli before, and in fact, he wasn't close to his other brothers either.
Xie Yunwen also stepped forward and nodded, sincerely saying, "Congratulations, Eldest Brother."
Xie Yunli nodded to his younger brothers, looked at them carefully one by one, and said with undisguised satisfaction, "You've all grown up."
At this moment, Xie Yunli, unusually, did not act casually as usual, revealing the demeanor befitting an elder brother.
Xie Yunli was kind and honest, with a straightforward personality. He always considered himself to be just a rough and uncouth man from a rather special background.
Although he had no interest in the power struggles and intrigues among the elites, it didn't mean he was stupid or completely ignorant of the intricacies of the game.
As a member of the royal family, he had always naively believed since childhood that brothers were brothers, and princes were no exception, no different from ordinary people.
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