The news of Wei Jingzhuo and Su Wan's return spread like wildfire, reaching the entire General's Mansion and the surrounding residents.
When the convoy was still two miles away from the General's Mansion, the streets were already crowded with people who came to welcome them.
Some people brought out gongs and drums that had been gathering dust in their homes, while others specially found fireworks prepared for the New Year. The gongs and drums were banged, firecrackers were set off, and the air was filled with the smell of firecrackers, making it as lively as if it were the New Year.
Su Wan lowered the curtains and smiled at Wei Jingzhuo, "I didn't expect so many people to come and greet us."
Wei Jingzhuo crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and sat upright like a teacher giving a lecture, saying, "The Great Jin has made peace with the Western Rong. The people on the border have suffered from war for so many years, and they can finally breathe a sigh of relief. They know this is your achievement, so they came here to welcome you."
Su Wan smiled and said, "It's not just me. If it weren't for you, I would be finished... Why do you always look so preoccupied? We've been here for a while now. Don't keep such a long face."
Wei Jingzhuo still refused to open his eyes and said, "I really can't be happy because I don't know the imperial envoy's intentions."
Su Wan deliberately teased him, reaching out her finger to hook his chin: "My beauty, give me a smile."
Wei Jingzhuo opened his eyes and said helplessly, "Awan, why do you look like this is none of your business? The imperial edict was issued for you, and it could very well be detrimental to you."
“Of course I know,” Su Wan said. “You’re such a worrywart. Tell me, can you stop the emperor from issuing an imperial edict?”
"cannot."
"Then can you stop the imperial envoy from coming to the general's mansion to read the imperial edict?"
"cannot."
“That settles it,” Su Wan said, shaking a finger. “We’ll deal with whatever comes our way. Once we know the contents of the imperial edict, we’ll act accordingly. What’s the use of just worrying about this?”
Wei Jingzhuo held her fingers, gazed at her smiling face, and said earnestly, "Awan, I'm afraid something bad might happen. When I learned that you had been kidnapped by the Xirong people, I felt like I couldn't even stand up."
Su Wan recalled her trip to the Western Rong. She had slept her way there and received a grand welcome from the Western Rong king. Everything had gone smoothly from beginning to end. Only later, when Lu Bang chased her, did she break out in a cold sweat.
If you put yourself in Wei Jingzhuo's shoes, you'll find that the shock Wei Jingzhuo experienced far exceeded that of the person directly involved.
It's like a little kid going to her friend's house to play without telling her parents.
She understood Wei Jingzhuo's worries, and gently held his hand, saying, "Ah Jin, those things are in the past. I'm by your side now, and I will be by your side from now on. I'm your wife, and you'll protect me, right?"
Wei Jingzhuo reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace, and whispered, "Definitely."
The carriage stopped in front of the General's Mansion. Wei Jingzhuo jumped down first and reached out his hand at the door. Su Wan took his hand and got off the carriage.
General Zhao Xian, dressed in his finest attire, led his men to greet them at the gate. The gate was swept clean and sprinkled with water.
Seeing the two get out of the car, Zhao Xian laughed and walked up to them, saying, "Jinzhi, granddaughter-in-law, you're finally back. I've wanted to pick you up for a long time, but the doctor wouldn't let me, saying that an old man like me can't walk that far, haha."
After saying that, Zhao Xian rubbed his lower back with his other hand.
Wei Jingzhuo led Su Wan forward and knelt before Zhao Xian, saying, "Greetings, maternal grandfather."
Su Wan noticed that Zhao Xian seemed to have some problem with his lower back. After getting up, she said to Wei Jingzhuo, "Husband, help Grandfather back to rest. I'll take a look at his back later."
Zhao Xian waved his hand and said, "It's alright. I'm getting old, and standing for a long time makes me a little sore. Come, let's go to the reception room."
Zhao Xiyue also hid in the crowd, watching Wei Jingzhuo. She had specially worn a gorgeous dress to welcome him. But when she saw Wei Jingzhuo holding Su Wan's hand tightly, she bit her lip, withdrew from the crowd, and went into the General's Mansion first.
Su Wan used to dress as a man, but now that she's dressed as a woman, she's stunningly beautiful, making her feel like she has no advantage at all.
As everyone entered the reception room, Zhao Xian said, "Jinzhi, what exactly happened on your trip to the Western Rong? Tell me quickly. I only know that my granddaughter-in-law cured the Western Rong king, and the Western Rong king made peace with us, but I don't know the details."
Wei Jingzhuo briefly recounted Su Wan's story with him in Xirong.
Outside the reception room, a maid helped Bai Zhiyi stand at the moon gate leading to the dining hall, looking towards the reception room from afar.
"Miss, what are you thinking?" the maid asked, puzzled. "You keep talking about the young master, but when he comes back, you hide here and refuse to go over."
“What do you know?” Bai Zhiyi put her hand on her waist. “There are so many people waiting for him. If I had gone there then, he wouldn’t have even noticed me.”
"So, when do you plan to go, Miss?"
"No rush, His Highness is already back anyway," Bai Zhiyi said in a low voice. "You keep an eye on when they come out of the reception room."
As the master and servant were talking, Zhao Xiyue walked over looking sullen.
When the maid saw Zhao Xiyue approaching, she knew that Bai Zhiyi's face was covered by a white cloth and she couldn't see her, so she quickly raised her voice and said, "Isn't this Miss Zhao Xiyue? Why aren't you in the reception room?"
Zhao Xiyue kept her head down. When she heard the maid speak, she looked up and saw Bai Zhiyi. She asked in surprise, "Miss Bai, why is your face covered with a white cloth? What happened to your eyes?"
Bai Zhiyi said, "Last night, while cooking a welcome banquet for His Highness, I accidentally got my eyes steamed by the heat, and now they hurt so much I can't open them."
Zhao Xiyue was even more surprised and walked up to her, saying, "Miss Bai, you're a guest here, why are you cooking yourself? What's wrong with the servants in your household!"
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