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◎ "Your Highness, are you afraid of me?"◎
Along with Qin Bing and other young men, several generals who participated in the battle last night also came out to welcome the emperor.
After being helped off the horse by Fan Zhong, Qingyang and his third brother first stood behind their father, maintaining the dignified demeanor of a prince and princess while listening to their father talking to the generals.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Qingyang first looked up and down the second brother opposite him to make sure that he was not injured. Qingyang then looked at Zhang Su, who was standing behind his second brother with only half of his body exposed. Except for some bloodstains on his armor and boots, there were no signs of injury on Zhang Su's exposed face, neck, hands and legs.
Reassured, Qingyang continued to observe the other young men.
The young men had just killed the enemy and made meritorious service on the battlefield. They were feeling excited and proud. However, they noticed that the most favored little princess in the palace was looking at them. Several of them straightened their backs even more, and the brave ones even grinned at the little princess.
Qingyang had seen too many corpses of his own soldiers along the way. They had won battles but never had the chance to receive awards from the court, so when facing these living soldiers, Qingyang would never be stingy with his appreciation and smile.
After looking around, Qingyang looked at Zhang Su again, and saw that this noble son who was obviously the one she was most familiar with was still facing his father. She didn't know whether he really didn't feel her gaze or didn't care.
Qingyang guessed it was the former, because they had met eyes from a distance on horseback before, she smiled at Zhang Su, and Zhang Su also returned her a short but gentle smile.
"Alright, go get busy. I'll reward the troops once Duke Dingguo and the others return."
"yes!"
The generals left, leaving only Fan Zhong and three hundred personal soldiers guarding behind Emperor Xingwu.
"Second brother!" Qingyang could finally let go of Princess Duanyi who was accompanying her father to comfort the soldiers, and ran over to hug her second brother.
When he was in the palace, the second prince did not care much for such a hug. At this time, Qin Bing had just experienced a night of life-and-death battles. The fierce and ferocious faces of the Hu soldiers seemed to be still in front of him, and the Hu people's scimitars seemed to have just passed by his chest and arms. Qin Bing was scared and couldn't hold the gun steadily for a while. But Zhang Su and others were fighting bravely. Afterwards, a group of young men recounted their battle records with high spirits. Qin Bing had no one to confide his timidity and shame.
Qin Bing would never reveal his incompetence to his sister, so his sister's care and hug became the comfort he needed most.
Qin Bing smiled casually, patted his sister's head and said, "It's okay, it's okay. Isn't my second brother fine?"
Qingyang really missed his second brother, but the smell on his second brother's armor was too bad. Not only did he smell blood all the way, but also...
The little princess, who didn't want to distinguish them carefully, decisively let go of her second brother, glanced at Zhang Su who seemed to have taken two steps back, and Qingyang returned to her third brother.
Emperor Xingwu looked at the injured young men and said with relief, "Yes, you all returned to me safe and sound. Tell me, how did you feel about the battle last night?"
"It's so exciting! Compared to a head-on fight with the Hu cavalry, all those previous duels and sparring sessions were like children fighting!"
"I admire the emperor's foresight even more. When we were hiding outside the pass for the past two days, I was afraid that the Western Hu would not come and all our efforts would be in vain."
"I was really scared. I was knocked off my horse by a Hu soldier and then I was stabbed in the back. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to realize something was wrong and move forward. Otherwise, I would have suffered more than just a superficial wound."
"I saw it and was shocked. I almost got stabbed."
These sons of noble families could see Emperor Xingwu several times every year. Emperor Xingwu treated them as his own nephews and nephews. They were very relaxed in front of Emperor Xingwu and talked a lot, which made Zhang Su and Qin Bing look very quiet.
Zhang Su was known for his taciturnity. Emperor Xingwu looked at the second son, who was not known for his calm temperament, and asked, "How are you doing? How many enemy soldiers have you killed?"
Qin Bing: “…”
The several sons of noble families nearby looked at each other and kept silent.
Emperor Xingwu smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. It's already impressive that you can return alive after your first battle. No matter how many enemies you kill, you are all young heroes in my heart today. Come, tell me your numbers."
According to the order of standing, Emperor Xingwu let Qin Bing speak first.
Qin Bing clenched his fists and said with a heavy heart, "Two."
He vomited after killing one and was protected by his personal soldiers. After he recovered, he finally found the right opportunity to kill another injured one.
Emperor Xingwu patted his son's shoulder encouragingly and was not angry about it. What he had just said was definitely not to fool these young people.
As his gaze fell on the faces of the young men behind him one by one, several of them began to count. Some counted one, some counted three, and by the time Zhang Su, who was standing on the far right of Qin Bing, spoke up, the most counted was five.
Emperor Xingwu always kept the same smile.
It was Zhang Su's turn. He glanced at the little princess's armor without leaving any trace, lowered his eyes and said, "Eleven."
The look in Emperor Xingwu's eyes changed noticeably, and he praised loudly, "Excellent! You truly are a disciple who surpasses his father. Back then, when I first charged into battle, I only killed seventeen men. But I was almost thirty then, and Su Ge'er is only fifteen and has such skill. I bet your future military exploits will surpass your father's!"
After praising him to this point, Emperor Xingwu glanced at the Crown Prince.
Qin Hong also praised Zhang Su.
Zhang Su simply said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind." He neither felt complacent about it nor expressed modesty.
Emperor Xingwu had other things to do, so he took the prince away and asked the Qingyang siblings to stay here to reminisce with their second brother and Zhang Su.
Qin Bing was still embarrassed by his own battle record and didn't want to be in a crowded place, so he suggested, "Shall I take you to the barracks to have a look?"
Qin Ren: "Okay, second brother is tired after fighting all night, let's go sit inside and talk."
Qin Bing turned around and led the way.
Qin Ren followed, and Qingyang looked at Zhang Su, who was standing still: "Let's go..."
Just as he said a word, the little princess's gaze suddenly stopped at the elbow area between Zhang Su's left shoulder pad and left arm guard, which was not protected by any armor. He was wearing a coarse cloth robe under his armor. Now there was a long cut in the cloth above his left elbow, and the edge of the torn cloth was stained with blood.
Seeing the tears welling up in the little princess's eyes, Zhang Su hurriedly said, "It's just a superficial wound. Medicine has already been applied. Your Highness, don't worry."
Qingyang didn't believe it and asked him to stretch out his arm.
Zhang Su cooperated and stretched out his hand.
Qin Ren followed his sister and moved closer. Through the torn fabric, he saw a thin layer of white gauze stained red.
Qin Ren: "..." It's hard to tell how serious the wound is.
Seeing that his brothers and sisters were so concerned about Zhang Su, Qin Bing deliberately said, "Don't listen to his carefree words. In fact, that knife cut into his bones..."
Qin Ren took a breath and felt pain in his left arm.
Zhang Su ignored the two princes. Seeing that the little princess was truly in tears, he hurriedly said, "Second Prince was just teasing Your Highness. It's really just a flesh wound. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, I can unwrap the gauze and let Your Highness examine it when we get to the barracks."
After hearing this, Qingyang wiped his eyes with his sleeve and glared at his second brother.
Qin Bing felt uncomfortable: "If I get hurt, will you cry?"
Even though his sister calls him "Second Brother" affectionately, Qin Bing knows very well that if he and Zhang Su fall into the water at the same time, his sister will most likely save Zhang Su first. Among their group of brothers and sisters, only his third brother can rank ahead of Zhang Su.
Qingyang: "I don't like such unlucky words."
Qin Ren pushed Qin Bing forward.
As a prince, Qin Bing was given a barracks all to himself, but he insisted that Zhang Su accompany him, so two bedding rolls were placed far apart on the large bunk bed that could sleep a dozen soldiers.
The barracks were simple, with the windows closed, and the room was filled with the smell of blood and another unpleasant odor.
Qin Ren opened a window, took out a handkerchief and spread it on the edge of the kang, then asked his sister to sit down.
Qingyang: "Second brother, please sit with Zhang Su. I've been riding all the way and would rather stand."
Upon hearing this, Qin Ren put away the handkerchief, thinking that the two brothers were not worthy of using it as a cushion.
Qin Bing lay down directly on the kang, and Zhang Su stood upright in front of the door, just like the second prince's guard.
Qingyang really couldn't stand the stench in the room, so she asked her third brother to accompany her second brother, and she called Zhang Su to go out.
There were some wounded soldiers living in the barracks on both sides. The long and narrow corridor was not a good place to reminisce. Qingyang asked Zhang Su: "I want to go to the city wall to see your injuries..."
Zhang Su: "It's fine, just keep your left arm still."
Qingyang: "Then you go ahead."
There is a stone staircase on each side of the city leading to the top of the Great Wall. It is about four meters high from the foot of the mountain to the top of the wall. The mountains on both sides are wide but not steep.
Qingyang cast his gaze into the distance, understanding how the Hu soldiers had breached the city. Warhorses couldn't cross such a mountain and wall. Ten or twenty thousand Hu soldiers could easily be stopped by the defenders with their bows and arrows. But if the Hu soldiers numbered seventy, eighty, or even a hundred thousand, these fierce soldiers could easily use their superior numbers to charge the walls and then open the pass from the inside to allow the cavalry to pass.
Once you reach the Great Wall, there's an endless wasteland outside, with the blood-red ground extending from the front of the pass to an unrecognizable distance.
Qingyang looked behind him and frowned, "Why are you standing so far away? Come here."
Zhang Su glanced at the city guards on duty not far away, walked to the base of the city wall, but kept an arm's length away from the little princess.
Qingyang pointed outside and asked, "Where did you intercept the Hu cavalry?"
Zhang Su: "Twenty miles away. If we're too close, they might notice us when we come."
Then you can't see it. Qingyang turned sideways, his eyes wandering around Zhang Su's always so calm face. When Zhang Su was about to turn to the other side, Qingyang asked: "Were you afraid when you killed the enemy last night?"
Zhang Su was silent for a moment and then said, "It's too late to be afraid."
The men of the Zhang family have been generals for generations. Fighting in battle and defending their country is a duty engraved in their bones and blood, so Zhang Su does not allow himself to shrink back.
Qingyang understood, but still admired him: "You killed eleven enemies on your first battlefield. You are really amazing."
She didn't know how many deaths were considered too many, but she believed her father's praise of Zhang Su.
Zhang Su tilted his head and saw the gentle morning light illuminating the little princess's face. She looked up at him with the corners of her lips raised and a smile in her eyes.
The little princess was wearing a set of blue satin armor and dressed like a man, but she was still the little princess he was familiar with.
It was precisely because of this familiarity that Zhang Su asked, "Your Highness, are you afraid of me?"
Qingyang was confused: "Why am I afraid of you?"
Zhang Su lowered his eyes and said to a bloodstain on the wall, "I killed eleven people."
Those were enemy soldiers, but they were also living people. When Zhang Su reported this number in front of the emperor, he was worried that it would scare the little princess who grew up in the palace.
Qingyang: "...The more enemy soldiers you kill, the more of our soldiers will survive. I will only praise you, not be afraid of you."
Zhang Su went to see the little princess again.
The little princess smiled at him, as if afraid that he wouldn't believe her.
Zhang Suxin believed that perhaps when the little princess cried for his knife wound, he should let go of this worry.
【Author’s words】
100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow~
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