They were already near the entrance of Qingliang Valley, so it wouldn't hurt to wait until they had rested enough before continuing. So they suggested, "There's no rush now. Let's rest for a while. We'll still have time to enter the valley tomorrow."
However, Tang Chen objected: "I'm fine, I'd better not rest. I'm afraid that if I stay outside for too long, something bad will happen to my life."
Mo Yu looked at Tang Chen's shoes, which were wet with dew, and asked, "Are you sure?"
"Um."
Mo Yu nodded slightly, then turned to look at Wang Yanzhou. "Let me take over. You take a break." Tang Chen was so pregnant that she couldn't walk. Wang Yanzhou couldn't carry her all the way, so he could only carry her. If Mo Yu was right, this guy's arms must be really sore right now, but he wouldn't admit it even if he was beaten to death.
Wang Yanzhou subconsciously touched his arm and nodded, "...Thank you."
Just as the troops divided into three teams gradually approached Qingliang Valley, everything in Qingliang Valley, thanks to Yan Shaoqing's efforts, still maintained its previous order after King Qingliang left.
As usual, Yan Shaoqing was handling all the matters he could temporarily handle on behalf of Wang Yanzhou in the military camp. He was busy enough on normal days, but today, for some reason, in the eyes of everyone, Yan Shaoqing seemed to be risking his life and had only slept for one or two hours for several days in a row.
Seeing him so busy, the soldiers felt a little embarrassed to disturb him. It wasn't until he stopped what he was doing and stood up that someone came in and reported, "Master Yan, the scattered South Vietnamese soldiers outside the valley have been cleared out and replaced with our men."
After Yan Shaoqing drank a cup of tea to wake himself up, he asked, "Well, how is the situation in the valley?"
Everyone said, "Everywhere is safe."
Seeing the sun already peeking through the thick fog, Yan Shaoqing figured today would be a fine day. Stretching lazily, he picked up the bamboo flute on the table and began to speak, "...I've pretty much finished with the valley affairs today. I'd like to go to the mountain cherry forest. If you need anything, send someone to find me there."
"yes."
Ever since Yue Sheng said goodbye to him here, the Qingliang Valley's most beautiful cherry blossom forest in spring has become an untouchable wound in his heart.
Now, after gradually figuring everything out, the grief I felt when Yue Sheng left has gradually faded away, leaving only the immense longing entangled in my heart.
Yan Shaoqing stood under the bare cherry tree, gently stroked the somewhat rough trunk, and slowly closed his eyes, as if he was talking to someone on the other side through the connection of the cherry tree.
"A Sheng, another year has passed. How have you been this year? Have you received the little things I sent you? You know, a lot of things have happened this year. The little sister you protected behind you back then is now about to become a mother. Not long ago, I heard from Qinghe that Tang Chen is doing well. As for Yan Zhou, I believe that he will be blessed by heaven and will definitely come back safely."
Yan Shaoqing leaned against the tree trunk and took out the bamboo flute from his waist. After a while, bursts of crisp bamboo flute sounds lingered in the empty mountain cherry forest, accompanying someone's thoughts.
The moment the sound of the bamboo flute rang in his ears, Yan Shaoqing seemed to have returned to many years ago, to the time when he could still play the qin and flute together with Yue Sheng.
The flute music faded. Yan Shaoqing raised his head and breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at everything below the mountain and murmured to the air with an apologetic tone, "He handed this Qingliang Valley into my hands. I must guard it well. I'll stop here for today. When everything is over, I will come here and play for you for three days and three nights."
A cool breeze caressed Yan Shaoqing, who had enjoyed a moment of peace, but was startled by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching him. "Why are you so flustered? What's wrong?"
The man gasped and said happily, "Young Master Yan, the prince, the prince and princess are back!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Shaoqing suddenly stood up and asked, "What? Where are we?"
The visitor replied, "We just received news that they have just entered the valley and will arrive at the palace later this month."
Yan Shaoqing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. After such a long time, the main characters were finally back, and she could finally take a break. "That's great! I knew he would be fine. Let's go back and prepare to welcome the army back to the valley."
Compared to Yan Shaoqing's joy, the visitor's expression suddenly became serious: "Young Master Yan, I'm afraid this isn't the time to celebrate."
The sudden change in the atmosphere was hard to accept: "Did something happen to them?"
The visitor organized his words and explained, "...My master and his wife are fine, but the army that left with my master hasn't returned."
Yan Shaoqing was stunned and asked in disbelief, "Not a single one has come back?"
The visitor then reported, "Masters Zhong Qin and Wang Nianqing returned with about a dozen people, and the rest..."
Yan Shaoqing shook his head, frowning and smiling bitterly as he said, "Ten thousand troops, and only a dozen returned? Go back first and make some arrangements. You need to comfort the relatives of these martyrs."
"clear."
By the time Wang Yanzhou and Tang Chen returned to the palace, the sun had already set and the lights were just beginning to come on. Li Xinzhai, Zhong Qin, and the others didn't enter the palace after returning. Instead, they each brought stools to sit outside the door, waiting for them. Yan Shaoqing, having also made arrangements, stood at the door, eagerly awaiting their arrival, along with Wang Bo and the others.
After Tang Chen came back, his first reaction was to count the total number of people. After counting for a while, he suddenly realized that one person was missing: "Why, why is Lian Xin not here?"
Li Xinzhai explained, "After Miss Lianxin had been with us for two days, she said she suddenly received news from Lord Zhang and rushed back to Qinghe County."
Tang Chen asked with some concern: "...Could it be that she went back alone?"
Li Xinzhai added, "We've sent two people with her. If anything happens, they'll contact us immediately. Don't worry."
After stretching his aching legs, Hua Wuxin said that if they wanted to reminisce or chat about everything, there was no need for everyone to stand outside. He missed his normal bed so much. The carefree days of using the sky as a blanket, the ground as a bed, and the stars as candlelight seemed like hardship to him.
"Okay, everyone's exhausted after all this journey. Let's go back and wash up and rest. We'll be busy again after tonight."
If Hua Wuxin hadn't spoken, Yan Shaoqing probably wouldn't have noticed this person for a while. For some reason, Hua Wuxin's presence was sometimes so weak that it was difficult to detect.
"Who is this?"
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