Chapter 476 He's Back
Thirteen years have passed, and the once illustrious Duke Zhenguo Mansion is now nothing but a dilapidated residence.
Pushing open the heavy gate and entering the courtyard, one finds broken walls and ruins everywhere.
Pei Yuan pulled Chen Chu step by step inside, looking at the surrounding scene, and a flood of memories rushed into his mind in an instant.
On the training ground, the young boy practiced his horse stance under the sun.
His father stood beside him, practicing shooting while telling him the importance of perseverance.
His father would stay with him for as long as he squatted in the horse stance.
After finishing his martial arts practice, he would return to the flower hall, where his mother would give him delicious pastries.
There was also a mischievous little girl who would often run over and steal his pastries.
After grabbing the pastry, the little girl would make a funny face with her eyes crinkling.
"Brother Zhan, eating too many pastries will make you fat, and then you won't be able to practice martial arts. Let Chu Chu eat them for you."
Those were Lu Zhan and Shen Chuchu, who were only five or six years old.
The scene then shifts to the fall of Liangzhou.
He led his young guards in a fierce battle against the Northern Rong people in the alley.
People around them fell one after another, but they gritted their teeth and persevered.
They finally drove back the Northern Rong people, only to be met with the slaughter of their own people.
Blood was everywhere. His mother led him and Shen Mo and ran a very, very far away.
He watched helplessly as his father was pierced by countless arrows, one after another, his arms, legs, and body riddled with arrows.
The father roared angrily and resentfully, "Why?"
His response was a piercing arrow.
The father saw him and his mother hiding in the corner.
He wanted to rush out to save his father, but his mother covered his mouth and pressed his hands down, preventing him from making any sound.
Then came the mother, covered in blood, who desperately cut the drawbridge across the moat, urging him and Shen Mo to run.
Upon returning to Liangzhou, all the memories he had deliberately forgotten surged forth, flooding his mind.
He couldn't take it anymore and clutched his chest, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Chen Chu was startled and quickly reached out to support him, "Brother Zhan, are you alright?"
Pei Yuan raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and shook his head.
"It's alright, I remember everything now. I am Lu Zhan, Lu Zhan of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion."
He looked up and saw the Lu Family Ancestral Hall not far away.
Pei Yuan's eyes shone brightly as he said softly, "Father, Mother, your son is back."
When Shen Chu saw this scene, her eyes suddenly reddened.
Thirteen years later, she never expected that she and Brother Zhan would be able to return to Liangzhou.
Their journey has been incredibly difficult.
Even though justice has been served for the Shen and Lu families, things have changed beyond recognition.
Pei Yuan took her hand and intertwined their fingers.
"Let's go inside and tidy up the ancestral hall, and then bring the children to pay their respects later."
As they spoke, the two stepped into the ancestral hall.
The two were taken aback by what they saw inside.
Contrary to expectations, the ancestral hall was not dilapidated and covered in dust; instead, it was clean and tidy.
All the ancestral tablets of the Lu family lineage were neatly arranged together, and the incense burner on the ground contained the ashes of burned incense and candles.
Pei Yuan was taken aback. "This... has someone come to pay their respects?"
Shen Chu turned her head and looked outside, then shook her head.
"It shouldn't just be for worship; someone should come here regularly to clean it."
They walked in through the main gate, and apart from the dilapidated state of the courtyard, there wasn't a single weed inside.
Even the benches under the eaves were free of dust.
If no one comes to clean regularly, the yard will surely become overgrown with weeds and difficult to enter after thirteen years.
Just then, a surprised and doubtful voice suddenly rang out from outside.
"Is it Prince Lu who has returned?"
Pei Yuan and Shen Chu walked out of the ancestral hall and saw more than a dozen old people dressed in plain clothes standing in the courtyard.
Both men and women are included.
"I am Lu Zhan, and who are you?"
Lu Zhongdao said, "Your Highness, you are a resident of Liangzhou City."
Upon seeing Pei Yuan, the group of elderly people knelt down in excitement.
"Young Master Lu, it's good to see you back."
"With a worthy successor, Liangzhou will be safe from now on."
Pei Yuan quickly stepped forward to help them up.
"Please rise, sir. Have you been helping to manage the Duke's mansion all along?"
The leader was an elderly man with a white beard. He wiped away his tears with his sleeve and nodded.
"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has protected the safety of the people of Liangzhou for generations. Thirteen years ago, if it weren't for the Duke, we would have been hacked to pieces by the Northern Rong people long ago."
Others chimed in.
"Yes, it was the Duke who led the Lu family army to hold Liangzhou while arranging our relocation."
“I still remember when the Crown Prince was just a child, he was already able to lead people to protect us as we left the city.”
"Without the Lu family, there would be no Liangzhou people as we are today."
The elderly man at the head of the group broke down in tears as he spoke.
"Over the years, the people have been grateful to the Lu family and have come to clean the Duke's Mansion and pay their respects to the Duke and his wife from time to time."
"Especially a few days ago, when we heard that the Crown Prince was still alive, everyone took turns coming to burn incense and kowtow."
"It must be the Duke and his wife protecting the people of Liangzhou from heaven, allowing the heir to return to Liangzhou."
"The young master and the Duke look so alike."
Everyone chimed in, each expressing their affection for the Lu family.
Pei Yuan and Shen Chu exchanged a glance, both seeing emotion in each other's eyes.
Pei Yuan, in particular, had tears welling up in his eyes.
Father, Mother, can you see this from heaven?
The people of Liangzhou have not forgotten you, nor have they forgotten the Lu Family Army.
Don't worry, your son will definitely restore the prestige of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Soon, news of Prince Lu's safe return spread throughout Liangzhou, and people flocked to the area, bringing gifts, paying their respects, and helping to repair the Duke's mansion.
Upon hearing that Pei Yuan intended to rebuild the Lu family army, former members of the Lu family army, as well as its nephews and nieces, flocked to report.
Many people from Liangzhou sent their children over, saying they had complete peace of mind knowing their son and the Lu family army were with him.
With the strong support of so many people, Lu's army quickly grew to a size of 100,000.
Pei Yuan assigned the task to Mo Shen, Ling Ce, Sun Yan, Du Song, and Lu Zhong, among others, and led a battalion in training day and night.
Shen Chu was not idle either. When Pei Yuan rebuilt the Lu family army, she followed the prefect of Liangzhou and wandered around the fields and villages of Liangzhou.
The people of Guli reclaimed wasteland, vigorously developed agriculture and sericulture, reduced taxes, and established more schools. Even poor villages would take turns sending students to teach and gain experience.
The Great Wei is in chaos. The princes are all busy vying for power, and no one has the energy to pay attention to Liangzhou.
Under their rule, Liangzhou quickly became a strong and well-equipped military region.
Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.
When the brand-new plaque of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was hung up again, Pei Yuan embraced Chen Chu.
"Achu, let's get married. I want to give you a grand wedding."
Shen Chu raised her hand and gently stroked his cheek. He had lost a lot of weight due to his busy schedule these past few days.
But he was more energetic than he was in the capital. Every day when he rode back to the city, countless young women and wives on the street would blush when they saw him.
Her eyes crinkled with laughter.
"Great! Such a handsome man will be mine alone from now on."
Pei Yuan lowered his head and gently bit her lips, saying in a hoarse voice, "It's always been yours alone."
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