Qi Guze held the battle flag in both hands, a symbol of the glory they had won on the battlefield, while Xu Yuehuai followed closely behind, her eyes gleaming with a cold, indifferent light.
The emperor sat regally on his throne, his dragon robe gleaming in the sunlight. He looked at Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai, his eyes overflowing with admiration and praise.
He stepped down from his throne and personally greeted the two heroes.
"Thanks to you all, you have defended the borders of my Great Zhou." The emperor's voice was full of gratitude. "This victory is a blessing for the nation."
Qi Guze bowed his head and thanked him: "Your Majesty is too kind. We have only done our duty."
Xu Yuehuai smiled calmly, her eyes revealing composure and determination: "Your Majesty, although the war has ended, peace still needs to be maintained. I am willing to continue to serve Your Majesty and the country faithfully."
Upon hearing this, the emperor nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of approval. He turned to the palace steward beside him and said, "Send word to hold a banquet in the palace tonight. I want to welcome General Qi Guze and General Xu Yuehuai."
In a corner of the main hall, the Duke of Zhenguo's gaze never left Xu Yuehuai, and tears welled up in his eyes. Ever since Xu Yuehuai went to war, he had missed this wise and brave female general every moment.
Ningyuan Hou and Aqi were in the crowd, their gazes cold and gloomy as they stared at Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai, as if they wanted to devour them.
However, Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai seemed oblivious to all of this. They were immersed in the joy of victory, savoring this hard-won tranquility. But beneath this seemingly calm surface, undercurrents were already quietly beginning to stir…
After the report was finished, everyone left the main hall.
"Yuehuai, you're finally back." The Duke of Zhenguo murmured to himself, his voice trembling slightly. He slowly walked towards Xu Yuehuai, and their eyes met in mid-air, as if time had stopped.
"Godfather, how have you been?" Xu Yuehuai smiled slightly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Good, good, it's good that you're back." The Duke of Zhenguo nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of relief. "Come, come with me back to the manor. Madam has been talking about you, and she wants to personally welcome you back."
Xu Yuehua nodded gently. She knew that the lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion treated her like family. Her heart was filled with warmth.
Then, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze followed the Duke of Zhenguo back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
As soon as they arrived at the door, they saw the Duchess of Zhenguo greeting them.
"Yuehuai, my child!" The Duchess of Zhenguo, with tears in her eyes, rushed forward to embrace Xu Yuehuai. "You're finally back! We've missed you so much!"
Touched by the lady's warmth, Xu Yuehuai gently patted her back and comforted her, "Godmother, I miss you and Godfather very much too. How have you been these past few days?"
"We're all fine, we're just worried about you." The Duchess of Zhenguo released Xu Yuehuai and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "Come on, come in and sit down. I've prepared a welcome feast for you."
The group entered the mansion, and the Duchess of Zhenguo personally led Xu Yuehuai to the banquet hall.
During the meal, the Duke of Zhenguo and his wife kept asking Xu Yuehuai about his experiences on the frontier. Xu Yuehuai was generous and recounted in detail everything he had seen, heard, and experienced.
Qi Guze sat quietly to the side, occasionally interjecting with a few questions, but mostly listening.
He noticed a different light shining in Xu Yuehuai's eyes as she recounted these events. This further convinced him that Xu Yuehuai was definitely not an ordinary woman.
After several rounds of drinks, the Duke of Zhenguo suddenly became serious and said to Xu Yuehuai, "Yuehuai, your journey to the borderlands must have been arduous. However, I would like to hear your thoughts on this trip."
Xu Yuehuai knew that what the Duke of Zhenguo said was true. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Father, I believe that although the journey to the border was arduous, it also allowed us to see the future of the Great Zhou. Now that the border has been stabilized, we should pay more attention to developing the economy and culture."
"Excellent!" The Duke of Zhenguo was overjoyed upon hearing this. "As expected of the daughter of my Duke of Zhenguo! She has a long-term vision and unique insights. It seems that your experiences in the border regions over the years have indeed helped you grow a lot."
Xu Yuehuai smiled slightly, but she knew in her heart that her knowledge and insight were inextricably linked to Qi Guze. The two exchanged a glance, a tacit understanding in their eyes.
Qi Guze then spoke up, saying, "Together we have brought peace to the surrounding areas, and the future of the Great Zhou will surely be even brighter."
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Zhenguo laughed heartily: "Excellent! You two are the pride of my Duke of Zhenguo's mansion! Come, let's toast to your future!"
Everyone raised their glasses in a toast, and the atmosphere of the banquet became increasingly lively.
Amidst the laughter and chatter, no one noticed an inconspicuous maid in the corner secretly observing Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes.
The maid's name was Xiaoyun, and she had always worked quietly in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. But today, after witnessing Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze's actions, she couldn't help but feel a strong sense of envy and admiration.
She had grown up in a wealthy family and had seen many noblemen, but she had never met anyone as courageous, insightful, and talented as Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze. She felt that although she came from a rich family, she was like a blade of grass compared to them.
Xiao Yun secretly made up her mind that she would work hard to improve herself and strive to one day be as successful as Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze.
Meanwhile, far away in the imperial palace in the capital, a conspiracy concerning the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty was brewing.
"Your Majesty, I heard that the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has returned," a woman in gorgeous clothes said softly to the man on the high platform.
The man turned around; he was none other than the Emperor of the Great Zhou. He looked intently at the woman in her fine clothes, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Oh? That Xu Yuehuai who has been training in the borderlands for many years? What can she do now that she's back? The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has fallen into decline, and now the court is filled with newly rich and powerful figures."
“Your Majesty is absolutely right,” the woman in gorgeous clothes said with a charming smile. “However, her relationship with the Regent is quite unusual, and I am worried that she may become a stumbling block in our future plans.”
The emperor frowned slightly, and after a moment of silence, said, "Send someone to investigate her background, and if possible, get rid of her as soon as possible."
A hint of malice flashed in the woman's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will handle this perfectly."
At this moment, Xu Yuehuai was still immersed in the reunion with her family, completely unaware that a conspiracy against her was quietly unfolding.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze settled in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze lay on the same bed, chatting about everything under the sun.
Outside the window, the moonlight, like water, spilled into the quiet courtyard, draping the ancient mansion in a soft silver veil. Inside, warm lamplight illuminated their faces, adding a touch of coziness to the tranquil night.
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