Chapter 179 Returning to the Capital 1
A few days later, the city of Jinling was deserted as everyone flocked to the streets.
Before dawn, the streets and alleys were already filled with surging crowds. Every household had its doors and windows wide open, and men, women, and children were all dressed neatly and heading towards the city gate with barely suppressed excitement.
Xie Sangning was exceptionally allowed to stand on the high point of the city gate tower. Below him was a bustling sea of people, but his gaze had already pierced through the morning mist, fixed on the distant horizon.
Today she wore a brocade dress, which accentuated her jade-like face, and the golden hairpin in her hair trembled slightly.
Only she knew that her fingertips, hidden in her wide sleeves, were trembling uncontrollably.
ten years.
No, it's more than ten years.
It's two lifetimes, separated by decades of long life-and-death struggles and endless torment.
She had finally waited for this moment.
I vaguely heard those malicious provocations again.
"You really love you? How could you bear to leave you alone in the wolf's den while you took your son to the border to live a carefree life?"
They didn't understand that Emperor Pei Yan's seemingly benevolent decree was the real reason their family was separated.
The Emperor said, considering Xie Sangning's young age and the harsh conditions of the border region, he specially permitted Xie to stay in the capital to serve the Dowager Empress in place of his father and fulfill his filial duty.
Later, when the elder brother Sangyu was frightened by the matter of the second princess, Pei Yan casually said, "Father and son are separated. How can I bear to see the general with no one to care for him? Let Xie Sangyu accompany his father to guard the border." This saved the princess's reputation and also took the elder brother away from Xie Sangning.
The father and elder brother were not allowed to leave the territory without an imperial decree, let alone return to the capital.
She, Xie Sangning, was Pei Yan's hostage, holding her father, Xie Zhenting, who was only a fifth-rank military officer at the time, captive.
After ten years of bloodshed, her father rose to the position of General of the State, wielding great military power. Yet, because of her subtle persuasion, he suppressed the urge to return to the capital. It was simply not the right time; it was not the time for her father to return to the capital.
Fortunately, everything was as Xie Sangning had predicted, and now the time had come.
Below the city gate, crowds thronged, and the noise was deafening.
The carriages of the Marquis of Yongning have also arrived.
Madam Wei personally led her daughter-in-law Xie Wuyou and her youngest daughter Wei Yan out of the car.
Xie Wuyou dressed up with extra care today, wearing a brand-new light red jacket and skirt, with light makeup, and her eyes filled with barely suppressed anticipation.
She stood at the front of the crowd, craning her neck to look at the end of the official road, her fingers nervously twisting her handkerchief.
Her uncle, Xie Zhenting, is her only hope now!
If he were to glance at her today, even just nod, who in the Yongning Marquis's mansion would dare to give her a hard time?
Xie Wuyou sneered inwardly, glancing at Wei Yan, who was tidying her hair in front of a small bronze mirror beside her.
Her contempt deepened.
That's just wishful thinking!
Her cousin, Xie Sangyu, though known as a playboy, was the only legitimate son of the General of the State! He was also exceptionally handsome, the object of desire for countless noble ladies in the capital. How could she, Wei Yan, a powerless daughter of a marquis, possibly climb up to him? To think she could marry into the General's mansion and surpass her? Dream on!
"It's here! It's General Xie's flag!"
All eyes were instantly drawn to them!
At the end of the official road, dust billowed like a dragon!
A huge black banner with the character "谢" (Xie) in gold thread was unfurled in the light of the rising sun!
Following closely behind were endless lines of armored vehicles.
The heavy hooves struck the earth in unison, producing a heart-stirring sound. Each step resonated with the hearts of the people in the city, eliciting thunderous cheers from the crowd!
"The General Who Protects the Nation is mighty!"
"The general is back! General Xie is back!"
"It's the Xie family army! It's the Xie family army that protects our country!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, a deafening roar.
Xie Sangning's heart suddenly stopped beating at that moment.
She gripped the city wall, her fingertips turning white from the force, her body leaning slightly forward as she greedily gazed at the approaching procession.
Amidst the billowing dust, two tall figures riding steeds gradually came into focus.
The leader was a tall and robust man, covered in heavy black armor, the breastplate reflecting the sunlight.
Even from a great distance, the murderous aura forged in countless battles and amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood still assaults the senses!
His face was as resolute as if carved by an axe; he was none other than General Xie Zhenting, the Guardian General!
The young man beside him, half a horse length behind, was dressed in a light, gleaming silver armor and had a tall, agile figure.
Unlike his father's imposing and stern demeanor, he seemed to have a faint, slightly lazy smile on his face, his thin lips slightly curved, and his peach blossom eyes sparkling with a nonchalant charm.
As he galloped at full speed, his black hair flew in the wind and his silver armor shimmered, causing countless young women of marriageable age to lose their composure and gaze upon him with infatuation.
It was Xie Sangning's elder brother, Xie Sangyu.
Closer! Even closer!
The soldiers slowly reined in their horses outside the city, and the huge command flag fluttered in the wind.
Xie Sangning could no longer contain herself!
She suddenly lifted her elaborate skirt, turned around, and ran towards the steps of the city gate.
Ten years of longing, two lifetimes of anticipation, all calmness is broken at this moment!
However, in that very instant...
"Uncle—!"
A blindingly bright red figure, like a moth drawn to a flame, charged headlong towards Xie Zhenting, who had just stepped onto the moat bridge! It was Xie Wuyou!
"Uncle! It's me, Wuyou! You've finally come back! Wuyou has been waiting for you for so long! Uncle—!"
She cried out, tears streaming down her face, and opened her arms, about to pounce on him!
At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Xie Zhenting.
Inside and outside the city gates, all was silent.
Xie Zhenting dismounted and walked straight toward the city gate without stopping.
He didn't even glance at Xie Wuyou, who was rushing towards him, even slightly.
He walked straight past in his heavy armor, without even shifting his stance.
Bang!
Xie Wuyou was utterly humiliated as he was knocked aside!
Her carefully prepared hairstyle instantly fell apart, her hairpins rolled off, and her cheek pressed against the stone slab.
"Ugh..." she cried out in pain, struggling to lift her head and call out to Xie Zhenting again.
However, the two bodyguards following closely behind Xie Zhenting had already stepped forward swiftly.
One of them, expressionless, grabbed Xie Wuyou by the back of her collar as if picking up a nuisance, and dragged her away from the general's path without mercy, throwing her heavily to the side of the road, under the watchful eyes of countless people around them!
"Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to approach!"
Xie Wuyou collapsed by the roadside, her light red clothes covered in dust, her carefully applied makeup smeared with tears and stains.
She stared blankly at the tall, retreating figure that hadn't paused for even a moment for her. It was all over… all of it was over…
Her uncle treated her like this...
Xie Zhenting was completely oblivious to this incident.
The whole world seemed to stand still at that moment.
He walked through the crowd that parted automatically like a surging tide, through countless awe-inspiring and gazing eyes, step by step, resolutely heading towards the city gate.
There, Xie Sangning had just pushed aside the last person blocking his way and stood still.
Their eyes met.
Separated by the vicissitudes of two lifetimes.
Xie Sangning felt a lump in her throat, her vision blurred, and the figure in the dark black armor and the towering figure in her field of vision were instantly blurred into a blurry yet incredibly clear outline.
All the scheming, all the forbearance, all the grievances and hardships swallowed alone in the dead of night, all burst forth under the gaze of those eyes filled with tenderness and guilt!
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