Chapter 19. He knew his sister-in-law was simply overjoyed...
He lost?
Died at the hands of a child?
Everyone around them was stunned.
The phrase "slaying a general on the battlefield" sounds simple, but it is never an easy task in practice. Both sides have their own personal guards, and if anything goes wrong, they will risk their own lives to save their commander.
This time was no exception, but in the end, they couldn't stop it.
Someone immediately stopped the enemy soldiers who were about to charge at Ling Xun, and shouted:
"Cai Chuan is dead! Surrender and you will not be killed!"
“Cai Chuan has been killed by the general. Surrender immediately.”
"Cai Chuan is dead. Lay down your weapons, and I will spare your lives!"
Upon hearing the first shout, Ling Xun's personal guards reacted quickly, excitedly shouting back.
"What are you waiting for? Kill!" The newcomer was a general under General Liu, surnamed Ma. After his initial shock, he laughed heartily and led his troops to charge forward, slaughtering all those who followed Cai Chuan and refused to surrender.
Protected by his guards, Ling Xun breathed heavily. He raised his hand to wipe the blood splattered on his mask, and a burning fire ignited in his calm eyes.
Ling Xun smiled.
This was the first famous general he killed, but it would certainly not be the last.
Blood had stained his black armor red, and Ling Xun unexpectedly thought of Bai Xuerou.
He could be considered to be wearing red.
News of the great victory at Tongcheng reached Yandu on the eighth day of the first lunar month.
This news was very detailed, especially the news about Ling Xun killing the general in battle. It was written in great detail, as if the author was afraid that others would not know.
After reading it, Madam Wu handed it to Bai Xuerou, who showed amazement but also worry.
No matter how powerful Ling Xun is, he's only fifteen.
It's hard to know how difficult his victory was.
Compared to Bai Xuerou, the other concubines were filled with envy.
Who could have imagined a few years ago that Ling Xun, the sixth son who had always been overlooked by the Prince of Zhenbei, would have such a great future?
Faced with everyone's sarcasm, Bai Xue Rou simply smiled. After returning home, she wrote a letter of concern, along with newly made clothes, jewelry, and some herbs.
Although Ling Xun may not lack anything, these are all her heartfelt wishes.
At the front lines, Ling Xun received a gift from Bai Xuerou and couldn't help but smile.
For the next six months, the Zhenbei Army marched continuously, and together with Xue Wenxian in the east, they swallowed up the territory of Prince Ning in the south. During this period, Ling Xun made another contribution, successfully intercepting and capturing Prince Ning alive.
By September, Chang'an was finally in sight.
At this point, Chen Bing had decided to defend Chang'an to the death, and even Xue Wenxian had given up trying to stop him, clearly intending to sit back and watch the two tigers fight.
The Prince of Zhenbei had anticipated this and ordered his men to stop Xue Wenxian at all costs.
After more than ten days, just as the Zhenbei Army was about to capture Chang'an, the seventy-year-old Prime Minister Lang Cheng personally brought Chen Bing's head out of the city to meet the Prince of Zhenbei. He repeatedly said that it was thanks to the Zhenbei Army that the arrogance of the usurper had been suppressed, and that His Majesty had prepared a banquet, inviting the Prince of Zhenbei to the city to attend and discuss further rewards.
For a fleeting moment, the Prince of Zhenbei's expression turned rather unpleasant.
His plan was to enter the capital, seize power, conquer all sides, and eventually become emperor after conquering the Central Plains.
In this plan, whether Chen Bing escapes with the young emperor or eliminates him in the chaos after entering the city, the young emperor cannot remain in Chang'an.
But Lang Cheng's move put him in a difficult position.
He raised the banner of "purging the court of corrupt officials and eliminating treacherous ministers," but now that Chen Bing is dead and the royal family is treating him with courtesy, if he enters the city again, he will only be a subject of the Great Qi.
Alternatively, he could kill the person in front of him with a single blow, claiming it was a treacherous plot by thieves, and force his way into the city.
But this is Lang Cheng.
He served as prime minister for over twenty years, spanning the reigns of three emperors over the past decade and six dynasties. He had countless students and was considered the foremost scholar among the literati.
If the Prince of Zhenbei dares to kill him, he will likely be scorned by scholars throughout the land.
But the loss of composure was fleeting.
The Prince of Zhenbei remained calm. Whether the young emperor lived or not, he only wanted to seize the moral high ground. Once he conquered the Central Plains, he would find a way to make the young emperor abdicate.
Thus, the Prince of Zhenbei entered the city with a smile.
No one mentioned the casualties during the previous sieges. The Zhenbei Army took over the defense of Chang'an and went east to resist Xue Wenxian.
The sounds of string and wind instruments rose in the Daming Palace, accompanied by light singing and graceful dancing.
It still seemed like a peaceful place.
The young emperor treated the Prince of Zhenbei with great courtesy, placing him beside him, almost level with him.
Ling Zheng's expression appeared normal, but his cheeks were slightly flushed and his eyes were gleaming, clearly indicating that he was not as calm as he seemed.
Lang Cheng's gaze swept over the Ling family's sons with a smile.
He had met the Prince of Zhenbei before. At that time, the prince had not yet been granted the title of prince, but was still the Marquis of Zhenbei. He was tall and heroic, with the eyes of an eagle and the gaze of a wolf, exuding the aura of a powerful and ruthless leader.
But the person in front of me was thin and weak, a far cry from his former self.
Zhang Jun was aware of the rumor that the Prince of Zhenbei's old wounds had recurred and that his health was not good, but he didn't pay much attention to it. Military campaigns often leave old wounds, and with a renowned doctor present, it seemed there wouldn't be any major problems.
Since he had reached the level of the Prince of Zhenbei, he no longer needed to personally take to the battlefield.
But it wasn't until he saw the man in person that Lang Cheng realized that the Prince of Zhenbei's injuries were far more serious than the rumors had said.
It could even be said that his days are numbered.
No wonder this person had been lying low and preparing for years, but suddenly launched an attack last year...
Lang Cheng pondered deeply, quickly finalizing his plans. He smiled and raised his cup to the Prince of Zhenbei, then turned to Ling Xun and exclaimed, "This must be General Qilin! What a fine talent! I've heard all sorts of speculations before, but seeing him in person today, I know the rumors are unfounded. General, you're not ugly at all; in fact, you're quite handsome. Why don't you remove your visor?"
Ling Xun was surprised that the old fox turned to him. He glanced at Ling Zheng out of the corner of his eye and saw that the other man's expression was indeed somewhat subtle.
"I almost forgot," Ling Xun said casually, raising his hand to remove his faceplate, revealing his true appearance.
His words and actions were not respectful, which made him appear somewhat arrogant.
Everyone was lost in thought, then their attention was drawn to his revealed face.
"Indeed, a fine appearance." Lang Cheng exclaimed, then looked at the Prince of Zhenbei and praised Ling Xun for his many achievements.
The Prince of Zhenbei knew exactly what the old man was up to, but he just smiled broadly.
Everyone seemed delighted and immediately began praising him one after another. Not only Ling Xun, but also Ling Zheng.
After this series of events, the Prince of Zhenbei couldn't stop smiling.
His gaze swept over the two children, knowing that Lang Cheng's actions were intended to sow discord between the Ling brothers. But knowing this was one thing; it was an open scheme, a calculation based on human nature.
Moreover, this is just the beginning. He can't possibly silence everyone, and there will only be more of this happening in the future.
This is also a test for the two brothers.
On the other side, Xue Wenxian learned that the Prince of Zhenbei had entered Chang'an and thought to himself that he had finally lost.
Upon learning the details, it was another shock. Ling Ji'an, no matter how much you schemed, you were ultimately outmaneuvered by Lang Cheng.
Who would have thought that Chen Bing, who held immense power, would be killed by a mere civil official?
His death was so sudden, so unexpected, and so disruptive to everyone's plans.
Seeing this, Xue Wenxian was no longer in a hurry.
The future is long, let's wait and see.
What happened next is something everyone can imagine.
The Prince of Zhenbei held the emperor hostage to command the four directions, conquered the Central Plains, and then forced the young emperor on the dragon throne to abdicate.
As for declaring himself emperor, if Ling Ji'an had wanted to, he would have done so in the north long ago. In the end, he was still very ambitious, thinking of pacifying the world and then becoming emperor with a clear conscience.
Whether he can pacify the world depends entirely on whether Xue Wenxian is willing to do so.
The war thus temporarily subsided without any warning.
When the defenses of Chang'an fell entirely into the hands of the Ling family, the people of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, far away in Yandu, had already received the news—
When the Zhenbei Army entered Chang'an, the Prince of Zhenbei assumed regency power, becoming the Regent Prince.
His Majesty bestowed upon him a residence of gold and silver, and granted him permission to bow without using his name, enter the court without hastening his steps, and wear a sword and shoes in the palace.
Along with the letter came the Prince of Zhenbei's instructions, ordering all the women to prepare to travel together to Chang'an, where elite troops were already on their way to meet them.
The letter was sent back by fast horse and light cavalry, a journey that takes longer than usual, but even so, they didn't have much time to pack it. The entire household immediately sprang into action.
After two years of marching, the Prince of Zhenbei clearly wanted to reunite with his family in Chang'an this year.
The people in the manor naturally wouldn't spoil his mood. As for the things, they first picked out the frequently used and important items to take, and left the rest for others to pack slowly.
Thus, by the time Ling Xun and his men arrived in Yandu, everything was almost ready.
"Sister-in-law, are you alright?"
Ling Xun first went to the government office to discuss the arrangements for Yandu with the people left behind by the Prince of Zhenbei. Only then did he return to the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion. As soon as he arrived, he saw Bai Xuerou waiting at the door. He couldn't help but smile, dismounted, and strode in. He bowed and clasped his hands, but then raised his smiling eyes to look at her.
"Get up quickly, no need for so much formality." Bai Xuerou couldn't help but smile and reached out to help him up.
All the previous worries and concerns subsided after seeing that everyone was safe and sound. The two chatted and laughed as they walked into the mansion, where Madam Wu and the others were already waiting at Huiyin Courtyard.
After a few more words, upon learning that the packing was almost complete, Ling Xun said that they would set off in three days.
To return and fetch his female relatives, Ling Xun brought a full 10,000 elite soldiers. This was after traveling light, and there were still people waiting along the way.
After marching all the way back, everyone was exhausted, and these three days were given to them to rest.
Three days later, the group set off on time.
As she watched the familiar capital of Yan gradually shrink into the distance, Bai Xuerou felt a pang of melancholy.
The Bai family had always lived in Yandu, so it was impossible for them to go to Chang'an with her. After this trip, it would be difficult for them to see their family again.
It was already October. A fast horse could travel from Yandu to Chang'an in about half a month, but the women, who were traveling by carriage and had luggage, took more than two months to complete the journey.
On the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month, Chang'an was finally in sight.
Even a distant glance at this world-renowned city is enough to amaze one with its grandeur and magnificence.
"Sister-in-law, we're almost there," Ling Xun said with a smile as he rode up to Bai Xuerou's carriage.
Bai Xuerou hummed in agreement, glanced at Ling Xun, and said, "You must be exhausted from the journey. Take a good rest for a few days when we get back."
Ling Xun is already fifteen years old, an age when people grow up quickly, and he has grown a lot more.
She grew taller and her features became more defined. Her once overly glamorous appearance became even more striking, which made her less feminine, but still a bit too refined.
But it was always beautiful, and Bai Xuerou couldn't help but look at it with admiration every time she saw it.
Ling Xun's ears felt hot again.
He knew his sister-in-law was simply admiring him, without a trace of impurity, as if she were looking at a beautiful painting or a tree in full bloom. But how many people could remain unmoved by such an admiring gaze?
Seeing that his ears had turned red again, Bai Xuerou smiled and looked away.
At first, she was quite restrained, but she couldn't help it because he was so handsome. However, after a few times, she found him really cute and started teasing him more deliberately.
A note from the author:
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