Chapter 50 The Return
After Lin Lanting left, Huiyi had much more peace and quiet, but also much more boredom.
No one bothered her, kept talking to her, or even pestered her for sex.
I felt relieved, but also a little empty.
During the bitter cold of winter, while waiting for battle reports, Huiyi often went to Lishan to soak in the hot springs with her elder sister.
Once, I ran into a couple of acquaintances on the way.
He Yu and Cai Xu.
Upon seeing them, the two were visibly delighted, though their emotions differed.
He Yu's eyes lit up with joy at seeing her beloved.
Cai Xu was overjoyed to have found a powerful backer.
Having witnessed the ferocity of Princess Chang Le's husband, Cai Xu no longer dared to harbor any ulterior motives, and was left only with lofty ambitions.
Cai Xu's gaze reminded Huiyi of something she had almost forgotten.
While bathed in the warm spring water, Huiyi chatted with her elder sister about He Yu.
"What are your thoughts, sister, regarding He Yu?"
When it comes to matters of the heart, it still depends on my sister's own wishes, even if it's arranged by her parents.
Li Huaiyu smiled faintly, scooped up a handful of water, and let it flow from her fingertips.
"No rush, let's take a look first."
"I think life is pretty peaceful now, and it's nice to live like this."
"Perhaps in the future, I will be like Aunt Ningguo, and my parents will bestow upon me a princess's mansion, where I can hire some people to entertain me at home."
Huiyi understood and respected her elder sister's wishes, only laughing when she heard the last sentence.
"That's right, this is the kind of life we want!"
"I originally wanted to follow my aunt's example, living in my own princess's mansion, and inviting some young men over to amuse me when I was bored, but alas..."
At this point, Huiyi's words caught in her throat, and her face flushed red.
Li Huaiyu chuckled at the sight and teased without holding back, "What do you mean, 'What do you mean, 'You and Lin Erlang have developed feelings for each other and want to settle down and live a good life'?"
Huiyi was filled with shame and indignation. She and her older sister played in the water for a while, their hair getting wet.
Huiyi didn't get out of the hot spring until her body was red and limp.
Yu Niang, accompanied by several maids, hurried over, wiped the water droplets off Huiyi's body, and draped a skirt over her.
In the hazy mist, Huiyi, feeling weak all over, couldn't help but recall the one night of madness she had spent with Lin Er.
It was so soft and limp that it seemed like even standing up required all my strength, let alone doing anything.
She could only let Lin Er do as he pleased, forcing her to do that thing again and again.
The first two times were alright, but it became increasingly unbearable over time.
But with his strong physique and a silver tongue, Lin Er coaxed her into coming again and again.
It was through this incident that Huiyi truly realized how inconsistent Lin Er was in his words and deeds.
As she sobbed and begged for mercy, she said she would go slower and be gentler, but her actions didn't seem to heed her words at all.
They fought with increasing ferocity, as if they intended to execute her.
Recalling that night, Huiyi felt as if her bones had softened.
With Lin Er absent, Huiyi inevitably felt bored, so she invited her elder sister to the Lin family home and chatted with her about everyday matters late into the night.
A light rain began to fall halfway there, and they saw Xie Yun standing on a street corner, riding his horse.
In the thin curtain of rain, people's faces were also blurred.
But Li Huaiyu recognized him at a glance.
She immediately lowered the carriage curtain, averted her gaze, and looked indifferent.
Li Huaiyu thought that such cold treatment would make Xie Yun leave gracefully, but he underestimated Xie Yun's shamelessness.
He caught up, the sound of horses' hooves ringing in his ears.
Li Huaiyu looked at her younger sister, who had no bones on her shoulder and was about to fall asleep. She was about to lift the curtain to check on her sister, but it was too late.
"Huaiyu".
Startled by the sound, Huiyi sat up straight instantly, no longer dazed.
"who?"
Li Huaiyu's expression worsened, annoyed that someone had woken her sister.
Since they'd already argued, there was no need to be careful anymore. Li Huaiyu lifted the carriage curtain and said indifferently, "Young Master Xie is quite rude. You'd better give me a reason, or I'll punish you for disturbing the peace."
As if facing a stranger, there was not a trace of lingering affection in his eyes.
This wasn't the first time Xie Yun had seen such a look, but it still made him feel breathless.
"Please forgive me."
Looking into Huaiyu's indifferent and ruthless eyes, Xie Yun pressed his lips together, his heart filled with unspeakable pain.
If he had known things would turn out this way, he certainly wouldn't have...
But it's too late to say anything now.
All I want to say is, how can I have another chance?
"I'll do anything as long as you come back."
In that instant, the man who had once been so arrogant and haughty in front of Li Huaiyu completely lowered his head, revealing a humble and pleading side.
Xie Yun's eyebrows were lowered, his expression was dejected, and his eyes were filled with heavy sorrow.
Li Huaiyu had never seen Xie Yun like this before, and was momentarily stunned, falling silent for a moment.
But after regaining his composure, he still said coldly, "No need. There's no possibility between us anymore. You can leave."
The unmoving posture ignited a spark of anger in Xie Yun's sorrowful heart.
"Is it because of that guy surnamed He?"
"So, Huaiyu, you've taken a liking to him?"
As Xie Yun said this, his face trembled, and he had completely lost his composure.
Huiyi watched from the side, wanting to jump out and yell at people for a long time, but her older sister held her down firmly, so she had to listen to the scolding for a long time.
Forget it, I'll trust my older sister.
Huiyi stared intently, finding the scene even more captivating than a shadow puppet show.
"This has nothing to do with anyone else. Whether he is here or not, none of us can make it."
This is not surprising; it is common for prominent families to be able to uncover secret information.
However, this matter was even more private than court politics, and Xie Yun managed to find out about it, and he was still not giving up.
Li Huaiyu continued speaking indifferently, making Xie Yun's expression grow increasingly unpleasant.
"Very well, it was I who was presumptuous and disturbed the princess. I will take my leave now."
A glance at the other person's face revealed a complexion as dark as a sky filled with clouds, so cold it seemed as if rain was about to fall at any moment.
Huiyi always felt that he wasn't holding back anything good.
But after the person left, her older sister smiled at her, and Huiyi stopped thinking about it.
...
As expected, the war with Goguryeo brought a series of victories, with news of large armies capturing several cities and killing many enemies every now and then.
In the eyes of everyone in Chang'an, this was undoubtedly a battle without any controversy.
But just as the people of Chang'an were taking the peace for granted, a shocking battle report came from the front lines.
A traitor appeared in the army and colluded with Goguryeo to carry out a feint attack.
They used the old, weak, sick, and disabled to disguise themselves as the main force to deceive General Guo, while in reality they gathered the main force to surround and kill Lin Lanting, who was a subordinate general.
Thus, Lin Lanting, who only led 20,000 soldiers, suffered heavy casualties and was forced into Hanshan by the main force of Goguryeo, his fate unknown.
Although General Guo reacted swiftly and annihilated the old, weak, sick, and disabled soldiers sent by Goguryeo, it was too late to rescue his nephew.
In the middle of winter, the cold mountain is desolate and lonely, and the falling snowflakes add to the chill.
From time to time, Goguryeo soldiers would search the mountains, cursing under their breath.
"Where did that kid hide? We've searched for two days and two nights and still haven't found him. Could he be dead?"
A small team of about ten people was breathing heavily from the cold and looked extremely irritable.
One of the soldiers, rubbing his hands together, asked curiously, "Captain, why do we insist on capturing this Lin family kid? He's just a son of a minister, why go to such lengths?"
This is a greenhorn who is participating in combat for the first time this year, and he lacks knowledge about everything.
He didn't know why he had to abandon the main force and follow the general to besiege a subordinate general with only 20,000 men.
I don't understand why we need to go to such lengths to search.
Several of them were also very curious and pricked up their ears to listen.
As soon as the question left my mouth, I got a tap on the head, and then I heard the captain explaining to them in a gruff voice.
"You just don't understand!"
"This second son of the Lin family wasn't so precious before, but things are different now."
"As you should know, General Guo is his maternal uncle, and his grandfather is a high-ranking official in Chang'an. But now he has another identity, and it is precisely because of this identity that this kid is useful."
"What what?"
Several greenhorn recruits immediately craned their necks to ask, but the bearded captain smiled and kept them in suspense before slowly saying, "The son-in-law of the Emperor of the Central Plains!"
"And he's not just any ordinary son-in-law. The Princess Chang Le whom the Second Son of the Lin family married is the Emperor's beloved daughter. It's said that he dotes on her extraordinarily, and no one dares to disobey him. If we capture Princess Chang Le as our consort, what will we have to worry about? Who knows, maybe the little princess will shed a few tears in front of the Emperor and the matter will be settled, hahaha~"
The soldiers laughed along, but still asked curiously, "Does the captain know what he'll get in return for capturing this Lin family's second son?"
Not content with saying more, the man continued, "I don't know much either, but I heard the higher-ups say, after drinking, that they were going to exchange a few cities."
The soldiers laughed in unison, "That's great! That guy surnamed Guo is not easy to deal with. If we can get a few cities by ourselves, that would be wonderful!"
After saying that, the group was full of enthusiasm and excitement again.
Unnoticed by anyone, a furtive figure disappeared under the cover of snow, then cautiously reached the hidden cave and told Lin Lanting, who was warming himself by the fire, everything.
In the firelight, the young man's travel-worn face gave a self-deprecating smile, and he said coldly, "You wish! But do you think I can make those Korean slaves have their way?"
"Even if they die and are carried off by wild dogs, they shouldn't get away with it!"
With hatred filling his dark eyes, Lin Lanting stared at the crackling fire and muttered to himself.
He refused to become a prisoner, or a pawn used to threaten his country.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a lifelong disgrace.
There's just one thing: I wonder how Chang'an will react when they hear the news.
What will her reaction be?
Will she worry about herself?
Even shedding tears?
Lin Lanting had no way of knowing any of this; he could only think about it.
Only twenty-eight people remained after the breakout, plus Lin Lanting, making twenty-nine, all hiding in this small cave.
Upon hearing Lin Lanting's words of facing death with unwavering resolve, the young scout who had returned excitedly urged, "General, please don't lose heart! As long as we're alive, we can always rebuild. If we die, we'll have nothing left!"
"Yes, yes, General, don't be discouraged! We want to fight our way out with you!"
"That's right, with the general here, we will definitely be able to fight our way out!"
Lin Lanting snapped out of his reverie and laughed loudly, "Alright, just for what you brothers said, I, Lin Er, will definitely lead everyone out!"
"Let's go back to Chang'an together for drinks and meat!"
Lin Lanting glanced southwest and gradually formed an idea in his mind.
"Leave Hanshan and head towards Bohai Kingdom."
After saying this, Lin Lanting took a bite of the dry, hot flatbread in his hand, his expression resolute.
This was the path to survival he had devised in the middle of the night. Although it was dangerous and difficult, the benefits would be immeasurable if he succeeded.
Lin Lanting had already made up his mind. If the Bohai Kingdom agreed to lend him troops, and Goguryeo's capital was currently undefended, wouldn't it be a golden opportunity for him to lead his troops straight to Pingcheng?
The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Lin Lanting was full of energy, chewing the flatbread with gusto to gather strength for what was to come.
Near the cave where they were hiding, there was a steep slope with a river right below it. If they could cross the river, they could escape to safety.
However, it was the dead of winter, and the river was icy cold. If the young woman fell into the river, she would surely catch a cold.
But they were all strong and healthy soldiers, and the situation was critical, so they didn't care about that.
Before leaving, Lin Lanting took out a piece of soft silk that was tucked into her bosom and smelled it.
It's a standard apricot pink color that a young lady would wear, with a faint fragrance, but strangely, it has many wrinkles.
There is also skin damage caused by excessive wear and tear.
Lin Lanting took three of these small garments from home before going to war, just in case one wasn't enough.
Sure enough, he took a deep sniff and muttered, "Damn it, it's all gone."
The soldier beside him thought Lin Lanting was speaking to him, and turned his head to ask, "What did the general say?"
Lin Lanting casually stuffed the undergarment back into her clothes and said in a calm voice, "It's nothing, let's get going."
In the cold, desolate night, the group blended into the darkness and silently made their way down the treacherous slope.
Heading towards the Bohai Kingdom.
...
Three days later, at dusk, the King of Bohai, who had just finished court, was being helped by Queen Yan to change into his court robes, while Prince Xiuren listened to his father's admonition.
The beginning is about teaching his son how to manage court officials and handle political affairs.
Next, we discussed the current war between Chang'an in the Central Plains and Goguryeo.
Just then, a palace attendant rushed in and reported some momentous news.
"Your Majesty, the son-in-law of the Emperor of Chang'an has come, wishing to borrow troops from my Bohai Kingdom!"
Like a thunderclap from the ground, it startled the whole family into a complete halt.
After a few apologies, the King of Bohai and Prince Xiuren exchanged a glance and said, "Please come in quickly!"
About half an hour later, Prince Xiuren escorted Lin Lanting out of the study, both with indifferent expressions.
Almost as soon as they met, the two recalled all the things that had happened in the past.
I felt a little uneasy.
Prince Xiuren was a gentle and kind-hearted person, so naturally he wouldn't show any displeasure.
If this were in Chang'an, Lin Lanting would have given this person who dared to covet his wife a very cold shoulder.
But now that we've come all this way to Bohai to borrow troops, we can't be so out of touch with reality.
Thinking of this, Lin Lanting smiled, but it was a forced smile.
"Long time no see, Your Highness."
Prince Xiuren, naturally, would not be impolite. He simply smiled as he looked at the young general before him, his gaze slightly sour.
"General Lin, you are too polite. It is fate that we meet today. I wonder if the princess in Chang'an is well?"
Seeing that people still dared to ask about Huiyi, Lin Lanting smiled even more brightly and said with a fake smile, "Of course everything is fine, the couple is in harmony, so the eldest prince can rest assured."
Prince Xiuren was not unaware of the prince consort's dislike for him, but because he understood, he did not hold it against him. Instead, he sincerely said, "General Lin should be at ease. Although I am fond of the princess, I know that we are not meant to be and are not a good match."
"General Lin is the perfect match for the princess. I only hope that General Lin and the princess can grow old together and live a long and loving life."
Lin Lanting's expression softened, and he snorted, "Of course, a hundred years of love between me and the princess is not enough."
Upon hearing this, Prince Xiuren smiled.
Back in Chang'an, he didn't see the affection a fiancé should have in Lin Erlang's eyes.
But now, that affection is almost overflowing in tangible form.
He was completely relieved.
The two exchanged a few words about the war. Before sending him away, Prince Xiuren bid farewell, saying, "If I could choose, I would also like to be like General Lin."
"Fight the bravest battles, drink the strongest liquor, marry the best women, live freely and unrestrained, and be magnificent and dazzling."
Lin Lanting glanced at the vast Bohai Palace behind him, paused for a moment, and then laughed heartily, "Thank you for the compliment. May my next life be as you wish."
"They're gone."
After saying that, Lin Lanting waved his hand and disappeared into the night.
...
When news of Lin Lanting's imprisonment reached Chang'an, Huiyi was roasting chestnuts in her room. The sweet aroma of chestnuts filled the room, and Huiyi sniffed it, thoroughly enjoying the fragrance.
But when Yu Niang revealed this news with a pale face, Hui Yi could no longer smell the sweet fragrance in the room.
She felt a bit cold, and the earthen ceiling couldn't warm her up anymore.
How could that be?
He's such a skilled fighter, he'll surely come back alive, right?
For a long time, I was in a daze and couldn't react. All I could see were the worried faces of Yu Niang and the others.
Huiyi suddenly realized that Lin Er was so important to her.
His safety was so important to her that she lost her appetite and became quite thin.
She even considered going to the border to find him, but reason prevailed and she stopped the idea.
It's useless. In the past, she was not only useless, but also added to the burden.
Just as Huiyi was about to go to Qinglong Temple to pray to Buddha, another series of misfortunes struck.
One afternoon, the grandfather was poisoned and fell into a coma. The imperial physicians tried to treat him for three days without success, and they discussed the matter like headless flies.
Just when everyone was already extremely anxious, King Liang suddenly jumped out and accused his mother of poisoning his father.
The reason given was that her mother had committed adultery with her former cousin, Minister Mei, in her early years, violating the virtues of a woman and defiling the palace, thus disqualifying her from being the mother of the nation.
She even confidently found some so-called witnesses, saying that they were the old women who had served her before she got married, who had been driven out of the house for being greedy and stealing.
They claimed with absolute certainty that their mother had a secret rendezvous with that Vice Minister Mei at Ci'en Temple, and that she was subsequently diagnosed with pregnancy.
It's practically as if they're saying outright that the Crown Prince's elder brother is the son of Vice Minister Mei!
"It was because my brother discovered this Du woman's shameful deeds that he was poisoned and murdered by this vicious woman in an attempt to protect her position as empress and crown prince. Everyone should keep their eyes open!"
That day, the usually kind and gentle Uncle Liang made a series of outrageous remarks in the main hall. Huiyi regretted that she was not there at the time, otherwise she would have definitely gone up and slapped his face.
She knew that this family were no good people.
What kind of personality does my mother have?
She was gentle and virtuous in her youth. After being demoted, she endured many hardships with her father in Lingzhou, but she never abandoned him and struggled to support the family. She even changed her personality.
If you ask me what my mother is saying, Huiyi is the first person who doesn't believe it.
Over the years, the King of Liang has won over many court officials and deliberately spread rumors among the people, causing heated discussions and chaos throughout the court, the country, and even among ordinary citizens.
However, Grandpa was still receiving treatment and remained unconscious, unable to stand up and shield Grandma from the wind and rain.
Fortunately, many upright officials stepped forward, led by Lin Zhongshu, and spoke quite fairly, saying that they should wait for the emperor to wake up and make his own judgment.
Furthermore, in a fit of anger, Vice Minister Mei banged his head against a pillar in front of all the officials to prove his innocence, and the situation in the court temporarily stabilized.
But with her father in a coma, the Prince of Liang eyeing her covetously, and rumors spreading like wildfire in Chang'an, causing constant turmoil, Huiyi's already anxious heart became even more restless.
On an ordinary evening, Huiyi was taking care of her ailing grandfather with her mother.
My older sister is in poor health and has recently caught a cold, so I told her to go and rest early.
In the middle of the night, Huiyi, who was already having trouble sleeping, heard a faint sound of shouting and killing in her half-awake state.
She was terrified, so she put on her clothes and went to her father's bedroom.
The entrance to the sleeping quarters was surrounded by layers of Imperial Guards, each with a stern expression and a tense atmosphere.
Huiyi went in and saw that her mother was already there, sitting on her father's bed with a tense expression and an indignant look.
"Mother, what's going on outside?"
Why are there shouts of battle coming from around the imperial city?
This is the residence of the emperor!
unless……
Upon realizing that possibility, anger also surfaced on Huiyi's face.
"Xi Nu, the King of Liang has rebelled."
Sure enough, just as she had guessed, Huiyi was about to curse when the shouts of battle outside grew closer and closer.
"Mother, they won't break in, will they?"
Huiyi had only experienced hardship and had never faced bloodshed, so she was also terrified at this moment.
She was, in the end, just an ordinary girl.
Fear of killing, bloodshed, and death.
Just then, Mother walked out, her face stern.
Huiyi's heart skipped a beat. She grabbed her mother and asked urgently, "What are you going to do, Mother?"
Empress Du smiled gently at her youngest daughter and said, "It's nothing. I'll go take a look ahead. We can't let these rebels break in and hurt our Xinu."
Huiyi stared blankly as her mother's figure disappeared into the night. A chilling night wind blew by, and Huiyi snapped out of her daze, chasing after her in her thin dress.
The night wind was biting, but it couldn't stop her from following her mother.
Yu Niang and the others chased after her with cloaks, but their legs were no match for Huiyi's high spirits. They could only watch as the princess disappeared into the night and continue to grit their teeth and chase after her.
When Huiyi saw her mother standing on the Danfeng Gate, she was already shivering from the cold.
But she persevered and climbed up step by step.
On the city wall, Mother was resolutely encouraging the troops, exchanging insults with the Liang King and his son, just as fierce and powerful as she had been ten years ago in Lingzhou.
"Bah! You two despicable father and son, you're willing to smear me with false accusations just to seize the throne. You're heartless and rotten beasts, you deserve to die a horrible death!"
"If you heartless, rotten lackeys were to ascend the throne, may the heavens strike you down with lightning!"
"What 'purging the emperor's inner circle'? Isn't it just plotting a rebellion? Traitors and treacherous officials will be infamous for eternity and deserve to be ranked alongside dog excrement!"
Even though the situation was not good at the moment, Huiyi was still full of admiration. Although she could not see the expressions on the faces of the Liang King and his son, she guessed that they were not very pleasant.
"Mother, it's dangerous there, come down quickly!"
Looking down, one could see the city wall stained with blood, and even though it was night, Huiyi could see it clearly.
If she is not careful, her mother will be wounded by a stray arrow and lose her life.
Seeing Huiyi approach, Empress Du's pupils contracted, and she rushed towards her, both worried and angry, saying, "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay in your bedchamber? Look how cold your hands are! Go back now!"
Not only was it cold, but Empress Du was also worried that her youngest daughter would be injured by swords, so she scolded her to go back.
But Huiyi refused, tears streaming down her face, and said, "If Mother doesn't leave, I won't leave either. If something happens to you, and Father is still unconscious, how can I be safe?"
Empress Du was anxious and gripped her daughter's shoulders urgently, saying, "Of course, if the capital cannot be defended, you should have your Uncle Lu take you and your brothers and sisters out to find the Imperial Son-in-Law and the others. They will protect you."
Hearing these words, which sounded like a deathbed confession, made Huiyi even more unwilling to leave. She stubbornly said, "I won't leave. If the capital falls, my parents will lose their lives. I am willing to live and die with them!"
How could she abandon her loved ones and run away? The thought of having no parents for the rest of her life filled Huiyi with unbearable pain.
Snap!
Huiyi stared blankly at her mother after being slapped on the cheek, meeting her mother's panicked face.
"I'm sorry, it was my fault. I hit you because I was in a hurry."
"You can't stay here, it's too dangerous. You have to leave now!"
Just as the mother and daughter were arguing, a loud shout came from below: "Execute the wicked woman Du and purge the palace!"
It was unclear which of Liang King's soldiers fired a cold arrow, which came flying with a piercing whistling sound.
"Mother, be careful!"
Huiyi's eyes widened in fury as she rushed forward to shield her mother, but her quick-witted mother pushed her away.
On a desolate winter night, when Huiyi lay back, she saw a sky full of stars, dazzling and bright.
The moonlight was dim, but the stars were dazzling.
Tomorrow might not be a good day.
laugh……
The sound of an arrow piercing flesh rang out. Huiyi scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding, and stared wide-eyed at the sound.
My mother was still standing, completely unharmed.
That cold arrow was pinned to the city wall by another, even faster arrow.
Huiyi looked down and saw a person lying on the ground with an arrow piercing their neck, making a gurgling sound, and blood spreading everywhere.
This man was none other than the King of Liang.
The sound of iron hooves drew near, and the city gates were opened again, causing the earth to tremble.
Before the fluttering banners, Huiyi saw Lin Lanting.
He straddled the black horse named Xuanlei, drew his bow, and charged forward with fierce and ruthless power.
“The traitor King Liang has been executed; those who surrendered will not be killed.”
"Those who resist, kill them on the spot!"
His face was like that of a demon, and his voice was like thunder, instantly stunning everyone present.
It was like a mountain-suppressing stone, calming all of Huiyi's panic.
She gazed at it for a long time, reluctant to leave.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Updated! Updated! [heart emoji]
I originally thought the main story would be finished, but the plot kept getting bigger and bigger. I guess the main story will be finished tomorrow. [heart emoji]
There might be two short side stories later, such as the male lead suddenly losing his memory and going back two years, and the female lead also losing her memory and going back two years, focusing on the clash of information gaps [shy].
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