TSWRLM -Chapter 323 Triumph

Wengzhou City had fallen. Xuanyuan Lang was beheaded, and nearly half of the 30,000 enemy soldiers from Yuexi were wiped out; the remaining half became prisoners. The Yuexi royal family immediately sought peace and offered to pay any ransom to redeem their captured troops.

The Duke of Zhen Guo demanded the antidote for the Xiaohun Incense, but the Yuexi royals were helpless.

The Forget-Worry Herb grew in Yuexi, and the Yuexi royals had long suffered from it. When the new king ascended the throne, he ordered the herb classified as a deadly poison, and anyone who came across it was to destroy it immediately.

As for Xiaohun Incense, it truly had no cure.

When the news reached the emperor, he was furious. He ultimately canceled all trade with Yuexi and applied the remaining Xiaohun Incense that had belonged to Xuanyuan Lang to the captured Yuexi soldiers before releasing them all back to Yuexi.

With that, the matter concluded. In early October, the Duke of Zhen Guo led his troops in a victorious return to the capital.

The city’s residents, upon hearing the news, spontaneously lined the streets to welcome them.

Chun Xi and Princess Hengyang had both finished their confinement period, and they invited Xiao Qinghe to join them in going out to see the festivities.

Chun Xi had booked a private room on the second floor of a teahouse facing the street, giving them a perfect view.

Listening to the praises of the people below, Princess Hengyang exclaimed happily, “Although the Xiaohun Incense has no cure, the methods we devised earlier to resist its effects worked really well. Coupled with the formulas from the Imperial Medical Office, it can greatly ease the suffering of those affected. At the Duke of Zhen Guo’s celebration feast, Mother and the Empress will surely commend us.”

Chun Xi and Xiao Qinghe both thanked her. Just then, the crowd below grew louder, and the three of them focused on the window to look outside.

At the far end of the bustling street, the Duke of Zhen Guo appeared, accompanied by his disciplined soldiers.

The Duke, nearing fifty, already had gray hair at his temples, but clad in armor, he was still imposing. Upon his appearance, the crowd erupted in unified cheers.

Behind him were his deputies, all tall and imposing, like arhats in a temple hall.

Following the deputies was a young officer in silver armor.

He wasn’t as physically massive as the deputies, but his broad shoulders, upright posture, and distinguished bearing made him stand out. He looked very young.

Some girls in the crowd, drawn to him, boldly tossed fragrant sachets toward him.

One person did so, and others followed suit. But the young officer remained unmoved. Not only did he refuse to accept the sachets, he drew his sword and elegantly deflected them all.

Those walking beside him teased, “Xiao Qianhu, these are gestures of goodwill from the girls! Isn’t it a bit too harsh to refuse? Surely you don’t prefer us rough men over delicate ladies?”

The remark drew laughter from everyone.

In the private room, Princess Hengyang clucked her tongue. “This young officer is interesting—he hasn’t accepted a single sachet. Could he already have a sweetheart? And I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

Chun Xi and Xiao Qinghe had already recognized him: Xiao Yecheng.

After the events at the Grand Tutor’s mansion, Wuyou Pavilion had suddenly closed its doors, and both Xiao Yecheng and Lanshu had disappeared. Chun Xi had thought something had happened to them, but it turned out Xiao Yecheng had joined the army. Judging by his appearance now, he had likely distinguished himself in battle.

Just as she thought this, the Duke of Zhen Guo and his men arrived below the teahouse. Xiao Yecheng looked up, his gaze fixed straight on the second-floor private room.

The sunlight was perfect today, and at this close distance, when Xiao Yecheng looked up, the scar on his face was visible.

The scar was somewhat fierce, but his eyes were extraordinarily gentle.

Xiao Qinghe clenched her handkerchief, her heart tightening, yet after a moment, a smile curved her lips.

Today, she, like the people below, had come to welcome the victorious soldiers home.

After a long absence, Xiao Yecheng could not resist and glanced up at her.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, and with the heiress accompanied by Princess Hengyang and Madam Shen, he considered this glance no offense.

But he did not expect the heiress to smile back.

Xiao Yecheng was visibly startled; after a moment, the corners of his lips could not help but lift into a smile.

Fresh from the battlefield, his aura of killing was intense, and when not smiling, he could be intimidating. Now, smiling, he seemed to melt, even looking a little awkwardly charming.

Princess Hengyang watched curiously. “He seems to be smiling at you, He’er. Could it be that he fancies you?”

“Princess, he isn’t smiling at only He’er; he’s smiling at all of us,” Chun Xi quickly interjected to smooth things over. “Besides, he’s an adopted son of the Xiao family. I’ve met him there before.”

Hearing that he was adopted by the Xiao family, Princess Hengyang felt somewhat reassured.

Even if he wasn’t a blood relative, being raised by the family made him almost equivalent.

Yet in terms of family background, He’er’s match was far beneath him.

Moreover, the Xiao family had already learned a painful lesson from Qingyuan Hou, and He’er had been deeply hurt by Wei Lingze. Even if she remarried, she would likely not consider a soldier like him.

The procession quickly passed by. The Duke of Zhen Guo still had to take the soldiers to the palace to meet the emperor, but the crowd lingered, excitedly discussing all the news they had heard about the campaign.

Much of it, however, was unfounded rumor.

Princess Hengyang soon grew bored and was about to invite Chun Xi and Xiao Qinghe back to the princess’s residence when a voice suddenly exclaimed from the crowd: “Is Young Master Wei really dead? If he died for the country, his body should have been returned for a grand funeral. Why didn’t we see a coffin?”

“You’re foolish! Wengzhou is so far from Hanjing, and the Duke still had to negotiate with the Yuexi royal family. How could the body be preserved for so long? The Wei family has displayed white banners everywhere—it’s surely true.”

“Even if the body couldn’t wait for the main army to return, it should have been announced publicly. Why secretly send it back? Could Young Master Wei have committed some crime?”

The crowd immediately began speculating.

Princess Hengyang glanced at Xiao Qinghe, her tone serious. “Wei Lingze did indeed die serving the country, but his aunt and uncle, for their own selfishness, harmed so many people and nearly caused the fall of Zhaoling. The emperor will never posthumously honor him. Even the Wei family members will likely not hold positions of importance for now.”

The entire Grand Tutor’s clan had been executed, but the Wei family was not implicated. Not being reinstated quickly was already a mercy by the emperor.

After speaking, Princess Hengyang looked at Xiao Qinghe with concern. “I heard you went with your family to offer condolences but were driven away, and they said many unpleasant things. Are you alright?”

Xiao Qinghe shook her head, her expression calm. “Although all ties with him have been severed, the Xiao family and the Wei family have longstanding relations. Given what happened, it was proper for the Xiao family to pay respects. Whether the Wei family accepts it is their matter.”

Xiao Qinghe saw through things clearly, but once news of Wei Lingze’s death spread, various rumors inevitably arose, and even Chun Xi could not avoid being caught up in them.