GBP Chapter 1782 Two Generals, One in Front and One in Back
Chapter 1782 Two Generals, One in Front and One in Back
Yu Hua was straightforward and said whatever came to mind. “Your father was captured by Da Lang and forced into labor. Da Lang has now been destroyed. If your father is a prisoner, he is in Sha Guanghan’s military camp.”
Big Eyes burst into tears. He understood some of the reasons behind this, but he desperately wanted to find his father among the tens of thousands of soldiers.
Yu Hua slapped her mouth twice. She shouldn't have said those things. If the child wanted to look, let him look. If he couldn't find him, he should give up. Why make him cry at this crucial moment? Yu Hua's heart was broken!
In the Wanhe Hall, Wan Lianxing, dressed in a black dragon robe and wearing a jade belt, with his crown tassels hanging lightly, stood personally below the steps. Behind him, civil and military officials stood in order of rank, all holding their breath and keeping quiet.
Despite his seemingly calm demeanor, Wan Lianxing was actually just like an elderly father or mother searching for their son on the street.
He wished the two generals would appear before him immediately.
He stood tall with his jade crown held high, hands clasped behind his back, his posture as steadfast as a pine tree, motionless, his gaze fixed on the distance, like a loving father yearning for his child. Unaware that someone had suddenly appeared beside him, his attendant whispered in Wan Lianxing's ear, "They've arrived at the palace gate!"
Wan Lianxing nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.
The ministers were all secretly wiping their sweat. They had been craning their necks and standing there for an hour. They had never stood for so long during court meetings. The older ones were bound to get tired.
Suddenly, Wan Lianxing's old steward's eyes lit up, and he pointed to the end of the palace road in the distance and whispered, "Your Majesty, look, the person has returned!"
Wan Lianxing's expression was solemn. He nodded again. The black-armored cavalry came in the morning light, their banners fluttering with the character "Sui". The leading general was wearing bronze armor, and a sword at his waist gleamed coldly. He dismounted with swift and steady movements. Only a step away from him was Suixin, who casually tossed his silver spear to his deputy general as he dismounted.
The two generals, clad in armor, swiftly advanced, their movements as agile as a beast poised for battle, their sharpness concealed yet their imposing presence amplified. Upon reaching Wan Lianxing, they knelt on one knee, cupped their hands, and spoke in booming voices: "Your subject obeys your command, your subject obeys your will. Fortunately, you have not failed in your mission. A great victory has been achieved in the southern border region. Today, we return to the court to report back!"
Wan Lianxing's smile deepened as he stepped forward and raised his hand to help them up. "Generals, you have worked hard. You have made great contributions in protecting our territory. Please get up."
After many years apart, Wan Lianxing's gaze lingered on the faces and bodies of the two generals. He resisted the urge to reach for Suiming's bag, and instead patted Suiming and Suixin on the shoulders. His eyes revealed his appreciation and affection for the two generals. They had once been his personal guards and his trusted confidants, and now they were renowned generals. Wan Lianxing was very pleased.
He murmured to himself, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back! When you left, you were just children, and now you've returned as pillars of society! Come, follow me into the palace!"
Wan Lianxing and the two generals walked in front, while the officials behind them all murmured their praises, their joyful voices echoing throughout the entire imperial city.
Ge Dongqing walked among the ministers, looking at the people in front of him and said: "The north wind sweeps across the palace walls with joy, the vermilion steps are covered with the glow of the sunset. Gilded owl-shaped ornaments lie on the roof ridges, and copper bells at the street corners jingle. The crickets guard the southern border, expanding the territory and suppressing the battlefield. The soldiers return and the war ends, and the whole world rejoices as you have hoped."
The ministers all agreed upon hearing this.
Outside the imperial city, gongs and drums resounded; inside the imperial city, music and drums played in unison. The whole nation celebrated, even more joyously than during the New Year.
On the street, Da Yan was crying his eyes out. Yu Hua tugged at his sleeve and pulled him back, sighing, "What a beautiful day! How could I have made Da Yan cry like this!"
Shang Xi felt a pang of sadness at Da Yan's crying. "Let him cry if he wants to. He's such a young child, with no family around. It's understandable that he misses his parents! Look at the streets, there are so many people who haven't found their sons, husbands, or fathers, and they're all crying their eyes out. Da Yan isn't the only one who's heartbroken! Let him cry. He'll feel better once he's had enough!"
Yu Hua nodded in agreement. She couldn't persuade the child either, so she could only let him cry. "Yes, you can hear a woman behind you crying like her father has died. It's heartbreaking."
Upon hearing this, Shang Xi looked back and her lips twitched. "It's Shi Hongjiao crying."
"What? Shi Hongjiao?" As she spoke, Yu Hua turned around and saw Zhao Shuyun pulling Shi Hongjiao with a blank expression.
Yu Hua spoke first, "What's going on? Why is she getting involved? Aren't all the men in your family in the north?"
Mentioning this, Zhao Shuyun's anger flared up. "That brat, she cries whenever she sees someone else crying, it never ends, as if she has some kind of grudge against our Sha family!"
Zhao Shuyun was practically cursing Shi Hongjiao for being unlucky!
People had only ever seen Shi Hongjiao laugh, but they had never seen him cry. When he started to cry, it was incredible; his voice was as loud as an ox.
Shi Hongjiao's makeup was ruined, her hair was disheveled, and when she cried, she saw no one in her eyes, just like she had lost a loved one.
Shang Xi looked at it again and again, "Is it okay for you to cry like this?"
Zhao Shuyun was seething with anger, and her words were anything but polite: "She doesn't cry even once a year, but when she gets the chance, she cries her heart out. Anyone who doesn't know better would think she's suffered some kind of great injustice. No one needs to persuade her; let her cry. I want to see when she'll ever tire of crying!"
Yu Hua couldn't help but say a few words of advice, "Hongjiao, you can't cry like that! Your Sha family is all well and happy, you can't cry like that. Besides, your mother-in-law is still here. If you open your mouth wide and start yelling, people will think your husband isn't home and your mother-in-law is mistreating you! This is a bad influence!"
Shi Hongjiao pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her face, her voice choked with sobs, "I'm crying for myself."
"You're perfectly fine, lively and carefree, with no worries at all. What's there to cry about?"
“I was married by imperial decree several years ago, and I haven’t even seen a shadow of my husband. How can I not cry?” Shi Hongjiao said, her mouth agape as she was about to burst into tears again.
Zhao Shuyun said, "That's enough, stop crying. If you cry again, I'll throw you out on the street!"
After a few threats, Shi Hongjiao shut his mouth. "Mother, when will my father and the others return from the northern border? The war between the north and south has stopped, and the army guarding the southern border has returned to the capital. When will my father and the others come back?"
How could Zhao Shuyun not miss her husband, Lao Sha, and her two sons? But who can predict what will happen on the battlefield? "Everything depends on the Emperor's decision. Although the war in the north has stopped and the Yato people have been driven out of the northern border, they are still scoundrels and bullies who have repeatedly caused trouble. Now is not the time for your father and the others to return."
"The generals in the south have all returned, so the ones in the north should come back for the New Year too!" Shi Hongjiao spent her days in the general's mansion, living like a widow. She often thought of her husband, Sha Yueteng, who was guarding the border. The thought that they had never even met made her feel extremely aggrieved.