Chapter 364: The Soldiers Return in Triumph
There was frozen earth on the road.
They walked for a long time and passed a river.
The river was frozen solid.
But that could not stop hungry humans. They chiseled a hole, and many fish swam to the bottom of the opening. And so, on this day, they caught many fish.
They killed the fish and cooked fish soup right there on the road.
The procession stretched out long, and the rays of the setting sun were also long, forcefully painting the pristine white frozen river in shades of red.
This made the ancients who had never traveled far feel as though they were witnessing a miracle.
In fact, simply surviving was already a miracle to them.
Cold wind, sunset clouds, frozen river, setting sun.
And of course, fresh fish soup.
Those who drank it had tears in their eyes.
Because the soup was very hot, and also because the wind was strong.
Because the sun had set, and it was dark.
Setting up camp, the journey was arduous, but they did not feel tired at all, because this was the road home.
As usual, there were storytelling sessions in the evening.
Learning to read, singing competitions.
At the beginning, everyone was unfamiliar with each other, nervous and guarded.
Now, everyone was familiar, trusted each other, and was much more confident.
Even if they left the group in the future, they should be able to live well. They had broadened their horizons, learned to read, and their bodies were well-trained. They could be considered a group of outstanding people for this era, with both their physical and mental capabilities developed.
Having seen the long river and the round setting sun, hearing that poem again, they could be considered kindred spirits; how could they not be?
The further they traveled toward the capital, the warmer it became.
They took off their tattered coats, their chilblains stopped itching, and the wind brushing against their faces was no longer cold.
Grass gradually appeared by the roadside, and then trees.
They rushed all the way.
Meng Shaoxia had been tanned dark, square-jawed, and sturdy.
Jiang Feng, on the other hand, although he had also been exposed to the wind and sun, still had fair skin, making it look as if he had not done any work at all.
The two of them had learned on the road that there had been a palace coup in the capital.
The person on the dragon throne had changed.
It had been replaced by Meng Shaoxia’s Father-in-law.
Meng Shaoxia had originally thought that his battle was magnificent and that he had become a true General Meng. Upon returning, he would bring glory to his family, and in front of his Father-in-law and mother-in-law, he could walk tall and straight, head held high, full of vigor.
But he never expected that his Father-in-law would still be his Father-in-law, and when he returned to meet him, he would still have to kneel and bow; he could not stand tall, he simply could not.
Both publicly and privately, his Father-in-law was a hundred times more impressive than him.
Who could have imagined that while he was out fighting, before he even returned, his Father-in-law had already succeeded in a palace coup and become the Emperor.
Back then, he had married a beloved girl; that girl first became a princess, and then a princess, and in a flash, he became the Emperor’s son-in-law.
Whoever said that fighting in wars was the fastest way to get promoted, that is because you did not marry a princess; marrying a princess is faster.
Meng Shaoxia felt a bit of trepidation as he neared home; how was he supposed to face his Father-in-law in the future?
It was so scary.
His Father-in-law’s ambition was too strong, right?
How was he supposed to strive and work hard in the future?
Jiang Feng also felt it was somewhat unbelievable.
Although they had never discussed this topic directly between Father and son, he knew that Father was an ambitious person.
He just had not expected the ambition to be realized so quickly, to the point where it felt like being in the clouds or a dream.
He had gone from being the princess’s own grandson to the Emperor’s own son.
The status was on a completely different level.
After all, under heaven, The New Emperor now only had one biological son and one adopted son.
This was also why that bunch of officials kept petitioning the Emperor to expand the harem, because in this era, the probability of premature death or accidental death was too high, and one or two children were simply not reliable.
Ordinary families needed to have several children to ensure succession.
Not to mention a family with an imperial throne to inherit.
One or two children were too unsafe.
If they died accidentally, where would they find an heir?
So now, while Jiang Feng was still on the road, he had many more guards around him.
Old General Meng had arranged it.
Old General Meng had not expected it either.
This time, he had completely retired.
However, at his age, being able to return home alive from the battlefield was already a gain; it was not easy.
A palace coup was just like a war.
Although it was in the past, it could be summarized in a single sentence.
But when you were in the middle of it, amidst the flashing swords and shadows, people would die, many people would die, and it was very tragic.
Victory and defeat are common in war, but for those involved, it was a matter of life and death.
Being able to return home alive was a stroke of luck.
Old General Meng had actually suffered very serious injuries, but thanks to the medicine Jiang Feng brought, he had been pulled back from the gates of hell.
He felt that he could fight for another ten years now.
However, having been away for too long, this time he also needed to return to the capital.
The closer they got to the capital, the faster everyone traveled.
When they left, they felt the journey was long, endless, and the road ahead stretched out forever.
On the return journey, however, every time they saw a familiar place, a familiar tree, a familiar hilltop, a familiar stream, they felt excited—it was closer, and closer still.
On this day, the wind was gentle and the sun was bright.
In the distance, they could already see the gates of the capital.
They saw the fluttering banners waving in the wind.
Jiang Feng and his party seemed tireless; they walked faster and faster, faster and faster, until they finally arrived home.
Surely someone would come to welcome them.
Because they were victorious.
But they did not expect the welcoming procession to be even grander than they had imagined.
It was actually The New Emperor, the Empress, and the princess, coming to welcome them in person.
Many people had never seen the Emperor in their entire lives; the Emperor was high above, like a god.
They never expected this.
The Emperor had actually come out of the palace to the city gate to welcome them personally.
At that moment, they felt that even if they died, they would have no regrets.
Countless people would remember such a clear day.
They would remember the moment they all shouted “Long live, long live, long, long live.”
They were inexplicably moved to tears, not knowing why.
Before, they always felt those were the affairs of the masters above, but at this moment, they had returned wearing their battle armor.
Listening to The New Emperor say to everyone: “You have worked hard, you are all heroes, and I thank you on behalf of all the common people under heaven.”
At this moment, their chests were full of passion, feeling no regrets—no regrets for leaving home, no regrets for going to the battlefield, no regrets for killing the enemy, no regrets—do it, do it, do it!
Jiang Changtian held a trumpet-shaped object and spoke with great emotion.
Looking at the crowded masses, as long as he thought that his own Fenger had also gone, he was filled with emotion, his eyes reddening—worry, definitely worry, worrying day after day.
But he also knew that his child ultimately had to go out and see the world.
Especially a man.
If kept by his side, his vision would be narrow, seeing only petty trifles all day, and his heart would also become small, and his life would not be long-reaching.
If a man could have the opportunity to go out and see more, every step of his growth was something parents could not replace.
Watching him leave home and watching him grow, his heart was always filled with both sorrow and pride.
My child has returned.
“My child has returned. You are all my subjects, you are all my children. Today I am very happy, not only because you have won the battle, but more importantly, because you have returned safely.”
The wind was strong, and the Emperor’s voice was also loud, clearly revealing excitement and choked emotion.
At this moment, all the soldiers were also choked up.
Because in the hearts of ordinary people, the Emperor was a deity; they had never seen one, let alone heard the Emperor speak.
At this moment, they did not care about any palace coup, or whether it was legitimate or illegitimate; they just felt they were willing to die for such an Emperor, and it would be worth dying for.
They burst into tears on the spot.
It was not hypocrisy, but the surging emotion in their chests bursting forth.
They knelt and wailed.
Some veterans, having finally returned victorious, truly wailed, crying until snot ran down their noses.
Jiang, The New Emperor, the Best Actor, Changtian was also slightly moved at this moment.
Accompanied by Xia Mei, he personally helped up General Meng, helped up his son-in-law, helped up his son, and helped up unknown soldiers…
Looking at their dust-covered faces, ignoring his fair-skinned son among them, his words were even more earnest.
Jiang Mianmian also followed; seeing her Elder Brother, she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but thinking of so many people, she felt too shy.
Jiang Feng looked at his gorgeously dressed sister, reached out and rubbed her head—the familiar touch—he had finally returned home.
On this day, the shouts shook the sky.
The soldiers returned in triumph.
The Emperor welcomed them personally.
The Empress even personally asked a young soldier his age and praised him.
It was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.
They also could not forget that the princess actually looked like a celestial being, smiling whenever she saw someone.
If Mianmian knew they thought this, she would retort, “Not only can I smile when I see people, but I can also eat by myself and go to the bathroom by myself…”
The soldiers returned in triumph; today was a good day.
All the people rejoiced together.
Countless parents received their children, countless children saw their Fathers return, and countless wives waited for their husbands.
What is a prosperous age? This is a prosperous age.
A prosperous age of peace and joy.
Returning home alive.
Jiang Feng followed his parents back to the palace, feeling a bit excited the whole way.
He looked at his parents carefully; they were both fine and not injured, so he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
When he heard about this outside, the first thing he thought of was whether his parents would be hurt.
Seeing his parents and sister all well, he dared to breathe a sigh of relief, his eyes involuntarily moistening.
He thanked the heavens; that long and endless life in the dark underground had ultimately passed like a dream.
Now his parents were very healthy and living well, even wearing dragon robes and phoenix robes.
It was unbelievably good.
It was also like a dream.
Jiang Feng stroked the head of his sister who was sitting next to him, only then feeling a bit of reality, and asked: “Were you scared?”
Mianmian shook her head: “When the incident happened, Sister-in-law blocked me with her body without hesitation, so I was not scared.”
Jiang Feng’s face flushed slightly.
Outside the carriage, the sun was fiery red and graceful.
On both sides of the long street, the people saw them off.
The soldiers returned in triumph and had finally come home.
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