CHAPTER 614: CHAPTER 614 RETURN TO BEIJING

"Eldest Brother, you overpraise me!"

"As personal guards, these are our duties!"

"Even if it meant climbing a mountain of swords or plunging into a sea of flames, your little brother would not hesitate!"

Xia Tingfeng looked at her.

She also looked up at Xia Tingfeng.

Their gazes were fiery, pure, devoid of any impurity. It was a kind of pure camaraderie, a bond forged through life and death, much more ingrained than the worldly love between men and women. Just like Rat and Tiger, she too had already been through life and death with him.

"Get up quickly!"

Xia Tingfeng pulled her up with one hand.

It wasn’t that he disregarded the propriety between men and women. Rather, Xia Tingfeng simply never considered her a woman. He only saw her as a brother.

Ye Tang didn’t fuss about it either and stood up straightforwardly.

After three rounds of drinks, the several deputy commanders of the Three Great Camps at the table had almost all gotten to know Ye Tang. Some were even drinking and expressing their admiration for him.

Ye Tang drank openly and said with a smile, "You gentlemen admire me? Then you’ve recognized the wrong person. I can’t fight in wars, only brawl! Oh, right, my archery is very accurate, all thanks to my dad’s teaching! My dad’s a hunter. If his archery wasn’t accurate, we’d starve to death! If there’s a chance, I’d love to have a proper exchange with you gentlemen!"

"Excellent!"

"Brother Ye is forthright and magnanimous; this little brother couldn’t ask for more!" the several deputy commanders laughed.

They vaguely knew this person had a very good private relationship with General Xia, so they were all quite polite. Besides, those who practice martial arts generally enjoy forging brotherly connections.

Putting aside his connection to Commander Xia, this Ye Tang was indeed likable. Brave, strategic, and insightful—very much to everyone’s taste.

After a few more exchanges and several more drinks, some people’s words were starting to slur. The air reeked of alcohol, and everyone was linking arms, calling each other brother. The scene was chaotic yet lively.

Ye Tang had also drunk a little too much.

"Come... drink up! We’re entering the city tomorrow. I hear Yanguan City is bustling and lively. I’m just not sure if it will still be so lively after this battle!"

"Hey! No worries!"

"I don’t know about other places, but as for... *those* kinds of places! They’re definitely not going to close!"

"HAHAHA..."

Ye Tang laughed, wrapping an arm around a deputy commander’s neck, and asked in a daze, "What kind of place is that?"

The deputy commander shrugged her off and responded in a daze, "You... don’t you know? Of course! It’s... the kind of place that can give us a real good time!"

He said this with a lecherous expression.

Ye Tang scoffed. "Superficial! How could women like that be worthy of me? You all can go tomorrow. I won’t be joining!"

After saying that, he staggered away from the table.

Xia Tingfeng watched with some concern and turned to give an order. "Escort her back to her room and fetch the Military Doctor to treat her! Prepare a bowl of sobering soup so she can sleep well!"

The servant boy by his side immediately acknowledged the order and left to fetch the Military Doctor.

「...」

The battle was over.

Xia Tingfeng stayed in Yanguan City for a few more days, ensuring the townspeople were pacified and settled. He then led his men to search and confiscate the Fan Residence. Everyone from the residence, regardless of gender or age, was to be taken back to the Capital City. Next were the remaining captives and spoils of war from the Grassland Tribes. Everything was gathered and was to be taken back to the Capital City. There wasn’t much else.

At the end of March, the elite force of five thousand soldiers set out for the journey back to the capital. Because both battles had been meticulously planned in advance, there were almost no casualties. It could truly be said that they brought back as many men as they had taken out.

Zhao Junyao read the 800-li urgent dispatch from the front line and was very pleased with its contents.

"Haha! Good! You haven’t disappointed Us!"

"Li Shengan!"

"Your Servant is here!"

Zhao Junyao instructed, "Go to the lesser treasury and pick out some fine rewards. We are going to reward someone!"

Li Shengan didn’t dare to ask further. He quickly affirmed the order and left the room, horsetail whisk in hand.

「...」

When Li Shengan brought Little Zhuzi to the entrance of the lesser treasury, Little Zhuzi was still bewildered.

"Master, who are we rewarding?"

There must be a target, right? Otherwise, how would one choose?

Li Shengan rapped him sharply on the head with the horsetail whisk. "You damned servant! Is your brain addled? Commander Xia is due back from the front lines in early April... So, tell me, who do you think the reward is for?"

"Commander Xia?"

Little Zhuzi was stunned for a moment, then realization dawned on him.

"Ah! How could I have forgotten that!"

He slapped his own head and then entered the lesser treasury. Inside, he enthusiastically picked and chose items, preparing the rewards.

「Meanwhile, outside.」

In the Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion, the atmosphere was equally vibrant. As spring ended and summer began, the weather gradually grew warmer. The flowers in the garden, meticulously cared for by the servants, grew lush and beautiful. In the small garden of the main courtyard, various flowers bloomed vibrantly in colorful clusters and bunches.

Ni Manxue’s spirits also lifted. "The Marquis is finally returning! It’s been almost a month!"

Dong’er said with a laugh as she aired out the quilts, "The Marquis and Madam share such deep affection! They say... absence makes the heart grow fonder, like a second honeymoon. I wonder, Madam..." Dong’er chuckled slyly.

Ni Manxue’s face instantly flushed red. "You impudent girl, what nonsense are you spouting! Hurry up and get back to your work properly!"

Dong’er grinned teasingly. "Yes, Madam!"

「...」

In early April, Commander Xia led five thousand elite troops back to the Capital City. The soldiers, naturally, would not enter the city proper, as General Xiao’s Three Great Camps were also garrisoned outside the city walls. As they passed by on their return, he merely needed to hand over the Commander’s Seal to complete the transfer of command.

When Xia Tingfeng entered the city, he only brought a few servant boys and his personal guards. Without returning to his mansion first, he went straight to the palace.

「In the Imperial Study Room.」

Seeing Xia Tingfeng kneeling on one knee, dusty and travel-worn, Zhao Junyao was greatly pleased.

"Beloved Minister Xia, please rise. This time, We shall commend you once again!"

Xia Tingfeng quickly kowtowed. "Your subordinate dares not claim such credit! It is this minister’s duty to serve Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao rose from his seat and walked forward to pat Xia Tingfeng’s shoulder. "Alright! We know you dislike such formalities! However... the rewards must still be given!"

With that, he had someone bring over a list.

"These are all tributes from foreign states. It isn’t much, but it is a token of Our esteem. You must not refuse!"

Xia Tingfeng felt even more diffident. "Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao smiled. "Rest assured, We know you do not seek these things!"

Xia Tingfeng no longer declined and accepted the gift list. He glanced at it and then tucked it into his sleeve.

After the exchange of pleasantries, it was time for official matters. Xia Tingfeng reported everything he had seen and heard in Yanguan City to the Emperor.

Finally, his expression turned solemn. "Your Majesty, this minister knows he should not overstep, but there is one thing this minister must say! General Fan... this man has now become... utterly unreasonable!"

Lacking other words, he could only use "utterly unreasonable" to describe him.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes, as expected.

"That old scoundrel! It is just as We suspected! He has indeed been restless in Yanguan City!"