CHAPTER 308: CHAPTER 305: NOT DISAPPOINTED

Zhang Weihe never imagined that someone from Prince Guangyang’s family could still be alive.

He never paid any attention to Yang Wu; both Yang Wu and her father were discarded by Prince Guangyang, tarnishing Prince Guangyang’s reputation.

But the Little Princess was different. She was clever from a young age, and if she was alive...

Zhang Weihe’s heart was racing, eager to immediately find someone from the Chen Family Village for answers, but he managed to steady his emotions.

He couldn’t be hasty.

If he could see the Commandery Princess himself, the matter would naturally have a clear answer, but for now, these were just Xue Ke’s words.

Zhang Weihe looked at Zhuang Xing: "Find a place to settle him first."

Zhuang Xing responded.

Zhang Weihe turned to Xue Ke: "If you want to leave the Eight States alive, then shut your mouth and follow my instructions."

Xue Ke breathed a sigh of relief and nodded hurriedly: "Since I came to seek Old General Zhang, naturally everything is arranged by the Old General."

Zhang Weihe returned to the barracks, pacing in his tent until Zhuang Xing came back to report.

Zhuang Xing said: "I’ve had someone keep an eye on him."

Zhang Weihe said nothing.

Zhuang Xing probed: "Do you believe what he says, that the Commandery Princess is still alive?"

Zhang Weihe remained silent.

Zhuang Xing said: "If the Commandery Princess were alive, it might have been difficult to contact before. But now Daqi’s troops have entered the Eight States, and the Chen Family Village has come to Xinzhou. Why wouldn’t she reveal her identity to you?"

Zhang Weihe finally spoke: "Either it’s false, or the matter isn’t that simple. I’ve been thinking, if the Commandery Princess was indeed taken away, with the Chen Family Village now in Xinzhou, she ought to come, to witness the downfall of the Pseudo King."

Zhuang Xing’s heart skipped a beat: "You’re right... then why hasn’t she come? Could it be the Commandery Princess..."

Zhang Weihe was flooded with thoughts, wondering if something had happened over the past ten years. He regretted not speaking more with Miss Xie these busy days and knew nothing of her parents’ affairs.

Miss Xie could only be fifteen or sixteen, right? How could her parents allow her to escort military supplies to the Eight States amidst war, so far away? How did a child of fifteen or sixteen grow to become so mature?

The more Zhang Weihe thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. With her parents around, it shouldn’t be like this.

Conversely, if the people from the Chen Family Village had mentioned this earlier, how would he react? He wouldn’t easily believe without seeing the Little Princess first.

Given the relationship between the Chen Family Village and Song Xian, they might suspect something unusual and hesitate.

During the battle between the two armies, he and Song Xian agreed to confront the Pseudo King together. Since it’s better to win this battle first than get involved in other affairs, these matters could be discussed later. After all, ten years can’t be explained in a few words.

The Chen Family Village had kept it a secret, avoiding revealing the identity of the Little Princess. Since the matter couldn’t be disclosed publicly, talking about it now has no use for the current military situation.

With this thought, Zhang Weihe felt it might be true.

Zhuang Xing said: "Isn’t Chen Yongyi from the Chen Family Village with us? Why not ask him?"

This needs asking.

Zhang Weihe instructed Zhuang Xing: "We’re right in Guangyang County; go inquire about Chen Youli’s affairs and find out when the Chen Family Village left the Eight States. Gather much information about Chen Youli’s family."

Zhuang Xing responded and went to make arrangements.

After sitting in the tent for a while, Zhang Weihe stepped out, unwittingly walking to the camp’s rear where the people from the Chen Family Village were helping with transporting military supplies.

Chen Yongyi limped while moving the grain. His right hand only had one finger left, but all the mule carts on this trip were repaired by him.

"Old General," Chen Yongyi approached Zhang Weihe immediately upon seeing him, "Is there anything you need?"

Zhang Weihe shook his head; although he no longer held an official position, people still addressed him this way.

Zhang Weihe asked: "Are the supplies settled?"

Chen Yongyi nodded, feeling surprised inside as Old General Zhang should be questioning the deputy general in the camp, not him who was merely helping and following orders from the deputy.

Zhang Weihe continued: "This journey has been hard on you all."

Just as Chen Yongyi was about to speak, Zhang Weihe continued: "I’ve heard that Mr. Xu has been in your village all along?"

Chen Yongyi replied: "Mr. Xu teaches our Miss Chen medical skills and pharmacology."

Zhang Weihe said: "Miss Xie is only fifteen or sixteen, right? How could a young girl travel so far following you all here? Were her parents willing?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yongyi felt a stir in his heart. Old General Zhang seemed different today. When he and Old General Zhang came to Guangyang County, Liangchen had specifically urged him that if Old General Zhang asked about her and the Chen Family Village, he should speak truthfully.

Chen Yongyi answered: "Sister and brother-in-law have been gone for a while."

Zhang Weihe felt breathless, recovering his breath only after a while: "Gone? What happened?"

Chen Yongyi was sure that Old General Zhang intended to inquire about Liangchen: "It’s a long story; a lot has happened. In short, Sister and brother-in-law met misfortune at sea, and although their bodies weren’t found, the ship they were on sank."

"If Old General Zhang wishes to know the details, after the battle is won, we can invite you to Zhenzhou Chen Family Village to discuss it thoroughly with you."

Indeed, a lot had happened over the years, Zhang Weihe added: "I heard Miss Xie call Chen Lizheng second uncle?"

Chen Yongyi said: "Miss Chen’s paternal grandfather and uncles are no longer here. The current village chief was chosen from the clan, and Chen Yongsheng is my second brother in the family."

If that was Chen Youli, both Chen Youli and his son were gone too.

After casually chatting a bit more with Chen Yongyi, Zhang Weihe turned and walked back to the tent. Xue Ke’s words matched the situation in the Chen Family Village well.

Though Zhang Weihe still didn’t have concrete evidence, he felt that the actions of the Chen Family Village and Miss Xie were very similar to Prince Guangyang, so could it be that the descendants of Prince Guangyang had truly returned?

Returning to their domain this way, watching the fall of the Pseudo King, avenging Prince Guangyang.

A surge of fervor filled the old general’s heart.

If this were true, Prince Guangyang’s descendants hadn’t let Prince Guangyang down, nor had they let them, these people, down.

...

After Old General Zhang left, Chen Yongyi was contemplating whether he should report this matter to General Song. Old General Zhang seemed clearly unsettled.

Guangyang County is some distance from Liangchen’s location in Dai State, so Liangchen advised him that if anything happens here, he should seek General Song.

Right now, General Song and Old General Zhang are jointly confronting remnants of the previous dynasty, any slightest disturbance could affect the battle.

Chen Yongyi rubbed his head; such matters usually required consulting either his second brother or Liangchen. Now he had to make the decision himself. How could Liangchen entrust such an important matter to him?