Chapter 253: The Takedown!

Chapter 253: The Takedown!

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Laba Festival is celebrated. It is customary in the Great Qian to drink Laba porridge on this day. Early in the morning, as smoke rose from households, the fragrance of Laba porridge began to waft through the air, and the festive spirit seemed to start brewing from this moment.

It had snowed the day before, but today was a clear and sunny day. Yong'an Street in the capital city was festooned with lights and decorations, and the streets were lined with crowds, each face beaming with joy.

Today, the triumphant return of the soldiers who had been dispatched to Rouli was to be celebrated. Everyone was eager to witness their glory, especially that of Xiao Huai, the Marquis of Yongning, who had returned from the dead.

The Emperor, accompanied by court officials, had arrived early at the city gates to welcome the returning heroes.

Yesterday, Tang Shuyi had reserved a spot at a teahouse on Yong'an Street, ensuring that Xiao Yuzhu could see her father as soon as he arrived.

At the quarter hour of Chen, the Emperor, standing at the city gate, spotted a fluttering banner emblazoned with a large "Xiao" character in the distance. The rhythmic sound of horse hooves followed, growing louder as they approached. The Emperor's heart was filled with excitement and a touch of nervousness.

The annexation of Rouli was his greatest achievement during his reign. Now, the soldiers responsible for this monumental feat were returning, and his heart swelled with pride. Yet, he was nervous about meeting Xiao Huai after four years, wondering if he had changed, if he had grown even stronger.

The figures of the armored soldiers on their mighty steeds drew closer, and the Emperor squinted into the distance. He immediately spotted the man in the center at the forefront. Clad in silver armor, with one hand on the reins and the other holding a crescent blade, the man stood tall and imposing, his gaze fixed ahead, as majestic as a celestial warrior.

Even from tens of meters away, the Emperor felt the overwhelming aura and sharp gaze of the man. Who else could it be, if not Xiao Huai?

The emperor clenched his fist slightly, adjusting his expression to reveal a smile. At that moment, Xiao Huai approached with his troops, his hand gripping the crescent blade high in the air, as his soldiers halted their advance.

He dismounted with a turn, handed his long blade to a soldier beside him, and then proceeded step by step along the crimson carpet towards the emperor.

His form was upright, his steps steady; the tap, tap, tap of his footsteps seemed to strike against the emperor's heart, and as Xiao Huai drew nearer, the emperor's heartbeat quickened.

Xiao Huai halted, then raised his arm, pointing forward as he shouted, "Seize him!"

His roar, like a clap of thunder, left the emperor, the court officials, and the imperial guards momentarily unsure of how to react. At that instant, two generals from Xiao Huai's entourage briskly stepped forward, charging toward the emperor and his ministers.

They moved so swiftly that the imperial guards didn't have time to react. They were so fast that when they reached the emperor's side, he was so frightened that he fell to the ground.

But the two officers bypassed the emperor and pounced on the Grand Tutor standing behind him, pinning him down from left and right, and with a forceful push, the Grand Tutor was brought to his knees.

It was then that everyone else reacted. Jiao Kangsheng hurriedly helped the emperor to his feet, and the emperor, disregarding everything else, pointed at Xiao Huai and exclaimed, "You..."

"Your servant Xiao Huai returns from the campaign against the Kingdom of Rouli, long live the emperor, long live, long live!" Xiao Huai knelt and kowtowed, with the soldiers behind him dismounting and kneeling down, chanting, "Long live the emperor, long live, long long live."

The emperor was so choked with rage that he could neither swallow it nor spit it out. Just then, Xiao Huai stood straight and said, "Your Majesty, I saw a traitor, colluding with the enemy right behind you. Concerned for your safety, I acted hastily and disturbed the imperial carriage. I beg for your forgiveness."

"You...you said..."

The Emperor turned his head in disbelief towards the Grand Tutor, who was being forced to kneel on the ground, then turned back to address Xiao Huai, "Minister Xiao, are you saying the Grand Tutor has colluded with the enemy and committed treason?"

"Yes," Xiao Huai confirmed, producing a stack of letters from his robe and presenting them with both hands.

Jiao Kangsheng hurriedly took the letters and handed them to the Emperor. The Emperor held them in his hand, roughly counting over a dozen.

He casually extracted one, unfolded the letter, and scanned it rapidly. Anger contorted his features as he turned back to the kneeling Grand Tutor, "We have treated you generously, and the Jiang family as well. Is this how you repay Us?"

"I am wronged, Your Majesty, grievously wronged!" Despite the sub-zero temperatures, the Grand Tutor was drenched in cold sweat, struggling as he cried out his innocence.

The Emperor squinted at the Grand Tutor, naturally disbelieving his words. The handwriting on the letter was unmistakably that of the Grand Tutor.

"Your Majesty, perhaps we should return to the palace," Jiao Kangsheng suggested quietly.

The Emperor cast a deep look at the Grand Tutor, then turned to Xiao Huai, "Marquis of Yongning, Xiao Huai, your success in leading our forces to conquer the kingdom of Rouli will be remembered through the ages. You and your men are the pride of our great nation. Rest assured that your valor shall be duly rewarded."

"Long live the Emperor, may he reign for ten thousand years," Xiao Huai bowed again in homage.

The soldiers behind him joined in chorus, "Long live the Emperor, may he reign for ten thousand years."

"Minister Xiao, accompany Us back to the palace," the Emperor directed Xiao Huai.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Xiao Huai rose to his feet, his soldiers following suit, and together with the Emperor and the court officials, they made their way into the city. Within their ranks, a prison cart was particularly conspicuous.

It was common for triumphant soldiers to bring back captured enemies, but this prison cart stood out because it contained a woman in red who, despite her dishevelment, could be discerned as a beauty from her features.

The spectacle quickly drew the attention of the onlookers, who began to murmur and speculate amongst themselves.

Ahead, Xiao Huai rode beside the Emperor's palanquin, with Xiao Yuming, also on horseback, following behind. The Emperor glanced at him and commented to Xiao Huai with a smile, "Young Yuming resembles you, both brave and strategic."

"I wasn't nearly as mischievous in my youth," Xiao Huai responded.

The Emperor waved a dismissive hand, "Youthful exuberance is natural. Last time, he and Jingming had a misunderstanding that came to blows, alas..."

The Emperor sighed heavily, "Jingming was killed by an arrow. In my grief, I chastised the boy quite harshly at the time."

"He discussed this matter with me," Xiao Huai said. "I also rebuked him for it. As a servant to the crown, he should not have come to blows with the Second Prince."

The Emperor waved his hand dismissively, "Young men will have their passions, which is understandable."

"I shall ensure to discipline him more strictly in the future," Xiao Huai added.

The Emperor said nothing more, reclining in his chair to survey the dense crowd lining the streets, all there to welcome Xiao Huai.

"Father!"

A crisp voice suddenly floated down from above, and Xiao Huai, following the sound, saw a little girl in red, perched on a second-floor windowsill, waving and smiling brilliantly at him, dazzling his vision.

Xiao Huai felt his heart soften, almost reflexively he waved back. The girl’s delight was palpable as she turned to speak to someone. In that moment, as she turned, he caught a glimpse of a woman as beautiful as an ornate flower.