Chapter 286 Main Text Completed

Chapter 286 Main Text Completed

Xiao Zhen wasn’t actually sure if he could defeat Older Fifth Brother now.

The last time the two brothers competed in spear techniques was the year after the old master took over Wei County, during the New Year's Day celebration. The second brother suggested that the six brothers draw lots to choose their opponents, but by the time Xiao Zhen returned from visiting his father-in-law and mother-in-law, the four brothers had left Older Fifth Brother for him.

Back then, it took Xiao Zhen dozens of rounds to defeat Older Fifth Brother.

Ten years have passed. Xiao Zhen's spear skills are still as sharp as they were when he was in his late twenties, and his strength and endurance have not changed much. However, Older Fifth Brother, who was once a nineteen-year-old brash youth, has now become a twenty-nine-year-old General. Although he is still a bit naive, after years of battlefield experience, Older Fifth Brother's spear technique and skills have far surpassed those of his younger self.

Xiao Zhen doesn’t have the confidence of a sure win. Older Fifth Brother respects him as the eldest brother and doesn’t provoke or challenge him often.

Xiao Zhen had no intention of competing with Older Fifth Brother. If he had the spare energy, he would rather use it on Tong Sui.

"How about compared to our newlywed days?"

In the night of their long-awaited reunion, Xiao Zhen held Tong Sui's wrists with one hand and adjusted her face, which kept tilting away, with the other. His movements were slow but deliberate, and his voice deepened as he spoke.

Tong Sui glared at him before closing her eyes.

Xiao Zhen looked at her hair spread across the pillow and then at her lips, which couldn’t seem to close properly. He said, "You were like this back then too. You couldn’t bear to look at me, but the more you avoided my gaze, the more I wanted to make you face me."

Tong Sui said, "Don't talk about it."

Xiao Zhen said, "You started it. You insisted on asking if I could beat Older Fifth Brother."

Tong Sui said, "I won't ask anymore, never again..."

Xiao Zhen said, "You've seen it. I can win him. Now you think I’m too old to beat him, don’t you?"

Tong Sui secretly twisted her wrists.

Xiao Zhen said, "Is there something about me that seems lacking, is that why you think so?"

Tong Sui finally freed one hand and immediately covered him.

But Xiao Zhen suddenly lifted her up and walked out of the canopy bed barefoot.

The moon hung high in the sky, and the emperor and empress stood behind half-opened windows, gazing at the bright moon while whispering softly.

The next morning, Tong Sui ended up sleeping in.

After breakfast, when Tong Sui arrived at the central hall, Xiao Zhen had returned to the main hall and sent someone to invite her and the little princess.

Tong Sui led her daughter to the west warm pavilion of the central hall and found that her elder brother, sister-in-law, and nephew were all there. Xiao Zhen had also called back Chengzu, who had been studying with the tutors.

Chengzu had already acknowledged his uncle and aunt, and Tong Sui taught her daughter to greet them. The gifts Xiao Zhen sent from Hongzhou last time were actually prepared by her eldest uncle.

Little Princess Yining was a bit shy around her elders but showed great interest in her new cousin, who was almost as tall as the Crown Prince. Holding Xiao Shan's hand, she said, "Let's go see the ducks."

The little princess loved the Qu Chi pond the most, and since the Crown Prince had to study, she wanted her new cousin to take her there.

It was Xiao Shan’s first time in the palace, and he was still somewhat reserved. Xiao Zhen said to Chengzu, "Take a half-day off and go play together."

The two children left happily.

Tong Rong suddenly knelt down and said, "Please take back your decree, Your Majesty. I did achieve some military merits in Jingnan, but they were all by luck. I do not deserve the title of Marquis bestowed by Your Majesty."

Qiao Changshun, Sun Dian, Zhang Wengong, and Qi Yun have served Your Majesty faithfully, earning numerous military honors. My modest accomplishments are truly undeserving.

Tong Sui only then learned about the bestowal of the marquis title and looked at Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen allowed Tong Rong to rise and asked, "Do you think I bestowed this title on you because of my relationship with the Empress?"

Tong Rong glanced at his sister and silently agreed.

Xiao Zhen: "Then you are mistaken. I granted you this title because you helped me take Jingnan several months ahead of schedule. Your attack on Yongzhou led to Pan Yong and the Ling Emperor conspiring against Lu Yi, which resulted in my bloodless surrender of 120,000 Ling troops. It could be said that your military achievements were the most significant in the campaign against the Ling. Not granting you a title would have been a failure in rewarding merit."

Tong Rong: "But I..."

Xiao Zhen: "I ask you again, when you defected to the Wei Kingdom, was it because you knew I was your brother-in-law and wished to serve your family?"

Tong Rong shook his head. "I only wanted to help the Wei Kingdom win. Only when the world is unified can I return home with my wife and children."

Xiao Zhen: "Since you pledged allegiance to the Wei Emperor, it is only right that the Wei Emperor grants you a marquisate as a reward for your service, unrelated to personal familial ties."

Tong Rong looked at his sister with a troubled expression.

Tong Sui smiled and said, "The Emperor is indeed not a nepotist. Brother, just accept the decree and devote yourself to serving the court from now on."

Tong Rong had no choice but to kneel and thank the Emperor for his grace.

After the two of them left the palace, Tong Sui asked Xiao Zhen, "You really didn't grant the title because of me?"

Xiao Zhen: "No. If I had to connect it to you, it was because I wanted to give you and your brother some initial rewards, so you wouldn't resent me next year."

Tong Sui: "Why would I resent you?"

Xiao Zhen held her hand and said, "The southern regions have just submitted, and the people's hearts are unstable. The generals we send there must be both loyal to the court and possess the wisdom and courage to defend their regions. Currently, Chang'an defends Yizhou, Lu Gong defends Nanzhou, Xie Jian defends Jingzhou, and Pei Pingyuan defends Yangzhou. My plan is to assign one general to Jiaozhou and another to Fujian and Luzhou."

"For Jiaozhou, I want to send Qi Yun. For Fujian and Luzhou, your brother is the most suitable candidate."

Even the Ling Emperor found the bandits in Fuzhou troublesome, which shows the prestige of the local leaders in southwestern Yangzhou, southeastern Luzhou, and northwestern Fujian. By assigning Tong Rong to guard Luzhou and Fujian, local officials wouldn’t dare to act rashly or plot a restoration.

Tong Sui looked at him deeply.

Xiao Zhen: "Think about it—he's just come out of the mountains. Could he immediately adapt to the officialdom in the capital? It would be better to let him gain experience in the regions for two years. Once the southern regions stabilize and he achieves some accomplishments, he can return to the capital and settle in more comfortably."

Tong Sui remained silent.

Xiao Zhen: "Your brother is capable. Unlike the second and fifth sons, even if I dared to send them to the regions as generals, you wouldn’t let me make reckless appointments. The fourth son is the most reliable, but his appearance doesn’t command the same respect from local officials as your brother does. Besides, the fourth son has only been outside for two years and should return to the capital for a break."

Tong Sui: "Qi Yun has also been outside for two years. Why are you sending him to Jiaozhou?"

Xiao Zhen: "He is capable. If he doesn't go, who will? Besides, Yu Chan loves lychees, so let her eat her fill in Jiaozhou."

Tong Sui: "..."

Despite the jokes, Tong Sui wouldn’t keep her brother in the capital for personal reasons; she wanted the southern regions to stabilize quickly.

The next time they met, she informed her brother of Xiao Zhen's arrangements.

Tong Rong felt relieved. He would rather serve as a regional general than rely on his sister for honor in the capital.

Although they would soon be separated again, the family found solace in knowing each other was safe and that they could still exchange letters.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, winter soon arrived, bringing the cold months of the twelfth lunar month.

To celebrate the unification of the empire, a grand banquet was held in the palace on New Year's Eve. The banquet included not just imperial relatives but also civil and military officials of the fifth rank or higher in the capital and those of the second rank or higher from the provinces.

The imperial relatives entered the palace in the morning.

Madam He was beaming with joy, chatting warmly with Lady Xiao about family matters.

Liu Chu, Lin Ningfang, Yan Mingxiu, Lu Qiu, and the other ladies sat in a circle, having handed their children over to their wet nurses.

Tong Sui deliberately observed Xiao Yuchan for a while, who noticed and came over to ask, "Why is First Sister always looking at me?"

Tong Sui replied honestly, "After the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, you will be going to Jiaozhou with Qi Yun. I was afraid you'd be unhappy."

Xiao Yuchan said, "Why would I be unhappy? I've had enough of the capital. It'll be nice to visit Jiaozhou and see what lychee trees look like."

Tong Sui: "..."

Behind them, Madam He and Lady Lu were chatting. "Finally, my husband has returned. In the past two years, only Fifth Younger Brother came back and was teased by his brothers. Unfortunately, after the New Year, my husband will leave again, and this time, you're going with him. I'll be short of a companion."

Lady Lu smiled and said, "My mother-in-law insisted I go with him because she's worried he won't have anyone to take care of him."

Xiao Yuchan glanced at her mother and whispered to Tong Sui, "When I first learned that the Duke of Lu had returned to the capital, my mother was very worried that First Brother would send Fifth Younger Brother to guard the Southern Province. In front of Fifth Younger Brother's wife, she said that if that happened, my father would go in his place. She'd rather endure the hardship in the Southern Province with my father than let Fifth Younger Brother's wife suffer."

Tong Sui asked, "What did Fifth Younger Brother's wife say?"

Xiao Yuchan imitated Lu Qiu's tone, "Mother, don't worry. The emperor will not send your Fifth Younger Brother, no matter what."

Tong Sui: "..."

As dusk fell, officials and their families started arriving at the palace.

Xiao Zhen and Tong Sui welcomed civil and military officials, along with the inner and outer court ladies, in the Qianyuan Hall. However, several border generals had their wives deliver gifts to Tong Sui on their behalf. Feng Ji sent a warhorse he allegedly carved himself, Zhao Liangchen sent a selection of premium Da Tong apricot preserves, Yuan Loushan sent large and sweet Lanzhou raisins, Luo Xiao sent a beautiful lantern, and Xie Jian sent a painting of Dongting Lake. Even Qiao Changshun, who had entered the palace earlier, jokingly added a box of ginseng.

Some of the gifts were for Her Majesty the Empress, others for the Crown Prince, and still others for the little princess.

Tong Sui thanked the ladies and asked them to tell the generals that their generosity wasn't necessary. As long as the generals guarded the borders well and took care of themselves, she and the emperor would be very pleased.

Before the banquet, the emperor and empress each raised their cups to toast the guests, hoping for a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.

Outside the palace, the various districts of Luoyang were also illuminated with lights. Unlike the emperor and empress, the people simply wished for peace and the safety of their loved ones.

Outside the capital, in the distant Liao Province, an elderly couple sat facing each other on a traditional heated bed (kang). Although the dumplings in their bowls were steaming hot, the atmosphere was still melancholic.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the gate.

The old couple was startled. Who would visit on New Year's Eve?

Before they could react, the knocking stopped, replaced by the sound of someone jumping over the gate.

The old woman trembled, while the old man skillfully jumped down from the kang, retrieving a knife from under the old mat. He hid behind the door.

The door to the main room was bolted, and the visitor, while knocking, called out, "Father, Mother, I'm back!"

The old woman looked blankly towards the window.

The wariness in the old man's eyes also turned to disbelief.

"Dad, Mom, I'm Dacheng! I'm really back!"

"Dacheng!" The old woman cried, climbing down from the heated brick bed. Not even bothering to put on her shoes, she stumbled into the main room, trembling, and struggled to open the door.

A cold gust of wind blew in. The old woman looked up and saw a face that, even after more than a decade, she remembered clearly. It was her Dacheng, the son she had thought died in the war and would never come back!

The old woman cried as she hugged him. His thin frame was a testament to the hardships he had faced outside, but it was enough that he had come back. Now, we have land and grain at home. He would soon be well-fed and healthy again!

Their son was one of the later returnees. As early as this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, the imperial court issued an order for all local governments to release all war prisoners. Whether they were northern soldiers captured by Liang or Ling, or southern soldiers captured by the north, all were provided travel expenses by the government. Local workers would take over the duties left by the prisoners.

The dead were gone, and now the world was at peace.

May the lights of ten thousand homes bring peace for years to come.

The author has something to say:

From the start of the war to the restoration of peace in the world.

The main story ends here. When this idea first came to me, I knew it would be a long novel. Being able to write such a lengthy and passionate story was all thanks to your support and encouragement. I really love you all!