PNB Chapter 456 Zhiyan's Sweet Story (Part 8)
Chapter 456 Zhiyan's Sweet Story (Part 8)
"coming!"
"The army has returned to the capital!"
Outside the city, people lined the streets to welcome them, creating a lively atmosphere.
A host of civil and military officials waited outside the city on behalf of the emperor and empress to welcome the army.
The black-armored cavalry trampled past, their hooves thundering like drums. Before the dust had settled, a figure in silver armor reined in his horse ahead.
Dou Xiaoxiao's brows still bear the marks of the frontier's hardships, yet his imposing and heroic spirit is undeniable.
Seeing the people bowing to welcome him, he raised his hand to lightly press the scabbard, nodded slightly, and said in a clear and resonant voice: "Fellow villagers, with the North Pass secured and the land at peace, we have returned."
Officials bowed, and the people knelt on the ground to welcome the triumphant return.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi, along with Mu Tiantian, stood at the head of the officials, their expressions filled with excitement.
With the North Pass pacified and no more war, they can live a life free from worry about food and clothing, and return to Wangyue Village to live out their days in peace!
Dou Xiaoxiao dismounted, and Mu Tiantian smiled and was about to step forward when she suddenly stopped.
His gaze was fixed on the girl in plain clothes that Dou Xiaoxiao helped down from the carriage.
The girl had gentle features, and her plain-colored dress was slightly faded from washing.
With only an inconspicuous wooden hairpin tucked behind her ear, she timidly leaned against Dou Xiaoxiao's arm after getting off the carriage.
Her fingertips were still gently clutching his sleeve, her eyes showing a hint of lingering fear and vulnerability.
Compared to the prince beside him, whose black armor was frosted and whose heroic spirit was overwhelming, he became the most incongruous sight on the street.
When Dou Xiaoxiao looked down at her, the fierceness between his brows completely disappeared.
He gently patted the back of her hand that was gripping his sleeve with his fingertips, a gesture that was gentler than anyone else had ever seen.
Mu Tiantian's smile froze, and the light in her eyes dimmed instantly.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi were also beaming with smiles.
Hongluan never mentioned this girl in the letter.
The two turned their heads almost simultaneously, their gazes locking onto the silver-armored figure among the officials.
Hongluan stood there, meeting the gazes of Gao Mengli and Lin Xi.
She swallowed hard, and subconsciously raised her hand to wave.
His fingertips froze in mid-air, his eyes surging with an urgent plea for an explanation!
Her lips moved, but due to the palace etiquette, she could not utter a single word.
Two years ago, the prince was attacked and went missing. While they were searching for him, they saw a farmhouse on fire.
She led the way to put out the fire, and by sheer coincidence, she found the seriously injured and unconscious Crown Prince in the village.
According to Su Wan's confession, she rescued the child from a ravine in the mountains when she went to dig for wild vegetables.
When the prince awoke, remembering her life-saving grace, he wished to reward her with a thousand gold pieces and fertile land.
Unexpectedly, Su Wan knelt before the tent and begged, saying that her family wanted to marry her off to a widower.
If he gets the money, he will only give her away to someone else, and in the end he will not be able to escape the fate of being manipulated by others.
Upon hearing of her plight, Dou Xiaoxiao, who always cherished the weak and was unwilling for his benefactor to suffer such a fate for saving him, took her back to the military camp.
This stay lasted for two years.
Military camps are not like secluded mansions.
Despite the harsh winds and sandstorms, and the biting cold, Su Wan never complained.
She warmed tea and prepared water every day, mended and washed wounded soldiers, and treated people with humility. Everyone in the camp thought she was quite good.
Seeing that she was well-behaved, Dou Xiaoxiao assumed she was protecting her benefactor and never overstepped her bounds.
Little did they know that the two years of being together day and night had already stirred up different feelings in Su Wan's heart, and had also gradually led to gossip in the army that "the Crown Prince and Miss Su are in love".
Hongluan saw this and was very anxious.
Several times he tried to persuade the Crown Prince to make a decision as soon as possible: either send Su Wan back to her hometown for proper resettlement, or draw a clear line between them.
But every time he tried to speak, the Crown Prince would deflect his request with the excuse that "a benefactor must be properly cared for."
And she was not allowed to mention it to anyone else, to avoid Sweetie overthinking it.
Who would have thought that half a month before the army returned to the capital, Su Wan would once again "sacrifice herself to protect her master".
At that time, the crown prince was inspecting the camp when he was ambushed by the remaining enemy troops. A cold arrow was shot at him.
Su Wan once again rushed to shield the Crown Prince. Although she only suffered a minor injury that brushed past him, it still shook Dou Xiaoxiao to his core.
Well, she felt that the situation between the two of them was really hard to explain, completely impossible to explain.
However, Gao Mengli and Lin Xi's glances were too intense; these two were people who had once done her a great favor.
At this moment, she had no choice but to bite the bullet, jog up, and whisper in her ear to explain the whole story.
Dou Xiaoxiao glanced at the crowd and saw the person he had been longing for.
He stared at Mu Tiantian's stiff figure, his brows furrowed slightly, a hint of frustration mixed with the triumphant joy in his heart.
Mu Tiantian staggered backward, and Gao Mengli quickly reached out to support her waist, looking worried.
Dou Xiaoxiao looked at Tian Tian and saw that her face was pale and her eyes had lost their usual liveliness, leaving only a blank and helpless look.
His anger softened inexplicably, but Su Wan timidly clung to his sleeve beside him, while the officials and commoners in front of him stared intently.
He only stared at her for a moment before withdrawing his gaze, his lips curving into a cold, hard line.
Since she was the one who first cooled his feelings, she can't blame anyone else now.
She must be punished severely to see if she dares to treat me so coldly again, never writing me a letter or replying to it.
Seeing that Dou Xiaoxiao's gaze was fixed on Mu Tiantian, a hint of panic flashed across Su Wan's eyes.
She then composed herself and gently tugged at Dou Xiaoxiao's sleeve.
She leaned slightly forward, using his arm as a crook, and looked up at Mu Tiantian with gentle and submissive eyes.
Her voice was soft, yet each word was clear and distinct, reaching everyone's ears: "This lady looks very familiar; she must be the girl His Highness often mentions?"
"I am Su Wan, and I am grateful for Your Highness's kindness and protection. I will be entering the Eastern Palace with Your Highness from now on. Today is my first time meeting you, and I hope you will take good care of me in the future."
"presumptuous!"
Gao Mengli took a step forward, her voice cold and sharp, her anger barely contained.
Sweetie is someone she's watched grow up, yet she dares to bully her right under her nose.
Her gaze pierced Su Wan, her words sharp and forceful: "Tian Tian is the Princess of Jinning, personally bestowed by His Majesty. How dare you, a mere commoner, casually address her as 'elder sister' and be so disrespectful?"
"You saved the Crown Prince; that's the Crown Prince incurring your kindness. What does it have to do with Princess Mu?"
"You're putting on airs first. Do you really think this Lingsi Imperial City is a place where you can cling to anyone you want?"
This flippant "sister" may seem affectionate, but it actually shows a disregard for the royal title.
She even deliberately placed Mu Tiantian on an equal footing with her in front of thousands of people, showing how malicious her intentions were.
Does she fit too?
Lin Xi also stepped forward, standing on either side of Mu Tiantian with Gao Mengli, her cold eyes sweeping over Su Wan, "Since this young lady is protected by His Highness the Crown Prince, she should be even more careful with her words and actions and keep to her proper place."
"The county princess is of noble status; how dare you address her so casually?"
Su Wan trembled at Gao Mengli's imposing aura and quickly shrank behind Dou Xiaoxiao, her eyes instantly reddening.
She timidly clutched his sleeve, her voice trembling with sobs: "Your Highness, I didn't mean it! I didn't know this lady was a county princess. I was so abrupt. Please forgive me, Your Highness..."
As she spoke, her shoulders trembled slightly, and when she looked up, tears welled up in her eyes, making her look pitiful and on the verge of tears.
Her tone softened and took a turn, each word filled with grievance: "I am just an ordinary commoner, my status is as low as grass."
Arriving in the capital, I was terrified that even a random woman could scold me harshly, and I didn't know where I had gone wrong..."
"How dare you! Shut up!"
Dou Xiaoxiao's voice suddenly turned cold, and his eyebrows rose like sharp blades.
Upon hearing this, Gao Mengli laughed in anger, "Dou Xiaoxiao, fine, you're very clever!"
With that, he turned and left with Mu Tiantian, whose face was pale.
Lin Xi bowed respectfully to Dou Xiaoxiao, her tone sarcastic and strange, "Dou Xiaoxiao, no, Your Highness, my wife and I are not very talented. We improved crops and brought back high-yield corn from our voyage. We've made you so full."
I, this old geezer, am retiring now, so I won't get in your way!
After saying that, he rolled up his sleeves and left.
Upon seeing this, the civil and military officials exchanged bewildered glances and then turned back as well.
Offending the Crown Prince is utterly insignificant.
If they offend Lord Gao, who commands the Divine Machine Battalion, then they should prepare to face the Empress's barrage.
They can still distinguish between what is important and what is not.