Ten-Mile Maple Forest—time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three years had passed since Ning Chen's return.
The Blood-clothed Marquis had died in battle. Another spirit tablet had been added to the Martial Marquis Temple. Wrapped in horsehide after death—this had been the fate of Great Xia's Martial Marquises for thousands upon thousands of years.
Even so, generation after generation of Great Xia's Martial Marquises had continued to guard this great nation without complaint or regret.
At the beginning of spring that year, outside the imperial city, carriages rumbled as a person of unusual status arrived at Ten-Mile Maple Forest.
Xia Xiyao stepped down from the carriage and helped a middle-aged man down. The man was plainly dressed, yet his bearing was anything but ordinary.
The middle-aged man was only around forty, but more than half his hair had already turned white, and exhaustion covered his face.
"Father Emperor, be careful."
Xia Xiyao supported her father and said worriedly.
The Xia Emperor stepped down from the carriage and walked step by step toward the maple forest.
"Marquis!"
Looking at the white-haired man, the Xia Emperor respectfully bowed.
"If your health is poor, then you should not have come."
Ning Chen looked at the present ruler of the Great Xia Dynasty before him and spoke calmly.
"Marquis, you have been back for so long. I should have come to visit you long ago."
The Xia Emperor spoke with emotion on his face. "I grew up listening to tales of you, marquis. I never expected to be fortunate enough to see your true face."
"Did Your Majesty come for some matter?" Ning Chen asked.
"I came to ask you, marquis. I ascended the throne at sixteen, and I have now reigned for twenty-five years. Since inheriting the great succession,