Zhou Chunfeng swept his gaze over the crowd and said with a smile, "I'll report this to the Cabinet at once. Barring any surprises, Brother Yunjing and I will enter the Imperial City together to pay our respects to His Majesty."
"Good." Song Yunjing nodded. "This battle is over. I'll arrange for men to stand watch through the night; everyone else should rest first."
"Understood!"
After the night watch soldiers and officers had been assigned, the low-ranking officials departed one after another.
Song Yunjing added, "Though we won a great victory, devastation met the eye everywhere. It would not be fitting to celebrate extravagantly, but neither can we leave it uncelebrated. Come back to the county office with me, everyone. Have a simple hot meal before resting."
The group descended from the city wall and entered the county office.
Hearing that her husband had returned, Madam Song disregarded the presence of outsiders. With tears in her eyes, she hurried over and cried, "Is Song-lang all right?"
Li Qingxian looked over and saw a middle-aged woman dressed in an elegant, plain blue-white gown. She was around forty, dignified in appearance, gentle in brow and eye, carrying an air of graceful nobility—though her eye rims were red.
"Wife, I'm here." Song Yunjing smiled.
"Mother..." Song Baige went forward.
The two brushed past each other, and Madam Song threw herself into Song Yunjing's arms.
Song Yunjing gently patted his wife's back and comforted her softly.
Song Baige looked at his parents, looking as though life held no more joy for him.
Zhou Chunfeng smiled faintly.
After comforting his wife, Song Yunjing led everyone into the rear office for a meal.
After they had simply eaten some hot food, Madam Song warmly took Li Qingxian's hand. Treating him like her own son, she led