Returning victorious with the army's grain, a release deed wins a swordsman's undying loyalty
Once this secret letter reaches the Wenyuan Pavilion in the capital and lands on the desks of Su Wenyuan and Lin Zhenshan, Prince An will completely lose his qualification to compete for the throne, and may even be stripped of his title and executed according to the law!
"How could this happen... how could we lose so quickly?!"
A desperate groan escaped Zhou Huaili's throat.
He suddenly turned his head to look in the direction of the warm pavilion.
Inside the warm pavilion, Gu Mochen, shirtless, was furiously smashing vases and porcelain, roaring that he wanted to eat an elixir of immortality.
Meanwhile, in a guest room in the backyard of the Prince's mansion, two sinister foreign devils were coldly observing, preparing to use poison to drain and destroy the entire Prince An's Residence.
Heavy snow blocked the roads outside the city, while soldiers looted and civilians rioted inside.
The ship that Anyang has completely deviated from its course and is hurtling towards an abyss of no return!
Zhou Huaili bit his tongue, and the intense pain brought him back to a slight sense of clarity.
He quickly crumpled the secret report in his hand into a ball and stuffed it deep into the cuff of his sleeve.
This letter must never be seen by Gu Mochen in the present.
Otherwise, this completely insane prince might actually dare to order 30,000 troops to march south and attack Yi Prefecture overnight.
At that time, the entire Northern Territory of Great Yan will be plunged into an irrecoverable internal strife!
"Men," Zhou Huaili whispered to his trusted aide, his voice dry and hoarse, "Select ten assassins and bring them with me to the inn."
A resolute ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.
Now that the prince has gone mad, these two evil spirits from overseas who tempted him to madness must not be allowed to linger!
The next day.
Yi Prefecture City, in front of the Foot Care Hall ).
The snow on the bluestone path had long been swept away, and the bright red lanterns swayed gently in the morning breeze, exuding a strong festive atmosphere.
Qin Hongxiu, wrapped in a worn-out white woolen cloak with her hands tucked into her sleeves, stood alone at the foot of the tall wooden stairs of the Foot Care Hall, her gaze fixed on the direction of the official road south of the city leading to Bronze Gorge.
Her lips were pale, and there were faint bluish circles around her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept for several nights.
"Miss Hongxiu, it's windy outside, come inside and warm yourself by the fire."
Tuoba Mang's lover, Sister-in-law Hua, came out carrying a basin of hot water. She sighed and advised, "The Prince said that Young Hero Pu is highly skilled in martial arts and has the Prince's fire and thunder protection. He will be fine."
Qin Hongxiu gently shook her head, without moving a step, and whispered.
"I know he's powerful. But that's war... two thousand barbarians, swords and spears have no eyes."
Before the words were finished, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and the crisp ringing of copper bells suddenly came from the far end of the silent official road!
"Tap tap tap--"
Dozens of elite cavalrymen clad in blue armor broke through the morning mist and galloped in, their warhorses exhaling white steam from their mouths and nostrils.
Behind the cavalry, the long grain transport convoy, like a giant dragon, slowly drove towards the city gate.
The young man, dressed in a neat blue cloth outfit, rode a sturdy green horse at the head of the procession.
His back was ramrod straight, a bronze longsword hung at his waist, and a black bundle was tightly clutched in his arms.
It is indeed Pu Yunshan!
"They're back... they're really back!"
Qin Hongxiu's eyes reddened, and two streams of hot tears could no longer be held back, sliding down her cheeks.
Pu Yunshan pulled on the reins, and the warhorse reared up, emitting a clear neigh.
He dismounted and strode to the wooden steps. Looking at Qin Hongxiu, whose face was streaked with tears, he felt a pang of unease and instinctively reached out to wipe them away.
But seeing his hands covered in black ash and blood, he abruptly pulled his outstretched hand back.
" Hongxiu... I... I'm not hurt."
Pu Yunshan blushed and awkwardly pulled out a perfectly intact red string from his pocket—the very same peace knot Qin Hongxiu had given him before he left. "Look," he said, "It's perfectly fine, not broken at all."
Qin Hongxiu burst into laughter through her tears, grabbed his dirty hand, and pressed it tightly against her cold cheek.
"Fool... who's looking at the red string? I'm looking at you."
Tuoba Mang, who was standing to the side, dismounted and laughed loudly, "Oh my! My eyes are almost blinded by all this first thing in the morning! Young Old Tuo Pu, the Prince is waiting in the study of the old Prince's mansion. Shouldn't we go and hand over the command token first, and then come back for our lovey-dovey time?"
The Green City disciples and soldiers around them immediately burst into good-natured laughter.
Qin Hongxiu blushed deeply, quickly letting go of his hand and taking a half-step back. "Go quickly, the prince's affairs are important. I... I've prepared some mutton soup for you in the kitchen, waiting for you to come back and drink it."
"Okay! Wait for me!"
Pu Yunshan grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. He patted the long sword at his waist, turned around, and strode towards the old palace alongside Tuoba Mang.
The old prince's mansion, the warm pavilion and study.
The charcoal fire was burning brightly, and the room was filled with the faint fragrance of white plum blossoms and the sweet aroma of freshly boiled white sugar.
Gu Moran, draped in a heavy white fox fur coat, leaned back on the soft couch, holding a scroll of " Jiannan Water Conservancy Dredging Map" in his hand, looking relaxed.
Su Yao sat at the table, the abacus beads clicking away, flipping through the ledger pages detailing the inventory and storage of grain and fodder at a rapid pace.
Liu Ruyan stood quietly by the window, her long, slender, fair fingers gently turning the old, scratched copper coin.
The heavy curtain was lifted, letting in a blast of cold air from outside.
Pu Yunshan and Tuoba Mang quickly entered, knelt on one knee, clasped their hands in salute. "This humble subject Pu Yunshan, has not failed in his mission!"
The two thousand elite Tubo troops at Bronze Gorge were completely routed, and their commander, Chile, was beheaded. One thousand soldiers and thirty thousand shi of provisions for the northern expedition have all been safely escorted into the Yi Prefecture granary!
"Good!"
Gu Moran put down the scroll in his hand, sat up straight, reached out and took out an official document from the table that already bore the seal of Prince Yi and the official red clay, and handed it over.
"This is the document that removes Qin Hongxiu from the status of a lowly person in the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution) and re-establishes her as a free citizen."
Su Yao has already prepared a two-courtyard house for her in the south of the city, registered under her name.
I have fulfilled my promise to you.
Pu Yunshan took the thin document with both hands, and his eyes instantly reddened as he looked at the clear vermilion seal on it.
He carefully put the document away from his body, then kowtowed deeply and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness's great kindness, Pu Yunshan, will never forget even if I were to be shattered to pieces!"
From this day forward, the lives of the three hundred disciples of Mount Qingcheng and my Pu Yunshan are entirely at the mercy of Your Highness!
A crisp system notification sounded in Gu Moran's mind:
[Ding! Detected that the Son of Destiny ' Pu Yunshan's' loyalty has reached maximum!]
[The host has successfully severed all causal lines and received a return of luck points!]
[Received martial arts reward: ' Pure Yang Limitless Sword Intent) '!]
[The current host's cultivation level has increased to the Fourth Rank Peak!]
Gu Moran felt a sudden heat surge through his meridians. His previously slightly restless Fourth Rank internal energy, like rivers flowing into the sea, instantly became incredibly pure, and his bones emitted a faint, clear hum.
No, this guy is really straightforward.
This trivial matter actually demonstrated his utmost loyalty?
He quickly composed himself and smiled faintly, "Get up. In our Prince's residence, kneeling is not customary."
[Thanks to: Di Xin for the milk tea x5, the King for the update reminder, the Grass God for the love letter, Xue Wan for the like, E E, the flowers from Xianjian, the Elder for the milk tea. And everyone for their love and support!]