General Chu Zheng went to the Southern Wilderness and came back with a great victory, and the streets were deserted.
Shang Yu frame led the prince and his ministers to gather outside the city of Kyoto. Looking at the distant horses and the mighty returning army, everyone was filled with excitement.
Chu Zheng led the lieutenants to dismount, walked quickly to Shang Yujie, and knelt down on one knee: "Your Majesty! I have fulfilled our mission! We successfully captured the Southern Wilderness! Now the Southern Wilderness has completely become our Luoqi territory!"
"well done!"
Shang Yujie had a smile on his face and patted Chu Zheng's arm vigorously: "I have prepared a palace banquet and a banquet for you all, and I plan to reward the three armies according to their merits!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Chu Zheng glanced around the crowd and asked doubtfully: "Your Majesty, I heard that everything went well in Xiliang. General Xiao led the army to capture several cities. But why didn't I see General Xiao and General Su?
?Isn’t it time for them to return home in triumph long ago?”
Not only Shang Yu frame, but also the expressions of the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs changed.
Ji Mengping glanced at Su Tingye, who looked sad, and said with a smile: "Alas, General Chu doesn't know something! General Xiao Chuhong was so imprudent that he mistakenly thought that General Su went to Beirong after disappearing, and actually led the Xiao family army there
During the rescue, they happened to encounter Huo Ji's million-strong army. The outcome can be imagined. Of the 100,000 Xiao family troops, none of them survived! Only General Xiao was lucky enough to escape death! It's just a pity that those soldiers were given away in vain.
life"
"What? Prime Minister Ji! What did you say? General Su is dead? One hundred thousand Xiao family troops were also killed?"
Chu Zheng was extremely frightened, his head buzzed, and he felt a little dizzy.
Instinctively, I glanced at Shang Yuchen, only to see that he was also immersed in grief.
"Yes! What a pity! Fortunately, the emperor is generous. General Xiao's merits and demerits are balanced, and there is no reward or punishment."
"Then where is he now?"
"He is in the general's mansion, drinking all day long, never leaving the door or taking a step forward."
"Prime Minister Ji! Today is a great day for General Chu Zheng's triumphal return. Don't mention those things in the past again."
The person who spoke out was Shang Yuchen, and the warning in his eyes was very obvious.
Ji Mengping also lost his sense of humor and said nothing more.
After that, Shang Yu frame led Qiang towards the palace.
Today's palace banquet lasted until very late, and no one dared to mention anything about Xiao Chuhong and the Xiao family army during the banquet.
Chu Zheng wanted to ask the reason for Su Zhen's disappearance, but he only knew that Su Zhen disappeared on the day of the raid on Xiliang, and no one had seen her since.
Until the end of the palace banquet, he was unable to ask for any more useful clues. Instead, he was repeatedly toasted to the point where he became drunk and was sent back to the mansion.
The next day.
The General's Mansion.
Nanyuan.
When Chu Zheng opened his eyes, he had a splitting headache. He couldn't remember how much wine he drank last night. He looked around and found half a bowl of leftover hangover soup on the low table beside the bed.
"Someone's coming!"
The boy outside immediately heard the sound and came in: "General, you're awake!"
Chu Zheng rubbed his temples and asked, "What time is it now?"
"Back to General, it's already noon. Madam has prepared lunch for you. Please go to the dining hall to have a meal."
"Oh, I understand, please step back first."
"yes!"
Chu Zheng recalled what happened yesterday carefully and suddenly remembered everything.
"Wait!"
The boy took back his foot that was about to step out of the house and asked respectfully: "General, do you have any other orders?"
"Let me ask you, when did Xiao Chuhong return to Beijing?"
"It must have been about half a month ago. Someone saw General Xiao riding into Kyoto City alone. His whole body was covered with knife wounds and blood stains. The guards guarding the city intercepted him. When they discovered that it was General Xiao, they immediately sent a message to the palace.
Already."
"The emperor didn't send anyone to investigate the truth?"
The young man looked at Chu Zheng doubtfully: "The truth? General Xiao personally admitted that he was careless and underestimated the enemy, which caused the death of his men."
"I understand, you go tell the lady and let her eat first. I am going out for something and will be back later."
Chu Zheng's armor and alcohol-stained clothes had been changed last night. He quickly put on his boots, took a robe from the hanger, put it on, and left the bedroom in a hurry.
"Hey? General! Where are you going!"
The boy shouted loudly from behind, but Chu Zheng went to the backyard to fetch a fast horse and rode straight towards Xiao Chuhong's mansion.
Not a moment later, Chu Zheng finally arrived at Xiao Mansion, but was unexpectedly stopped by the guards at the door.
"General, please come back. Our general said we won't see anyone."
"Little brother, please tell General Xiao that Chu has found Su Zhen's whereabouts."
Chu Zheng was obviously lying with his eyes open. The guard looked at him doubtfully and finally went in to report.
After a cup of tea, Chu Zheng, led by the guards, met Xiao Chuhong as he wished.
He and Xiao Chuhong only met a few times and did not have many interactions.
Chu Zheng vaguely remembered that many years ago, that arrogant and stubborn young man arrived in Kyoto but refused to enter, determined to make the emperor issue an edict to punish him.
After enduring for several years, he returned to Kyoto in a wheelchair, seemingly letting go of his hatred, but it is not difficult to see from his killing of Xiliang that the seeds of hatred have grown into a towering tree in his heart.
But now, while Xiliang is still alive, he has fallen into this state.
In Shu Yaxuan, Xiao Chuhong sat alone on the branches of the jujube tree. His hair was messy and his eyes were lifeless, like a soulless puppet.
One hand held a few dates, and the other held a jar of peach blossom wine.
Under the tree, there were many broken or intact wine jars, which seemed to have been thrown down from the tree by Xiao Chuhong.
"General Xiao." Chu Zheng called.
The people on the tree ignored him. Chu Zheng walked under the tree, picked up a wine jar at his feet, and said warmly: "If General Su is here, he will definitely not want to see you like this."
Sure enough, Xiao Chuhong responded, but his tone did not fluctuate much: "What do you want from me?"
"I want to know everything that happened a month ago."
"I don't know, I can't remember clearly." Xiao Chuhong said casually.
"If your loved ones and your subordinates all died in the hands of Huo Ji, wouldn't you want to avenge them?"
"Xiao is incompetent. The general has the ability to conquer the Southern Wilderness, and he is so determined. It is better to lead the troops to destroy Xiliang."
"Xiao Chuhong!"
Chu Zheng's voice was filled with anger, but Xiao Chuhong threw a few dates in his hand, and Chu Zheng reached out to catch them.
"Dou Zhang, see the guests off."
Dou Zhang walked out of the darkness and raised his hand to signal Chu Zheng to leave.
Chu Zheng's brows were already twisted into the character "Sichuan", he stared at Xiao Chuhong for a long time, and finally left angrily.
Dou Zhang watched him leave the general's mansion before returning to Shuyaxuan.
"Master, Chu Zheng is gone, but judging from the direction he left, he should be looking for He Lan."
"Well, where is Bo Yixuan? Have you found him?"
"My subordinate is incompetent and has not been found yet."
"Um"
Xiao Chuhong looked at the red dates and peach blossom stuffing in his arms, and his originally cold and dull eyes gradually became filled with tenderness and sweetness.
‘click’
He picked up a jujube, took a bite, frowned, and spit it out again.
"It tastes really bad. She didn't pick it. It's definitely not sweet."