Chapter 99

At the end of the field of vision, a chestnut warhorse leaped over the horizon, charging towards the ten-mile pavilion like a whirlwind. Behind it, dozens of warhorses appeared one after another, their hooves thundering as they galloped forward.

Min Ruoying stood up with a smile, walked out of the pavilion shrouded in green gauze, and stepped into the middle of the road. He leisurely crossed his arms behind his back and watched the rapidly approaching group of riders.

The warhorse let out a long neigh, rearing up on its hind legs. The woman on its back was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, none other than Min Ruoxi, who had just returned from her adventure in the Luoying Mountains. Her hair was disheveled, her body covered in dust, and her face was dirty. Seeing her second brother standing firmly in the middle of the road, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

She dismounted, threw away the horsewhip, and ran to Min Ruoying's side, throwing herself into his arms and bursting into tears. No matter how brave she appeared outside, the tender side of a young woman was revealed when she returned to her family.

Min Ruoying smiled and gently patted his sister's back, consoling her in a low voice, "It's okay, it's okay. It's good that you're back. Although it was dangerous, such an experience is rare and valuable. We are not useless flowers raised in a deep palace. There's a saying: 'No rainbow without rain.' You have now experienced the storms and seen the difficulties of the world and the unpredictability of human nature. This is something that cannot be bought with gold."

Min Ruoxi lifted her small face, looked at her second brother, and stopped crying, but her lips pouted, "You're talking from a position of safety. Do you know that I almost didn't come back? The Qi people sent assassins to kill me and frame the Qin people. My guards were all killed, General Zuo died, and Old Guo died too!"

Before she could finish her sentence, she became sad again, and tears streamed down her face.

"I know, I know everything," Min Ruoying's face showed a sorrowful expression. "We will remember the enmity of the Qin people and the ill intentions of the Qi people. One day, we will settle accounts with them, bit by bit."

Min Ruoxi nodded repeatedly, "Second Brother, we must take revenge, not just on the Qi people, but also on the Qin people. Sixty thousand people, sixty thousand people right in front of me, they all died in groups and rows."

A hint of hesitation flashed across Min Ruoying's face, "Of course, but now is not the time. General Zuo is gone, and the Western Border Army is gone. In the western border, we are at a complete disadvantage compared to the Qin people. In the east, the Qi people are watching us like hungry wolves, ready to pounce at the slightest sign of weakness. Now is a difficult time for the country. We can only be cautious and yield for the time being. You must also remain calm. Matters of state cannot be handled with emotion."

"Second Brother, I understand," Min Ruoxi said.

An Ruhai stepped forward and bowed to Min Ruoxi, "Congratulations on your safe return, Your Highness."

"Uncle An, hello," Min Ruoxi nodded, "Old Guo..."

An Ruhai smiled, "Your Highness, although Guo Jiuling was severely injured, he was fortunate to survive. He is now recuperating in Anyang County and will return to the capital after some time."

"Really? Old Guo is alive, that's great, that's great. This is the best news I've heard in a long time. Who else survived?" Min Ruoxi asked in surprise.

An Ruhai shook his head, "Apart from Guo Jiuling, all the others died. Guo Jiuling's martial arts cultivation is also destroyed. In his letter to me, he said that after recovering, he will have at most a fifth or sixth-level cultivation. But it's good that he survived."

"It's all my fault. If not for protecting me, he wouldn't have ended up like this. And General Zuo, if not for protecting me, with his Grandmaster cultivation, how could he have been forced to fight Li Zhi while injured?" Min Ruoxi was disheartened.

"Your Highness, there's no need to grieve. Both General Zuo and Guo Jiuling are ministers of the Great Chu. Protecting the safety of the princess is their duty."

"Even so, if I hadn't gone to the western border, they wouldn't have died," Min Ruoxi shook her head. "If they wanted to leave, who could have stopped them?"

"Xier, you don't need to be too sad. General Zuo died for the country, and Guo Jiuling was severely injured. I will not let them down. The court has decided to posthumously confer the title of Duke on General Zuo, and his descendants will be granted three generations of favor. As for Guo Jiuling, even though his martial arts cultivation is destroyed, I will still heavily rely on him when he returns," Min Ruoying said.

Min Ruoxi nodded, then suddenly remembered something, her face changed, and she turned to walk towards her warhorse.

"Xier, what are you doing?" Min Ruoying quickly stepped forward and blocked her path.

"I want to see that person and ask him how he could have such a heart? He harmed sixty thousand border troops and put his own sister in a desperate situation. What kind of cruelty could make him do this?" Min Ruoxi said angrily.

"Silence!" Min Ruoying's face darkened, "Xier, the court has not yet made a decision on this matter. Don't speak rashly."

"Second Brother, at this point, are you still going to protect him? I want to see this heartless person and see what kind of face he has now," Min Ruoxi said angrily.

"Xier, the court needs to maintain its dignity, and the emperor needs to save face. These matters cannot be discussed publicly," Min Ruoying shook his head. "You just returned, and you don't understand many things. This matter is not as simple as you think. It involves major state affairs and the fate of the country. It cannot be handled arbitrarily. You should rest for a while and gradually understand the situation. When the time comes, you can see him, but not now," Min Ruoying shook his head.

Min Ruoxi stared at Min Ruoying for a long time. Under his unyielding gaze, she finally gave in, "You came to meet me here today because you were afraid I would go straight to the Eastern Palace after entering the city, right?"

Min Ruoying smiled, "That's one reason. The more important reason is that you are my blood sister. I only have you as my sister. We are siblings, born of the same mother. These days, while you were in the Luoying Mountains, I didn't sleep well either. I was often awakened by nightmares. Only when I heard that you were safe did I finally feel at ease."

"I can see that you've lost weight!" Min Ruoxi reached out to touch Min Ruoying's face. Min Ruoying slightly leaned back, avoiding her hand, "Xier, this isn't the palace. Pay attention to your behavior."

Min Ruoxi gave him a dissatisfied look, "I know, you are now the Crown Prince, different from before."

"Whether I am the same as before or the current Crown Prince, in front of you, I am still your only brother!" Min Ruoying smiled.

"Yes, from now on, I only have you as my brother!" Min Ruoxi's face darkened. "Second Brother, let's go back to the city. I'm tired!"

"I know you're tired, so I've already arranged for you to rest at Shouyang Mountain for a while. The city is in chaos, and your princess mansion needs to be renovated. The work has already started. If you go back to the city now, you won't have a place to stay!" Min Ruoying spread his hands and said.

"My princess mansion is fine, why does it need to be renovated?" Min Ruoxi asked in confusion.

"To get rid of bad luck!" Min Ruoying made a joke. Seeing her face darken, he continued, "Xier, I arranged for you to rest at Shouyang Mountain because the emperor and empress are there. The emperor's health is already very poor, and this time he was hit hard, collapsing. Now he can't even read memorials or listen to his ministers. He just wants to stay in peace, so he went to Shouyang Mountain, and the empress is with him. After your adventure, shouldn't you first go to see the emperor and show your filial piety? When the emperor heard that you were missing, he was so upset that he spat out several mouthfuls of blood."

"Father..." Min Ruoxi's eyes immediately filled with tears. She had always been the little treasure in her father's heart, pampered and loved. Her two brothers had been whipped without mercy, but her father had never even raised a finger to her.

"I've already made all the arrangements. You will stay at Shouyang Mountain for a while and accompany the emperor. When the emperor recovers, your princess mansion will also be renovated. Then you can come down the mountain and move in."

Min Ruoxi nodded, suddenly remembering something, turned around, and looked at Qin Feng, who was standing about ten steps behind her. She smiled and waved, "Qin Feng, come here."

Qin Feng's face turned red. Min Ruoxi made no effort to hide her feelings for him, and this call was somewhat sweet. He was Xier's own brother, and aside from his noble status, even the future brother-in-law was a significant hurdle. He was just a small officer, and the difference in status was too great.