The forr Nine Gates Admiral personally ca to the Xue Family to offer incense and bid farewell to Xue Dalong?
This news first circulated within the community. Instantly, the Xue Family's neighbors and the entire community opened their doors. Gazing toward the Xue household, they brought out their prepared candle stands and braziers, all squatting at their doorsteps to burn incense and paper money. Who else could be the subject of such a commoration if not Xue Dalong?
Paper money filled the sky as funeral bells rang mournfully. This, indeed, was what a funeral should look like.
Soon, more news about the Xue Family spread. Yu Zhentian, the Family Head of the Yu Family, personally wielded a knife to execute his most beloved grandson in front of Xue Dalong's morial hall. The rest, who ca to gloat or kick the Xue Family while they were down, all knelt on the ground. They notified the heads of their respective families to co and perform three bows and nine kowtows before Xue Dalong's morial tablet. In the end, they all committed suicide, taking responsibility for their cris with their lives.
In that mont, murderous intent filled the air and soared to the heavens, causing dark clouds to gather densely above and obscure the sun. It is said that only after that figure departed did the sun manage to break through the dark clouds, once again enveloping the land.
At the Xue Family's ho, Xue Xinlan watched Chen Yang leave. She looked up at the gradually clearing sky, a smile slowly forming on her lips as ripples of gratitude erged from the depths of her heart. Thank you.
"Grandfather!"
Then, Xue Xinlan turned and knelt on the ground, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Xue Dalong's portrait. "Rest assured and go in peace. From now on, no one will dare to insult our Xue Family. We will strive to beco stronger, using our own strength to protect the Xue Family. May your journey be peaceful!"
「anwhile」
News of Chen Yang supporting the Xue Family and sweeping through all opposition left many powers in Cangyun City as silent as cicadas in winter. Coupled with the incident at Chilian Peak, everyone now knew that this man, even though he had resigned, was not soone to be trifled with.
Perhaps now, only those top-tier nobles, as well as the four great imperial clans, could contend with him? There's a saying: "A man's na is like the shadow of a tree." After today's events, no one would risk looking for trouble with the Xue Family. As long as Chen Yang remained, the Xue Family would be safe.
But this incident was ultimately just a minor ripple, quickly overshadowed by a docunt issued by the Elders' Court.
War God of the State.
Starting tomorrow, this new position would replace Nine Gates Admiral as the highest rank among the Martial Departnt's generals. If the Nine Gates Admiral was akin to being ennobled as a king, then the War God of the State was akin to being deified!
Given the vast expanse of the empire, its lengthy borders, and the many covetous eyes watching, a supre commander was indeed needed.
Who could it be?
The most talked-about candidates were Xue Dingshan and Li Jiankun, two veterans of the Martial Departnt. In the court of public opinion, the two were previously on equal footing, but today, opinions began to polarize. Support for Li Jiankun dwindled while Xue Dingshan pulled far ahead. Any discerning eye could see that soone was clearly pulling strings behind the scenes. This ant Xue Dingshan's appointnt as War God of the State was almost a certainty.
Thinking about it, considering Xue Dingshan's military achievents and reputation, the title did seem well-deserved.
However, when discussing this matter, almost everyone subconsciously thought of another person. This was the man who had truly perford legendary deeds, routing the barbarians in the Battle of Great River Bay and pushing the national border outwards by eighty miles. Who could compare to such exceptional military rit? Even Xue Dingshan was several levels below him. This was the forr Nine Gates Admiral, the Zhennan Prince.
Unfortunately, he was now but a commoner.
Alas. Countless people heaved a deep sigh. *I cast my heart toward the bright moon, but alas, the moon illuminates only the ditches.* As re commoners, what could they do, no matter how dissatisfied they were?
***
「Less than three hundred kiloters from Cangyun City, in a small county town」
April was the perfect ti for spring plowing.
RUMBLE... A tractor, splattered with mud, ca to a stop in front of a tile-roofed house. Yang Hu, now two shades darker than before, jumped off. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and pulled off his mud-covered shirt, revealing a well-defined, muscular torso.
He walked to the well by the door, drew a bucket of water, and poured it over himself.
SPLASH!
The sticky sweat washed away, and his bronze skin shimred under the blazing sun.
"So refreshing!" Yang Hu shouted, pulling his head out of the bucket after soaking it for a mont.
He looked at the clear blue sky and the crowd busy in the nearby rice paddies, a faint smile gracing his lips. In just a single month, he had completely adapted to this quiet life, far from the hustle and bustle, and even farther from the flas of war. It's truly wonderful!
Not far away, at the entrance to a small alley, a young woman stood watching him. She looked to be in her early twenties, dressed in a simple floral garnt. Her features were delicate, and her black hair was casually tied back with a yellow ribbon. She was holding a bowl of fruit. Perhaps because it was the first ti she had seen a man shirtless, a blush crept onto her simple, youthful face. She lowered her head slightly, nervously tracing circles on the ground with her foot.
After hesitating for a mont, the girl stepped out of the alley and smiled. "Yang Hu, you must be exhausted. I picked so fruit for you; it's all freshly picked."
"Qinghan!" Yang Hu waved his hand, a sheepish grin on his face. "Not at all. This bit of work is nothing to ."
"By the way," he added, "I've already plowed your family's field. I'll go plant the seedlings this afternoon."
The girl, Shi Qinghan, stood before Yang Hu and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face. "Yang Hu, thank you."
"Don't be so polite with ." Looking at her, the smile on Yang Hu's face grew wider. "When I arrived, it was your dad who went against everyone to let settle down here. Now that his leg is injured, it's only natural for to do these things."
"Yang Hu, have so fruit." Shi Qinghan held the bowl out to him, her face beaming. "Co to my house for lunch. I'll cook for you."
"Great!" Yang Hu nodded. Then, he pulled two movie tickets from his back pocket and said with a playful smile, "I... I bought two movie tickets. If you're free tonight, want to go together?"
Instantly, Shi Qinghan's cheeks flushed red. She lowered her head, her hands clasped tightly together.
The people passing by saw the two young people and burst out laughing. Everyone's been young once. It was clear there was a spark between them!
Shi Qinghan turned and glared fiercely at them.
Their laughter only grew louder.
Yang Hu, however, just scratched his head awkwardly, completely unsure what to do.
"I... I'm free!" Shi Qinghan finally nodded after a mont.
"Great!" Yang Hu pressed the tickets into her hand and said softly, "I'll pick you up tonight."
"Mhm." Shi Qinghan nodded lightly.
True love often needs few words.
SCREECH!
Suddenly, the squeal of tires echoed from the main road in the distance. A vehicle was moving fast and clearly heading in their direction.
Many people cast curious glances, wondering who was arriving.
Soon, a jeep with a red-lettered license plate, clearly from the Martial Departnt, ca into view.
Yang Hu's heart clenched.
"Eighth Rank Military General, Yang Hu?" a middle-aged man in a martial uniform asked as he stepped out of the jeep and approached him.
"That's ," Yang Hu replied.
"Hear this order!"
SLAM! Yang Hu snapped his feet together and stood ramrod straight, raising his right hand in a salute.
"Eighth Rank Military General Yang Hu, you are to depart imdiately and report to the Elders' Court without delay!" The middle-aged man finished, closed the docunt, and handed it to Yang Hu. He returned a Martial Guard salute and added, "Congratulations!"
"May I ask what this is about..." Yang Hu began, flipping through the docunt with a puzzled expression.
"Don't overthink it. It's good news. Soone at the Elders' Court will explain everything when you get there," the middle-aged man interrupted before turning and leaving.
Yang Hu was left speechless.
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