Chapter 5: Openly saying while secretly taking away 4

  Outside the city, 700,000 troops are assembled and waiting for orders to be issued.

  The city gate. Dugu Han rode his horse slowly towards the entrance. The soldiers outside were marching in an orderly manner, a solemn silence prevailing except for the sound of footsteps, not a single discordant note. At a glance, it was clear that this was a well-trained army.

  White Tiger

  The end will be after forty years old big man riding a horse forward.

  "You go back first and lead the army. I'll follow with Ye Hen soon."

  "Yes sir." The White Tiger drove his horse away.

  One side, Ye Hen wore a black robe, riding a horse slowly forward. "Master, why don't we leave together."

  "It happened suddenly. I should have informed you first." Dugu Han pulled back the reins. The horse turned towards the city gate.

  Ye Wen heard this and his heart was at ease. He wanted to go back and see her one more time. "Master, I have already sent someone to report."

  Du Gu's lone figure hesitated for a moment, then pulled the reins and turned back. He didn't say a word, but his face showed a hint of loss that others couldn't quite discern. Ye Hen took in everything with a glance.

  At the beginning of the expedition to aid each other, there were already dissenting voices within the Sheng Jin Dynasty. His master had always been clear and cold, knowing what he should and shouldn't do. But at the grand ceremony of the queen's coronation, he inexplicably showed great concern for that queen consort.

  How many times he had messed up his own plans for her. He didn't know how the master was enchanted by that woman. All he knew was that the woman was very dangerous. She was Nangong Jin's woman. The master must not be allowed to sink into this kind of affection that would never have a result.

  Just as he was about to follow on horseback, a sudden urgent horseshoe sound came from behind him.

  Dugu Han's reins were suddenly pulled tight. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Ye Yin's expression also gradually became serious.

  Behind her, Nalan Xixi wore a dark red light armor, holding the reins in her hand. Her face was expressionless. Her small body steadily controlled the black stallion under her, which galloped over with an aura of majesty that made people involuntarily hold their breath and gaze at her.

  The swift horse arrived. Ye Hen led the way, riding ahead and blocking the space between her and Dugu Han. "Your subordinate Ye Hen has seen you off, Your Highness. We are about to depart. Thank you for seeing us off, Your Highness."

  Ye Hen's tone was light and thin, not giving Nalan Xinnuo a good face to look at. Looking at Ye Hen's uninviting expression, Nalan Xinnuo smiled slightly. "I'll go with you guys."

  "What." Ye Hen was slightly surprised. Behind him, Dugu Han's body hesitated for a moment.

  He turned around, met her gaze head-on, firmly, without a hint of hesitation.

  "Night Scar." Du Guo Han called out to him in a cold and detached tone, signaling for him to withdraw.

  Ye Hen glanced at Nalan Xixiao and didn't dare refute Dugu Han, so he had to ride his horse away.

  The two of them remained silent for a long time, neither of them speaking. Du Guo Han lowered his eyes, but his gaze happened to fall on her snow-white neck. A silver cord made from precious threads was tied around it, with a white jade pendant hanging from it. It was the same jade that she hadn't had a chance to return to him that night.

  His heart skipped a beat, but he immediately suppressed that thought. He wouldn't forget that night, the first time he called out her name, the first time he begged someone to leave with him.

  He can never forget that night her resolute determination, her aloofness, and her firm refusal. For Nan Gong Jin's sake, she had paid such a great price, how could he bear to look at him again?

  It's just because he came to her rescue this time. In her heart, she only owed him a favor. That's all.

  "It's getting late. Let's go." Nalan Xueyin pulled up the reins and walked forward.

  "You don't owe me anything." Still calm and collected, with an added hint of deliberate estrangement.

  Nalan Xinnuo's figure slightly paused, silent. The cold wind blew across the outskirts, making a desolate and muffled sound. After a long time, Nalan Xinnuo turned around, his face no longer as cold as before, with an added hint of gentleness. "I just want to follow you."

  It's not because I owe you anything. I just want to go with you.

  Just this one sentence, is the eternal downfall of being trapped. Du Guo Han's eyes slightly trembled, his usual indifference and calmness dissipating like a young man experiencing first love. Just one sentence, stirred up countless emotions.

  On the city wall, He Xian and Zhou Gai looked at the two people below, gazing silently.

  Zhou Gai's expression became increasingly solemn. He had originally thought that Nalan Xixi had some plan in mind, but from the eyes of the two people, he saw not calculation, nor depth that could not be measured, but emotions that could not be concealed.

  Especially Yu Gu Han, who has always been cold and arrogant, yet every time he sees Na Lan Xian Nuo, it's as if the ice block that encounters a flame melts instantly, and all his pride and coolness disappear without a trace.

  But Nalan Xixi thought that there was no one in this world who could surpass Nan Gongyu's position in her heart. What she had paid for Nan Gongyu was unimaginable to others.

  But she also has an inexplicable and irresistible feeling towards Dugu Han.

  "General Zhou." He Xian suddenly called out to him.

  Zhou Gai turned back, and He Xian's face was more serious than ever before. "I can't stay here with you anymore. I have to go find Huo Zhe and the others. We must get that Upper Official Qin Yue to hurry up and treat Wang Shang. That Dugu Han is really daring to take advantage of the situation..."

  Zhou Gai helplessly shook his head. "Whatever, whatever."

  He nodded first, then turned and ran down from the city wall.

  Seven hundred thousand troops behind him, Dugu Han and Nalan Xianyu urged their horses on, arriving at Shengjin in just one day.

  The Shengjin State occupies the two states of Lu and Yu, which is now the area of Henan and Shandong. The capital of the Shengjin State is located in Luoyang. Upon arrival in Luoyang, it was heard that the Crown Prince had led his troops back to the city. Although it was already night, the people still came out one after another to welcome him.

  The city gate is wide open. Inside the city, it's bustling with excitement.

  The guards rushed from the direction of the city gate and blocked the civilians on both sides of the street, opening up a path.

  At the city gate, several swift horses came slowly. The people had not yet seen clearly who was on the horse, but they cheered and shouted unscrupulously, calling out Dugu Han's name to welcome him back to the city.

  Suddenly, the city fell silent.

  The two horses in front drove into the street, and the light shone on their faces. A strange woman burst into everyone's line of sight. She looked like she was only fifteen or sixteen years old, petite, without heavy makeup, and wore no silk or satin.

  A plain and unremarkable face, lacking the tenderness that a woman should have, with an expressionless face carrying a hint of coldness. A pair of cold eyes, not like a woman's charming gaze, but rather firm and resolute like a warrior behind her back.

  The common people began to whisper among themselves about her identity. Someone suddenly shouted loudly, "She is the Queen of Luotian Kingdom, Nalan Xixi!"

  In an instant, the city erupted into chaos. Everyone was shocked and outraged.

  Although Sheng Jin is now a vassal state of Luo Tian, the scars of that great war will forever remain in their hearts. It's not just a family feud, but also a national hatred.

  "Get out! Get out of Sheng Jin!" A man in the crowd shouted at Nalan Xianuo.

  The common people responded in droves, picking up whatever was in their hands and throwing it at her. The guardsmen used long spears to block them, but the crowd surged forward, and a row of soldiers were also unable to hold back.

  Nalan Xixi was able to dodge those things that were thrown at her. But she didn't have a single hint of dodging.

  Large and small stones, shoes, and casually picked fruits all heavily smashed onto her body.

  This is expected. But inexplicable. She felt she should take all this on herself. The war invaded not just a country, but millions and millions of homes. She was someone who had experienced modern warfare.

  She knew what it meant for corpses to be scattered all over the fields and blood to flow like rivers.

  That war, all their resentment was almost entirely directed at Nan Gong Yu. He was the one who made their families broken and scattered. He was the one who made them lose their loved ones. He was the one who made their world no longer complete, leaving only despair.

  History has always been difficult to distinguish between right and wrong. However, someone must stand out and take the due responsibility.

  Deep in the street, another team of guards came forward. They blocked the way in front of the people. But the crowd surged up like waves one after another. Dugu Han turned his head to look at Nalan Xianuo who had not dodged. His face was slightly cold.

  Suddenly, Nalan Xixi's body felt light. A broad embrace enveloped her. His palms tightly grasped her icy hands. Suddenly, the crowd fell silent once again.

  They looked at the scene in front of them with incredible eyes. Their prince, at this moment, was riding together with Queen Luo Tian, and he even held her in his arms to protect her, holding her hand...

  The common people were momentarily stunned and couldn't react. They just stood there quietly, watching them disappear into the depths of the streets.

  The gate of the imperial palace. The high-ranking officials who came to greet saw a woman on Du Guo Han's horse and were all hesitant. In the palace, the eunuchs hastily brought over a wheelchair.

  Nalan Xixi was the first to dismount her horse. She immediately took the wheelchair from the eunuch's hands and stretched out her hand towards Dugu Han.

  The surroundings were silent. Everyone was stunned, staring at the scene in front of them. Dugu Han smiled slightly and pulled Nalan Xinnuo's hand off his horse. With Nalan Xinnuo's support, he sat down in a wheelchair.

  "The Crown Prince... Who is this..." The Prime Minister of the current dynasty came forward and asked with some hesitation.

  "Nalan Xino." Nalan Xino nodded at him and replied calmly.

  "Nalan Xixi..." After her death, all the ministers were in a state of shock and grief. How did the Queen of Luotian Kingdom end up here...

  In the distance, a guard rode up on horseback, apparently to report on something that had just happened inside the city. He jumped off his horse and saw Dugu Han by himself and Nalan Xinnuo behind him, and immediately retreated to one side.

  According to etiquette, these vassal state ministers should pay their respects to Nalan Xixi first. Several ministers looked at each other in dismay and then bowed their heads.

  "We have seen Her Majesty the Queen. May Her Majesty live for a thousand years, ten thousand years, and forever."

  Nalan Xixi did not speak. Dugu Han was also expressionless. Several ministers felt a bit awkward.

  At this time, a eunuch ran out of the palace. "The Crown Prince, the Lord is waiting for you in the imperial study..."

  Du Guo Han nodded slightly. He turned around and said to Nalan Xixi in a gentle voice, "You go back with them first and rest for a while. I'll come find you after seeing the Emperor."

  The air around him condensed once again. They had never heard Dugu Xian have such a gentle tone before.

  "No." Nalan Xixi refused. The people around her all gasped in unison.

  "I'm going with you."

  Du Guo Han smiled slightly and nodded. "Good."