Chapter 364
After walking for a long time, they passed by a river.
The river was frozen solid.
But hunger drove people to break through the ice. A hole was chiseled open, and many fish swam beneath it. That day, they caught a lot of fish.
They killed and cooked the fish on the road, making fish soup.
The procession stretched long, and the setting sun\'s rays were also long, turning the white ice river into a reddish hue.
This sight, to those who had never traveled far, seemed like a divine miracle.
For them, simply surviving was already a miracle.
Cold winds, evening glow, frozen river, setting sun.
And of course, the fresh fish soup.
Those who drank it were moved to tears.
The soup was hot, and the wind was strong.
The sun had set, and night had fallen.
They set up camp, and despite the arduous journey, no one felt tired, for this was the way home.
At night, there was the usual storytelling session.
Reading and writing lessons, singing competitions.
At first, everyone was unfamiliar with each other, tense and wary.
Now, they were all familiar, trusting each other, and more confident.
Even if they were to leave the group in the future, they should be able to live well. They had gained knowledge, learned to read and write, and their bodies were in good shape. They could be considered among the more outstanding people of their time, with both physical and mental development.
Having seen the vastness of the setting sun over the long river, when they heard this poem again, they felt a deep connection, a shared understanding.
As they traveled closer to the capital, it grew warmer.
They shed their tattered coats, the frostbite no longer itched, and the wind on their faces was no longer cold.
Grass began to appear by the roadside, then trees.
They pressed on.
Meng Shaoxia was tanned, square-faced, and robust.
Jiang Feng, despite the wind and sun, remained fair-skinned, making him look as if he hadn\'t worked at all.
On the road, they learned that a coup had taken place in the capital.
The person on the throne had changed.
It was now Meng Shaoxia\'s father-in-law.
Meng Shaoxia had thought that after this glorious battle, he would return as a true General Meng, bringing honor to his family. In front of his in-laws, he would walk tall and proud.
But he never expected.
His father-in-law was still his father-in-law, and he still had to kneel in front of him. He couldn\'t stand tall, not at all.
Both publicly and privately, his father-in-law was a hundred times more impressive.
Who could have imagined that while he was out fighting, his father-in-law had already succeeded in the coup and become the Emperor.
He had married the girl he loved, who had first become a princess and then a princess. He had become a prince consort.
Who said fighting was the fastest way to get promoted? That\'s because you didn\'t marry a princess. Marrying a princess is faster.
Meng Shaoxia felt a mix of emotions as he approached home. How would he face his father-in-law now?
Terrifying.
His father-in-law\'s ambition was too strong.
How would he ever strive and work hard now?
Jiang Feng also found it incredible.
Although the topic had never been directly discussed between father and son, he knew his father had ambitions.
But he never expected those ambitions to be realized so quickly, almost like a dream.
He had gone from being the grandson of a princess to the son of an emperor.
The difference in status was immense.
After all, the new emperor now had only one biological son and one adopted son.
That\'s why so many ministers urged the emperor to expand his harem, as the mortality rate was high in this era. One or two children were not enough to ensure succession.
Even ordinary families needed multiple children to ensure the family line continued.
Let alone those with a throne to inherit.
One or two children were too risky.
If something happened, where would they find an heir?
So now, even on the road, Jiang Feng had more guards around him.
Arranged by Meng Laoyezi.
Meng Laoyezi hadn\'t expected this either.
This time, he was truly retired.
But for a man of his age to return home alive from the battlefield was already a blessing, quite an achievement.
A coup, like a battle, was a matter of life and death.
Though it was over in a sentence, those involved faced sword fights and bloodshed, many lives lost, very brutal.
To return home alive was a stroke of luck.
General Meng was actually severely injured, saved from the brink of death by the medicine Jiang Feng brought.
He felt he could fight for another ten years.
But after being away for so long, he was also returning to the capital.
The closer they got to the capital, the faster everyone walked.
On the way out, the journey seemed endless, the road long and never-ending.
On the way back, every familiar place, tree, hill, stream, brought excitement, a sense of nearing home.
One day, the weather was clear and sunny.
They could see the capital\'s gates in the distance.
The fluttering banners greeted them.
Jiang Feng and his group seemed to gain energy, walking faster and faster, finally reaching home.
They expected a welcome, for they had won.
But the welcome was even grander than they imagined.
The new emperor, the empress, and the princess came to greet them personally.
Many had never seen the emperor, who was like a god.
Never had they imagined the emperor would leave the palace to welcome them at the city gates.
At that moment, they felt that even if they died, they would have no regrets.
Countless people would remember this clear day.
Remember the moment they shouted "Long live the emperor!"
Tears welled up for no apparent reason.
Before, they always felt that such things were for the higher-ups. But now, in their armor, they felt different.
Hearing the emperor say, "You have all worked hard, you are heroes, I thank you on behalf of the people," they felt a surge of pride.
They did not regret leaving home, going to battle, fighting the enemy.
Jiang Changtian, holding a megaphone, spoke passionately.
Seeing the crowded crowd, he thought of his own son, Jiang Feng, and felt a mix of emotions, worry, and pride.
He knew his son had to go out and see the world.
A man\'s growth steps were something parents couldn\'t replace. Watching him leave and grow was both bitter and proud.
My son has returned.
"My son has returned, you are all my children, today I am very happy, not just because you have won, but because you have returned safely."
The wind was strong, and the emperor\'s voice was loud, filled with emotion and a slight choke.
This moment moved all the soldiers.
For ordinary people, the emperor was like a god, never seen or heard before.
Now, they didn\'t care about the coup, legitimacy, or illegitimacy. They felt willing to die for such an emperor, it was worth it.
They cried on the spot, not out of insincerity, but from the surge of emotion.
Some old soldiers, finally returning victorious, cried loudly, snot running down their faces.
Jiang Changtian, the new emperor, also felt a bit moved.
With Sister Xia by his side, he personally helped up Meng Shaoxia, his son-in-law, his son, and unknown soldiers...
Looking at their dusty faces, ignoring his fair-skinned son, his words were even more sincere.
Jiang Mianmian also followed, seeing her brother and wanting to hug him, but with so many people, she refrained.
Jiang Feng, seeing his sister in her lavish clothes, ruffled her hair, a familiar gesture, finally home.
That day, the shouts were deafening.
The soldiers returned victorious.
The emperor personally welcomed them.
The empress even asked a young soldier his age and praised him.
He would never forget it.
They would never forget the princess, truly like an angel, smiling at everyone.
If Mianmian knew they thought this, she might joke, "I not only smile at people, I can also eat and go to the bathroom by myself..."
The soldiers\' return was a joyous occasion.
The people celebrated together.
Many parents received their children, many children their fathers, many wives their husbands.
What is a prosperous era? This is a prosperous era.
In times of prosperity, peace, and joy,
Returning home alive.
Jiang Feng followed his parents back to the palace, his heart filled with excitement. He carefully observed his parents, relieved to see that they were unharmed. Only then did he allow himself to breathe a sigh of relief, his eyes moistening.
When he first heard the news outside, his immediate concern was whether his parents had been injured.
Seeing his parents and sister safe and sound, he finally dared to relax, his eyes welling up with tears.
Aliali: 6754673fbd5e46c3089e6a37He was grateful to the heavens. That long, endless period of darkness underground had finally passed like a dream. Now, his parents were healthy and thriving, even adorned in imperial robes.
It was almost too good to be true.
It felt like a dream.
Jiang Feng stroked his sister\'s head, seated beside him, and felt a sense of reality. He asked, "Were you scared?"
Mianmian shook her head. "When it happened, my sister-in-law didn\'t hesitate to shield me. I wasn\'t afraid."
Jiang Feng\'s face flushed slightly.
Outside the carriage, the sun was fiery and graceful.
The long street was lined with people bidding them farewell.
The warriors had returned victorious, finally coming home.