ebookland Chapter 228 The Young King Has Grown Up
Chapter 228 The Young King Has Grown Up
Because of a worry on his mind, Shen Sangwan stayed in Huzhou for an extra month and a half.
It wasn't until she received Lin Wanyi's final letter that she finally felt relieved.
The letter mentioned that she not only killed Shen Yujing with her own hands, but also disrupted the Northern Witch Royal Family.
It was a pity that the child in her womb, who was less than two months old, never had the chance to see the world before going to the underworld with his mother.
Holding the letter, Shen Sangwan looked at it again and again, her eyes filled with tears.
She didn't know why she was crying; she just felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if something had pierced it.
"Your Highness, why are you crying?"
"Ah Ning, what kind of feelings do you think exist between Miss Lin and Shen Yujing?"
Wen Yuening wrapped her arms around Shen Sangwan's arm and patted it gently, "Love and hate intertwined, tormenting each other, never to be defeated."
The one who survives will likely face endless darkness for the rest of her life, which is why she chose this path.
Shen Sangwan leaned against Wen Yuening's chest, silently gazing at the rustling snow outside the window, and slowly lowered the hand that was holding the letter.
The Northern Witches were temporarily embroiled in internal strife and had no intention of waging war against Southern Jing. After entrusting all border affairs to Mo Ran, Shen Sangwan led her troops back to the capital.
Shuyun seemed distracted the whole way, and Shen Sangwan naturally noticed something was wrong.
His inner gossip finally overcame his reason, and while they were setting up camp to rest, he directly asked the other person, "Shuyun, you've looked preoccupied ever since you left Huzhou, has something happened in the capital?"
"No... nothing happened in Kyoto."
The words "trying to cover up" were practically written all over her face. Shen Sangwan feigned seriousness and asked in a deep voice, "What exactly is it?"
Shu Yun hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, "Well... Qing Que... caught a cold and hasn't fully recovered. I... I'm a little worried."
Sensing something unusual, Shen Sangwan quickly pulled Wen Yuening aside to ask her for clarification.
After all, Qingque was her personal maid, so she would surely be able to find some clues.
"I haven't paid much attention to what Your Highness said, but Qingque was quite nervous about Shuyun at times before."
"Tsk tsk tsk, Master, quickly put away that weird look of yours, you look like a badger in the melon patch."
Xiao Tong, who was munching on a sweet potato, would occasionally pop out to tease Shen Sangwan about the mood.
"Go away, go away, go eat your sweet potato."
Shen Sangwan pushed the person aside and leaned closer to Wen Yuening, "If the two of them are really interested, you shouldn't be reluctant to part with Qingque, your sweet little darling, right?"
Wen Yuening, who was drinking water, suddenly put down her water pouch and said with a hint of teasing, "Is Your Highness so sure that I can't bear to part with Qingque, or that Your Highness can't bear to part with Shuyun?"
Shen Sangwan, who was a little slow to react, didn't know what the other party meant at first. But after thinking about it carefully, the smile on her face disappeared instantly.
Then, somewhat indignantly, she retorted, "Ah Ning, how can you say that? Does it mean that like master, like subordinate?"
Wen Yuening gave Shen Sangwan a half-smile and scanned her from head to toe. "Most likely!"
"you--!"
Somewhat exasperated, Shen Sangwan pointed at Wen Yuening for a long time without uttering a single word of rebuttal.
That's infuriating! It's absolutely infuriating!
So the rest of the journey home turned into a period where Shen Sangwan was always looking downcast, Shuyun was preoccupied, and Wen Yuening was always smiling.
Unaware of the inside story, Cen Yan and Ruoying chose not to participate and obediently remained invisible.
On the ninth day of the third month, the army returned to the capital.
Because it was a triumphant return, many people were welcoming them outside the city gate, and even Shen Yuchen personally went to the city tower.
Standing on the city wall and gazing into the distance, his body shrouded in darkness, too far away for Shen Sangwan to see his face clearly.
Looking down from the city walls, she could intuitively sense that he was smiling.
At that moment, she suddenly had a feeling that her younger brother seemed to have truly grown up.
"General who assists the state has worked hard."
As the army approached the city walls, Shen Yuchen hurriedly stepped down from the side, his composure revealing a faint hint of childlike innocence.
"Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission, repelled the Northern Witch Army, and protected Huzhou. However, I poisoned the Ming King without prior authorization. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Shen Sangwan knelt on the ground, bowing her head.
"General, you first exchanged the Ming King for three cities of the Northern Witch, and then had him executed. What crime have you committed? It's windy here, General, please get up quickly."
Shen Yuchen personally helped her up; he didn't want his older sister to continue to suffer in the cold in this windy place.
The group headed towards the palace in a grand procession.
The Empress Dowager had not seen Shen Sangwan for many days, and upon learning that she was on her way back to the capital, she began to wait anxiously, hoping to see her as soon as possible.
Before entering the palace, Shen Sangwan parted ways with Wen Yuening and Cen Yan, sending them back to the Princess's residence, while she and Shen Yuchen went to the palace to see the Empress Dowager.
During the journey, Shen Yuchen told her everything that had happened during the months she was away.
She nags like an old woman, but Shen Sangwan doesn't find it annoying and listens attentively.
“Our Ah Chen has really grown up now. Even when his older sister wants to touch him, she can’t quite reach him anymore.”
As usual, I reached out to touch the other person's head, only to realize that they had grown much taller. Now, I had to stand on tiptoe to touch them.
Seeing this, Shen Yuchen bent down and moved his head closer to Shen Sangwan's hand, which made her laugh unconsciously.
Upon arriving at Chonghua Palace, Shen Sangwan quickly ran towards the inner hall. As soon as she saw the Empress Dowager, she threw herself into her arms, saying, "Mother, your son has returned."
After worrying for many days, the Empress Dowager looked at Shen Sangwan, who was safe and sound, and tears of joy welled up in her eyes.
Is everything alright?
"Yes, I am well."
As he spoke, he stepped back two paces and spun around in place to let the other person see him.
Looking at the lively person in front of her, the Empress Dowager kept repeating the word "good".
"Sister must stay in the palace today to dine with Mother, so as to ease Mother's longing."
The Empress Dowager was amused by Shen Yuchen's words and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Shen Sangwan readily agreed, "Alright, I'll listen to Achen and have dinner with Mother."
Knowing that the Princess and His Majesty would be dining at Chonghua Palace today, the kitchen staff were extra careful in their preparations, all on high alert. Even though it wasn't the first time, they were all afraid of making the slightest mistake.
After the meal, Shen Yuchen tentatively asked, "Sister, you have done a great service this time. Would you like any reward?"
Playful Shen Sangwan feigned seriousness, "What would you do if your elder sister said she wanted the throne?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Shen Yuchen answered decisively, "I, Achen, will draft an edict to pass the throne to my elder sister."
He looked so serious that Shen Sangwan was so frightened that she quickly refused, waving her hands repeatedly, "No, no, no, that position is too tiring, don't try to ruin it for me."
“I will give you anything you want, sister.”
Shen Yuchen's serious demeanor exuded imperial majesty, which made Shen Sangwan somewhat afraid.
"Ahem, ahem, I appreciate your kind intentions, Ah Chen. I don't ask for much, I just need Ah Chen to issue an imperial decree to bestow the marriage upon me."
"For whom is this being asked, sister?"