Edited by Tnyhy

Shen Xin originally had a prominent reputation in the Ming Qi’s commoners’ hearts, and since in these two years, the Xie family fell into misfortune and the Shen family moved away, this made the people feel that the heroes’ end was desolate. Even more when the Qin country"s and the Great Liang"s people came to the Ding capital, there was suddenly a sense of humbleness as they could not protect themselves. For Shen Xin to emerge at such a time, it undoubtedly allowed the commoners to feel as if they have a pillar of support. When more and more people surrounded them, they all shouted amazingly, “General Shen has returned!”

For a period of time the cheers of the crowd almost drowned the road in front of the horse carriage, as the commoners shouted fanatically and almost sought after them. Luo Tan covered her mouth, “Heavens. GuFu’s reputation in these people eyes and mind is indeed very high.”

Luo Ling and the rest who were outside had unbearable expressions. It was a good thing that there were people to give a warm welcome, and it was not bad to be sought after. Every year when Shen Xin return to the capital, there would always be such a sight. But today, Shen Xin did not return with merits, but instead was recalled back to the capital by the Emperor after being evicted for two years ago. The louder the commoners’ cheers were, the more resounding the slap was on Emperor Wen Hui. This was the same as going against Emperor Wen Hui.

In the carriage, Luo Xue Yan’s and Shen Miao’s expression also slightly became solemn. It was especially so for Shen Miao as her gaze suddenly got colder. Only Luo Tan did not understand what was going on, and was delighted with Shen Xin’s prestige.

The road was blocked and Shen Xin could only let the few guards beside him to explain to the commoners. When the people heard it, even though they stood at both sides of the road to look, they were not as excited as they were previously and opened up the way.

Mo Qing and Ah Chi rode their horses off to look for residences. Just like what Shen Miao said, there was a street next to the Yan Qing Lane and the residences there were not bad. Now that Shen Xin had spent a lot of money on reorganizing the Luo family"s army, he was not as well off as he was previously. In spite of this, since Shen Miao wanted to reside in the southern part of the city, Shen Xin agreed to it without saying anything further.

The horse carriage headed towards the south of the city.

The closer one gets to the Yan Qing Lane, the less the people were there. This was because those living around the Yan Qing Lane were dignitaries and n.o.bility, and commoners would not be able to afford to stay in that section of land. The welcoming commoners were much scarce here, and the carriage was able to travel much smoother. Mo Qing and the rest quickly reported that they had found a residence that one could first reside in, before discussing about money. The original owners of that residence knew of Shen Xin’s name and did not request much money for collateral.

When they were only one street away from the Yan Qing Lane, suddenly there was a gust of wind that blew the curtain of Shen Miao’s carriage, quickly blew apart the curtain but it also quickly fell down.

Shen Miao’s eyes slightly congealed. Luo Tan saw this and asked, “What is the matter?”

Shen Miao took at glance at the carriage curtain and shook her head, “Nothing.” But she was secretly vigilant as just now for a short moment, she actually had the feeling of being monitored. That kind of attention made one felt very uncomfortable.

In one of the tall buildings at a distance, there was a young man holding a flute with a female by his side. That female’s appearance was as delicate as a flower and refined as jade, those tacky jewellery that she wore did not look ugly at all, but instead made her look exquisitely charming. She glanced at the far away carriage and said in disdain, “Is not this the Formidable Great General Shen, the Shen family? Such a great prestige but is only no more than this.”

The male by her side was in his early twenties and had some resemblance to her. He was considered handsome but because his nose was slightly hooked, it gave him a vicious look. He smiled, “To even make the Imperial family of Ming Qi to restrain their fear, it is not a simple trash.”

“Older Brother Crown Prince is joking again.” That female’s eyes were filled with arrogance, “The Marquis of Lin An, from the Xie family, was also lawless previously, but now is still like a bereaved dog. They could not even retain the complete corpse of Xie Jing Xing. More likely than not, the Shen family would be the second Xie family.”

The male smiled, but did not continue along with that female’s words.

At the other side, there was someone leaning against the building as the lush evergreen covered his figure in half, only revealing the flowing corner of his gold robes. One of his hands picked the teacup in front and that hand was vigorous. There was a white jade ring in the middle finger, which made the entire hand seemed to be carved out from jade. As the teacup neared his lips, it revealed a beautiful chin. The reddish thin lips that had been touched by the tea, seemed a bit moist but were enough seductive to hook another’s mind.

The corner of his lips slowly hooked up.

The residence that Mo Qing found was an alley a turn away from the Yan Qing Lane, where the busiest restaurants of the southern city were located. The location was very good. The owners were easy going, and Luo Xue Yan and Shen Xin were very frank people so when the owners put up a reasonable price, they bought the residence that very night and changed the owner of the residence.

At this end it was just settled, but there were eunuchs from the Palace that came over to read out the Imperial edict, which was for Shen Xin to enter the Palace the next day to meet the Emperor. For Emperor Wen Hui to be that eager, apparently thing had reached a very critical position. After receiving the Imperial edict and moving things in, the skies turned dark. After dinner, everyone could go and rest after finally settling everything down.

Shen Miao and Luo Tan resided in adjacent courtyards. The courtyards here were not as s.p.a.cious as the General residence, but it was considered neat, clean and had a unique style. It is just that Shen Xin and Shen Qiu had some regrets, as they could not train in the courtyard. Luo Xue Yan and Luo Tan were very satisfied and Shen Miao did not value such things, so naturally she had no objections.

At the end during the night, Luo Tan sneaked into Shen Miao"s room to talk.

Luo Tan was wrapped in a cape as she sat on Shen Miao couch, “Biao Youngest Sister, I cannot sleep. Accompany me and chat.”

“What do you want to chat about?” Shen Miao let Jing Zhe and the rest withdraw, and cut the wick of the oil lamp shorter herself. At this moment she had no intention of going to sleep, so she was casually flipping the pages of the book on the table, but did not seriously read it.

“One did not expect the Ding capital would be like this.” One could not tell if the Luo Tan’s tone of voice was of disappointment or joy, “I grew up in the Xiao Chun City and thought that places outside would be the same as the Xiao Chun City. One did not expect that the Ding capital is even bigger and livelier than what those storytellers said. Biao Youngest sister, I am still a little scared.”

There was finally a day where the out of control Eldest Young Lady of the Luo family would be scared. Shen Miao smiled gently, “What is so scary?”

“Of course one is scared when one is alone outside. Even though Older Brother Ling is here, but this is not the familiar Xiao Chun City. Biao Youngest Sister, did you experience such scary times before? At the beginning when GuGu and GuFu were in the Northwestern region and left you alone in the Ding capital, were you scared?”

“There is nothing scary.” Shen Miao lightly replied. To her it was not scary to be left behind in the Shen residence as at the beginning, in her eyes the people in the Shen residence were considered trusted relatives. Not knowing, thus fearless. Like what Luo Tan spoke of, being afraid because of being alone outside… In the beginning when she was in the Qin country, was not it like that?

Thinking of the Qin country, Shen Miao’s eyes flashed and suddenly thought about the words that the waiter said today. The people of the Qin country and the Great Liang have come. At this time in her past lifetime, it was during the tribute that she saw the Crown Prince of the Qin country and the Great Liang’s people. At that time the Great Liang’s ambitions had slightly emerged, making the Imperial family of Ming Qi felt dreadful. In order to check and balance the Great Liang, the Ming Qi and the Qin country probed with one another until when Fu Xiu Yi sat on the throne, the Ming Qi and the Qin country started an alliance and let her, the Empress, to go to the Qin country as a hostage… The Crown Prince of the Qin country, HuangFu Hao, was a very vile and savage person, one did not know why, but he liked to go against her, and also Princess Ming An was so arrogant that it was scary. The difficult and humiliating days in the Qin country were all thanks to this pair of siblings.

As for Prince Rui of the Great Liang… Shen Miao frowned. In the original tribute of Ming Qi, the envoy that the Great Liang sent over in the past, it was not this Prince Rui. It was another Imperial relative, but the reputation of Prince Rui was already spread far wide. He was the younger blood brother of Emperor Yong Le, but would not appear much in the Imperial family and also the outside world was ignorant of him. Shen Miao was Ming Qi’s Empress in her previous life, and she knew very little of this Prince Rui as Fu Xiu Yi had not mention about this person before.

At the end, there were some things that changed.

Luo Tan did not noticed that Shen Miao was lost in her thoughts and spoke what she wanted, “At first I still thought that if I ever make a trip to the Ding capital in my remaining life, one would definitely pay an official visit to Ming Qi’s Marquis of Lin An"s residence’s Xie family’s Little Marquis Xie. One had never thought that now that one is here will not be able to meet him anymore.” Speaking till here, she actually became somewhat sad, “Why could he not wait till I came to see?”

Shen Miao was slightly surprised for a moment. In these two years the rarely thought of figure, gradually became clear in her mind. Upon finding a residence in the Ding capital, the previous servants in the original residence spoke about the events within the two years. One of the major events was in the residence of the Marquis of Lin An, ever since Xie Jing Xing’s death, the Xie family"s army"s vitality was greatly damaged, and Xie Ding got ten years older in a night. Xie Ding initially gave his resignation to Emperor Wen Hui but to no avail, Emperor Wen Hui did not allow it. Even though Xie Ding still retained his official position, he had no will to fight and would often drift along the days muddleheaded. However his two Shu sons entered officialdom, and even though their positions were not high, they had good reviews and within a couple more of years, they would be able to become the leaders of the younger generation in Ming Qi.

On the contrary to what one might expect, when the news of Xie Jing Xing’s death returned to the Ding capital, Princess Rong Xin took a trip to the residence of the Marquis of Lin An and made trouble. She scolded Xie Ding cold as ruthless, that he made the perfectly fine Marquis"s residence lose Princess Yu Qing and also Xie Jing Xing, and was a devils’ nest that eats people. Princess Rong Xin cried as she vented her anger, and almost smashed the entire residence of the Marquis of Lin An. After that, she lived an even more secluded life, and no longer came out.

The Su family that had good relations with the residence of the Marquis of Lin An also gradually declined. Not mentioning Su Yu, even that family son, who had bright prospects, gradually quietened down. In general, the Xie family’s declined along with Xie Jing Xing’s death, and the commoners could not help but mention it with regrets.

Distinguished and accomplished youth that was unyielding and valiant, should have been a hero in the battlefield but at the end, he died so tragically. It was of no wonder that when the young ladies of Ming Qi heard about the news of Xie Jing Xing’s death, they could not help but cry to themselves.

As Shen Miao watched the jumping flames, her eyes dropped and when she turned, she saw that Luo Tan had fell onto the couch, fast asleep.

Luo Xue Yan used the brush to comb her hair out. Even though she was the mother of two children, her hair was still dark and s.h.i.+ny, without a single strand of white hair and could even contend with twenty eight young females.

Shen Xin took off his heavy armour and heard Luo Xue Yan speaking, “With regards to entering the Palace tomorrow, my heart kept sinking.”

“What is there to be afraid of?” Shen Xin walked behind her and held her shoulders before soothingly saying, “It is not our first time entering the Palace, could is be that you are afraid of the music? Do not be afraid, there is still me there.”

“I am not afraid of this.” Luo Xue Yan rolled her eyes at him, “You and me are very well aware about the matter of our return. Those persons in the Palace most likely have a lump in their hearts. When I previously discussed with Father about the matter, Father said that one fear that His Majesty would take hold of something to control our Shen family.”

Shen Xin frowned, “What is the meaning of Furen’s words?”

“Jiao Jiao and Qiu-er are still not married yet.” Luo Xue Yan reminded, “It would have been better if both of them got married during the two years in the Xiao Chun City, and so one major thing would be settled. But one did not expect that the Emperor’s edict would come so quickly. Now that our Shen family once again regained power, one fear that there are a number of people that are watching closely. Will the Emperor use Qiu-er’s and Jiao Jiao’s marriage as a topic to control the Shen family?”

Shen Xin jumped in shock, “How can it be? Nonsense!” No matter what the case in Shen Xin’s eyes, Shen Qiu’s and Shen Miao’s marriages are not allowed to be mixed in political selfishness, let alone using their marriage to control the Shen family or integrate to other forces.

“Not mentioning Qiu-er’s, I felt that Jiao Jiao’s cannot wait for too long.” Luo Xue Yan said, “Jiao Jiao is currently sixteen, do not talk about the Xiao Chun City, we are in the Ding capital and she is at the age where engagements are discussed. After engagement for two years when one is eighteen, it would be ideal to get married. One have to settle Jiao Jiao when there is still no news from the Palace.”

“Such a rush?” Shen Xin hesitated, “What kind of good families is there? Not to mention the need to understand the other’s character.”

“What do you think…” Luo Xue Yan looked at him, “Of Ling-er?”