The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 671: Chapter 671: Triumphant Return

”You make it sound so simple!”

Xie Anjun was so furious he laughed.

”His Majesty sent his best men after them. Do you think that group is so easy to deal with!? Besides, do you really think just anyone could’ve handled this? If word gets out... I’d like to see what you do then!”

He had a point. Although Fan Chengzhuo was resentful, he could only swallow his anger.

In the end, he could only give a cold warning, ”That’s your problem. In short, if he’s really brought back to the Capital City, the first to die... will be you and me!”

A muscle in Xie Anjun’s face twitched, his features contorting.

’He was filled with utter regret!’

’If he had known it would come to this, he never would have agreed to work with Fan Chengzhuo and Zheng Baosu!’

’Now he spent his days on edge, unable to even get a good night’s sleep!’

Pacing back and forth a few steps, Xie Anjun finally couldn’t suppress his anger any longer. He lowered his voice and demanded, ”After all this, does that master of yours still not plan to make a move!?”

Fan Chengzhuo closed his eyes, pretending not to hear him.

His attitude made it clear he wasn’t going to respond.

Xie Anjun was incensed. He jabbed a finger at him. ”Fine! Fine! You’re so loyal to that master of yours! We’ll just wait and see if he bails you out in the end!”

With that, Xie Anjun turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him!

A servant heard the commotion and scrambled in, brushing past the furious Xie Anjun. The servant didn’t dare to stop him. Looking up and seeing Fan Chengzhuo’s even paler face, he asked in a panic, ”M-My lord? Are you feeling unwell again? Should I go get another doctor?”

Fan Chengzhuo raised a hand and gave a few weak, quiet coughs before shaking his head.

The spirited energy from his argument with Xie Anjun vanished in an instant. As if his very life force had been drained away, he collapsed weakly back into his chair.

Seeing the servant’s continued nervousness, Fan Chengzhuo let out a long breath and spoke wearily, ”There’s no need. I know my own body.”

”But...”

”You may leave.”

”...Yes.”

The servant couldn’t argue with him and could only bow and retreat.

The room finally fell silent once more.

Fan Chengzhuo just sat there. After a long while, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

’I’ve done wrong, so if my master wishes to punish me, there’s nothing to be said...’

His illness had come on suddenly, and he had weakened almost overnight, to the point where even walking a few steps was exhausting.

None of the doctors could figure out what it was.

But he himself knew. This was his master’s punishment.

He could only endure it.

He had no complaints about any of this. He only hoped...

Fan Chengzhuo closed his eyes, rose, and gazed into the distance in a certain direction. Then, he knelt and kowtowed with the utmost reverence.

...

「February 17th. King Yan Nan returned in triumph with his troops.」

The people of the Capital City had already heard news of their victory and were ecstatic. They began decorating the streets days in advance, hanging up lanterns and colorful banners everywhere.

On the day of their arrival, a huge crowd of citizens gathered at the city gates early in the morning to welcome them.

The sides of the road were packed with people, creating a lively and bustling scene.

”King Yan Nan has guarded the Southwest for years, his military achievements are legendary! I can finally see him in person today! I wonder how imposing he is!”

”Haha! I saw him once from a distance. He truly exudes an aura of martial might and killing intent! Imposing without even being angry! The sight is still vivid in my mind!”

”I heard King Yan Nan brought back a prisoner this time?”

”That’s right! They captured the leader of the rebellious Nanhu bandits! All the others were executed on the spot, but this one... he was escorted all the way back to the Capital City!”

”They’re probably planning to make an example of him, right? Someone who can gather several thousand troops is no ordinary person. That man must be a tyrant who terrorized the region! King Yan Nan’s victory has severely crushed their arrogance! It also struck fear into the hearts of those petty criminals on the Southwest Border, so they won’t dare to invade so casually!”

”I also heard that the one who captured the leader was a very young man?”

”Yes! I heard that too! Rumor has it that Long City was in chaos that night, with fires raging and everyone fighting to the death! The enemy knew they couldn’t win and tried to escape in the confusion, but who would’ve thought? He was struck by an arrow and fell before the city gates! Tsk tsk, with skills like that, it’s no exaggeration to call him a master archer!”

”I really want to see him in person! What kind of young hero is he? Hey, did he come back with them this time?”

The crowd was bustling, practically buzzing with excitement.

In a teahouse nearby, Ye Chutang sat by the window. With her were Xiao Wu and Ye Jingyan, who had specially taken the day off.

From here, they had a panoramic view of the scene below and could clearly hear all the chatter.

Xiao Wu was especially excited, leaning so far out she was almost halfway out the window, afraid she would miss a single thing.

Ye Chutang glanced at her and clicked her tongue. ”If these rumors keep spreading, I’m afraid your Fourth Brother will soon be described as some mighty figure with three heads and six arms.”

Xiao Wu turned back and giggled.

’So what? Fourth Brother really is that amazing!’

Ye Jingyan also chuckled. ”A Feng was the key to victory in the battle at Long City. He really does deserve all this praise.”

Although they hadn’t witnessed the scene themselves, it wasn’t hard to imagine the danger from the wording of King Yan Nan’s battle report.

Ye Chutang thought for a moment, the corners of her lips curling up. ”This victory certainly came faster than I expected.”

She knew Ye Yunfeng was a born general. His path in life was always meant to be vast and boundless.

The Capital City was not where he belonged; the battlefield was where he could fulfill his ambitions.

When she had sent him to Xia City to join the army, Ye Chutang knew that sooner or later, he would return victorious, laden with merits.

She just hadn’t expected that day to come so soon.

Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted excitedly.

”They’re here, they’re here! They’re coming!”

The crowd immediately stirred, with everyone craning their necks to get a look.

Xiao Wu’s eyes grew even wider, afraid she might miss something.

Even the usually composed Ye Jingyan stood up, a rare look of anticipation on his handsome, refined face.

Ye Chutang set down her teacup and looked out the window—

In the distance, the city gates opened wide, and soldiers in armor marched into the city with synchronized steps!

Banners snapped in the wind, and horses, split into two columns, thundered forward like rolling drums!

An indescribable air of solemnity and authority emanated from them!

The man at the very front was powerfully built, his hair and beard streaked with white. His eyes were sharp as daggers as he rode his horse forward!

It was the kind of bloodlust and killing intent only possessed by those who had been on the battlefield, who had fought amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

The once-noisy crowd was awed into silence by this aura, falling quiet as deep reverence filled their eyes.

Ye Chutang immediately guessed the man’s identity.

The one with legendary military merits, whose fame shook the lands: King Yan Nan—Li Huaiqing!

But her gaze didn’t linger on him; it quickly shifted to the person behind him.

Almost instantly, a familiar figure came into view!