196 – Return in Triumph

“I see.”

No one harbored suspicion – Qin Mian’s ability to detoxify more than 10,000 poisoned soldiers had proved his skill.

After the medical assistant brought the medicinal soup, everyone had a drink. Sure enough, their spirit and physical strength recovered a lot. They gave Qin Mian a grateful smile and after thanking him, they continued to be busy.

The whitish color of a fish’s belly appeared in the east. It’s almost dawn!

The war drums of Great Xia sounded more intense; influenced by the zealous drumbeat, the soldiers launched even fiercer attacks.

After the period of two incense sticks burnout, a strange horn suddenly sounded on the ground. The tune was also very strange, from high to low until it was almost inaudible.

Qin Wencai, Doctor Yu, and the others were shocked; their eyes were filled with profound surprises.

Not understanding, Qin Mian asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Surr… Tuluo army has surrendered!”

“That’s great. If the speed is fast enough, I can go back to celebrate the New Year!”

“Finally, I can go home!”

“……”

An hour later, the exact news came back from the front. Lei Tie led his six valiant generals to capture alive the enemy’s three commanding generals. They were Liu Manhui, the Third Prince of Tuluo, Sheng Xuhao, the valiant general of Tuluo, and Yin Xiangzhao, the valiant general and concurrently the military adviser of the Tuluo army who had given the evil idea of poisoning the soldiers of Great Xia.

Then, the campsite was relocated. Five thousand soldiers were sent back from the front to help the military doctors arrange the wounded soldiers and dispose of the dead soldiers’ bodies. Qin Mian and the other military doctors stayed in the new tent to take care of the wounded soldiers.

As if the Heavens wanted to congratulate the compatriots of Great Xia, it began to snow in the afternoon.

Lei Tie had been busy for half a month handling all the military affairs in the military camp. He received the imperial decree of Emperor Xiaohui to withdraw the troops from the front and escort Chen Chuang, Liu Manhui, Sheng Xuhao, and Yin Xiangzhao to the Capital in the next few days.

Lei Tie told Qin Mian that in this battle, Tuluo lost nearly 200,000 soldiers. Besides, Liu Manhui and Yin Xiangzhao were practically equivalent to the right-hand men of the Tuluo emperor. Emperor Xiaohui certainly would make good use of this to ask Tuluo to cede territory and pay indemnities. Tuluo would be sapped of its vitality and would not dare to start a war with Great Xia for at least ten years.

The day before departure, it began to snow again. Snowflakes fell like catkins – it added a bit of romance.

Qin Mian was packing their luggage in Lei Tie’s army tent. Suddenly, he thought of something and looked at the man sitting at the table and writing on the booklet.

“Family head, did you forget something?”

“Family head?” Lei Tie’s movement paused, thinking that his wife did the best to attract him. Remembering that the memorial had to be sent out as soon as possible, he refrained from looking up, “Catch foals?”

Qin Mian smiled, “Fortunately, you still remember. Otherwise, your sons won’t forgive you.”

When Lei Tie finished writing the memorial, he ordered someone to rush to the Capital to deliver the memorial. He put a cloak on Qin Mian, pulled him out of the tent, and asked people to bring two horses. The two men then galloped out of the camp.

With a clear cry, the golden eagle merely flapped its wings and caught up with them by borrowing the strong wind. It always hovered two zhang [6.6m] above their heads.

It snowed heavily. The willow catkins turned into cotton, drifting profusely and disorderly.

After running around for more than an hour, Qin Mian and Lei Tie went deep into the grassland of Tuluo. Herds of wild horses and mountain sheeps walked in silence on the grassland, leisurely nibbling the hay on the ground.

Lei Tie’s soul sense brought the whole grassland into sight as he carefully searched for the healthiest foals.

Qin Mian patted off the snow on him and casually said, “It’ll be great if we can find a pair of twin horses.”

The corner of Lei Tie’s mouth twitched. His wife was too frightening in action that it was hard for him.

Qin Mian laughed and patted him on the shoulder, “Hahaha… I’m kidding!”

Lei Tie was absorbed in thought, “There are many wild horses here. It’s not difficult to find two identical ones.”

“Right.” Qin Mian came to a realization, “Two horses of the same birth actually aren’t exactly alike.”

They galloped forward for a while and saw a herd of wild horses in the distance.

The luck of the two men was really good. They found two very similar foals in that herd of horses. They were not too big, assuming they were just born no more than two or three months ago – they were small and adorable. Their pair of watery big eyes were like round and bright glazed stones. Although they had dirt on their bodies, one could still see that the fur all over their bodies was white. They were beautiful and walked with a firm and steady steps.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie looked at each other, pleasantly surprised.

Qin Mian cried out, “Great!”

“I’ll do it.” Lei Tie took out two ropes from the space. Like a robust person of great power, he flew up straight to the two white horses.

The golden eagle followed with an itching heart.

One person and one bird together separated the two white horses from the herd. Then, Lei Tie held back with force the nape of the two foals in each hand.

The two foals called out in low voices and obediently lay down on the ground to let Lei Tie put ropes on them.

Qin Mian spurred his horse over and chanted out a cleaning mantra. The two horses became clean in an instant – the snowy white fur had not a speck of motley.

It was a long way from the western pass to the Capital. Qin Mian fed each of the two foals a pill to build up a good physique and improve their health.

They led the foals back to the military camp.

Almost everyone in the camp knew that the State Defender Grand General couple had a pair of adorable twin sons. When they saw the two foals, they knew who the foals were to be given to. Naturally, the people in charge of the stable dared not to be reckless in taking care of them.

That night, the whole camp had a celebration dinner around the bonfires.

At daybreak of the next day, Lei Tie and the few generals first led 5000 vanguard troops to escort First Prince Chen Chuang and Liu Manhui’s group of three. The rest of the army closely followed behind.

The banner embroidered with the word “Lei” fluttered in the front of the procession. Everywhere they went, the ordinary people beat the drums and clanged the gongs, dancing for joy.

In order to get back to the Capital as soon as possible, Qin Mian and Lei Tie quietly added spiritual spring water to the soldiers’ meals, so all the soldiers were in high spirits along the way – they didn’t feel the slightest hardship as they hurried up.

Only Chen Chuang, Liu Manhui, Sheng Xuhao, and Yin Xiangzhao suffered, not knowing what medicine Qin Mian gave them. They were sapped of strength and whenever the carriage jolted, they practically vomited several times a day. They lost at least ten jin of weight in less than four days. Along the way, no one tried to save them. It was hateful that Lei Tie and Qin Mian’s martial arts were too good. With the two men, none thought it could be successful.

With the hurrying, the procession finally entered the Capital on the 20th day of the 12th month. Early in the morning, Emperor Xiaohui personally led the empress, the Second Prince, the princess, and other important civil and military officials to wait on the city wall.

Dongyang Academy had a winter holiday on the 10th day of the 12th month. Naturally, Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin could not miss this important day – they were on the city wall, too. Because Emperor Xiaohui was very fond of the two little boys, they occupied the most conspicuous position. The brothers each wore the same red cotton-wadded gown, a winter hat, a scarf around the neck, and gloves. Emperor Xiaohui held one boy in each hand.

White Spot and Golden Fur were also there – they leaned on the guardrail like humans.

Near noon, a group of armored soldiers appeared at the end of the public road in dark masses.

Eunuch Li excitedly said, “Your Majesty, they’re here!”

“Dad and Old Dad are back at last!” Lei Ruilin jumped up and waved a hand to the distance.

Emperor Xiaohui jokingly said, “Don’t get excited, little guy. They’re so far away. Your two dads can’t see you.”

Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin looked at each other and smiled: Dad and Old Dad surely can see [us].

“Ge, I wonder if Old Dad will forget to catch the foals for us.” Lei Ruilin propped up his chin, squeezing the meat on his face together. He was chubby but very cute.

Qin Ruiqi said, “He won’t.”

Princess Duanning curiously asked, “What foals?”

With an arrogant look, Qin Ruiqi said, “Caught from Western Barbarian.”

Lei Ruilin explained, “Dad said that he would take our family to hunt when Old Dad came back. Gege and I told Dad that we needed two foals, so Dad asked us to write to Old Dad and let him catch two from Western Barbarian.”

Second Prince slightly nodded as he said, “The environment in Western Barbarian is relatively worse than that in Great Xia. Therefore, the horses in their country are generally stronger than ours.”

Thinking deeply, Emperor Xiaohui patted Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin on the shoulder, “Hunting? Good idea. Ruiqi and Ruilin, Uncle Emperor will invite you to hunt in the imperial hunting ground someday.”

While they talked, Lei Tie’s procession was getting closer and closer. Qin Mian and Lei Tie’s horses were at the top front of the procession, on par with one another.

Both Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin happily waved their hands.

Qin Mian saw the two children waving; he softly smiled and also waved back.

Lei Tie, still with that poker face, only looked at Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin for a moment.

“Old Dad doesn’t wave back,” said Lei Ruilin with regret.

Emperor Xiao Hui, the empress, Second Prince, and the ministers were unable to restrain their laughter when they imagined Lei Tie waving his hand.

The procession soon arrived outside the city gate. When the soldiers heard the celebration beats of the drums and gongs and crackles of the firecrackers inside the city, their faces displayed smiles of pride.

Being the lead of everyone, Lei Tie dismounted the horse, faced the city wall, and knelt on one knee.

“Your subject and the others pay respect to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live longer, absolutely long live!”

All the people on the city wall also knelt and shouted “May Your Majesty live longer, absolutely long live!” with great momentum that rushed straight to the sky.

“You may rise!” Emperor Xiaohui’s hearty laughter was filled with proudness, “Well done, State Defender Grand General. You have lived up to Zhen’s trust in you!”

Lei Tie said, “Thanks to Your Majesty’s great fortune, luckily your subject and the others didn’t dishonor our commission.”

Emperor Xiaohui brought everyone down from the city wall.

When Emperor Xiaohui got on the imperial carriage, Lei Tie led his subordinates to keep up. The other civil and military ministers followed behind in the cheers of the common folks.

Qin Mian, Lei Tie, Qin Wencai, and several other generals went directly into the palace and came to the imperial study to formally report on the completion of their tasks to the emperor.

Emperor Xiaohui simply asked about the course of the war with Tuluo and how Qin Mian detoxified the poison before excusing them and telling them to have a good rest. In the court session the next day, they could tell the details.

When everyone took leave, Emperor Xiaohui only retained Qin Wencai.

Emperor Xiaohui looked at Qin Wencai from the upper position and directly asked, “My dear subject Qin, the Lady of the State Defender Duke is your son?”

Qin Wencai was stunned. He knelt and replied in truth, “Yes, Your Majesty. Lady of the State Defender Duke is your subject’s legitimate son, who had unexpectedly disappeared ten years ago. At first, when your subject saw the appearance of the Lady of the State Defender Duke in the imperial study, your subject was suspicious of his origin. Your subject dare not hide it from Your Majesty that half the reason why your subject was eager to go to the western pass was to confirm this. May [I] be bold to ask, how did Your Majesty know of this?”

Emperor Xiaohui’s tone was meaningful, “My dear subject Qin, in addition to Lady of the State Defender Duke, you still have another good son ah.”

Qin Wencai was puzzled. Suddenly, he felt some uneasiness, “Please forgive, your subject is slow-witted.”

Emperor Xiaohui motioned to Eunuch Li to give the information he found to Qin Wencai. Qin Mian was sent to the western pass by Emperor Xiaohui to save the soldiers. The most important thing was that someone dared to assassinate him on the way. This was tantamount to opposing Emperor Xiaohui and the imperial authority! Emperor Xiaohui naturally wanted to find out the crux of the matter. Unexpectedly, this investigation actually led to Qin Jian, the eldest son of Qin Wencai. Emperor Xiaohui had investigated Qin Mian’s identity before, but his men only found the information about Qin Mian after he was fourteen years old. After interrogating Qin Jian, Emperor Xiaohui realized that Qin Mian was actually Qin Wencai’s legitimate son.