Chapter 120 - 115: Endless Sorrow
The gatekeeper, with a solemn expression, led a soldier clad in armor and covered in dust hurriedly into the courtyard.
"Mr. Zhao, this is bad! Two hundred thousand Turkic soldiers are about to descend upon Yong’an City!"
The moment the soldier entered the courtyard, he shouted, his words filled with urgency.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zun let his towel fall into the copper basin, which trembled slightly and splashed water everywhere.
He raised his eyes to look at the soldier, who trembled as he pulled out a roll of imperial decree from his chest.
"Mr. Zhao, this is the Emperor’s personal decree, ordering you to proceed immediately to Yong’an City as the vanguard for this great battle, to go to the front and kill the enemy."
Zhao Zun took the decree, unfurled it quickly, and each word on it stabbed at his heart like a needle.
The trusted aides looked on, eyes wide with anger, cursing Emperor Jing’s ruthlessness and injustice in their hearts.
"Prince, this is clearly the Emperor humiliating you! You’ve earned illustrious merits for Da Jing, and now..."
Yet here you are being made the vanguard in battle, Xiao Zhengfei fumed silently, unable to speak the words aloud.
Zhao Zun’s chest heaved violently as he turned to gaze in the direction of Yong’an City. His deep eyes were like a dark pool, unfathomable, yet a storm seemed to churn in its depths.
After a while, he slowly closed the decree, the storm in his eyes gone, and his tone was unexpectedly calm.
"Zhengfei, my brothers, I understand your feelings. But in times of war, personal shame or honor is insignificant. If Yong’an City falls, Canzhou and the entire Da Jing will face ruin beyond redemption."
"But, Prince..."
Xiao Zhengfei tried to argue but was interrupted by Zhao Zun with a wave of his hand.
"Say no more, a soldier’s duty is to defend the nation. Though I, Zhao Zun, have been stripped of my military power, the hot blood in my veins is not cold, nor is my sword rusted." Zhao Zun’s tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.
He turned and walked towards his inner chamber, beginning to don his long-unused battle armor. Each piece seemed to recount past glories and hardships.
The trusted aides, seeing this, fell silent, their eyes filled with both sadness and admiration.
Since Zhao Zun had donned his armor, the trusted aides returned to their rooms, bringing out their own armor from their chests.
Fully dressed, Zhao Zun strode out of the inner residence, with the trusted aides filing out to assemble.
Just then, the old madam, who had been waiting to dine with them in the dining hall, hurried over with Zhao Ling’er’s support after hearing Zitan’s report.
"Brother!"
"Zun, Zun. What is this..."
The old madam, seeing her son and the trusted aides in full military attire, remembered the contents of the decree reported by Zitan, and her heart sank.
Upon seeing his mother and sister, Zhao Zun made large strides to meet them.
He knelt down with a thud before the old madam, raising his head to deeply gaze at the old madam and Zhao Ling’er, as if wanting to firmly imprint their appearances in his heart.
"Mother, it’s unfilial of me, I must go to battle again. Ling’er, take care of Mother."
Zhao Ling’er nodded with a sob, and the old madam felt as if struck by lightning upon hearing this, leaving her feeling empty inside.
She clutched Zhao Zun’s hand tightly, tears brimming in her eyes. The image of Zhao Zun accompanying the cold coffin of the old Duke of the Nation back to the Capital City years ago seemed to resurface before her.
"Zun, how can I live if you go?"
The thought alone of your facing two hundred thousand soldiers as the vanguard frightened her.
Zhao Zun looked at his mother’s face, which was aged yet young, and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the tears welling up in his eyes, and then said, "Mother, please don’t worry, I will definitely return safely. I’ve arranged for Ping Chuan and two trusted aides to stay and protect you and Ling’er."
Already in armor and prepared for battle, Ping Chuan’s expression changed upon hearing this.
"Prince, I want to go to battle with you! I am your trusted aide, I must protect you."
Zhao Zun glared at Ping Chuan and scolded, "Nonsense! You will stay to protect the old madam and the young lady, that is an order!"
Ping Chuan gritted his teeth, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes. Yet he understood Zhao Zun’s nature well, and could only lower his head.
"Yes, I obey the order."
Zhao Zun turned again to the old madam and Zhao Ling’er, speaking gently: "Mother, Ling’er, you must take good care of yourselves. When I return, we will reunite."
Having said this, Zhao Zun and the trusted aides ignored the meal, each taking a couple of flatbreads, carrying a water pouch, and resolutely turned to stride towards the door.
The old madam and Zhao Ling’er watched their departing figures, tears welling up in their eyes once more.
The night deepened, but in their hearts burned an undying flame, a loyalty to the country, a defense of their homeland.