The old things I repaired have become fine

Chapter 707 Burying the princess's armor and weapons with her? You're desecrating the princess's spirit! Do you want to die?!
Shen Le felt a buzzing sound in his forehead, his whole body swayed slightly, and he subconsciously turned his head to look out.

Princess Pingyang, yes, Princess Pingyang—in this world, in this memory, if there is anyone he very much wants to see, then the first is Prince Qin, Li Shimin, and the second is Princess Pingyang.

But he couldn't see her—unlike Li Shimin, who was a general who galloped across the battlefield, Princess Pingyang was a princess of the Tang Dynasty, a top noblewoman of the time, not someone he could ask to see whenever he wanted.

Moreover, Princess Pingyang has not appeared on the battlefield for six years since the fall of Chang'an…

Shen Le kept thinking he should wait a little longer, just a little longer, to find the best opportunity, even if it was only to catch a glimpse from the roadside. He figured there was plenty of time, but he overlooked one thing:
The Battle of Hulao Pass took place in the fourth year of the Wude era, and now it is already the sixth year of the Wude era...

Princess Pingyang died in the sixth year of the Wude era.

“Princess…” His voice was hoarse, each word seeming to be ground out of his throat:
"The princess..."

The clerk who rushed to deliver the news silently shook his head.

Shen Le ultimately failed to see Princess Pingyang. Even the King of Qin, who rushed back, was unable to see his sister one last time—

All the King of Qin could do was send the princess off to her funeral, while all Shen Le could do was stand by the street and watch the long funeral procession leave Chang'an.

The front and rear entourage included feathered banners, drums, a large carriage, flags, forty men with swords, and elite tiger-like armored soldiers...

If it were in the past, or in modern times, seeing such a ceremonial procession would surely excite him to the heavens. He would definitely try his best to squeeze inside and observe it up close, wishing he could lie on top of it and see it clearly.

However, at this moment, Shen Le simply stood silently by the roadside, watching the flags, feathered banners, military music, and long honor guard escorting the heavy coffin as it was moved outwards.

In front of the coffin, two small boys, both dressed in mourning, walked forward in a daze, one older than the other, being carefully led by the hand by an adult, crying as he took each step.

The other one, who looked to be about kindergarten age, was placed on a small horse and protected by a guard with outstretched arms. He looked around, unable to even cry, probably unaware of what had happened.
All around, the attendants, guards, and soldiers carrying the coffin were weeping uncontrollably.

Judging from their age, their expressions and attitudes, and the fact that there are others among them, they must all be Princess Pingyang's personal guards, or at least soldiers who once fought alongside her on the battlefield.

Shen Le bowed his head in somber respect, watching the coffin pass by before carefully observing the latter half of the procession. As he looked, his pupils suddenly contracted:
What did he see?
From behind the ceremonial guard, a long line of people carrying various boxes emitted an unusually sharp golden aura!
This is……

This is……

Shen Le lowered his head and remained motionless, silently regulating his breathing and focusing his mind, circulating his inner energy through his eyes. When he looked up again, this time, he could see even more clearly:

The boxes behind seemed to contain burial goods, many of which were items used by Princess Pingyang.

There was armor, weapons, banners, and saddles. The golden aura emanating from the armor and weapons was so bright that he squinted and looked away to avoid bursting into tears.

The flags and saddles were slightly inferior, but they were still dazzlingly bright. Compared to the Battle of Hulao Pass, the spearheads and sword tips that Shen Le picked up in the first batch on the battlefield were much more powerful.
The strongest golden energy was concentrated behind the coffin, in the hands of a maidservant who followed closely behind, holding a small box. The box was only about a foot long and three inches high, but the golden energy inside seemed to soar into the sky!
Shen Le composed himself and carefully observed with his spiritual eyes. The golden energy surged for a moment, then coalesced into two small white tigers, which hovered above the coffin, howling incessantly.

The golden military spirit condensed within these two white tigers alone is equivalent to half a thousand troops. Add to that the armor, weapons, and ceremonial guards, and the power contained within the entire force is enough to suppress the Zhongnan Incident!

Shen Le's heart pounded wildly in his chest. Each beat, each thud, was like the beating of a war drum.

“Every time the laws were proclaimed, soldiers were forbidden from looting, so many people from far and near flocked to the frontier, and we gathered 70,000 soldiers…”

Princess Shi led over ten thousand elite troops to join Emperor Taizong's army north of the Wei River. She and Shao each established their own headquarters and besieged the capital. The troops in their camps were known as the "Women's Army"...

The words in the history books burned before my eyes, line by line. Ten thousand elite soldiers, ten thousand elite soldiers… that incomparably sharp, almost sky-piercing golden aura… so vast… so pure…

The armor, weapons, and battle flags buried with the princess clearly bear witness to the princess's years of strategic maneuvering and the indomitable spirit of her female army, who fought side by side through life and death!

How is this women's army doing?

What happened to this women's army during the six years the princess remained silent?

Shen Le had not personally verified this information, nor had he seen any papers by his predecessors or teachers that verified the later relocation, disbandment, and promotion of the officers in the Women's Army.

At this moment, only one thought kept echoing in his mind:
"That's it! This golden military spirit is extremely strong and fierce, embodying the founding destiny and indomitable fighting spirit. It will definitely not be a problem to use it to suppress the anomaly in Zhongnan Mountain!"

He clenched his fists, stopping himself from rushing out. He needed to find an opportunity, he thought, a good opportunity… Don't rush, don't rush…

He followed the funeral procession slowly, all the way out of Chang'an. The early spring sun slowly set, taking away all warmth, leaving only the plain white funeral banners and the silent crowd.

The sobbing gradually subsided and faded away, leaving only suppressed choking and whispers that occasionally echoed from the core area.

Shen Le stood at a distance and observed for a long time before taking out his token and asking a clerk from the Prince of Qin's mansion to help him send a message requesting an audience. He patiently waited until midnight, watching the moon climb to its zenith and then slowly begin to sink, before someone finally led him there.

Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, his face weary, a faint sadness lingering around him. Candle wax piled up around him, and a squad of soldiers tiptoed away, clearly having been busy until now. Upon seeing Shen Le, he nodded and said gently:
"I know about the strange events at Zhongnan. As for the five precious metals you requested, please wait a few more days until Third Sister is buried. I..."

"I have found a suitable talisman," Shen Le said, bowing. Li Shimin's eyes brightened slightly, and he said softly:
"What is it? I will give you a warrant. You may take whatever you want from the Prince's mansion. You don't need to ask any more questions."

"The items I use do not belong to the Prince's residence; I can only request permission from Your Highness," Shen Le said cautiously, his heart pounding. Seeing Li Shimin gesture for him to continue, he stepped forward and lowered his voice:

"It is... the armor and weapons that Her Highness was buried with..."

Zheng!
Clang! Several sharp sounds of swords being drawn rang out in succession. Shen Le's scalp tingled, his back stiffened, and he struggled to straighten his body. Li Shimin suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes sharp as a hawk's, staring intently at him:

"Be bold!"

His right hand was already on the sword at his waist, the blade still sheathed, yet its chilling aura made Shen Le's hair stand on end. Shen Le took a deep breath, then another, and found that the heat flowing within him was once again suppressed, leaving him motionless.
Oh no, all spells are unusable again, I'll have to rely on my words to fix it again...

I can't get over this until I explain things clearly and bring the princess's belongings over! — Anyway, I've already checked in the modern world, and everything in the cave is in good condition. I have a chance to succeed!
Let's give it a shot!
We can always restart!

Shen Le tried to calm himself, took another breath, and was about to speak. Suddenly, something crashed out of the inner hall with a bang, followed by a thud as a person dressed entirely in white strode out – it was none other than the Imperial Son-in-Law, Chai Shao.
"You...you actually dared to covet Third Sister's belongings?!"

Chai Shao looked even more exhausted than Li Shimin, almost emaciated. He stared intently at Shen Le, his hand on the hilt of his sword, repeatedly drawing it halfway out, then pushing it back in, before finally turning to Li Shimin:

"Your Highness! This scoundrel spreads heresies and blasphemes against the spirit of the princess; his heart deserves to be punished!"

"I have the utmost respect for the princess!" Shen Le hurriedly interjected.
"If it weren't for my reverence for the princess, and my belief in the formidable power of her relics to suppress ghosts and demons and prevent the world from changing, I would never have come here, Your Highness!"

His voice rose high, and for a moment, he actually withstood the angry glares of the two men in front of him:

"That armor, the princess once wore as she charged into battle! That long spear and sharp sword, the princess once wielded as she drank the blood of enemy chieftains! That battle flag, once led thousands of troops, striking fear into the hearts of the enemy and bringing peace of mind to the people!"
The spirit of the Women's Army is fierce and unyielding, warding off all evil! If the princess were alive, she would surely hope that they would continue to protect the world and the lights of every household in Chang'an!

He stood tall and spoke eloquently, every word filled with sincerity. Infected by his emotions, Li Shimin's anger lessened somewhat. He turned to the inner hall, seemingly gazing through the curtains at the coffin in the next room, remaining silent.

Chai Shao's eyes were bloodshot, but his killing intent had lessened somewhat. He turned and looked inside, his gaze softening, and he sighed softly.
“What you say may be true. But Third Sister… Third Sister… let her rest in peace. As for the talisman you requested, I will find another way after Third Sister is buried…”

"But!" Shen Le was extremely anxious. Three months—three months was the time the porcelain tower formation could hold off the heavens, not the time they could complete all their work.

The talisman was sent into Zhongnan Mountain as quickly as possible, as this would give more time to adjust the magic array, close the crack in the sky, and repair the damage to heaven and earth!

"Your Highness! A dark aura is sweeping across Zhongnan Mountain, and signs are already emerging! Your Highness, the army is blocking the mountain pass, searching for and killing lesser demons, but they cannot stop the dark rain from falling from the sky. Only the founding military spirit of this nation can suppress this place!"
Time is of the essence! Once the rift in the sky shifts and erupts, the dark rain will pour down from the mountains, and Chang'an will instantly become a demon city and a ghost realm! The princess fought so hard to reclaim Chang'an; do you really want her to watch it be destroyed from the afterlife?

He clenched his fists tightly, and even though his nails weren't long, he could feel the pain of his fingertips and nails digging into his palms.

The torches crackled in the hall, illuminating the pained and hesitant faces of Li Shimin and Chai Shao. After a long while, a clear, cool, and resolute female voice rang out from the shadows not far behind Li Shimin:
"Your Highness, the Prince Consort...this servant...has something to say."

"Aqing?"

The newcomer was dressed in mourning clothes, his right hand and left arm draped over his abdomen. He bowed respectfully, but his left arm was completely bare.

Li Shimin's eyes flickered, and he reached out to help her up. This woman was Princess Pingyang's personal guard; her left wrist had been severed by thieves while protecting the princess.

Although she considered herself a maid in the mansion, she was still a female official of rank. Not to mention Chai Shao, even Li Shimin did not treat her as an ordinary maid.
"what do you want to say?"

Aqing still performed the greeting with proper decorum, then slowly rose. She raised her head, tears silently streaming down her face, her voice choked yet clear:
"Your Highness, Prince Consort, please forgive my bluntness, but what this Taoist priest said... may very well be exactly what the princess is thinking!"

"what?"

Both nobles were stunned. Aqing calmly said:

"Princess... Since the founding of the kingdom and the granting of her title, you have never been to the battlefield again. While His Highness and his consort are fighting abroad, we servants accompany you, watching you polish your armor countless times... watching you stare blankly at your sword countless times..."

She...she really wanted to go to war, she really wanted to ride her horse across the battlefield..."

Chai Shao remained silent, his expression somber. Li Shimin took a deep breath and said gently:
"Third Sister is, after all, a woman. Before, when the world was not yet settled and dangers were extremely great, we could only let her personally lead the drum and gong, and we already felt very guilty. Now that Chang'an has been recovered, we all hope that she will be safe and sound."

"Leave the matters of fighting on the battlefield to us men... Besides, the princess always receives the only reward she receives; Father remembers her military achievements..."

"What use are rewards!" Aqing suddenly interrupted loudly:
"We are all leading troops, we are all going to the battlefield. Since Your Highness and the Prince Consort are men, they can continue to lead troops and continue to fight..."

"Is the princess any worse than anyone else? Is she a bad military commander, or are her soldiers simply unwilling to obey her? The country has been founded, Chang'an has been recovered, and now she's confined to the house to have children; she can't go to the battlefield!"

The voice grew louder and more piercing, the last few words almost a desperate cry. Though unspoken, everyone present understood her plea:

Why!
Why! ! !
“But… Third Sister will eventually have children, won’t she?” Chai Shao remained silent, but Li Shimin spoke gently:

“Sichang only had one son before, which was too few. She can’t possibly be pregnant and giving birth while also fighting on the battlefield; that would be too dangerous… We all hope she’ll be alright…”

"You've broken her wings." Shen Le stood listening quietly for a long time, then suddenly spoke:

"She wanted to stay home and have children; that was her own choice. But, with so-called propriety, rules, and the principles of yin and yang, she was forced to stay at home and watch others go to war..."

He sighed softly, shook his head, and remained silent. Aqing sobbed and collapsed to the ground, weeping.
"Your Highness! Prince Consort! Princess... Princess is unwilling! She has great skills and a passionate heart, but she can no longer fight for the Tang Dynasty!"

If the princess's spirit could know that her armor, weapons, battle flags, and the soul of her army could continue to protect the Tang Dynasty and Chang'an, she would be immensely gratified! This would bring her more peace than having her armor and weapons buried deep underground!

(End of this chapter)