Whale Falls and Becomes a God

Chapter 190 Return to Jiangdu
Jiangdu, North Gate.

After defeating Yuwen Chengdu, Xiao Ying led his army straight back to Jiangdu. Nothing else happened during this time, and none of the countless hidden spectators showed up or made any moves.

Their iron hooves thundered, and the earth trembled.

The vast army, stretching for miles, surged towards the towering Xiandu like a tidal wave, causing people along the way to retreat and discuss the matter amongst themselves.

Today, Jiangdu has basically recovered its prosperity, and even with the Yuwen rebels looming like dark clouds, its prosperity cannot be concealed.

The walls, towering into the clouds, were adorned with fluttering banners and stood in rows of soldiers.

The city gate, towering several meters high, was bustling with traffic and crowds.

"Prince Jingwu is back!"

"Prince Jingwu is mighty!"

"Greetings to King Jingwu!"

……

As soon as the massive army arrived, without anyone needing to drive them away, the crowd at the city gate spontaneously stepped aside, creating the impression of a welcoming party. Amidst the discussions, many people even raised their arms and shouted!
At this moment, it seemed that the dark clouds brought by the Yuwen rebels had dissipated considerably!

This is the impact of "heroes"!

"I'm back again..."

As Xiao Ying rode his horse to the north gate, he looked up at the towering city wall and murmured to himself.

Perhaps it's because I came into this world in Jiangdu.

Perhaps it was the bustling and lively atmosphere of Jiangdu that dispelled the heat of the battlefield.

Perhaps it's someone Jiang Du cherishes in his heart...

At some point, Jiangdu seemed to have become Xiao Ying's hometown. Although he had only been away for a little over a month, he felt as if he had returned to his homeland after a long absence!

"Welcome back in triumph, Your Highness!"

As Xiao Ying looked up and sighed, a group of several hundred people walked out of the wide city gate passage. Leading them was the wife of Rong Hua, the Minister of War, followed by Liu Qianqing, the Minister of Justice, Le Han, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Master Lingyan, a general and representative of Buddhism, and others. The rest were mostly civil and military officials, guards, and retainers, whom Xiao Ying did not recognize!

"Uh……"

Xiao Ying was taken aback, not expecting there would be a welcoming ceremony.

Although the number of people was small, the four leaders were heavyweights in Jiangdu, making it a grand occasion!

More importantly, Xiao Yingzhen did not consider herself to have "returned in triumph." With the Yuwen rebels nearby and the Fengming siege far away, what kind of triumph was that?
It's just a normal return to town, is it really that big of a deal?

Make up!

Leverage the momentum!

Thinking of the pressure Jiangdu was under at the moment, Xiao Ying seemed to understand something.

Seated atop the golden cloud dragon-scale beast, he looked behind him. There was a magnificent carriage, and beside it stood dozens of imperial guards in fine armor, holding flags and halberds—a full-fledged force.

It's a pity I didn't get to see that noble and dignified figure sitting there...

"Greetings, esteemed sirs! I am deeply honored!"

Xiao Ying dismounted and humbly greeted the crowd, showing no arrogance whatsoever. Dugu Feng, Xie Yingdeng, the four maids, and the twelve monks followed suit, dismounting to welcome them.

It seems that both sides are making quite a show of force, attracting more and more attention and onlookers!

"Welcome back in triumph, Your Highness!"

To everyone's surprise, Madam Ronghua didn't respond to Xiao Ying at all. Instead, she greeted him respectfully again and even shouted out in a loud voice!
"Welcome back in triumph, Your Highness!"

The unanimous shouts of the crowd clearly indicated that they had been prepared in advance.

"Your Highness has returned in triumph! Please aboard the carriage..."

Ignoring Xiao Ying's reaction, Madam Ronghua bowed and quickly greeted him, then paused and whispered, "Unless His Highness is willing to ride a horse through the streets and be watched by the crowd, all the way to the Forbidden City!"

"..."

Xiao Ying's lips twitched, speechless for a moment. Was this the legendary "forcing a duck onto a shelf"?!

However, compared to being undeservingly surrounded and watched as she crossed the street, Xiao Ying really preferred to go directly to the palace by carriage. It was clear that Empress Xiao and Lady Ronghua had grasped Xiao Ying's mindset.

Although it might seem like a case of "the camel's back mentality," it's understandable for the sake of the bigger picture!
After a while...

Xiao Ying stepped into the brocade carriage and, surrounded by generals and high-ranking officials, headed straight for the Forbidden City. Accompanying him were endless elite Sui soldiers in fine armor, causing a stir in half the city and attracting countless onlookers!
Wherever he went, the crowds were excited and the people cheered, which indeed enlivened the atmosphere and dispelled the war clouds that were hanging over Jiangdu!
……

The Forbidden City, front hall.

Compared to the vast Jiangdu, the Forbidden Palace was repaired and restored earlier. Now, the eunuchs and palace maids have been basically recruited, and there are also majestic and solemn imperial guards on duty.

At this time, the Forbidden City, inside and out, was in no way inferior to when Emperor Yang Guang of Sui was still alive; in fact, it was more united, more active, and more promising!

Stop the car, get out!
The imposing and majestic Imperial Guards stood in two rows on the left and right.

Civil and military officials, dressed in brocade robes and jade garments or wearing golden helmets and silver armor, surrounded him.

Stop, look up...

Empress Xiao stood on the jade steps, her phoenix robe trailing on the ground, her phoenix crown gleaming, her eyes like water. Against the backdrop of the magnificent palace behind her, she was breathtakingly beautiful and dazzlingly noble!
"call……"

Perhaps it was the lingering emotions from the original owner of the body, but upon seeing Empress Xiao again, Xiao Ying felt a surge of excitement, as if they were reunited after a long separation. She took a deep breath, her armor still on, her face still dusty from the journey, and slowly stepped forward onto the jade steps...

Empress Xiao watched as Xiao Ying alighted from the carriage, landed, ascended the steps, and approached, her smile as radiant as a flower and her demeanor as gentle as water.

Thirty meters...

ten meters...

five meters...

Xiao Ying stopped, her heart churning with conflicting emotions, and forced herself to kneel on one knee, saying:

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! May the Great Sui Dynasty prosper forever!"

Empress Xiao's exquisite and flawless face changed slightly, her fair and jade-like fingers trembled, and she finally raised her hand and said, "Prince Jingwu... rise!"

After a long separation, a thousand words are left unsaid, but in the end, they all boil down to one sentence...

"Just come back!"

From the time Xiao Ying's original body could remember, from childhood to adolescence, and from adolescence to adulthood, this was truly the first time she had been so far away from Empress Xiao, and the two had been separated for so long!
"Enter the palace, prepare a banquet, and respectfully welcome the triumphant return of Prince Jingwu!"

Before the two, whose minds were in turmoil, could react, Aunt Lan, the head steward, consciously gathered her strength and shouted, her voice echoing throughout the Forbidden City and reverberating outside!

"So majestic! So majestic! So majestic..."

Countless imperial guards, lined up on the left and right, filled the square in front of the palace, brandishing their weapons and shouting, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth!
Whether it's just playing along or a long-awaited reunion, it's all good.

The triumphant general was treated with the same honors as the one in the Forbidden City. The crowd surrounded Prince Jingwu as he entered the hall to report on his achievements during this period: pacifying the Southern Army of Shangliang, subjugating Shangliang in Hailing, destroying Shangliang, ambushing Nanyang, retreating from Jianghuai, and so on. Each of these achievements was a glorious one worthy of being recorded!

Afterwards, toasts were exchanged and everyone enjoyed themselves.

During the banquet, Xiao Ying and Empress Xiao had virtually no opportunity to interact or even whisper to each other until the banquet ended!

As the waning moon rose high in the sky and the stars twinkled, the Forbidden City was utterly silent!
Guiyan Palace, the foremost of the ten palaces in Jiangdu, is draped with fluttering curtains and flickering red candlelight!

"Thank you for your hard work. I have been keeping a close eye on Yuwen Chengdu's unusual behavior. Now that Ying is back, Jiangdu is basically safe!"

Inside the palace, Empress Xiao personally poured tea for Xiao Ying, trying to make conversation to comfort her, hoping to help her relax and not worry too much.

"Hmm! Since Yuwen Chengdu has been defeated and fled, he must have other plans. Jiangdu is safe now!"

Xiao Ying wasn't good at drinking, and her mind was still a bit dizzy and confused after the banquet, so she replied with a reassuring attitude!

quiet!
silence!

The curtains fluttered, and amidst the quiet fragrance, the two remained silent...

"You've really grown up..."

(End of this chapter)