The Double-Chapter 696 - 214: Annihilation_2

Watching as the figure walked further and further away, gradually disappearing from sight, Ah Zhao finally reined in her thoughts and looked up at the sky above the courtyard again. She had heard that Prince Cheng and Zhaode General had clashed on their way back to the capital, and the outcome was still unknown. She wondered where her father was now, and her sister... As she thought about this, she couldn’t help but feel disheartened. Princess Yongning had once said while tormenting her that even if Xue Fangfei died, she would not let her sister stay alone in Yanjing City. She would take her sister’s coffin back to Tongxiang, even if only ashes remained.

...

Day by day, news of the warfront kept returning to Yanjing, seemingly with one victory report after another. Prince Cheng’s carefully planned rebellion seemed like a joke under the invincible bravery of the Zhaode General, crumbling at the first blow.

As time went by, the citizens of Yanjing City began to relax, one by one they started to believe that Prince Cheng’s defeat was inevitable. As long as Zhaode General was there, Northern Yan would not see rebels creating chaos for even a day. Thus, more people started to walk the streets again. Life had to go on as usual; people tucked their worries back into their bellies. They continued with their daily routines, except for some old folks and particularly timid women, the majority of people were no longer affected by the situation.

Spring in Yanjing City passed in this way, and was followed by summer. The heat of summer seemed to have grown overnight; the scorching sun made people appear sluggish on the streets, as vendors began to sell refreshing cold treats. The rich families simply stopped going out, seeking shade in their rooms fitted with ice carvings.

As Tonger sat in the room embroidering, she asked Jiang Li, "Miss, your birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it?"

Jiang Li paused and said, "Is it?"

She hadn’t noticed herself. This time last year, she was on Green City Mountain and had not returned to the capital. On Green City Mountain, no one celebrated her birthday. Times had changed, and she was once again Miss Jiang the Second; the Jiang Family would naturally celebrate her birthday. It was already July 12th, and by the end of July, Miss Jiang the Second would be sixteen years old.

It was quite a splendid age, as if there were still new hopes to be had. Jiang Li thought that perhaps she could take this opportunity to visit the Ye Residence. Since it was her birthday, the Jiang family members probably wouldn’t stop her. With this thought, she felt somewhat relieved. However, she had no particular expectations about how her birthday would be celebrated or what gifts she would receive.

Bai Xue walked in from outside and said, "Miss."

Jiang Li saw the unusual expression on her face and asked, "What is it?"

"Everyone outside is saying that Prince Cheng has been defeated. General Yin has taken Prince Cheng’s head to the palace, and tens of thousands of rebels have been completely subdued. The blood has turned the river water red," Bai Xue reported.

Jiang Li, who had been sitting, stood up abruptly and frowned, "Prince Cheng is dead, the rebellion subdued?"

Bai Xue nodded, "It should be true. I also heard from people returning from outside that when Zhaode General was returning to the capital, the citizens spontaneously stood along the road to welcome him."

Jiang Li didn’t care whether Yin Zhan won the hearts of the people or had a good reputation. She kept thinking about what Bai Xue had said. Prince Cheng, although not the most brilliant, had been plotting for years, demonstrating patience and restraint. Since he had decided to rebel now, he should not have been defeated so easily. Jiang Li had already guessed that Prince Cheng would be defeated in this uprising, not only because of Zhaode General but also because Prince Cheng underestimated his opponent, Emperor Hongxiao.

But the fact that Zhaode General didn’t get entangled with Prince Cheng’s forces and cut through them like slicing melons and vegetables, just like that... he won?

It hadn’t even been two months.

In Jiang Li’s heart, a chilling feeling suddenly arose. Perhaps The Late Emperor had some other reasons for exiling the Prince of Xia County to Yunzhong. The Late Emperor was right, but bringing the prince back to the capital now seemed to have provided the people with peace and the enemy was eliminated, yet it may have brought a greater danger.

The true power of Zhaode General was indeed a bit terrifying.

Bai Xue and Tonger quietly watched Jiang Li, her somber expression making them tense as well. What they didn’t understand was why their lady still looked so horrified after a clear victory in battle.

Jiang Li looked at the table, where, because it was summer, the white jade fan given by Yin Zhiqing could come in handy. She would casually place it on the table after using it to cool herself. The white jade fan was exquisitely lovely, just like its giver — mild and harmless. But did the Yin Household truly have no other ambitions and solely serve the country? Jiang Li believed that such people existed in the world, but this Yin Household, it just felt too strange to her.