Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 515: Yue Ruyan—In This Moment, He Resembled an Emperor
"Ladies, Duke An has returned." On the city gate tower, Wei Linchun, the County Magistrate of Xiangyang, turned and cupped his hands to the women behind the screen.
The women showed joy on their faces, especially Yi Shiyin, who stepped out from behind the screen, gazing into the distance with deep longing.
"Xiaolu, quickly... help me up, I must go to welcome Erlang." Han Anniang, with one hand on her bulging belly and the other on her hip, tried to get up from her seat, filled with overwhelming anticipation.
Yi Shiyin hurried to support her and said, "Ms. An’niang, be careful."
There was no need to say more as Xia Zhiqing supported Wu Mi, and all the women stood up, gazing into the distance with the same sense of yearning.
At this moment, on the wide and level official road reaching to the horizon, flags as dense as a forest emerged, resembling a black tide ready to engulf all. On many fine horses, warriors of the Brave Cavalry Guard, donned in bright armor, pulled on their reins, brimming with spirit.
Seeing the crowd of people and officials welcoming at the city gate, the soldiers straightened their backs even more.
Feeling the eager gazes upon them, the soldiers’ sense of "vanity" reached its peak.
They fought hard on the front lines, shedding blood and risking their lives, not just for achievements and a good life, but for loyalty and patriotism.
Relishing the admiring and respectful gazes of the crowd, the soldiers felt that all their sacrifices were worth it.
Originally in disarray under the cold winter, their ranks suddenly became neat and orderly.
"Why are there so many war horses?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Various officials in Xiangyang City, seeing the countless war horses, whispered among themselves.
After all, the lack of horses in the Chen Army was a well-known fact.
"You fool, Duke An destroyed eighty thousand Jin Xia Barbarians in the north, and the barbarians never lacked war horses. These must be spoils of war. Can’t you see these horses are different from those in the south?"
"..."
"Where is my husband, where is my husband?" Yi Shiyin stood on tiptoes but did not see Chen Mo’s figure among the army.
The other ladies also craned their necks to search for Chen Mo’s figure.
"It’s Duke An..."
Someone shouted, and all eyes turned to look.
When the Brave Cavalry Guard was three hundred paces from Xiangyang City, the soldiers reined in their horses and moved aside, creating a path in the middle.
Under a command flag embroidered with the character "Chen," Chen Mo, wearing a dark robe with a jade belt and a long sword at his waist, rode a tall white horse, draped in a cloak. As he held the reins, flanked by Yue Ruyan in armor on the right and Xia Zhining in armor on the left, he led the way.
Sun Meng followed with the Personal Guard Battalion.
Behind the Personal Guard Battalion were the Yue family’s clan members with their belongings and wealth. The Jiangdong Army and Vermilion Bird Guard followed, while Yue Ruyan’s more than three thousand Yue Army soldiers remained in Yu State.
As the army approached Xiangyang City, Chen Mo spotted the women watching from the city gate tower. In the instant their eyes met, countless unspoken words seemed to flow between them.
"It’s my husband, it’s my husband," Yi Shiyin said repeatedly.
"Hurry down to greet him, hurry," Han Anniang said excitedly but dared not take large strides, urging Yi Shiyin to assist her down.
The officials, upon seeing the army, had already gone down ahead of time.
When Chen Mo reached the city gate, the women had all come down as well.
The officials all bowed and saluted, "We greet Duke An. Duke An, you have worked hard on your journey."
At this moment, the soldiers of the Chen Army stationed in Xiangyang also saluted in unison, "We greet Duke An."
The sound of several thousand soldiers saluting, uniform and earth-shattering, resonated like a tidal wave.
In an instant, the people, infected by this emotion, shouted for Duke An, their voices deafening, almost reaching the sky and audible for miles around, causing Yue Ruyan beside Chen Mo to catch her breath, her heart surging with indescribable emotions.
This feeling was as if Chen Mo was the emperor here, receiving the worship of thousands, honoring the world alone, and reigning supreme.
Furthermore, Yue Ruyan could tell this was genuine affection, not coerced. Even when she was the ruler of Longyou, she had never experienced such a scene.
Thinking that she was about to become his woman, she couldn’t help feeling slightly intoxicated.
In the rear, the Yue family clan members, hearing and seeing all this, were also filled with awe from the heart.
Having traveled from Yu State, the sense of "supremacy" associated with Chen Mo in everyone’s heart was enough to prove that he had absolute control over the Four States.
Inside the carriage, Yue Ruyan’s mother blushed slightly.
Previously, Yue Ruyan’s relationship with Chen Mo was seen as "forced," so Lady Yue had some reservations about him.
Yet now, all these reservations vanished, and thinking that Chen Mo would soon be her son-in-law, Lady Yue felt a surge of pride.
Amidst the crowd, unable to secure a position at the front, Xiao Yi and Xiao Yue felt a shock, followed by excitement.
With the Xiao family’s allegiance to the Chen Army, Xiao Yi was released and came to Xiangyang with Madam Xiao, hoping to secure a position under Chen Mo’s command through her connections.
The more prestigious Chen Mo became, the more these "foreign relatives" felt a sense of shared honor.
Sharing this sentiment were Li Mingfan and Li Mingzhong, who sought a position under Chen Mo’s command through their connection with Chu Juan.
However, Chen Mo remained calm, dismounted, and as Sun Meng stepped forward to take the reins, Chen Mo said loudly, "At ease."
At this time, Wei Linchun called the officials nearby, who then shouted simultaneously, "Thank you, Duke An."
Beside him, Yue Ruyan, hearing this, felt an even greater sense of that emperor-like presence.
Chen Mo nodded in acknowledgment.
Wei Linchun was perceptive enough to refrain from discussing official matters at this moment, leaving space for Chen Mo’s family.
Chen Mo walked toward Wu Mi and the others.
Yue Ruyan and Xia Zhining quickly dismounted as well, leaving their horses to the soldiers and following behind Chen Mo.
"Why come out in such cold weather to meet me? You should have waited for me at the residence." Chen Mo, holding Wu Mi’s hand, said softly.
"It’s because the child misses you and keeps kicking me." Wu Mi gazed at the man in a black brocade robe, her eyes full of tenderness and longing, then whispered, "I miss you too."
"It’s been hard on you." Chen Mo, knowing the hardships of pregnancy, gently patted Wu Mi’s hand.
"It’s you who’s had it hard, my husband. I just stay in the residence every day, eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating, without helping you much. It’s hardly a hardship," Wu Mi said.
