Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 303: The Brave Army Returns Home!

On the other side, after Qin Shuang had left, Zhan Lan also received news, and she found out that her parents couldn’t resist sending people to search for Xuerou after all.

She sat at the desk, twirling the porcelain cup, thinking to herself that Xuerou must be planning a way to return to the General Mansion.

Only after losing something does one cherish it, then regrets letting desires rule when it was in their possession.

Xuerou will surely lower her stance and try to win over the hearts of Zhan Beicang and Qin Shuang.

Zhan Lan gave a bitter smile, indeed, growing attached even to a dog, let alone a person raised from childhood and treated like a daughter.

Furthermore, with the involvement of Xue Wei, Zhan Beicang wouldn’t treat Xuerou too harshly.

Reborn in this lifetime, her endurance is much stronger than in her previous life; she can completely stand in others’ shoes to understand issues now.

Like why Zhan Beicang would adopt Xue Wei’s child; if it were her, she would also not hesitate to adopt the children of Xiao Chen, Dugu Yan, Huang Gun, and Li Sui.

Therefore, she understands her parents’ attitude towards Xuerou.

Currently, Xuerou hasn’t committed any major mistakes in the open.

However, no matter how well one hides, over time, their true nature will reveal itself, Zhan Lan is waiting for Xuerou to show her true colors.

...

Heifeng Pass.

The imperial edict has arrived, and Xiao Chen, Xue Lang, Chen Zi, and Liu Chuang were sitting in the tent.

Everyone was silent.

Liu Chuang was the first to break the silence, slapping his thigh excitedly and saying, "Hey, this is great! We can finally go home!"

Xue Lang said: "It’s great news, but I didn’t expect the Main General to relinquish military power."

Chen Zi also nodded and said, "I didn’t expect that the Main General is the daughter of General Zhan Beicang; she gave up military power also to let us return home sooner."

The mood among them was somewhat somber, since going home after years meant definite ranks and titles, but thinking about leaving after having been comrades-in-arms for so many years was saddening.

Xiao Chen finally spoke, "Fellow generals, once we return to the capital, Chen Zi will serve as the Assistant Minister of War which is next in rank to the Minister of War, the Village Soldiers Commander will be Xue Lang, with Deputy Commander Dugu Yan, and Huang Gun will be Minister of Public Works, second only to the Minister of Ministry of Industry Bai Yunlong. My father’s wrongful case will be cleared, and after returning to Ding’an City I will serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. The Main General is now Prince Zhenbei, though she has no military power, we are still here and cannot let her be humiliated in court."

Liu Chuang, thumping his chest, said: "Exactly, if anyone dares to bully the Main General, I’ll be the first to refuse!"

Xue Lang laughed and said: "Yes, I heard the Main General is going to marry Regent King Mu Yan. We choose a day to return to Ding’an City, maybe we can even catch up to the Main General’s big wedding and earn a glass of celebratory wine."

Chen Zi shook his head with a smile: "No wonder the Regent King takes every chance to run to the border, it turns out it’s because of the Main General! But indeed, the two make a perfect match, both are strong individuals."

Liu Chuang chuckled: "How come I never caught on the two were together, I did eat a lot of the watermelons the Regent King sent though, turns out we benefitted from it!"

The three burst into hearty laughter, but Xiao Chen was the only one looking desolate.

Zhan Lan was getting married, this weighed even heavier on his heart than the last time he learned Zhan Lan was to marry Si Jun in his previous life.

He gripped the hem of his garment tightly, pretending to be nonchalant as he stood up; he looked towards the messenger and said out loud, "Pass the order down, apart from the routine forces stationed at the border of ten thousand soldiers, the rest of the troops will return to the capital tomorrow!"

"Yes, General!"

Not long after the messenger left, a roaring noise erupted from the parade ground.

Xiao Chen walked out of the tent, followed by the three Deputy Generals.

On the vast land, lush green grass decorated with sporadic wild flowers, the sky a clear, cloudless blue, the soldiers’ voices resonating in the air.

"Ah! We’re home!"

"We’re home!"

Their joyful voices pierced through the skies, striking the heart.

Some of them had joyful smiles on their faces, some were crying with joy, wiping away tears, and others were vigorously patting their comrades’ chests, moved to tears.

Some lay on the ground, looking up at the azure sky with silly grins, while others ran wildly in the training field, tears streaming down their faces.

"We’re home, General Zhan gave up military power to bring us home!" said an old soldier with one arm missing, his eyebrows tightly knitted as he tried hard to hold back his tears, overwhelmed with emotion.

A young soldier who had just joined the army for two years said: "We’re home and still village soldiers, although our military pay is much less, we are now with our families!"

"It’s been three years, my wife was pregnant when I left, and I haven’t yet seen my son!" said a soldier squatting on the ground, as he plucked a yellow wildflower from the soil and kept looking at it with a smile.

Another person looking into the distance said: "I can also show filial piety to my elderly mother now."

A rosy-cheeked soldier, showing his bright white teeth and laughing shyly said: "My mother wrote to me saying she has found a match for me, from the most beautiful girl in the town! I’m going back to get married!"

"You’re just bragging!" the crowd teased.

The young soldier’s cheeks flushed bright red as he desperately explained: "Really, believe me..."

Ye Xiaowu and Ye Xiaoliu looked towards Xiao Chen. They walked over respectfully and said: "General Xiao, we brothers have something to say."

Xiao Chen looked at the two, and Ye Xiaowu said: "We brothers have neither father nor mother, and we don’t like to be officials; can we follow the Main General when we go back?"

Ye Xiaoliu’s bright black eyes earnestly watched Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen smiled and nodded, "You can come back with me, I’ll ask the Main General then."

"Yes!" The brothers were a bit excited.

When everyone’s excitement settled down, Xiao Chen walked alone to the city tower, looking forlorn.

The autumn wind was bleak, stirring up Xiao Chen’s black hair behind him, his handsome face revealing a trace of sorrow.

The autumn wind made his eyes sore; with reddening eyes, he stood alone on the city tower, looking in the direction of Ding’an City, muttering: "Lan’er, in this lifetime I’ve also stepped back ten thousand steps, I hope this time you will make the right choice."

If Mu Yan betrays Zhan Lan, even in death he would take that step to take Zhan Lan away, away from Mu Yan’s side.

He would guard Zhan Lan for a lifetime, never wanting to see her heartbroken again.

...

Four days later, the news that Zhan Lan had become Prince Zhenbei, along with the return of the Brave Army to the capital, was proclaimed to the world.

The citizens were seething with excitement.

The citizens on the main street cheered to welcome the Brave Army’s return.

"General Zhan Lan giving up military power, allowing soldiers to return to build Nanjin, shows a foresight and magnanimity not common among women!"

"Look at the fief of Prince Zhenbei, it is in the poorest region, I heard General Zhan Lan personally chose it."

"Around Xiaohe Village and a few other areas, there are many poor people; I think this is not just a fief, she chose it wanting to take care of those poor people."

"We in Nanjin have such a great female general, truly a blessing for us citizens..."

The citizens on the main street were abuzz with discussion, Mrs. Wang, riding in a sedan chair, listened to the voices of the people, her heart stirring with excitement as well. freewebnøvel.com

She arrived at the courtyard of the second branch of Zhan Family.