Shangguan Wan Ning walked through the most difficult journey under the protection of Mu Jingrui. She felt that all the courage and strength in her life had been used up.
Shangguan Wan Ning didn't say a word to Mu Jingrui again during the rest of the trip. She even deliberately avoided Mu Jingrui.
Mu Jingrui understood her mood, so he didn't bother her intentionally. The journey back to Beijing became silent and sad.
When they were still fifty miles away from the capital, a white team in front blocked their way.
Mu Jingrui saw the word "Zheng" on the white sail from a distance.
He signaled the team to stop.
I saw the three brothers of the Zheng family slowly walking over with a group of servants, and came to Zheng Zhixing's coffin in silence.
Zheng Zheng's eyes turned red and he immediately knelt down.
"This old slave is incompetent and failed to bring the young master back safely. This old slave... shall be punished by death!" He cried solemnly and kowtowed several times.
The three brothers of the Zheng family did not make any reaction. Zheng Binghang slowly stretched out his hand and stroked the edge of the coffin. His lips trembled slightly, but the tears in his eyes never fell.
"Zhixing, you're home...Dad is here to pick you up..." Zheng Binghang choked and clenched his fingers tightly into fists.
"Second uncle, I'm sorry..." Shangguan Wan Ning stepped forward, not daring to meet Zheng Binghang's eyes. She could only lower her head and tremble slightly.
"It has nothing to do with you." Zheng Binghang raised his eyes and cast his gaze on Mu Jingrui, who was approaching. He sneered and asked, "Quanzi followed General Mu on the expedition. He went alive and came back dead, but he did not sacrifice his life for the country. General Mu
Can you tell me how the dog died?"
Zheng Binghang obviously already knew that Zheng Zhixing died at the hands of Mu Jingrui, and his current questioning was aggressive.
"I will go to the house to fully explain the cause of Zhixing's death." Mu Jingrui looked at Shangguan Wan Ning's evasive eyes, feeling a little inexplicably sad in his heart.
He sighed helplessly and said: "Since you are here, take his body back first."
Mu Jingrui waved his hand gently, and the soldier responsible for carrying the coffin put the coffin down and stepped aside.
Seeing that Mu Jingrui didn't admit his mistake at all, Zheng Binrong became furious and scolded: "Mu Jingrui, don't rely on the fact that you just won the battle to be great. I tell you, you must give an account of Zhixing's death.
.otherwise……"
Before he finished speaking, Zheng Bingrong struck the boulder on the roadside with his palm.
The boulder snapped into two pieces.
This palm shocked many soldiers nearby. The strong smell of gunpowder from both sides made the soldiers retreat one after another for fear of being burned.
Mu Jingrui himself had a bad temper, so how could he withstand such an upright threat from Zheng Bingrong?
He was about to have a seizure when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shangguan Wan Ning taking two steps forward involuntarily, but had to stop.
Mu Jingrui's clenched fists slowly loosened.
"Walk."
Mu Jingrui didn't say much, but ordered to continue moving forward.
He felt that he had made a concession, but in the eyes of the three Zheng brothers, this was simply provocation and contempt.
"A young boy can be so arrogant, I..."
"Third brother, forget it, it's important to deal with Zhixing's funeral first."
Zheng Binghong grabbed Zheng Binghang, who was about to catch up, and looked meaningfully at Shangguan Wanning, who lowered his head and remained silent.
"The relationship between our Zheng family and Mu Jingrui has been established. From now on...it's hard to say. Let's try to avoid dealing with such people as much as possible."
Shangguan Wan Ning knew that her uncle's words were meant for her.
Her mind went blank and she completely lost the ability to think.
She originally thought that if she won this battle, she could happily marry Mu Jingrui and rewrite the fate of her previous life, but who knows...
Shangguan Wan Ning's mind was heavy, and coupled with the long journey through mountains and rivers, her vision suddenly went dark and she fainted completely.
When she woke up again, she found herself lying in a familiar room.
"Ning'er, you're finally awake." Mrs. Shangguan immediately stood up and walked to the window, bowing to the outside, "God bless me, my daughter is safe..."
After saying that, he rushed back to the bedside, held her daughter's hand tightly, and said with tears: "You girl, you don't let me worry so much, you dare to go to the border fighting place. What if you come back again?"
What's the matter, then I..."
Mrs. Shangguan burst into tears when she thought of her dead nephew.
"Mom, I'm sorry..." Shangguan Wanning held her mother's hand wiping her tears and felt her pulse secretly.
She found that her mother's pulse was stable and much better than before.
It seems that during this period of time, with Lu Xiangzi taking care of her, my mother's health has recovered a lot.
"It's okay. Silly boy, it's good that you come back safely. It's just a pity that Zhixing..."
Her mother's words brought back all Shangguan Wan Ning's sad thoughts at once.
"Mom, Zhixing, he is now..."
Mrs. Shangguan sighed heavily and said, "You will get up and freshen up later, and we will go back to your grandpa's house. Tomorrow... there will be a funeral for Zhixing."
Shangguan Wan Ning's heart ached fiercely. It was hard for her to let go and even harder to accept.
Until Lu Tong came in to wash and change her clothes, she pondered for a long time and couldn't help but ask: "Lu Tong, how long have I been unconscious?"
"When I get back to Missy, it's already been a day and a night."
"Then...did anything special happen during this day and night?"
Lu Tong stopped combing Shangguan Wan Ning's hair. She had been serving Shangguan Wan Ning since she was a child. How could she not understand her young lady's thoughts?
She pretended to be casual and said: "It's nothing special. The emperor found out about Young Master Biao and issued a decree to give many rewards to the Yiyong Hou Mansion, which exempted Young Master Biao from being punished for the murder he committed at the border.
, allowing him to hold a funeral according to the original specifications. In addition..."
Lu Tong secretly looked at Shangguan Wan Ning and said in a low voice: "General Mu has returned in triumph. His Majesty Long Yan was very pleased and gave him many awards. Now... Mu's house is full of guests and they are holding a big banquet to celebrate."
Shangguan Wan Ning's face turned pale, and her heart suddenly turned gray.
She didn't say anything. After putting on plain clothes, she followed her parents to the Yiyong Marquis' Mansion.
This night, Shangguan Wan Ning kept vigil for Zheng Zhixing and spent the last night with him.
On the day of Zheng Zhixing's funeral, he passed through Nan'an Street in the capital. All the people living in this street were rich or noble, and many of them were important officials in the court.
Every household put out sacrifices as a road sacrifice to show respect for the Zheng family.
Shangguan Wan Ning followed the funeral procession forward, and further ahead was the Mu Mansion. Her heartbeat accelerated involuntarily, and an ominous premonition continued to spread in her heart.
Mu Jingrui had already ordered his servants to prepare sacrifices and place them at the door. As the funeral procession approached, he became nervous.