Chapter 442 Grand Finale - Part 2
Two months later.
The resurrected Emperor Shizong led ten thousand troops to conquer the Dayuan Kingdom.
The Great Jin incorporated both the Eastern Tomb Kingdom and Dayuan Kingdom into its territory, achieving unprecedented expansion of its domain.
On a day with brilliant sunshine, Emperor Shizong returned triumphantly with his army.
"Welcome the return of Emperor Shizong!"
"Welcome the return of Emperor Shizong!"
The young Emperor and Empress Dowager, along with all civil and military officials, came to greet him. The common people of the capital also gathered at the city gates, buzzing with discussion.
"Don't we already have a young Emperor? Where did this Emperor Shizong come from?"
"Don't you know? Emperor Shizong was previously declared dead, which is why the young Emperor ascended the throne. But it turns out he didn't die - he was undercover in the Dayuan Kingdom, coordinating with the Valiant General to conquer them from within."
"Then doesn't that mean our Great Jin now has two emperors? Won't that cause chaos?"
"Huh, you make a good point!"
Amid the crowd's murmuring, a procession of carriages and horses appeared at the city gates.
At the forefront, riding a tall horse, was a man in silver armor. Under the sunlight, the armor reflected dazzling silver light that made it difficult to look directly at him.
The clip-clop of horse hooves echoed through the clouds, majestic and powerful, as if declaring a great victory.
"It's Father!" Chu Changsheng stood on the city wall, spotting the man on the large horse from afar, and said excitedly, "Let's go welcome Father!"
Chu Hongyu had long been impatient.
Whoever wanted to be Emperor could have the position - he certainly didn't want it anymore.
Previously, he had to endure and persevere to protect his mother and younger siblings. Now that Father had returned, why should he continue? He wanted to return to being that carefree child.
The two siblings quickly descended the city tower.
Yun Chu, holding Chu Hongjue's hand, followed them down.
The distant procession drew closer, and the common people couldn't help but cheer.
Yun Chu's gaze fixed on the man atop the large horse. She saw the crisscrossing scars covering his face. Though his neck was covered by armor, she could still clearly see the whip marks...
As she observed Chu Yi, the man's eyes also fell upon her.
After almost half a year apart, she had grown thinner, Jue Ge'er had grown bigger, Yu Ge'er had become more steady, and Changsheng had grown taller...
He could no longer restrain himself. He dismounted from his horse and rushed toward Yun Chu.
He embraced his wife and three children all at once.
"I'm sorry, Chu'er, I'm sorry..."
His voice was extremely hoarse, as if squeezed from his chest.
Yun Chu asked incredulously, "What happened to your voice?"
Cheng Xu followed and explained, "His Lordship's throat was burned like this in a fire, but fortunately he survived..."
"Father..." Chu Hongyu's eyes reddened immediately upon seeing the wounds covering Chu Yi's face and hands, "What happened? Why are you covered in injuries everywhere..."
He had intended to hand the throne over to his father, but seeing Chu Yi in this condition, all his words stuck in his throat.
"Empress Dowager, please don't blame His Lordship..." Cheng Xu helped explain, "His Lordship previously fell into the sea pierced by countless arrows, drifted for three days on the ocean, and was rescued by the Dayuan Kingdom's royal family..."
Only then did Yun Chu understand what this man had endured.
While leading troops in pursuit of the enemy, he had fallen into an enemy trap, was pierced by countless arrows, and plunged into the sea.After drifting at sea for three days and three nights, he was rescued by the Second Prince of the Dayuan Kingdom. From his attire, the Second Prince discerned his identity as the Crown Prince of the Great Jin Kingdom and imprisoned him in a water dungeon, subjecting him to daily floggings and forcing him to write letters to Great Jin in an attempt to incite turmoil there.
Day after day, he devised ways to break free from his shackles. After a month, he finally managed to unlock them. Seizing an opportunity when the Second Prince was alone, he leaped from the water dungeon, wrapped a thin iron wire around the prince’s neck, and strangled him to death.
He then threw the Second Prince’s body into the water dungeon, locked it in shackles, and used a hammer to smash the prince’s face beyond recognition.
Next, he used the iron wire to scar his own face until it was a bloody, unrecognizable mess.
Thus, he assumed the identity of the Second Prince and became a member of the Dayuan royal family.
At that time, he had intended to write to Yun Chu, but countless eyes within the Dayuan court were watching him, and the multitude of spies made it impossible for him to act.
When he heard the news that Yu Ge'er had ascended the throne and Yun Chu had become the Empress Dowager, and learned that both mother and child were safe, he suppressed his urgent feelings and continued to scheme...
He persuaded the Emperor of Dayuan to collaborate with Great Jin to annihilate the Eastern Tomb Kingdom in one swift strike.
After the fall of Eastern Tomb, Dayuan’s ambitions swelled, and they turned their sights to conquering Great Jin.
His true identity was eventually exposed. In response, he set fire to the Dayuan palace, burning to death those who knew his secret. In the process, his throat was severely injured, making it extremely difficult for him to speak...
Upon receiving Yun Chu’s letter, he immediately assassinated the Emperor of Dayuan, inciting internal strife within the royal family. Coordinating with Great Jin from the outside, he caught Dayuan completely off guard.
Thus, the Dayuan Kingdom, with territory far surpassing that of Eastern Tomb, was utterly destroyed.
After half a year, he had finally returned.
In his arms were his wife and child; before him lay Great Jin; surrounding him were his subjects and people.
This feeling was profoundly reassuring.
“Hail the Retired Emperor!” the ministers chorused in unison.
Only then did Chu Yi release the person in his embrace.
“Father…” Chu Hongyu whispered, “Shall I return the throne to you? I can issue the decree right now.”
His father was far more capable—he had single-handedly subdued two neighboring kingdoms. If his father were to rule, Great Jin would undoubtedly usher in its most prosperous era in history.
Chu Yi patted his head, his voice hoarse as he said, “The common people hold you in high regard. Though you are young, you have won their hearts. Continue to rule well.”
Chu Changsheng spoke up, “Being Emperor is too taxing. Father needs to recuperate from his injuries—it’s not suitable for him. Brother, you should keep the throne.”
Chu Hongyu’s eyes reddened.
Indeed, his father was severely injured, likely without a single patch of unmarred skin on his body, and his voice was ruined... It would take at least three to five years for him to recover fully.
“Yes, I must recuperate,” Chu Yi said. “Chu’er, take Jue Ge'er and accompany me to Nanyang to convalesce.”
“Nanyang?” Chu Hongyu paused. “A few days ago, a court official reported that bandits have been frequently appearing in Nanyang lately. Father, you…”
Had he just returned from battle only to go to Nanyang to eliminate bandits?
If his father was striving so diligently, what right did he have to slack off? How could he even think of shirking his responsibilities?
He immediately addressed the court officials, “My esteemed ministers, we missed the morning court session. Let us make up for it now. Prepare the carriage—we return to the palace!”
The grand procession made its way back to the palace.
Yun Chu and Chu Yi sat together in the same carriage. Her hand brushed over his face, and she couldn’t help but sigh. “Must we really go to Nanyang?”"It's to help Yu Ge'er improve. Whenever he achieves something, he can't help but become complacent and needs some pressure," Chu Yi said, holding Yun Chu. "However, there are indeed bandits in Nanyang. If they gather and become a menace, countless common people will suffer. I must go there personally."
"But—" He gazed into Yun Chu's eyes. "I don't want to be apart from you again. Let's take Jue Ge'er and head south together."
Yun Chu looked back at him: "Alright."
From that year onward, the Great Jin Dynasty entered an unprecedented golden age.
The Retired Emperor and Empress Dowager, accompanied by Prince Yan, traveled incognito to the south, sweeping away all bandits. Banditry never recurred, and they showed compassion for the people's hardships, dedicating themselves to river management, creating one legendary tale after another.
The young emperor governed the country meticulously, issuing numerous policies beneficial to the people and broadening channels for talent selection. Countless scholars and warriors were able to utilize their abilities, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity.
From the western frontiers to the eastern Ling Sea, all foreign tribes submitted and paid tribute.
Every year in the twelfth month, tributes arrived from all directions, and envoys from myriad states came to court.
—<End of Main Text>—
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