The princess regretted it.

Chapter 272 Welcoming Mu En at the City Gate

The man on horseback had a bronze face with sharp angles and sharp corners. His eyebrows were as black as ink and slanted down to his temples. His eyes were as deep as cold stars, and beneath his high nose, his thin lips were tightly pursed. His extraordinary and heroic features, like those of a god of war, exuded an awe-inspiring aura. Anyone familiar with him recognized him—it was Mu En, the great general of the Zhenbei Army.

Mu En gazed at the bright yellow atop the city gate tower, his heart agitated, his thoughts drifting away. In the past, beside that dignified figure, his beloved younger sister, whom he had loved since childhood, stood by his side, smiling and smiling sweetly. But now, time had passed, things had changed, and his sister's voice and appearance would never be seen again.

He gently shook the reins, and the horse, carrying him, slowly paced forward, the hooves clattering crisply and in a steady rhythm, approaching the city gate step by step. Behind him, the other generals also spurred their horses to follow, heading towards the city gate.

The emperor and his ministers at the city gate naturally recognized him at a glance. The emperor turned first and walked down the city gate tower, and the other ministers hurriedly followed, crowding behind him.

When the emperor arrived at the city gate below, Mu En and the generals had also just arrived at the gate. Mu En stopped his horse with a deft and smooth movement, then dismounted with a swift and graceful posture like an eagle spreading its wings, landing silently.

He trotted quickly toward the emperor, his steps firm and powerful, each step carrying the heroic spirit of a man returning from battle and a reverence for his sovereign. The generals behind him followed suit, dismounting one after another and trotting quickly toward the emperor, their ranks orderly and imposing.

Everyone walked up to the emperor and, led by Mu En, knelt on one knee, lowered their heads, clasped their hands in front of their chests, and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty, your grace is boundless and benefits all living beings. We have been fortunate to have fulfilled your mission and led the Zhenbei Army in bloody battles, finally defeated the enemy and enhanced the prestige of our dynasty! Now we have returned in triumph and would like to report to Your Majesty. We wish Your Majesty good health and a long and stable dynasty. Long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!" The shouts shook the sky, resounded at the city gate, and echoed for a long time.

The emperor hurried forward, raised his arm slightly, and gave Mu En a support. His eyes were full of excitement and relief. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "No need for formalities, brother-in-law, get up quickly. All of you get up! You are all great contributors to my Jin Dynasty! Thank you for your hard work!" His words were full of his closeness to Mu En and his admiration for the generals.

Mu En and the other generals thanked the emperor again and stood up. At that moment, the emperor's affectionate call of "brother-in-law" struck Mu En's softest spot like a hammer, bringing tears to the eyes of this iron-blooded general. He suppressed his turbulent emotions, yet his eyes remained slightly moist. He looked at the emperor with mixed feelings, his throat choking as he spoke with a sob, "Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission! The Zhenbei Army has also lived up to your trust!" His words were brief, but each one carried weight, embodying countless hardships.

The emperor was also extremely excited at this time. He stretched out his hand and patted Mu En's shoulder heavily, with such strength that it seemed as if he wanted to convey all the admiration and trust in his heart. He just kept repeating: "Okay, okay!" Behind these simple words was the endless joy for the triumphant return of Mu En and the generals, and the relief for the peace of the country.

At this time, Prime Minister Mu and the Duke of Protector of the State, along with other ministers, stepped forward from behind the emperor. The Second and Third Princes stepped forward to greet Mu En. The Second Prince, unhurried and tactful, eulogized the bravery and glorious achievements of the Zhenbei Army before remaining silent, standing at the emperor's side.

The third prince was a little more attentive, with a bright smile on his face. He quickly stepped forward to greet Mu En, with a hint of flattery and closeness in his eyes. He was just about to open his mouth to get closer to Mu En and say a few more words to win him over.

Mu En simply bowed to him, neither servile nor overbearing, in accordance with court etiquette. His movements were formal and distant. Then, as if oblivious to the Third Prince's enthusiasm, he turned his gaze directly to the ministers accompanying the Emperor. His gaze was calm and profound, revealing the composure and majesty of a veteran.

When the Third Prince saw this, his smile froze on his face. Although he felt unhappy and unwilling in his heart, he had no choice but to step aside and stand aside silently, with a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes.

Prime Minister Mu's gaze met that of his son, Mu En, and at that moment, time seemed to freeze. Prime Minister Mu gazed at his long-awaited son, eyes filled with love and pride. Those eyes, like the warm spring sun, could dispel all the gloom in the world. Though he tried his best to control his emotions, keeping his back straight and maintaining the demeanor of a high-ranking official, his slightly trembling hands betrayed the surging excitement within him.

Mu En was also desperately suppressing his emotions. He looked at his father's graying hair, feeling a mixture of emotions. His father's earnest teachings and earnest expectations before leaving flashed through his mind like a series of images. Now, after enduring the baptism of war and covered in the dust of the journey, he finally returned safely and stood before his father. All he could say was a silent gaze.

Upon seeing this, the Duke of Protectorate stepped forward, smiled, clasped his fists and saluted Mu En, saying: "Brother-in-law, it's good to be back! Now you can spend more time with your uncle and the others. This great victory is a blessing for our dynasty. It enhances the power of our Jin army and makes us admire you very much!" The other ministers also nodded in agreement. For a moment, the city gate was filled with the joy of victory and the harmonious atmosphere of harmony between the monarch and his subjects.

Zhang Chengde echoed the compliment while calmly examining everyone in the crowd opposite him. Unfortunately, there wasn't the familiar face he wanted to see, and his heart sank.

However, after a quick look, he did not see the familiar face that he had been thinking about and longing to see. His heart seemed to have fallen into an endless abyss, sinking rapidly. His full expectations instantly vanished, leaving only a deep sense of loss and uneasiness spreading in his heart.

Of course, there was another person like him, filled with anticipation, his eyes anxiously searching the crowd across from him for a familiar face. The Third Prince's gaze burned, and he searched back and forth for a long time, but he still couldn't see the figures of Wu Anshuo and his son.

He frowned slightly, thinking to himself, wondering if they hadn't returned with Mu En for some reason. But his father hadn't asked about it at the moment. He recalled how he had just hit a snag with Mu En, receiving a cold reception, and couldn't help feeling a little resentful.

At this moment, he wisely chose to remain silent and did not speak rashly to avoid being put in an awkward situation again. However, he did not expect that the two people he was looking forward to were in the carriage not far behind.