webnovelfull Chapter 388 Like Your Father Back Then
Chapter 388 Like Your Father Back Then
"I'm really fine!" There was a barely perceptible hint of fatigue in Wang Xinyao's voice.
But she still insisted on smiling: "Brother Zhao, have you seen this person?"
Zhao Haoxuan did not answer immediately.
He slowly squatted down, his movements carrying a kind of suppressed strength.
Rough fingers pinched the edge of the mask of the unconscious man in black on the ground and pulled it down suddenly.
A pale, unfamiliar face was exposed in the dim light, its facial features so ordinary that it would be impossible to recognize it if thrown into a crowd.
Only his clenched teeth and a trace of black blood at the corner of his mouth revealed his identity as a dead soldier.
Zhao Haoxuan's gaze lingered on the face for a moment, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the rough fabric of the mask.
Then he slowly shook his head.
"Looks a little strange." His voice was low and hoarse like metallic friction. "But, it's easy to tell who sent you."
He raised his head, his eyes piercing through the rain curtain as he looked towards the capital.
The rain flowed down his taut jawline, and his usually calm eyes were now as dark as insoluble ink.
A chill pierced his bones, a poisonous disappointment that threatened to freeze even the lingering anger. "It must be my 'good uncle.'"
"I originally thought... no matter how bad he was, he would never cause chaos during the war with Ware Country and destabilize the country.
It seems that I have underestimated his shamelessness and his obsession with this chair. He would even use the safety of his country as a stepping stone!"
The last few words were almost uttered through gritted teeth.
He lowered his head and kicked the lifeless dead man on the ground. His voice returned to its cold and calm state, but it was even more cruel.
"This is a death warrior, with poison hidden in his teeth. If he fails in his mission, he will commit suicide. Even if he survives, we can't get anything out of him. Come, take care of him immediately."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince!" A low cry of surprise was heard, and Chen Guangze took a sudden step forward.
His thick brows were furrowed, and his eyes were filled with incredible shock.
"You said...the person who assassinated Madam this time was sent by Prince Yu?
Isn't he... isn't he known for his virtue, known as the 'Wise King' by the court and the public? How... how is this possible?
The generals behind him looked at each other, their faces also filled with astonishment and confusion, as if they had heard a fairy tale.
"Yes, Your Highness!" General Li couldn't help but speak.
"Are you... mistaken? Prince Yu is a wise and sympathetic person, and should...
You shouldn't do such a rebellious thing as colluding with foreign enemies and assassinating the Crown Prince's wife!"
His words represented the deep-rooted impressions in the hearts of many generals and soldiers present.
The image that Prince Yu had cultivated over the years became the strongest barrier at this moment.
The voice of doubt was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, which only caused a ripple before sinking.
The sound of rain suddenly became clear, hitting the bluestone slabs, making the military camp dead silent, even breathing was suppressed.
Xu Ping, the captain of the personal guard who had been guarding behind Zhao Haoxuan and is now a deputy general, took a step forward.
"Every word your Highness said is true! The year your Highness disappeared, over half of our East Palace guards, over a thousand brothers, were killed or wounded!
Those 'bandits' who ambushed us were ruthless and well-trained. When I traced them afterwards, the clues all led to Prince Yu's Mansion!"
Xu Ping's voice trembled with grief and anger, and his eyes were filled with deep hatred.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Fan also stood up and added in a cold voice.
"Not only that! We were ordered to conduct a secret investigation and discovered that Prince Yu's men have extremely long-reaching reach.
They even dared to take advantage of the pensions for fallen soldiers and the food and wages for the border troops! They exploited people at every level and lined their pockets!
How many families of heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country have had their pensions withheld?
They were even slandered and expelled, leaving their families broken up and displaced!
Their blood was shed in vain! Their families are suffering!"
"What?" General Li's face changed suddenly, his eyes widened, and a burst of violent anger erupted in an instant.
He slammed his fist on the nearby pillar: "Embezzling military pay and pensions? This concerns the lives of thousands of families in my Xia country!
Such behavior is worse than that of beasts!
General Xu, General Ye, are you serious about what you said?
"Absolutely true!" Xu Ping said firmly, turning his gaze to Chen Guangze, whose face had become extremely ugly.
"General! Do you still remember General Su, who fought alongside you and guarded the border?"
Chen Guangze was shocked and cried out incoherently, "General Su?! Of course I remember! He was the bravest of the three armies, and his righteousness was unparalleled! What a pity...
Six years ago, in the bloody battle of Lion's Mouth, he was seriously injured in order to cover the retreat of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and died fighting for his country!
"The court...didn't the court provide generous relief to his family?" Chen Guangze's voice suddenly rose, with a barely perceptible hint of panic.
As soon as he said this, he was stunned and a terrible thought popped up uncontrollably.
Xu Ping's eyes were filled with even more grief and anger, his voice choked with sobs: "Generous relief? General, do you know what happened to General Su's wife and children later?
General Su's body was still cold, but his pension was completely withheld by Prince Yu's men! They forcibly drove the orphan and widow out of their home in the capital!
In the cold winter, they were stranded on the streets and almost died of hunger and cold! Later, they were fortunately saved by the princess.
Zhao Yue'er, whose eyes had already turned red, could no longer hold back and took a step forward, her clear voice choked with sobs.
"Yes! General Chen, my husband and I can testify to this! Madam Su brought her two young children and begged her way to Nanhu County.
It was God's mercy that allowed me to encounter them by chance, rescue them, and place them in the mansion. After that, they have always been with Sister Xinyao."
Xu Ping took a deep breath and shouted towards the back of the queue:
"Su Wen! Su Wu! Step out!"
"Yes!!" Two responses rang out almost simultaneously.
With the hoarseness typical of teenagers' voice change, it was like two unsheathed daggers, splitting the rain curtain.
The voice was too tense, and an almost inaudible tremor at the end betrayed the excitement under the strong pressure.
Everyone looked over at the same time.
Two young men, wearing ordinary soldier's leather armor, with thin bodies but standing straight, strode out from the back of the team.
They stopped a few steps in front of Chen Guangze, clenched their right fists, and hit the left chest armor hard, making a clanging sound. The movements were standard and powerful.
"Su Wen!"
"Su Wu!"
"Greetings, General Chen!" They both said in unison, their voices loud and clear, with a barely perceptible tremor.
Chen Guangze was struck by lightning and staggered forward.
He stared at the two young faces in front of him. The outline of their eyebrows and eyes vaguely showed the shadow of his former best friend Su Ding!
They are just a little less rugged than their father was, and have more edges honed by suffering.
His lips trembled as he stretched out his rough big hand, as if he wanted to pat the boy's shoulder hard, just like he had treated their father back then.
But his hand was suspended in the air, looking at those two tender but weathered faces, and in the end he just dropped it lightly, then withdrew it dejectedly.
"Good! Good boy! Well done! You're brave and have guts! You're worthy of being Su Ding's offspring! This physique, this look...resemblance! Really just like your father back then!"