Chapter 730: Sandstorm Unveils Breathtaking Splendor

Chen Yan tightened the knuckles of his brush, the vermilion‑soaked tip hovering in mid‑air; a dazzling drop of bright red grew larger and larger, finally collapsing under its weight onto the Sheepskin Map, smearing a blood‑red stain.

He casually tossed the precious lake brush onto the desk, his large hand with defined knuckles braced the table, his upright frame leveraged to stand, not even glancing at the cloak draped over the screen.

Zhang Wenqian saw a barely concealed urgency flash across his lord's usually cold‑as‑a‑abyss face, and hurriedly stepped aside to make a wide passage.

Chen Yan strode out of the study's high threshold, his leather boots striking the blue‑brick floor, producing a heavy, rhythmic, oppressive tread.

"You just said—who arrived?"

Chen Yan asked without turning his head, his steps quickening, raising a gust that lifted the hem of his wide Purple Robe high into the air.

Zhang Wenqian jogged along, barely keeping pace with those long, powerful legs, his breath suppressed, his tone tinged with genuine delight.

"Returning, my lord, it is several of your side consorts; the Grand Preceptor specially dispatched a hundred elite Embroidered Envoys from Chang'an, who escorted them day and night to the Xiazhou border, and the carriage now stands outside the gate."

Chen Yan quickened his pace another three strides, until the vermilion‑riveted gate, symbol of the Northern Border's supreme authority, appeared in his view.

Outside the Zongguan Fu, the scorching summer wind carried a dry, sand‑laden heat wave; a hundred Embroidered Envoys, cloaked in Xuanse Jinshen capes and bearing embroidered spring swords at their waists, dismounted in unison, like black iron nails driven into the Huangtu, guarding three spacious, comfortable Purple‑capped carriages in the innermost safe zone.

The leading Commander, seeing the flash of the dazzling Purple Robe stride out of the mansion, immediately took three steps forward, slammed his knee onto the scorching stone slab, and his sword clanged crisply against his armor.

"Shuyi, reporting to the Pillar of the State!"

A hundred Embroidered Envoys simultaneously dropped to one knee, their voices booming like rolling thunder across the open street, shaking several distant Lao Huai Shu trees, shedding a few withered yellow leaves.

The passing patrol soldiers and merchants all halted in shock, bowing their heads, their reverent glances measuring this Living King of Hell who dominates the Northern Border.

Chen Yan raised his hand, signaling everyone to forgo formalities; his gaze passed straight over the stern guards, fixing on the heavy silk curtain of the first carriage.

A slender, fair hand, a sheepskin jade bracelet on its wrist, slipped out from inside, hastily tugging the curtain aside.

A petite, exquisite figure with astonishingly full curves ignored the horse stool entirely, leaping straight down from the half‑person‑high carriage pole.

Qingyu reddened her eye sockets, like a lost homing bird, carelessly plunging into Chen Yan's broad, solid chest.

Chen Yan spread his arms, steadily catching the trembling delicate body, his rough large hand covering her fragile spine, enveloping her fully beneath his wings.

Qingyu clutched the fabric of Chen Yan's Purple Robe, burying her cheek deep into his collar scented with gunpowder and dragon‑scented incense, her throat emitting intermittent sobs.

"Husband, I have been anxious day and night in Chang'an, fearing the unseen blades of the northern lands might wound you even a fraction."

Chen Yan lowered his head, his warm breath sprinkling onto Qingyu's smooth forehead, his fingertip gently stroking the soft hair at the back of her head.

"Why are you crying? I'm standing here before you, hair and all, not a single strand missing..."

As the two embraced, a head with twin braids, looking mischievously spritely, poked out from the window of the first carriage.

Wei Yingxue clutched the carved wooden window frame with both hands, blinking her watery large eyes, her gaze wandering between Chen Yan and Qingyu, then coquettishly wrinkling her delicate nose.

"Husband, you're so biased, only hugging Qingyu Jiejie, not even glancing at Xue'er..."

Chen Yan patted Qingyu's shoulder, signaling her to stand, then stepped to the window and flicked Wei Yingxue's upturned nose with his forefinger.

"Why did you also run to this Xiazhou, to eat sand?"

Wei Yingxue seized Chen Yan's finger, rubbing her cheek against the broad back of his hand, smiling to reveal two sharp fangs.

"Xue'er belongs to my husband; wherever my husband is, Xue'er must be there. No matter how beautiful the lanterns in Chang'an, none compare to the majesty of my husband's victorious triumphs."

Just as this harmonious atmosphere spread, a sharp metallic scraping sound rang from the carriage at the rear.

A three‑foot long sword, still sheathed, protruded from a gap, lifting the heavy curtain toward the carriage roof.

A figure clad in a form‑fitting Xuanse Jinshen appeared in everyone's sight, the sleek cut of her attire accentuating her explosively long legs and wildly beautiful silhouette.

Ye Zhuxi pressed her left hand against the sword guard, used her right leg to push off a point on the carriage pole, and leapt from the carriage like a lithe she‑cat, her horse boots landing firmly on the blue stone slab, kicking up a small puff of dust.

Her healthy wheat‑colored skin bore traces of travel dust, yet could not hide the dashing vigor emanating from her bones.

Ye Zhuxi did not display Qingyu's timidity nor Wei Yingxue's coquettishness; instead she lifted her chin slightly, fixing an aggressively proud gaze directly onto Chen Yan's face.

Chen Yan withdrew his hand that had teased Wei Yingxue, turned to face the former commander of Yinzhou troops, his dark pupils reflecting her rebellious outline.

"This whole escort of the two sisters has been hard on you, Ye Dudu."

Ye Zhuxi's mouth curved with a wild arc, her wrist twirling the sword sheath into a graceful flourish, slinging the long sword across her back.

"Escorting family members is no hardship; compared to Chen Zongguan's heroic display of beheading forty thousand outside Gancao City, my little trek is merely a stretch of the limbs!"

Chen Yan burst into hearty laughter, his chest reverberating boldly across the quiet Changjie, and he extended his right hand toward Ye Zhuxi.

"Since you're here, don't just stand outside in the wind; come into the mansion and have a bowl of fresh, dust‑clearing strong wine."

Ye Zhuxi showed no hesitation, confidently stepping forward, clasping her thin‑shelled palm with Chen Yan's in a handshake, their forces briefly testing each other before releasing simultaneously.

Chen Yan turned to look at the Embroidered Envoy commander who had remained on one knee.

"Brothers, we've endured wind‑borne meals and night‑time exposure, the task was done splendidly; go see Zhangshi Zhang Wenqian for your reward—each gets fifty taels of silver, fine wine and meat will be freely available."

The commander blushed with excitement, his forehead pounding heavily onto the ground.

"Shuyi, thank you for the Pillar of the State's great kindness."

Chen Yan ignored them, his left hand cradling Qingyu's slender waist that could not fill a hand, his right hand pulling up Wei Yingxue who had just leapt from the carriage, and he gave Ye Zhuxi a signaling glance.

The four, side by side, stepped over the towering threshold, the heavy vermilion gate slowly closing behind them, sealing out all prying eyes and sand.