Chapter 446: Wind! Great Wind!

Leaving the Eastern Palace, Chen Yan turned his head and glanced back, silently marveling that those people were truly mad, daring to poison Li Chengqian.

At the same time, he remained wary of Li Shimin's final admonition.

Chen Yan knew well that, as the chief strategist dealing with the aristocratic families, he was already tightly bound to Li Shimin's side; setting aside their father‑in‑law relationship, their interests were almost inseparable.

The aristocrats might indeed strike at him; after all, even Li Chengqian fell victim to poison—what is he to them?

After pondering for a moment, Chen Yan, as if nothing had happened, returned to Weinan County.

"Husband, you're back?" Li Lizhi saw him, felt delighted, hurried forward, her eyes sparkling: "Have you eaten? I asked Qing'er to set aside a meal for you; if you haven't, I'll have Qing'er heat it up."

Chen Yan was rather surprised, extended a finger and gently pinched the lady's cheek, saying, "Eavesdropping was wrong, but at least it made you a bit bolder."

Depriving her of a reply, Chen Yan continued, "Anyway, skip the meal. Where is the Wei King? Isn't he at home?"

Li Lizhi was a little speechless, "Where is the Wei King? Don't you know?"

"I don't know what you told him, but lately he's practically run the Research Institute; since you left this morning he hasn't returned."

"At noon, the Empress's sister‑in‑law went to call him for a meal, shouted several times but couldn't get a response."

"Tsk!" Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, "Send Qing'er to fetch him, tell him there's an important matter to discuss."

Li Lizhi gave him two looks, nodded lightly, "Qing'er probably can't summon him; I'll go. You wait in the main hall for a while."

"Much obliged." Chen Yan said no more and stepped into the main hall.

Li Lizhi paused, gazing at his departing back.

She always felt Chen Yan had something on his mind......

The next day, Chen Yan dressed up deliberately, looking like an official.

He boarded a carriage with the equally formally dressed Wei King Li Tai, heading to the shipyard downstream on the Wei He.

There, the Wujing Cavalry also set out.

Inside Zhe Chong Mansion, before dawn today, eight hundred soldiers had already disguised themselves and dispersed toward that spot.

When Chen Yan and Wei King Li Tai arrived, the place was already heavily encircled by the mansion's troops, and the eight hundred soldiers had boarded the ships in squads.

Only Niu Jinda and his companions remained below.

Facing nine large ships, Chen Yan turned his head toward Yuan Tiangang beside him, "National Teacher, how do you feel right now?"

"Hard to say." Yuan Tiangang, still in his blue robe, hands clasped behind him, gazed at the ships from afar: "I never imagined I'd have a day to lead troops into battle, let alone with such a special army; I feel a faint anticipation, and I sense the rest of my life might turn out quite spectacular."

"This is a path I never envisioned."

Li Chunfeng's face bore a faint smile, his eyes bright, "I differ from Brother Yuan; at this moment I feel my past life was lived in vain. For the first time I realize that my abilities are not only to aid people in seeking fortune and avoiding disaster, but also to find specks of starlight for the common folk of the world."

"I feel it; I am walking the right path, right now, right beneath my feet."

"It is my brand‑new beginning, and also the dawn of this land's prosperity!"

With those words finished, Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang exchanged glances, and before the crowd, they bowed deeply to Chen Yan, "Mr. Chen, we are off!"

Having said that, the two swept their sleeves, boarded the ship, feeling no lingering, only anticipation.

"Uncle Niu, what about you?" Chen Yan asked again.

Niu Jinda gripped the hilt of his waist‑sheathed sword tightly, his voice a bit hoarse, "It's strange; I was born in chaotic times, learned martial arts from childhood, grew up joining the army, and, like your father, earned my current rank through battlefield merit."

"I have led troops into battle countless times, yet never have I felt my blood boil like at this moment. Chen Xiaozi, I must thank you; you gave me this chance."

"Uncle Niu, when you return, I won't charge you for any amount of wine you wish to drink." Chen Yan said with a smile.

"And me!" Li Tai also pledged.

"Hahaha!" Niu Jinda laughed aloud to the heavens, "If so, I'll be even more eager to return quickly."

"Soldiers, hear that: when we return, that young Duke who roams all of Chang'an, and the Wei King himself, will pour wine for us personally, and we'll drink heartily!"

With those words, not only Chen Yan laughed, but the soldiers standing on the ship also laughed.

Fang Bu Yu, who had met Chen Yan once before, shouted, "May I ask, Sir Duke, did Commander Niu speak the truth?"

"Of course!" Chen Yan's body stood as straight as a pine, he stood before the dock, gazing at the multitude of soldiers, his tone resonant and forceful, "When you all return, I will present the biggest bowl, fill it with the strongest wine, and drink heartily with you!"

"We will not disappoint you, sir!"

The response to Chen Yan came from those eight hundred warriors about to set out; their united voices echoed across heaven and earth, lingering long.

"Kid, I'm off." Niu Jinda patted Chen Yan's shoulder, then glanced at the three silent youths behind him.

"Qin Xiaozi, I'm afraid I won't be able to attend your grand wedding in person, but I have prepared a gift for you; remember to receive it."

Qin Huai Dao grinned, "Then I'll have to take a good look; if I'm not satisfied, I'll take your son to visit a brothel."

"To hell with you, how old is my son? Don't be so unreasonable!" Niu Jinda snapped.

"Get lost, get lost, get lost."

He waved his hand with a disdainful expression, and boarded the ship together with Su Dingfang and Xue Li.

Chen Yan said to Xue Li, who turned his head back, "Cherish this opportunity, not for anyone else, but for yourself."

"Thank you, sir!" Xue Li replied solemnly, following Niu Jinda.

At this moment, as the time for the Wujing Cavalry's departure approached, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun arrived almost exactly on schedule, in full regalia, with palace maids and eunuchs marching in two rows behind them.

Li Shimin walked to Chen Yan's side, his gaze sweeping over the fleet ready to set sail, and proclaimed loudly, "Everyone, today the Emperor and Empress see you off; in the future, the Emperor and Empress will welcome you back."

"When that time comes, I myself will greet you and cleanse the dust of your journey!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" someone on the ship shouted excitedly, "Your Majesty and Her Imperial Highness the Empress have come personally to see us off."

"Attention!"

Yuan Tiangang gave the order.

The soldiers reflexively straightened their backs, standing in uniform order.

"Draw your swords!"

"Clang—"

Eight hundred specially crafted long swords were drawn from their scabbards; these weapons, specially made and bearing no Tang Dynasty style characteristics, gleamed with an icy cold light in the morning sun.

Yuan Tiangang roared, "Report to Your Majesty, we will surely not disgrace our mission!"

"We will surely not disgrace our mission!"

The tremendous roar shook heaven and earth; even the sound of the Wei He's waves was drowned out.

Li Shimin watched this shocking scene, his heart surging with emotion.

He likewise shouted with all his strength: "Wind! Great wind!"

"Wind! Great wind!"

The eight hundred soldiers let out a battle cry, stronger than any before, shaking people's hearts.

"......"