Chapter 550: The Mountains and Rivers Hear, Heaven and Earth Bear Witness

Zhenguan Year Five, November 18!

Chen Yan and Li Shimin have been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Because they received word that the Wujing Riders would return before noon today.

Thus, after the court session today, before Li Shimin left, he exchanged a glance with Chen Yan, saying everything without words.

Chen Yan did not return to the Ministry of Revenue, but slipped away toward Xuanwu Gate.

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun had once seen off the Wujing Riders; today they return with a grain variety deemed an auspicious omen, surely to welcome them together.

The Wujing Riders have always hidden in darkness; the people and civil‑military officials know nothing of them, so Li Shimin and Chen Yan, who are in the know, naturally cannot let the eight hundred soldiers lose heart.

Just upon reaching outside Xuanwu Gate, two carriages were already waiting.

The one in front is presumed to be Empress Changsun, and the one behind should be Li Chengqian.

Chen Yan stepped forward, knocked on the carriage curtain, and the curtain was pulled aside, revealing Empress Changsun's dignified and splendid face.

"Zi An, you're here? Come up quickly."

"Your Imperial Highness… this may not be appropriate; I'll find another carriage instead."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shimin's voice sounded from behind, "No problem, you're thick‑skinned; sitting is fine. Moreover, we're all family, no need to be so cautious in private."

Saying that, Li Shimin lifted his chin, indicating him to hurry.

Chen Yan scratched his head, hesitated for a moment, and finally got into the carriage.

Then Li Shimin entered, the couple sat together, while Chen Yan sat at the side, with Li Junxian driving the carriage.

"Two days ago, Zhi Jie already brought Chu Mo to propose to the Lu family?" Li Shimin recalled something and asked.

"Yes."

Bringing it up, Chen Yan was rather speechless, "I feel whether it's the noble families or Cheng Bo Bo, they're too hasty; the wedding is set before New's Day, and they've already started preparations as soon as the proposal returned."

"Before New's Day?" Empress Changsun exclaimed in surprise.

It is already November 18, just over ten days from New's Day, meaning even if delayed, there are only ten days to prepare.

That's too rushed.

"Heh…" Li Shimin sneered, "I reckon some of the noble families have figured out what's going on; otherwise they wouldn't be so eager."

"For them, the earlier the news is released now, the more advantageous the situation, especially before the Imperial Examination."

Chen Yan smiled, "No one is a fool, especially these lineages that have been passed down for millennia; everyone is playing their hand openly, it just comes down to who has the higher skill."

"Conspiracies and schemes can never surface and become great deeds."

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun heard this, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.

They only later grasped the reasoning, not expecting Chen Yan to understand at such an age.

But recalling Chen Yan's past strategies, they laughed again.

Indeed, Chen Yan seemed never to have employed any scheming, yet he was quite adept at leveraging momentum.

"By the way, Your Imperial Highness, has the Duke of Qi agreed to what you mentioned last time?"

Empress Changsun's expression softened at the words, "He has agreed. I think he has changed a lot compared to before, becoming more confident, bolder, and most importantly, his ambition has waned considerably."

"You must have told him something, right?"

Chen Yan waved his hands repeatedly, "It's not really that I said anything; just this year while strolling in Chang'an, I happened upon the Duke of Qi drinking tea and we chatted casually."

Regarding this explanation, Empress Changsun neither affirmed nor denied, and said nothing further.

Today, instead of discussing these matters, the most important thing is the Wujing Riders.

"Champa Rice… I've heard you mention it many times; today, I finally have the chance to see it with my own eyes."

"......"

At the third quarter of the Si hour, on the Wei He, a huge fleet drifted slowly forward, moving toward the place they had originally left.

On the deck of the lead ship at the front, Niu Jinda's face showed excitement, "Almost there, almost there, can you see? We're almost there!"

Li Chunfeng's usually composed expression could not remain calm now; his lips trembled slightly, "Brother Yuan, tell me, does this look like the moment we first brought back the Imperial Jade Seal?"

Yuan Tiangang, hands behind his back, fists clenched, said, "Different, different! That time it was just the three of us; now we have eight hundred soldiers and countless civilians' life‑saving grain… to put it bluntly, the feeling when we brought back the Imperial Jade Seal then cannot be compared to this moment!"

"Right, right, the two cannot be weighed together, cannot be compared..."

Li Chunfeng muttered, his gaze toward the distance suddenly focusing.

Because he saw several vague figures standing over there, looking toward them.

"His Majesty! Your Imperial Highness the Empress, and… and Mr. Chen!"

Li Chunfeng involuntarily shouted, his voice not loud yet booming like thunder across the fleet.

In an instant, all the figures on the ships stirred.

People surged to the railings, tiptoeing to look; some rubbed their eyes, some held their breath, and many simply stared fixedly at the increasingly clear silhouettes.

Everyone was thrilled at that moment, as if they could howl to the heavens.

All the hardships, wars, and homesickness endured along the way, the emotions piled up in their hearts, vanished like an illusion the moment they saw those few outlines.

So someone remembered.

So someone was waiting.

They have arrived!

They have come to fulfill the original promise!!!

No one shouted, no one yelled.

Yet that silent surge was louder than any roar!

The ship still moves forward.

The shore draws nearer.

Now they see clearly that not only Li Shimin and his wife, but also Chen Yan have arrived.

Also Cheng Chu Mo, Yu Chi Bao Lin, Qin Huai Dao, Qin Qiong, Wei King Li Tai, Crown Prince Li Chengqian.....

So many people, really so many!

On the ship, everyone's bodies were trembling, and the eyes that had been exhausted were now brighter than any star.

Li Shimin stood at the front, his gaze slowly sweeping over the soldiers on the ship, each black, gaunt, cracked face. Their clothes were tattered, and many bore scars.

After a moment of silence, he spread his arms and loudly said: "Gentlemen, look behind— the east is already white!"

"Now!"

"The wind has ceased, the sword can be hidden!"

"Gentlemen—"

"Welcome home!"

When he finished speaking, the river surface fell silent for a moment.

"Wind!"

"Great wind!!!"

More than eight hundred roars converged in an instant, exploding across the heavens, dispersing the last wisp of morning haze... and also dispersing the final trace of fatigue.

Mountains and rivers hear, heaven and earth bear witness.

"......"