Chapter 980

While waiting for General Ningde to return to the capital, Xin'an Prefecture repeatedly sent good news.

Under the joint efforts of the Imperial Physician and the circuit inspector officials, after nearly two months, the plague finally ceased and stopped spreading.

Jin Chen was delighted and granted a three‑year tax and labor exemption to all plague‑stricken areas, rewarding the circuit inspector officials.

During the plague relief, although Jin Xiaomo never participated, having received the imperial order he had to stay in Xin'an Prefecture, and Jin Chen specially arranged for him to also fall ill.

Stripped of his protagonist status and losing his aura, Jin Xiaomo fell seriously ill and, "accidentally," contracted the plague.

At this time, Jin Chen deliberately had the officials already turned by Jin Xiaomo tell him that the private troops and assassins kept in the capital had all been dealt with.

This served as an admonition, and more as a warning to Jin Xiaomo for his attempt to rebel against the imperial authority and assassinate the emperor.

Jin Xiaomo suffered a rush of qi to his heart, and the plague clung to him, nearly costing him half his life; even after the Imperial Physician saved him, he remained continually weak, relying on medicine to sustain life, lacking even the strength to draw a sword, let alone contemplate usurping the throne.

Half a month later, General Ningde returned to the capital.

Today was a rare sunny day in deep autumn; the Emperor and Empress, accompanied by Jin Yufeng who had just been fetched from the Crown Prince's Academy, led the officials in greeting outside the city gate, the honor guard having waited long, displaying a grand presence.

Jin Yufeng held Wen Zhiheng's hand, looked up and asked, "Little Father, who is coming today?"

He had never seen such a spectacle before; even his uncle personally went out to the city gate to welcome.

"It is your little father's elder brother."

Wen Zhiheng rubbed the little crown prince's head; perhaps because he was in a good mood, his phoenix eyes shone in the sunlight, "Little Feng should call him…uncle."

He had originally wanted to say "uncle," but that would clash with the form of address for Jin Chen, which was not good.

"Oh~ No wonder!"

The honor guard on both sides of the city gate first saw the approaching carriage and horse troop.

From the simple and plain front to the luxurious rear of the carriage train, this time not only did General Ningde return to the capital, but also the Western Regions envoy, specially dispatched by the Western Regions royal family under the pretext of escorting the general, came to apologize to the Emperor of Jin State.

Anyone could see that, although nominally an escort, it was actually meant to display the Western Regions royal family's extreme extravagance, the tribute gifts to the emperor exceeding even those of General Ningde's carriage and horse troop.

This was telling Jin Chen that even if we detain your Jin State's general, we still send you each year so much tribute—silks, silver, gold—and even considering that, you cannot say anything to us.

But now Jin Chen is not the former emperor; he pays no heed at all to the Western Regions royal family's conduct.

Thus, as the carriage and horse troops entered the city gate, whenever General Ningde's carriage and horse troop passed, the honor guard's performance was most vigorous; but when the first carriage of the Western Regions envoy entered, the music stopped abruptly.

In a silence, the Western Regions envoy all entered the capital.

Wen Zhinning sat high on his horse, already much thinner; everyone thought he would never return from being observed by the Western Regions royal family, and he himself felt the same.

But Wen Zhinning never expected to actually receive the emperor's vast grace and a battle challenge that intimidated the Western Regions king, the challenge stating that if the Jin State general were not returned, they would simply annex this Saiwai minor state.

Every word and sentence was imperial grace; Wen Zhinning still remembers the complexity of that time to this day.

Wen Zhinning dismounted, hurried to Jin Chen's presence, and knelt to give thanks.

"Your subject Wen Zhinning pays respects to Your Majesty."

Jin Chen hurried to have him helped up, thinking, "Great uncle‑in‑law, you're being too polite," and said, "No need for ceremony."

Wen Zhinning, being helped up, grew even more fearful; in an instant he met Wen Zhiheng's gaze, the two brothers exchanged smiles, Wen Zhinning stepped back half a pace and performed the salute, saying, "Your subject has seen the Empress."

Wen Zhiheng, knowing propriety must not be abandoned, quickly supported his hand; seeing his emaciated appearance, his eyes filled with hot tears, "Elder brother…you have suffered."

Wen Zhinning smiled and shook his head; his face resembled Wen Zhiheng's to some degree, and even though thin he remained handsome and suave; he then looked toward his father standing behind, whose eyes also brimmed with hot tears.

The father and son now could not speak conveniently, only exchanging glances and nods.

Jin Chen raised his hand to signal; Yan Fu'an immediately took the imperial edict from his sleeve and shouted, "General Ningde, receive the edict!"

Everyone knelt down; Wen Zhinning lowered one knee and clasped his fists.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: General Wen Zhinning, for his achievements in pacifying Saiwai, his loyalty to the nation, his integrity preserving himself, is the light aiding the state; therefore, according to merit evaluation, I appoint him Senior Second Rank Assistant State Grand General, in accordance with my will. So ordered."

The sudden appointment even surprised Wen Zhiheng; he looked at Jin Chen in astonishment, then was pulled over by the arm and they clasped hands.

Wen Zhinning kowtowed to receive the edict, "Your subject receives the edict."

After rising, he promised Jin Chen, "Your subject will surely fulfill his duties, defend Jin State, and labor for Your Majesty to share your burdens."

The Western Regions envoy's party waiting behind had spent half a day, yet saw no imperial decree from the Jin State Emperor; the Second Prince Ashina who had come on this Western Regions mission, face full of indignation, quickly strode over.

Ashina led the Western Regions envoys in performing a deep bow before Jin Chen, who merely glanced at him lightly and gave a soft cough.

The Minister immediately stepped out from behind and began talking with them; his words were flawless, yet he gave Ashina no intention of drawing close.

Ashina's face turned black, but being on foreign soil he could not well give vent to his anger.

Jin Chen still paid no mind, thinking, "Let him die of anger."

At this point, coming to Jin State's territory with so many people, why not openly declare to the world that they intend to assassinate me!

Let the Crown Prince's Tutor take Jin Yufeng back to the academy to continue his studies, while I myself, still holding Wen Zhiheng's hand as we catch up, returned to the Palace of Quiet Heart.

The elder brother's return made Wen Zhiheng feel as if a stone had lifted from his heart, making him happier than usual,

After dismissing the palace maids and eunuchs, he was pulled by the seated Jin Chen's hand and naturally sat in his embrace, still pondering the Western Regions envoy's affair: "Tomorrow we will hold a banquet; Ashina will surely know that the sent Cat Demon Shaochun has died."

"Will they give up this operation?"

Jin Chen: "No, there are many mysterious matters in the Western Regions; a mere cat demon can't stir up any trouble."

He, dissatisfied, kissed Wen Zhiheng's cheek, saying, "Don't worry about them; at worst, the soldiers will just block the way—there are only so many of them; could they even kill me?"

Wen Zhiheng hurriedly covered his mouth, his phoenix eyes widening slightly, "What are you saying?"

"I have already ordered the Silver Moon Guard to watch over Ashina, to prevent him from suddenly causing trouble."

Jin Chen smiled, pulled down his hand, placed it to his lips for a light kiss, his voice laced with amusement, "Then my safety shall be entirely entrusted to my Empress."

After not hearing it for a while, Wen Zhiheng was not quite used to this form of address; he gave him an annoyed glance, but in the end said nothing more, effectively agreeing.

Even without that joke, he would not let the Western Region envoy harm Jin Chen.

"Now that your elder brother has also returned, as long as we settle the Western Region envoy and then wait for the master to come to the palace and kill him, this year's turmoil can be considered over."

Jin Chen held him and swayed his body, calculating the days in his mind, "The winter solstice is your birthday; shall we go to the Lingnan secondary palace to celebrate then?"

Wen Zhiheng naturally agreed, reckoning the time—it had been nearly two years since he had left the capital.