Chapter 395: Returning to the Capital

On the day of departure, the sky was still dark.

The city gates of Samarkand were flung open, and Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng escorted the Longxiang Army generals at the gate.

Zhu Yong rode his horse at the front, Guanyin Nu sat in the carriage, and several large wagons followed, loaded with luggage and local produce.

Dozens of Longxiang Army cavalry guarded the party; at the head was a young commander, surname Zhao, son of Zhao Hu, named Zhao Bao, in his early twenties, who had fought alongside Zhu Yong in a few battles and was a reliable youngster.

"Prince, take care on the road," Zhang Wuhe said, clasping his fists.

Zhu Yong nodded, turned his horse, and with a sweeping gesture said, "Depart."

The convoy left the city gates and marched east along the official road.

Morning mist had not yet cleared, and the distant fields were faintly visible within it.

The wheat in the fields had already been harvested, leaving bare stubble.

Occasionally, a few poplar trees lined the road, their leaves all gone, their naked trunks reaching toward the sky.

After walking for about an hour, the mist lifted.

The sun rose from the east, dyeing the whole plain a golden hue.

A few yellow sheep grazed in the distance, lifted their heads to glance this way, then lowered them to continue feeding.

Guanyin Nu lifted the carriage curtain, looked outside, and said, "Prince, it's cold out there, come inside and sit."

Zhu Yong shook his head, "It's not cold, you rest."

Guanyin Nu said nothing more and lowered the curtain.

Zhu Yong rode ahead, his mind occupied with thoughts of returning.

Over at Yingtian Prefecture, his parents probably still didn't know they were returning.

Zhu Huanhuan and Zhu Qiong Jiong also didn't know.

When we arrive, it'll be a surprise for them.

Thinking of that kid Zhu Qiong Jiong, a faint smile tugged at his mouth.

He's twelve, studying at Dabentang.

In his last letter he said his handwriting was still crooked, but better than when he was in Samarkand.

His father's writing wasn't pretty either, just the same.

Zhu Huanhuan, however, writes beautifully, like her mother.

After three days' travel, they reached a small town three hundred li east of Samarkand.

The town wasn't large, but bustling, with people coming and going on the Street.

Zhu Yong spent a night in the town, changed horses and supplies, and set off again the next day.

After a few more days, they arrived at a vast Grassland a thousand li east of Samarkand.

The grass had turned yellow, and when the wind blew, it rolled like golden waves.

In the distance, a few yellow sheep grazed, occasionally lifting their heads to glance this way, then lowering them to continue feeding.

Guanyin Nu, having sat in the carriage for a long time, got down to stretch.

Zhu Yong supported her as they walked slowly across the grass.

"Prince, how is Qiong Jiong doing at Dabentang?" Guanyin Nu asked.

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "He should be fine; Xiong Ying is with him, so nothing serious can happen."

"That child can't sit still," Guanyin Nu laughed.

Zhu Yong also laughed, "Come with me."

Guanyin Nu gave him a glance and said, "So you finally admit it."

"It was always..."

The two walked side by side on the grass, the sunshine warm on their backs.

In the distance, Zhao Bao led a few cavalry on guard duty while others were cooking over a fire.

After about half a month, they reached a Gobi a two thousand li stretch east of Samarkand.

The ground was all gravel and sand, endless as far as the eye could see.

The wind was fierce, making it impossible to keep one's eyes open.

Zhu Yong wrapped a cloth over his mouth and nose, riding at the front.

Guanyin Nu stayed in the carriage, the doors and windows sealed tightly.

After two days, they left the Gobi and arrived at a small town.

The town was small, with about a hundred households, its houses built of yellow earth, yet the streets were very clean.

At the town's entrance stood a stone tablet engraved with the characters "Dunhuang".

Zhu Yong halted his horse, stared at the tablet, and fell silent for a moment.

Dunhuang—arrived.

The last time he came was when he escorted his older brother back; several months had passed in the blink of an eye.

He rested a night in Dunhuang, and set off again the next day.

After a few more days, they reached Jiayuguan.

The veteran commander at the pass, surnamed Wu, saw Zhu Yong and hurriedly knelt, saying, "I present myself to Prince Wu!"

Zhu Yong helped him to his feet and said, "General Wu, you have worked hard."

The old general lifted his head, his eyes reddened, and asked, "Prince, are you heading back to the capital?"

"Yes, going back to take a look."

The old general promptly arranged food and lodging.

They rested a night at Jiayuguan, and set off again the next day.

After passing Jiayuguan, the road became easy to travel.

The cement highway ran straight east, two zhang wide, as flat as a mirror.

Zhu Yong spurred his horse and rode a stretch, feeling reflective.

This road was overseen by his elder brother, extending from Yingtian to Lanzhou, over three thousand li.

With this road, traveling from the Western Regions to Zhongyuan became more than twice as fast.

After traveling for several days, they reached Lanzhou.

In the distance they saw the city, its walls towering, its towers soaring.

At the city gate people came and went: merchants hurrying with horse‑drawn carts, travelers leading camels.

Zhu Yong halted his horse, gazed at the city, and suddenly felt a wave of emotion.

The last time he came was in the sixteenth year of Hongwu; then he led a great army westward, passed through Lanzhou, rested a night in haste, and left.

This time returning, things were different.

The war was over, and the world was at peace.

After a night's rest in Lanzhou, the next day they transferred to a train.

The locomotive was steam‑powered, the carriage wooden, iron wheels on rails clank clank.

Zhu Yong rode a train for the first time; the carriage was larger than imagined, rows of seats neatly aligned.

Guanyin Nu sat by the window, watching the scenery outside. It was also her first train ride, and it felt very fresh.

"Prince, this thing moves so fast," she said, watching the fields racing backward outside the window.

Zhu Yong nodded, "Fast—much faster than riding a horse."

The train headed eastward all the way.

Outside the window, the scenery shifted from Gobi to Grassland, from Grassland to farmland, from farmland to towns.

After several days, they arrived at Xi'an.

Zhu Yong disembarked and walked on the platform.

On the platform people came and went: vendors carrying luggage, women leading children.

He stood there for a while, then boarded again.

The train continued east.

After a few more days, they reached Luoyang.

Zhu Yong got off, bought several local peaches on the platform, and shared them with Guanyin Nu and the accompanying guards.

The peaches were very sweet, juice streaming down his fingers.

He stood on the platform, looking at the western sky.

That direction was toward Samarchan, the place where he had stayed for over three years.

He didn't know when he could return.

"Prince, it's time to board," Guanyin Nu called from inside the carriage.

Zhu Yong replied and boarded.

The train kept heading east.

After a few more days, they finally arrived at Yingtian Prefecture.

In the distance they saw the city, its walls towering, its towers soaring.

The platform was packed with people, some seeing off, some greeting, all noisy.

Zhu Yong looked out through the carriage window, and an indescribable feeling suddenly welled up inside him.

He's back.

After being away for over two years, he finally returned.

The train slowly entered the station.

On the platform stood two people.

One was Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in dark red formal attire, standing with his hands behind him.

The other was Empress Ma, wearing a plain palace robe, her eye sockets reddened.

Zhu Yong got off the train and strode over.

"Father, Mother."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, nodded, and said nothing.

Empress Ma took his hand, examined him up and down, then cried and laughed, "You've become thin, your skin darker."

Zhu Yong smiled, "Mother, I'm fine."

Guanyin Nu stepped down from the carriage, approached Empress Ma, and performed a proper bow, saying, "Imperial Mother..."

Empress Ma hurriedly helped her up, saw her belly, froze for a moment, then tears welled up again, "Good, good, it's fine that you're back."

Zhu Biao came up from behind, looked at Zhu Yong, and laughed, "Second brother, you're back."

Zhu Yong looked at his elder brother and smiled, "Elder brother, you're back."

The two brothers embraced.

Zhu Biao pounded his brother's back hard, his throat feeling as if something were stuck, and he could not speak.

Zhu Yong released him, looked him over up and down, his eyes also a bit reddened.

"Elder brother, you've become thin."

Zhu Biao smiled, "You are too..."

A few children ran up from behind.

Zhu Xiongying ran ahead, a fifteen‑year‑old boy whose height was nearly that of his father.

Zhu Qiongjiong followed behind, twelve years old, skinny and dark, shouldering the Wolf Fang Club, walking as if with the wind.

Zhu Huanhuan walked at the very back, dressed in a light‑blue jacket and skirt, moving silently.

"Dad!" Zhu Qiongjiong ran over and clutched Zhu Yong's waist.

Zhu Yong lowered his head, looked at his son, reached out to pat his head and said, "You've grown taller."

Zhu Qiongjiong grinned, his mouth missing a front tooth.

Zhu Huanhuan walked over and whispered, "Dad."

Zhu Yong looked at his daughter, a seventeen‑year‑old maiden, standing graceful and delicate, her brows and eyes like Guanyin Nu, her temperament likewise—quiet and restrained.

"Huanhuan, your mother is pregnant; go back and spend more time with her."

Zhu Huanhuan's eyes lit up, she went to her mother's side and helped her.

Zhu Xiongying walked over, standing properly and saluting, "Second Uncle."

Zhu Yong looked at his nephew, patted his shoulder and said, "Xiong Ying, you've grown taller again."

Zhu Xiongying grinned, his smile identical to Zhu Qiongjiong's.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood nearby, watching the scene, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He turned and strode briskly toward the platform exit.

"Let's go home..."

Empress Ma held the hands of Zhu Huanhuan and Zhu Qiongjiong, walking behind.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong walked side by side at the rear, while Zhu Xiongying and Guanyin Nu walked in the middle.

On the platform, people came and went.

The train still billowed smoke, the whistle sounded, and another train pulled into the station.

Winter in Yingtian Prefecture was drawing to a close.