In just a moment, a tall, burly, and imposing guard leader strode out from inside. His footsteps were heavy, and each step seemed to carry the weight of a thousand catties. The man first suspiciously examined Wang Chong, and then he quickly said, "His Highness is not present.
"His Highness is not present. King of Foreign Lands, please return!"
The guard captain's voice was crisp and efficient, and he immediately gestured for Wang Chong to be escorted out.
"Not present? Where did he go? "
Wang Chong asked.
The King of Song never left the capital, and the capital was only so big. He couldn't have gone far.
"I don't know. In short, His Highness is not present. Please return!"
The guard captain had an indifferent expression.
"Since that's the case, let me see the old butler!"
Wang Chong said.
"Please go back!"
The guard captain said, his tone much more forceful this time.
But Wang Chong did not argue. Instead, he strode toward The King of Song's residence.
"Stop!"
Everyone's expression changed when they saw this scene. Two guards raised their spears and aimed them at Wang Chong. The guard captain's expression chilled as he blocked Wang Chong's path. But when they saw the object in Wang Chong's hand, they all paled.
"The King of Song's token!"
One of the guards couldn't help but say.
Wang Chong had taken out nothing but the token that The King of Song had given to Wang Chong during the war of the southwest.
"All of you, withdraw."
At this moment, an elderly voice resounded in everyone's ears.
"Lord Butler."
Upon hearing this voice, everyone immediately began to withdraw. At the same time, Wang Chong looked up and saw a familiar figure standing in front of the main gate of The King of Song's mansion, clad in a black robe.
It had been more than half a year since they last met. The old butler was as healthy as ever, but there was a hint of vicissitudes between his brows. The old butler stood above and finally spoke slowly.
"Wang Chong, come in."
This time, no one stopped Wang Chong. Even the other guards who sensed the commotion at the gate retreated. Wang Chong walked through the entire mansion and walked up the tall stairs, finally stopping in front of the old butler.
"Old butler, long time no see!"
Wang Chong bowed respectfully, just like the first time he met the old butler.
"You really haven't changed at all."
A smile finally appeared on the old butler's troubled face. The current Wang Chong had far surpassed him in terms of martial arts, strength, and status. But he was still as humble and courteous as before. This was also what the old butler felt gratified about.
"I heard that you had returned to the capital. I expected that you would come. Follow me!"
The old butler glanced at Wang Chong, then quickly turned around and walked into the main hall. Wang Chong followed closely behind him.
The main hall was quiet, as if they had entered another world.
The old butler sat down in the hall, picked up an exquisite teapot on the table, and poured a cup for Wang Chong and himself. Wang Chong glanced at it. The tea in the cup was still hot and steaming. Clearly, he had expected this.
Wang Chong was silent for a moment, then sat down beside the old butler.
"Wang Chong, I know that you must have many doubts, but the guards at the door did not lie to you. The King of Song is indeed not here."
The old butler placed the teapot back on the table and spoke slowly.
Hearing this, Wang Chong did not say anything, but his brows twitched slightly. He looked into the old butler's eyes. The old butler's expression was the same as when Wang Chong had first met him. In that instant, Wang Chong immediately knew that the old butler was not lying.
"Where did the King of Song go?"
It seemed like only a moment, but also like countless long centuries. Wang Chong took a sip of the fragrant tea in his cup and suddenly spoke.
"I can't answer you, but His Highness does indeed have something he needs to do."
The old butler said softly.
"That matter … His Highness is actually more confused than you are, and he is even more unwilling to allow such a resolution to be passed. His Highness has always been in the pro-war faction in the court. Be it you, Duke Jiu, or your father, everyone understands this.
"But why is it that I have sent so many letters to the King of Song, but he has never replied to me. Tell me, what on earth is going on? If the King of Song has his own difficulties, then tell me, what is it that he is afraid of? "
Wang Chong said in a low voice.
This time, the old butler did not speak. He only picked up the teapot on the table and slowly poured himself a cup. The tea in the teapot clinked against the porcelain cup. Amidst the silence, the old butler finally spoke again.
"Wang Chong, His Highness also has his difficulties. I can only tell you that in a few days, His Highness will definitely give you an answer. But before that, His Highness still needs to understand one thing! Only then … will he be able to answer all your questions! "
With that last sentence, the old butler looked at Wang Chong with an incomparably deep gaze.
Wang Chong looked at the old butler and fell into a long silence. He seemed to have understood something.
"I understand!"
Putting down the teacup in his hand, Wang Chong flicked his sleeves and finally stood up. He then quickly walked out.
"Wang Chong, aren't you going to ask about what happened that day?"
This time, it was the old butler's turn to be surprised.
"There's no need!"
Wang Chong's voice echoed in the main hall. Before his voice faded away, he had already walked out of the main hall.
Outside the main hall, the sun shone brightly and the spring wind blew on his face, reflecting the chaos in Wang Chong's eyes. In the end, Wang Chong still did not manage to meet the King of Song, nor did he get the answer he wanted. But no matter what, the King of Song had sent the old butler to tell him that he would get an answer in a few days. At least he had an explanation.
Roll, roll, roll!
Outside the main street, the crowd was surging. Wang Chong thought for a moment and was walking in the direction of his home when he suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice.
"Sir, do you need a carriage?"
"There's no need."
Wang Chong didn't even think about it as he continued forward, but he quickly heard a voice at his ear.
"But didn't Milord already promise my master that when dragons and tigers meet, you should drink a cup?"
"Buzz!"
Wang Chong's face flickered as he turned his head. At first glance, Wang Chong saw the Coachman in the carriage. He was wearing a green hat, the brim of which was pulled down so low that it was impossible to see his face. He was sitting at the front, driving a simple and unadorned carriage. There was nothing special about the carriage, and it was almost identical to the ones used by merchants in the capital. But when his eyes flitted over a unique mark on the wheels, Wang Chong's eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.
"Then let me have a ride!"
Wang Chong quickly regained his composure, and with a wave of his sleeve, he stepped onto the carriage.
"Hyah!"
Without a word, the Coachman drove the carriage into the surging stream of people, mixing with the other carriages in the capital. After traveling through the streets and alleys for an hour, the carriage finally arrived at the Minister of War's residence.
The moment Wang Chong stepped off the carriage, people from the Minister of War's residence rushed forward to conceal Wang Chong and escort Wang Chong into the residence. The carriage on the street only paused for a few moments before continuing on its way, making its way through the capital.
"Boom!"
As soon as Wang Chong stepped into the hall, the door behind him rumbled shut. At the same time, many candles lit up on the walls of the hall. The Minister of War's residence seemed to be preparing to face a formidable foe. Wang Chong silently watched all this, his face unperturbed, but his heart skipped a beat before quickly returning to normal.
"Lord Zhangchou!"
Wang Chong called out. He quickly raised his head and began to walk toward that familiar mountainous figure.
Across from Wang Chong was a figure dressed in casual clothes, his hands solemnly standing. It seemed like he had been waiting for some time.
"Wang Chong, you've finally come."
Upon seeing Wang Chong, Zhangchou Jianqiong gave a long sigh of relief, his entire body seeming much more relaxed.
"Lord Zhangchou, has the situation in the capital already reached such a dire state? Even someone of Milord's status as the Minister of War needs to be so secretive. "
As Wang Chong spoke, he walked over.
If one didn't know, no one would believe that the Minister of War of the Tang Dynasty, one of the most authoritative figures in the world, Zhangchou Jianqiong, would use a secret method like a slip of paper to deliver a message to him at the city gate. Not only that, Zhangchou Jianqiong had also prepared the carriage that he had used. The Minister of War's residence was so heavily guarded that it didn't seem like the residence of a high-ranking official of the Imperial Court, but more like that of a frontier expedition.
"Wang Chong, if you had seen the changes in the capital like I have, you wouldn't say that. These are troubled times, and the Imperial Court is completely different from what you knew. "
Zhangchou Jianqiong sighed, and then he pointed a finger at a black sandalwood table.
There was not a single person in the hall, not even maids or servants. Zhangchou Jianqiong picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup for himself and Wang Chong. Then, he raised the cup and took a sip, a bitter expression on his face.
Wang Chong sat down and glanced at Zhangchou Jianqiong's profile.
After more than half a year, Zhangchou Jianqiong appeared to have aged a great deal, and there were many wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and face. It seemed like he had a lot on his mind. Zhangchou Jianqiong was a top-class martial artist, already at the peak of the Saint Martial realm, an Imperial Great General. Wang Chong found it very difficult to believe that such a person had aged so much in such a short time.
"Lord Zhangchou, just what happened that day? Why did the Imperial Court turn out like this? The Bureau of Military Personnel is the core of the world's mobilization of soldiers. Any mobilization of soldiers, including appointments, cannot bypass the Bureau of Military Personnel. They could not bypass you and directly issue that order, so Milord, I could only look for you! "
A long sigh resounded through the hall at Wang Chong's words.
"It seems like Wang Gen has already told you a few things."
Zhangchou Jianqiong had a complicated expression.
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