Lu Heng also did not dare to say anything at this time. One had to pay attention to the timing and observe the situation. Since this matter did not involve his own life, there was no need for him to provoke the Son of Heaven's displeasure and bring trouble to himself for no reason.
However, Lu Heng, who had his eyes lowered, didn't agree with Li Qitian's actions.
Your Majesty is a resourceful person. To say something disrespectful, how could a person who was able to use the banner of Cao Zhongzheng to rise to power and successfully sit on the throne be an idiot? But now, perhaps because he had been high and mighty for too long, he didn't like to use his brain when doing things. He preferred to use thunderous methods to suppress others.
Pang Zhixi looked like a boorish man, but he was meticulous and knew how to make good use of people.
I heard that Qin Yining had returned a long time ago, but Pang Xiao hadn't. When Pang Xiao returned to the capital, the situation in the capital was like this. It was very obvious that this was a scene that the husband and wife had planned. Your Majesty didn't care at all and stepped into the trap!
The most frightening thing was that the husband and wife had probably already predicted Your Majesty's personality and the thoughts of the court officials. They knew that as officials, no one would stop Your Majesty from walking into the trap when he was extremely angry.
They had calculated everything perfectly …
What appeared in Lu Heng's mind was Qin Yining's spirited little face and wise eyes.
His heart sank. This woman, in the end, didn't belong to him.
The disappointment and unwillingness in his heart couldn't be dispelled. Lu Heng could only pretend to be calm and not let his thoughts leak out.
In front of the city gate, there were even more commoners than before. The scene was as lively as a temple fair. There were even smart vendors shuttling through the crowd, selling sesame seed cakes, tea eggs, and other food. There were also young girls around the age of ten carrying baskets of sweet fruits and caramel candy.
The capital in early spring was still very cold. Everyone had waited for so long that they were already hungry. If the conditions allowed, they naturally bought food to eat.
Right at this moment, a fast horse suddenly galloped past on the main street. Sitting on the horse was an eunuch wearing an iron-gray round-collared sunflower gown.
The commoners all stared in the direction that the eunuch had left. They only saw him arrive at the city gates and say a few words to the soldiers guarding the gates. Naturally, he was allowed to leave the city.
Some people in the crowd began to speculate.
"Could it be an imperial edict from the palace?"
"Very likely."
"But with Wang Ye's great contributions, even if Your Majesty doesn't personally welcome him, you should at least arrange a high-ranking official. What is the meaning of sending a eunuch to call him in?"
"Hey! You brat, are you tired of living? How dare you spout nonsense! "
…
Although there were people who tried to dissuade them, it was not just one person who had such thoughts. The topic that had been discussed in the crowd was once again brought up. The commoners exchanged their thoughts as they ate. There were even people who were speculating that Pang Xiao was treated coldly even though he had performed meritorious deeds. It was most likely because his meritorious deeds had shocked the Emperor.
"Hey, someone outside the city saw that Master Eunuch go to see Wang Ye."
Someone near the city gates said loudly.
The news spread by word of mouth. Very quickly, the surrounding commoners all knew that the eunuch had really gone to pass on an imperial edict. The speculations and discussions were even harder to suppress. The people of the Warden's Office of the Five Cities were sweating profusely as they tried to maintain order and scold those who were talking nonsense. But with so many people present, how could they manage all of them?
In the temporary camp outside the city, Xiong Jinshui was all smiles as he bowed to Pang Xiao. "Wang Ye, Your Majesty has ordered you to immediately enter the city and enter the palace to meet the Emperor. Wang Ye has been away for so long. Your Majesty must be missing Wang Ye. "
Pang Xiao smiled and cupped his hands in the direction of the capital. "This subject obeys the decree."
Then he turned around and gave the order to break camp.
Xiong Jinshui hadn't thought that things would go so smoothly. He couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Wang Ye had returned to the capital but was not willing to enter the city gates. He must have his own plans. Your Majesty called him back with one sentence and even arranged for him, an internal court official, to pass on a message. This was indirectly expressing Your Majesty's dissatisfaction with Pang Xiao's delay in entering the city.
His status was low, and his words carried little weight. He didn't dare to question Your Majesty and didn't dare to speak too much in front of Wang Ye. It was very difficult. He was most afraid that Wang Ye would be dissatisfied and capture him to punish him. Not to mention punishment, even if he was killed, Your Majesty probably wouldn't do anything to Wang Ye. Wouldn't he have lost his little life for nothing?
Fortunately, Wang Ye was not an unreasonable person.
Huzi and the others were already prepared to break camp. Hearing this, they quickly packed up everything. Soon, Pang Xiao ordered the troops to set out.
Seeing him so straightforward, Xiong Jinshui's face was also full of smiles. He mounted his horse and followed Pang Xiao's troops to the city gates.
Soon, they arrived in front of the city gates. There were already many commoners who had stopped to watch.
Gong Zongqi quickly walked out and respectfully bowed. "This subordinate, Gong Wen, pays his respects to Wang Ye!"
Pang Xiao dismounted and helped Gong Zongqi up. He smiled and said, "It's you. I haven't seen you in two years. You haven't changed much."
Facing such a forthright Pang Xiao, Gong Zongqi naturally thought of the days when he was under Pang Xiao. A sense of joy and respect spontaneously arose.
Gong Zongqi's face turned red from excitement. He grinned and said, "Wang Ye still remembers me."
"Of course. We're brothers. How could you not remember? "
Not far away, the commoners heard the conversation between the two. Some of them whispered,
"Wang Ye is indeed a righteous and benevolent man."
"Wang Ye doesn't put on any airs at all."
… …
Usually, Pang Xiao would not purposely talk to the commoners by the roadside. At this time, he would have mounted his horse and directly entered the city.
But today, he smiled and greeted the commoners by the roadside.
When the commoners saw this, they felt as if a big meat pie had fallen from the sky and hit their heads. They were so happy that they were dizzy. Some cupped their hands, some bowed, some kowtowed, some praised, some thanked, and some were so excited that they could not say a word.
The commoners' excited expressions and cheerful voices mixed together. The enthusiasm was so warm that it could turn early spring into midsummer.
Pang Xiao smiled and cupped his hands to return the greetings. He even responded to some of the greetings that could be heard clearly.
He answered some of the questions that could be heard, such as "How's the south?", "Is life tough?", "Will Southern Yan send troops?", "Have the bandits who killed Family Qin been caught?".
Qin Yining returned to the capital in plain clothes. The prince's residence was desolate and had to hire new people. The news that all of the Family Qin's family members, the old madam, and old master of the prince's residence were killed by bandits on their way to the south had already spread.
The great hero had protected the south for the country and the commoners so that they could live and work in peace. However, his mother, elders, and his wife's family had all died.
Many commoners could empathize with such a tragedy and felt sympathy. Compared to Pang Xiao's suffering, they felt pity and respect for him. Thus, there were people who asked about and comforted Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao took his people a few steps toward the city gate and had to stop to answer the commoners' questions. Seeing that he was so easy-going, the commoners were emboldened and began to talk to Pang Xiao.
Xiong Jinshui followed beside Huzi and led the horse behind Pang Xiao. He was so anxious that his forehead was sweating.
It was still too early for him to be happy.
There was a little person in Xiong Jinshui's heart that was crazily screaming, "This servant is begging you, my Wang Ye. Hurry up and enter the palace. Your Majesty has waited for so long in vain. I'm afraid he's going to show his might! This servant can't bear it! "
However, Pang Xiao didn't understand Xiong Jinshui's inner wailing at all. He still warmly greeted the commoners.
Seeing that Pang Xiao had returned, the commoners all rushed to the city gate. The great hero in their hearts was like a celestial being from heaven. His aura was even more powerful than the angry Vajra in the temple. Although he was powerful, he spoke to them so gently and without arrogance.
The commoners, who had been listening to stories and fantasizing, were extremely excited to see the great hero up close.
Pang Xiao was surrounded by the commoners. Even the Warden's Office's scolding had no effect. Pang Xiao didn't stop the commoners. Instead, he appeared even more gentle.
Pang Xiao's group had only walked a hundred steps into the city gate, but it took them more than two hours to walk!
Gong Zongqi, Xiong Jinshui, and the people from the Warden's Office were about to cry.
The biggest problem was that there were many people in the city. When they heard that the great hero had entered the city, they all hurried over.
It was already chaotic in front of the city gate, but they didn't know how many more commoners would come!
Pang Xiao saw that there were many people and was afraid that someone would accidentally fall and be trampled. Therefore, he shouted, "Everyone, don't push. Be careful. Don't fall."
Pang Xiao's words were immediately echoed by people in the crowd. The people in the crowd were too embarrassed to push with all their strength.
Qin Yining was sitting by the window on the second floor of the teahouse. He smiled as he looked at the tightly packed crowd at the city gate.
Bing Tang was also shocked. "It's already been more than two hours. Wang Ye has only walked this far. How long will it take for him to reach the palace?"
Qin Yining smiled helplessly. "The commoners are too enthusiastic. He can't do anything about it."
Qin Yining nodded to Tang Xiu behind him.
Tang Xiu immediately nodded and quietly retreated.
Soon, another voice came from the crowd.
"Wang Ye is such a great hero, and he's such a good person. He sacrificed his own family to protect our Da Zhou. Why are there only us bumpkins coming to welcome him? Why didn't the imperial court arrange for someone to come?!"
When this topic was brought up again, the commoners who had close contact with Pang Xiao and even talked to Pang Xiao were the most indignant.
Just as that voice said, they were also dissatisfied that Pang Xiao was treated so coldly.
More and more people complained.
In the hearts of the commoners, Pang Xiao was a hero, a famous general.
If the Son of Heaven was a wise ruler, he should treat famous generals with courtesy like how the storytellers described. If he could personally welcome them, it would be more in line with everyone's imagination.
Regardless of whether this imagination was reasonable or not, most people thought so.
Some people said whatever they thought, and the complaints increased.
In the imperial study, Li Qitian waited for four hours, but no one came. He was so angry that he slammed the table.
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