After the intense fight with the bandits, Zenki was left unconscious due to the heavy blow he took. Liu Yong, Mengting, and Mingliang quickly checked his condition and found that he was badly injured.
"We need to take him to a nearby village to get him some medical attention," said Liu Yong.
Mengting and Mingliang agreed, and they quickly packed up their belongings and prepared to leave. Liu Yong and Mengting carried Zenki on a makeshift stretcher while Mingliang carried their bags.
As they made their way to the nearby village, they encountered a few travelers who offered to help. They explained their situation and the travelers gladly offered their assistance.
Finally, they arrived at the village and went straight to the local healer's house. The healer, an old woman named Mei, quickly attended to Zenki's injuries. She applied some herbal remedies and used her expertise to heal Zenki's wounds.
The three of them stayed in the village for a few days, taking care of Zenki and waiting for him to awaken. During their stay, they got to know the villagers and even helped out with some of the chores and errands.
On the fourth day, Zenki finally regained consciousness. He was weak, but he was grateful for their care and concern.
"Thank you for taking care of me," said Zenki. "I couldn't have made it without your help."
Mengting, Mingliang, and Liu Yong were relieved to see Zenki awake and on the road to recovery.
"We're just glad you're okay father" said Mengting.
"How are you feeling, Father?" asked Mingliang with a tone of concern in his voice, as he approached Zenki's bed.
Zenki turned his head towards Mingliang and gave him a small smile. "I feel just a little weak, but I think it will pass soon," he answered.
Mingliang nodded and took a seat beside Zenki's bed. "I'm glad you're okay. We were all worried when you got knocked out back there," he said, placing a comforting hand on Zenki's arm.
Zenki looked at Mingliang with gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, my son. Your concern means a lot to me," he replied, giving Mingliang's hand a gentle squeeze.
Mingliang smiled back at him. "Of course, Father. I'll always be here for you," he said with determination.
"Did you ever find the shadow guards?" Zenki asked
"Father, we searched far and wide for any trace of them but it seems like they vanished without a trace," replied Mingliang with a worried tone.
Zenki sighed heavily, "I see. It seems like we will have to find a way to move forward without their help."
"We should start making our way back to the castle," Zenki said, his tone indicating a sense of urgency.
"Father, are you sure you're well enough to travel?" asked Mengting with concern. "I'll be fine, my children. We need to head back to the castle as soon as possible," Zenki replied with a reassuring smile. "But what about your injuries? You need more time to recover," protested Mingliang. Zenki paused for a moment, considering his son's words. "You're right, Mingliang. We should rest a little longer to make sure I'm fully healed before we travel back," he said, nodding in agreement. And so they decided to stay in the village a little longer, waiting for Zenki to regain his strength before embarking on their journey back to the castle.
On their way back to the castle, Zenki and his companions decided to take the longer route instead of the straight path. The longer route would provide them with more cover and protection from any potential threats. As a result, they arrived at the castle three days later than their usual travel time.
Upon receiving the news of their return, Zhenyue breathed a sigh of relief. It was no secret that whenever someone came looking for Zenki, they were always given the excuse that he was unwell and unable to receive visitors.
Zhenyue was pacing anxiously in the castle courtyard, waiting for Zenki and their children to return from their journey. She had been worried sick since they left.
When she finally saw them approaching, she let out a sigh of relief and ran to greet them. But as she got closer, she noticed that Zenki was limping and had bruises all over his face.
"Your Majesty, what happened? Are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"It's nothing, just a little scuffle with some bandits on the way back," Zenki replied, trying to downplay his injuries.
Zhenyue wasn't convinced, but she didn't press the issue. She led them back into the castle and ordered for Zenki to be taken to the healer's quarters to be treated.
As he was being tended to, Zhenyue spoke with Mengting and Mingliang about their journey and what they had encountered. She was relieved to hear that they had made it back safely, but also worried about the disappearance of the shadow guards.
After Zenki's injuries were treated, Zhenyue visited him in the healer's quarters. She couldn't help but feel a wave of emotions as she looked at her husband lying there, battered and bruised.
"I'm so glad you're back, Zenki," she said softly, taking his hand in hers. "I had no idea you were injured. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily," Zenki replied, giving her a weak smile. "But I'm fine now, thanks to the healers."
Zhenyue nodded, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. She knew that the world outside the castle walls was dangerous, and she couldn't bear the thought of losing Zenki or their children to it.
As she left the healer's quarters, she made a silent vow to herself to do everything in her power to protect her family, no matter what the cost.
After leaving the Healer's Quarters, Zenki felt a sense of urgency to discuss their recent discoveries with Zhang Liang. He quickly made his way to his office and called for the trusted advisor to join him.
"Zhang Liang, we need to talk about what we found regarding Caiwu Zongjian," Zenki said as soon as Zhang Liang arrived.
"Of course, my lord," Zhang Liang replied, a look of concern on his face.
Zenki then proceeded to tell Zhang Liang about their encounter with the bandits and their suspicion that there were spies within their midst. He explained how their plans were discovered and how the ambushes and disappearance of the shadow guards could have been a result of that.
Zhang Liang listened attentively, his expression becoming more serious as Zenki spoke. "This is troubling news, my lord," he said once Zenki had finished. "We must act quickly to root out these spies before they cause any further harm."
Zenki nodded in agreement. "I order you to conduct a thourough investigations within our ranks. We cannot afford to let this situation escalate any further."
Zhang Liang bowed respectfully. "I will do everything in my power to assist you, my lord," he said.
Zenki couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He had a nagging suspicion that there was a spy in their midst, and that it could be someone close to him. As he thought about it, he couldn't help but consider the possibility that Zhang Wei could be the spy.
After all, it was Zhang Wei who had been pushing for Caiwu Zongjian to be labeled as the guilty party. Zenki couldn't help but wonder why Zhang Wei was so insistent on this. Was he trying to shift the blame away from himself? Or was there something else at play?
Zenki turned to Zhang Liang and asked him about Zhang Wei, expressing his concern that he might be a spy. He wanted to know more about Zhang Wei and whether or not there was any reason to suspect him.
Zhang Liang's expression darkened. "Your Highness, Zhang Wei is my younger brother, and I assure you that he is not a spy. He has been loyal to the kingdom and to our family for his entire life."
Zenki raised an eyebrow. He had suspected Zhang Wei's involvement in the ambushes, but he hadn't expected Zhang Liang to deny it so vehemently. "I understand your loyalty to your family, but we cannot rule out the possibility of betrayal. We need to investigate every lead."
Zhang Liang sighed. "I understand, Your Highness. But I must stress that my brother is innocent. If you have any evidence, please present it to me so that we may clear his name."
Zenki nodded. "Very well, I will keep that in mind. Thank you for your time, Zhang Liang. You are dismissed."
As Zhang Liang bowed and left the room, Zenki couldn't help but feel conflicted. He had never known about the connection between Zhang Wei and Zhang Liang, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. He knew that he needed to be cautious and investigate all possibilities, but he also didn't want to create unnecessary tension between himself and his advisor. The situation was becoming more complicated thought Zenki.
As they sat around the dinner table, Zenki made a promise to his family. "I know that in the past, I have neglected you all and focused all my attention to Meiying and her children," he said. "But I promise to make more time for you all from now on. I want to be a better husband and father." Zhenyue smiled at Zenki's words, feeling touched by his sincerity. "Thank you, my love," she said. "And speaking of which, can I call you Zenki from now on?" Zenki looked at her in surprise. "Of course, my dear," he replied. "You may call me whatever you like." Mengting and Mingliang grinned at their parents' exchange, feeling happy to see them so affectionate with each other. They chatted about their recent journey and caught up on each other's lives. It was a simple dinner, but it was filled with warmth and love. As they finished their meal, Zenki couldn't help but feel grateful for his wonderful family.
It is worth noting that Zenki was unaware of the situation with Empress Meiying until Zhang Liang explained it to him earlier. Empress Meiying, who was Zenki's childhood friend and the first empress, was the recipient of his excessive attention, as Zhang Liang honestly expressed to him.