The Next Morning...
At the city gate.... Gu Yanyan and Gu family members were already present at the daybreak to welcome Lin Chenfeng and other's who were ordered to return with him.
As the in-laws, it was only right for Gu family to welcome their in-laws only descendant when he returned from battlefield, how could Gu family let such a good opportunity slip away from their hand and they also wanted to let others see how close Gu family was with the brave and victorious Lin Chenfeng and that even if one of their in-laws are cowards other was surely not.
Basically, they just wanted to exploit their relationship with Lin Chenfeng and Lin Chenfeng's just gain reputation to get their face back in the whole of the Capital city which they had lost after Marquis Ningxi fled the battlefield and lost the three cities to northern barbarians which was recovered by a mere twenty years old young man with the help of his merely ten thousand elite soldiers and who was just sixth rank general at that.
Main street of the capital city which connected city gate directly to Imperial Palace was filled with crowd early in the morning.
Both sides of the rode commoners were standing with flowers and fruits in their hands to welcome the victorious army back to capital.
Even aristocratic family's master and young master and many scholars were also present at the scene to witness this glorious moment of their generation after all it was not everyday when Empire wins such a big battle and His Majesty The Emperor himself invites them to come and meet emperor in person.
No one wanted to miss such opportunity.
A group of young misses of noble families had also come to see young, handsome and brave Lin Chenfeng secretly.
All the restaurants and shops were filled with people early in the morning not because they really wanted to dine and shop so early but because they wanted to take advantage of their high second story or third story buildings to find a proper corner to watch the glorious scene without any hindrance.
As sun started to rise at their head and shone brightly, city gate finally opened.
People cheered in happiness and welcomed their brave soldiers with their open arms.
Singing slogans in their praises and wishing them for their long lives, people threw flowers and fruits, whatever they had prepared for their brave soldiers.
Receiving their praises and wishing, Lin Chenfeng and his group of soldiers made their way towards the imperial palace.
Inside the magnificent golden hall a man in his early fifties was sitting on his dragon throne, putting his arms on armrests he looked both mighty and intimidating.
Time had left it's traces on his glowing face in the form of fine lines on his forehead and at the corner of eyes, otherwise he still looked as if he was still in his mid forties even though he had already crossed fifties.
Two rows of officials were standing at right and left side of the golden hall led by right and left prime ministers.
"I, Late Marquis Zhiwu's only grandson, Lin Chenfeng greets His Majesty The Emperor. His Majesty The Emperor lives a long, long life." As Lin Chenfeng entered the golden hall and cane face to face The Emperor, he knelt down and greeted The Emperor and wished him a long life.
Emperor Taiji, Zi Yuan, was visibly pleased after seeing the only descendant of his one the most loyal and brave subordinate.
Seeing Lin Chenfeng kneeling in front of him, Emperor Taiji couldn't help but recall the last time Marquis Zhiwu knelt in the same place as Lin Chenfeng and have him his last greeting before setting off for the north to battle with the northern barbarians and never returned again to give his greetings in the dragon hall.
"Rise." Emperor Taiji raised his hand and permissioned Lin Chenfeng to stand up.
After getting permission from the Emperor, Lin Chenfeng stood up.
Emperor Taiji also sized up Lin Chenfeng from head to before nodding at him twice.
"Not bad. You deserve to be the descendant of the Lin Family, brave and courageous." Emperor smiled at Lin Chenfeng and praised him for being worthy of his family and his surname, his fox like eyes gleaming with with scheme when it suddenly turned cold and swept one side of hall.
"Otherwise, some people only know how to exploit other's sacrifice to achieve their ranks and when they actually face a real battle, they fled from the battlefield with tail between their legs." A dark and humorous laugh sounded in the quit golden hall but no one dared to follow the sound instead they all felt their backs cover with sweat under their official robes.
Only Lin Chenfeng stood with his back straight and his head slightly bowed in respect of the mighty one, holding the hu in his hand by it's broad end in front of him.
Everyone knew, which 'someone' Emperor was talking but no one dared to say anything at this juncture after all it were them who had pleaded to the Emperor to promote third rank earl to a Marquis and succeed Marquis Zhiwu as Earl Ning at that time were seen as the confident of Marquis Zhiwu in the entire capital city and even in imperial court, Marquis Zhiwu had always watched over Earl Ning at that time as his younger brother.
But who would have thought the conspiracy under the polite and always respectful Earl Ning's dark and evil heart.
"Because he failed to protect the Empire and honour his titles as the Marquis of north, he would be demoted and will be given his former title as the Earl Ning. Until the three dimensions' full investigation of former Marquis Ningxi's lose of three cities and fleeing from the battlefield leaving his 200,000 soldiers lives for northern barbarians to take, Earl Ning is banned from living Capital city in any case and will be kept under stict observation all this while." Without talking left and right, Emperor announced his decree.
Leaving everyone stunned but the gleam in Emperor's eyes showed, it was something he long wanted to do when they suddenly remembered that suspicious incident.....