The news that Gu Qingzhang had returned after an absence of five years caused quite a stir in the imperial capital.

Emperor Lian Jingzhi was older than him, but he had been friends with the Gu family since he was the prince, and he always regarded Gu Qingzhang as his younger brother. Lian Jingzhi was happiest when he came back alive.

Everything in the former dynasty and harem was involved. When Lian Jingzhi ascended the throne, except for the Xu family, his mother's family, there were not many people available.

As the Emperor approaches, in the Imperial Palace, the post of commander of the imperial army remains vacant. Because someone else comes to take this position, Lian Jingzhi cannot sleep soundly.

"I feel relieved that Qingzhang is back."

Lian Jingzhi stepped back and asked Gu Qingzhang about his experiences over the years.

This must be answered, Gu Qingzhang knew it in his heart, he lowered his eyes and revealed the inside story of that year.

Five years ago, there was another rebellion in the southern border. Gu Qingzhang, the newly conquered Marquis of Ning'an, was ordered to quell the rebellion. He led his army all the way to the junction and rested on the spot at a tributary of the mother river Yunhe.

There was a miasma in the southern border, so he asked people to prepare concoctions in advance to resist part of the miasma. The army marched with unstoppable momentum, marching down five cities in a row, and soon reached the famous pass in the southern border, Tongtian Pass.

Gu Qingzhang's voice was neither urgent nor slow, as if he had never experienced those dark years and was just a bystander.

"The southern border guards were cunning and tampered with our army's food and grass," Gu Qingzhang lowered his eyes, making it difficult to see his expression clearly, "... later on, most of our army was killed or injured, but I was lucky enough to survive.

"

As he spoke, he stood up and saluted Lian Jingzhi: "I have violated the emperor's order, please punish me."

The rebellion in the southern border has been going on for a long time, and the late emperor failed to regain the lost territory and unify the country. Although Lian Jingzhi felt regretful in his heart, he also knew that the southern border was easy to defend but difficult to attack. This was not Gu Qingzhang's fault.

The matter has come to this, the most important thing now is to win over Gu Qingzhang.

After thinking about it, Lian Jingzhi asked Jixiang to help him stand up and said: "Victory and defeat are common matters for military strategists. Qingzhang does not need to be so harsh on himself."

"Thank you Lord for your grace."

Gu Qingzhang sat down again. He didn't waste any more words and said straight to the point: "Your Majesty, although I was defeated, it was not without gain."

"There is a person beside me who has a photographic memory. Over the years, I have devoted myself to ambushes and asked him to draw the topographic map of the southern border."

In Lian Jingzhi's surprised eyes, he continued: "The miasma in the southern region is difficult to cure. I even asked someone to carry something back, called a dead tree. It is said that it can make people completely immune to the miasma."

*

After leaving the palace, Gu Qingzhang stood at the entrance of the palace, turned around and looked at the tall and majestic palace in the distance. He narrowed his eyes and looked at it for a moment, then asked the people around him: "Did the dead tree go to the hospital?"

"Yes," Qi Si said with a wooden face, "Your Majesty is overjoyed."

Gu Qingzhang smiled sarcastically, knowing that Lian Jingzhi's desire to regain the southern territory would never be extinguished easily.

"Let's go," he turned around quickly, "we have to go back sooner or later."

Qi Si grinned ferociously.

After Gu Qingzhang came back, he just informed his parents and did not live back home. Gu Shizhong only knew that his son was safe and did not care about his whereabouts. Qin was the complete opposite. After learning the news, she could not sit still every day.

I just want to see my son.

"No need to go!"

Gu Shizhong stopped her angrily. He stood in the ancestral hall, with Gu Zhao kneeling at his feet. Gu Shizhong's eyes were dark, like dark clouds, threatening to be destroyed by wind and rain.

He shook his head slowly and told Mrs. Qin: "He has his own things to do when he comes back! What we should do is to discipline Gu Zhao well."

Mrs. Qin's lips trembled slightly. She still couldn't resist her husband, but... Mrs. Qin looked at him with some pleading: "It's cold in winter, and I want to give him some winter clothes."

Gu Shizhong said nothing, which was the tacit approval of the person in charge of the Gu family. He sat down on crutches, ignored his youngest son's wails, and asked his servants to whip him ten times.

The old Marquis calmed him down with his sword and horse, his eyes were majestic and he refused to refute: "In these ten whips, some will hit you for being a good girl, some will hit you for being reckless and unmeasured... and some will hit you for being stupid and stupid like a pig.

I don’t even know how to take advantage of it.”

After ten lashes, Gu Zhao was already lying on the ground dying. Mrs. Qin had been extremely disappointed with him and refused to plead for mercy. The whole ancestral hall was silent, and Gu Zhao could only be heard struggling to breathe.

He almost thought he was going to die today, but suddenly, what he saw was not Yu Qing, but Lin Chonghan, who used to help him manage the inner house.

Lin Chonghan didn't know that Gu Zhao was actually thinking of her at this moment, but even if she knew, she probably wouldn't care.

Right now, she was worried about something else.

After Gu Qingzhang returned to Beijing, he did not live in the Gu family. Instead, he bought a house near her home.

Today, he specially sent a message to invite her to congratulate her on her move to a new house.

Lin Chonghan didn't want to go because she was afraid that the people in the capital would be too chatty, but she went in the end.

Gu Qingzhang was defeated miserably in the southern battle, but the emperor made it clear that he wanted to use him. Most of the noble ladies in the capital had a keen sense of smell, and their hearts were a little lively.

Along the way, Lin Chonghan saw many young girls, and the emotions in his heart were complicated and unspeakable, with the most sour feeling being the most intense.

"Hello, Mr. Gu," she saluted without interest, "Congratulations to Mr. Gu on his new move."

Gu Qingzhang immediately frowned, took a few steps forward, and asked in a low voice: "What happened? Someone made you unhappy?"

"Not yet."

Lin Chonghan took a few steps back, not wanting to say more: "I've already asked someone to send you the congratulations. I'll leave first."

When she is unhappy, she always doesn't like to look at people and likes to hang her head. Gu Qingzhang has always known this habit of hers, and he is even a little happy at this moment.

Five years have passed, things have changed, and he doesn't expect Lin Chonghan to stop where he is and wait for him. But Gu Qingzhang can't control his heart. He understands that he will be extremely happy if he realizes that there is even a trace of her past.

It's like five years have never been stolen.

After Lin Chonghan left, he quietly blushed, knowing that his temper was inexplicable.

She secretly warned herself that it was a blessing to meet again, and she could no longer ask Gu Qingzhang to stay only for herself.

The sun is about to set, and as the number of people visiting gradually increases, the banquet is about to begin.

Exquisite rockeries stand in the courtyard, and the meandering clear water flows along the designed river channel, with exquisite dishes held by leaves floating on the water.

The little maid with her hair tied in a bun walked cautiously in the courtyard, familiar noble ladies and gentlemen competed to throw pots, a few sparrows chirped in the distance, and the sun in the sky slowly moved to the west.

Facing the beautiful golden sunset, Lin Chonghan squinted his eyes to watch everyone throwing pots. When he saw that one young master had missed the pot after three attempts, he smiled happily and rolled his eyes.

After Gu Qingzhang finished dealing with the powerful people, he rested in the corridor to catch his breath. The upper half of his face was hidden in the shadows, only his sharp jaw was exposed, so no one could see him. He looked at Lin Chonghan with strong and vigorous love in his eyes.
Chapter completed!