She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

The Xuzhou army marched grandly across the stone bridge over Qu Linjiang and entered the borders of Fufeng County.

On the official road, dust rose high as the sound of iron hooves from warhorses and soldiers’ footsteps intertwined, making it seem as though the earth itself trembled.

At the forefront of the troop, the main general Song Yuanqing was clad in battle attire, riding a tall warhorse, his gaze intense and expression solemn.

Behind him, the flag of the Xuzhou army flapped fiercely in the wind, symbolizing the might and dignity of the troop.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zun and Hua Tianyou had long changed out of their luxurious past attire, donning coarse cloth garments, wearing bamboo hats, and holding hoes, silently digging stones on the wasteland.

Zhao Zun’s actions were skillful and calm, as if he was long-accustomed to this labor.

Nearby in the basket, stones had already piled high, nearly full. Zhao Zun’s gaze occasionally swept over the official road, as though waiting for something.

As the sound of the Xuzhou army’s march grew closer, Zhao Zun finally put down the hoe and turned to exchange a glance with Hua Tianyou.

Understanding the signal, Hua Tianyou quickly picked up the carrying poles, lifted the basket, and walked towards the roadside, one after the other.

”Hey, Zhao Zun, look, isn’t that Song Yuanqing, that kid from the Song Family? Wow! Now he’s a general.”

Hua Tianyou shouted loudly, with a hint of teasing in his tone.

Song Yuanqing heard the voice and glanced over, seeing many laborers busy in the wasteland beside the official road.

The speaker, whom he recognized, was Hua Tianyou, the son of Duke Heng from the Capital City.

Hua Tianyou, dressed in coarse linen, was wearing a bamboo hat, looking like a farmer. Hoisting a carrying pole over his shoulder, he was walking with a man towards the roadside.

Song Yuanqing’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, feeling a trace of doubt.

He remembered Hua Tianyou as a playboy, how could he appear in such a place?

Zhao Zun lifted his bamboo hat, revealing a handsome face tanned by the sun. His eyes were profound and tranquil, as if he had already seen through the world’s troubles.

”Indeed it is him, who would have thought the brat from the Song Family has some skills now,” Zhao Zun said lightly, with a touch of contemplation in his tone.

”Halt!”

Song Yuanqing recognized Zhao Zun and stopped his horse, the troops behind him also halting in concert.

”Zhao Zun? Mr. Zhao?”

Song Yuanqing called out in astonishment, his voice tinged with disbelief.

He looked at Zhao Zun, his gaze complicated and filled with mixed emotions.

The once celebrated Marshal of Beiguan, now reduced to this state; Song Yuanqing was momentarily at a loss for words.

Zhao Zun stopped his pace, chuckled bitterly, and said helplessly, ”Mr. Song mocks me. I am no longer a marshal, now I am King of Cangzhou.”

The soldiers behind Song Yuanqing, upon hearing Zhao Zun’s name, cast gazes of admiration towards him, but also filled with shock.

Zhao Zun’s name resonated throughout the Da Jing Army; he was once the hero who defended Beiguan against foreign foes, an exemplar in the hearts of countless soldiers.

Yet now, Zhao Zun was dressed as a laborer, carrying a pole over his shoulder, seemingly disconnected from his past glory.

”Being a Prince, why take on such appearance?” Song Yuanqing frowned, his tone carrying a trace of bewilderment and disdain.

Zhao Zun set down the pole laden with stones, using one hand to fan with the bamboo hat and the other to casually point towards the distant wooded mountains.

”You know, like you, I enjoy the martial arts. Without the military camp, there’s no place for my skills. So, I fenced off a hunting ground here. I ride horses and hunt when free.”

Song Yuanqing nodded, seemingly satisfied with this explanation.

However, he still asked puzzledly, ”These menial tasks, why not let the servants handle them, why do it yourself?”

Zhao Zun showed a slightly embarrassed expression, lowering his voice a bit.

”Well... there’s no fear of Mr. Song laughing. My Princess Consort is just a village woman, quite spirited, enjoying raising chickens and ducks. To please her, I must personally set up a plot here for her to tend to those chickens and ducks.”

”Hahaha...”

”Ha, turns out Mr. Zhao fears his wife!”

”Could it be Mrs. Zhao won’t let Mr. Zhao up on the bed, so Mr. Zhao has to do it himself? Haha...”

Some soldiers at the front of the troop heard Zhao Zun’s words and jested repeatedly.

Song Yuanqing frowned even tighter.

Over three months’ time, the matter of Zhao Zun being stripped of military power by Emperor Jing had already spread among officials in all regions of Da Jing, and he naturally heard of this news.

However, seeing Zhao Zun’s current situation with his own eyes, he still found it incredulous.