Chapter 25: Journey to the Yan Kingdom, Meeting an Old Friend
With that, the official produced an embroidered scroll from his robe.
Mr Tian looked utterly bewildered, unsure of how to react.
A doctor?
Minister Zhang?
A doctor—wasn’t that an aristocratic title?
Minister Zhang?
Still confused, Mr Tian respectfully accepted the scroll with both hands.
He carefully unfurled it.
However—
Mr Tian, reading the words on the scroll, glanced awkwardly at the official.He was not very literate and couldn’t recognise what was written on it at all.
The official paused for a moment, then immediately understood the situation.
He first cupped his hands in apology, then stepped forward, looking at the embroidered scroll as he read aloud: “The Tian Clan of Tu Town, loyal and grateful, shall be richly rewarded.”
“To grant the Tian Clan the fief of Tu Town, to guard the Zhang Family’s tomb for generations.”
Upon hearing this, Mr Tian shivered, suddenly realising what it meant.
He grabbed the official eagerly and asked, “You… you just mentioned Minister Zhang.”
The official replied, “Exactly.”
“About a month ago, Minister Zhang passed through Tu Town on his way back to the Capital City.”
“Do you remember that?”
Mr Tian was dumbfounded, his lips trembling as the full meaning finally dawned on him.Minister Zhang!
That person’s surname is also Zhang!
"I see, I see."
"Zhang, his surname is Zhang too; he is a member of the Zhang Family."
Mrs Tian muttered softly, a mixture of joy and disbelief.
A cold wind swept through, finally bringing her back to her senses.
She pointed at herself, her voice trembling: "I, I..."
"You just called me Doctor Tian."
The official expressed his admiration, saying, "Minister Zhang, through his merits in the conquest of Jing Kingdom, has secured a city’s territory for the Tian Clan."
"Lady of Shang has decreed to bestow upon you the title of Lower Grandee and grant you Tu Town as your fief."
“Ah!”
Upon learning that her reward was secured by Minister Zhang through his merits in conquering Jing Kingdom, Lady Tian was stunned, her eyes wide and mouth agape.
She stood frozen for several seconds before suddenly falling to her knees on the snowy ground, repeatedly kowtowing in the direction of Hao City in the Shang Kingdom.
“Chief Minister’s great favour, Chief Minister’s great favour!”
The official did not interrupt, allowing Lady Tian to prostrate herself again and again, even as bloodstains appeared on her forehead.
Such kindness could never be thanked enough.
A commoner suddenly elevated to the rank of noble—how many would dare to dream such a dream?
News of Lady Tian’s appointment as a Grandee, along with her fiefdom in Tu Town, quickly spread throughout Tu Town and the surrounding areas.
This matter became a celebrated story.
People praised Lady Tian for her gratitude and admired Minister Zhang for his benevolence and magnanimity.
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Since the eighteenth year of the Marquis of Shang, after the Jing Kingdom was pacified, there had been no large-scale conflicts in the Shang Kingdom.
Time flowed like a river, and in the blink of an eye, twenty more years had passed.
This year, Zhang Yang was sixty years old.
Zhang Yang had grown old, Heitu was old, and Guan was old too.
Rou’er was even more aged, her hair white as snow, frail and decrepit.
“Zhang Lang, what a fine day it is today,” Rou’er said, leaning on her cane, trembling as she stood beneath the eaves, squinting up at the deep blue sky.
Her eyes were half-closed, as if she was straining to see clearly.
Zhang Yang watched Rou’er trying so hard to look, and sighed quietly to himself.
Three years ago, Rou’er had developed an eye disease; over the course of this past winter, her condition worsened, and it wouldn’t be long before she lost her sight altogether.
"Yes, the weather is lovely today," Zhang Yang said gently as he held Rou'er's thin, frail hand.
Rou'er replied, "I wonder what our homeland looks like now."
"I've already forgotten what it looked like," Zhang Yang answered.
At this, Rou'er sighed with a touch of sadness.
Since leaving the Land of Yan with Zhang Yang forty years ago, she had never returned to her native land, only occasionally hearing news of it.
Zhang Yang’s heart stirred, and he said, "Let us visit the Yan Kingdom."
This was no sudden impulse.
It had been forty years since they left Yan.
After establishing himself firmly in the Shang Kingdom, Zhang Yang had once written back to Lord Yan Yun.
Since then, the two had maintained constant communication.At the end of last year, Lord Yan Yun sent Zhang Yang a letter. In it, he mentioned that his health was failing and that he might not make it through the coming year. His words were filled with memories of the years gone by. At the same time, he expressed his regret at being unable to visit the Shang Kingdom in person and meet Zhang Yang face to face.
That was when Zhang Yang had an idea. Perhaps it was time for him to go and see his old friend off.
"Really~" Rou'er was overjoyed, trembling as she held Zhang Yang's hand, her voice choked with emotion. "I wonder what the Yan Kingdom looks like now."
Seeing Rou'er's expression, Zhang Yang’s resolve only grew stronger. He said seriously, "Indeed, we shall~~~"
"Setting off in July."
July, with its cool weather, was the perfect season for travel.
Rou'er wiped away her tears, nodding repeatedly, overwhelmed with emotion. "Yes, yes, July."
"My younger sister should be doing well."
"My younger brother has settled down and has three children; I haven’t met them yet."
Rou'er chatted constantly about relatives.
Listening to her, Zhang Yang felt a pang of guilt.
Over these forty years, he had neglected many things.
He had never stopped to consider whether Rou'er missed their hometown or longed for their family.
Time passed quietly, and before he knew it, July had arrived.
Before setting off, at the Zhang Family Residence.
Wuyou frowned deeply and urged, “Father, the north has been unsettled lately. The Greater Yuezhi and Lesser Yuezhi have been locked in constant conflict for hegemony. The Yan Kingdom lies on the northern frontier and is frequently harassed by the Greater Yuezhi. You’re taking too few personal guards.”
Zhang Yang chuckled heartily. “I’m taking your aunt back to visit family, not going to war with the Greater Yuezhi. Are three thousand guards really too few?”
After joking, Zhang Yang became serious. “The journey will cover thousands of miles. If we add more guards, the logistics will become too complicated.”
“Your aunt’s health isn’t good; she can’t be burdened further.”
At this, Zhang Yang frowned deeply and sighed.
In March, Rou’er’s health had still been fairly robust.
But the following month, an accident occurred.
Between spring and summer, Rou’er caught a chill from the wind.
Since then, her health had deteriorated considerably.Now, even getting out of bed to move around was difficult.
Zhang Yang knew that Rou’er didn’t have much time left.
Perhaps, even if they reached the Yan Kingdom, there was no guarantee she would make it back.
Upon hearing Zhang Yang’s words, Wuyou sighed helplessly.
He said, “Please take utmost care, Father. I will pray at home for you and Aunt.”
Zhang Yang responded with a bright laugh, “I will.”
That day, Zhang Yang set out northward with Rou’er and three thousand personal guards.
Also accompanying them were Heitu and Guan.
Heitu was the eldest at sixty-six years old and no longer as robust as he once was.
Although he had long surpassed the Realm of Vitality Like a Galloping Horse, he still could not resist the mighty power of time.The convoy set off in July and reached the Yan Kingdom in September. By then, it was already late autumn. The grass and trees had withered and turned yellow, and all life was silent and lifeless.
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In Xinxian, the capital city of the Yan Kingdom, stood Lord Yan’s Residence. Lord Yan Yun, leaning on a cane, waited at the entrance. He was now seventy-four years old—a venerable age in these times.
From afar, he spotted Zhang Yang and his face lit up with joy. Shaking with age, he made his way towards him.
Zhang Yang quickened his pace and arrived before Lord Yan Yun.
The two men locked eyes, then burst into hearty laughter and embraced each other.
"Ha ha ha~~~"
"Long time no see. Lord Yan, how is your health?" Zhang Yang asked as he released Lord Yan Yun, looking him over with a heavy heart.
Forty years had passed, and Lord Yan was no longer the vigorous man he once was. He had grown thin and his figure seemed to have shrunk by two sizes.
Lord Yan Yun stroked his beard and smiled, "At my age, what could be better or worse?"
"Come, come inside, come inside," Zhang Yang said, pulling Lord Yan Yun along. "But wait a moment, I have a few friends I want to introduce to you first."
"Let them come out," Lord Yan Yun said.
At Zhang Yang’s call, Heitu, Guan, and Rou'er stepped down from the carriage behind him.
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