Chapter 502: Chapter 502: Submission

Mu Yan curled his lips, “No need to look for them. I moved them before our army broke into the palace.”

Zhan Lan sighed in relief, “I thank you on behalf of Xiao Chen!”

Mu Yan wrapped an arm around Zhan Lan’s waist, displeased, tapping her forehead with a finger, “Let him thank me in person; you can only thank me on behalf of myself!”

Zhan Lan shook her head with a smile, “Got it.”

Xiao Chen arrived, sword in hand, witnessing the scene before him.

Zhan Lan waved to Xiao Chen, “Xiao Chen, the Prince saved your mother.”

The tension eased from Xiao Chen’s heart, as he had worried both for his mother and for Zhan Lan’s safety since entering the palace.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Xiao Chen nodded.

Mu Yan nodded slightly. Zhan Lan had mentioned in her dreams how she owed Xiao Chen in a past life and he didn’t want her to feel that guilt.

The Vermilion Bird hurried over with a sword, and Mu Yan looked at him, “Take Mr. Xiao to see his mother.”

“Yes, Master.” The Vermilion Bird nodded.

Shortly after Xiao Chen and the Vermilion Bird left, the fire gradually declined.

The blaze destroyed the Western Rong’s palace; not a single member of the Western Rong king, his prince, or the princesses survived.

Some were killed by Mu Yan’s people, some by the Zhan Family Army, and others by the Western Rong slaves.

The Western Rong royalty treated the slaves as less than human, chaining them like dogs and making them fight beasts in the arena.

Slaves, regardless of gender, also had to satisfy their master’s strange fetishes, living without dignity, wishing for death.

So their hatred towards the Western Rong royalty was no less than that of Zhan Lan and the others.

In the glow of the fire, Zhan Lan watched a tall slave plunge a dagger into a woman’s neck, the woman adorned with a jade pendant, likely a Western Rong princess.

The slave’s deep-set features and brown eyes turned towards Zhan Lan and Mu Yan.

Zhan Lan saw him bow respectfully to Mu Yan, who nodded slightly before the figure disappeared swiftly.

Zhan Lan and Mu Yan walked one in front of the other.

Mu Yan carried Zhan Lan’s battle spear for her.

Zhan Lan turned back to Mu Yan, “Don’t lie to me again.”

Mu Yan nodded cooperatively, “Okay.”

“I don’t care how much power you have behind you, but don’t make me worry like that anymore!”

“Okay!” A smile tugged at the corners of Mu Yan’s lips as Zhan Lan’s forceful tone belied her concern.

“Don’t laugh!” Zhan Lan frowned.

“Okay.” Mu Yan tried to suppress his smile.

Zhan Lan hesitated as she spoke, recalling how she had also hidden her own journey to the frontier from Mu Yan.

She stammered, “I wasn’t being harsh; I was just worried about you.”

But instead of hearing any complaints from Mu Yan, she heard him say from behind, “Lan’er, I missed you!”

“I think about you every day.”

Zhan Lan’s steps halted, as she glanced back to see half of Mu Yan’s handsome face bathed in shadow, half in firelight.

His eyes sparkled like stars.

Zhan Lan lost herself gazing at him, extending her hand to Mu Yan, “Mu Yan, let’s go home tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Mu Yan interlocked their fingers, and the two left the Western Rong palace.

After a night of rest.

Early the next morning, outside Western Rong’s capital city gates, Mu Yan, Zhan Lan, Zhan Beicang, Zhan Hui, Dugu Yan, Li Sui, Huang Gun, Xiao Chen sat on horseback facing the city.

The Zhan Family Army was stationed here.

From now on, this would be the border of Nanjin.

Zhan Lan spotted the slave who had killed the princess leading many slaves into the city.

They were speaking to each other in Western Rong’s language, then bowing towards Mu Yan and Zhan Lan.

Mu Yan looked at Xiao Chen, “Tell them that from now on there are no more slaves in Western Rong.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Xiao Chen conveyed Mu Yan’s words to the Western Rong slaves in their language.

The slaves at the city gate erupted into cheers!

Mu Yan addressed the Western Rong merchants who understood Nanjin’s language, “Whether merchants or herders, anyone can trade and live fairly in the city. We are not the Western Rong king; no innocent people will be harmed. This is still your home!”

Xiao Chen again translated Mu Yan’s words for the Western Rong citizens.

Even the merchants and herders who had been watching at the city gate cheered.

“Oh, god, protect us!” A cloudy-eyed, white-haired elder prayed with hands clasped to his chest.

They had endured enough of the Western Rong king’s cruel rule; now, even though their capital was occupied by the people of Nanjin, the Prince Regent of Nanjin promised not to harm the innocent and allowed them to live peacefully here.

Zhan Lan looked towards Mu Yan; he had long been preparing for unifying the world.

If not for Mu Yan’s people having already infiltrated Western Rong, how else would the Western Rong people bid him farewell at the city gates?

Slaves longed for freedom, merchants for fairness, herders for a stable life.

Mu Yan promised them this.

Zhan Beicang looked back at his son-in-law, seeing within him an emperor’s aura that inspired submission.

Xiao Chen understood the words of the Western Rong people — they had already submitted to him; perhaps a new dynasty belonged to Mu Yan was on the horizon.

He glanced at Gai Yina inside the carriage; he didn’t yet have the courage to properly speak with his mother.

Gai Yina, within the carriage, looked at her son, and seeing Xiao Chen reminded her of her late husband, Xiao Yin.

At least, her son was now safe.

Her gaze shifted to Mu Yan. Thanks to this Regent King, she was saved, or she wouldn’t have seen Xiao Chen again.

After leaving the Western Rong capital, the Zhan Family Army returned to Fengyu Pass unimpeded.

Mu Yan stood by Zhan Lan’s side, gazing at Zhan Xinzhang’s body in the ice coffin.

He had heard of the things Emperor Qingwu had done during their journey, clenching his fists as an icy look filled his eyes.

Zhan Lan’s most beloved grandfather had died, and these days must have been unbearable for her.

Zhan Lan’s hand was held by Mu Yan, “Lan’er, we’ll settle this account when we get back!”

“Alright!” Zhan Lan’s eyes gradually turned cold.

…

In the Ding’an City palace.

An eunuch reported, “Your Majesty, Marquis Lin Yuan urgently seeks an audience.”

Emperor Qingwu hurried to the Imperial Study Room to meet.

“Isn’t it, Imperial Uncle? What has happened to leave you so flustered?” Si Yun saw Si Yuzhang sweating profusely, with his clothes buttoned incorrectly.

“Your Majesty, something terrible has happened — it’s said the Western Rong King is dead, Western Rong has fallen, and Mu Yan is returning with Zhan Lan! You must make a decision early!”

Si Yun’s hands trembled uncontrollably, trying to feign composure, “Speak slowly.”

Si Yuzhang sat down, “Your Majesty, Mu Yan and Zhan Lan have destroyed Western Rong and are returning victorious.”

Hearing this, Si Yun couldn’t sit still, and after a moment decided, “Then follow Imperial Uncle’s advice.”

“Yes, I will do so immediately!”