Chapter 1412: 1407: Father and Mother Have Returned!

Chapter 1412: Chapter 1407: Father and Mother Have Returned!

Outside Jiang Du City, Chu Yihan’s army was returning to the Great Cheng Dynasty, with Chu Jinling leading the ministers to kneel and welcome them.

Having not seen Lin Sisi for a long time, Chu Jinling had unusually put on the prince’s attire—a moonlight cloud-patterned python robe, with gold-threaded royal totems embroidered along the collar and sleeve edges, a white jade belt, and a high golden crown. On his fair and handsome face, there was a smile as warm as the spring breeze.

Looking at Chu Yihan’s warhorse from a distance, Chu Jinling wished he could stand on tiptoes and crane his neck to see.

Standing beside him, Zhuo Junli was as steady as a pine tree and said with a light chuckle, “Your Highness, there is no need to hurry. The triumphant army is returning, and General Lin must be right beside the emperor. In just a moment, when they draw closer, you’ll be able to see.”

“I’m not… not anxious,” Chu Jinling said, a bit embarrassed, as his mind had been read.

Turning around, he stared at Zhuo Junli, “Do I look anxious? Unsteady?”

Zhuo Junli thought to himself that the word “anxious” was clearly written all over Chu Jinling’s face.

But he still told an obvious lie, “Your Highness is the picture of steadiness. General Lin, upon seeing you, will surely feel admiration.”

“That’s great!” Chu Jinling sighed with relief. Having governed in the emperor’s stead for several months, he had felt almost suffocated.

He was just waiting for Lin Sisi to return; he wanted to show her his steadiness once and then he could be himself again.

His conversation with Zhuo Junli fell, without missing a word, upon the ears of Lu Mian, who was even more subtle and composed compared to Zhuo Junli’s wise and flexible demeanor.

Lu Mian remained silent, but he already knew Chu Jinling was bound to be greatly disappointed this time.

According to his spies, Lin Sisi was not seen among the ranks of the returning troops.

Sure enough, as Chu Yihan arrived at the city gate, Chu Jinling led the officials in obeisance to welcome him into the city.

But Chu Jinling stretched his neck long, and after looking for some time, he still did not see Lin Sisi.

“Imperial Uncle, Sisi…”

As Chu Yihan dismounted, Chu Jinling hurriedly inquired.

“Return to the palace,” Chu Yihan said coldly, spurring his horse past Chu Jinling.

“Imperial Uncle, has something happened to Sisi?” An ominous premonition took hold of Chu Jinling’s heart.

He knew Lin Sisi all too well. In a battle that ended in such a great victory, Lin Sisi would have definitely been following right behind Chu Yihan with her sword. But he didn’t see her in the ranks!

Chu Jinling felt a sinking feeling in his heart and began to tremble uncontrollably, his hands gripping the pen even more so.

Zhuo Junli tried to console Chu Jinling, “Your Highness need not worry. Perhaps the emperor has given General Lin a separate command. This is not the place to speak of such matters; it would be better to follow the emperor back to the palace first.”

But Chu Jinling wasn’t hearing any of it. On the other hand, Lu Mian informed him, “The entire army has returned to the dynasty, with no other tasks. Please, Your Highness.”

Although Lu Mian’s words didn’t convey much, they shattered the hopes inside Chu Jinling.

He pushed Zhuo Junli aside, angrily biting his lip, “You lied to me! Something must have happened to Sisi!”

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

Zhuo Junli couldn’t stop Chu Jinling, who ran wildly in pursuit of Chu Yihan.

Upon seeing Zhuo Junli made into a scapegoat, Lu Mian looked at him with an expressionless face.

His gaze bore no particular emotion, yet it conveyed mockery to Zhuo Junli.

“Damn you, Lu Mian!” Zhuo Junli snorted lightly and returned to the palace together.

In the imperial palace, just as Chu Yihan had taken a sip of tea, Chu Jinling burst into the imperial study.

His collar was askew, and his eyes reddened, “Imperial Uncle, you must tell me, where has Sisi gone? Why didn’t she return with you?”

Was it possible that something had happened to her? What exactly had transpired? These thoughts had tormented Chu Jinling all the way, and he couldn’t wait any longer!

He needed to know Sisi’s whereabouts right now!

“She has disappeared,” Chu Yihan put down the teacup, pursing his lips slightly.

He was not good at lying in his life, but this lie, suggested by Noble Consort Xiao, he had to use to deceive Chu Jinling.

“Disappeared?” Chu Jinling’s eyes widened as he rushed up to Chu Yihan’s imperial table, “She went to fight in the war, with you by her side in the battle. How could she just disappear!? How does a general vanish on the battlefield?”

Either they die in battle, sustain serious injuries, or return unscathed—since when does one go missing during a battle?

Before Chu Yihan could think of what else to say, Su Yingxue arrived. She hadn’t even changed back into her palace attire before hurrying over, “Jinling, Sisi has indeed disappeared, you… don’t blame your Imperial Uncle. In that battle, Sisi fought against the enemy princess, Chen Ruobai. By the time we arrived, many were missing, including Sisi…”

“Did you search for her? What’s the terrain like there? Where could Sisi have gone after disappearing? Could she be injured?” Chu Jinling ran to Su Yingxue, his barrage of questions hitting like a barrage of bricks.

Su Yingxue stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her fists clenched tightly as she struggled to lie to Chu Jinling, “We’ve searched. The terrain there is treacherous. Sisi went missing along with the Lin family’s troops, without a trace. Searches continue in that area; we’re doing everything we can to find Sisi, we…”

“Why didn’t you protect Sisi?” Chu Jinling’s eyes reddened as he grabbed Su Yingxue’s arm. “You’re her best friends, you’re my Imperial Aunt, and the Imperial Uncle is the person Sisi admires the most. How could she go missing while fighting alongside you?”

Su Yingxue’s heart trembled, and tears fell instantly.

Indeed, why hadn’t they protected Sisi?

“Chu Jinling!”

Chu Yihan stood up and bellowed angrily, “Lin Sisi is a general of the Great Cheng Dynasty; is she among those who need protection on the battlefield?”

“But she’s also a girl, my betrothed wife! The niece by marriage of you, my Imperial Uncle!” Chu Jinling yelled back at Chu Yihan, his eyes burning with rage, not trying to conceal his anger.

The two strongest people, leading the strongest army, yet his Sisi had still met trouble on the battlefield!

Chu Jinling, filled with anger, stormed out, raced a horse out of the palace gate, and headed straight for the outskirts of the city.

Su Yingxue stood in front of Chu Yihan, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, unsure of what to say.

Chu Yihan dealt with a pile of memorials on the imperial table and summoned Su Hao into the palace. After arranging for him to reorganize the troops, he returned to Phoenix Perch Palace.

Su Yingxue sat on the threshold of the main hall, cradling her face, her eyes red as she watched Chu Yihan approaching. She mumbled, “Hubby, did we fail to protect Sisi?”

Chu Yihan sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and resting his forehead against hers, his voice carrying a trace of helplessness, “As family, yes.”

He could reprimand Chu Jinling in the imperial study, but he couldn’t help feeling guilty towards him.

“Sisi will come to. I won’t let Jinling down,” Su Yingxue wiped away her tears and pouted at Chu Yihan.

Chu Yihan leaned down to kiss the corner of her eye and was about to say some words of comfort when he felt a small head squeezing into his chest.

“Ouch… ouch!” Chu Heng struggled hard, caught between his father and mother.

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