Chapter 26: The Crown Prince Returns to the Capital

  That night, everyone attended a simple yet festive wedding in Suo Shi Village. Zhong Yuan maintained an ear-to-ear grin from start to finish. Yun Qi, who was helping out, couldn't express the feelings in his heart - perhaps it was a mix of envy, blessings, calmness, and longing.

  After the new couple's three bows, the bride was sent into the bridal chamber, but Zhong Yuan was kept behind to drink with the crowd. Although the scene wasn't grand, there were over a dozen tables, and facing the villagers' congratulations, Zhong Yuan could only thank them with wine, until he was drunk and stumbling, unable to stand steadily, before being let off, and in this manner, the commotion continued straight into the deep of night.

  The guests had already left, and the newlyweds were resting in their room. The two parents were still talking in the house when the prince and his companions saw that it was getting late and feared it would be inconvenient to return. So they stayed overnight at the village chief's home. Yang Wenchun, being a girl, naturally slept with the village chief's wife on one bed, while the second son yielded his bed to Yang Wenquan. The village chief carefully cleaned up his own bed and gave it to the prince to sleep in. This night was quite torturous for the prince, who had never slept on such a hard wooden bed since childhood. He tossed and turned for a long time, unable to fall asleep.

  It turned out that Yun Qi didn't mind, as a former special forces soldier who had slept everywhere. After refusing the village chief's suggestion to let him sleep in his youngest son's bed, Yun Qi found a quilt and blanket in Yang Wenguang's house and made a bed on the floor.

  A night of silence...

  On the second day, Yun Qi woke up early in the morning, feeling that he had slept well overnight. He stretched his waist and turned his head to face a pair of shiny black panda eyes: "Damn! Young Master! You... you... how did you end up like this?!"

  Yang Wenguan leaned to one side, weakly saying: "Yun Qi! I... my waist is going to break, my neck is also very uncomfortable... uh...... I can't move now."

  "Huh? Let me take a look." Yun Qi struggled to get up, and with great difficulty, he finally managed to flip Yang Wenguan over under his loud shouting. He lifted up his clothes, and below the neck and waist area was completely red. Yun Qi secretly laughed in his heart, thinking that this spoiled young master had never slept on a hard bed before. While massaging him, he said: "Young Master wants to be a general?"

  "When... of course... ah... on top press... not here, go down a bit more, a bit more. Right right right... oh yeah... comfortable."

  Yun Qi said, "Young master, this won't do. When the general goes out to battle, even in the camp tent, it's a hard board bed. What about when marching in the wilderness, there isn't even a bed? How will you manage? You've only slept for one day and already you're wailing like a ghost."

  "Hmm...uh...uh...... Yun Qi! Do soldiers really sleep on hard boards when they're at war?"

  "I will never lie to you."

  "Stop... stop...... just stop."

  "What? Feeling better?" Yun Qi asked in puzzlement.

  "No! I must train myself from now on. If I can't even bear this little pain, how will I lead troops in battle later?" Yang Wenguan endured the pain and slowly sat up, his eyes firmly fixed on Yun Qi.

  Yun Qi didn't respond, and instead stared blankly at Yang Wenguang, unknowingly looking up to him even more in her heart.

  It wasn't easy waiting for Yang Wenguang to get dressed, and watching him walk was still a bit painful. Yun Qi walked forward and supported him with an arm, and the two of them arrived at the courtyard entrance like this.

  Yang Wenjing had also gotten out of bed, similarly sporting a pair of panda eyes. Perhaps girls were born with softer bones, as she didn't seem to be uncomfortable anywhere else. The three of them gathered together, only missing the prince. In her heart, Yun Qi thought that the prince probably wasn't doing much better either. Just then, Yang Wenjing instructed: "Yun Qi, go take a look and see if the prince is up yet."

  Got it! This kind of thing should be done by someone else. He responded with a sound, let go of Yang Wenguang, and turned to walk towards the inner room.

  Before long, a pig-like scream came from inside: "Ah! You... you... be gentle... I can't take it anymore!"

  Yun Qi saw the situation and had no choice but to lighten the massage, while softly saying: "Crown Prince, bear with it for a bit, the massage will stop hurting after a while!"

  The crown prince seemed to have not heard, still shouting, but his voice was a bit smaller: "I... I... have never slept on this bed like a steel plate, my waist is almost broken, and my neck can't move. I'm looking for talent to replace the emperor, I think the emperor will be very pleased to see me suffering so much."

  "Yes, yes, yes... Your Highness has worked hard... for the country and the people... The Emperor will naturally hold you in high esteem!"

  "Hehe... Ah!...... You said that and I feel at ease now! Oh dear!... Be gentle!!"

  "It can't be any lighter, if it's any lighter it won't work!"

  "Ah!………"

  It wasn't until noon that the prince could finally get out of bed, his waist feeling a bit better, but his neck still couldn't move. The village chief was beside him, constantly apologizing, but the prince clearly didn't intend to punish him, he also understood the situation, after all, conditions wouldn't allow it, but in his heart, he decided that next time, even if he died, he wouldn't sleep on a hard board bed again.

  Yang Wenjin came out with the village head to thank him, and several people walked out of the village head's house. Yunqi had already brought a carriage from the Yang Mansion and was waiting for them at the gate.

  Carefully supporting the prince, he got into the carriage. After his siblings also entered, Yun Qi lowered the curtain and whipped up the horses to drive the carriage towards the Yang residence. This was his second time driving this kind of carriage, and he was no longer as clumsy as before. The few people left Suo Shi Village in this way. Since Zhong Yuan had just gotten married, the prince didn't let him follow along, but instead told him to report to the Yang residence three days later. It would be convenient for himself to return to Hua Du at that time and they could travel together.

  From a distance, Yang Ziting was already waiting outside the door. Seeing the prince return safely, he let out a sigh of relief and didn't dare to blame the prince for sneaking out this time. Instead, he scolded Yang Wenguan and Yun Qi for a while, and even Yang Wenxin was reprimanded a few words.

  For three consecutive days, the Crown Prince did not go out again. His neck didn't recover until the second day. Yun Qi was normally teaching Yang Wenguang to practice Chun in the courtyard. When Yang Wenjin had nothing to do, he would also learn poetry and literature, or follow Cui Hong to learn embroidery. The days were quite carefree.

  On the fourth day, early in the morning, Yang Ziting was chatting with the prince in the courtyard. Yang Wengui had already finished dressing up and sat aside. Yunqi had taken Yang Wenguang out of the city for a run early in the morning and was not at home.

  At this moment, a servant rushed in and shouted: "Master! There is a strong man outside who wants to see you, claiming to be called Zhong Yuan."

  Yang Ziting was still wondering when he had met a man named Zhong Yuan, and the crown prince said: "Teacher! This is the talent I've been searching for, and I'm about to take him back to Huadu to meet Father."

  "Oh? Since it's someone from the palace, hurry up and invite them in."

  "Yes!" The servant got his orders and hastily ran towards the main gate.

  Before long, Zhong Yuan was led into the hall. He wore a white linen shirt with a relaxed fit and had a coarse cloth belt around his waist. His two robust arms were exposed, and he carried a zhangba snake spear wrapped in cloth on his back. As the prince and Yang Wencheng had seen it before, they didn't find it strange. However, when Yang Ziting saw it, he couldn't help but admire it in his heart.

  The crown prince, seeing it was getting late, declined Yang Ziting's invitation to stay and prepared to return to Huadu. After bidding farewell to everyone, he walked towards the main gate with Zhong Yuan.

  Outside the gate, a group of imperial guards had been waiting early on. One of the leaders saw the prince come out, followed by a sturdy man who was none other than Zhong Yuan. He led a black horse forward and bowed respectfully, saying: "Your Highness! The guard is ready, please get in the carriage!"

  "Yes!" responded the prince, getting on the horse carriage. Zhong Yuan rode the black horse beside him, while the guards, seeing that everything was ready, mounted their war horses and took the lead, waving their hands to signal departure!

  A team of several hundred guards marched towards the city gate in a majestic manner, while Yang Ziting and others were still watching at the entrance of the mansion.

  …………………

  This chapter was written in a hurry because I have something urgent to attend to. Please take a look first and I'll make revisions carefully when I get back!