Chapter 423 - 421: I’m Fighting Too (First Update)

Chapter 423: Chapter 421: I’m Fighting Too (First Update)

At the moment her eyes met Xiao Yi’s, Xu Jing’s heart skipped a beat. His pair of dark eyes seemed like magnets, tightly grasping her gaze, making her momentarily forget the existence of everything around her.

Every cell in her body, at that moment, seemed to only feel the presence of that one person.

After an unknown period, the man in the distance seemed to slightly raise the corners of his lips, a hint of soothing expression in his eyes, as he turned his head away.

Only then did Xu Jing notice that the Holy Emperor had somehow already reached the edge of the city wall. Facing the tens of thousands of soldiers neatly lined up below, he raised his voice with a slightly cold tone, saying: "Brave warriors, the traitorous Jiang Family has colluded with Pinglu Jiedu Envoy Zhou Guangsheng and Beiting Jiedu Envoy Jiang Chaoda, intending to cause chaos in Great Chu, usurp the throne, and engage in vile acts that defile the nation, harm the people, disturb the court, and trample the royal family! I hereby appoint Zhao Yunfeng, Duke Liang, as General of the Northern Expedition, to lead an army of six hundred thousand to quickly march to the lands occupied by the traitors and eradicate them!"

"I entrust the safety of Great Chu and its people to the hands of you brave warriors! I believe that you will not betray my trust!"

With each sentence the Holy Emperor spoke, the soldiers not far away would loudly repeat it, passing it on to the next soldier responsible for repetition, ensuring every warrior in the army clearly heard what the Holy Emperor said.

Every soldier’s voice was resonant and powerful, spreading like waves, expanding outward from high to low, making one vividly experience the vast emptiness between heaven and earth.

Although Xu Jing had been in and out of the Western Capital several times, this was the first time she overlooked the outside of the Western Capital from this angle.

The flat land beyond the North Gate was surprisingly vast; if not for the undulating mountains in the distance breaking the line of sight, Xu Jing felt that it could accommodate tens of thousands more soldiers.

Earlier, when coming up, Zhao Shaohua had quietly informed her that there were only a hundred thousand soldiers here, with the main force waiting nearby.

But for Xu Jing, a hundred thousand soldiers were already a stunning spectacle.

As soon as the Holy Emperor finished speaking, the soldiers standing at the front of each unit raised their weapons high and shouted, "Defend Great Chu, punish the traitors!"

Immediately, the soldiers behind them also shouted, "Defend Great Chu, punish the traitors!"

"Defend Great Chu, punish the traitors!"

The thunderous and lofty voice seemed to shake the heavens, as if even the earth trembled slightly.

A surge of hot-blooded emotion inexplicably welled up in Xu Jing’s heart as she caught the sight of a little point tiptoeing desperately, trying to see the scene outside the city wall. She bent down to pick him up, his small mouth instantly forming an oval shape, his face flushed with excitement.

A pair of tiny hands clenched into fists, as if ready to dash down and join the soldiers in shouting slogans at any moment.

The deafening declaration didn’t last long. Duke Liang soon stepped forward, raising his right hand slightly, and the hundred thousand soldiers instantly fell silent, as if switched off simultaneously. The previously boiling scene suddenly became solemn and quiet.

Xiao Huai’an’s mouth was gaping open as far as it could, his eyes sparkling brightly as he glanced at Duke Liang, suddenly leaning over to Xu Jing’s ear, whispering, "Mom, I think Grandpa Zhao is amazing!"

He’s able to make so many people listen to him!

He always thought Grandpa Zhao looked a bit scary and never knew how powerful Grandpa Zhao actually was!

Xu Jing looked at him amusedly, whispering back, "Of course, Uncle Zhao is impressive. He’s a great hero who protects the country, just like your dad."

Xiao Huai’an’s bright eyes instantly shifted from Duke Liang to his own father.

At this moment, Duke Liang was proceeding as per tradition, summoning the leaders of each army to report the number of soldiers under their command. The heir of Duke Liang and Xiao Yi stood on either side of him, their sharp and serene eyes fixed on the soldiers below.

Although Xiao Yi didn’t speak, the steady and solemn strong presence exuding from him made it hard for anyone to easily ignore his existence.

Xiao Huai’an nodded his little head, softly saying, "Yes, Dad is also a great hero, but Mom, I feel like the Dad now is somewhat different from the usual Dad."

Xu Jing looked at him with a gentle smile.

She naturally understood the little guy’s feelings. Although Xiao Yi was born into the military-traditional Xiao Family and later joined the army, he spent the past few years working as a civil servant.

His current appearance, clad in armor and exuding a sharp, knife-like aura, indeed differed from his usual reserved and composed civil servant demeanor, which caused Xu Jing to be momentarily distracted upon first seeing him.

Even in Lingzhou, Xiao Yi didn’t wear a full suit of armor like now.

She asked with a light laugh, "Does Dad look good like this?"

Xiao Huai’an blushed slightly, nodding, "He looks great, Mom. Chang Xiao wants to become a great hero like Dad in the future."

Before heading to the city wall, this little guy was still in a tremendously sorrowful state.

It seemed the fiery atmosphere among the soldiers just now had affected him, slightly easing his sadness.

Xu Jing teasingly asked, "Last time, you said you wanted to be a hero like Mom. Does Chang Xiao want to learn from Mom or Dad?"

Xiao Huai’an paused, as if only just remembering this, and thought hard before speaking earnestly, "Dad and Mom both fight bad guys. When fighting big bad guys, I’ll learn from Dad, and for small bad guys, I’ll learn from Mom!"

This little guy sure knows how to summarize.

Xu Jing couldn’t help but be amused by him, leaning over for a light kiss on his chubby cheek.

Soon, the troop dispatch ceremony concluded. Everyone first respectfully saw the Holy Emperor off, and then it was time for Duke Liang and his army to depart.

Right after the Holy Emperor left, Zhao Shaohua led Xu Jing and Chang Xiao off the city wall.

Once off the wall, Xu Jing realized that the Zhao family’s women and children, along with many other military leaders’ families, had gathered there, anxiously watching the top of the city wall, waiting for their men to come down and see them briefly.

Xu Jing walked over, smiling, "When did Mrs. Cen arrive? Why not go up the city wall?"

The eyes of the Yang Family lady following behind Madam Cen were red, clearly having just cried.

Madam Cen smiled faintly, "We arrived a bit late, just as the other leaders’ families did, so we shouldn’t go up in front of them.

After all, I’ve already seen such troop dispatch ceremonies several times accompanying Lord Guo."

Although others knew they belonged to the Zhao Family and had privileges others didn’t, Madam Cen didn’t want them to feel a disparity in such an important matter as defending the homeland.

Saying so, she lovingly glanced at Xu Jing and Xiao Huai’an with her, saying, "It’s your first time seeing Yanci off to the battlefield, it’s appropriate to witness it yourself. Jing, how do you feel?"

With full awareness that Madam Cen was showing concern for her, Xu Jing replied with a smile, "I’m fine, Mrs. Cen, don’t worry. Barring accidents, our Xinglin Hall will be responsible for preparing battlefield medication for them, so in a way, Yanci and I are both fighting."