The Prince of Travelers

Chapter 042: The Arrival of Li Xiang

Li An stared out at the fortress with a cold look. At the enemy camp there, a puff of smoke was seen soaring high. A great fire is burning. A group of red-spirited soldiers stormed the base like fire ants attacking their prey.

"..."

No words said. Li An was only speechless with the military officers who were today in charge of overseeing the fort with him. Even so, the look in his cold eyes seemed to say to those officers from the Left Kingdom, "Look at that! Such is your fate if you dare to oppose the empire."

The officers were stunned to see the attack carried out by the Red Steel Army. The red-armored soldiers attacked quickly. Seeing the ravines of the enemy headquarters, the feelings of the officers of the Left Kingdom became mixed. Happy, grateful, amazed, and afraid. All of this cannot be clearly expressed by them.

The vanguard forces of the Middle Kingdom were an elite army. They were able to fight pretty hard stuff for a moment. However, after the heads of their high-ranking officers were put on display at the spearhead of the war, the morale within them collapsed instantly. The choice for them was only three; between dying, being taken captive, or escaping contemptuously and living in seclusion.

Unfortunately, no one was able to escape the Red Steel Army led by Li Xiang. They were all caught. Some of them decided to commit suicide because they did not want to be prisoners, while others hoped to worry so that lives would not be lost and get forgiveness. The Red Steel Army had successfully demonstrated its might before the Left Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom in their first battle today.

"Welcome, Prince Xiang," Li An greeted respectfully. He greeted the Seventh Prince directly in front of the gate. As a prince, this was the first battle for the two. Thank goodness this war went well on their side.

"It doesn't need to be that stiff, Brother," Li Xiang smiled proudly at the welcome, "It's great to see you in good health. It seems, you and Fourth Brother can hold out well."

"Well, this is also because of Big Brother's help. Thank you for the help," Li An replied flatly. The aid he was referring to was the Red Steel Army that came first. Their numbers are not much. However, they were very helpful in strengthening the fort defenses.

"Let's go in first," Li An invited, "Sister Xiang and the Red Steel Army definitely need a break now."

"Hm, of course," without much further ado, the Red Steel Army led by Li Xiang entered the capital carrying the captives they captured. Their steps sound very compact. Their full-fledged and bloody appearance made the residents reluctant to welcome him on the streets. However, the civilians were secretly peering out of their window slits with complicated feelings.

"What about the fortress you have to guard now?" li An asked on the way to the palace. He rode leisurely beside Li Xiang. Their appearances are both very different. If Li An robed scholarly style clean and neat, Li Xiang big martial style that dashing and scary because of the former battle that just passed through.

"Let them. After all, they were not weak people who would fall just because they were left for a while," Li Xiang replied to the foolish fate of the Wind Fortress that he should be guarding, "Even if I hadn't come here, their officers would have come here. How could I possibly want to wait boredly in that powerful fortress?"

"Right sister," Li An looked at the approaching Left Imperial Central Palace, "According to the intruders we captured, the purpose of this raid was to break the concentration of the Left Kingdom and capture the imperial delegation. Had the capital been besieged for much longer, troops from nearby forts would have had to be sent to help. When that happens, the power in those fortresses will be hard to penetrate by the enemy."

"Curtain! They were wrong to look for an opponent. How dare they attack the capital when the imperial delegation is here" Li Xiang chanted. He was also reminded of his biological brother. "How's Rou'er doing here? Is she okay? I heard the palace was under massive attack at night."

"She's a strong and brave girl" Li An replied. The nosy little Li Rouwei's face appeared in his mind instantly, "Of course he is fine. It's just, he's become more troublesome since the attack."

"How troublesome?" Li Xiang was curious. He knew that his brother was very spoiled and selfish. His presence in the delegation really made him question his own mother's decision. Well, the important thing was that he was fine under the supervision of Li An and the Silver Fox Scholar, Yun Jili.

"Greetings to the Seventh Prince. Greetings to the Eighth Prince," said the old minister, "Thank you for the help of the Tang Empire. Without your help, we wouldn't be able to fight and survive this far."

Li An and Li Xiang only gave small nods. They were also escorted into the palace, while the Red Steel Army was directed to the military barracks with the prisoners. Only the most elite people were escorting the Seventh Prince.

***

"Sister An! Brother has already gone home," exclaimed Li Rouwei as soon as Li An and Li Xiang arrived at the Guest of Honor Complex, "Why is Big Brother so old? If there is an enemy who wush ..wush ... how else?"

"Hopefully nothing" Li An replied as she rubbed the hair of the little girl who greeted him, "You don't have to worry anymore either. Sister Xia–"

"Sister Xiang why are you here?" exclaimed Li Rouwei furiously. His crisp and shrill voice made Li An and Li Xiang stunned, "Smelly-smelly sister! Take a shower there. Not good to know! Don't go in that dress."

"Ro–Rou'er?" Li Xiang just remembered that he was still wearing his blood-soaked armor. It was only natural that Li Rouwei exclaimed in anger that way. But still he was envious. Why is it that only Li An gets such good treatment?

"Because Big Brother An is better," chirped Li Rouwei who immediately hid behind Li An's cloak while covering her nose, then returned to repel Li Xiang, "Ih ...! Brother Xiang take a shower first!"

"I–iya, yes" resigned Li Xiang. In fact, he was very gallant on the battlefield today. No enemy can hurt him. However, he was completely helpless before his tomboyish and fierce sister. Well, what to say. Li Rouwei's words were indeed not wrong. He should shower now.

"Have you finished studying?" tanya Li An checked Li Rouwei's obligations. As long as he was busy watching the course of the war outside the fortress with Li Bei, his little brother had another flurry.

"Yet," Li Rouwei replied, "But it's almost done in a moment. Brother, come help me."

"Hm" Li An nodded. Thank goodness he is free now. "Ask if you have anything to ask."

Every day, Li Chen, Li Rouwei, Seonghwa, even Yong Seong had to study hard with Yun Jili. There are so many things that they have to memorize and learn. Of course Li Chen did it the fastest. He has been used to learning like that since childhood. His ambition to become a scholar at a young age was also quite influential. After all, he was the oldest among them.

Although a little forced, Yong Seong also studied well. He was very grateful when he heard his sister survived under the protection of Li An and the Cenangkas Army that night. In return, Li An asked him to study hard in order to become a future successor to the throne. When he became a king later, the empire would more easily control him.

Seonghwa also learned quite well. He can learn lessons quickly for kids his age. His speed in understanding that forced the laziest Li Rouwei to study harder with the others. It was a good development for me. Well, still Li Rouwei was the most passionate about learning when being with Li An like today.