She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 525 - 524: The Sunset Glow, The Return of the Killing God

Chapter 525: Chapter 524: The Sunset Glow, The Return of the Killing God

After Yan Zizhuo, the Crown Prince of Dawei, ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, the first thing he did was to issue an order to attack the Chu Kingdom, thus igniting a three-year long war between Dawei and Chu.

During these three years, the citizens of both nations suffered immensely, inevitably burdened with heavy taxes and levies, voices of grievance filled the air.

Many citizens migrated to the Qin State, and suddenly the population pressure there surged dramatically.

"Lately, many more citizens have migrated here, and it’s hard to say when this war will end. If it continues like this, I’m afraid that the Qin State will get dragged into it as well," someone said.

In the third-floor of a tavern.

A woman dressed as a graceful and elegant matron in deep purple robes leaned by the window, gazing at the city gate nearby.

There, refugees were queuing up for free rice porridge.

"That’s right, the host," the tavern keeper began. "This rice porridge shop has been open for three years now, and still, there is no end in sight. We only hope the war ends soon, so the people can have a moment’s peace."

A flash of sadness crossed the eyes of the woman in magnificent attire.

What good is peace...

Her Commandery Princess would never return.

"What’s the matter with you, host?" The tavern keeper, seeing a glistening tear in the corner of Li Chengxiang’s eyes, was momentarily stunned.

Had he just said something wrong?

Li Chengxiang lifted her hand to wipe away the tear, regaining her usual composure: "Keep the porridge shop running as usual, and don’t waste the excess food in the tavern either. Many people can’t afford enough food or clothing now; consider it a good deed done daily for the sake of the young master to accumulate virtues."

If the Commandery Princess has a spirit in heaven, seeing all this would surely bring her comfort.

"We will follow all your instructions, host," the tavern manager complied.

Li Chengxiang nodded, closed the ledger on the table: "I’ve finished checking today’s accounts; I will head back now."

She spiraled down from the third floor, walked out amid watchful eyes, and boarded her carriage.

The capital of the Qin State was bustling, and it took the carriage a long time to navigate through the busy market before it arrived at a mansion.

Three bold and potent characters were prominently displayed above: "General Residence."

Several women and children occupied the front of General Residence; seeing the carriage stop, they painfully rose from the ground and approached the vehicle.

Li Chengxiang stepped down from the carriage, facing these faces marred by time and war, she spoke helplessly: "I provided money for you yesterday; are you planning to cling to my place now?"

"Please, have mercy, madam; you are the kindest at heart," they pleaded.

A child stretched out his hand, gazing earnestly at Li Chengxiang.

He was only a few years older than the young master.

Li Chengxiang’s heart softened slightly.

From her sleeve, she pulled out a purse and distributed some coins: "Take this and go quickly, lest the General sees you upon his return from training and decides to arrest you."

The crowd took the money and dispersed hurriedly.

Li Chengxiang walked toward the interior of the General Residence.

The interior of the residence was simple. This General Residence was personally ordered to be built by Qin Wu, the King of Qin, for them when they fled Dawei to take refuge in Qin State, claiming that should the Commandery Princess reach the Qin’s territory one day, this would be her residence.

However, no one anticipated that the news they received was of the Commandery Princess’s death.

Her sisters nearly died from crying.

Thereafter, except for playing with the young master, the lady spent much of her time secluded in the Buddha hall.

They even secretly returned to Dawei, hoping to worship the Commandery Princess.

But entering the Imperial Mausoleum of Dawei was not easy, and then came the continuous war with Chu Kingdom.

Yan Hongzhao, the fifth sister, sought an audience with the King of Qin when she heard about the war between the two nations. Starting from the lowest ranks, she worked her way up to become the revered General Chaoyang, the indispensable right-hand of the King

Yan Li’an, the eldest young master, willingly became the military advisor for General Chaoyang. He moved in and out of the military camps dressed in simple attire, yet no one dared to underestimate him.

Yan Lingzhen, the sixth sister, left home carrying a medical kit, saying she would find an antidote for the Concentric Gu to cure the Emperor of Dawei from the poisonous insect toxin as per the last wishes of the Commandery Princess. It’s been three years since they parted; except for regular letters, she has not returned.

Xiaoqi, Yan Zizhuo, had gradually grown into a young boy, following the eldest young master, studying the Four Books and Five Classics, fostering his character, determined to become a towering figure.

Shen Shuyun spent her days at the refuge porridge shop, personally serving porridge to the people. She rose before dawn and returned late in the evening, unwavering in her dedication regardless of the weather; as she once received a bowl of hot porridge that saved her and her grandfather’s life, she now wanted to pass on this gratitude.

As for herself,

She took advantage of the chaos of war to swiftly transform Money Leopard into an underground business, using Iron Horse Street to make a fortune in wartime, firmly establishing her foothold in the Qin State.

It seemed... that everyone had their own goals and directions.

They also had their own lives.

But the one vitally important person was missing.

The more Li Chengxiang thought about it, the worse he felt inside.

"Auntie Li!" a milky voice called from the end of the corridor.

All he saw was a little jade dumpling, carved and polished, running towards him.

Li Chengxiang quickly put down what he was holding, squatted down, and caught the dumpling.

His heart softened.

"Why did you come out alone?"

The little dumpling still smelled of milk, "I ran fast, left the nanny behind, don’t blame the nanny, Auntie Li."

As soon as the words were out, a woman dressed in green came panting after.

"Little ancestor, you really run fast."

The little dumpling hooked his hands around Li Chengxiang’s neck refusing to let go, rubbing against her wanting to be picked up.

Li Chengxiang dared not refuse, and with a smile finally appearing on her face while holding the heavy dumpling, she said, "You’ve worked hard."

The nanny could only smile helplessly.

"Yan Xingze, next time run slower, wait for your nanny."

When the Commandery Princess had fled three years ago, she hadn’t even had time to name the child in swaddling clothes.

Since the Commandery Princess had been gone, Xiao Pingfeng grew increasingly tyrannical, killing mercilessly, so everyone did not want to send the child back to the Imperial Family of Dawei.

The young master simply named him.

Yan Xingze.

At this moment, Yan Xingze blinked his clear, large eyes and nodded, "Okay, I’ll listen to Auntie Li, next time I’ll run slower, wait for the nanny!"

"Then thank you, young master." The nanny said with a beaming smile.

Yan Xingze beamed a toothy smile.

Li Chengxiang teased him as they walked towards the inner room.

"Your Auntie Number Five will be back soon, let’s go take a bath, change clothes and wait for Auntie Number Five to have dinner, okay?"

Yan Xingze nodded vigorously, his voice milky.

"Okay!"

"Wait for Auntie Number Five to eat!"

At that time, in the Qin State Imperial Palace.

Yan Hongzhao and Qin Wu stood on the palace wall.

The setting sun slanted down, elongating their shadows.

Qin Wu had shed his former innocence, his eyes now held a deep reserve.

"News from Chu Kingdom arrived; they’ve trained a god of war. In the next battle with Dawei, they plan to deploy this god of war," said Yan Hongzhao slowly.

Qin Wu shook his head, "Ever since a so-called enlightened master arrived in Chu Kingdom three years ago, they’ve embraced these sorts of antics. But look, isn’t every attempt utterly destroyed by Xiao Pingfeng?"

"I heard this time is different. This god of war is both brave and strategic, emerging distinctively in numerous minor battles along the Chu Kingdom frontier, highly esteemed by the Chu royal family," Yan Hongzhao conveyed the news she had heard.

Qin Wu’s gaze shifted from the evening glow to Yan Hongzhao and suddenly spoke.

"It’s been three years since your older sister passed away."

Yan Hongzhao hadn’t expected Qin Wu to bring this up; she paused before nodding.

"When she entrusted you to my care, she couldn’t have imagined that you would swiftly secure a footing in Qin State through your own strength. I never underestimate any member of the Yan Family. Hongzhao, now you are my General Chaoyang, and you have been training the armies of Qin State for nearly two years now. It’s time you got some practice," he continued.

"Your Majesty means?" Yan Hongzhao sounded slightly uncertain.

There was a fierceness in Qin Wu’s eyes, "With three kingdoms standing, two battling, how could Qin truly remain unaffected? Rather than waiting for one kingdom to overtake the other and then come after us, better to strike first, to seize the initiative in this chaos."