'The Return to Capital'

[Towards Caizhou city, Caizhou west]

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"Well, It seems I would not be getting bored of these scenes appearing at the brink of my eyes.", Yun spoke to himself as He and his group of carriages rattled over the rocky path towards the Capital veining through the southern tips of the forests edged with Hills on the other side.

A Day had been passed from the happenings which happened at the Qing County, and the Jin army stubbornly kicked off the remaining scattered forces of the Khitan and Mongol raiders spread towards the north. But, as Yun found no reason to stay at the desolate and almost war-ravaged county without a proper residence, and having no interest in going on with the Jin army's pursuit towards the fleeing raiders, he left the command of the pursuit to Zhang; giving him strict orders to return after he makes sure the road to Chang'an becomes clear and safe.

As for him, He set out towards Caizhou as he was advised by Zhao to get his feet trenched down in the investigations of the mysterious attack that happened on his Mansion and him.

According to her, it was better for Yun to take a taste of the Capital's political and economical archipelago for his strong roots in the Jin government. She told him that his only way to remain untouched by the attacks from the unknown enemy is to find him inside the capital's struggle to survive, which he must enter as to get the track of the hidden enemy he has tailing him-

To Yun, it may have seemed a decision to fire his own arrow to his feet, but after thinking carefully about his dubious position in the period he was, without political or economic support- it's a suicide itself.

Zhao was right. He was in an uncertain position indeed, Not to mention his sudden reinstatement to the title of General was itself a pain in the eye for many in the Capital. For such an escalated case, what he can do is only could possibly be done by his active or passive entry in the struggles of the chaotic capital.

To make things more directive, a summon came from the Emperor in Kaifeng to invite him back to the capital, as he wanted to meet his Prince to thank him for saving the Capital and its population.

Though it was not sure for Yun that, Emperor is going to thank him in a real sense; He knew that the Emperor is old and feels insecure towards everyone plotting in the capital. But for him, he had every reason for him to be trusted by the Old emperor in desperation. And by this invitation, despite being an uncertain danger lingering over it, Yun got a tough reason to enter the Capital under Emperor's protection.

So, He agreed.

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"Master Yun! I want to ask you a question.", Dai Fu spoke out from the carriage front.

"Ask."

"Why did you send Zhang to command the pursuit of those fleeing bastards?", he asked. "I mean you could have sent me instead."

"You?"

"Yes! me."

"Well, I could have sent you out there, but if I did that your brother will say the same words to me as you are saying to me just now."-Yun replied in a joking manner.

"Master!", he continued-" it seems you don't trust me at all."

"Well, if I hadn't had a trust in you, you would have been there than sitting beside me in the front."- Yun answered with a smile on his face-"Now answer my question. What is that Crown prince doing nowadays?"

"He?", Dai fu continued- "He is grounded at the south palace by the Emperor. But, he is still somehow active in the Caizhou city."

"Well, That's a problem indeed.", Yun answered- " I want a favour from you..."

"...Just order me, Why are being so sweet to make me do something?", He replied with a worry in his voice- "I may be your Friend for you, but for others and society I am still a mere Butler serving you."

"Hmm, that's true though. But, at least hear me out what I want you to do."- Yun insisted.

"Ah... I'm more than happy to hear that. Just tell me anything!", He answered as their carriage reached the South Gate of the Capital city.

Yun asked him to leave the convoys he had brought with him and enter the city by the western gate, murmuring something more in Daifu's ears.

Daifu smiled, and gestured the convoy carriage behind him to enter from right here and stop following them- He turned the carraige towards westwards and in no time the carraige was heading towards the villages outside the Capital city, mostly situated in the west- about which, he had came to know from Zhang, who told him a blacksmith must have something useful for him there.

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[Caizhou Royal Study, Caizhou]

"Your majesty! Second prince has returned with his convoy in Caizhou and he is now heading west towards the Caicai and Zhicai villages."- A man in lavish and grand clothing, spoke out after bowing before the Emperor, who was sitting in his study, writing something with a brush dipped with the best and eboniest ink available in the Kingdom on a type of premium paper made with hemp rag and old fishnets added to pulp of the bark of the mulberry tree.

The person bowing before the Emperor was the Crown Prince, Jin Long.

"Hm...I know that already.", The Emperor answered without taking a look on the standing prince before him.

"But, Royal father! You ordered him here, but he is fooling around outside the Capital! He is be-littleling you.", The prince spoke with a insistive voice, trying to show his worry about his brother's arrogance.

"Come here!", The Emperor called him, still not having even taken a look on the prince before him.

The Prince, a bit annoyed by the Emperor's ignorance- takes a halt for a moment and slowly walks towards the Emperor sitting with his eyes still on the work he was doing.