The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 281 Abundant Offspring, Rogue and Virtuous Woman
At the end of October, Li Xiao embarked on his journey back to Jinzhou.

The north wind whipped up snowflakes that stung my face.

When he set out at the beginning of spring, he was wearing only a single layer of armor; now that he has returned, his sable fur coat is as thick as a layer of armor.

During the more than half a year of fighting, the hooves of the Northern Frontier Army trampled across the Gobi Desert of the Hexi Corridor, and their swords were stained with blood in the Hehuang Valley. Even the swords of the generals and soldiers were worn thinner than before.

Now I can finally shed the dust of my journey and get some rest.

After crossing most of Jinzhou, the outline of Longcheng gradually became clear in the wind and snow.

The bluish-gray city wall, like a lurking dragon, appears even more majestic against the backdrop of white snow, while the golden battle flags fluttering at the city gates are blown about by the cold wind.

The familiar sun and moon pattern instantly warmed Li Xiao's heart.

"Here it comes~"

Someone shouted first, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

"It is the battle flag of the Armed Police Force."

"The Grand Protector is back!"

The snow outside the city gate was already filled with people.

Li Xiao's wives and concubines wore thick cloaks, like flowers blooming in the snow.

Many of Wu Weijun's family members also came, including elderly people with white hair, women holding children, and children standing on tiptoe to look around. Everyone's face was full of anticipation.

Xiao Yanyan wore a thick, dark gold cloak and held a golden knife that looked like a rice dumpling in her arms.

The little guy had just turned one year old. He was wearing tiger-head shoes and a fluffy hat on his head, with only his big, dark eyes peeking out. He was looking curiously into the distance, his little face full of bewilderment.

Children's memories are very short. After Li Xiao had been away on campaign for more than half a year, he had long forgotten what Li Xiao looked like.

The scene before him was a completely unfamiliar spectacle to him.

Xiao Yanyan smiled and lowered her head, wrapping the child in her cloak tightly, her voice gentle: "Look, that's Daddy coming back."

"Daddy~"

Jin Dao mumbled a reply, looking completely bewildered.

The little finger pointed at the approaching horse caravan in the distance, its eyes wide open, but it couldn't tell which one was its father.

Li Xiao's gaze swept through the crowd, and he immediately spotted those familiar figures.

Xiao Yanyan stood at the front, her dark gold cloak standing out against the wind and snow. Beside her, Er Ya, dressed in a plain white cloak, was waving excitedly at him.

And there are Han Ying'er, Suoluheti, Huang Xiu'er...

The familiar faces instantly dispelled most of his fatigue from the journey.

"Grand Protector!"

"Grand Protector!"

The cheers of the people rose and fell, echoing in the wind and snow, dispelling much of the chill.

The soldiers of the Wuwei Army were even more excited. They straightened their backs, patted their chests in Li Xiao's direction, and as Li Xiao waved, they scattered instantly, running towards their loved ones.

Li Xiao, accompanied by a squad of personal guards, approached Xiao Yanyan.

He reached out, wanting to take the golden knife from her arms.

"Jin Dao, come here, let Daddy give you a hug."

Jin Dao blinked his big eyes and looked at the man in front of him, who was wearing a mink coat and had a full beard. His little brows furrowed immediately.

The unfamiliar atmosphere made him uneasy, and he suddenly shrank into Xiao Yanyan's arms, his little hands tightly gripping his mother's clothes, his little mouth pouting, and he looked like he was about to cry.

"This is my father, he's not afraid of the golden knife."

Xiao Yanyan smiled and patted Jin Dao on the back, then said softly to Li Xiao, "It's been more than half a year since we last met, and your son doesn't even recognize you anymore."

Li Xiao laughed heartily, completely unconcerned. Instead, he grabbed the golden knife and held it firmly in his arms.

Caught off guard, the little guy froze for a moment, then grabbed at his chest with his little hands, his mouth opening as if he was about to cry.

"You brat, I'm your father."

Then he looked at his wives and concubines beside him. Er Ya's eyes were already red, with tears welling up in them. Han Ying'er and Suo Luhe Tie Ni also looked at him with teary eyes, their eyes full of concern.

"This battle has been going on for quite a while. Thank you for your hard work in defending our homeland," Li Xiao said with a smile, his tone tinged with guilt.

Er Ya quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and shook her head with a smile: "It's good that the Grand Protector is back safe and sound. We're not tired."

Afterwards, Li Xiao, carrying the golden knife, returned to the Protectorate General's Mansion with his wives and concubines.

Upon entering the mansion, the servants had already prepared hot ginger soup and a charcoal brazier to dispel the chill.

After settling Jin Dao in, Li Xiao went to Han Ying'er's room.

Inside the gauze curtain, a four- or five-month-old baby lay in swaddling clothes; it was Li Xiao's eldest daughter, Li Lingyue.

The little guy had snow-white skin, like a freshly peeled egg, and his eyebrows and eyes resembled Li Xiao's somewhat. His little mouth was pursed, and his big, dark eyes curiously looked at the person who came in.

Li Xiao walked over quietly, carefully extending his finger to touch her soft little face.

The little guy seemed amused, and he grinned at him.

"This is Lingyue?"

Li Xiao spoke very softly, his eyes filled with joy: "He's really handsome."

Han Ying'er sat on the edge of the bed, gently patting her daughter's back: "I just fed her, she's in good spirits. Maybe she knows Daddy is coming to see her, she didn't fuss much just now."

Looking at his daughter's delicate nose and mouth, Li Xiao's heart melted completely.

Li Xiao preferred this soft, cuddly little guy to that brat Jin Dao, who was wailing and crying.

"Little Moon".

"Let's call him Little Moon as his nickname," Li Xiao said with a gentle laugh as he carefully held the little guy in his arms.

His daughters will all be named after the moon.

However, Li Xiao showed extra favoritism towards his eldest daughter, so he generously gave her the nickname 'Little Moon'.

Han Ying'er secretly breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the father and daughter relying on each other.

She was always disappointed after giving birth to a daughter, fearing that Li Xiao wouldn't like her.

But seeing Li Xiao's appearance now, her heart finally settled down.

A relieved smile appeared on her lips. Perhaps having a son is important, but to receive such love from her husband, having a daughter is not a loss at all.

She gently stroked her belly, thinking to herself, "But Little Moon is still too lonely. I need to give him a younger brother."

Jinzhou was completely covered by a heavy snowfall after the onset of winter.

The world was a vast expanse of white, even the walls of Dragon City looked as if they were covered with a thick layer of icing sugar. Birds had vanished, and all was silent.

With nothing to do, Li Xiao was indeed as predicted, constantly bothered by his wives and concubines.

During the day, he plays with Jin Daowa and teaches him to recognize weapon models.

At night, there was a torrential downpour and thunder, and the waters flooded Jinshan.

He lived a very comfortable life, indulging in nightly revelry.

That morning, as the snow was falling heavily, Li Xiao had just finished writing a letter to the Hexi Merchant Guild in his study when Huang Xiuer's maid rushed in, her face flushed and pale: "Grand Protector, my lady... requests your presence."

Li Xiao raised an eyebrow and put down his wolf-hair brush: "What happened?"

The maid bit her lip, her voice trembling: "We just had a doctor come to see you, and he said... he said that Madam is pregnant."

Li Xiao was overjoyed and strode towards Huang Xiuer's courtyard.

Huang Xiuer was the oldest among Li Xiao's wives and concubines, and had been married before. She was already terrified when she was abducted.

After entering the mansion, seeing Xiao Yanyan with her golden knife, Han Ying'er giving birth to Lingyue, and Er Ya and Suo Luhe Tie Ni being young and beautiful, his unease grew stronger day by day.

She was always afraid that she would be unable to have children and would end up alone and destitute.

When I found out I was pregnant, I was completely stunned.

Years of pent-up grievances and fears suddenly burst forth, and she cried uncontrollably in front of the servants.

"I thought... I thought I would never..."

She choked back tears, her fingers gripping Li Xiao's sleeve tightly: "Grand Protector, I'm not a useless person..."

Seeing her red, tear-filled eyes, Li Xiao raised his hand to wipe away her tears, his voice unusually gentle: "What nonsense are you talking about? You've never been a useless person."

Huang Xiuer's pregnancy thrilled the Huang family, and the Li family was also very happy, after all, Li Xiao had many children and the family was thriving.

The women in the backyard each had their own thoughts: melancholy, envy, and frustration.
The days slipped away quietly amidst these complex emotions, and before we knew it, spring was almost here.

As the snow gradually melted, new green shoots sprouted from the corners of Longcheng's walls. Good news kept coming from the Grand Protectorate: Sorghaghtani and Tajiguli were also pregnant.

Tajiguli was the daughter of Arkus, the prime minister of Gaochang. She left no name in history and may have died young.

Sorghaghtani Beki is historically known as the "Mother of Four Emperors," and now, on this land in the northern frontier, her legend is finally about to begin.

When Xiao Yanyan went to visit her, she saw her staring intently at a painting titled "Teaching a Son," and jokingly said, "It seems that my sister is hoping to have a son."

Solughati raised his head, a frank smile in his eyes, and said in slightly awkward Chinese, "Boys and girls are both fine, they are all the flesh and blood of the Great Protector, they are all children of the Northern Frontier."

……

Compared to the cold of Jinzhou, Hamili at this time feels like a place kissed by spring early.

The melting snow and ice revealed the reddish-brown soil beneath, and the camel thorns by the roadside still had a hint of green.

Although bathed in the warm sunshine, the air was filled with a tense chill.

In an ordinary courtyard in the east of the city, the mud walls were covered with withered vines, and the copper rings on the wooden door were rusted. It looked unremarkable on the outside, but there was a whole different world inside.

Hidden in the shadows of the corners of the walls were sentries, and at each intersection stood men who appeared to be strolling around, their eyes scanning the passersby warily.

The owner of the house was clearly very cautious, even the window paper was pasted very thickly, so that not a single sound could escape.

This is one of the secret bases of Kudinayaan, the Minister of Justice.

At this moment, in the courtyard, he was scanning the officials present with a serious gaze.

“The treacherous dog Arkusna has been controlling the government for three years,”

Kudinayan's voice was extremely low, like polished gravel: "Tax revenues all go into his own pocket, appointments and dismissals are entirely based on his whims, the people of the country are full of complaints, and they are living in misery."

“If we allow them to continue to control the government, Gaochang will cease to exist.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a vice minister of the Ministry of War sitting below him said in a deep voice, "This humble official was ordered by His Majesty to infiltrate the old traitor's inner circle and has long seen through his ambitions!"

He lowered his voice, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes: "It won't be longer than the end of the year, that old thief will definitely rebel."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone present changed simultaneously.

Everyone knew that Arcus coveted the throne, but no one expected that he was so impatient that he was unwilling to wait even this year.

That makes sense. That old scoundrel is nearly fifty years old, and his temples are already gray. If he drags this out any longer, he might take the throne to his coffin.

The crowd erupted in indignation, each member seemingly irreconcilably opposed to Arkus. These were all royalists, and all had been carefully selected by Kudinayaan before being brought into his plans.

These people were either die-hard loyalists to the royal family or had a grudge against Arcus.

The possibility of betraying the organization is not nonexistent, but it is very low, and it's worth the risk.

"Everyone, please take a look."

"This is the imperial edict to punish the rebels that His Majesty delivered to me through the Imperial Concubine."

Kudinayan took out a decree and showed it to everyone.

Arcus had a tight grip on the palace; it was only because the royal concubine hid inside her clothes that she escaped the royal guards' search.

The edict was quite simple: it summoned righteous men from all over the land to kill the traitor Arcus.

Everyone was excited when they saw the imperial edict.

But then, a new problem arose.

They have no soldiers.

Outnumbered and outgunned, how could they possibly kill Arcus?

More importantly, Arkus is the father-in-law of Li Xiao, the Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier.

Even if they could actually kill Arkus, how would Gaochang face the northern frontier army?

You must know that the terror of the Northern Frontier Cavalry has long been ingrained in people's hearts, so who would dare to rebel?
Surrender to the royal court?

That's hilarious.

Wang Ting didn't even understand the Eastern Karakhanid Khanate, so how could he possibly protect Gaochang, which was thousands of miles away?

Therefore, upon thinking about these two difficulties, everyone's spirits instantly plummeted.

But since Kudinayayan has proposed this plan, he must have a strategy to deal with it.

Then he said in a deep voice, "You all need not worry about the Northern Frontier Protectorate."

"The Grand Protector has already declared that whoever takes control of Gaochang will not interfere in our internal affairs as long as Gaochang continues to submit to the Northern Frontier, pay tribute, and provide troops to fight alongside us, regardless of who holds power in Gaochang."

Upon hearing this, everyone was instantly astonished, looking on incredulously.

The Vice Minister of War said in confusion, "But Arkus's daughter is the beloved concubine of the Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier!"

Kudinayan, however, was full of confidence and scoffed, "It's not like that old thief is the only one with a daughter~"

"Princess Ayina is also in the Northern Frontier! She is also very popular with the Northern Frontier Protector-General."

Upon hearing this, everyone instantly cheered.

"Great."

"Yes! We also have Princess Ayina."

When the Northern Frontier Army captured Gaochang City, they abducted many royal women.

This included the late queen and Princess Ayina.

They are the mother and sister of the current King Chebido.

Of course, the princess could be considered a marriage alliance, but the queen being abducted was a disgrace. So everyone understood the plight of the mother and daughter, but no one mentioned it.

All you need to know is that Princess Ayina has already gained some status in the northern frontier.

Once they overthrow the old traitor, they can persuade the Northern Protector-General not to resort to force.

that's enough.

Seeing everyone's excited expressions, Kudinayan sighed inwardly.

The terror of the Northern Frontier Cavalry has penetrated deep into the heart of Gaochang.

It was like a sharp sword, constantly hovering over Gaochang's head.

Now, even a vague attitude from the Northern Frontier Protectorate is enough to make these people ecstatic.

It's really sad.

However, the most urgent task is to deal with that old scoundrel, Arkus, before we can even dream of breaking free from the control of the Northern Frontier and making Gaochang strong again.

So, Kudinayan waved his hand gently, lowered everyone's voices, and said in a deep voice, "As for how to deal with that old thief, we need someone's help."

"Who?" everyone asked hurriedly.

“Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, Motso Uba,” Kudinayan said solemnly.

……

Arcus's son, Pello, was always a tyrant in Gaochang.

Relying on his father's immense power, he spent his days loitering in the streets with a group of lackeys, engaging in cockfighting, horse racing, and harassing women. The people of the city would avoid him whenever they saw him.

That afternoon, Pei Luo was lying on a soft couch in a tavern, enjoying himself with a female slave, but he surrendered after only the time it takes to drink two cups of tea.

At this moment, a skinny, groveling lackey suddenly approached, a fawning smile plastered on his face: "Young master, I discovered an absolute beauty yesterday!"

Pei Luo was in a state of deep contemplation, not even lifting his eyelids, and casually asked, "How stunningly beautiful?"

He grew up surrounded by women; what kind of beauties hadn't he seen?

The concubines in his mansion were all stunningly beautiful; ordinary women simply couldn't catch his eye.

The lackey wrung his hands anxiously, spitting as he spoke: "Young master, this time it's really different."

"That woman was like a fairy who stepped out of a painting. I have never seen anyone so beautiful in all my life."

Seeing the lackey talking so enthusiastically, Pei Luo finally became interested, sat up and kicked him: "If it's not as you say, watch out for your lackey."

"Rest assured, young master! If I utter even the slightest lie, I am willing to have my legs broken," the lackey assured him, patting his chest.

Pei Luo then lazily got up, dressed, and led a large group of people to follow the lackeys westward into the city.

After turning through several alleys, we came to a secluded courtyard. The courtyard wall was not high and was covered with withered vines. It certainly didn't look like a wealthy family's home.

"It's inside?" Pei Luo raised an eyebrow.

The lackey nodded hurriedly: "Young master, look."

Pei Luo peeked through the half-open courtyard gate and saw a woman sitting in the courtyard basking in the warm sun.

She wore a plain-colored cloth dress, her long, black hair was loosely tied up, and a few strands of hair fell beside her cheeks. The sunlight shone on her fair profile, making even the fine hairs clearly visible.

Her eyebrows and eyes, her figure, were just as the lackey had said, exactly like a fairy from heaven.

Pei Luo's eyes widened instantly, a surge of anger rising from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making his blood boil.

He could no longer contain himself. He kicked open the courtyard gate and rushed in with his lackeys, shouting, "Little beauty, your master is here!"

Seeing a group of fierce-looking men barge in, the servants turned pale with fright, but still mustered their courage and stepped forward to stop them: "Who are you? How dare you trespass on a private residence?"

"Blind your dog eyes!"

One of the lackeys slapped the servant across the face: "This is the son of the Prime Minister, the future Prince of Gaochang. It's your family's good fortune that he has taken a liking to your master!"

As they were talking, the lackeys had already started, herding the servants and maids in the courtyard like sheep into a woodshed and locking the door behind them.

Pei Luo stared intently at the woman, approaching her step by step: "Beauty, submit to me, and I'll guarantee you a life of luxury and endless riches."

The woman was so frightened that she backed away, clutching the hem of her skirt tightly with both hands, her voice trembling with tears: "No, don't come any closer!"

"Come on, beauty, stop struggling."

Pei Luo grinned maliciously and pounced on the woman, grabbing her wrist.

The woman's wrists were slender and soft, feeling like the finest silk, which only fueled his desire.

The woman struggled desperately, her skirt torn to shreds, tears streaming down her face like broken beads: "Let me go! My husband will be back soon!"

"Husband?"

Pei Luo scoffed, "So what if he comes back? Does he dare to steal my woman?"

"So you still have to kneel on the sidelines and watch us have our fun?"

With that, he pushed the woman onto the bed and pressed down on her, saying, "Being chosen by me is a blessing you've accumulated over several lifetimes!"

After a struggle, the woman finally closed her eyes in despair, tears streaming down her face.

After a cup of tea, the woman's cries in the room gradually subsided, leaving only suppressed sobs.

Just then, a burly Uyghur man strode into the courtyard.

He was wearing the armor of the Imperial Guard, with a curved sword at his waist, and his face showed signs of hardship. He was none other than Mocuo Wuba, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard.

But as soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw several lackeys squatting on the ground, looking at the closed door with lewd smiles.

Mocuo Wuba's expression changed drastically in an instant. Realizing something was wrong, he angrily shouted, "Who are you?"

When the lackeys saw him wearing armor, they were taken aback at first. Then, some of them recognized his identity and realized that something was terribly wrong.

But the lackey who had previously instigated Pei Luo seemed indifferent, scoffing nonchalantly, "Where did this stray dog ​​come from, daring to meddle in the Prime Minister's affairs?"

Before he finished speaking, Mocuo Wuba had already moved.

He had followed the Northern Frontier Army on its eastward expeditions, surviving countless battles and clashes. Dealing with these good-for-nothings was as easy as crushing a few ants.

In a short while, only the screams of the lackeys remained in the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, with a loud "bang," Mocuo Wuba kicked open the half-closed door.

But the scene before him made him furious.

"Thief, take your life!"

Mocuo Wuba's eyes instantly turned red, like an enraged lion.

This woman was an orphan he had rescued from outside the city not long ago. He had originally intended to take her in as a maid and give her some food, but after she changed into clean clothes, her pure and refined appearance amazed him.

He immediately changed his mind, arranged a special residence for her, and ordered people to take good care of her, treating her as the apple of his eye.

But to her utter surprise, someone dared to break in and defile her after she had only been on duty for half a day!

Pei Luo shuddered at the roar and looked up to see the ferocious Mo Cuo Wuba, whose face was twisted with rage as if he wanted to devour someone.

He was instantly terrified, scrambling out of bed and yelling at the other person, "Mo Cuo Wuba! What are you doing?!"

"I am the son of the Prime Minister. If you dare to lay a finger on me, you are committing a rebellion."

He shouted with bluster, but his legs were trembling like a leaf.

Mocuo Wuba finally saw his face clearly, and his heart sank.

It was Pei Luo!

The most beloved son of the prime minister, Alcus, was a notorious playboy in the city of Hamil.

(End of this chapter)