Four days.

Returning to the heart of the forest river, he rode through the three provinces of Kot, Gelderland and Ghana in one go, covering a distance of nearly 2,000 kilometers.

Finally, on the morning of July 15, we arrived at the end of the trip: Tallinn City. This is a satellite city in the southern suburbs of the imperial capital, about 30 kilometers away from the imperial capital.

At the same time, Tallinn was also a major garrison of the Imperial Guard. The famous Royal 9th Guards Cavalry Division and the 2428th Hoplite Division were stationed here.

It can be said that Tallinn is a standard military city, which undertakes the task of guarding the periphery of the imperial capital.

Riding alone in the direction of the city gate, looking at the flying eagle flag fluttering in front of him, Lin He had a feeling of being separated from the world.

It's been three years, and I'm finally back.

The soldiers of the 24th Infantry Division, who were on duty at the city gate, vigilantly looked at the men and horses not far away. Just as he was considering whether to step forward and interrogate, Lin He had already turned his horse's head on the spot and turned onto the path on the left to leave Tallinn City.

At the end of the trail is the destination of the trip: the Lonely Mountain Cemetery.

It is the largest collective cemetery of soldiers in the Empire, where hundreds of thousands of Imperial soldiers who died for the country are buried. The whole cemetery is built on the mountain, and outside the solemn gate, there are ceremonial soldiers guarding there all the year round.

Today's weather is not too good, gloomy and no sun. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, Lin He tidied up his clothes and stepped into the gate of the cemetery with a heavy heart.

The small tombstones in the park are neatly arranged. As far as the eye can see, it looks like a huge military formation, covering the entire mountain. It is surrounded by pines and cypresses, which makes this place full of slaughter.

Along the way, in an inconspicuous corner of the mausoleum area, Lin He stood in front of a tombstone. The whole tombstone is carved out of uniform marble, and the ordinary one can't be more ordinary.

On the small stele, the words of the tomb of the imperial soldier Lin Tian are engraved.

No date, no payment. Nor does anyone realize that under this small tombstone is a former imperial marshal.

According to the specifications, the Imperial Marshal should have entered the Imperial Capital Valhalla. In this regard, Lin He did not feel too aggrieved. Perhaps, his father would have been more than happy to be with his soldiers.

He took out a white towel and carefully wiped the entire tombstone. Lin He did it very carefully, not letting go of the slightest place.

"I did it all in the past few years, and this year Uncle Lin finally doesn't have to wait for me!" An imperial soldier with flowers in his hand stood behind Lin He at some point.

"Thank you!" He continued to wipe the tombstone intently, without the slightest pause in the movements of his hands.

"It's been three years, third brother! You're finally back! ”

"yes, it's been three years, are you all okay?" Gently placing the flowers in front of the tombstone, the two turned around together at the same time, looking at each other.

"You're a lot more mature than you were three years ago, I'm so happy!" The visitor opened his arms, and the two hugged each other warmly.

"It's good to be back." The soldier patted Lin He on the shoulder and whispered in the latter's ear.

"Big brother, what about the second brother?" A man's hug is always short-lived, unless it's some kind of special relationship.

"The second brother went to the Southwest Front, and he thought he would meet you there." lit a cigarette and motioned for Lin He to come too. Seeing the latter shake his head, he took two deep breaths and raised his head to spit out a large cloud of smoke.

"What about you, big brother?"

"I serve in the Armaments Department of the Military Affairs Department of the Imperial Capital, and I am responsible for the preparation of the Imperial Army." The young man pointed to his epaulette, which was inlaid with a silver baronial coat of arms. It indicates that the young man in front of him is already a middle-level officer in the empire.

"What about you. Third brother? Where have you been for three years, and you haven't received a single letter. ”

"After I retired, I formed a mercenary group on my own, and I was in Fallen Leaf City in the province of Kot." Lin He briefly introduced his situation.

"Oh, are you going to leave this time?" After finishing the sacrifice, the two walked side by side to the exit of the cemetery.

"I~~"

Suddenly, Lin He stopped and looked at the entrance of the cemetery not far away.

A familiar figure was walking in the direction of the two from the gate. After Li Xingpeng, who was beside him, saw the person coming clearly, he hurriedly stretched out his hand and grabbed Lin He, who was about to meet him.

"Big brother, what are you?"

Facing Lin He's doubts, Li Xingpeng smiled bitterly, "Princess Lili Ai will be engaged next month." ”

Lin He, who heard the news, seemed to have been drained of all his soul, like a walking corpse being pulled behind the bushes by Li Xingpeng.

At this moment, the beautiful figure was walking past the two of them. The whole person is like the bouquet of lilies in his arms, noble and beautiful.

From afar, he looked at the princess Lili Ai who came to worship and sweep. Lin He's whole person was like a defeated rooster, standing in place with a depressed expression.

Thirty minutes later.

Feeling his beloved girl quietly walking past him again, Lin He's heart felt like a tearing pain. It wasn't until the beautiful figure disappeared at the door of the cemetery that Lin He supported his head with his hands and sat on the grass decadently.

"How long has it been?" Lin He's hoarse voice revealed indescribable exhaustion.

"It's been half a year!" Li Xingpeng took out a cigarette and lit himself a deep puff first. Only then did he gently touch Lin He's shoulder and stretched out the cigarette case in front of the latter. Seeing that he didn't mean to pick up, he put it back in his pocket.

Then he sat on the grass beside Lin He and told him in detail about Princess Liai's affairs in the past few years.

As his eldest brother Li Xingpeng said, Princess Lili Ai, who is about to be eighteen years old, inherits the excellent blood of the royal family, and is still a rare beauty. Of course, the most important thing is the identity of the first heir to the throne of the empire. This makes her side, there has never been a shortage of suitors of all kinds.

Although ordinary flowers and plants cannot enter the eyes of Her Royal Highness the Princess. But Lili Ai is also a young girl after all, and more often she thinks about problems with feelings. Coupled with the status of the imperial crown prince, various social occasions in and out of high society. Flowers & Balls, Plays & Salons. It can withstand the test of these suitors with ulterior motives.

"Perhaps, you're back now, there's still a chance!" Li Xingpeng spat out a smoke ring and watched the blue circle that grew bigger and bigger finally disappear in front of him.

"Is Ah Li happy with her?" Leaning against the stone beside him, he looked at a group of wild geese flying in the distant sky. It seems that at this moment, his soul has followed them and flown into the distance.

"Maybe! At least there are a lot more smiles in the past six months than before. Li Xingpeng, who belonged to the same Ministry of Military Affairs as Princess Lili Ai, thought about it and answered the question honestly.

Then came a long silence.

When Li Xingpeng finished smoking the third cigarette, Lin He finally stood up, and in just a quarter of an hour, the young man in front of him seemed to be more than ten years old. The eyes that looked at his eldest brother were as deep as an ancient well.

"Big brother, I won't go back to the imperial capital. I want to get back to Leaf City now, and I'll come back to see you when I have a chance! ”

"Why don't you go for it?" Li Xingpeng said a suggestion that he was not confident in.

"As long as Ah Li is happy, my current situation can't give her happiness. Big brother, you are by Ah Li's side, if you can, help me help her more. After speaking, Lin He bent down and bowed to Li Xingpeng.

With a long sigh, Li Xingpeng picked up the depressed Lin He with one hand, and the two walked out of the door side by side.

The two of them didn't speak along the way, and after Li Xingpeng raised his hand to salute the salute soldiers standing guard at the door, he took Lin He to the place where the horses were tied.

"Where do you live?"

"I'm here directly, big brother, let's go our separate ways."

"It's okay, I'm on vacation today, I'll send you off!"

"No need. Big brother, I want to rush back to Leaf City overnight. My mercenary group has taken on a new mission and needs to stay on the side of the 100,000 Mountains for a while. Lin He rode on the back of a war horse.

"Okay, I'll send a letter to the second brother of the Southwestern Front Army when I go back, tell him your whereabouts, and let him rest easy."

"Thank you, big brother." Lin He turned the horse's head and was about to leave.

"Wait a minute." Li Xingpeng, who was behind him, shouted to Lin He, who was about to leave.

"When the matter of the Southwest Province is over, remember to come to the imperial capital, I have some clues about Uncle Lin's affairs."

Jumping off the war horse, Lin He bowed deeply again to Li Xingpeng, who was not far away. Then he jumped on his mount and whipped his horse. The war horse neighed, and its hooves flew like a fly. There was a rush of horses' hooves and disappeared into the distance.