Once the emotions of monarch and subject calmed, Emperor Changlong called his sons over. “Yingting, these are Our sons. It has been many years since you’ve returned to the capital, so you may not recognize them.
“This is the crown prince,” Emperor Changlong said, sighing. “Although he’s skilled in martial arts and knows the art of war, he’s lazy. If it wasn’t for Us forcing him to learn politics and how to govern the state, one would fear he wouldn’t even step foot into the imperial study.”
“This most humble general greets Your Highness the crown prince. Your Highness is noble and handsome, possessing an extraordinary and imposing manner.” Hua Yingting studied Emperor Changlong and the crown prince. “Your Highness’ eyes and nose are aesthetically pleasing. They resemble Your Majesty’s.”
And Emperor Changlong burst into a roar of laughter.
Raising his clasped hands, the crown prince returned a salute to Hua Yingting. “Great General is overpraising me. I am still lacking in many aspects.”
“This is Our eldest son.”
“This most humble general greets Prince Ying.”
Prince Ying found it somewhat strange. When describing the crown prince, his imperial father used a long string of adjectives. So why was it that during his turn, his imperial father only said a short sentence?
After wrapping up his sons’ introductions, Emperor Changlong insisted that Hua Yingting ride in the imperial sedan. Face red, Hua Yingting replied, “This most humble general is endlessly moved by Your Majesty’s kindness. But…” Again and again, he glanced behind him, and even his neck grew red.
Catching that appearance of his, Emperor Changlong understood Hua Yingting was afraid of his wife. He smiled. Patted his shoulder. “Nevermind, nevermind. We won’t be the villain today. It’s an immensely joyous affair that you and your wife have returned to the capital. If We cause you, Beloved Subject, to kneel once you return home, then We will feel terrible.”
“Your Majesty,” said a woman in red, a smile tugging at her lips. Valiant and formidable-looking, she approached Emperor Changlong and performed a full ceremony of paying respects. “It has been many years since we’ve last met. Your honored self’s graceful bearing has not changed since.”
To which Hua Yingting shrank his shoulders in, not a word leaving his lips.
“General Wei.” Emperor Changlong looked at the women in red before him. His tone carried deep emotion as he said, “We are growing old. Yet, General Wei is still as youthful-looking and beautiful as before.”
The Great State of Jin’s most famous general, General Wei Mingyue. From Emperor Changlong’s youth until now, she existed as a psychological shadow. He had not been sensible back then, and noticing Wei Mingyue’s extraordinary beauty, he had said a few frivolous words. Shortly after, he witnessed head-on as Wei Mingyue smiled while she slapped a stone bench to pieces.
From then on, whenever he laid eyes on Wei Minyue, his legs ached, fearing that she would accidentally snap off his leg. And because this psychological shadow was so great, all the women in his harem had appearances and temperaments opposite of Wei Mingyue’s.
After so many years had passed, even though Emperor Changlong had become a highly esteemed emperor, it only took one glance at Wei Mingyue to recall that stone bench.
As such, even if he knew that Hua Yingting was henpecked to the max, he found him a true hero, a true fellow man, a model example for men in the capital.
“Beloved Subject.” Emperor Changlong pushed Hua Yingting toward Wei Mingyue’s side. “Many thanks to the two generals for Great Jin’s heroic accomplishments. We are here to welcome you back and escort you into the city.”
“Alive, we are Great Jin’s people. Dead, we are Great Jin’s ghosts.” Hua Yingting and Wei Yue knelt together before Emperor Changlong. “It is this most humble general’s duty.”
“Long live Your Majesty,” husband and wife said, lying prostrate and kowtowing.
“Long live Your Majesty,” shouted the soldiers who had returned to the capital, loud enough to shake the heavens, to cause the whole country to tremble.
“It is Our life’s fortune to have you two great generals,” said Emperor Changlong among the shouts. He stooped to support the two of them to their feet, eyes moist once more.
“Let’s go. The palace has prepared a feast to celebrate your heroic deeds. Return with Us to the palace.”
Because the emperor brought the imperial princes to personally receive Hua Yingting at the city gates, Hua Yingting received much prestige. Lin Zhou watched as the emperor’s procession slowly disappeared from the city gates, sighing in admiration in secret.
Since time immemorial, famous generals were like beautiful women; typically, they would not live long.
Today, the Hua clan enjoyed much glory; in the future, they would need to practice much caution. They had defended the border for these past many years, with a record of repeated success. However, the Hua family had in recent times suppressed the fiercest and toughest Jinpo Country. The other small countries could not put up much of a fight. At the very least, it was enough to guarantee fifty years’ worth of peace for Great Jin.
During those fifty years, what would happen to the Hua clan?
“Father.” The Lin family’s daughter disembarked from the carriage. She noticed her father staring into space toward the city gates. Saw the Hua family receiving the emperor’s personal welcome. Yet, she and her family could only yield the way, hiding in a corner. She felt melancholic. Tried to console her father by saying, “You are honest and were low-profile when returning to the capital. Other people do not know you have arrived. Thus…”
“Silly child.” Lin Zhou smiled. “The Hua clan will have a moment of glory. As for what the future brings, only history books can comment on it. I am not thinking too much. You do not need to worry.”
His daughter was good at everything. Just, she was too sensitive. If she did not alter her personality, what’s to be done once she married into the imperial family?
Since the first light of dawn, Hua Liuli and Hua Changkong had prepared to head for the city gates and meet their parents. Once they discovered that the emperor would bring the imperial princes to welcome their parents in person, and even set up a welcoming banquet in the palace, brother and sister followed the people waiting inside the city to greet their parents.
There was still a long way from the city gates to the palace.
Although the streets were already empty of civilians, it was no match for the civilians’ enthusiasm.
Men and women crowded the upper floors of teahouses and restaurants by the road, watching the excitement. When the emperor’s procession passed by, they grew lively at once. Some threw flowers, others handkerchiefs. Still others threw banknotes.
Don’t support theft; read this at sleepchaser’s wordpress.
Hua Liuli was sure it was a young girl who had said that.
“General Wei, I want to marry you.”
Hua Liuli took in her mother’s elegant and graceful rear figure. Then, she shifted her gaze to the young girl on the upper floor of the teahouse, who was jumping as she waved her handkerchief. And her emotions grew very complicated.
Sister, there’s no future in liking a married general. Look for someone else to have feelings for.
“Never had I expected that after so many years, young girls would still like Mother so much,” said Hua Changkong, his tone holding much emotion. No wonder His Majesty’s procession traveled so quickly to get here. Looks like it’s to let the civilians conveniently throw flowers and cheer.
Emperor Changlong could return to the imperial palace early, but the imperial princes had to accompany the soldiers and officers. Prince Ying removed the flower that had been accidentally thrown on his head, a buzz in his ears.
The crown prince, who rode a horse in front of him, suddenly reined in his horse, coming to a stop. He turned around and looked at the Hua siblings who were following behind the princes. He beckoned them. “Third Young Master Hua, Commandery Princess Fushou, come forward.”
At once, realization struck Prince Ying. The crown prince wanted to make a good impression in front of Hua Yingting and General Wei. Prince Ying knew that Ji Yuansu, this bastard, liked to show off in front of his brothers. Liked to act like a good person in front of other people.
“Your Highness.” Holding onto the reins of her horse as she rode it, Hua Liuli had heard the crown prince call out to her. And she urged her horse before him.
“You haven’t met the two generals in a long time. Go forward and reminisce with them well.” Why are this girl’s eyes so bright and twinkling? It’s to the point that I feel happy and excited too. “Today is the day your family reunites. No need to adhere too much to etiquette.”
“Many thanks, Your Highness.” Hua Liuli felt more and more that the crown prince was a good person. Such a good crown prince. Yet in spite of everything, there were people who called him egotistical. So much shameless slander against him.
“Go.” The crown prince patted his horse. Moved to the side of the road.
As Prince Ying watched this scene, he rained curses at the other party in his heart. What he shows the world and who he is inside are totally different! Swindler, treacherous villain!
When husband and wife noticed their young child, gentle smiles lit up their faces. “Liuli, hurry and come to Mother’s side.”
“Mother.” Hua Liuli had her horse approach her mother. If there weren’t other people around, she would have jumped into Wei Mingyue’s arms.
Wei Mingyue reached out and touched her. “My obedient child, are you happy in the capital?”
“Yes, everything is fine.” Hua Liuli grabbed her hand. “It’s just that I missed Daddy and you.”
“We also missed you,” said Wei Mingyue, looking at her daughter’s eyes. Her own gaze was gentle, as if she were looking at the most precious treasure.
When the crown prince caught sight of this scene, he could not help but make his horse move even slower, giving the four family members space to talk.
These two generals treated their children truly like what rumors said: as if they were pearls in the palms of their hands.
“General Wei, you can’t take me as your wife, so let me marry you son!” someone screamed in the street.
Hua Liuli raised her head without a word. Shifted her gaze to the young ladies screaming on the upper floors. And she blinked at them.
Wasn’t the capital’s culture too open?
“My son will not!” Hua Yingting roared.
What’s going on with young girls these days? Let’s not talk about them fancying his wife, but they wouldn’t even let off his son?
All of a sudden, handkerchiefs and spice bags rained from both sides above, a cheerful and lighthearted atmosphere filling the entire street.
In a teahouse’s private room on the second floor, Commandery Princess Jiamin watched as those young girls accompanying her stuck their heads out the windows and looked around. Holding a teacup with both hands, she sipped her tea, not a word escaping her lips.
“Word has it that General Wei was a famous beauty in the capital,” one of the girls said. “Who would have thought that after so many years, she is as beautiful as ever?”
“I think… Hua Liuli is very pretty.”
“Quiet, you,” said another girl, sneaking a glance at Jiamin. “There are plenty of pretty children in the capital. What’s she worth?”
“But she’s not just pretty. She’s beautiful…”
“Did you people come out to drink tea or to judge someone’s appearance?” Jiamin placed her teacup on the table. Rose to her feet. “There’s a welcoming banquet in the palace this evening. I won’t accompany you people any longer.”
After Jiamin had left, the girls shared a look.
“You know Jiamin dislikes Hua Liuli, yet you still praise her as pretty. Are you stupid?”
“You can’t blame me. It’s because she’s too good-looking, and it confused me.”
“Fortunately, you’re not a man.”
“What?”
“Lecherous men can easily bring harm to other young ladies.”
“Good sisters have to help each other. We must humiliate Hua Liuli during the Birthday of the Flowers and help Jiamin vent her anger.”
“Don’t you people feel that we’re really resembling those unlikable extras from novels right now?”
“Shut up!” said everyone to that blabbering girl.
How were they extras? They were the resourceful advisers of the main character.