Once the emotions of the monarch and his subject had settled, Emperor Changlong called all of his sons forward, "Yingting, these are Zhen's sons. You haven't been in the capital for many years, so you probably don't recognize these children."
"This is the Crown Prince," Emperor Changlong sighed, "Although he has some knowledge of martial arts and military strategy, he is a lazy person. If Zhen didn't force him to study governance and political affairs, he probably wouldn't even want to enter the study room."
"This humble general greets Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. His noble bearing and extraordinary aura are remarkable," Hua Yingting carefully observed Emperor Changlong and the Crown Prince, "The Crown Prince has attractive features, resembling Your Majesty."
Emperor Changlong burst into laughter.
The Crown Prince bowed to Hua Yingting and said, "General, your praise is too kind. Benwang still has many shortcomings."
"This is Zhen's eldest son, Ying Wang."
"Greetings to Your Highness, Ying Wang."
Ying Wang felt something was amiss. When introducing the Crown Prince, Father Emperor used a series of adjectives, but when it came to him, it was just a brief address of his title?
After introducing his sons, Emperor Changlong insisted on inviting Hua Yingting to accompany them on the carriage. Hua Yingting blushed and said, "Your Majesty's kind offer moves me deeply. However..." He kept glancing back, even his neck turning red.
Seeing his reaction, Emperor Changlong understood that he was afraid of his wife's temper flaring up again. He chuckled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Forget it, forget it. Zhen won't be the bad guy today. Your return to the capital with your wife is a joyful occasion. If Zhen's actions cause you to kneel on the floor when you return, then it would be Zhen's fault."
"Your Majesty," a woman dressed in red approached with a smile. She gracefully saluted Emperor Changlong, "It has been many years. Your Majesty's charm remains as it was back then."
Hua Yingting lowered his head and remained silent.
"General Wei," Emperor Changlong looked at the woman in red, his words tinged with emotion, "Zhen has grown old, but General Wei still radiates brilliance."
This renowned female general, Wei Mingyue, had once been a psychological shadow during his youth. When he was young and ignorant, he made some frivolous remarks upon seeing Wei Mingyue's beauty, and soon after, he witnessed her break a stone stool right in front of him with a smile.
Since then, whenever he saw Wei Mingyue, he felt a pain in his legs, fearing that she might accidentally break them. Due to this deep-rooted fear, all the women in his harem, in terms of appearance and temperament, were the complete opposite of Wei Mingyue.
After many years had passed, even though Emperor Changlong was now a revered emperor, his first thought upon seeing Wei Mingyue was still that broken stone stool.
For this reason, even though he knew Hua Yingting was afraid of his wife, he considered him a true hero, a true man, and a role model for the young men in the capital.
"Zhen's esteemed generals," Emperor Changlong pushed Hua Yingting towards Wei Mingyue and said, "Thank you, both of you, for your great contributions to Great Jin. Let's enter the palace together."
"As loyal subjects of Great Jin, we live and die for our country," Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue both kneeled before Emperor Changlong, "This is our duty."
"Long live the Emperor," the couple kowtowed to the ground.
"Long live the Emperor," the generals and soldiers who accompanied them back to the capital shouted in unison, their voices resounding, shaking the heavens and earth.
"Zhen is fortunate to have such excellent generals. It is the blessing of Zhen's life," amidst the cries, Emperor Changlong bent down to help them up, his eyes once again filled with tears.
"Let's go. Prepare a celebratory feast in the palace. All the distinguished generals shall accompany me back to the palace."
The monarch leading his sons personally to greet Hua Yingting at the city gate was an exceptional display of honor. Lin Zhou watched as the imperial procession gradually disappeared through the gate, and he couldn't help but sigh.
Since ancient times, renowned generals were like beautiful women, not allowed to be seen in old age.1This line captures the idea that there is an expectation for famous generals to retire or disappear from the public eye before growing old.
How glorious the Hua family was today, but how cautious they would be in the future. In these years, with the Hua family guarding the borders, there have been continuous reports of victories. But now, the ferocious Jinpo Kingdom has been suppressed by the Hua family, while other small countries are defenseless. At least the Great Jin Dynasty can enjoy fifty years of peace and stability.
But what lies ahead for the Hua family in the next fifty years?
"Father," Lin Zhou's daughter stepped out of the carriage and saw her father silent and gazing at the empty city gate. Thinking that he had witnessed the Emperor personally welcoming the Hua family while they could only hide in the corner, she felt a sense of melancholy and spoke words of comfort, "You have always been upright and returned to the capital without much fanfare. Others are unaware that you have arrived in the capital. So..."
"Silly child," Lin Zhou smiled and said, "The glory of the Hua family is temporary. It's their future that will be evaluated in the annals of history. I haven't thought much about it, so you don't need to worry."
His daughter was good in every aspect, except that she was too sensitive. If she couldn't change her temperament, what should he do when she marries into the imperial family in the future?
Early in the morning, Hua Liuli and Hua Changkong prepared to go to the city gate to welcome their parents. Upon hearing that the Emperor had personally received them and arranged a celebratory feast in the palace, the siblings followed in the reception procession.
There was still a long way to go from the city gate to the palace.
Although the streets had been cleared, there were still enthusiastic commoners beside the road. The tea houses and taverns were packed with men and women watching the spectacle. As soon as the Emperor's procession passed by, it instantly became lively. Flowers, handkerchiefs, and even silver tickets were thrown.
Hua Liuli heard the exhausted cries of the guards, "Be careful, don't fall!"
"General, general, look here!" Hua Liuli could be certain that the screaming voice belonged to a little girl.
"General, I want to marry you." Hua Liuli glanced at her elegant mother's figure, then looked at the girl in the teahouse waving her handkerchief and jumping around, feeling a bit complex.
Little girl, it's pointless to fall in love with a married female general. It's better to find someone else to like.
"I never thought that after so many years, Mother would still be so popular among little girls," Hua Changkong sighed with emotion. No wonder Emperor Changlong's procession moved so quickly. It seemed to facilitate the commoners' throwing flowers and cheering them on.
Emperor Changlong could return to the palace early, but the princes had to accompany the generals. Ying Wang removed a flower that had accidentally landed on his head.
The Crown Prince, riding a horse in front of him, suddenly pulled the reins, stopping the horse. He turned around and looked at the Hua siblings following behind the princes, and beckoned them, "Third Young Master Hua, Fushou Junzhu, come forward."
Ying Wang immediately realized that the Crown Prince intended to act favorably in front of General Hua and General Wei. He knew that Ji Yuansu, that despicable person, liked to show off in front of his brothers while pretending to be the best person in front of others.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli's horse was being led by someone. When she heard the Crown Prince calling her, she rode her horse close to the Crown Prince.
"You haven't seen your parents for many days. Come forward and catch up," the Crown Prince thought that this girl's eyes were so bright that they made his heart sway, "Today is a day for your family to reunite. There's no need to be overly formal."
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli felt even more that the Crown Prince was a good person. Such a good Crown Prince -- And someone actually dared to claim that he had an arrogant personality? Such shameless slander.
"Go ahead," the Crown Prince patted his horse and moved aside.
Seeing this scene, Ying Wang cursed inwardly -- Deceptive, two-faced scoundrel!
When the couple saw their youngest daughter approaching, their faces softened with smiles, "Liuli, come over here to your mother."
"Mother," Hua Liuli guided her horse closer to Wei shi2In Chinese, the character "氏" (shì) is a suffix used as an honorific title for married women. When attached to a person's maiden surname, it indicates that the person is married. It is typically used in formal or respectful contexts. For example, if a woman's maiden surname is Zhang, adding "氏" after her surname would make it "张氏" (Zhāng shì). It is a way of addressing or referring to a married woman with respect.. If there weren't outsiders present, she might have plunged into Wei shi's embrace.
Wei shi reached out and touched her head, "My well-behaved little girl, are you happy in the capital?"
"Everything is good." Hua Liuli held Wei shi's hand, "It's just that I miss father and mother."
"We miss you too," Wei shi looked at her daughter, her eyes so gentle as though she was looking at the most precious pearl.
Seeing this scene, the Crown Prince couldn't help but slow down the pace of his horse, giving the family of four some space to talk.
The two generals truly treasured their youngest daughter, just as the rumors had said— as precious as a pearl in the palm.
"General, if you can't marry me, let me marry your daughter!"
--A young girl's scream cut through the noisy street.
Hua Liuli quietly raised her head and looked at the girls upstairs who were screaming. She blinked at them.
Is the lifestyle in the capital too liberal?
"I don't agree!!" Hua Yingting shouted, tilting his head back.
What's wrong with these young girls in the capital nowadays? Not only are they interested in my wife, but they also don't want to let go of my daughter?
Immediately, countless handkerchiefs and sachets were thrown down from both sides of the building, and the whole street was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
In the private room on the second floor of the teahouse, Jiamin Junzhu silently sipped tea while observing the curious young ladies.
"I heard General Wei was famous for her beauty in the capital back in the day. I didn't expect her to be as graceful as before, even after so many years."
"I think... Hua Liuli is indeed quite beautiful."
"Shut up," the person speaking glanced at Jiamin Junzhu secretly, "There are many beautiful girls in the capital. What makes her special?"
"But she's not just beautiful, she's exceptionally beautiful..."
"Are you here to drink tea or judge people by their looks?" Jiamin Junzhu slammed the teacup on the table and stood up, "There's a celebratory feast in the palace tonight, so I won't be accompanying you anymore."
After Jiamin Junzhu left, the young ladies looked at each other.
"Knowing that Jiamin Junzhu doesn't like her, you praised Hua Liuli for being beautiful. Are you stupid?"
"Don't blame me, it's mainly because she is so captivating."
"Fortunately, you're not a man."
"Why?"
"Men who are easily swayed by beauty tend to cause trouble for other girls."
"Good sisters should support each other. During the Flower Festival, we must make Hua Liuli lose face and help Jiamin Junzhu vent her anger."
"Sisters, do you realize that we now resemble annoying side characters in a storybook?"
"Shut up!" the group of sisters scolded the talkative girl in unison.
Could they be mere side characters? They were clearly the resourceful protagonists in the storybook.
To show appreciation for the great hero, the celebratory feast in the palace was held in great splendor. Emperor Changlong, being overly delighted, couldn't help but drink a few more cups of wine, constantly praising and getting closer to Hua Yingting in his words.
The officials below followed suit in praising and extolling the Hua family from top to bottom. Some even praised the stone lions at the entrance of the Hua Family Estate.
Hua Liuli sat obediently next to her mother, smiling shyly from beginning to end. Her blushing smile earned her heaps of praise.
With her daughter by her side, Wei shi only drank two cups of wine and didn't touch the cup anymore. The other noble women saw this and understood that after several months of separation, the mother and daughter must have a lot to say, so they didn't try to persuade her to drink.
"Mother, when you and Father escorted Jinpo's Second Prince back to the capital, did you encounter any attempt to rob the prisoner's carriage?" Hua Liuli picked up the chopsticks to serve food to Wei shi, keeping the wine cup far away.
"There were people from Jinpo negotiating with us along the way, afraid that we would mistreat him," Wei shi smiled, "But the ones who attempted to abduct the prisoner were not from Jinpo."
"Instigating discord?" Hua Liuli instantly understood. The Kingdom of Jinpo acted arrogantly and oppressed many small countries. These small countries couldn't afford to provoke them, so they resorted to sowing discord and took advantage of the strained relationship between Great Jin and Jinpo to benefit their own country.
"I thought Jinpo's Second Prince would be so angry that he would commit suicide," Hua Liuli whispered, "Back on the battlefield, he was very arrogant."
"Those who can live well don't want to die," Wei shi chuckled mysteriously, "He has been quite obedient recently."
"He hasn't insulted me again, has he?" Hua Liuli asked softly.
"Hmm," Wei shi raised an eyebrow, "He wouldn't dare to insult you for the rest of his life."
After the celebratory feast ended, the intoxicated Emperor spoke up, "Yingting, we haven't seen each other for many years. Tonight, let's have a late-night conversation by candlelight," Then he turned to Wei shi, "General Wei, what do you think?"
Even when drunk, Emperor Changlong subconsciously felt that he needed to seek the opinion of Wei Mingyue on such matters.
Some of the young officials were puzzled. They couldn't understand; it was such an honor for the Emperor to invite them for a late-night conversation, yet he still had to ask General Wei's opinion.
On the other hand, some old officials wore a deep expression of "I know, but I won't say".
"It's the fortune of this humble general," Wei shi stood up and bowed to Emperor Changlong. Then she turned to the crowd; the old officials all lowered their heads, while the young ones still had a flicker of doubt in their eyes.
The old officials secretly shook their heads, appreciating the value of youth -- How ignorant they were.
"Your Royal Highness," a senior official from the Ministry of Justice hurriedly approached the Crown Prince, "Jinpo's Second Prince refuses to eat and insists on meeting Fushou Junzhu."
The Crown Prince glanced at the slightly intoxicated Emperor and said to the senior official, "He is a prince of a defeated small country. What qualifications does he have to meet our noble Junzhu? Let him make a scene."
"Yes," the senior official from the Ministry of Justice acknowledged and withdrew.
It was strange. Jinpo's Second Prince was captured by General Hua. However, judging from his conduct, why did he seem to hate Fushou Junzhu so much?
That night, the Hua family did not leave the palace.
Wei shi noticed that Hua Liuli was familiar with the palace attendants of Shoukang Palace. She remembered her daughter mentioning in a letter that the Empress Dowager had kept her in the palace for some time, so she took the opportunity to express her gratitude to the Empress Dowager.
"This Grieving One is fond of this child. If it weren't for fear of gossip, this Grieving One would have kept her by my side all the time," the Empress Dowager smiled and said to Wei shi, "You have endured hardships on the border all these years."
"Empress Dowager, you are aware of it," Wei shi smiled and shook her head, "For this humble general, being able to guard the border is not a hardship. It's staying in the rear courtyard for a lifetime that is difficult."
Being a female military general was already ten times, a hundred times harder than her male counterparts. Fortunately, she encountered a wise emperor and was able to fulfill her ambitions.
"Yes, women face many difficulties in the world. As a member of the Wei family, who learned martial arts and military strategy, it would be a hardship for you to be imprisoned in the rear courtyard," the Empress Dowager sighed.
If she hadn't married the late emperor, she could have pursued her own interests. Alas, it was all in the past, and she had learned to let it go, but there were still some faint traces of regrets in her heart.
"Empress Dowager, how have you been all these years?" Wei shi personally poured hot tea for the Empress Dowager.
"Good," the Empress Dowager patted Wei shi's hand. "The Emperor is filial and the Crown Prince cares for me."
Sitting beside them, Hua Liuli thought, even the Empress Dowager thinks highly of the Crown Prince. Those people who slander the Crown Prince are truly outrageous.
"Liuli," the Empress Dowager turned to Liuli and said, "Your health is weak. Go back to your room and rest early."
Hua Liuli knew that the Empress Dowager and her mother had something else to discuss, so she pretended not to know and obediently got up to take her leave.
As she walked out of the main hall, the night wind felt chilly. She accepted the cloak handed to her by Yuan Yi and fastened it gently, then quietly made her way towards the side hall. After walking a few steps, she noticed that there were many beautiful lanterns hanging in the courtyard. She stopped and asked, "They were not here the last time I was here, were they?"
"Junzhu, you've forgotten. Today is the Lantern Festival," Yuan Yi whispered, "These lanterns were all handmade by the palace maids."
A nearby maid holding a lantern smiled and said, "Junzhu, it's an old tradition in the palace. Every Lantern Festival, every palace hangs beautiful lanterns that remain lit until early morning."
"With so many palace lanterns, they must all be beautiful," Hua Liuli looked at the lanterns swaying in the wind with tassels, "I wonder how beautiful the palace will be tonight."
"If Junzhu likes, Junzhu can go to the viewing platform in the palace. From there, Junzhu can see the entire palace," the maid remembered Hua Liuli's delicate health and regretted her words, quickly lowering her head.
"Where is the viewing platform?" Hua Liuli was curious.
The maid didn't dare to speak and looked at Yuan Yi for help.
Yuan Yi sighed, "Junzhu, you're not well, and it's windy at night..."
"If my frailty prevents me from enjoying the beauty of the world, what meaning does such a day even have?" Hua Liuli looked at the sky with sadness. A full moon hung in the sky, bright and clear as frost.
Yuan Yi dared not persuade her further and could only let the maids lead the way.
Fortunately, the viewing platform was not far from Shoukang Palace. Hua Liuli hadn't walked for long before arriving at the base of the platform. She looked up, expressionless, at the towering stone steps, then turned to Yuan Yi and said, "I suddenly feel a bit tired. Let's go back."
No wonder one could enjoy the panoramic view of the palace from there. With such a high platform, anyone standing on it could see most of the capital city.
Hua Liuli's reaction didn't surprise Yuan Yi at all. She supported Hua Liuli's hand and smiled, "Junzhu, be careful on the steps. Let Nubi support you."
"Who is up ahead?"
Upon hearing a deep and elongated voice, Hua Liuli turned her head and saw a group of neatly dressed maids approach as they carried lanterns. The Crown Prince sat on a sedan chair, his expression didn't seem too pleasant.
Their gazes met in the darkness; the Crown Prince's expression shifted slightly, "Little girl, why are you here?"
"This humble servant heard there's a viewing platform here and wanted to take a look," Hua Liuli greeted the Crown Prince respectfully, "Is Your Royal Highness here to enjoy the view as well?"
The Crown Prince looked up at the tall viewing platform and got off the sedan chair. His expression turned calm, almost indifferent, "Yes."
Hua Liuli sensed his displeasure and tactfully prepared to leave, "In that case, I won't disturb Your Royal Highness's tranquility..."
"The stone steps are difficult to climb. Benwang will take you up," the Crown Prince extended his robe towards Hua Liuli, "Hold on."
Hua Liuli grabbed the corner of the Crown Prince's robe and blinked her eyes, "Ah?"
"The night scenery of the Lantern Festival is the most beautiful in the capital every year," the Crown Prince led Hua Liuli up the stone steps, "Not only the palace, but the streets outside are also bustling and lively."
"There's no curfew tonight?"
"On festive days like New Year's Eve, Lantern Festival, Qixi Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, there is no curfew," the Crown Prince walked slowly, occasionally glancing back at Hua Liuli, "Tonight, the capital truly becomes a world of fireworks and endless lights."
Hua Liuli's skirt brushed lightly against the clean stone steps, making a faint rustling sound. When they were halfway up, she slowed down her steps.
The Crown Prince turned back to look at her, "Feeling cold?"
Hua Liuli shook her head blankly.
However, the Crown Prince took off his cloak and draped it over Hua Liuli. The oversized cloak on her made Hua Liuli look like a little child who hadn't grown up yet. The cloak's hood covered most of her face. She let go of the Crown Prince's robe and tugged at the cloak's hood a couple of times, but it was too big and covered her entire face.
The Crown Prince, unable to suppress a light laugh, reached out to help her take off the hood.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli adjusted her steps and said, "It is not right to mock this humble servant like this."
"Benwang is sorry. Seeing you now, you look like a kitten tangled in a ball of thread," the Crown Prince cleared his throat a few times, his beautiful eyes filled with amusement, "Come, Benwang will lead you."
He extended his hand in front of Hua Liuli.
Hua Liuli looked at him with suspicion.
"You're just a little girl, what do you have to worry about?" the Crown Prince laughed and placed a handkerchief in his palm, "Here, it's separated by a handkerchief."
"It's not that this humble servant is worried about herself," Hua Liuli extended her hand towards the Crown Prince. After all, she was planning to raise her own male pets, so she wasn't afraid of others' misunderstanding.
She was more concerned about the handsome Crown Prince being misunderstood because of her.
Compared to her inherent coldness, the Crown Prince's hand felt like a furnace. As she watched the Crown Prince's figure, she couldn't help but feel a little sad, thinking that the male pets she would raise in the future would definitely not be as attractive as the Crown Prince.
After witnessing the world's unparalleled beauty, everything else seemed mediocre and mundane.
She turned her head and glanced at the palace maids carrying lanterns behind them. The bright lanterns twinkled in the dark night, creating a splendid scene.
"We've arrived," the Crown Prince's voice brought her back to her senses.
Hua Liuli raised her head and saw not the view within the palace, but the bright street outside the palace gates that seemed to stretch endlessly, with occasional fireworks sparkling in the sky.
The wind was strong on the viewing platform, but Hua Liuli, wrapped in a large cloak, didn't feel cold. She leaned against the railing and sighed, "Such a beautiful view."
The Crown Prince stood behind her in silence.
"In the past, did Your Royal Highness also come here to enjoy the Lantern Festival?" Hua Liuli gazed into the distance, truly understanding the meaning of the phrase "the prosperity of the capital".
The Crown Prince stood by her side and looked at the magnificent scene before them, "Yes."
"It's wonderful," Hua Liuli's hair fluttered in the night wind, and she exhaled a warm breath, "This view truly brings joy to one's heart."
The Crown Prince turned his head to look at the young girl beside him, wanting to say something, but ultimately remaining silent.
Below the viewing platform, Ying Wang and the young lady from the Lin family, who were meeting for the first time, stood ten steps apart. Consort Xian insisted that since it was the Lantern Festival, he should take the Lin girl to the palace to admire the lanterns.
What's so interesting about these lanterns late in the night?
However, he couldn't disobey his mother's command, so he still brought the Lin girl out. To save trouble, he didn't bother taking her elsewhere and planned to bring her to the viewing platform to let her enjoy the view at her own pace.
But when they reached the bottom of the viewing platform, he realized that there were already people up there and couldn't help but complain in a low voice, "Who's so crazy to come up to the viewing platform in the middle of the night to feel the cold breeze?"
Lin Wan: "..."
Upon hearing these words, Lin Wan's face stiffened. Should she blame herself for choosing the wrong marriage partner, or should she blame her sharp hearing?
The night breeze gently wafted around them, enveloping the pair in an atmosphere of endless awkwardness.
Krish728
Author's Note:
The invincible straight male, Ning Wang, is here to teach us how to create awkward situations.
Lin Wan: I shouldn't be here. I should be at home.
Once the emotions of the monarch and his subject had settled, Emperor Changlong called all of his sons forward, "Yingting, these are Zhen's sons. You haven't been in the capital for many years, so you probably don't recognize these children."
"This is the Crown Prince," Emperor Changlong sighed, "Although he has some knowledge of martial arts and military strategy, he is a lazy person. If Zhen didn't force him to study governance and political affairs, he probably wouldn't even want to enter the study room."
"This humble general greets Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. His noble bearing and extraordinary aura are remarkable," Hua Yingting carefully observed Emperor Changlong and the Crown Prince, "The Crown Prince has attractive features, resembling Your Majesty."
Emperor Changlong burst into laughter.
The Crown Prince bowed to Hua Yingting and said, "General, your praise is too kind. Benwang still has many shortcomings."
"This is Zhen's eldest son, Ying Wang."
"Greetings to Your Highness, Ying Wang."
Ying Wang felt something was amiss. When introducing the Crown Prince, Father Emperor used a series of adjectives, but when it came to him, it was just a brief address of his title?
After introducing his sons, Emperor Changlong insisted on inviting Hua Yingting to accompany them on the carriage. Hua Yingting blushed and said, "Your Majesty's kind offer moves me deeply. However..." He kept glancing back, even his neck turning red.
Seeing his reaction, Emperor Changlong understood that he was afraid of his wife's temper flaring up again. He chuckled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Forget it, forget it. Zhen won't be the bad guy today. Your return to the capital with your wife is a joyful occasion. If Zhen's actions cause you to kneel on the floor when you return, then it would be Zhen's fault."
"Your Majesty," a woman dressed in red approached with a smile. She gracefully saluted Emperor Changlong, "It has been many years. Your Majesty's charm remains as it was back then."
Hua Yingting lowered his head and remained silent.
"General Wei," Emperor Changlong looked at the woman in red, his words tinged with emotion, "Zhen has grown old, but General Wei still radiates brilliance."
This renowned female general, Wei Mingyue, had once been a psychological shadow during his youth. When he was young and ignorant, he made some frivolous remarks upon seeing Wei Mingyue's beauty, and soon after, he witnessed her break a stone stool right in front of him with a smile.
Since then, whenever he saw Wei Mingyue, he felt a pain in his legs, fearing that she might accidentally break them. Due to this deep-rooted fear, all the women in his harem, in terms of appearance and temperament, were the complete opposite of Wei Mingyue.
After many years had passed, even though Emperor Changlong was now a revered emperor, his first thought upon seeing Wei Mingyue was still that broken stone stool.
For this reason, even though he knew Hua Yingting was afraid of his wife, he considered him a true hero, a true man, and a role model for the young men in the capital.
"Zhen's esteemed generals," Emperor Changlong pushed Hua Yingting towards Wei Mingyue and said, "Thank you, both of you, for your great contributions to Great Jin. Let's enter the palace together."
"As loyal subjects of Great Jin, we live and die for our country," Hua Yingting and Wei Mingyue both kneeled before Emperor Changlong, "This is our duty."
"Long live the Emperor," the couple kowtowed to the ground.
"Long live the Emperor," the generals and soldiers who accompanied them back to the capital shouted in unison, their voices resounding, shaking the heavens and earth.
"Zhen is fortunate to have such excellent generals. It is the blessing of Zhen's life," amidst the cries, Emperor Changlong bent down to help them up, his eyes once again filled with tears.
"Let's go. Prepare a celebratory feast in the palace. All the distinguished generals shall accompany me back to the palace."
The monarch leading his sons personally to greet Hua Yingting at the city gate was an exceptional display of honor. Lin Zhou watched as the imperial procession gradually disappeared through the gate, and he couldn't help but sigh.
Since ancient times, renowned generals were like beautiful women, not allowed to be seen in old age.1This line captures the idea that there is an expectation for famous generals to retire or disappear from the public eye before growing old.
How glorious the Hua family was today, but how cautious they would be in the future. In these years, with the Hua family guarding the borders, there have been continuous reports of victories. But now, the ferocious Jinpo Kingdom has been suppressed by the Hua family, while other small countries are defenseless. At least the Great Jin Dynasty can enjoy fifty years of peace and stability.
But what lies ahead for the Hua family in the next fifty years?
"Father," Lin Zhou's daughter stepped out of the carriage and saw her father silent and gazing at the empty city gate. Thinking that he had witnessed the Emperor personally welcoming the Hua family while they could only hide in the corner, she felt a sense of melancholy and spoke words of comfort, "You have always been upright and returned to the capital without much fanfare. Others are unaware that you have arrived in the capital. So..."
"Silly child," Lin Zhou smiled and said, "The glory of the Hua family is temporary. It's their future that will be evaluated in the annals of history. I haven't thought much about it, so you don't need to worry."
His daughter was good in every aspect, except that she was too sensitive. If she couldn't change her temperament, what should he do when she marries into the imperial family in the future?
Early in the morning, Hua Liuli and Hua Changkong prepared to go to the city gate to welcome their parents. Upon hearing that the Emperor had personally received them and arranged a celebratory feast in the palace, the siblings followed in the reception procession.
There was still a long way to go from the city gate to the palace.
Although the streets had been cleared, there were still enthusiastic commoners beside the road. The tea houses and taverns were packed with men and women watching the spectacle. As soon as the Emperor's procession passed by, it instantly became lively. Flowers, handkerchiefs, and even silver tickets were thrown.
Hua Liuli heard the exhausted cries of the guards, "Be careful, don't fall!"
"General, general, look here!" Hua Liuli could be certain that the screaming voice belonged to a little girl.
"General, I want to marry you." Hua Liuli glanced at her elegant mother's figure, then looked at the girl in the teahouse waving her handkerchief and jumping around, feeling a bit complex.
Little girl, it's pointless to fall in love with a married female general. It's better to find someone else to like.
"I never thought that after so many years, Mother would still be so popular among little girls," Hua Changkong sighed with emotion. No wonder Emperor Changlong's procession moved so quickly. It seemed to facilitate the commoners' throwing flowers and cheering them on.
Emperor Changlong could return to the palace early, but the princes had to accompany the generals. Ying Wang removed a flower that had accidentally landed on his head.
The Crown Prince, riding a horse in front of him, suddenly pulled the reins, stopping the horse. He turned around and looked at the Hua siblings following behind the princes, and beckoned them, "Third Young Master Hua, Fushou Junzhu, come forward."
Ying Wang immediately realized that the Crown Prince intended to act favorably in front of General Hua and General Wei. He knew that Ji Yuansu, that despicable person, liked to show off in front of his brothers while pretending to be the best person in front of others.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli's horse was being led by someone. When she heard the Crown Prince calling her, she rode her horse close to the Crown Prince.
"You haven't seen your parents for many days. Come forward and catch up," the Crown Prince thought that this girl's eyes were so bright that they made his heart sway, "Today is a day for your family to reunite. There's no need to be overly formal."
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli felt even more that the Crown Prince was a good person. Such a good Crown Prince -- And someone actually dared to claim that he had an arrogant personality? Such shameless slander.
"Go ahead," the Crown Prince patted his horse and moved aside.
Seeing this scene, Ying Wang cursed inwardly -- Deceptive, two-faced scoundrel!
When the couple saw their youngest daughter approaching, their faces softened with smiles, "Liuli, come over here to your mother."
"Mother," Hua Liuli guided her horse closer to Wei shi2In Chinese, the character "氏" (shì) is a suffix used as an honorific title for married women. When attached to a person's maiden surname, it indicates that the person is married. It is typically used in formal or respectful contexts. For example, if a woman's maiden surname is Zhang, adding "氏" after her surname would make it "张氏" (Zhāng shì). It is a way of addressing or referring to a married woman with respect.. If there weren't outsiders present, she might have plunged into Wei shi's embrace.
Wei shi reached out and touched her head, "My well-behaved little girl, are you happy in the capital?"
"Everything is good." Hua Liuli held Wei shi's hand, "It's just that I miss father and mother."
"We miss you too," Wei shi looked at her daughter, her eyes so gentle as though she was looking at the most precious pearl.
Seeing this scene, the Crown Prince couldn't help but slow down the pace of his horse, giving the family of four some space to talk.
The two generals truly treasured their youngest daughter, just as the rumors had said— as precious as a pearl in the palm.
"General, if you can't marry me, let me marry your daughter!"
--A young girl's scream cut through the noisy street.
Hua Liuli quietly raised her head and looked at the girls upstairs who were screaming. She blinked at them.
Is the lifestyle in the capital too liberal?
"I don't agree!!" Hua Yingting shouted, tilting his head back.
What's wrong with these young girls in the capital nowadays? Not only are they interested in my wife, but they also don't want to let go of my daughter?
Immediately, countless handkerchiefs and sachets were thrown down from both sides of the building, and the whole street was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
In the private room on the second floor of the teahouse, Jiamin Junzhu silently sipped tea while observing the curious young ladies.
"I heard General Wei was famous for her beauty in the capital back in the day. I didn't expect her to be as graceful as before, even after so many years."
"I think... Hua Liuli is indeed quite beautiful."
"Shut up," the person speaking glanced at Jiamin Junzhu secretly, "There are many beautiful girls in the capital. What makes her special?"
"But she's not just beautiful, she's exceptionally beautiful..."
"Are you here to drink tea or judge people by their looks?" Jiamin Junzhu slammed the teacup on the table and stood up, "There's a celebratory feast in the palace tonight, so I won't be accompanying you anymore."
After Jiamin Junzhu left, the young ladies looked at each other.
"Knowing that Jiamin Junzhu doesn't like her, you praised Hua Liuli for being beautiful. Are you stupid?"
"Don't blame me, it's mainly because she is so captivating."
"Fortunately, you're not a man."
"Why?"
"Men who are easily swayed by beauty tend to cause trouble for other girls."
"Good sisters should support each other. During the Flower Festival, we must make Hua Liuli lose face and help Jiamin Junzhu vent her anger."
"Sisters, do you realize that we now resemble annoying side characters in a storybook?"
"Shut up!" the group of sisters scolded the talkative girl in unison.
Could they be mere side characters? They were clearly the resourceful protagonists in the storybook.
To show appreciation for the great hero, the celebratory feast in the palace was held in great splendor. Emperor Changlong, being overly delighted, couldn't help but drink a few more cups of wine, constantly praising and getting closer to Hua Yingting in his words.
The officials below followed suit in praising and extolling the Hua family from top to bottom. Some even praised the stone lions at the entrance of the Hua Family Estate.
Hua Liuli sat obediently next to her mother, smiling shyly from beginning to end. Her blushing smile earned her heaps of praise.
With her daughter by her side, Wei shi only drank two cups of wine and didn't touch the cup anymore. The other noble women saw this and understood that after several months of separation, the mother and daughter must have a lot to say, so they didn't try to persuade her to drink.
"Mother, when you and Father escorted Jinpo's Second Prince back to the capital, did you encounter any attempt to rob the prisoner's carriage?" Hua Liuli picked up the chopsticks to serve food to Wei shi, keeping the wine cup far away.
"There were people from Jinpo negotiating with us along the way, afraid that we would mistreat him," Wei shi smiled, "But the ones who attempted to abduct the prisoner were not from Jinpo."
"Instigating discord?" Hua Liuli instantly understood. The Kingdom of Jinpo acted arrogantly and oppressed many small countries. These small countries couldn't afford to provoke them, so they resorted to sowing discord and took advantage of the strained relationship between Great Jin and Jinpo to benefit their own country.
"I thought Jinpo's Second Prince would be so angry that he would commit suicide," Hua Liuli whispered, "Back on the battlefield, he was very arrogant."
"Those who can live well don't want to die," Wei shi chuckled mysteriously, "He has been quite obedient recently."
"He hasn't insulted me again, has he?" Hua Liuli asked softly.
"Hmm," Wei shi raised an eyebrow, "He wouldn't dare to insult you for the rest of his life."
After the celebratory feast ended, the intoxicated Emperor spoke up, "Yingting, we haven't seen each other for many years. Tonight, let's have a late-night conversation by candlelight," Then he turned to Wei shi, "General Wei, what do you think?"
Even when drunk, Emperor Changlong subconsciously felt that he needed to seek the opinion of Wei Mingyue on such matters.
Some of the young officials were puzzled. They couldn't understand; it was such an honor for the Emperor to invite them for a late-night conversation, yet he still had to ask General Wei's opinion.
On the other hand, some old officials wore a deep expression of "I know, but I won't say".
"It's the fortune of this humble general," Wei shi stood up and bowed to Emperor Changlong. Then she turned to the crowd; the old officials all lowered their heads, while the young ones still had a flicker of doubt in their eyes.
The old officials secretly shook their heads, appreciating the value of youth -- How ignorant they were.
"Your Royal Highness," a senior official from the Ministry of Justice hurriedly approached the Crown Prince, "Jinpo's Second Prince refuses to eat and insists on meeting Fushou Junzhu."
The Crown Prince glanced at the slightly intoxicated Emperor and said to the senior official, "He is a prince of a defeated small country. What qualifications does he have to meet our noble Junzhu? Let him make a scene."
"Yes," the senior official from the Ministry of Justice acknowledged and withdrew.
It was strange. Jinpo's Second Prince was captured by General Hua. However, judging from his conduct, why did he seem to hate Fushou Junzhu so much?
That night, the Hua family did not leave the palace.
Wei shi noticed that Hua Liuli was familiar with the palace attendants of Shoukang Palace. She remembered her daughter mentioning in a letter that the Empress Dowager had kept her in the palace for some time, so she took the opportunity to express her gratitude to the Empress Dowager.
"This Grieving One is fond of this child. If it weren't for fear of gossip, this Grieving One would have kept her by my side all the time," the Empress Dowager smiled and said to Wei shi, "You have endured hardships on the border all these years."
"Empress Dowager, you are aware of it," Wei shi smiled and shook her head, "For this humble general, being able to guard the border is not a hardship. It's staying in the rear courtyard for a lifetime that is difficult."
Being a female military general was already ten times, a hundred times harder than her male counterparts. Fortunately, she encountered a wise emperor and was able to fulfill her ambitions.
"Yes, women face many difficulties in the world. As a member of the Wei family, who learned martial arts and military strategy, it would be a hardship for you to be imprisoned in the rear courtyard," the Empress Dowager sighed.
If she hadn't married the late emperor, she could have pursued her own interests. Alas, it was all in the past, and she had learned to let it go, but there were still some faint traces of regrets in her heart.
"Empress Dowager, how have you been all these years?" Wei shi personally poured hot tea for the Empress Dowager.
"Good," the Empress Dowager patted Wei shi's hand. "The Emperor is filial and the Crown Prince cares for me."
Sitting beside them, Hua Liuli thought, even the Empress Dowager thinks highly of the Crown Prince. Those people who slander the Crown Prince are truly outrageous.
"Liuli," the Empress Dowager turned to Liuli and said, "Your health is weak. Go back to your room and rest early."
Hua Liuli knew that the Empress Dowager and her mother had something else to discuss, so she pretended not to know and obediently got up to take her leave.
As she walked out of the main hall, the night wind felt chilly. She accepted the cloak handed to her by Yuan Yi and fastened it gently, then quietly made her way towards the side hall. After walking a few steps, she noticed that there were many beautiful lanterns hanging in the courtyard. She stopped and asked, "They were not here the last time I was here, were they?"
"Junzhu, you've forgotten. Today is the Lantern Festival," Yuan Yi whispered, "These lanterns were all handmade by the palace maids."
A nearby maid holding a lantern smiled and said, "Junzhu, it's an old tradition in the palace. Every Lantern Festival, every palace hangs beautiful lanterns that remain lit until early morning."
"With so many palace lanterns, they must all be beautiful," Hua Liuli looked at the lanterns swaying in the wind with tassels, "I wonder how beautiful the palace will be tonight."
"If Junzhu likes, Junzhu can go to the viewing platform in the palace. From there, Junzhu can see the entire palace," the maid remembered Hua Liuli's delicate health and regretted her words, quickly lowering her head.
"Where is the viewing platform?" Hua Liuli was curious.
The maid didn't dare to speak and looked at Yuan Yi for help.
Yuan Yi sighed, "Junzhu, you're not well, and it's windy at night..."
"If my frailty prevents me from enjoying the beauty of the world, what meaning does such a day even have?" Hua Liuli looked at the sky with sadness. A full moon hung in the sky, bright and clear as frost.
Yuan Yi dared not persuade her further and could only let the maids lead the way.
Fortunately, the viewing platform was not far from Shoukang Palace. Hua Liuli hadn't walked for long before arriving at the base of the platform. She looked up, expressionless, at the towering stone steps, then turned to Yuan Yi and said, "I suddenly feel a bit tired. Let's go back."
No wonder one could enjoy the panoramic view of the palace from there. With such a high platform, anyone standing on it could see most of the capital city.
Hua Liuli's reaction didn't surprise Yuan Yi at all. She supported Hua Liuli's hand and smiled, "Junzhu, be careful on the steps. Let Nubi support you."
"Who is up ahead?"
Upon hearing a deep and elongated voice, Hua Liuli turned her head and saw a group of neatly dressed maids approach as they carried lanterns. The Crown Prince sat on a sedan chair, his expression didn't seem too pleasant.
Their gazes met in the darkness; the Crown Prince's expression shifted slightly, "Little girl, why are you here?"
"This humble servant heard there's a viewing platform here and wanted to take a look," Hua Liuli greeted the Crown Prince respectfully, "Is Your Royal Highness here to enjoy the view as well?"
The Crown Prince looked up at the tall viewing platform and got off the sedan chair. His expression turned calm, almost indifferent, "Yes."
Hua Liuli sensed his displeasure and tactfully prepared to leave, "In that case, I won't disturb Your Royal Highness's tranquility..."
"The stone steps are difficult to climb. Benwang will take you up," the Crown Prince extended his robe towards Hua Liuli, "Hold on."
Hua Liuli grabbed the corner of the Crown Prince's robe and blinked her eyes, "Ah?"
"The night scenery of the Lantern Festival is the most beautiful in the capital every year," the Crown Prince led Hua Liuli up the stone steps, "Not only the palace, but the streets outside are also bustling and lively."
"There's no curfew tonight?"
"On festive days like New Year's Eve, Lantern Festival, Qixi Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, there is no curfew," the Crown Prince walked slowly, occasionally glancing back at Hua Liuli, "Tonight, the capital truly becomes a world of fireworks and endless lights."
Hua Liuli's skirt brushed lightly against the clean stone steps, making a faint rustling sound. When they were halfway up, she slowed down her steps.
The Crown Prince turned back to look at her, "Feeling cold?"
Hua Liuli shook her head blankly.
However, the Crown Prince took off his cloak and draped it over Hua Liuli. The oversized cloak on her made Hua Liuli look like a little child who hadn't grown up yet. The cloak's hood covered most of her face. She let go of the Crown Prince's robe and tugged at the cloak's hood a couple of times, but it was too big and covered her entire face.
The Crown Prince, unable to suppress a light laugh, reached out to help her take off the hood.
"Your Royal Highness," Hua Liuli adjusted her steps and said, "It is not right to mock this humble servant like this."
"Benwang is sorry. Seeing you now, you look like a kitten tangled in a ball of thread," the Crown Prince cleared his throat a few times, his beautiful eyes filled with amusement, "Come, Benwang will lead you."
He extended his hand in front of Hua Liuli.
Hua Liuli looked at him with suspicion.
"You're just a little girl, what do you have to worry about?" the Crown Prince laughed and placed a handkerchief in his palm, "Here, it's separated by a handkerchief."
"It's not that this humble servant is worried about herself," Hua Liuli extended her hand towards the Crown Prince. After all, she was planning to raise her own male pets, so she wasn't afraid of others' misunderstanding.
She was more concerned about the handsome Crown Prince being misunderstood because of her.
Compared to her inherent coldness, the Crown Prince's hand felt like a furnace. As she watched the Crown Prince's figure, she couldn't help but feel a little sad, thinking that the male pets she would raise in the future would definitely not be as attractive as the Crown Prince.
After witnessing the world's unparalleled beauty, everything else seemed mediocre and mundane.
She turned her head and glanced at the palace maids carrying lanterns behind them. The bright lanterns twinkled in the dark night, creating a splendid scene.
"We've arrived," the Crown Prince's voice brought her back to her senses.
Hua Liuli raised her head and saw not the view within the palace, but the bright street outside the palace gates that seemed to stretch endlessly, with occasional fireworks sparkling in the sky.
The wind was strong on the viewing platform, but Hua Liuli, wrapped in a large cloak, didn't feel cold. She leaned against the railing and sighed, "Such a beautiful view."
The Crown Prince stood behind her in silence.
"In the past, did Your Royal Highness also come here to enjoy the Lantern Festival?" Hua Liuli gazed into the distance, truly understanding the meaning of the phrase "the prosperity of the capital".
The Crown Prince stood by her side and looked at the magnificent scene before them, "Yes."
"It's wonderful," Hua Liuli's hair fluttered in the night wind, and she exhaled a warm breath, "This view truly brings joy to one's heart."
The Crown Prince turned his head to look at the young girl beside him, wanting to say something, but ultimately remaining silent.
Below the viewing platform, Ying Wang and the young lady from the Lin family, who were meeting for the first time, stood ten steps apart. Consort Xian insisted that since it was the Lantern Festival, he should take the Lin girl to the palace to admire the lanterns.
What's so interesting about these lanterns late in the night?
However, he couldn't disobey his mother's command, so he still brought the Lin girl out. To save trouble, he didn't bother taking her elsewhere and planned to bring her to the viewing platform to let her enjoy the view at her own pace.
But when they reached the bottom of the viewing platform, he realized that there were already people up there and couldn't help but complain in a low voice, "Who's so crazy to come up to the viewing platform in the middle of the night to feel the cold breeze?"
Lin Wan: "..."
Upon hearing these words, Lin Wan's face stiffened. Should she blame herself for choosing the wrong marriage partner, or should she blame her sharp hearing?
The night breeze gently wafted around them, enveloping the pair in an atmosphere of endless awkwardness.
Krish728
Author's Note:
The invincible straight male, Ning Wang, is here to teach us how to create awkward situations.
Lin Wan: I shouldn't be here. I should be at home.
