Chapter 119: The Great General Returns to Court
At the grand palace entrance, human figures appeared exceptionally small.
Chu Yi, dressed in black-purple court robes, had just stepped down from his carriage when he spotted a graceful figure ahead.
Unbidden, the scene from the wooden cabin on the bandit mountain surfaced in his mind—the ferocious wound, the porcelain-like skin... This was their first meeting since that day.
Though he had visited the Yun residence multiple times, each occasion had been spent conversing with Yun Ze in the study, with only the two children going in to see her.
On every journey home from the Yun residence, Yu Ge'er would be brimming with joy, chattering incessantly, while Changsheng would smile with pursed lips.
He knew the children dearly loved being with this woman before him.
Yun Chu noticed not only Prince Pingxi but also another man alighting from the same carriage—the Second Prince, Gong Xi Prince.
Lowering her gaze, she led Xie Ping forward.
With graceful deference, she bowed.
"Greetings to Gong Xi Prince."
"Greetings to Prince Pingxi."
Gong Xi Prince wore a gentle smile: "Madam Xie, you are too courteous."
That address—"Madam Xie"—stirred an indescribable discomfort in Chu Yi's heart, though he couldn't fathom why.
"I heard Madam Xie was unwell," Gong Xi Prince continued. "I hope you have recovered?"
"Thank you for your concern, Gong Xi Prince. This humble woman is much better." Yun Chu's voice remained calm, yet her eyes held icy coldness.
The palace housed numerous princes, but only the first four were currently enfeoffed. As the remaining princes matured, both court and harem would gradually descend into turmoil.
Back then, the Yun family had remained aloof, steadfastly refusing to get involved in the imperial succession struggle. When the Second Prince failed to recruit them after repeated attempts, he used Xie Shi'an as a blade to directly expel the Yun family from court...
The Xie family now lay within her grasp.
But seeking revenge against the Second Prince was exceedingly difficult...
Moreover, even if she succeeded in overthrowing the Second Prince, surely another would emerge to recruit the Yun family...
When confronted with matters she couldn't resolve, she would set them aside. Her father was soon returning to court—she would thoroughly discuss this with him and her grandfather, certain to devise a strategy.
"Gong Xi Prince, Prince Pingxi, this humble woman will take her leave with my daughter."
Yun Chu performed a slight bow and led Xie Ping onto the Yun family carriage.
"What a pity," Gong Xi Prince shook his head as the carriage disappeared beyond the palace gates. "With her status as the Yun family's legitimate eldest daughter, she should have married into the imperial clan. Yet she became the wife of a humble scholar. Third Brother, don't you find it regrettable?"
When his father had been selecting a Princess Consort for him, he had actually preferred the Yun family. However, at that time, the main lineage had no suitable daughters—though collateral branches did, but he disdained them.
Of course, his current Princess Consort, the second legitimate daughter of the Grand Academician, wasn't inferior either. It was just that lacking military power inevitably brought some regret.
Chu Yi said indifferently: "Second Brother should refrain from such remarks—they damage Madam Xie's reputation."
Gong Xi Prince smiled: "If you didn't already have children, I'd suspect you weren't a man."
That was the former capital's premier beauty who had once captivated the city. Even he, who normally kept women at a distance, felt slight ripples in his heart upon seeing her.
Yet his Third Brother hadn't even glanced her way.
No wonder Yin Pin constantly worried about Third Brother's marriage—a man with no interest in women naturally wouldn't wish to wed.
Chu Yi strode forward into the palace.
When Yun Chu had appeared earlier, he truly hadn't dared look at her, fearing rudeness, fearing offense...
The two men entered the palace and proceeded directly to the Imperial Study.However, the Emperor was currently occupied. The eunuch said to the two of them, "His Majesty is speaking with Consort Zhou in the inner hall. Please wait a moment, Your Highnesses."
Chu Yi's expression remained unchanged.
Every time he came for an audience, his father was either with Consort Zhou or with Lady Li... In short, there was always a consort in the hall.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Consort Zhou emerged from the hall, and only then did the two follow the eunuch inside.
The Emperor sat on the dragon throne: "I summoned both of you together because there is a matter I need you to handle. The Pillar of the Nation Great General has repelled the enemy forces for our dynasty, defended our territory, and protected the people. He is a truly deserving great hero. The Great General will soon arrive in the capital, and I want you two to go and welcome him on my behalf."
Both said simultaneously, "Your sons obey the command!"
The Pillar of the Nation Great General was the person the Emperor trusted the most, commanding three hundred thousand troops. Every five years when he returned to the court to report, the Emperor would bestow the greatest rewards, to the extent that it could be described as a nationwide celebration.
Gong Xi Prince and Prince Pingxi, representing the Emperor, rode on large horses and led dozens of court officials to the outskirts of the capital to welcome the returning Pillar of the Nation Great General, Yun Silin.
Yun Silin could only return to the capital once every five years. Leading three hundred personal guards, he rode for half a month from the borderlands to reach the capital.
About seventy or eighty li from the capital, he saw the two princes he hadn't seen in a long time. He quickly dismounted and said, "Your subject pays respects to Gong Xi Prince and Prince Pingxi!"
"Great General, please rise quickly!" Gong Xi Prince was quicker than Chu Yi to support Yun Silin. "Great General, you have risked life and death for our dynasty. My third brother and I do not deserve such a salute. Father and all the officials have prepared strong wine, waiting only for the Great General to enter the city!"
Yun Silin clasped his hands, grabbed the reins, and mounted his horse, heading toward the capital together.
The common people in the city were already in an uproar.
For a hundred years, the Yun family had defended the nation against foreign invasions, protecting every inch of territory and every citizen... Now, while the people lived in peace and prosperity, many in the Yun family had died on the battlefield, never to return.
"Look, the Pillar of the Nation Great General has returned!"
"The last time I saw the Great General was five years ago. After five years, he is still as heroic as ever!"
"I prayed for a protective talisman for the Great General, hoping he will live to ninety-nine. If the Great General dies, who else can protect our home and defend our nation?"
"The next generation of the Yun family hasn't produced a single general!"
"So many ancestors of the Yun family have died on the battlefield. Isn't that enough? The virtue accumulated by their forebears is sufficient. The descendants of the Yun family should live peaceful and stable lives."
"..."
The Emperor, along with all civil and military officials, welcomed the Pillar of the Nation Great General back to the court on the city wall.
The Pillar of the Nation Great General, along with his personal guards, knelt and kowtowed. The Emperor ordered strong wine to be served to everyone who had returned.
"The enemy forces in the Western Frontier remain unyielding in their ambitions, repeatedly invading our territory. It is only through the steadfast defense of the Yun family generation after generation!" The Emperor descended from the tower and walked up to Yun Silin. "The heavenly Qilin has its lineage; how can the ants in their holes escape? The Pillar of the Nation Great General has returned to the capital. I shall remove the General's battle robe with my own hands!"
With his own hands, the Emperor removed the battle robe from Yun Silin.
This was the highest honor.
The battle robe was handed to the deputy general beside him. The Emperor picked up a wine cup and clinked it with Yun Silin's: "It is my honor to share a drink with the General. Bottoms up."
"Bottoms up!"
"Bottoms up!"
The three hundred personal guards of the Yun family and all civil and military officials raised their wine cups simultaneously.
After the celebration, the General entered the city.
Countless common people stood along the streets to welcome the Great General back. Yun Chu was also there, on the second floor of a tavern by the street.Standing by the second-floor railing, she immediately spotted her father entering the city with the Emperor. He seemed little changed from her memory—imposing and unapproachable, his mere presence enough to make enemies tremble and surrender without a fight...
Yun Chu watched as her father followed the Emperor into the imperial palace.
She turned away and returned to the Yun residence by carriage.
Only after her father reported his mission at the palace would he return home. Countless officials would come to pay their respects, ensuring the Yun household would be exceptionally busy today.
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