The Gu Residence.
"Elder Sister, military reports have arrived from the frontier. We achieved a great victory."
Gu Mingzhu jumped for joy, planting kisses on Tuan, who was about to be a month old.
"Tuan truly brings good fortune. You'll soon be reunited with your father."
Seeing Gu Mingzhu's delight, Gu Mingliu also smiled.
After being apart for several months, she too missed her father and her husband dearly, as well as that little princess who was now spoken of in almost mythical terms by the common folk.
"The army will likely return in triumph any day now, Mingzhu. You should go to welcome them then."
Gu Mingliu, a new mother, spoke with exceptional gentleness. Gu Mingzhu nodded emphatically, then hesitated for a moment.
"Elder Sister... do you resent Brother-in-Law?"
Gu Mingliu seemed somewhat surprised and even flicked Gu Mingzhu's forehead. "Gu Mingzhu, what on earth are you thinking? How could I blame your brother-in-law?"
"Without him, our Great Qi would have been one force weaker in this war. Fighting valiantly on the front lines is precisely what my husband should do."
"Of course I wish he could have been by my side, especially during childbirth, a time hanging by a thread. But Mingzhu, one cannot live by love alone."
Gu Mingzhu understood, a shadow flickering in her eyes.
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Sister. I was mistaken."
After leaving the room, the smile completely vanished from Gu Mingzhu's face, replaced even by a sternness reminiscent of Gu Zheng's unsmiling demeanor.
"Investigate that pastry shop I frequent. Someone is trying to drive a wedge between me and my brother-in-law."
If she hadn't asked her elder sister directly, those words would have become a thorn in her heart. After all, she knew best the immense suffering her sister endured during childbirth.
"It seems like a bed of blooming flowers, but underneath, there are always some vermin crawling in the shadows."
Gu Mingzhu sighed like a little adult, then added,
"If the pastry shop really is problematic, keep the chef who makes the pea flour cakes."
......
Elsewhere.
The journey back to the capital was much smoother than the march out. Everyone's faces were lit with joyful smiles, except for the dark-complexioned Li Laoba.
"General, please put in a good word for me with His Highness. Let me return to the capital with the main army."
Why could everyone else leave, while he alone had to stay in Dayue?
His Highness was definitely getting his revenge!
"His Highness singled you out because he trusts you," Gu Zheng said with a fatherly air that made Li Laoba uneasy. "Although Dayue has been conquered, there may still be attempts to resurge. His Highness is leaving you in command of thirty thousand troops in Dayue to give you another chance to earn merit."
"When the Emperor inevitably dispatches officials to govern Dayue, you'll be responsible for their protection. You have a future so bright it'll keep you up at night."
"Really?"
Li Laoba didn't believe it. He still felt His Highness was punishing him.
Seeing the deception fail, Gu Zheng's mind raced, and he spoke again, "Yu Fan is still in Dayue. Don't you want to look after him?"
Although Yu Fan was out of mortal danger, his injuries weren't suitable for travel, so he was temporarily staying in Dayue to recuperate.
"I..."
Li Laoba's face flushed with frustration. The General was Yu Fan's father-in-law, so why wasn't he staying to look after him?
"You'll be credited with another merit. Farewell."
Gu Zheng patted Li Laoba's shoulder, suppressing a laugh.
Good lad, it's truly for your own good to let His Highness vent his anger.
Li Laoba stared blankly as the troops and horses grew farther and farther away, his heart sinking into icy despair.
I'll never shoot my mouth off again!
Gu Zheng scurried over to Song Yu's side, winking and making faces. "Your Highness, the matter is settled as you wished."
Song Yu grinned in response, everything understood without words.
Song Shihuan, standing nearby, felt a flicker of confusion in her almond eyes. Why were Father and General Gu acting so strangely?
Before she could ask, she saw a soldier rushing over. Dismounting and bowing, he hastily reported,
"Your Highness, Princess, Cheng Guang is on a hunger strike. He says he seeks only death."
"That won't do!"
Song Yu became immediately anxious. "Cheng Guang is one of the rare clever minds in Dayue. He even managed to prop up a wretch like Emperor Mingde onto the throne. I was counting on him to be my workhorse."
Who would he order around if Cheng Guang died?
Seeing this, Gu Zheng suddenly thought that if he were Cheng Guang, he might prefer death.
But he wasn't... so it was better for Cheng Guang to hang on a while longer.
Inside a prison cart, Cheng Guang lay with his eyes tightly shut, the very picture of a man seeking death. The steamed bun placed beside him remained untouched.
"Cheng Guang, you wish to die?"
At Song Yu's voice, Cheng Guang opened his eyes and uttered only one phrase:
"A loyal minister does not serve two masters."
"Minister Cheng, you jest," Song Shihuan's childish voice chimed in, yet her words made Cheng Guang's eyes roll back, nearly fainting. "You employed many underhanded tactics to secure Emperor Mingde's ascension, costing many their lives. Is that what you call loyalty?"
"With a 'master' like Emperor Mingde, is he even worthy of the title?"
Song Yu looked at his daughter behind him with incredulous delight. Look at that! This sharp little tongue is a perfect inheritance from me!
Let anyone dare say Ah Huan isn't his daughter now!
"I..." Cheng Guang tried to defend himself further.
But Song Shihuan had no patience for it. Her goal wasn't merely to use Cheng Guang. If he starved himself to death, other Dayue officials would likely follow suit, potentially inciting unrest among the scholars... which was the last thing Song Shihuan wanted.
So this "pillar of stability," Cheng Guang, absolutely had to be preserved.
"Minister Cheng, the only way left for you to salvage your reputation now is to pledge loyalty to our Great Qi's Emperor and Crown Prince."
"In the annals of history, you will then be recorded as a capable minister serving under wise rulers. If you die now... you'll be remembered as the treacherous minister of a tyrant, a fitting end."
Cheng Guang's hands trembled uncontrollably. He picked up the steamed bun and began devouring it.
Treacherous minister of a tyrant...
If he died like that, his ancestors from the Cheng family would surely drag him down to hell even from their graves...
As they drew closer to Great Qi's borders, Song Yu and Song Shihuan's moods visibly brightened.
After nearly four months, they finally set foot once more on Yongping County, the former border region between Great Qi and Dayue.
All the officials of Yongping County were gathered at the city gates to welcome them. Moreover, common folk spontaneously lined both sides of the streets, kneeling and shouting "Long live!" the moment they saw Song Yu and Song Shihuan.
The roar was deafening, echoing for a long time.
"The Crown Prince has returned! The Princess has returned! Quick... quick, kneel and give thanks!"
They didn't know what other commoners might think, but for the people of this borderland, this victory guaranteed them a century of peace, free from the harassment of Dayue's frontier troops.
Song Yu, clad in his Crown Prince's python robe, rode on horseback side-by-side with Song Shihuan, neither choosing to ride in a sedan chair.
Seeing the people's overwhelming excitement, father and daughter both had smiles in their eyes.
Especially Song Yu, who was struggling to maintain the dignified composure expected of a Crown Prince.
So, the joy of a triumphant return is a different feeling from the parade of a top scholar...
But then again...
I love them both! I want it all!
