The three of them found a private room in an inn and sat down.
It was a rare moment of relaxation for all.
"So, how have things been?"
Song Yu looked at Shen Qingping. "I've been away from the capital for months. Why do you look like you've aged several years?"
Shen Qingping paused while drinking his water. Could someone please come and shut His Highness's mouth?
"I haven't had the chance to congratulate Your Highness yet..."
Song Yu thought Shen Qingping was going to personally congratulate him once more on his great victory, but his expression froze the next second as Shen Qingping continued his lecture:
"...on gaining a younger brother."
"What is Song Heng like?" Song Yu asked irritably, running a hand through his hair. He had finally swatted away a few flies, and now another one had appeared?
"My father's assessment is that he is not as simple as he appears on the surface. He even wanted to leave the capital to personally welcome Your Highness, but the Emperor rejected it. You'll understand after interacting with him a few times after your return to the capital."
Shen Qingping took a slow sip of water. "If Prince Heng harbors no improper ambitions, then it's fine. If he does, Your Highness will have your hands full."
"No matter. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Song Shihuan spoke up, having watched Shen Qingping for a while. She feared her teacher had been quite troubled by these matters lately; he did look rather haggard.
"Teacher, let me tell you about our experiences on the battlefield."
Song Shihuan smiled, changing the subject. Shen Qingping listened as father and daughter chattered away about the war, sipping his tea.
He even refrained from rebutting when Song Yu boasted extravagantly about his own exploits.
When he heard that everyone in the army admired Song Shihuan, Shen Qingping laughed outright—a genuine, deeply relaxed laugh, unlike the faint smiles he wore in the capital.
"No one could dislike the Junzhu."
Many years later, Shen Qingping would still fondly remember this day in Laijin Prefecture. It was as if he had shed all burdens and become that carefree, frivolous young master from years past, free of worldly worries.
Just as the three of them were engrossed in their lively conversation, Liuxi and Nian'an rushed into the private room.
"Your Highness, someone has been following us!"
Following?
The trio immediately grew alert.
"Where are they?"
As soon as the words were spoken, a person bundled up from head to toe was brought in. Song Shihuan looked at the pair of eyes revealed and felt as if struck by lightning.
"They're one of us, don't attack."
"Gu Mingzhu, is that you?" Song Yu stepped forward and yanked off Gu Mingzhu's hood, then laughed in exasperation. "Did you sneak here following Shen Qingping?"
Gu Mingzhu, looking embarrassed, nodded.
Shen Qingping and Song Shihuan covered their eyes simultaneously. It was too much to bear.
"Then why were you tailing us instead of just coming out to meet us?"
"What else? Afraid of running into her father, of course." Shen Qingping's remark made Gu Mingzhu grimace.
A few moments later, Gu Mingzhu got her wish and joined them at the table.
"Junzhu—"
To the surprise of Song Yu and Shen Qingping, Gu Mingzhu immediately threw her arms around Song Shihuan and began to cry.
She cried about being lonely at home, about Gu Mingliu's difficult childbirth, about Yu Fan being injured... In short, she cried so much that Song Yu and Shen Qingping wanted to plug their ears.
"If you keep crying, I'll throw you out," threatened Song Yu.
The crying continued, even showing signs of rising in pitch.
"If you keep crying, I'll summon Gu Zheng back."
The world fell silent.
"Someone is trying to harm me," Gu Mingzhu said between sobs, sounding utterly wronged.
She gave a highly embellished account of someone trying to sow discord between her and Yu Fan.
"Have you found out who it is?" Shen Qingping asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"No. We only know a servant from the shop has disappeared."
"The waters of the capital truly never settle."
Shen Qingping murmured softly.
"I was scared because we couldn't find anything. I went to the Shen residence and happened to see Young Master Shen on horseback, seemingly about to leave the capital. I thought he must be going to find Your Highness and the Junzhu, so I followed."
Gu Mingzhu kept talking, her hands never pausing as she picked up pastries.
"But now that Your Highness and the Junzhu are returning to the capital, I feel at ease."
After all, if the sky falls, there are tall people like His Highness and Young Master Shen to hold it up. She was short, so she wasn't afraid.
Song Yu and Shen Qingping both rolled their eyes upon hearing this. Song Yu wearily called out to Liuxi:
"Tell the waiter to bring more food."
Otherwise, it wouldn't be enough for this young lady alone.
Gu Mingzhu grinned happily upon hearing this. His Highness had changed quite a bit during his trip.
With Gu Mingzhu joining them, the conversation in the private room flowed endlessly, punctuated by bursts of laughter and friendly banter.
Outside the room, Liuxi and Nian'an exchanged a smile.
Such noisy liveliness was far better than cold silence.
......
Zichen Palace.
"What? Shen the Third went directly to find Yu'er and Ah Huan?"
"What? The Gu family girl went too?"
Emperor Yuanyou sighed to the heavens. They all can go, so why can't I!
"Your Majesty, this is something Young Master Shen gave to this servant before he left. He said he drafted a protocol for welcoming His Highness and the Junzhu's triumphant return, and asks if Your Majesty would review it for suitability."
Taking the memorial, Emperor Yuanyou snorted.
Outrageous. Truly outrageous.
No matter what, he would find some fault with this memorial.
After reading it, however, the Emperor's expression turned peculiar. "Just... just proceed as Shen the Third suggests."
It was arranged flawlessly, leaving no room for criticism.
"And also..." Wu Qi felt his scalp prickle. "Young Master Shen also said that if there are to be rewards for His Highness or the Junzhu, he would persuade them to decline and let more of the rewards go to the soldiers."
Emperor Yuanyou's face shifted through several expressions, but in the end, he said nothing.
That scoundrel really has some luck with his ministers, to have a pillar like Shen the Third by his side.
After a few moments, Emperor Yuanyou spoke slowly, "Reduce the rewards I originally planned for the soldiers by twenty percent. Then, let the Crown Prince and the Junzhu plead for additional imperial favor on the soldiers' behalf."
The rewards initially decided upon were already exceptionally generous. Even reduced by twenty percent, they would still be substantial.
Since Shen the Third had made arrangements, he was willing to go with the flow and let Yu'er and Ah Huan gain even better reputations.
Two days later, Song Yu and Song Shihuan personally led the main army to the outskirts of the capital.
When they departed, the army was led by Song Yu and Gu Zheng. Upon return... Gu Zheng had dutifully fallen back behind Song Yu and Song Shihuan.
Emperor Yuanyou, dressed in the Son of Heaven's dragon robes, led the civil and military officials to welcome them outside the capital.
All officials wore their court robes, standing in order of rank.
Imperial clan relatives stood behind Emperor Yuanyou. Even Lady Chang and Song Xiyan from the Ping Prince's household had been summoned.
The common people poured out of their homes, lining both sides of the streets within the capital to wait. The spectacle was grand and rare.
Song Yu was also momentarily stunned by the scene before him. He dismounted briskly and, with Song Shihuan, walked up to Emperor Yuanyou and knelt.
"Your son has not failed your trust, Father. We achieved a great victory."
"Your granddaughter has not failed your trust, Imperial Grandfather. We achieved a great victory."
A gust of wind blew, making the great Qi war banner flutter sharply. Gu Zheng held the banner high, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers knelt in unison, shouting:
"We have not failed Your Majesty's trust. We achieved a great victory."
Even the gods in heaven should have been able to hear the sound of the Great Qi's victory.
