Chapter 105: Return to the Capital ◇

◎ Son-in-law has brought the Golden Armor Guards to escort Miss and the others back to the capital! ◎

On an official road about ten miles outside the capital, a detachment of roughly five thousand well-equipped soldiers in golden armor came to a halt, safeguarding several carriages.

Then, a few soldiers unfurled royal banners to clear the way.

The leading man, mounted on a spirited and majestic Akhal-Teke horse, approached the first carriage and said, "Grandmother, Mother, and Lian'er, our journey was hasty, and we were not adequately prepared. I apologize for any discomfort this may have caused you."

The carriage curtains were drawn aside, revealing Mrs. Chen and Yu Lian seated within. The three of them gazed out together. The elder lady chuckled and said, "Grandmother knows that you couldn't wait to come fetch us once you captured the imperial city. How could she possibly blame you?"

Mrs. Chen also smiled, "I think you're eager to see Lian'er, isn't that right?"

The man shifted his gaze away rather awkwardly, not responding to the teasing. Nonetheless, his peripheral vision involuntarily lingered on the young woman seated between his grandmother and mother.

She pretended to look out the window, but her fair, delicate ears had turned crimson, nearly reddening her slender neck.

Seeing this, he felt a sense of relief and replied with a smile, "We'll reach the city gates in less than an hour. Be patient for now. If you feel car-sick, just instruct the driver to stop."

The man finished speaking and rode his horse to the front, where his father, Hua Zhan, was already leading the way, riding high on his steed with an air of renewed vitality. His broad chest and straight back seemed to evoke the image of the former War God Marquis returning.

Yet, there was now an added depth of gentleness to his demeanor.

Hua Ji rode up beside his father, and the two of them, laughing and chatting, led the group of womenfolk towards the capital city.

The official road was unobstructed, allowing them to proceed directly without hindrance. Before they had even traveled half an hour, the sound of bustling excitement could be faintly heard emanating from within the city gates.

Unable to resist, Yu Lian lifted the curtain to peer outside, only to freeze at what she saw.

The elder lady was about to ask if her granddaughter-in-law missed her parents or home, but seeing Yu Lian staring in a daze, she also looked out curiously. At that moment, an earth-shattering cry rang out: "Welcome our sovereign, welcome the Grand Emperor, welcome the Empress Dowager, welcome the Empress, and the Imperial Concubine..."

This long string of greetings was repeated three times, each voice echoing loudly and in perfect unison!

After only a brief glance, the elder lady closed the carriage curtain once more.

Though the ceremonial escort was modest, nearly everyone had turned out to welcome them – Hua Ji's loyal subordinates, as well as the temporarily appointed civil and military officials, along with the influential aristocratic families of the capital. They stood in neat rows, filling almost the entire entrance of the city gate.

When the common folk passing through the city gates witnessed this scene, they were too frightened to move. Upon hearing mention of the emperor and empress, they hastily knelt down as well. Even if they couldn't keep up with the chanting, they dared not rise, their foreheads pressed firmly to the ground.

"Please rise, all of you. I have been away from the capital for several days to bring my family back. During this time, your dedication and efforts have been noted. I will reward each of you in tomorrow's court session."

Hua Ji's voice was calm and gentle, though slightly distorted as it filtered through the carriage. For a fleeting moment, Yu Lian felt a sense of disorientation.

Never before had she been more acutely aware that her nominal husband had truly come back to life, ascended to the throne, and become a genuine emperor - the ruler with absolute power over the nation.

Both the matriarch and Mrs. Chen wore expressions of pride. Though they were restrained by etiquette and decorum from lifting the curtains to observe the scene outside, they had caught a glimpse earlier. At the city gates, where they had once departed in disgrace, now knelt a multitude of people, a sea of humanity.

The matriarch even spotted several heads of noble families who had either kicked them when they were down or distanced themselves during their family's downfall.

She took a deep breath, feeling the bitterness of their humiliating departure four years ago completely dissipate. Despite having led a comfortable life in the countryside without riches or fame, no one could erase the memory of the cold stares they had received when their family fell from grace.

Now, they had returned as a family.

No one would dare to bully them again!

The carriage rolled slowly, its wheels turning, while the crowd at the city gates, kneeling on either side, made way for the procession to enter steadily.

As they proceeded deeper into the city, curious citizens lined the streets. Upon learning that this was the new emperor and his family, they promptly knelt down. Even those who did not recognize the emperor were awed into submission by the golden-armored soldiers and dared not act impudently.

Yet, a few daring ones secretly cast their gazes at the most prominent man leading the group.

He was exquisitely handsome, as radiant as the moon, with oceanic eyes that one dared not meet directly. Some found him vaguely familiar, and after a long while, they realized he bore an uncanny resemblance to the heir of the East Yuan Marquis - a man who, despite being paraded to his execution, had once been both envied and admired by every male in the capital city!

The ceremonial carriage, preceded by golden-armored soldiers, moved slowly away amidst the kneeling masses lining the streets, eventually disappearing within the royal palace gates.

Only after the procession had vanished from sight did the common folk dare to rise from the ground, engaging in animated discussions.

A young lad chimed in, "The most handsome young man at the front just now was truly dashing. His looks were impressive, but what caught my attention was how strikingly similar he appeared to the heir of the East Yuan Marquis who was escorted to the execution ground four years ago! Back then, I hadn't married yet and tagged along with my elder brother to witness the spectacle. I saw the East Yuan Marquis's heir in the prisoner cart with my own eyes. Later, I heard that his fiancée, the sixth miss from the Duke of Wei's residence, wore her wedding attire to his house. I rushed there to see the commotion, witnessing both events firsthand. The impression it left on me was profound, and I still remember it vividly..."

"Nonsense! They say the most handsome and imposing one riding at the front is our new Emperor! How could the new Emperor possibly be the late East Yuan Marquis's heir? His head was chopped off; how could it be reattached for him to become the ruler?"

"Pah, stop talking about heads and deaths like that! Be cautious with your words! I also think he resembles the East Yuan Marquis's heir. I used to supply vegetables and fruits to the East Yuan Marquis's kitchen, so I've seen the Marquis and his son from afar several times. Not only does the new Emperor look like the heir, but even the middle-aged man beside him seems like the East Yuan Marquis. One resemblance might be a coincidence, but two? That can't be mere luck, can it?"

"Are you serious? Don't just spread rumors!"

"Well, speaking of which... I heard that when the new Emperor marched into the capital, he carried a banner with the character 'Hua.' The East Yuan Marquis family bears the surname Hua, and the heir's given name is Hua Ji. Could this be a coincidence?"

On that day, the new Emperor captured the Imperial City almost unopposed. The Ru Yang Marquis, in alliance with several prominent families, personally opened the gates for the new Emperor. Upon hearing this, the previous emperor fled, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

The common folk hid within their homes, too fearful to venture out, and thus few knew the identity or appearance of the new emperor, only vaguely aware that he hailed from the House of Hua and had an excellent reputation among the people. After the new emperor took the throne, the government soon issued edicts allowing life to resume as usual, prompting the citizens to emerge from their homes and continue with their daily routines. Over time, things seemed no different from before, and no one cared much about the name of the new ruler.

As long as they knew the new emperor was likely a decent person and their lives could proceed unaltered, they were content.

Today, the sudden rush of officials, scholars, and noble families to the city gates left them waiting for hours without any sign of impatience. Soldiers with swords and spears maintained order, leading everyone to believe they were awaiting some prominent figure. Little did they expect it to be the emperor himself departing to welcome his family.

This was still within the realm of normalcy... What truly astonished them were the words spoken by a few individuals, who claimed the new emperor was none other than Hua Ji, the heir apparent to the East Yuan Marquis, whom the previous emperor had executed!

How could someone who was dead return to life and ascend to the throne? Despite the earnest efforts of these individuals to convince others, few dared to believe such an implausible tale.

The speakers, seeing their words met with skepticism, fell silent, their minds racing with thoughts. If the heir apparent to the East Yuan Marquis had indeed come back to life and become emperor, wouldn't that imply...

Their eyes met, and suddenly, their gazes turned crimson with a strange excitement!

Back then, on the day of the prince's execution, the Sixth Miss of the Wei Duke's Mansion had married into the marquis household in a red wedding dress adorned with white flowers, stunning the entire city. To this day, countless versions of the story had been told, elevating this compassionate and loyal maiden into a legendary figure.

If the East Yuan Marquis's heir had returned and ascended the throne, didn't that mean his returning family, in those carriages, might include his wife - the Sixth Miss of the Wei Duke's Mansion, Yu Lian?!

A rumor swept through the common folk of the capital city, claiming that the newly enthroned emperor was none other than Hua Ji, the heir of East Yuan Marquis, and that the Sixth Miss of the Wei Duke's residence would become the empress!

Four years later, the much-missed Sixth Miss had returned!

While the common people treated these rumors with skepticism, they all held deep respect for that Sixth Miss. They sincerely wished for her return and a life of prosperity and honor, which she truly deserved.

Despite their limited access to information, the upper echelons of society, including the noble families and officials, were well aware of the new emperor's identity.

The initial shock of his rise to power had passed when he led his troops to the city gates. Now, with the realm at peace and the situation settled, everyone was pondering how to curry favor with the new emperor.

Merely aligning themselves with him wouldn't suffice. Back when the East Yuan Marquis family faced adversity, not a single noble household in the capital had offered aid. How could they now rely on old loyalties? It would be fortunate if there were no repercussions!

But speaking of old ties...the entire land envied the Wei Duke's residence, particularly the third branch headed by Yu Sanlang. He had struck gold. His family's Sixth Miss, foreseeing her fiancé's execution, insisted on marrying into his family. Their love and loyalty were so profound that it moved heaven and earth, a tale known to all. Such a noble reputation and deep affection—what man could resist, or remain unmoved?

Not only Hua Ji himself, but also his family, elders, and siblings undoubtedly held gratitude towards her.

It was evident even to the casual observer that after ascending the throne, Hua Ji would ensure the greatest benefits for his family, especially for her. Her position would be rock-solid!

Thus, the noble clans, former officials, and those seeking favor with the new emperor sent lavish gifts to her family, the Third Branch of the Wei Duke's residence.

Initially, the gifts were delivered to the Wei Duke's residence, but it was later discovered that the Third Branch had long since distanced themselves from the matriarch and the other two branches of the Wei family, opting to live independently. When the Sixth Miss left the Wei Duke's mansion, she also faced the matriarch's disdain and obstruction, indicating a strained relationship. As a result, the presents were redirected to Yu Sanlang's humble three-compound courtyard.

Yu Sanlang, a low-ranking official with meager wages, barely had anything when he separated from his family. The fact that he could afford a small courtyard in the capital was already commendable. His courtyard was indeed tiny, but it sufficed for his family of three, along with a gatekeeper and a few maidservants.

However, at this moment, the couple was staring at the yard filled with valuable gifts, utterly perplexed.

How were they supposed to return these?

The donors had simply dropped off their presents and fled, leaving them no chance to chase after them.

Yu Sanlang furrowed his brows, while Yu Niang pondered over when her daughter would return. On the day her son-in-law conquered the imperial city, he had visited them, assuring them that they could stay comfortably and promising to fetch Lian'er and the others immediately.

She wondered if they had reached the capital yet.

With a frown, Yu Sanlang said, "I heard that those cunning old foxes have all rushed to the city gates. They should be arriving in the capital today, right?"

After years of turmoil, a few streaks of white had started to pepper Yu Sanlang's temples, and deep lines etched his forehead. In the years leading up to his son-in-law's conquest of the imperial city, chaos had engulfed both the court and the palace, with officials being imprisoned daily.

Back then, his elder brother, in an attempt to revive the Wei Duke's estate and secure a position in the court, secretly aligned with the queen's faction and pledged allegiance to the crown prince early on. Unfortunately, the prince suffered an accident, resulting in a disability. The subsequent investigation revealed that although his brother hadn't harmed the prince, his involvement in factional strife led to the emperor stripping him of his title prematurely.

With his second brother also convicted of corruption, it was fortunate that Grandmother had used a large sum of money to bail him out of prison. However, this drained the coffers of the Wei Duke's residence and his second sister-in-law's family. The once prosperous Wei Duke's mansion was now in ruins. He was glad he had separated from the family early on, sparing himself from being entangled in their chaotic affairs.

After his two elder brothers' misfortunes, although he had split from the family and held a minor official position, he spent his days reading, composing poetry, and teaching his children with his wife at home, enjoying a peaceful life.

Yet, he couldn't help but worry about his daughter in Yuan County Village. With the chaos outside, they couldn't even entrust someone to send a letter or inquire about her well-being. This concern caused him sleepless nights and the few strands of white hair appeared during that period.

His tormenting days persisted until the rebel army reached the city gates. With the collaboration of influential figures like the Ru Yang Marquis, a new emperor ascended to the throne in the capital.

It was only when his son-in-law personally came to pay his respects that he discovered his son-in-law was alive and the new ruler who conquered the imperial city was none other than his deceased son-in-law!

In the courtyard, an excited young maid led a boy who ran in, "They're here! They're here! The Lady's husband has returned with the Golden Armor Guards to bring Miss and the others back to the capital!"

The boy exclaimed, "Sister is back! She's in the carriage. I saw Brother-in-Law riding his horse in front, with so many soldiers clearing the way. It was super impressive!"