Chapter 268

Chapter 0268: Princess Jingning

Min Duo, along with He Jinli's princes and some court officials, were all there to welcome her outside the city.

Meng Chang himself was waiting; he was naturally representing the Emperor.

"By the Emperor's decree, Princess Jingning, after your exhausting journey, His Majesty cannot bear to see his niece fatigued. Please, Princess, there's no need to disembark; proceed directly to the palace," Meng Chang said.

Princess Jingning inside the carriage sighed in relief. She truly had no face to see anyone at this moment.

Min Duo climbed into the carriage from behind, and upon seeing each other, mother and daughter restrained themselves from bursting into tears right there.

They just silently embraced each other and wept.

In the palace, everyone was at the Dowager Empress's place. Relatives of the royal family were also present.

When Princess Jingning finally arrived, everyone came out to greet her.

"Quick, please bring the Princess inside," the Dowager Empress, standing with the help of Lady Fan's hand, said.

After being cared for during her journey and dressed up in the carriage, Princess Jingning looked a bit better than when she was first rescued, but she was still terribly thin. She hardly looked like someone in her twenties.

Plus, having been violated by Zhalu for a long time and exposed to public humiliation, her mental state was not good at this time.

But at this moment, in this situation, she had no choice but to persevere.

"Jingning pays her respects to the Dowager Empress, His Majesty, and the Empress," she said as she knelt down and performed a grand salute.

"My child, you have suffered," the Empress Dowager hurried over, personally supporting her. "Good child, the journey must have been exhausting. Are you weary?"

"Thank you, Your Highness the Empress Dowager. I am not tired," Princess Jingning said, though she did not wish to face so many people, at least the Empress Dowager's demeanor offered her some relief.

"Jingning, it is your Imperial Uncle who has wronged you. Your Imperial Uncle is here to apologize," He Jinli bowed in respect.

"Imperial Uncle, how could I possibly accept such a gesture?" Jingning knelt again. "It was Zarlu's wild ambitions... originally... the Khan treated me very well. It was fortunate for me to witness our Great Jin make peace with Yuan Zheng. But then to encounter such treachery... I only ask, Imperial Uncle, to avenge the Khan and the Grand Consort, and for my child, for the Khan's children."

"Rise, the Emperor had already decreed during his campaign that you must be brought back no matter what. As for revenge, it is naturally to be sought. Zarlu shall meet no good end," the Empress supported her.

"Thank you, Auntie," Jingning cried.

"Enough, it is a joyous occasion that we are reunited today. No more tears. Minduo, quickly help your mother to sit," the Empress said.

Minduo came over to assist her: "Mother, please sit, you still have me."

Princess Jingning nodded.

Only then did she have the opportunity to look at the King Qi and his wife.

Since Jingning had just returned, hosting a family banquet today would be inappropriate; she needed to rest first.

The Empress Dowager specially granted permission for King Qi to bring Jingning's birth mother into the palace for a meeting the next day.

For now, Jingning and her son would temporarily reside in a palace at the back of the Ci'an Garden.

The next day, news of a great victory on the front lines was received.

It seems that not long after Jingning left, the army had won.

Zarlu took his own life, and those who followed him either met the same fate or were killed.

The few who were left were all executed by Hunyin.

Besides the military dispatches, there were also memorials.

The memorials reported by two generals highlighted two main events: the great victory and the enthronement of the new Khan of Yuan Zheng.

In gratitude for the military assistance from Da Jin, the first act of the new Khan of Yuan Zheng was to renew the friendship treaty with Da Jin.

Moreover, for the next ten years, they would supply Da Jin with iron, cattle, sheep, and other materials.

This was to be considered compensation for the military expenses incurred by Da Jin.

After all, since it was an allied force lending aid, there would be no spoils of war to claim.

And to demonstrate the renewed peace, he sought to marry a royal family lady as a secondary consort.

According to Yuan Zheng's customs, Hunyin ascending the throne meant he could continue to marry Jingning.

However, with Minduo already grown and Mei Shufei still being He Jinli's consort, the relationships were too complicated.

Thus, no one brought this up.

He only mentioned that once Yuan Zheng's royal court was purged, he would personally come to escort the Empress Dowager back to the court.

Indeed, Jingning was bestowed the title of Empress Dowager there.

Of course, the title of Empress Dowager was posthumously conferred to her mother, making Jingning the Junior Empress Dowager.

This effectively made her akin to a Noble Consort in Da Jin.

Listening to Zhu Ding recount these events, Yun Li chuckled, "Hunyin may be young, but he seems to handle affairs even better than his father, doesn’t he?"

"Indeed, but after all, he has gone through a lot," Zhu Ding replied.

"Prepare some items, fabrics, jewelry, something suitable for Princess Jingning. Send them to her when she leaves, as a token of my regard," Yun Li instructed.

"Your Highness, you... you mean she will leave?" Zhu Ding asked, puzzled.

"I figure, what's the point in staying? If Minduo goes back, at least he can manage the tribe with his brother. Staying here, what future does he have? Of course, if Jingning is willing to part with her child, she might stay. But if she stays, given her status, remarrying would be difficult."

It's not that men in Da Jin are so conservative that she can't remarry because she's been with someone else or was made a public spectacle.

But as a princess and also the Junior Empress Dowager of Yuan Zheng, who would dare to marry her?

It's impossible to find a suitable match.

However, if she goes back, it's a different story. Things are much more relaxed there; she could easily remarry if she wishes.

Thus, Yun Li guesses she will eventually leave.

Her guess is not wrong; Jingning indeed does not plan to stay long, but for now, she and her son need to recuperate.

She likely won't leave this year.

It's already September; everything will have to wait until next year.

The generals in the north have already started to withdraw, leaving Hunyin to finish the cleanup.

And when the generals return to the court, they bring with them a group from Yuan Zheng, accompanying the Junior Empress Dowager and Prince Minduo.

This signals to the people of Da Jin that they have not forsaken these two; their stay is temporary.

At least, Minduo's stay is temporary.

This greatly reassured Minduo, who feared his brother might not call him back. He disliked the capital.

Yun Li, observing these events, felt they were truly befitting of the son of that great consort from years past. Indeed... it inspired both admiration and warmth.

Upon learning this, Jingning also wept bitterly. These years had not been easy for her.

Life at the residence of King Qi was restrictive, and she had fallen in love with the life on the grasslands.

Even as a secondary consort, she remained free, and her freedom only grew.

The Grand Consort was easy to speak with, and the Khan only demanded you not cause trouble.

Everything was so good until...

Remembering it was like a nightmare; she truly wished to return to the days when the Khan and the Grand Consort were still alive.

Sadly, that could never be.

On September 20th, Zheng Baolin's servant girl, Shuanghuan, came to Yuqu Palace. She arrived as evening fell.

She said she came to borrow the designs for reeds.

Hearing this at the door, Luwei was stunned: "I've never even spoken to her?"

"Then why would she come to you?" Zhuyu asked.

"I don't know, what does this mean? Your Highness, I truly have only seen her and know her name, we've never spoken," Luwei knelt down.

"Rise. If you don't know her, then it's an excuse. She must have a reason for coming; don't be nervous," Yun Li waved her hand. "Let her in."

[I know you might not like reading about wars, but I have to write it, haha. Please click on more videos when you have time; I'm struggling to make ends meet.]