Chapter 784 Rewards and Titles

Chapter 784: Bestowal of Honors

In the grand Zhaoyang Palace, not only were Empress Nie and Emperor Jiazheng present, but Crown Prince Shiqing was also there.

Though it seemed only Empress Nie kept peering anxiously at the palace entrance, both Wei Shiqing and Emperor Jiazheng were equally tense, their shoulders stiff, their hands trembled faintly while holding their teacups.

When Empress Nie rose for the eighteenth time to peer outside, Wei Shiqing let out a long sigh. "Mother, please sit down for a while. Second Brother will arrive eventually."

Empress Nie, wearing rare makeup today, looked stunning. Yet this stunning beauty wore an expression of unease. "...What if Wei Shiyan changes his mind halfway and tries to run away?"

The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Emperor Jiazheng, however, appeared utterly confident. "...Wei Shiyan definitely won't run."

Empress Nie and Wei Shiqing both turned to look at him.

Clearing his throat, the emperor maintained his imperial dignity. "Have you forgotten? I also invited Princess Fusui to come along."

That was true.

Empress Nie relaxed slightly.

Her son wouldn’t abandon Xingxing and flee alone, would he?

Wait—

A thought suddenly occurred to her, and her face paled again. "What if Wei Shiyan takes Xingxing with him and runs...?"

Emperor Jiazheng wore a smug grin. "That’s why I also summoned Princess Fusui’s older brother."

Surely the three of them wouldn’t run away together!

Empress Nie felt slightly better.

But she still couldn’t shake her nervousness.

She even envied Wei Shiyu, who had the privilege of leaving the city to greet them.

Fortunately, Empress Nie didn’t have to endure the suspense for long. The last palace eunuch came sprinting in:

"Report! Your Majesties, Crown Prince—the Third Prince and Princess Fusui have arrived at the gates of Zhaoyang Palace!"

Empress Nie’s face momentarily lost all color. Unable to contain herself any longer, she hiked up her skirts and bolted out.

Emperor Jiazheng called after her, "Empress, wait!" while promptly chasing after her.

Crown Prince Wei Shiqing was the calmest of them. Calmly, he thought to himself, *Father and Mother are still so impulsive at their age. Unlike me—coolheaded and dignified.*

With this thought, his expression remained solemn, yet his footsteps were no slower than the emperor and empress as he shot out like an arrow.

...

As they neared Zhaoyang Palace, Wei Shiyan’s steps noticeably slowed.

Gazing at the quiet palace half-hidden by trees, he recalled his childhood—once, he had snuck out and stood right here, gazing at his mother’s quarters from afar.

Back then, he had heard his mother had given birth to a younger brother. He had wanted to catch a glimpse of her.

Just one look.

However, he remembered his curse-ridden body—anyone who got close to him would suffer misfortune or even lose their lives...

Little Wei Shiyan stopped in his tracks, too afraid to go any closer.

Just then, a few palace maids passed by carrying trays, unaware of Wei Shiyan hiding behind the trees. They whispered among themselves, saying how kind the Empress was, yet she had been heartbroken over the "death" of the Second Prince. Now that she had the Third Prince, she’d surely recover soon.

Wei Shiyan had always known—within the palace, he was already declared dead.

He also vaguely understood that his parents did this to protect him.

Hearing the maids refer to him as "deceased," he wasn’t angry.

Little Wei Shiyan clenched his jaw, turned around, and dashed back to the lonely palace that was his prison.

Terrified that slowing down might doom his mother and baby brother.

From that day on, Wei Shiyan never voluntarily left that quiet palace again—until the day he climbed into a carriage with Grand Gongfeng Qin and departed the palace for the secluded mountains, where fate had sent him to live in seclusion. That’s how it stayed—until now.

He never resented his parents, nor the world.

Just as when he occasionally descended the mountain and encountered the savage southern invaders who oppressed the people of Great Xia—he chased them down single-handedly, never regretting his actions.

Now, it was just his second time Wei Shiyan had stood outside Zhaoyang Palace.

He looked up at the sky.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, dappling the ground in gold.

Beside him, Xingxing's voice was soft and gentle: "Zhaoyang Palace is just ahead."

Wei Shiyan watched the sunlight fall onto his palm, warming it slightly.

He clenched his hand lightly, letting the warmth steady him.

"Let's go," Wei Shiyan said.

He walked forward without pause.

When they reached the entrance of Zhaoyang Palace, Wei Shiyan paused before stepping forward without hesitation.

Yet, after only a few steps, he saw a regal, beaming woman rushing out from the depths of the palace.

The noblewoman spotted him too. Tears welled in her eyes as she ran toward him, forgetting all propriety.

"A-Yan!"

The noblewoman sobbed, voice breaking.

She sprinted in such a rush that she stumbled midway, nearly falling.

"Empress Mother!"

Wei Shiyu lunged forward, alarmed.

But the noblewoman quickly steadied herself and continued rushing toward Wei Shiyan.

Wei Shiyan froze, face unreadable.

The noblewoman reached him, unable to restrain herself, and crushed him in a desperate hug!

"A-Yan, my dear A-Yan!"

Her sobs came in heaving waves.

Empress Nie wept brokenly in Wei Shiyan's arms. His body stiffened, but his eyes darted instinctively to Xingxing beside him.

Though tears brimmed in Xingxing’s eyes, she beamed at Wei Shiyan, nodding fiercely in encouragement.

Wei Shiyan remained tense, but eventually, he reached out and embraced Empress Nie. "Mother," he whispered.

Empress Nie shuddered, her sobs now unchecked.

He’d called her "Mother"!

He still called her "Mother"!

Empress Nie cried like there was no tomorrow.

Wei Shiyu, standing nearby, couldn't help but turn away, swiping at his tears again and again.

Emperor Jiazheng and Wei Shiqing had initially raced ahead, but upon seeing Wei Shiyan, the emperor straightened, regaining his composure, and putting on his best father-emperor act as he approached.

After all, with Xingxing present—and having even summoned her elder brother to ensure his son wouldn’t flee—he had to keep up imperial appearances before his subjects!

Wei Shiqing, however, didn’t hold back.

As the crown prince, he was a "half-emperor"—still answerable to the throne!

Who cared about dignity before a younger brother he hadn’t seen in over a decade?

Wei Shiqing strode forward, drinking in the sight of Wei Shiyan.

Only when Empress Nie’s emotions had settled slightly did Wei Shiqing step closer. "Second Brother!"

The bond of blood between family was truly wondrous.

Despite over a decade apart, their bond as brothers flared to life, undeniable as blood itself.

Wei Shiyan’s lips quirked slightly. "Eldest Brother."

Even Wei Shiqing’s excitement blazed through at hearing those words.

"Ah!"

Emperor Jiazheng, witnessing this, dropped the imperial act and hurried over. His son’s noble looks—so like Empress Nie’s in her prime—left him choked up. "A-Yan!"

Wei Shiyan looked at Emperor Jiazheng.

More than ten years had passed, and time had etched his father’s face.

"Father," Wei Shiyan said, starting to drop to his knees.

But Empress Nie caught his arm, her tearful smile shining. "A-Yan, let’s go inside first, then."

...

Xingxing and Yu Yonggui went to the side hall and did not participate in Wei Shiyan's family reunion.

But it wasn’t long before someone arrived from the main hall, summoning Xingxing and Yu Yonggui for an audience.

Xingxing and Yu Yonggui complied without hesitation.

Empress Nie had clearly touched up her appearance, washing away some of her makeup, but she looked even more radiant.

After Xingxing and Yu Yonggui paid their respects, she directly bade them sit.

Her gaze toward Xingxing was overflowing with motherly warmth: "Good child, I’ve heard a little. If not for you, A-Yan (Wei Shiyan) might not have returned so safely and smoothly."

Xingxing smiled. "It is due to Your Majesty and Your Highness’ heaven-blessed fortune, and the Second Prince’s own heavenly protection."

Wei Shiyan, sitting nearby, was still unaccustomed to Xingxing calling him "Second Prince" and his lips twitched at the words.

Empress Nie’s smile deepened. "Xingxing is A-Yan’s lucky star."

Xingxing felt rather embarrassed.

Empress Nie leaned forward slightly. "...Xingxing, come, tell me properly—how exactly did you escape danger? I asked A-Yan earlier, but you know his temperament—he isn't one for many words. You tell me instead."

Xingxing couldn’t help but glance at Wei Shiyan and laugh.

Wei Shiyan kept his usual stoic expression.

Not only was Empress Nie concerned, but everyone in the hall—Emperor Jiazheng, Wei Shiqing, and Wei Shiyu—were just as keen to know how Wei Shiyan had escaped danger.

Though the express missive had mentioned it, the account was far too brief.

They naturally wanted to hear Xingxing recount it in greater detail.

Xingxing rose to the occasion, thoroughly explaining the entire chain of events from start to finish.

She also did not downplay the efforts they had made, recounting them truthfully and in detail.

After all, the scouts of Chaoyang Tower had toiled relentlessly for so long—they deserved some recognition. It wasn’t as if she was seeking empty praise!

Xingxing was eloquent and had personally experienced it all. Many of the details she shared were even unknown to Wei Shiyan, who looked at her in astonishment several times, momentarily transfixed.

Empress Nie listened as if spellbound.

When she heard that the wife of the Anjiang Prefect had dared to send people disguised as bandits to ambush them, her face clouded with rage!

Emperor Jiazheng had already devised multiple executions for the Anjiang Prefect’s entire family.

Attempting to assassinate a prince and a princess, colluding with Xi Yi—each of these crimes alone merited the nine familial exterminations!

At one point, Wei Shiyan even frowned and interrupted, handing Xingxing a cup of water.

Xingxing, parched from recounting, drained it in one swallow. Wei Shiyan then automatically retrieved the empty cup and placed it on the small table beside him.

Emperor Jiazheng observed with raised eyebrows.

He even felt a twinge of envy.

Well I'll be, A-Yan had never even served him tea before...

Empress Nie, meanwhile, was beaming, barely restraining herself from having Emperor Jiazheng issue an edict to arrange their marriage.

By the time Xingxing finished her account, it was nearly dusk. Empress Nie, moved by the hardships and struggles of their journey, became even more fond and protective of Xingxing.

Emperor Jiazheng, with a flourish of his brush, granted Xingxing an additional three thousand households to her estate as a princess.

Three thousand households!

That matched the estates given to the most favored princesses at their investiture!

When it came to rewarding merits, Emperor Jiazheng did not neglect Yu Yonggui either.

He even bestowed upon Yu Yonggui the noble title of Zhengnan Count.

Yu Yonggui stood frozen in shock.

He was a Count now?

Even if it was ceremonial, it was still a real noble rank!

Of course, Xingxing was thrilled for her fourth brother too.

This was the first noble title in their Yu family!

When the imperial decree reached the Yu household, the whole family burst into celebration!

Ever since receiving the news that Xingxing and Yu Yonggui had safely arrived in the capital, the Yu family had been on edge, waiting anxiously.

They waited and waited, from morning till dusk, but there was no sign of them returning from the palace.

Yu Yonghuai got so worried he rode off to question his commanding officer.

However, his superior, the commander of the palace guard, only knew that Princess Fusui and Yu Yonggui had entered Zhaoyang Palace and had not yet left. Beyond that, he knew nothing.

When he learned it was Zhaoyang Palace, Yu Yonghuai relaxed a little, knowing it was Empress Nie's residence.

After all, it was common knowledge how much Empress Nie adored Xingxing.

The family kept waiting, but instead of Xingxing and Yu Yonggui, the imperial reward decree arrived first.

The decree heaped praise on Xingxing and Yu Yonggui.

It formally recorded Emperor Jiazheng's grant of three thousand additional households to Xingxing's fief—and these estates were in the wealthy Su-Yang region!

Before the family could even absorb this good news, they heard the decree also conferring the title of Zhengnan Count upon Yu Yonggui!

Bai Xiaofeng, Yu Yonggui’s mother, was so happy she almost fainted.

She’d never dreamed she’d live to see her son become a Count!

After the decree-bearing eunuch left, the Yu family didn’t hold back their excitement.

All the sisters-in-law cheered for Bai Xiaofeng at once.

Bai Xiaofeng’s smile stretched ear to ear.

Old Madam Wei was grinning ear to ear too!

Sure, she was over the moon about her granddaughter’s new estates and her grandson becoming a Count.

But what made her happiest was that her grandchildren had returned safe and sound!

During those days, she would take the whole family to various temples and Taoist monasteries every now and then, making generous donations while praying for her grandchildren's safety.

By now, Wei Pozi was treated as a VIP at all the major temples near the capital.

Not only that, after hearing that Jiao Shi had set up a small Buddhist shrine at home, praying daily for Xingxing’s safety, Wei Pozi thought it was a good idea. She also brought home a golden Bodhisattva statue, burning three incense sticks daily and never skipping fresh fruit offerings, all to pray for Xingxing and Yu Yonggui’s safe return.

Once, when Xu Ge'er was being mischievous and accidentally knocked over a plate of offerings, Wei Pozi didn’t scold him, but it left her feeling uneasy. That night, she couldn’t sleep and spent half the night on her knees before the Buddha, chanting scriptures.

When Ah Wu learned about Xu Ge'er knocking over the offerings and heard that her mother-in-law had stayed up worried half the night, she immediately brought Xu Ge'er over and accompanied Wei Pozi in chanting scriptures for most of the day.

Now that Xingxing and Yu Yonggui had returned safely and even received imperial honors, Wei Pozi recalled how Xu Ge'er had accompanied her in chanting scriptures that day and specially praised him, saying that after he stayed with her, the heavy feeling in her heart had eased considerably—proof that Xu Ge'er had played a part in their safe return.

Thrilled, Xu Ge'er puffed out his little chest and promised to spend one day a month fasting and praying at the small shrine to bless the whole family!