Chapter 30: “The capital is indeed as wonderful as I imagined…”

Chapter 30: "The capital is every bit as magnificent as I'd imagined..."

April 21st, a day auspicious for all undertakings.

Before dawn had even broken, the courier station was already illuminated by the bright glow of candles. Those resting inside the station and the guards camped outside began washing and donning formal attire, preparing to set off for the capital soon.

Prince Duan, assisted by his attendants, put on his princely ceremonial robes.

He first went downstairs to check on Li Xiangdi, the former leader of the Qiang Rong.

Li Xiangdi had been locked back in the prisoner's cage.

Over a month had passed since his capture, and he was in poor condition. His once peppered hair had turned mostly white, and his once proud, lion-like posture had hunched over, as if all life had left him.

After confirming that Li Xiangdi was secure, Prince Duan glanced up at the room at the far end of the third floor.

The door was tightly shut, and nothing inside could be seen from the outside, but candlelight glowed from within.

"Your Highness, it’s almost time," a Royal Guard reminded him.

Prince Duan nodded. "Tell everyone else to get ready." He then ascended the stairs, intending to personally summon Huo Ling.

After knocking three times, he asked, "A Ling, we should depart. Are you ready?"

There was no verbal response from inside, only the sound of footsteps.

With a creak, the door swung open.

Candlelight flooded out, illuminating the dim corridor. Moving past Wu Mo, who stood behind the door, Prince Duan’s gaze immediately locked onto Huo Ling.

He had always known she was stunningly beautiful, but over time, he thought he had gotten used to her beauty.

Only now, under the flickering candlelight, as she walked toward him with graceful poise, did he realize his so-called "accustomed" state was merely because she had worn simpler attire while at the frontlines.

Huo Ling wore a long dress—red at the top, black at the hem, and trimmed with white—echoing the colors of grand ceremonial attire. Yet the intricate and opulent details of the gown made it seem as though flowers were blooming along the skirt.

This design miraculously blended two seemingly contradictory temperaments: majestic dignity and radiant boldness.

Her hair, usually tied back casually with a ribbon, was now intricately braided and adorned with gold hairpins and jewels. Her forehead bore no floral designs—only half a white pearl was pasted there.

Her naturally fair and delicate face required little makeup. She had only lightly defined her brows and applied lip color, with the most distinctive touch being a single beauty mark beneath her right eye.

"Your Highness."

Only when Huo Ling called out to him did Prince Duan realize he had been spellbound for a moment.

Instinctively, he reached out and gripped the doorframe, as though only this could steady his racing heart.

"A Ling," he said hoarsely, "I wish I could keep you all to myself. If you enter the city dressed like this, I can’t imagine how many admiring stares you’ll draw."

Huo Ling smiled. "Has Your Highness lost his confidence?"

"Of course not." Prince Duan took a deep breath and returned her smile. "Shall we go?"

The first light of dawn touched the horizon—today promised to be a rare, brilliantly sunny day.

The sedan chair Wu Feng had prepared for Huo Ling was adorned with sheer gauze, its top extravagantly encircled by strands of pearls.

Huo Ling took her seat in the sedan chair, her attention already fixed on Luocheng twenty miles away.

A thousand soldiers marched ahead, clearing the way, and the procession moved forward in solemn silence, their footsteps echoing rhythmically as they advanced toward Luocheng.

In the distance, the city’s silhouette came into view.

The morning sun peeked just above the city walls, its rays illuminating the massive fortifications that rose abruptly from the plains like a monstrous titan, looming into the sky.

It stood as humanity’s greatest defiance against nature’s might.

As they drew closer, the walls swallowed the sun, and the plaque bearing the words "Luocheng" came into view.

It was said that the plaque had been personally inscribed by the founding emperor of the previous dynasty.

When the founding emperor of Great Yan took control of Luocheng, officials had once urged him to rewrite it, but he had merely smiled and declined.

When Huo Ling first read this account in historical records, she couldn’t understand why.

Now, seeing the timeworn yet noble script, she suddenly understood the Yan emperor’s sentiment.

Why change it?

The founding emperor of the previous dynasty was a celebrated ruler in history, stabilizing the Central Plains and establishing a century-long reign. Yet now, this capital belonged to Great Yan.

A person lives at most a century, but a city endures for millennia.

Across the centuries, the previous emperor had come, ruled, and so too had he.

He would not deny the achievements of his predecessors, just as he hoped future generations would share the same ambition.

Closer still, the marks on the walls grew clearer—eroded by wind and rain, scarred by blades, dented by siege engines, even charred by flames.

After days of rain, moss spread like a living tapestry, turning the walls into a silent chronicle of time.

Silent, yet breathtaking.

The city gates creaked open, and the procession entered the city.

Along the streets, imperial guards stood in full armor, weapons at the ready, maintaining order.

Behind them, crowds pressed forward.

Luocheng was the only city in Great Yan with over a million people. While other towns still enforced curfews, the capital had long abandoned such restrictions.

It commanded respect, yet remained welcoming.

It could accommodate the most ambitious schemers and ordinary folk who just wanted a quiet life. Everyone could find their place in Luocheng.

A huge population meant endless needs, sparking countless trades and boundless energy.

The common folk of Yanxi might not take pride in their region, but the people of Luocheng burst with pride for their home.

Indeed, who wouldn’t feel proud when living within such a colossal entity?

This was the dynasty’s beating heart, where a century’s luck gathered. If even its residents felt fear and unrest, how fractured and turbulent must Great Yan be?

After experiencing Luocheng’s solemn grandeur up close, Huo Ling now felt its lively, thrumming pulse.

"It truly lives up to all my expectations."

Huo Ling held a round fan in her hand, wearing a bright, satisfied smile amidst the cheers of thousands.

"The capital is every bit as magnificent as I pictured."

While Huo Ling immersed herself in the beauty of Luocheng, everyone in the city was watching her.

She stood among a thousand armored soldiers clad in black, like the sole burst of color in a sea of black. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what made her so beautiful—only that every inch of her was breathtaking.

Perhaps "beauty" was merely a feeling.

And the feeling she evoked now was "beauty" itself.

So stunning it seared into the eyes.

So dazzling it defied the words of poets and scholars, pulling everyone into a dazzling and mysterious dream in an instant.

Amidst this awe-inspiring yet serene scene, she suddenly smiled.

A sharp, fiery, and defiant smile.

So vivid and fierce, as if life itself pulsed through her. Her beauty was untamed, boldly flaunting charm and allure for all to see.

If people wanted to see her, she would openly let them look.

Why cage such rare beauty in towers or gilded halls? It deserved to be admired by all.

This was a woman whose beauty burned with wildness.

The world’s rigid rules couldn’t tame her. She was a heavenly blossom of splendor, embracing all worldly greed, anger, and folly, while reflecting the deepest desires in people's hearts.

Even those who came to gawk or jeer fell silent before such unmatched beauty.

Emperor Jingyuan sat in the best-viewed private room of a tavern, the folding fan in his hand now motionless.

He studied the girl in the sedan chair with quiet admiration.

The curve of her lips, the mirth in her eyes—sharp and blazing with ambition.

In his lifetime, Emperor Jingyuan had seen countless eyes filled with ambition, but only this pair, so lively they seemed to speak, etched themselves into his memory.

Even the vibrant early summer faded beside her, reduced to a mere backdrop.

This was a beauty beyond compare—one whose faint smile could bring even a mighty ruler to his knees.

What was that smile for?

After the procession entered the city, it wound through the bustling Vermilion Bird Avenue. The guards escorted the prison carts to the imperial dungeons, while Prince Duan was to enter the palace with officials from the Ministry of Rites for an audience with the emperor.

***

Huo Ling peeled off from the main procession, accompanied by Wu Feng, Wu Mo, and several wagons of belongings from Yanxi, heading toward the mansion bestowed upon her by Emperor Jingyuan.

Just as they stepped away from the procession, a familiar face strode up, smiling, and bowed low. "Commandery Lady Xiang'an, it’s been too long since Yanxi."

"Attendant Cui," Huo Ling laughed. "What are you doing here?"

Cui Hongyi replied with warm deference, "His Majesty commanded this humble servant to greet you, Commandery Lady. Since you are new to the capital and unfamiliar with its ways, allow me to guide you."

Huo Ling said, "Then I'll trouble Attendant Cui."

Cui Hongyi replied, "Not at all. It's my honor to escort the Commandery Lady."

Whether intentional or not, Cui Hongyi added, "Today, from Fan Tower, I saw the Commandery Lady's magnificent procession into the city. Surely, after today, the capital will be abuzz with talk of your beauty."

Huo Ling's smile remained unchanged, but her thoughts began churning.

Cui Hongyi was a palace attendant—he had no reason to leave the palace without cause, let alone enter Fan Tower to watch the triumphal procession. Combined with his earlier statement of "following His Majesty's orders," did that mean Emperor Jingyuan had left the palace today?

The residence bestowed by Emperor Jingyuan was a three-courtyard compound located in the inner city. The neighborhood was quiet and refined, mostly inhabited by officials and their families.

All the furnishings inside were brand new, with tables, chairs, and cabinets made of highly polished pear wood.

Cui Hongyi personally showed Huo Ling around.

From the front courtyard to the rear, the corridors were spotless, without a leaf out of place.

They passed through the garden.

A long-uninhabited estate should have been desolate and overgrown, yet at this moment, the garden was bursting with life, with peonies, crabapple blossoms, and azaleas blooming in harmonious arrangement.

Noticing Huo Ling's attention on the flowers, Cui Hongyi explained, "After His Majesty granted this residence, he ordered me to oversee getting it ready so the Commandery Lady could move in directly."

"I didn’t know what flowers the Commandery Lady preferred, so I took the liberty of transplanting some seasonal blooms. If you dislike them or wish to rearrange anything, just let me know."

"No, I like them very much," Huo Ling replied with a smile, lightly tracing a crabapple blossom before her.

She had witnessed many instances of people sucking up to superiors. Cui Hongyi's enthusiasm, patience, and thoroughness were not due to his own kindness.

Behind such an attitude lay Emperor Jingyuan's attitude toward her.

He must have shown interest in her in front of Cui Hongyi.

This interest had been noticed by Cui Hongyi—and now, by her as well.

What had he been thinking when he watched her from Fan Tower?

A three-courtyard estate was neither too large nor too small. Even with a cursory glance, their tour took a good half hour.

Cui Hongyi even worried that Huo Ling might think it too small. "This residence could have been larger, but since the Commandery Lady lives alone, a bigger estate would require more servants for upkeep."

Huo Ling said, "I only brought two people to the capital. Even one courtyard would suffice for us, let alone three. This is already quite generous already."

With the tour concluded, Cui Hongyi was ready to return to the palace to report. Before leaving, however, he looked at Huo Ling and said, "Before coming to see the Commandery Lady, His Majesty wanted me to ask you a question."

"His Majesty wanted to know: What were you laughing about when you entered the city?"

"I was laughing because at the foot of the Son of Heaven, where fortune converges, it is no wonder—this is the capital, this is Luocheng."

Huo Ling raised her round fan, lightly pressing it against her lips, revealing the same smile she had worn upon entering the city.

"May I ask Attendant Cui to relay a message to His Majesty?"

Cui Hongyi was surprised but quickly responded respectfully, "No need to say 'ask.' Just tell me."

In the imperial study, Emperor Jingyuan was meeting with Prince Duan, listening to his report on the situation in Yanxi and the Qiang Rong.

While listening intently, Emperor Jingyuan noticed Cui Hongyi entering the hall from the corner of his eye.

With a light tap of his fingers on the desk, Emperor Jingyuan smiled at Prince Duan and said, "Thirteen [a note could clarify this as Prince Duan’s birth order/nickname], you've been away for over half a year. Now that you've just returned to the capital, there's no need to rush through all your reports."

"After such a long journey, you must be tired. These matters have long been settled—they can wait a few days. Head back to your estate to freshen up. Tonight, I will throw a palace banquet to celebrate your return."

Prince Duan naturally rose to express his gratitude for Emperor Jingyuan’s consideration.

Just as he was about to exit the hall, Emperor Jingyuan remembered something else. "Before you leave the palace, stop by Tianzhang Pavilion to pick up Ji Yuanwan. It’s been a long time since you last saw the child. Take him out of the palace for a few days so you two can spend some time together."

Prince Duan froze for a split second.

This arrangement was indeed considerate. But when it came to Ji Yuanwan, Prince Duan would rather Emperor Jingyuan not be so thoughtful.

If Emperor Jingyuan truly intended to claim Ji Yuanwan as his own son, he should be reluctant to let the boy bond with his birth parents and foster affection with them.

"Would this interfere with his studies?" Prince Duan declined with a smile. "If I wish to see him, I can always visit the palace. He’s still young—there’s no need for him to shuttle between two homes."

Emperor Jingyuan took a sip of tea and replied indifferently, "This was Ji Yuanwan’s request to me. Out of his filial feelings, I must accommodate him."

Prince Duan could say no more. After thanking Emperor Jingyuan for his grace, he left, intending to press Ji Yuanwan for details when they met.

Once Prince Duan had departed, Cui Hongyi promptly approached Emperor Jingyuan and passed along Huo Ling’s glowing review of the capital.

Emperor Jingyuan was somewhat surprised—that wasn’t the answer he’d anticipated.

No sooner had one question been resolved than another arose in his mind. Did she really think so highly of the capital?

Cui Hongyi cautiously glanced at Emperor Jingyuan. "Commandery Lady asked me to pass on a message to Your Majesty."

"What message?"

Cui Hongyi swallowed. "Commandery Lady said that if Your Majesty has further questions in the future, you may have her come to the palace to answer in person."

Emperor Jingyuan was taken aback. "Women nowadays..."

He paused, weighing his words.

After a long moment, he chuckled, finally landing on the perfect description.

"Who knew they’d be so daring?"