Qi Shangming entered the Imperial Study, on pins and needles as he poured Yan Feng a cup of tea. "Your Majesty, getting angry all the time is not a solution. How about sending Miss Murong to Imperial n.o.ble Consort"s place and mellow her out? This could be a good thing."
Yan Feng didn"t respond.
Qi Shangming continued to explain, "n.o.ble Consort Chiyun might be narrow-minded, but she"s still a highly educated and reasonable daughter from a respectable family; she won"t harm Miss Murong. Not to say, if Your Majesty misses Miss Murong, you can go to Minghui Palace to visit her. It"s not like you can"t meet again."
Yan Feng remained silent.
The next day, Yan Feng had people bring Murong Zhining and Cai Sang to Minghui Palace. Chiyun Ping had a side chamber tidied up for the two girls to stay in.
Chiyun Ping wasn"t in a hurry to deal with Murong Zhining, afraid that she"d break the vases while hitting the rat. She knew very well Murong Zhining"s position in Yan Feng"s heart. If she hurt Murong Zhining and angered Yan Feng, she would lose his favor forever. Therefore, she must plan this carefully.
Chiyun Ping thought to herself, What that servant Cai Qin said was right. As long as Murong Zhining is here in my Minghui Palace, I can handle her however I like. However, that wouldn"t be for now. Chiyun Ping only arranged for Murong Zhining and Cai Sang to do some light embroidery work.
Yan Feng longed to see Murong Zhining, so he resumed his habit of frequently visiting Minghui Palace. Chiyun Ping couldn"t help but to sigh at this. The emperor"s love had always been subject to constant change. In the past, Yan Feng came here for her, but now, he was only willing to come to her palace because of another woman.
This morning, Chiyun Ping was in the corridor feeding the koi fish in the pond. She leisurely sat on the banister, and bit by bit, threw the fish food into the pond. The fish flocked over to vie for the food, splashing water around as they did so. Chiyun Ping looked very unhappy. Losing Yan Feng"s favor and love, she felt like a fish thrown to the ground, feeling unwell all over, unable to breathe.
As Chi Yunping was lost in thought, Murong Zhining came over with a brocade handkerchief that had been very well embroidered. The girl respectfully presented the handkerchief to Chiyun Ping. "I have completed embroidering the handkerchief as Esteemed Consort ordered. Esteemed Consort, please check and see if it"s to your satisfaction. If it"s not, I will redo another."
Chiyun Ping didn"t even spare Murong Zhining a glance. "Just place it over there. You accompany this consort for a talk. Tell me, how did you bewitch His Majesty? I want to learn too."
Murong Zhining bent her knees and respectfully replied, "I am only staying here temporarily. After His Majesty thoroughly investigates my ident.i.ty, I will leave the palace. I implore Esteemed Consort to not misunderstand. His Majesty"s heart has always been with Esteemed Consort."
Chiyun Ping let out a mocking laugh and didn"t say anything, her eyes conceitedly stopped at a distant place.
At this moment, a eunuch arrived to relay the emperor"s decree: Chiyun Ping"s younger brother, Grand General Chiyun, per imperial decree, is returning to the capital today. His Majesty acknowledges the general"s grand deeds with grat.i.tude and wishes to welcome him at the palace gate according to the highest courteous reception. Chiyun Ping shall accompany His Majesty to welcome General Chiyun.
This was a big pleasant surprise to Chiyun Ping. It had been two years since she last saw her little brother. She ordered to be changed into a formal attire only worn in ceremonies, then carefully preened herself, joy-filled as she looked forward to welcoming Chiyun Yuexuan back.
Two hours later, Chiyun Ping held onto Yan Feng"s arm and stepped onto the tower over the palace gate. Yan Feng was also dressed in a formal attire only worn in ancestor worship occasions and ceremonies, showing how much importance he attached to Chiyun Yuexuan"s return. Appointed as Chiyun Ping"s maid-in-waiting, Murong Zhining was also present.
A short while later, a dust wave could be seen billowing in the far south of the main road, amidst which an army of people gallopped towards the Imperial Capital. From outside the palace entrance up to the city gate, there was a bustling sea of people to witness the return of the general. The court officials also properly stood in two straight lines in front of the palace gate.
The majority of the Chiyun Army stopped right at the city gate, with only a small troop led by the general continued into the city and headed towards the palace. Watching from the tower, one could see the crowd began to boil with pa.s.sion. Some citizens even knelt on the side of the road to respectfully welcome their grand general.
At the very front of the troop was a jet-black, handsome horse. The horse was tall and st.u.r.dy, its well-proportioned muscles looked powerful, and the knees joints were distinct on those four slender leg bones that led down to four solid and big hooves. At first glance, it was easy to tell that this horse was a fine rare n.o.ble steed.
Thick armor enveloped the horse"s body, its skull was also protected by a helmet, leaving only two eyes visible to the outside. Astride the horse was a young general in a cape and a golden helmet. As the cape fluttered in the wind, it revealed a strong body in golden armor sitting steadily on the horseback. The rider had a pair of broad shoulders, a lean waist, and long, lean limbs. On his face was a dark-green cloth cover and a gold-rimmed eyepatch.
The general held a long halberd slantwise. The handle was long and golden in color with animal patterns intricately engraved on it. The bottom of the handle was decorated with a circle of blue gems. The halberd"s head were two crescent axe blades, one big and one small, flanking a curvy serpent-shaped spear at the top. Deep red in color, the spear gleamed with a dull light.
As the general slowly approached the palace gate on horseback, the citizens on the two sides of the road chanted, "Hooray to Grand General!"
The general looked steadily forward with an imposing momentum that elicited bursts of exclamations from the wonderstruck crowd. There were onlookers who ignited strings of small firecrackers and sounded the drums. Such was how the people of Huayan saluted the Bulwark grand general who defended their home. The entire ceremony was majestic and solemn.
When the general arrived at the palace gate, he swung his arm to fling back the cape, then jumped off the horse and handed the halberd to the deputy general behind. In the troops behind him, a flag written with two big words "Chiyun" fluttered.
Facing the emperor standing above the palace entrance, the general knelt in the rite of a subject to the ruler, then entered the gate. Yan Feng and Chiyun Ping descended hand in hand to greet him.
The general walked to Yan Feng and once again knelt to the monarch. Yan Feng helped him up. After the courtesy, they locked each other in a tight hug. Everyone could see that, surprisingly, the general was even taller than the tall and st.u.r.dy-looking Yan Feng.
Yan Feng patted the general"s shoulder. "General Chiyun, two years no see. How did you grow so tall? How is this emperor going to take it?" The two laughed heartily. Yan Feng gazed expectantly at Chiyun Yuexuan. "I haven"t seen you for over two years. Hurry and take that mask off, let me see if you"ve changed at all."
All eyes gathered upon Chiyun Yuexuan. The atmosphere inexplicably tensed up. Chiyun Yuexuan slowly took off the helmet, the eyepatch, and untied the cloth covering his face. Under the expectant look of the surrounding people, a strikingly handsome face came into view.
Everyone gasped at this face. Shouldn"t the mighty general have a h.e.l.lish, fiendish face? How did he grow up to have such a stunning, jade-like, and genderlessly charming face? Everyone was dumbstruck, momentarily lacking the words to describe him. They could only think of four words with a heartfelt sigh: Face like Pan An !
Yan Feng laughed forthrightly and teased, "Two years no see, my general has grown even more beautiful! Do you want to sway my city or something?"
Chiyun Yuexuan cupped his fists, "Your general has incurred Your Majesty"s laughter." His voice was thick and deep, accentuating his masculinity. Only with careful observation did everyone discover that his face lines were sharp as if sculpted. Except for those captivating narrow phoenix eyes , his entire body exuded an air of virility.
Chiyun Yuexuan walked over to Chiyun Ping. Just as he was about to kneel down to pay his respects, Chiyun Ping hurriedly helped him up. The group then walked to the palace, chatting merrily as they did so. Tonight, Yan Feng was treating the court official to a dinner party, and while at it, used the party as a welcoming reception for Chiyun Yuexuan.
Chiyun Yuexuan first followed Yan Feng to the Imperial Study. They hadn"t seen each other for two years. Whether it be personal matters or national affairs, they had a lot to talk about.
Yan Feng was sitting on pins and needles as he took out the reports that impeached Chiyun Yuexuan, urgently wanting to get to know the real situation. While Yan Feng had always held a firm belief in Chiyun Yuexuan, he still wanted to hear his reply for himself before he could rest easy. The two conversed for two hours. Then, Chiyun Yuexuan took his leave and had the palace maids lead him to Minghui Palace. Previously, his parents had watched his welcoming ceremony from afar. They should be waiting for him at Minghui Palace right now.
Chiyun Yuexuan took quick steps to arrive at Minghui Palace, where Chiyun Nan and Madam Chiyun were already waiting. Chiyun Yuexuan solemnly knelt to his parents. Chiyun Nan helped him up and happily punched him on his shoulder lightly. "That"s my son."
Chiyun Ping ordered lunch to be set up in Guanyun Hall. The Chiyun members sat around the table, chatting and laughing as they enjoyed a rare family meal. Seeing the handsome and extraordinary Chiyun Yuexuan, the maids sitting in groups blushed and discussed about him in a small voice.
When the mood at the table was high, Chiyun Nan suddenly asked with a serious face, "I heard that there recently have been many officials and ministers indicting you. They said you took brides and bent laws, and indiscriminately killed the innocent. Is that true?"
Chiyun Yuexuan respectfully cupped his hands toward Chiyun Nan, "Please rest a.s.sured, Father. I have been taught by you ever since I was little, and I absolutely will not do anything to tarnish the Chiyun family"s reputation. I have already reported this in detail to His Majesty, he will restore my innocence."
Chiyun Ping nodded thoughtfully. "You aren"t young anymore. I will ask His Majesty to bestow upon you a marriage. It"s time you get your mind on serious things, settle down and work on your career."
Chiyun Yuexuan made another ceremonious gesture to Chiyun Nan. Only before his father that the general would behave and revealed an expression of admiration and respect. "I have made you worried. Please give me one more year, Father. I want to accomplish some more merits before thinking about marriage!"
Madam Chiyun kindly took Chiyun Yuexuan"s hand. "Xuan"er, for your parents, give it some thought, won"t you? This can"t wait any longer; I really look forward to holding my grandchild. It"s not like there"s a conflict between getting married and building your career."
Chiyun Yuexuan then acted cute. "Mother, give your child one year, just one year, please?"
Madam Chiyun helplessly shook her head to express that she compromised, because she truly had no way with him. "Right, next time, remember to invite Deputy General Wu Siyuan to your father"s estate for a meal."
Chiyun Yuexuan said, "Mother actually misses your nephew a little more than you miss this son of yours."
Madam Chiyun pretended to be angry and hit him. "Nonsense! I like you both. In the army, you should look after your cousin."
Chiyun Yuexuan respectfully saluted. "Your son has received your order!"
Yan Feng"s dinner party was held in Qirui Hall. All of the imperial members and officials attended this rare feast.
Chiyun Yuexuan had gotten out of his heavy armor and changed into a straight-collar white robe fastened with a black, jade-encrusted girdle. His hair was tied up in a high hair bun bundled up in a white shawl. The general fluttered a folding fan, his current graceful and scholarly image was like a completely different person from the armored man he was earlier.
The party was bustling; the officials went to and fro to propose toasts to one another. In the center of the grand hall, there were palace female dancers dancing and singing, as well as Chiyun soldiers performing sword arts in a formation. The emperor and his subjects exchanged toasts, everyone was enjoying themselves to the fullest.
Chiyun Ping sat next to Yan Feng and occasionally raised her cup towards the officials. As one of her attending maids, Murong Zhining stood straight behind her. Perhaps she was in high spirits, Chiyun Ping drank quite some wine and was getting a little tipsy.
Seeing Chiyun Ping slowly losing to the alcohol"s effect, Yan Feng ordered the maids to escort her back to rest. Murong Zhining respectfully came over to support Chiyun Ping, but the latter pushed her to the ground.