At the entrance of the magnificent palace, human figures appeared exceptionally small.

Chu Yi wore black-purple court robes. Just as he descended from the carriage, he saw a delicate figure ahead.

He couldn’t help but recall that scene in the wooden cabin on the bandit mountain—that gruesome wound, that porcelain-white skin… After that day, this was their first meeting.

Though he had gone to the Yun manor many times, each time he only spoke with Yun Ze in the study, while only the two children went in to see her.

Every time on the way home from the Yun manor, Brother Yu would be very happy, chattering endlessly without stopping, and Changsheng would smile with pursed lips.

He knew the children very much enjoyed being with the woman before him.

Yun Chu not only saw Prince Pingxi, but also saw another man descending from the carriage with him—it was the Second Prince, Prince Gongxi.

She lowered her eyes and led Xie Ping over.

She bowed gracefully.

“This subject greets Prince Gongxi.”

“This subject greets Prince Pingxi.”

Prince Gongxi wore a gentle smile on his face. “Madam Xie is too courteous.”

This address of “Madam Xie” produced an indescribable discomfort in Chu Yi’s heart, though he didn’t know why it would be so.

“I heard Madam Xie was ill,” Prince Gongxi spoke. “I wonder if you’ve recovered?”

“Thank you for Prince Gongxi’s concern. This subject’s wife is much better,” Yun Chu’s voice was calm, though her eyes held an icy coldness.

There were many princes in the palace. Currently only the first four had been enfeoffed as princes. Once the remaining princes grew up, the front court and rear palace would gradually descend into chaos.

At that time, the Yun family maintained neutrality, firmly refusing to become involved in the struggle for the throne. When the Second Prince failed to win over the Yun family despite three visits, he used the blade that was Xie Shi’an to directly kick the Yun family out of court…

The Xie family was now in the palm of her hand.

But to take revenge on the Second Prince was truly too difficult…

Moreover, even if she truly brought down the Second Prince, there would definitely be another Second Prince who would come to win over the Yun family…

She stopped thinking about things she couldn’t figure out. Father would return to court soon, and then she could discuss thoroughly with Father and Grandfather, surely reaching some conclusion.

“Prince Gongxi, Prince Pingxi, this subject’s wife and daughter will take their leave first.”

Yun Chu curtsied and led Xie Ping onto the Yun family’s carriage.

“What a pity.” Watching the carriage disappear at the palace gates, Prince Gongxi shook his head. “Someone with the status of the Yun family’s legitimate eldest daughter should have married into the imperial family, yet she became the wife of a humble family. Third Imperial Brother, don’t you think it’s quite regrettable?”

When Father had selected a princess consort for him back then, he had actually preferred the Yun family, except that at that time the Yun family had no daughters of suitable age. There were some in the branch lines, but he looked down on them.

Of course, his current princess consort, the legitimate second daughter of the Grand Secretary, wasn’t bad either—she just didn’t have military power in hand, which was somewhat regrettable.

Chu Yi said indifferently, “Second Imperial Brother should not say such things again. It insults Madam Xie’s reputation.”

Prince Gongxi smiled. “If you didn’t already have a pair of children, I’d suspect you weren’t a man.”

That was the famed number one beauty of the capital. Even he, someone who kept his distance from women, felt slight ripples in his heart upon seeing her.

Yet his third brother didn’t even turn his gaze once.

No wonder Imperial Concubine Yin had always worried about Third Brother’s marriage. Someone uninterested in women naturally wouldn’t want to take a wife.

Chu Yi strode inside.

When Yun Chu appeared just now, he truly didn’t dare look at her, afraid of being presumptuous, afraid of giving offense…

The two entered the palace and went directly to the Imperial Study.

However, the Emperor was busy. The eunuch said to them, “His Majesty is speaking with Beauty Zhou in the inner palace. Please wait, Your Highnesses.”

Chu Yi’s face showed no excess expression.

Every time he came for an audience, Father Emperor was either with Beauty Zhou or with Talented Lady Li… In any case, there would always be imperial consorts in the palace.

After waiting about a quarter hour, Beauty Zhou emerged from within, and only then did the two follow the eunuch inside.

The Emperor sat on the dragon throne. “I summoned you two together because there is a matter for you to handle. The Grand General of the Pillar State defeated enemy forces for our dynasty, defended our territory, and protected the common people—he is an undisputed meritorious subject. The Grand General will arrive in the capital soon. You two will represent me and go to welcome him.”

Both said simultaneously, “Your sons obey the command!”

The Grand General of the Pillar State was the person the Emperor trusted most, commanding three hundred thousand troops. Every five years when he returned to court to report, the Emperor would bestow the greatest rewards—it would not be an exaggeration to call it a nationwide celebration.

Prince Gongxi and Prince Pingxi, representing the Emperor, rode on great horses, leading dozens of court officials to the capital outskirts to welcome the returning Grand General of the Pillar State, Yun Silin.

Yun Silin could only return to the capital once every five years. Leading three hundred personal guards, he rode for half a month from the border lands to reach the capital.

Still seventy or eighty li from the capital, he saw the two princes he hadn’t seen in a long time. He immediately dismounted. “This subject greets Prince Gongxi, greets Prince Pingxi!”

“Grand General, please rise quickly!” Prince Gongxi was one step faster than Chu Yi in supporting Yun Silin. “Grand General has risked life and limb for our dynasty. Third Brother and I cannot accept this courtesy. Father Emperor and the civil and military officials have prepared strong wine, just waiting for the Grand General to enter the city!”

Yun Silin cupped his hands, grasped the reins, mounted his horse, and headed together toward the capital.

The common people in the city had long been in an uproar.

The Yun family had defended against foreign invasion for the nation since a hundred years ago, protecting every inch of territory, safeguarding every common person… Now the people lived and worked in peace, yet many from the Yun family had died on battlefields and could never return.

“Look, the Grand General of the Pillar State has returned!”

“The last time I saw the Grand General was five years ago. Five years later, the Grand General is still so heroic!”

“I sought a life-protecting talisman for the Grand General. I hope the Grand General can live to ninety-nine. If the Grand General dies, who else can protect our homes and defend our country?”

“The next generation of the Yun family hasn’t produced a single general!”

“So many people from the Yun family through the generations have died on battlefields—isn’t that enough? The virtue accumulated by their ancestors is already sufficient. The Yun family’s descendants should live peacefully and safely.”

“…”

The Emperor, with all the civil and military officials, welcomed the Grand General of the Pillar State’s return to court from atop the city wall.

The Grand General of the Pillar State and his personal guards knelt in obeisance. The Emperor had people pass cups of strong wine to everyone returning.

“The enemy forces of the western frontier harbor undying treacherous intent, repeatedly violating our territory. This all depends on generation after generation of the Yun family’s steadfast defense!” The Emperor descended from the city tower and walked before Yun Silin. “The qilin in heaven has its own noble lineage; how can the ants in the snow escape! With the Grand General of the Pillar State returning to the capital, I shall help the General remove his war robes!”

The Emperor personally removed the war robes from Yun Silin’s body.

This was the highest honor.

The war robes were passed to the vice general at the side. The Emperor picked up his wine cup and clinked it with Yun Silin’s. “To raise a cup with the General is my honor. Drink up.”

“Drink up!”

“Drink up!”

The Yun family’s three hundred personal guards and all the court officials simultaneously raised their wine cups.

After the celebration, the General entered the city.

Countless common people stood at the street sides to welcome the Grand General’s return. Yun Chu was also on the second floor of a wine house on the street.

She stood at the second-floor railing and immediately spotted her father entering the city with the Emperor. Father didn’t seem much different from her memories—majestic and inviolable, simply standing there could make enemies’ legs tremble with fear and surrender without fighting…

Yun Chu watched as Father followed the Emperor into the Imperial City.

She turned around and took a carriage back to the Yun family home.

Only after Father completed his report to the palace could he return home. Countless court officials would come to pay their respects. Today the Yun family was destined to be very busy.