Prince Jing would never let the glory of victory go to his head. Even though Emperor Tai’an’s voice carried a choke, he didn’t believe His Majesty could truly be moved to tears.

“Relieving Your Majesty’s worries is this subject-brother’s duty.”

Prince Jing’s performance quite satisfied Emperor Tai’an. The two brothers exchanged warm pleasantries for a while, one mounting the dragon carriage and the other mounting his warhorse. The vast, magnificent procession headed toward the city.

The wide streets had been swept and cleaned in advance, with the sides packed full of common people welcoming the triumphant soldiers.

Accompanied by festive drums and music, the procession drew nearer and nearer.

The common people cheered, countless flowers and silk handkerchiefs thrown toward those soldiers who wore expressions either stern, proud, or foolishly grinning.

The bailiffs maintaining order nearby didn’t forget to remind them: “No throwing plums or melons!”

On a teahouse facing the street, Qi Qiong rested both hands on the railing, striving to find her elder brother’s figure.

“A’Hao, do you see my big brother?”

“I see him.” Lin Hao pointed with one hand, her eyes firmly glued to that upright figure. “Right there.”

“Your eyes are still sharper.” Qi Qiong covered her mouth and laughed lightly. “A’Hao, isn’t this a case of you and my big brother being connected in spirit?”

Lin Hao smiled: “Mainly I’m watching where the flower rain falls most thickly.”

Qi Qiong was first startled, then utterly shocked after she reacted: “A’Hao, even though that’s my big brother, we shouldn’t be so… ahem, self-praising, should we?”

Lin Hao casually rested one hand on the railing, smiling as she explained: “People’s eyes are first drawn to those riding in carriages or on horses. Among these people, the higher their status, the further forward they are, and they’re usually quite advanced in years. A’Shuo is in the prime of youth, dashing and elegant—attracting more flowers and handkerchiefs is naturally reasonable.”

Qi Qiong shook her head: “When you analyze it like that, even the most elegant matters become dull.”

Lin Hao’s gaze pursued her beloved, but in her heart she sighed: love poems are all lies. If they truly shared a spiritual connection, why wouldn’t A’Shuo glance this way even once?

Just as she was thinking this, the young general on the fine horse looked over.

Perhaps it was guilty conscience from suddenly discovering she’d complained wrongly, but Lin Hao didn’t know what she was thinking in that instant when their eyes met—she ducked down to hide.

The young man on horseback’s gaze shifted from tender to shocked.

What was A’Hao doing!

Until the horse had walked far away, Qi Shuo was still turning his head back searching for Lin Hao’s figure, to the point that some young ladies misunderstood, shrieking as they threw everything they could grab.

“Miss, are you throwing hidden weapons? No throwing hairpins!” a bailiff who noticed shouted a warning.

The young girl standing beside the woman covered her hair bun and stamped her foot: “Sister, you threw my hairpin!”

On the teahouse, Qi Qiong’s shock was no less than her brother’s: “A’Hao, why did you hide?”

Lin Hao’s face had recovered its composure: “I didn’t hide—my handkerchief dropped.”

Qi Qiong: “…” Proper upbringing didn’t allow her to expose this on the spot.

“I’m thirsty. Let’s go back inside to drink tea.” Having watched the person she wanted to see walk away, Lin Hao had no more interest in standing outside in the sun. She pulled Qi Qiong back into the private room.

Meanwhile, Qi Shuo, even after entering the great hall where the assembled officials were being feasted, still had his heart resting on that teahouse facing the street.

Could it be that because he hadn’t revealed his plan in advance, making A’Hao worry, she was angry?

Apart from this, he couldn’t think of any reason why Lin Hao would hide as soon as she saw him.

“Heir, Heir—”

Qi Shuo came back to his senses and looked toward a general holding up a wine cup.

This general was surnamed Zhu and could be considered the representative returning to the capital from General Xu’s faction. As for General Xu himself, he remained in the northern territories handling post-war affairs and wouldn’t be able to return for some time.

“That Northern Qi laid down their arms so quickly is inseparable from the Heir’s merit. On behalf of everyone, I toast the Heir.” General Zhu looked at Qi Shuo with somewhat excited eyes.

Many soldiers didn’t know about Prince Jing’s heir’s achievements. Before departure, General Xu had only revealed bits and pieces to him. Looking at Prince Jing’s heir again, his feelings were completely different.

“General Zhu praises me too highly.” Qi Shuo raised his cup and clinked it with General Zhu’s.

Emperor Tai’an sat on the high platform, taking in the interaction between Qi Shuo and the general beside him, his eyes flickering.

Palace maids in high coiffures and splendid robes whirled and spun gracefully in the hall to the drum music, every face brimming with joyful smiles.

The atmosphere was in a controlled state of enthusiasm.

When the grand feast ended, Emperor Tai’an kept Prince Jing and Qi Shuo behind.

“I truly didn’t expect that Fifth Brother would fight this battle so beautifully.”

Prince Jing certainly hadn’t drunk too much and hurried to say: “It’s all thanks to Imperial Brother’s blessings, plus General Xu and the other soldiers’ sacrifice of life and limb.”

Emperor Tai’an glanced at Qi Shuo and smiled: “In my view, Shuo’er’s scheme to take Uwu’s life was the key to pacifying the hostilities so quickly. How can Shuo’er’s such great merit be overlooked?”

Prince Jing chuckled: “It’s only right for a nephew to resolve his uncle’s worries—what’s there to talk about?”

Emperor Tai’an looked at Qi Shuo: “Don’t listen to your father prince. Now that you’re back in the capital, if there’s any post you fancy, just tell me.”

“This nephew has a lazy nature. Having finally returned from the north, I’d like to rest well. If Imperial Uncle wishes to reward this nephew—” Qi Shuo paused, and under Prince Jing’s sharp gaze, smiled and said, “When this nephew has his grand wedding, if Imperial Uncle could bestow a generous congratulatory gift, that would be wonderful.”

Emperor Tai’an was momentarily stunned, then laughed heartily: “This is natural. My own nephew’s grand wedding—as his uncle, I should of course prepare generous gifts.”

“This nephew thanks Imperial Uncle in advance.”

Emperor Tai’an asked about something he’d been curious about for a long time: “Fifth Brother, when you captured alive Uwu’s nephew Tuoli, how did you think to demand seven hundred warhorses?”

What audacity to ask for that! Even he as emperor wasn’t so generous.

Hearing Emperor Tai’an bring this up, Prince Jing covertly glanced at his son.

This number was estimated by Shuo’er. He himself had actually been quite nervous at the time. But in front of His Majesty, there was no need to mention Shuo’er’s involvement.

Shuo’er was still too young. Leaving His Majesty with the impression of being skilled at gauging people’s hearts wasn’t a good thing.

Prince Jing smiled cheerfully: “This subject-brother has been in the northern territories for so many years and clashed with Uwu quite a few times—I have some understanding of him. This man had always treated young Tuoli as his own son. Seven hundred warhorses to exchange for the life of a nephew who was like his own child—he would definitely be willing to part with them.”

“Then how did three thousand warhorses become five thousand, plus two horse ranches—how was that negotiated?” This was what Emperor Tai’an was even more curious about.

The previous seven hundred warhorses could still be explained as Uwu’s personal feelings, but this time it absolutely couldn’t be personal feelings.

“This was even simpler.”

“Simple?” Emperor Tai’an looked at Prince Jing whose expression seemed somewhat peculiar, growing even more curious.

Prince Jing blinked and lowered his voice: “This subject-brother told the Northern Qi envoy that if they sent more warhorses, we could return young Tuoli to them. Northern Qi’s crushing defeat was all because of this son—the Qi Emperor wished he could cut him into a thousand pieces, so he agreed…”

Emperor Tai’an couldn’t help but laugh with a snort.

He of course knew that the “Tuoli” who beheaded Uwu was actually Qi Shuo in disguise. He never imagined the real Tuoli could still generate residual value.