Two years ago when the army set out on campaign, the border situation was dire, and Emperor Yongchang had no inclination to let common people see them off and add to the chaos. Now that Prince Hui was returning triumphant with the army, Emperor Yongchang was greatly pleased and specially permitted the capital’s common people to gather in orderly fashion along both sides of the main street to witness the heroic bearing of the victorious soldiers.

To prevent anyone from shooting arrows to assassinate meritorious soldiers from shops along both sides of the main street, the authorities had already dispatched officers to notify all shops large and small not to open for business this morning. At dawn, when the Imperial Guard troops lined up to stand watch along both sides of the main street, they took the opportunity to inspect these shops, ensuring no suspicious persons were hiding within. Once inspected, windows were sealed and doors locked immediately.

When common people wanted to pour into both sides of the main street, they also had to first pass through rapid inspection by the Imperial Guard. Most commoners were simply given a few scrutinizing glances before being directly allowed through. Only the minority of common people who carried bundles or brought along deadly weapons like long knives or bows and arrows, or who simply looked suspicious, would be called aside for detailed questioning. Even if their identities were beyond doubt, their weapons would be temporarily confiscated before they could enter.

Luo Jinhua, bringing the siblings Yao Huang and Yao Lin, had arrived fairly early, yet they still queued for almost half a double-hour before passing through the strictly guarded checkpoint of the Imperial Guard.

Yao Lin patted his chest, saying with relief, “I thought they would call me out for separate questioning.”

Although he was only eighteen, he was extraordinarily burly and strong—at first glance, he looked capable of assassination.

Luo Jinhua looked up at her son’s handsome and honest face, his clear and clean eyes, then glared at her son quite disdainfully, unable to understand why, when she had given birth to both children, her daughter was intelligent and clever while her son was a brainless simpleton with brawn but no brain.

While other common people were still pushing their way over, Yao Huang held her mother’s arm and walked to stand behind two Imperial Guard soldiers stationed at the front maintaining security. She could just see the main street clearly through the gap between their shoulders.

Yao Lin protected his mother and sister, looking exactly like an extra Imperial Guard soldier.

Estimating they would have to wait another half double-hour, Luo Jinhua whispered to her daughter, “Just to see your father—I really didn’t want to join this crowd.”

Yao Huang’s face grew hot as she said, “If Mother doesn’t miss Father, I do. It’s been two and a half years since we’ve seen him.”

Her father had left the capital in the third month of the year she turned fourteen. This year she was already sixteen, and it was already the beginning of the eighth month.

Her father’s last letter from half a month ago said that those entering the city in glory today to enter the palace and receive rewards were all soldiers from the Eastern and Southern Camps who had earned great merit, and he was among them.

Yao Huang really missed her father. Seeing Prince Hui was merely incidental.

Luo Jinhua didn’t expose her daughter’s little thoughts. A young lady’s longing for her father and her longing for her beloved were completely different flavors.

Mother and daughter chatted idly from time to time to pass the time. Yao Lin couldn’t join in and began looking around, then spotted Li Tingwang standing several zhang away.

Li Tingwang’s gaze was complicated.

Yao Lin directly gave him a warning glare. Over these two years, people had frequently come to their home bringing gifts. Yao Lin found it strange and asked his sister, only to learn they were all sent by Mr. Zhao, because Mr. Zhao liked his sister and she liked him too. The two had agreed that once Mr. Zhao returned from the battlefield, they would formally propose marriage. But his sister refused to tell him Mr. Zhao’s identity, afraid he would go to the martial academy boasting and showing off.

Yao Lin was infuriated by these words and never inquired again after that.

Meanwhile, Li Tingwang still wanted to gain his sister’s forgiveness. His sister didn’t want to see Li Tingwang and only had him pass along a message saying she had long since let go of that day’s unpleasantness, but she didn’t need a friend who frequently humiliated her, so there was still no need for the two of them to meet.

As for his sister’s matter with Mr. Zhao, since there had been no formal marriage proposal yet and it concerned his sister’s reputation, Yao Lin didn’t tell Li Tingwang. He also refused to let Li Tingwang come to Changshou Alley to find him anymore, lest Li Tingwang continue pestering his sister and gossip spread that would damage her good name.

With the siblings being like this, Li Tingwang had no opportunity to approach Yao Huang, but he hadn’t given up hope. He had already planned that as soon as his father returned, he would have his father formally go to the Yao family to propose marriage. Once Yao Huang knew his true feelings, she would understand that on that day he had only spoken thoughtlessly out of jealousy toward Mr. Zhao and hurt her.

The crowd was packed tightly. They waited and waited until the hour of si, when exciting, stirring drumbeats finally came from the city gate—this was the court welcoming the soldiers into the city.

The Yao family’s position was a full two or three li from the city gate, but Yao Huang’s heartbeat still became erratic along with those drumbeats.

She missed her father, and also missed that young master who had painted for her and wiped her embroidered shoes.

Her father must also be thinking of her—seeing her would only make him happy. But Prince Hui… although before leaving the capital he had arranged for Nanny Liu to frequently bring gifts, he had after all been at the border for over two years. After such a long separation, did Prince Hui still remember clearly what she looked like? Would he have forgotten his initial attraction to her appearance because they hadn’t seen each other for too long, and then, after rationally analyzing the disparity in their family status, regret his earlier rashness?

Yao Huang kept Prince Hui in her thoughts because he had been gentle and considerate toward her. Those three paintings, that box of banknotes, that waist token—all were proof that Prince Hui had feelings for her. But Yao Huang had never given him anything. The only thing Prince Hui had obtained from her was an ordinary handkerchief made of plain cotton cloth. Why should Prince Hui keep a young lady from a small household whom he had only met four times in his heart all this time?

The more nervous she became, the faster time seemed to pass. As if before long, the figures of the first wave of soldiers appeared at the other end of the long street.

Yao Huang’s heart beat even faster. According to protocol, the soldiers positioned at the front had higher status and official rank. Prince Hui—

Taking advantage of the fact that the mounted soldiers were still far away, Yao Huang turned her head to look south. Her gaze swept past her mother’s highly raised head, over more craning heads, and finally saw a figure at the very front of the soldiers’ formation. That person rode a black steed, wearing a battle helmet and silver armor—

Before she could see his face clearly, Yao Huang nervously withdrew her gaze, feeling as if she could barely stand steady.

When the silver-armored general had come close enough, seeing clearly that refined, immortal-like handsome face beneath the battle helmet, Luo Jinhua’s eyes widened as she grabbed her daughter’s wrist: “You—”

You didn’t tell your mother that Prince Hui was so handsome?

However, Yao Lin’s shocked voice interrupted their mother’s words. He pressed one hand on his sister’s shoulder while pointing with the other toward the position at the front of the soldiers that should belong to Prince Hui: “That, that isn’t Zhao—”

Yao Huang urgently pulled down her brother’s hand and hid herself behind his back. She both wanted to look at Prince Hui and feared being seen by him—afraid Prince Hui had already regretted it, afraid Prince Hui wouldn’t recognize her at all, even more afraid that although Prince Hui recognized her, he would only show eyes troubled about how to break the agreement.

Zhao Sui sat upright on horseback. From the moment he entered the city gate and saw the first two rows of common people, Zhao Sui had been secretly searching for that familiar yet not quite familiar figure.

When leaving the capital, the border situation had been perilous. Zhao Sui had neither the leisure nor the propriety to put his thoughts on romantic matters, so he hadn’t taken away any portrait of her. After arriving at the border, he also hadn’t been distracted enough to paint her. The only thing he carried with him was that handkerchief he had improperly claimed from her without regard for propriety.

Zhao Sui had a good memory, but he also wasn’t confident whether the Miss Yao firmly lodged in his mind looked exactly the same as the Miss Yao he had actually met. Moreover, when he left the capital, Miss Yao had only been fourteen—still at an age where she would continue growing taller and her features would continue developing. Now she was sixteen—

How much had she changed?

Did she still remember him?

Had she continued going to the martial academy to watch the students play polo? Had she encountered some young man who made her heart flutter and caused her to forget him?

No one knew what the silver-armored prince on horseback was thinking, but the common people wherever Prince Hui approached all felt his gaze sweep across their faces—departing faster than the gentlest spring breeze, so fast it was as if Prince Hui hadn’t actually looked over at all.

Yao Lin had a robust physique that stood out from the crowd, as well as a pair of round eyes that Zhao Sui remembered deeply.

So, the instant he recognized Yao Lin, Zhao Sui immediately looked to his side and saw a young lady in white clothing and green skirt quickly hide behind Yao Lin’s back.

Zhao Sui slightly tightened his grip on the reins.

He wanted to dismount, but this wasn’t in accordance with protocol and would also damage the military prestige of the soldiers.

Born into the imperial family, Prince Hui should certainly consider these things and maintain the dignity of both the imperial clan and the army at all times. Yao Zhenhu, who had been promoted on the battlefield to the position of Guard Commander of the fourth rank and ranked in the fourth row behind Prince Hui due to his distinguished military achievements, didn’t care about any of that. Recognizing his wife and son blocked behind the Imperial Guard, Yao Zhenhu joyfully urged his horse out of formation, swung his leg down from his war horse, and called out excitedly, “Jinhua!”

Luo Jinhua instinctively looked toward Prince Hui at the very front. Seeing Prince Hui stop his horse and turn to look back, Luo Jinhua felt embarrassed for herself and even more embarrassed for her daughter having such a rough father. She urgently urged her husband to quickly return—don’t delay the soldiers’ audience with the Emperor in the palace.

Yao Zhenhu listened to his wife, but having seen his wife and son, where was his daughter?

“Yao Yao, come out quickly. Father will take one look at you then mount up.”

Yao Zhenhu, who knew nothing, pulled his son aside in one motion, revealing his daughter who was inexplicably shy about seeing her father.

Yao Huang’s mind was completely occupied by Prince Hui. Suddenly exposed, her first reaction was to look at Prince Hui. With one turn of her head and lift of her eyes, she met a pair of narrow phoenix eyes that appeared even more imposing and aloof beneath the battle helmet. Before Yao Huang could discern his pleasure or displeasure, Prince Hui actually smiled at her. His phoenix eyes became gentle, and his handsome face, slightly more tanned than in her memory, had lost none of its graceful bearing.

He smiled, and Yao Huang shyly turned her face away.

Yao Zhenhu suddenly felt the daughter before his eyes had become a stranger—she hadn’t looked at him even once. Who was she blushing for?

Yao Zhenhu followed his daughter’s earlier line of sight forward, but before finding any suspicious target, he first met Prince Hui’s solemn gaze: “Entering the palace is urgent. Lord Yao, please mount your horse first.”

Yao Zhenhu quickly vaulted onto his horse, glared fiercely at his wife several times, then returned to the formation and continued forward.

Having seen his fiancée as he wished, Prince Hui had no intention of further surveying the common people, but he still noticed another somewhat familiar young man’s face.

Li Tingwang looked up at Prince Hui passing before him in disbelief—he was also the Mr. Zhao from his memory.

Zhao Sui inclined his head slightly toward the young man, acknowledging their few meetings from years past.

With the army’s triumphant return, Emperor Yongchang held a banquet in the palace while simultaneously rewarding meritorious soldiers according to their achievements.

When military officers fought on the battlefield and high-ranking commanders sacrificed their lives, low-ranking officers who had earned merit would immediately be promoted to fill their positions. Men like Yao Zhenhu and Li Tingwang’s father had already been promoted in advance to Guard Commander of the fourth rank.

This reward ceremony mainly involved distributing rewards of silver, silk, and other gifts to the soldiers, and conferring noble titles on commanders whose military achievements were great enough.

For example, Marquis Weiyuan Cen Lianshan was promoted to Duke for meritorious command of troops, while Jiang Qu was ennobled as a marquis for his masterful use of troops and winning with smaller forces.

Yao Zhenhu was quite satisfied with both his promotion and his monetary and material rewards. While drinking wine and watching other great generals being enfeoffed as dukes and marquises, he was happily anticipating the palace banquet ending early so he could hurry home and embrace his wife, when suddenly Emperor Yongchang called his name.

Yao Zhenhu quickly set down his wine bowl, wiped his mouth, and following the example of other commanders, came respectfully before the throne.

Emperor Yongchang said, “Yao Zhenhu, a man true to his name, brave as a tiger on the battlefield. Over two years, you killed five enemy commanding officers, twelve deputy commanders, and over a thousand common soldiers. Moreover, you risked your own life to save the prince with merit. Today I ennoble you as Earl Zhongyong. I hope you will continue to demonstrate loyalty and courage to me and the court, setting a good example for all soldiers.”

Never daring to dream such a beautiful dream, Yao Zhenhu excitedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily three times to Emperor Yongchang: “Your Majesty, rest assured! This Yao Zhenhu has no other abilities, but my loyal heart toward Your Majesty can be witnessed by heaven and earth! The Yao family descendants will also remember Your Majesty’s great grace and do their utmost to serve Your Majesty loyally for generations to come!”

Emperor Yongchang glanced at his second son sitting to one side with lowered eyes, then smiled and toasted Yao Zhenhu with a bowl of wine.

When the banquet dispersed, Yao Zhenhu accepted invitations to several wine gatherings in succession, then took a cartload of rewards and couldn’t wait to return home.

After lifting both his wife and daughter up and spinning them around twice, then firmly squeezing his son’s shoulders, Yao Zhenhu began announcing the good news to his family one item at a time.

Ennobled as an earl, he also had an earl’s manor—the whole family could move into a great mansion!

He’d received three thousand taels of military merit silver—moving into a great mansion, they wouldn’t have to worry about affording servants or wearing silk!

Luo Jinhua was happy, but at this moment she was more concerned about another matter: “Is there anything else?”

Yao Zhenhu said, “Ah, you still think this isn’t enough?”

Luo Jinhua glared at him. What she hoped for was an imperial marriage decree. Obviously, they couldn’t expect the marriage decree today. Or perhaps—

Luo Jinhua told herself not to be anxious and consoled her daughter that today the Emperor’s focus had been on rewarding the soldiers—it wasn’t the best opportunity for bestowing marriages.

Yao Huang wasn’t worried about this at all. Prince Hui had smiled at her so handsomely—how could it mean anything else?

What troubled her was deciding when to return Prince Hui’s substantial stack of banknotes and waist token. Returning them today might seem like she was reminding Prince Hui to quickly request the marriage decree. Waiting longer might seem like she was reluctant to return the banknotes.

Yao Lin wanted to ask his father whether he knew about Prince Hui or Mr. Zhao, but unfortunately Yao Zhenhu’s heart was set on embracing his wife. He stuffed each of the siblings with a five-tael gold ingot and told Yao Lin to take his sister to the streets to buy whatever they liked. He also gave Auntie Wu some silver, telling her to bring her two daughters and son-in-law A’Gui to buy chicken, duck, fish, and meat—tonight the family would have a great feast!

Having sent everyone away, the Yao family’s main gate closed tightly for over half a double-hour. It was Luo Jinhua who finally urged her husband to hurry and open it.

Yao Huang took her brother shopping until nearly dusk before returning. She couldn’t spend the banknotes Prince Hui had given her, and she felt too embarrassed to wear the silk fabrics he’d sent. But she didn’t need to be polite with her own father. Yao Huang spent all ten taels of the siblings’ gold in one go, selecting three pieces of jewelry each for herself and her mother, then choosing two bolts of silk for each of the family of four, plus buying some snacks for A’Ji’s family.

The siblings each rode a mule, returning laden with purchases.

Just as they turned into Changshou Alley, they saw a carriage stopped in front of their home with two guards standing beside it.

Yao Lin exclaimed in surprise, “That one I recognize—he’s Mr. Zhao’s guard!”

Yao Huang immediately felt her heart panic again.