Given the Regent Prince’s noble status and the accompanying officials, the southern inspection tour naturally required ceremonial processions and protective soldiers, totaling around a thousand people. However, for this journey, he dispensed with elaborate carriages and refused tributary offerings from localities, so the expenses could hardly be called extravagant.

The next morning, the young Emperor led all officials below the Wise Prince to send off the Regent Prince and his consort. He escorted them out of the imperial city, still reluctant to part. His eyes held such longing that he seemed ready to cast off his robes and leap onto horseback to follow—even Jiang Hanyuan could see this.

Shu Shenhui repeatedly requested him to stop. Finally, at the Ten-Li Pavilion outside the southern city, he dismounted and bowed, offering solemn thanks, before the young Emperor finally halted. Suddenly, as if remembering something, disregarding the sidelong glances of the ministers behind him, he hurried to the carriage carrying the Regent Princess Consort. Jiang Hanyuan quickly dismounted.

“Third Imperial Aunt, I’ve been practicing combat techniques. When you return from this southern tour, may I ask you for some guidance?” Shu Jian said in a lowered voice, his eyes bright as he looked at Jiang Hanyuan.

He was still bothered by how she had twisted free from his grip the last time they sparred, probably thinking of how to regain some face.

Jiang Hanyuan glanced at Shu Shenhui nearby. His eyes gazed ahead, his expression calm, as if he hadn’t heard.

He hadn’t yet told the young Emperor about her upcoming return north.

This competitive spirit was truly the nature of youth, and for military people, it should be even more so. She quite admired it, so she smiled slightly and replied somewhat ambiguously, “If Your Majesty finds it convenient and this subject’s wife is present, I shall naturally obey your command.”

The young Emperor’s eyes brightened. “Good, then it’s settled! Third Imperial Aunt, may you have smooth travels.”

Jiang Hanyuan bowed in thanks to the young Emperor and returned to her carriage.

This group left Chang’an in mid-April of the second year of Tianhe. After leaving the capital prefecture, they dismissed the ceremonial procession and traveled along the official roads toward the southeast. Moving at military pace, they passed through the commanderies of Shangluo, Nanyang, Runan, and Ruyin in sequence.

These places were not the destinations of this southern tour. They bypassed cities without entering, traveling by day and resting by night. Unless there were special circumstances, they often camped near the official roads after nightfall. The Regent Prince would meet local officials who came from the cities to pay their respects directly at the camping sites, causing no disturbance to the common people. By the end of April, the group had entered Lujiang Commandery.

“When Suhu is ripe, the empire is fed.” The main inspection area of this southern tour was the Suhu-Yang region. To avoid delaying the itinerary, the Regent Prince separated from the main group here, ordering the officials to continue to Yangzhou according to the planned route while he took the Princess Consort and traveled light to Qiantang to visit Dowager Consort Zhuang first. Afterward, he would proceed to Yangzhou to rejoin them.

He brought only Liu Xiang and a guard detail of several dozen men, with Zhang Bao accompanying them. Jiang Hanyuan finally escaped the burden of the carriage. Dressed in plain clothes with a riding hat, she traveled on horseback alongside him. Their speed was incomparably faster than dragging along the officials.

Originally, they could travel at most fifty li per day. After switching to light cavalry, if nothing hindered them mid-journey, they could gallop all day, changing horses at post stations along the way, covering at least three hundred li daily. Whenever they passed through major agricultural counties, Shu Shenhui would stop and personally go down to the fields in disguise, inspecting agriculture, irrigation, and water management. When he encountered farmers resting under trees during work breaks, he would approach them, offer food, sit and chat casually, inquiring about local conditions and agricultural taxes.

Even with these delays on the road, the journey from Lujiang to Qiantang took only half a month. On this day, the twentieth of May, they arrived in Qiantang. Meanwhile, the main group heading to Yangzhou was still en route, scheduled to reach Yangzhou only in early June, according to plan.

The news that the Regent Prince was touring south for the northern campaign and would bring his newly wed Princess Consort to Qiantang to visit Dowager Consort Zhuang had long been spreading like wildfire locally.

His maternal grandfather was the King of Wuyue. During the early years of turmoil, the local people had lived peaceful lives and avoided the disasters of war thanks to the King of Wuyue’s protection. The people held great affection for the King of Wuyue. Though he had long passed away, shrines commemorating him could still be found everywhere locally, with incense burning brightly in every household. Now that the Regent Prince was coming, once the news spread, everyone from high to low was filled with fervor. Officials wrote memorials expressing loyalty. Wealthy merchants and magnates competed with each other, secretly inquiring and preparing precious artifacts and paintings for presentation. Due to the local prosperity, temples and Taoist monasteries could be seen everywhere. The monks and Taoist priests were not to be outdone either—wooden fish drums sounded, cymbals clashed, all vying to perform prayers and disaster-dispelling rituals for the Regent Prince and his consort. As for the common people in the streets and alleys, as the date approached, they discussed it daily, eagerly awaiting the couple’s arrival in May.

None of the hundreds of thousands of Qiantang residents expected the Regent Prince and his consort to arrive early. At the first quarter of the Xu Hour(19.00-20.00) that night, this group of several dozen people quietly entered Qiantang without alerting anyone, bypassing the bustling city center and heading directly to a former palace of the King of Wuyue located on Phoenix Mountain by the lake on the city’s west side.

Dowager Consort Zhuang had received advance notice and had come from her usual residence—a secluded temple in the mountains—during the day to wait at the palace.

This resting place was in the warm waters and mountains of Jiangnan. Jiang Hanyuan, visiting for the first time, dismounted at the lakeside foothills and followed Shu Shenhui up the mountain steps toward the palace. Looking back, she gazed around at the surroundings.

Night had fallen. To return before the city gates closed, the day visitors who had been boating and enjoying spring by the lake had long since dispersed. At this moment, looking around, she saw only a pale yellow convex moon hanging quietly above the boundless flat lake and the faint shadows of distant mountains. Elsewhere in the mountains was dark, with only the palace halfway up the mountain and a nearby pagoda filled with bright yet dim yellow lamplight.

This scene was completely different from the magnificent and vast northern landscapes she usually loved. Everything before her eyes—gentle mountains and soft waters, tranquil as a dream—seemed otherworldly.

Her steps slowed.

Shu Shenhui walked alone ahead, with Zhang Bao following behind her, and Liu Xiang’s group further back.

This poor young attendant couldn’t compare physically with Liu Xiang and his selected elite guards. Just a few days into the journey, Jiang Hanyuan noticed he was starting to walk bow-legged, fearing he couldn’t keep up. She had suggested he needn’t accompany them and could wait to travel with Zhuang Shi’s maidservants, who were following behind. He refused. So he struggled to keep up to today, riding until his backside was nearly split in two. The lakeside mountain was low, and the palace wasn’t positioned high—only about a hundred steps up—yet he climbed as if dying, his legs shaking like chaff. Suddenly seeing the Princess Consort stop, he quickly stopped too, seizing the chance to catch his breath.

Shu Shenhui strode up the mountain without pause. Jiang Hanyuan had only slowed slightly when he left her more than ten steps behind. Realizing this, she quickly withdrew her gaze and continued climbing.

Dowager Consort Zhuang’s status was extremely noble. Though she had left the palace to recuperate and practice here, she was naturally accompanied by attendants, chamberlains, and palace guards who had relocated with her. These people were all waiting to welcome the Regent Prince and his consort. An executive eunuch said joyfully, “The Dowager Consort arrived during the day and has been waiting for His Highness the Regent Prince and Her Highness the Princess Consort.”

“How is my mother consort’s health?” Shu Shenhui immediately asked.

“Reporting to Your Highness, the Dowager Consort is in good health.”

He said no more, his eyes fixed intently on the palace gate ahead, his steps quickening again. He practically took several steps at once, ascending the palace stairs toward the gate.

Jiang Hanyuan watched his hurried figure, remembering Zhang Bao mentioning on the road that he hadn’t left the capital in five or six years and hadn’t seen the Dowager Consort. This was the urgency of missing his mother.

But honestly, for her, what lay ahead was certainly not a scene to anticipate. She truly didn’t want to climb these palace steps at all. Especially now, with the relationship between her and Shu Shenhui having become so awkward.

Throughout this journey, they naturally appeared normal in public. Wherever they lodged, they shared sleeping quarters. But privately, except for necessary brief exchanges about travel arrangements, they had little else to say. He would often come in and immediately fall asleep, leaving her with even less to say. Only this morning, before setting out, had they engaged in a particular exchange.

His attitude was quite polite, expressing that once they met his mother consort, he hoped she would keep silent and not let his mother know about their mutual decision regarding their future relationship.

Actually, without his reminder, Jiang Hanyuan naturally understood this point.

It was just that they had acknowledged being strangers sharing the same bed and agreed to become strangers again. In just a few more days, when Fan Jing, sent by her father to fetch her, arrived, she could leave. Perhaps she would never have to see him again in this lifetime. Yet tonight, she still had to pretend nothing had happened and follow him to deal with his mother consort.

Jiang Hanyuan truly lacked confidence. She had never been good at this kind of smooth social maneuvering.

Uncertain in her heart, her steps slowed again, and she was once more left behind by him.

Heaven! If she could avoid this encounter, Jiang Hanyuan would willingly give up three years of her life.

As she hesitated again, she suddenly saw him stop ahead and stand on the palace steps, turning to look at her. His face was expressionless, but his eyes flickered slightly. It seemed like a reminder, yet also contained a hidden warning.

She gritted her teeth secretly. Naturally, not wanting to embarrass him before the mother he hadn’t seen in years, she gathered her spirits and followed up again. Just as they entered the palace gate, she could visibly see that the man beside her began to show a smile on his face.

The eunuch led the way, saying the Dowager Consort was in the southern warm pavilion, and asked if they needed to change clothes first.

Jiang Hanyuan glanced at Shu Shenhui.

Whether she should meet his mother as a proper court lady befitting a Princess Consort, or just as she was now, travel-worn in simple riding attire, depended on his intention. Either way was fine with her.

Without even glancing at her, he said it wasn’t necessary and continued walking quickly inside without stopping.

Jiang Hanyuan was about to follow when she heard somewhat hurried footsteps from ahead. Looking up, she saw several figures in brown palace attire appear in the direction of the sound. The palace attendants surrounded a middle-aged woman, hurrying toward them. The woman walked swiftly with quick steps. Suddenly seeing the person heading inside, she stopped abruptly. The palace attendants, following closely behind her, also stopped in a flurry.

Shu Shenhui paused for a moment, suddenly calling out “Mother,” then strode quickly toward the woman. Reaching her, he called “Mother” again and immediately knelt.

“Mother Consort, please receive your unfilial son’s obeisance!”

He kowtowed heavily to the woman, his forehead touching the ground.

The woman stood in place, watching his kowtowing figure steadily. Her eyes gradually reddened, but soon a smile appeared on her face as she stepped forward to help her son up from the ground.

He wouldn’t rise.

“Your son is truly unfilial. For so long, I couldn’t even visit Mother once. Please punish me, Mother!”

His voice was filled with deep self-reproach and rich emotion.

The woman smiled and commanded him to rise. Only after he kowtowed again was he helped up by her. She initially smiled without speaking, her gaze falling on her son’s face. After gazing at him for a moment, she spoke, immediately asking, “San Lang, where is your Princess Consort?”

Jiang Hanyuan had already understood that this woman was Shu Shenhui’s mother, the former Imperial Noble Consort from Wuyue who had been greatly favored in the palace. Only upon seeing this woman today did Jiang Hanyuan understand the source of Shu Shenhui’s appearance.

She had seen Emperor Shengwu’s portrait when paying respects at the imperial temple the day after her wedding. Emperor Shengwu’s face had angular features as if carved by a knife and an axe, with stern features that exerted intimidating pressure even in a painting. When Shu Shenhui maintained a serious expression, he had some of Emperor Shengwu’s bearing, but the handsomeness in his features came mostly from his mother.

The woman before her had fair skin and raven-black hair, with extremely beautiful features and eyes like contained light. If she wore palace attire, she would be like a celestial consort. But her dress was quite plain, and she wore a snow-gray satin jacket with subtle embroidered patterns and a trailing azure blue skirt. The only bright color on her entire body was a clear green jade hairpin in her hair. This attire made her appear dignified and serene. Moreover, in her refined brows and eyes, nobility carried a gentle, peaceful quality like still water that emanated from within, making people involuntarily feel warmth toward her.

Jiang Hanyuan had never seen such a beautiful, noble, dignified, and gentle woman. She stared for a moment, then suddenly felt Shu Shenhui turn his head to glance at her. Then he turned around and walked toward her.

She quickly snapped back to attention, straightened her body, and watched him approach. He reached out and, through her sleeve, took her hand and led her before his mother.

“Mother, this is my Princess Consort, named Hanyuan.”

He released her sleeve and began smiling as he introduced her to his mother. Occasionally, when he turned slightly to look at her, the gentleness in his expression almost made Jiang Hanyuan think she was seeing the Shu Shenhui from their wedding night again.

“She was also eager to meet Mother, so she rode alongside me the entire way. Like me, she didn’t have time to change clothes just now. Please forgive us, Mother.”

He added another sentence.

Now it was her turn.

Jiang Hanyuan stood with her hands at her sides, eyes lowered. With tremendous effort, she finally managed to stiffly produce the sound of the word “Mother” from her mouth.

As soon as she spoke, she felt warmth on her hand as a soft, warm hand reached out and grasped hers, then gently patted the back of her hand, seemingly to comfort and show approval.

“When I first heard last year that San Lang was going to marry you, I was so happy I couldn’t sleep all night. My son has been mischievous since childhood, relying on his father’s favor to be lawless, often sneaking out of the palace to play. I often worried, not knowing who could manage him in the future. I never expected he could marry our Great Wei’s female general as his wife. This is his good fortune, and I’m even more at ease. From now on, I won’t have to constantly worry about him.”

Jiang Hanyuan felt her face flush with heat. Looking up to see her smiling at her, she quickly said, “You flatter me. I grew up in the borderlands and am just a crude, ignorant military person. How could I deserve such words?”

Dowager Consort Zhuang smiled and shook her head. “Silly girl! How can you speak of yourself this way? There are countless princes with titles, but titled female generals—not just in this dynasty, but in several hundred years—are rare. When I say he’s fortunate to marry you, how are you unworthy?”

As she spoke these words, Jiang Hanyuan no longer noticed what expression the person beside her wore or what else was said afterward.

She was stunned by that “silly girl.” She stared at the woman, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Somehow, she suddenly thought of her mother, whom she had never had the chance to meet, and her eyes seemed to grow warm.

“Hanyuan, do you have a childhood name?” Dowager Consort Zhuang asked with a smile.

Jiang Hanyuan hadn’t completely recovered when she heard her voice respond, “Sisi, the xi of tigers and rhinoceros—”

She suddenly realized what she’d said, abruptly closed her mouth, felt some regret, and instinctively glanced at the person beside her. He stood there with no particular expression, as if completely unaware of what she had just said. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sisi. The xi is an ancient auspicious beast, not only brave and fierce, but when it appears, the world becomes peaceful.”

“What a good name!”

Dowager Consort Zhuang smiled in praise. “Then I’ll call you Sisi from now on.”

“You must be hungry. Let me take you to eat first.”

Since taking Jiang Hanyuan’s hand, she hadn’t let go. After speaking, she left her son behind and led her inside.

Shu Shenhui stood watching their retreating figures.

He knew his mother truly liked this person she had just met—the daughter of the Jiang family. She had left behind her son, whom she hadn’t seen in years, to take her to eat.

This could be considered proof of his judgment back then. He also felt somewhat pleased, even seemingly a bit secretly proud.

But Sisi…

This name wasn’t very good.

He silently repeated it twice in his mind, slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, and followed after them.