Chu Zhao and A’Le, along with Ding Dachui and the others, were blocked at the street entrance.

Looking ahead, A’Le stared wide-eyed: “Why is it so lively today?”

Chu Zhao hesitated: “Should we take a different route?”

Although this was the main street leading to the imperial palace, the capital had many winding streets and alleys—there were other roads they could take.

A’Le nodded: “Yes, with so many people, in case there’s danger—”

Ding Dachui didn’t dare express doubt, much less mention that he was here to guard the Empress, nor did he dare remind A’Le that the Dragon Guard Army was scouting ahead.

But someone could raise objections.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” A female voice said with displeasure. “What danger could there be?”

A’Le’s face bloomed with smiles as she looked at a young woman standing to the side: “None, none. With Sister Xiao Man here, there’s no danger at all.”

Xiao Man snorted.

Shortly after entering the capital’s boundaries, Xiao Man had come to meet them. Ever since she and Old Bai had captured Xiao Xun and delivered him before His Majesty, Xiao Man had returned to the capital with Chu Tang’s family.

“We’ve cleared the entire capital several times over,” Xiao Man said. “I guarantee you could walk sideways and no one would bump into you.”

Chu Zhao laughed: “Yes, I know. With Xiao Man here, I could walk with my eyes closed and no one would bump into me.” She looked ahead. “What I mean is, with so many people, I’m afraid it would be inconvenient for others—”

“Stop dawdling,” Xiao Man urged. “Hurry up. You weren’t afraid of thousands of troops and horses, so why fear a crowded street?”

Hearing this, Chu Zhao roughly guessed what was happening, so she said no more and nodded: “Alright, then we’ll lead the horses on foot.”

So everyone dismounted. Chu Zhao put on her veiled hat, held her horse with one hand, and followed Xiao Man forward.

The moment they stepped onto the street, two half-grown children crouching at a wall corner suddenly lit fireworks that shot into the bright daylight sky, startling everyone around.

“The auspicious time has arrived—” Those two children shouted loudly, then laughed as they rushed into the crowd.

……

……

Deng Yi stood atop the highest wall of the imperial city, watching a firework bloom in the distance over the city.

“The auspicious time has arrived,” he said, then turned and walked away. As he descended the steps, he could hear the capital roiling like a boiling pot.

Though he was no longer standing on the wall, he could still sense the liveliness because eunuchs continuously brought him news.

“The streets today are even livelier than New Year’s.”

“Don’t compare it to New Year’s these past two years—it’s livelier than many past New Year celebrations.”

“Wan Qing’s dance is even more beautiful than when she performs in the pleasure house—ahem, what I mean is, dance is most beautiful when appreciated by both refined and common folk.”

“Being able to appreciate it at all is good enough. The people I sent couldn’t even squeeze their way in.”

“But standing on the street listening to the pipa music was a first. When those four women played their pipas, I forgot I was on the main street. I thought I was following His Majesty on campaign again—”

“Did they play the Battle-Breaking Melody? The Four Beauties sell their artistry to please people and have never played such a piece before. Hearing it for the first time was truly震撼.”

“Many refugees on the street cried. Sigh.”

“But it’s alright now. The war has ended, and the displaced people will be sent back to their home regions soon.”

“Walking this whole street market route, I got covered in flowers. These women are truly becoming more and more addicted to this.”

Hearing this, Deng Yi raised his head to look beyond the gate. Past the tall palace doors, he seemed able to see the scene of flying flowers filling the streets.

There were probably far more flying flowers than on the day His Majesty returned to court.

……

……

Chu Zhao finally made her way through the street and reached the street entrance. She turned back to look, seeing the entire street submerged in a sea of flowers.

Through this sea of flowers, she could still see the commotion on the street.

She saw a dancing girl spinning, standing on one leg atop a small round stool, swaying like a willow in the wind. But no matter how the wind blew or how her body moved, that foot remained steadily balanced on the round stool—

She saw four pipa players producing sounds of clashing weapons and iron cavalry, then in an instant, ice and snow melting, spring flowers blooming profusely, a hundred birds singing together.

She also saw screen after screen where scholars wielded their brushes boldly, displaying calligraphy, poetry, and paintings—all bearing her name.

She also saw fire-breathing, sword dancing, monkey performances.

She raised her head and saw all the windows along the street thrown open, with women smiling and waving at her.

“Miss, Miss.” A’Le’s voice sounded again and again beside her ear. “Spring in the capital is so lively! We never noticed before. We’ve been in the capital too short a time.”

Yes, they hadn’t noticed before, and even though she had spent ten years in the capital, she hadn’t noticed either, Chu Zhao thought silently.

Ding Dachui and the others had also completely stared themselves silly.

“I knew the capital was the most prosperous place under heaven,” Ding Dachui couldn’t help murmuring.

But this prosperity still exceeded his imagination. Walking through this prosperity, he nearly shed tears—perhaps because that beautiful celestial-like dancing woman smiled at him, perhaps because the pipa sounds stirred up his sorrows, or perhaps because the somersaulting monkey reminded him of the mountain forests—

“To walk through such prosperity is my, Ding Dachui’s, great fortune. I haven’t lived in vain,” he murmured.

The noise on the street made her ears buzz. Chu Zhao couldn’t hear what everyone was saying, yet she seemed to hear it all very clearly.

“This young lady—” Women’s voices called from ahead.

Chu Zhao turned to look and saw a tea shop at the street entrance with a table set up. Over a dozen young women either sat or stood there. Chu Tang was among them, but she didn’t speak. It was Zhou Jiang who spoke.

“This young lady,” she said.

Chu Zhao was still wearing her veiled hat.

These young women also pretended not to recognize her.

“We’ve brewed fresh tea,” Zhou Jiang continued. “Please taste a cup.”

Chu Zhao smiled and walked over to accept the tea.

Although Ding Dachui felt he should intervene, seeing Xiao Man’s reaction—Xiao Man had long since gone to stand among that group of young women—even though he was a country man entering the capital for the first time, he guessed what was happening.

All that earlier commotion—he turned back to look—it was all for the Empress.

“This young lady, what did you just see?” Zhou Jiang handed the tea to Chu Zhao and asked.

Chu Zhao accepted the tea, as if she hadn’t heard clearly, and asked: “What did I see?”

“This young lady, did you see singing and dancing in peacetime?” Zhou Jiang asked.

Chu Zhao nodded: “I saw it.”

“Did you see mortal prosperity?” Zhou Jiang asked.

Chu Zhao nodded again: “I saw it.”

“Young lady, did you see people living and working in peace?” Zhou Jiang asked.

Chu Zhao nodded: “I saw it.”

Zhou Jiang smiled: “Thank you, young lady. We toast this cup of tea to you.”

Chu Zhao said: “Thank you. It’s my honor.” She then drank it all in one gulp.

Zhou Jiang and the other young women also drank their tea in one gulp.

Chu Zhao removed her veiled hat. At this moment, everyone was attracted by the street’s liveliness—no one would look this way. She took the reins, mounted her horse, glanced once more at the street’s prosperity, smiled, and urged her horse forward.

……

……

Today’s great court assembly was different from other times. The hall was noisy like a marketplace, and the officials weren’t standing in their proper order either. Some gathered together speaking in low voices, while others leaned against pillars with their eyes closed, resting.

“How much longer has it been?” An official couldn’t help urging again. “Why hasn’t His Majesty arrived yet?”

“It’s rare for His Majesty to be lazy once,” another official said with a low laugh. “After the New Year, grown a year older, but less diligent in governance instead.”

Except for the period of the imperial campaign, the young Emperor had never once delayed court at any other time.

“Actually, it doesn’t matter much whether His Majesty is here or not,” yet another official frowned impatiently. “The Grand Tutor is here.”

But the Grand Tutor hadn’t come today either—he only said for everyone to wait a moment.

Someone sneered: “What has the Grand Tutor been busy with lately? Getting rich and organizing account books again? Prince Zhongshan—no, Prince Zhenguo—must have sent him quite a lot.”

“Maybe he doesn’t even need to send anything,” another person said coldly. “Grand Tutor Deng was originally sent up by Prince Zhongshan’s money. Now is the time to collect returns.”

“So does this court still belong to Prince Zhongshan after all?” someone sighed.

But immediately someone rebutted: “That’s impossible. With His Majesty here, with Third Young Master Xie here, Deng Yi can forget about having absolute power.”

There were officials full of hostility, and there were also idle officials who didn’t care.

“Just urge them. The sooner it ends, the sooner we can leave court,” an official yawned.

“Don’t urge. Wait a bit—it’s good news,” another official said in a low voice.

This comment made those around with closed eyes look over: “What good news?” “What private information?” “Where did it come from?”

Someone also joked: “Has Your Lordship attached himself to the Deng family or the Xie family? Your information is so well-informed.”

That official smiled: “My information came from attaching myself to my wife and daughter.”

What did that mean? Everyone was even more confused.

“Recently they’ve been mysteriously saying they want to celebrate the Empress,” that official said in a low voice. “The Empress should be returning.”

The Empress—several officials exchanged glances: “The Empress substituted for her father in the military, confronted Prince Zhongshan—her achievements are illustrious. If she’s returning, shouldn’t the court prepare in advance?”

Recently there hadn’t been any word at all.

Yet these women from the inner quarters knew definite information?

“I estimate they know,” that official said in a low voice. “Today my wife and daughter rose even earlier than I did for court. I didn’t even see them at breakfast. They said they were busy with important matters.”

The officials listened with amusement but also felt the same way.

“The women at home do seem quite busy lately.”

“Not just busy—they seem quite capable of spending money too. It’s a headache—”

As they chatted and laughed, Deng Yi walked in from outside. Seeing him, the noise in the hall immediately ceased.

“Grand Tutor, when will His Majesty hold court?” an official asked.

“Court will begin immediately,” Deng Yi said. “Not only His Majesty—the Empress has also entered the palace.”

The Empress had returned!

She had actually returned!

The hall instantly became even more clamorous.

……

……

“Elder Sister—”

“Elder Sister Chu—”

Xiao Yu had originally been standing on the steps. Actually, he had originally wanted to go outside the imperial city to meet her, even to wait outside the capital—

Deng Yi and Eunuch Qi had both instructed him that the Empress didn’t want a big fuss. If Your Majesty appeared, it would go against the Empress’s wishes.

So he had been waiting in the palace all along. It was so slow. Although imperial guards came to report almost every interval of a tea’s time—the Empress has entered the city, the Empress has reached the main street, the Empress is watching performances, the Empress has reached the imperial city—

Getting closer and closer, yet he felt time was moving slower and slower.

Finally, finally, he saw that young woman’s figure.

She was alone, wearing plain cloth garments, slowly approaching.

Xiao Yu could no longer restrain himself. He would wait no longer. He rushed down the steps and ran toward that young woman.

Chu Zhao watched the child running from the distant palace, like a flying swallow, and couldn’t help but break into a radiant smile.

Stepping into this imperial city again, she had originally felt nothing—familiar? Not quite. Strange? Not quite either. Her heart had been calm, until she saw the child running toward her.

This child who shouldn’t exist, whom she had personally saved.

This was her world, what she had created—a new life.

Chu Zhao also quickened her pace, going to meet the child.

The two finally met. Chu Zhao reached out to embrace Xiao Yu, but the next moment nearly stumbled.

“A’Yu,” she said, “you’ve grown taller and heavier. Elder Sister can hardly lift you anymore.”

Xiao Yu hugged her waist tightly: “Then I’ll hold Elder Sister.”

Of course he couldn’t lift her either.

Chu Zhao laughed heartily.

Eunuch Qi, Old Bai, Xiao Man, and A’Le all rushed over from the side. Seeing this scene, they all smiled too.

“Your Majesty,” Eunuch Qi said, “the Grand Tutor and the court officials are all waiting. Please, Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress, proceed to court.”

Chu Zhao was somewhat surprised: “Court hasn’t begun yet?”

Xiao Yu looked up at her: “Elder Sister, I told the Grand Tutor that we must wait for you to return so we can go to court together. The Grand Tutor agreed.”

Chu Zhao reached out and pinched his nose.

“Good,” she said. “Let’s go to court together.”

She looked down at the clothes she was wearing.

“I’ve been carrying court robes with me all along,” A’Le said hurriedly. But they had been used in the border commandery, and with all the busy campaigning, they hadn’t been washed—they were wrinkled—

Chu Zhao smiled and waved her hand: “No need. I’ve traveled a long distance and am eager to discuss important matters of the border commandery and Zhongshan Commandery with everyone in detail. I am the Empress, but also a general leading troops. In the military there are no taboos—I’ll attend court like this.”

She then took Xiao Yu’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

……

……

Court music sounded in the hall. The civil and military officials who had already lined up in formation looked forward and saw the figure of a woman who hadn’t appeared in court for a long time.

She was covered in the dust of travel, her traveling clothes unchanged, yet compared to when she first walked in wearing Empress court robes, she now shone even more brilliantly.

Like a blade stained with wind and frost, but also honed to brightness.

Calculating the time, this young woman’s absence from the imperial city had been neither too long nor too short. Yet after she left, the things she had accomplished came one after another, all relating to the court, all relating to Da Xia’s peace and the dynasty’s eternal stability.

Daughter of Chu Ling, she had not failed the late Emperor’s trust—brave, intelligent, wielding sword and riding horse, protecting the imperial grandson, protecting the nation, protecting the people.

This time, without waiting for Deng Yi to proclaim loudly, the officials all bowed in unison.

“We respectfully welcome Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress.”

Chu Zhao, holding Xiao Yu’s hand, looked down upon the court and smiled slightly: “You may rise without ceremony.”