Chapter 142: Today, I Return to Report to Your Majesty
On the first of May, after ten straight days of drizzling spring rain, a bright, sunny day finally arrived.
The sky was clear for miles, and Li Wei was returning to court in triumph.
He had left with only ten thousand soldiers, but he returned with nearly twenty thousand, along with countless carts of war spoils.
Before Xiao Yang could even speak, the civil and military officials were clamoring to go welcome him. Seeing how worked up they were, Xiao Yang had no choice but to lead them to the city gates.
Xiao Yang stood atop the city wall, watching the massive, dark column of troops approach from a distance and listening to the excited chatter all around her.
The mighty cavalry, the banners fluttering and glinting gold in the sun—it was a magnificent and overwhelming sight.
But the thought that this was their own nation’s victorious army was enough to make anyone’s blood boil with excitement.
When they were only a few hundred meters away, a small group of riders at the head of the column suddenly spurred their horses onward.
The tallest, most powerful steed carried a formidable general clad in armor, long spear in hand, radiating a murderous aura.
"It’s General Li!"
"General Li Wei!"
It was unclear who shouted first, but cheers soon erupted.
"The Great General is mighty!"
"General Li is mighty!"
The cheers crested in waves, one after another, a testament to how pleased the people were with this great victory.
Not only had Li Wei turned the tide of battle while severely wounded, but he had also nearly annihilated the Xirong and avenged past defeats. Who wouldn’t feel gratified by such news?
Some of the ministers couldn’t help but glance at the Emperor.
Li Wei was so beloved by the common folk. What was the Emperor thinking? With the people’s hearts behind him, would the Emperor feel threatened?
Soon, Li Wei reached the base of the city wall, halting his horse at a spot where he could look up and see the Little Emperor.
He swung himself off his horse and knelt, his gaze fixed on the Emperor above. "I, Li Wei... have not failed Your Majesty’s grace... I have annihilated the Xirong, retaken our lost lands, and returned today to report to Your Majesty. Long live my Emperor!"
Xiao Yang didn’t answer right away. Instead, she turned, walked to the stairs, and slowly descended the city wall, emerging from the gate to approach Li Wei.
Li Wei remained kneeling, unmoving. His sharp gaze followed her, watching as she walked toward him, one step at a time.
’Your Majesty is a woman.’
’There was nothing more to be said. He had seen it with his own eyes.’
Today, Xiao Yang was wearing an outfit newly crafted by Xiao Jinsu and the others. It was comfortable, magnificent, and regal, yet it was also unmistakably the attire of a woman.
The only thing unchanged, perhaps, was that the Emperor still wore a hair crown.
Strikingly beautiful, she was majestic without losing her flair.
"Rise. Must you keep kneeling like that? Or do you need me to personally help you up?"
Xiao Yang said with a smile, her voice carrying the same teasing tone as always.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Wei rose and retrieved something from his saddle. He opened a box and presented it with both hands. "The King of Xirong’s head is too ugly; I wouldn’t want to sully Your Majesty’s eyes with it. This is his great seal. I offer it to Your Majesty."
Xiao Yang glanced at it before taking it. "He certainly was ugly, but it’s a meaningful collectible nonetheless."
She handed the seal to her guard, Xiao Lv, telling him to put it away. Only then did she turn back to Li Wei. "Come, I’ve prepared a victory banquet for you. We’ll drink well tonight."
Seeing that Xiao Yang’s attitude hadn’t changed in the slightest, the tension in Li Wei’s heart began to ease.
’It was laughable, really. The Emperor was the Emperor—it had always been *her*.’
’They were the ones who felt strange about her gender, yet here he was, worried that she would change her attitude toward them.’
Xiao Yang forwent the carriage and mounted her own horse.
Li Wei immediately rode up to her side. This was his moment of glory, but he also had to protect the Emperor.
"I’ve only been gone two months, but the Capital City has changed a great deal."
The words were laden with meaning.
Xiao Yang idly swung her riding crop. "It’s only been two months, and you’re already waxing poetic. Are you tired of being a general? Perhaps you’d rather be a scholar?"
Li Wei chuckled. "Your Majesty jests."
"I brought back a birthday gift for you. They’re all from Xirong, but I don’t know if you will like them."
Xiao Yang replied, "I don’t."
Li Wei’s expression froze. Xiao Yang continued, "I’ve already received your birthday gift. I don’t need anything else."
Li Wei was puzzled. "But I haven’t given you a gift."
Xiao Yang said, "Those victory reports were the best gift of all."
Li Wei looked at Xiao Yang, momentarily at a loss for words.
The Little Emperor always had a way of piercing right to one’s heart with a seemingly casual remark.
The procession made its way to the Imperial Palace. Military generals of the fourth-rank and above were invited to the victory banquet, while the rest of the soldiers headed to the barracks, where wine and meat had already been prepared for them.
However, before the banquet began, Li Wei had a young woman brought before Xiao Yang.
The woman appeared to be no older than fifteen or sixteen. She had a delicate and pretty face—the lovely kind of beauty from a humble family—and the white clothes she wore made her seem fragile and pitiable.
’A certain plot line uncontrollably surfaced in Xiao Yang’s mind: A general returns victorious from war, bringing with him a woman who saved his life. He claims he wants to take her in and raise her as a sister...’
Xiao Yang speechlessly raised a hand to her temple. ’Enough. Has my brain been poisoned?’
Li Wei introduced her. "Your Majesty, this is the granddaughter of General Fang Wenkai, whom I mentioned in my letters. Her father and brothers all died in battle, and the rest of her clan in Bafang City were massacred by the West Rong people. She only survived by hiding in a neighbor’s cellar."
The woman slowly knelt. "I, Fang Ran, greet Your Majesty."
Xiao Yang raised a hand. "You may rise."
Fang Ran rose. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xiao Yang sized her up. She was a very delicate-looking girl. Pushing aside the bizarre, melodramatic stories swirling in her head, Xiao Yang focused on the matter at hand.
The Fang men had defended the border for many years. This time, Fang Wenkai had been betrayed and tragically killed, and his family had been brutally murdered.
By all rights, the Emperor had to properly care for this last orphan, to do right by the Fang Family and to show the soldiers that their sacrifices were honored.
Xiao Yang said, "General Fang’s tragic death is a loss for all of Da Wei. The world is outraged by the tragedy in Bafang City. I will not forget them, nor will I forget the general’s contributions."
"I hereby grant you the title of Princess Anning. From now on, you may remain in the Capital City and live a peaceful life."
Upon hearing she was to be made a Commandery Princess, a flash of joy crossed Fang Ran’s face. But then she glanced at Li Wei, looking as if she wanted to say something more but stopped herself.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The victory banquet was a grand affair. With all the civil and military officials, plus over a hundred decorated officers, Wude Hall—the hall specifically for celebrating triumphant returns—was filled to capacity.
Since Fang Ran was in attendance, she naturally had a seat. Worried she might feel uncomfortable, Xiao Yang had also summoned Xie Liuzheng, Xiao Jinsu, and Song Qingyi.
Xie Liuzheng and Song Qingyi were rivals in love, but it was obvious something was going on between Xie Liuzheng and Xiao Lv. Besides, Xie Liuzheng’s wild imagination and eccentric way of thinking were just too captivating. Song Qingyi had been won over, and though their friendship felt a bit flimsy—like fair-weather friends—it didn’t stop them from enjoying the drama together.
Fang Ran, however, refused to sit with them, choosing instead to sit resolutely beside Li Wei.
Xie Liuzheng immediately smelled trouble and excitedly began to lecture the other two on the ’Triumphant General’ literary genre.
The very same melodramatic trope that had just popped into Xiao Yang’s head.
It was a good thing they were some distance away and Xiao Yang couldn’t hear, or she would have surely had Xie Liuzheng dragged out.