She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 265 - 264: Want to Return to Beijing, I Miss Her

Chapter 265: Chapter 264: Want to Return to Beijing, I Miss Her

Xiao Pingfeng had been frail since birth.

His mother, the Crown Princess Consort, passed away just a few years after giving birth to him.

Yet, in his memories, the Crown Princess Consort was incredibly beautiful and a well-read, gentle woman.

Her words always contained shocking and unconventional sayings that even the scholars wouldn’t teach, but Xiao Pingfeng found each of them exceptionally reasonable.

"My son, if in the future you fall in love with a woman, and she happens to love you too, listen to your mother, persevere tenaciously, no matter the obstacles or whatever reasons there might be, just do your best and leave the rest to fate."

He kept these words in his heart ever since.

The Crown Princess Consort even left him a guidebook on pursuing a wife.

As if she worried he might never find a bride in the future.

But having been born the Crown Prince of Dawei, how could he ever not find his own Crown Princess Consort?

He thought his mother was worrying without reason.

Although his mother was noble, his father’s birth was commoner even though he ascended as the Emperor, their union was considered beneath her.

Thus, the Emperor always felt a barrier between them.

Unlike other women who would be compliant, she wasn’t, so their meetings often ended in loud disagreements and unhappy separations.

Gradually, the Emperor’s visits to her and Xiao Pingfeng’s palace became fewer and then stopped altogether.

And she was happy to be at leisure.

She spent her days feeding fish, feeding birds, flying kites, and was very contented.

However, it seemed the heavens could not bear to see Xiao Pingfeng happy; that happiness did not last many years before being utterly stripped away.

Her health withered more each day until she could not survive the winter of his fourth year, leaving him behind in the cold, unfeeling Imperial City.

When she died, the Emperor did not even come to glance at her.

That day, amidst heavy snowfall, only a little girl in red jumped over the wall to give him a piece of sugar cake.

"The Empress was a good person, don’t cry, she must have turned into a star in the sky to protect you,"

she struggled to comfort him with mishmashed words she had overheard from adults.

At that moment,

Xiao Pingfeng finally understood what his mother meant by following one’s heart.

From a young age, Xiao Pingfeng knew he had to present himself as mild and refined to not disgrace the Crown Prince’s identity, striving to excel in everything.

People hailed him as the leading light among scholars.

All were empty honors.

In his heart, there was only one light, Yan Wanqing, the legitimate daughter of the Yan Family.

Yet, she was so exceptional, capable of fighting battles and surpassing most men in the Capital City, how could he ever match her?

Xiao Pingfeng could only force himself to become stronger and even asked his father to allow him to share the same master as her.

Yet, by the time he was just initiated, she had already completed her apprenticeship.

Life is full of uncertainties.

In the days that followed, the little affection between him and his father, as he became increasingly accomplished, became as fragile as a piece of paper about to be pierced.

It’s rare to see a father jealous of his own son, right?

He didn’t know if that happened among the common folk.

But his father, because he was praised by ministers in court, started to send assassins after him.

By the time he reached his coming of age, he had survived many assassination attempts from his father and brothers.

That time at Southern Mountain, he finally reached his light.

Only, she had changed significantly over the years.

Quiet and contemplative, with a sadness in her eyes, every step and word meticulously measured.

Since when had the light of his heart taken on such a form?

Xiao Pingfeng knew some of this change was wrought by his father’s doings.

He felt profoundly guilty.

But he equally knew that, proud as she was, he didn’t need to interfere too much.

After all, he had always been the one trying hard to keep up with her pace.

...

So when he heard that Yan Wanqing was finally willing to make a commitment, Xiao Pingfeng was very happy, a joy that lasted until they had been on the road for half a month and then completely exhausted itself.

"Your Highness, what are you doing standing here?" his subordinate asked, puzzled to see his lord running to the highest peak every day.

Xiao Pingfeng gazed at the vast and endless wasteland.

Expressionlessly, he said, "I want to return to the Capital."

Subordinate: "... Is it for the same reason as last time?"

Xiao Pingfeng nodded weakly, "Yes, I miss her."

A subordinate sighed lightly, "If you miss her, go find her. We have the means."

The entire northwest had already been completely subdued by their Highness. He could declare himself a king immediately if he wished, but His Highness had no such intention. This caused everyone to be on edge, afraid His Highness would start another campaign to punish the wicked and protect the innocent if he were in a bad mood.

Xiao Pingfeng used to think that phrases like ’a day apart feels like an eternity’ only existed in books and that no one genuinely felt that way.

If a person can’t even control their own feelings, then they aren’t fit to be human.

Alright.

Now he was going to find his Wanwan.

If being human doesn’t suit him, so be it.

He just wanted to stand by her side. Even just looking at her made his heart feel full and the whole world seemed to quiet down.

He had never felt such a desire, so eager to return to the Capital City.

That was the place he dreamed of leaving.

Now, because of one person, he wished his Hei Yun could run even faster, faster!

To bring himself to her side.

Inside Governor’s Office Pass.

Ji Yuntai looked around at the soldiers staring at him, "Didn’t your master say he was sending me back to Penglai? Where is he?"

"My master has returned to the Capital."

Ji Yuntai numbly asked, "What about me?"

The subordinates looked at each other, at a loss for words, "Maybe you could also visit the Capital for a few days?"

Ji Yuntai, "...I think that’s a good idea."

...

When the Western Expedition army grandly entered the city gates, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Xie Qun had arrived early to receive them.

Upon seeing Yan Wanqing, somehow, the man in his thirties almost couldn’t stop his tears from falling.

"Minister Xie, long time no see," Yan Wanqing greeted him with a smile.

Xie Qun quickly stepped forward, "Congratulations on your triumphant return, General Yan! Glory to the Dawei Kingdom!"

Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he saw Yan Li’an, and a look of shock crossed his face, "Your servant, your servant warmly welcomes Great General Yan—!"

With this, all attention swiftly focused on Yan Li’an, and the people couldn’t believe their eyes.

"It’s the Great General, it’s really him!"

"He’s not dead, it really is him! Heaven be praised..."

...

Xie Qun’s gaze anxiously settled on Yan Wanqing’s face, and seeing her nod gently, his eyes moistened completely.

Who would have thought that Yan Li’an, the Yan family’s eldest legitimate son who was believed to have died at Governor’s Office Pass, would one day return alive.

Yan Li’an, seeing the crowd of commoners swarming around him, had many fresh images flashing in his mind.

Next to him, Yan Wanqing reached out and gently pinched the palm of her brother’s hand.

"Brother, let me take you home first; mother is waiting."

Her words were ’let’s go home first,’ not ’let’s enter the palace first.’

But to this, Xie Qun had no objections.

After a series of thunderous actions by the Empress, the Capital City had already turned upside down.

Yan Wanqing dropped Yan Li’an at the Yan family residence; Sun Qinglian had been waiting at the doorway, feeling as though she was in a dream upon seeing him arrive.

"Mother, your son has been unfilial, worrying you," Yan Li’an instantly knelt down.

Sun Qinglian hurried forward to embrace him.

With countless words on her lips, only one phrase remained, "It’s good that you’re back."

Seeing this, Yan Wanqing’s eyes reddened, but she did not dismount.

She and Xie Qun, stripping off their armor and weapons, and pushing the confined Xiao Hongshen in the carriage, walked towards the palace gate.

All the way, Xie Qun hesitated to speak.

Yan Wanqing sighed, "Minister Xie, say what you want to say."

Only then did Xie Qun breathe a sigh of relief, "This journey must have been very difficult, wasn’t it?"

To openly bring the supposedly deceased Great General into the Capital was daunting, with countless eyes watching them.

Moreover, he glanced over his shoulder at the carriage and gestured with his finger.

"The Emperor will be angry with how you are treating the Prince."

"What Prince? He is nothing but a traitor charged with treason," Yan Wanqing scoffed coldly, walking straight to the front of the carriage and pulling off the final covering, exposing Xiao Hongshen completely in front of everyone.