Chapter 94
“Look, look! The man in the red robe and silver armor at the front of the convoy—is that… is that General Xie?”
Someone by the roadside noticed a figure ahead. At first, they weren’t sure, but the more they looked, the more familiar he seemed. Finally, they couldn’t help but ask.
Like a stone thrown into a still pond, their words caused a great stir. Who in the empire didn’t know the name of General Xie of the Red Robe Army? The great battle five or six years ago was still fresh in everyone’s memory. It was General Xie who led the Red Robe Army and turned the tide of war. After the enemy was defeated, he had been summoned to the capital to receive honors.
Back then, the entire capital had emptied out as people flooded the streets just to catch a glimpse of the man who had fought his way in and out of the enemy’s central command three times and, with a single arrow, pierced through Hunle Wang, the enemy commander. It was his feat that had forced the enemy to retreat. The sheer courage and skill required to accomplish such a feat were unimaginable.
No one expected that General Xie would be entering the capital again for the Emperor’s Thousand Autumn Festival. It had been rumored that the barbarian invaders had recently launched another attack on the border, prompting the Emperor to send the Jingwei Imperial Guards to protect Duan Wang. But judging by the current situation, the threat at the border must have been neutralized—otherwise, General Xie wouldn’t have the time to attend the festival.
“It is General Xie! It’s definitely him!” someone exclaimed.
Once his identity was confirmed, the excitement only grew. More and more people surged forward, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary warrior, Xie Yixiu.
Before long, the streets were packed with onlookers. Ming Yu poked his head out of the carriage window, grinning as he clicked his tongue in amusement. “General Xie, you sure are popular! Look at this—feels just like a celebrity fan chase.”
Thankfully, the Jingwei Imperial Guards were maintaining order on both sides; otherwise, the crowd might have rushed forward, demanding autographs. Ming Yu couldn’t help but compare this scene to the fervent fan culture of the modern world—it was quite similar.
Xie Yixiu rode beside the carriage, his gaze fixed straight ahead, completely unfazed by the crowd’s enthusiasm. Hearing Ming Yu’s remark, he merely glanced at him indifferently without saying a word.
Ming Yu pouted, his eyes darting mischievously before he suddenly grinned. “General Xie, since you’re unfamiliar with the capital, allow me to play the gracious host. When you have some free time, I’ll take you around for a proper tour—what do you think?”
Xie Yixiu turned his head slightly to look at him. Seeing Ming Yu’s eager expression, he didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm, so he gave a slight nod. “Alright.”
Ming Yu clapped his hands together in delight. “Great! That’s a promise then! No backing out later.”
For a brief moment, Xie Yixiu was caught off guard. By the time he looked again, Ming Yu had already lowered the window curtain and retreated back into the carriage. Xie Yixiu frowned slightly, an inexplicable sense of unease creeping into his heart. But after thinking it over, he found nothing particularly odd about what Ming Yu had said. Chuckling at his own over-cautiousness, he dismissed the feeling and put it out of his mind.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Ming Yu was already making plans. He would organize a grand social gathering and invite all the noble ladies—princesses, commandery ladies, daughters of high-ranking officials, and young ladies from distinguished families. Given General Xie’s popularity, he would surely be well-received. At that point, there would be no shortage of matchmaking opportunities—perhaps even a perfect match waiting to happen.
Lost in his thoughts, Ming Yu didn’t realize they had already arrived outside Xihua Gate of the imperial palace. The chief eunuch of the palace had been waiting there for quite some time.
Ming Yu jumped down from the carriage, momentarily dazzled by the bright sunlight. The palace attendants quickly stepped forward to pay their respects. He then boarded the sedan chair prepared for him and, together with Xie Yixiu, proceeded to meet the Emperor.
Inside Yude Palace, the Emperor had already received word that Duan Wang and General Xie were waiting outside. He set down the memorial he was reading, stood up impatiently, then sat back down again, his expression turning cold. “Summon that little troublemaker in here!”
Ming Yu adjusted his robes. There was no escaping a lecture this time. He glanced at Xie Yixiu beside him, who only responded with a helpless gesture. Ming Yu sighed—no use delaying it any further. He had to go in.
“Your son, Ming Yu, greets Father. May Father live for a thousand autumns, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!” The moment he stepped inside, he hurriedly performed a grand bow.
The Emperor remained silent, his face cold and unreadable.
Ming Yu’s eyes flickered as he quickly pinched the tender flesh on his inner thigh. The sharp pain made him wince, and in an instant, tears welled up in his eyes.
“Father! I missed you so much! Your son was bullied outside!” He threw himself into the act before his father could start scolding him, his voice pitiful as he sobbed outright.
The Emperor’s stern expression nearly cracked. Seizing the moment, Ming Yu crawled forward on his knees, clutching the hem of the Emperor’s robe, crying as if his heart were breaking.
“Father, I truly thought I’d never see you again! You don’t know how scared I was—wuwu…”
The Emperor’s heart twinged. Despite himself, his cold expression softened. “You’re already grown—what kind of royal prince cries and wails like this? Get up and sit down properly.”
Ming Yu shamelessly wiped his tears on the Emperor’s robe before finally crawling up, sniffling as he obediently curled up beside his father like a little quail.
The Emperor was both exasperated and amused. He really had no way to deal with this troublemaker. He had originally intended to reprimand him, but seeing Ming Yu like this, he could no longer bring himself to be harsh.
“Alright, alright, I know you—you’ve never been one to behave. Now you understand the danger, don’t you?” The Emperor’s tone had already softened without him realizing it.
Ming Yu nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, your son knows his mistake now.”
“In the past, I was always here to protect you. But now, with the vast distance between us, even if I wanted to shield you, I wouldn’t be able to reach you in time.” The Emperor’s voice carried both frustration and concern. “From now on, you must think carefully before you act. You cannot afford to make reckless mistakes. As a prince, you don’t just carry your own fate—you hold the lives and futures of countless people who follow you. If something had happened to you this time, do you realize how many people would have suffered? The Guard Battalion, the border army—they would have been held accountable, possibly even executed because of you.”
Ming Yu lowered his head in shame. His father’s words were undeniable truth. His identity was not just his own burden to bear; many others depended on him. Like a great tree, if the trunk fell, how could the branches and leaves survive?
The Emperor let out a long sigh. “If the barbarian had truly captured you, have you thought about the consequences? If they demanded humiliating terms that disgraced the Great Yan Kingdom, what would you have me do? Would you be able to bear the thought of making me—your father—bury his own son?”
Ming Yu’s eyes stung with tears. A wave of sour emotion surged in his chest. Every word his father spoke came from the heart. It was clear—he truly cared deeply for this son.
Yet in the past, Ming Yu had always stood apart, as if watching from outside a script, detached from it all. Now, for the first time, he felt regret.
Influenced by later generations, Ming Yu had always believed the royal family was the epitome of coldness—without familial bonds, with the imperial household being devoid of father-son relationships. But now, he began to have doubts. Yes, he acknowledged that these views made sense, but they also had to be considered in context, depending on the person and situation.
Ming Yu only believed what he could see. Perhaps for others, the emperor was a solitary figure. However, at this very moment, he could clearly feel the deep concern, anxiety, and worry of an old father for his son. He was deeply moved—he had never experienced such care before.
“Father, don’t worry. I swear that nothing like this will ever happen again.” Ming Yu spoke sincerely, his words thick with emotion.
Seeing the redness around Ming Yu’s eyes and remembering the hardship he had endured, the emperor could only lift the weight of his anger and set it down gently, patting his son’s head. “You need to remember the words you just spoke.”
With a heavy sigh, the emperor continued, “The Suixi Kingdom is too bold. How dare they openly enter our territory and abduct people? Do they really think the Great Yan Empire is without defense?”
Ming Yu tugged at his father’s sleeve. “Father, please don’t be angry. I’ve already taught them a lesson. I’ll remember this debt and return it when the time comes.”
This was truly his son! The emperor nodded in approval, feeling relieved, and said, “Good, you have ambition. But did the letter you sent earlier truly meant you were not harmed?”
Ming Yu shook his head with a smile. “It’s nothing. I was just a little scared, but fortunately, General Xie came to our rescue in time.” As he thought of Xie Yixiu, who was still waiting outside, Ming Yu added, “Father, General Xie is waiting outside the hall.”
The emperor wasn’t unaware of this. He had been so concerned about Ming Yu that he had overlooked the presence of Xie Yixiu. After Ming Yu escaped danger, he had quickly written a secret letter to the capital, detailing the events and his experiences. Naturally, he had mentioned Xie Yixiu’s contribution and how only a thousand soldiers had managed to defeat over seven thousand pursuers.
The emperor couldn’t believe this was Ming Yu’s doing. If it was said to be Xie Yixiu’s achievement, people would believe it, as Xie Yixiu had never failed anyone. It was also because the emperor had heard that Xie Yixiu had been guarding Ming Yu all along that he had felt somewhat reassured.
This time, taking advantage of the Thousand Autumn Festival, the emperor had allowed Xie Yixiu to accompany Ming Yu to the capital. Xie Yixiu’s efforts had been crucial, preventing catastrophic consequences. As an old father, the emperor was also deeply grateful.
The emperor finally summoned Xie Yixiu into the palace. Xie Yixiu reported on the invasion by the barbarians and the border affairs. He answered all questions truthfully. Upon hearing Xie Yixiu’s praise for Ming Yu, the emperor felt pleased, assuming that Xie Yixiu was perhaps just giving face to Old Fourteen and attributing the credit to Ming Yu.
However, as for that “thunderbolt,” was it really that miraculous? Could a few tricks really drive the enemy away? The emperor didn’t probe further, instead giving Xie Yixiu further praise and showering him with imperial gifts, which made Ming Yu envious.
“Father! The Western Qi corridor is a strategic area. Whether for rest and recuperation, stationing troops, farming, or trade and military movements, it’s a treasure. If we control this chokepoint, the barbarians will no longer have a hold on us.” Ming Yu shared his plan confidently.
In recent days, he had refined the plan, and it was now nearly complete. He spoke with great confidence.
The emperor didn’t seem moved by his words. He merely nodded, acknowledging what was said.
Ming Yu grew impatient. “Father, everything I said is true. General Xie has already sent scouts to check it. This route has always been open to the Western Regions, and trade will be safer and more reliable.”
The emperor shot him a look. “Why are you in such a hurry? Do you think this is a game? You think you can just take it and that’s it? Even if we take it, what about building cities, stationing troops, and relocating the people? How do you plan to handle that?” He sighed deeply. “Matters of the court aren’t as simple as you think.”
When the court wanted to make a decision, it wasn’t something the emperor could decide with a single word. Matters concerning the nation’s territory, especially, could not be treated lightly. However, once the issue was brought up for discussion in the court, it wasn’t something that could be decided in a short amount of time.
There had been plenty of instances where the court’s various factions, each with their own interests, had dragged their feet and passed the time with endless debates and delays, leading to no results even after a year or two.
If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of tea for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!
Thank You for the new chapter (♡´౪`♡)