Chapter 297: Clearing Up Doubts

Prince Jing would not be carried away by the glory of victory. Even though Emperor Tai'an's voice was choked with sobs, he did not believe that the emperor would really cry with excitement.

"It is my duty as a humble disciple to share the emperor's worries."

Emperor Tai'an was quite satisfied with Prince Jing's performance. The two brothers exchanged a few warm greetings, then one got on the dragon chariot and the other got on a warhorse, and the mighty team marched towards the city.

The wide streets had been swept in advance, and both sides of the streets were crowded with people welcoming the triumphant soldiers.

Accompanied by the sound of festive drums and music, the team was getting closer and closer.

The people cheered and threw countless flowers and robes at the soldiers who were either serious, proud, or grinning.

The yamen runners who were maintaining order on the side did not forget to remind people: "Don't throw away plums and cantaloupes!"

In a teahouse on the street, Qi Qiong put his hands on the railing, trying hard to find his brother.

"Ah, have you seen my brother?"

"I see." Lin Hao pointed, his eyes glued to the tall figure. "Over there."

"You're still sharp-eyed." Qi Qiong chuckled, covering her mouth. "Ah Hao, are you and my eldest brother in tune with each other?"

Lin Hao smiled: "It depends on where the flower rain falls the most."

Qi Qiong was stunned at first, then was shocked when he realized what was happening: "Oh well, even though he's my eldest brother, we shouldn't be so... ahem, boastful, okay?"

Lin Hao casually rested one hand on the railing and explained with a smile, "People first notice those riding in carriages and on horses. The higher up they are, the higher their status and the older they are. Ah Shuo is in his prime, so it's only natural that he attracts more flowers and handkerchiefs."

Qi Qiong shook his head: "When you analyze it like that, even the most elegant things become boring."

Lin Hao's eyes followed his beloved, but he sighed in his heart: Love poems are all lies. If they really have a telepathic connection, why didn't Ah Shuo look over here?

Just as he was thinking this, the young general on horseback looked over.

Perhaps because he suddenly realized that he was wrong to complain and felt guilty, Lin Hao didn't know what he was thinking when their eyes met, so he lowered his body and hid.

The young man on horseback's eyes changed from tenderness to shock.

What are you doing!

Even after the horse had gone a long way away, Qi Shuo was still looking back for Lin Hao, which caused some young ladies to misunderstand and scream and throw everything they could catch at him.

"Sister, are you throwing hidden weapons? Don't throw hairpins!" The yamen runner who discovered it warned loudly.

The girl standing next to the woman covered her hair and stamped her feet: "Sister, you threw my hairpin!"

In the teahouse, Qi Qiong was no less shocked than his brother: "Ah Hao, why are you hiding?"

Lin Hao regained his composure: "I didn't hide, my handkerchief fell off."

Qi Qiong: “…” Her upbringing did not allow her to expose it on the spot.

"I'm thirsty. Let's go back to the room and have some tea." The people who wanted to watch had gone far away. Lin Hao lost interest in standing outside in the sun and pulled Qi Qiong back to the elegant room.

Even after Qi Shuo entered the hall where the ministers were being entertained, his heart was still on the teahouse on the street.

Could it be that she was angry because he didn't reveal the plan in advance and made Ah Hao worry?

Apart from this, he couldn't think of any reason why Lin Hao hid as soon as he saw him.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty——"

Qi Shuo came back to his senses and looked at a general holding a wine glass.

The general's surname is Zhu, and he is the one who returned to Beijing on behalf of General Xu. As for General Xu, he stayed in the north to deal with post-war matters and could not return in the short term.

"The fact that Northern Qi was able to cease its activities so quickly is inseparable from the Crown Prince's contribution. Let me offer a toast to the Crown Prince on behalf of everyone." General Zhu looked at Qi Shuo with some excitement.

Many soldiers were unaware of Prince Jing's contributions, and General Xu only revealed some of them to him before he left. Looking at Prince Jing again, his feelings were completely different.

"General Zhu, you are too kind." Qi Shuo raised his glass and clinked it with General Zhu's.

Emperor Tai'an sat on the high platform, taking in the entire interaction between Qi Shuo and the generals beside him, his eyes flashing.

The palace maids with high buns and gorgeous clothes danced and spun in the hall to the sound of drums and music, and everyone's face was filled with joyful smiles.

The atmosphere was in a controlled warmth.

After the banquet, Emperor Tai'an kept Prince Jing and Qi Shuo.

"I really didn't expect that Fifth Brother would fight so beautifully in this battle."

Prince Jing was not drunk, and said quickly: "It is all thanks to my royal brother, and the selfless dedication of General Xu and other soldiers."

Emperor Tai'an glanced at Qi Shuo and smiled, "In my opinion, Shuo'er's scheme to take Wu Ye's life was the key to the quick end of the war. How can we ignore Shuo'er's contribution, which is so great?"

Prince Jing chuckled and said, "As a nephew, it's my duty to help my uncle solve his problems. What's there to say about this?"

Emperor Tai'an looked at Qi Shuo and said, "Don't listen to your father. Now that you're back in the capital, tell me if there's any job you'd like."

"My nephew is a lazy person. I finally came back from the north and I want to take a good rest. If the Royal Uncle wants to reward my nephew..." Qi Shuo paused, facing the sharp eyes of Prince Jing, and smiled, "When my nephew gets married, it would be great if the Royal Uncle could give me a generous gift."

Emperor Tai'an was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Of course, my nephew is getting married, and as an uncle I should prepare generous gifts."

"Nephew thanks the Emperor Uncle in advance."

Emperor Tai'an asked something he had been curious about for a long time: "Fifth brother, when we captured Wuye's nephew Wuli alive, how did you come up with the idea of asking for 700 war horses?"

He is so bold to speak. Even the emperor is not so magnanimous.

When Emperor Tai'an mentioned this, Prince Jing glanced at his son subtly.

This number was estimated by Shuo'er, who was actually very nervous at the time. But in front of the emperor, there was no need to mention Shuo'er's participation.

Shuo'er is still too young, and it would not be a good thing for him to give the emperor the impression that he is good at guessing people's minds.

Prince Jing said with a chuckle, "I've been in the North for many years and have fought Wu Ye many times, so I have a good understanding of him. This man has always treated Wu Li'er as his own son. He would definitely be willing to trade 700 war horses for the life of his nephew, who is like his own son."

"How did they negotiate the reduction of 3,000 war horses to 5,000, plus two horse farms?" This was what Emperor Tai'an was more curious about.

The previous 700 war horses could be said to be Karasuno's selfishness, but this time it could not be selfishness at all.

“This is even simpler.”

"Simple?" Emperor Tai'an looked at Prince Jing, who had a strange expression on his face, and became more and more curious.

Prince Jing blinked and lowered his voice, "Your Highness told the Northern Qi envoy that if they sent more war horses, they could return the child Wuli. The Northern Qi army was defeated because of this child. The Emperor of Qi wanted to cut him into pieces, so he agreed..."

Emperor Tai'an couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Of course he knew that the "Wuli" who killed Wu Ye was actually Qi Shuo in disguise, but he never expected that the real Wuli could still make a difference.