Chapter 402 The Princess is Back

Yanran was far away in Beili, how could she suddenly appear in Xizhou?

Chunzhi wondered for a moment if he missed Yanran too much and was hallucinating.

But the person in front of me is too real.

Huo Yanran shed the last trace of her childishness and grew into a bright and charming young lady.

She was wearing a red exotic dress, and her waist-length hair was braided into many small braids. Rubies hung in her hair, shining like pearls.

Yuzhu and others on the side heard Chunzhi suddenly call "Yanran" and looked in the direction she was looking.

The whole city was filled with fireworks and crowds of people. Huo Yanran came on horseback with her motorcade, smiling at them from the city wall with unparalleled brightness.

"It's really Yanran!"

Chunzhi stood up suddenly and rushed down the city wall.

Yuzhu and others also followed her and left their seats to greet her.

"Princess, this is..."

The Xizhou officials at the banquet stood up one after another before they understood what was happening.

"No need to follow." Huo Zheng told everyone to sit down and continue the banquet, while he took Xiao Xinghui, Nian'er and others and followed.

When Chunzhi rushed down the city wall, Huo Yanran was just dismounting gracefully. The two hugged each other in the sky full of flashing fireworks, their joy beyond words.

"I miss you so much, sister-in-law."

Huo Yanran was exhausted from the journey, but she didn't feel tired at all when she saw her sister-in-law and the others.

"I miss you every day, too."

Chunzhi reached out and tucked Huo Yanran's wind-blown hair behind her ears, looking at her carefully, unwilling to take a second look.

Three years have passed, and Huo Yanran has changed a lot.

Chunzhi remembered that when she first came to Beili, she couldn't even ride a horse, but now she has become a skilled equestrian and can move around easily during such festive celebrations.

Huo Yanran has become a little darker and is no longer the delicate little princess.

Chunzhi held her hand and could even feel the calluses between her fingers. "You've been..."

"I've had a great time these past three years." Huo Yanran said with a smile, "This is all thanks to my hard work in practicing martial arts!"

She smiled and turned her hand over to show Chunzhi. In the past three years in Beili, she had gone from being weak and frail to being an expert in archery and horse riding. Now, she not only had the ability to protect herself, but could even fight three people at once.

Yuzhu, Cui'er, and the others rushed forward, excitedly shouting, "Princess!"

"The princess is back!"

"You have good eyesight. You can recognize me one by one." Huo Yanran was also very happy to see them. "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a good time for family reunion. I hurried as fast as I could and finally made it in time."

A group of people surrounded Huo Yanran and asked her how she had been doing in Beili over the past three years. Someone also asked her, "How did the princess come to Xizhou?"

Huo Yanran smiled and said, "I came here on horseback."

She knew they wanted to ask why Beili let her come to Xizhou, but before she could get to that, Huo Zheng and the others came over.

Huo Yanran smiled and called out, "Seventh Brother."

Then she looked back and saw the young master, "Is this Xiao Xinghui? You've grown up so much, come here and let your aunt take a look."

Although Xiao Xinghui no longer remembers what Aunt Yanran looks like, his mother often tells him that his aunt is far away in Beili, and when Xizhou grows strong enough to have a check and balance on Daxing, they will go to Beili to bring her back.

The young master was young but very intelligent. He immediately stepped forward and saluted, "Nephew greets aunt."

"You're so polite!" Huo Yanran stepped forward and hugged Xiaoxing back. "When you were a child, your aunt often held you like this. Do you remember?"

Huo Zian was already six years old and had long since stopped being held. Being picked up in public by a young and beautiful girl like Huo Yanran, his face flushed red. "Auntie... I didn't forget. Please put me down quickly."

"I want to hug you." Huo Yanran said with a smile, "I want to kiss you too."

Huo Zian's face turned even redder, "Auntie..."

"Yanran, the child is grown up now, don't tease him like this."

Seeing that his son was being teased by his sister, Huo Zheng stepped forward to stop him.

Huo Yanran put Huo Zi'an down and picked up Nian'er, who was standing beside her. "Is this Nian'er? Auntie is not partial. If she brings Xiaoxing back, she won't leave you behind."

Nian'er was just watching Huo Zian's annoyance and laughing at him being teased by his aunt, but it was her turn immediately. She looked at Huo Zian for help.

Huo Zian was righteous and immediately said, "We all know that Auntie is not partial. You don't have to be like this."

"Really?" Huo Yanran kissed Nian'er on the forehead.

The little girl is sweet and soft, and is much more comfortable to hold than my little nephew.

Nian'er's face flushed red from being kissed by her. As soon as she was put down, she quickly grabbed Yuzhu's hand and called out "Mother."

The two little ones couldn't stand Huo Yanran's teasing.

People were coming and going under the city wall. Huo Yanran and her group were already eye-catching. Even the prince and princess came down from the city wall to welcome them in person. Many people in Xizhou stopped to see what was going on. Because the Prince and Princess of Chang'an were often close to the people, these people even came forward to say Mid-Autumn Festival greetings.

Chunzhi and Huo Zheng thanked the people together, then took Huo Yanran's hand and walked up to the city wall. "You must be tired after walking all this way. Sit down and rest for a while, eat something, and then we can talk."

"I will listen to my sister-in-law."

Huo Yanran and Chunzhi went up to the city wall together, and Huo Zheng and others returned to the banquet together.

When the officials at the banquet saw the prince and princess returning with a bright and beautiful woman, they all stood up to greet them. Someone asked, "Who is this?"

Huo Zheng said calmly, "My sister, Changning."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Princess Changning was sent to Beili by the emperor three years ago for marriage. Although the new Khan had no intention of getting married because of the tragic death of his entire clan and had delayed marrying the princess, the princess suddenly returned to Daxing. If this matter were to spread to the capital, it would be troublesome.

The officials knew it in their hearts, but they were officials of Xizhou and served under the command of King Chang'an. No matter how the princess came to Xizhou, they had to help cover it up.

So they quickly made up their minds, bowed and said, "Your Highness, we pay our respects to the Princess."

"My lords, please excuse the formalities." Huo Yanran said with a smile, "Don't worry. I was entrusted by the Great Chanyu of Beili to bring a group of Ferghana horses to Xizhou for trade, along with several carts of precious treasures..."

The princess' words were very clear; she had not escaped back.

So there is no need to hide it from the capital, and there is no need to worry.

"A group of Ferghana horses?"

Everyone was a little bit unconvinced and asked again, "Princess, are you talking about one horse or a batch?"

"A batch." Huo Yanran smiled and said, "If there was only one, why would I come here in person?"

When the Xizhou officials heard this, they were all surprised.

The Arabian horse is rare. In the past, having two or three of them was enough to attract dignitaries from various states to flock to buy them.

Now that Princess Changning has brought a new batch, the market is bound to be overcrowded again.

Huo Zheng said that today was Mid-Autumn Festival and he wanted to celebrate with the people, so he would put off the serious business until tomorrow and asked everyone to sit down and continue the feast.

Chunzhi pulled Huo Yanran to sit with him and asked her gently, "What's the story behind what you just said about being asked by the Great Chanyu of Beili to come to Xizhou?"

Huo Yanran smiled and said, "Tuoba Ying is a very good person."