Chapter 74 is back.
When the news reached the capital, the whole country rejoiced. The emperor was overjoyed and ordered preparations for a triumphant return celebration.
Inside the Glazed Pavilion, upon hearing the news, Su Jingyu's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled completely, followed by a surge of immense joy and anticipation. She stroked her smooth, delicate cheeks, then looked at herself in the mirror, her face even more beautiful than before, clad in soft, luxurious clothes, and a sweet, slightly shy smile spread across her lips.
The surprises are all prepared. All that remains is for her hero, her prince, to return in triumph.
As he prepared to return home, what came to mind was not the prosperity of the capital or the glory of the celebrations, but the warm window of the Liuli Pavilion, the lamp behind the window that was always lit for him, and the person under the lamp, smiling sweetly, who haunted his dreams.
"Send word: tomorrow we will break camp, with a small entourage, and return to the capital at full speed!" He gave the order in a deep voice, his heart set on returning home.
Crown Prince Xiao Jingzhan led his elite Xuanjia troops, riding swiftly back to the capital. Along the way, the people lined the streets to welcome him, shouting "Long live the Crown Prince!" and "May Heaven bless the Great Sheng!" their voices echoing through the heavens. He sat upright on the magnificent, snow-white "Jade Lion Shining at Night," his Xuanjia armor still in place, only his cloak removed, revealing his handsome and aloof face.
His gaze was calm as he nodded slightly to the people on both sides of the road without lingering. His heart had already flown over the palace walls to the place with its glazed tiles and fragrant aroma.
The Emperor personally set up a triumphal procession in front of the Taiji Hall, receiving the homage of the Crown Prince and meritorious generals. The ceremony was solemn, with music and banners fluttering. Xiao Jingzhan knelt on one knee, presenting the captured Di Rong royal banner and the head of the bandit leader, his voice clear and resounding: "Your subject has fortunately fulfilled his mission. The northern bandits have been pacified, and the border is temporarily at peace. This is all thanks to the Emperor's might and the soldiers' valiant efforts!"
The Emperor was overjoyed and personally descended the steps to help the Crown Prince up, repeatedly saying, "My son, you have worked hard! How valiant! This is a blessing for the nation!" He immediately issued an edict to generously reward the three armies, bestowing upon the Crown Prince ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand bolts of brocade, and a hundred acres of fertile land. The other generals also received rewards, and the fallen soldiers received double the compensation. For a time, the court was filled with jubilation.
However, as soon as the grand victory banquet began, Xiao Jingzhan apologized to the emperor and empress, saying that he was "tired from traveling for days" and asked to return to the palace to rest first.
The Emperor, knowing his thoughts, exchanged a knowing smile with the Empress, their eyes filled with understanding and satisfaction, and waved his hand in approval. This child must be anxious.
Almost as soon as Xiao Jingzhan left the Taiji Hall, he left behind his entourage and palace servants, taking only Lu Shen and a few other personal guards with him. He mounted his horse and galloped towards the East Palace.
A cold wind brushed his face, but it couldn't extinguish the ever-burning flame in his heart, a flame called homecoming.
The Eastern Palace, the Glazed Tile Pavilion.
Su Jingyu had already received the news and knew he would definitely return tonight. She suppressed her pounding heart and directed the palace servants to make all the necessary arrangements. The children had already been coaxed to sleep by their wet nurses, and the Liuli Pavilion was brightly lit but unusually quiet, with only her waiting anxiously.
Today, she wore a crimson brocade dress embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, over which she wore a soft, moon-white silk shawl. Her dark hair was styled into a delicate, serpentine bun, adorned with a red-gold and kingfisher-feather butterfly hairpin and several fresh pink crabapple blossoms. Her face was lightly powdered, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her lips like painted vermilion, and her eyes brighter than the stars. She stood quietly under the eaves of the main hall of the Glazed Pavilion. A cool night breeze stirred her skirt and shawl, making her appear like a peerless flower quietly blooming under the moonlight.
The rapid, familiar sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, finally coming to an abrupt halt in front of the Liuli Pavilion palace gate. Immediately following was the steady, powerful, and urgent sound of footsteps.
Su Jingyu's heart pounded heavily with each footstep.
The palace gates were suddenly pushed open, and a tall, dark-clad figure strode in, carrying with him the lingering chill and dust of the north.
The candlelight outlined his increasingly deep and three-dimensional features, his brows and eyes carrying the coldness and weariness of battle, but the moment he looked up and saw the beautiful figure under the corridor, all the frost melted away, turning into unfathomable tenderness and passion.
Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still.
Xiao Jingzhan stopped in his tracks, standing several steps away, gazing at her greedily and intently. His darling seemed even more beautiful than two months ago, breathtakingly voluptuous and radiant, her eyes filled with starlight, longing, and unreserved joy as she looked at him.
Su Jingyu looked at him too. He had lost some weight, his jawline was more hardened, and his skin was roughened by the winds and sands of the north, but his phoenix eyes were still deep and bright, fixed on her, the surging emotions within almost overwhelming her. His black armor seemed to still carry the dust of battle and a faint, battlefield-blooded aura, yet she felt incredibly at ease.
She lifted her skirt, took a step forward, then stopped. A thousand words choked in her throat, turning into a soft call, trembling slightly: "Your Highness..."
That sound was like lighting a fuse.
Xiao Jingzhan strode forward abruptly, and before Su Jingyu could react, his burning hand had already firmly gripped the back of her neck. The cold, hard armor pressed against her softness, and the molten lava in his eyes finally erupted completely.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips fiercely.
It wasn't a gentle touch, but a rough, thirsty feeling, like someone returning from the battlefield; it was an almost savage invasion and tasting. His lips were burning hot, grinding against hers, his tongue plunging deep inside with irresistible force, sweeping over every inch of her sweetness. His unique, chilling breath instantly enveloped her completely.
Su Jingyu's mind went blank, feeling as if the scorching heat was melting her. She missed him too, and hugged him tightly in return.
After a long while, he finally loosened his grip slightly, giving her a moment to catch her breath. His burning forehead pressed against hers, his heavy breaths brushing against her moist, rosy lips, his voice hoarse as if ground by gravel:
"Goodness..."
He sighed softly, then couldn't help but lean in, gently pecking at her slightly swollen lips, licking them tenderly, as if savoring the most precious sweetness in the world.
"So sweet..." he murmured with a sigh, his words filled with endless longing. "Let me taste it properly... I miss you, and this place aches from missing you so much." He grabbed her hand and pressed it hard against his chest armor, where his heart pounded like thunder, fiercely striking her palm.
Before he could finish speaking, a deeper kiss landed, more tender and forceful than before. He tightened his arms around her, as if trying to meld her into his very bones.
The two embraced tightly under the eaves for a long, long time, as if trying to make up for the two months of separation and longing in this silent embrace. The night breeze blew by, and the palace lanterns under the eaves swayed gently, casting their embracing figures on the smooth ground, intimately close.
After a long while, Xiao Jingzhan finally loosened his grip on her, lowered his head to cup her face, and gently wiped away the faint tear tracks on her face with his fingertips. His gaze carefully traced her eyebrows and eyes, as if he could never get enough of looking at her. "Let me take a good look," he whispered, his thumb caressing her delicate lips, "My Yu'er seems to have become even more beautiful."
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