Chapter 6 My dear brother has returned to Beijing
"I came back for your wedding," the queen said, leading Jiang Xue to the side hall.
"Yu'er hasn't been back to the capital for three years. When I heard that you were going to get married, I asked for permission to return to the capital to report on my work."
"Who knew that the wind at the border was so strong that no matter how hard we tried, we were still delayed for several days and only arrived at the outskirts of Beijing last night."
The two of them sat down at the dining table in the side hall. "We were afraid that he would be tired from the long journey and your wedding ceremony had already been completed, so your father and I let him rest at the post station first and report to the court today. After the morning court, he came to Yi'an Palace to ask for well-being, but you didn't catch up."
"I haven't seen my second brother for many years. It's bitterly cold in the borderland. I wonder if he is doing well."
Thinking of the border, Jiang Xue's brows showed a hint of loneliness.
"Yu'er's personality is like a wild horse that has broken free from its reins. If I had known this, I would not have agreed to your father letting him go to the border for training."
The queen shook her head helplessly, "In the past three years, there have been very few letters from home. He used to love you the most, but once he became a rabbit out of the cage, he even forgot about you."
"My brother has always been so free and unrestrained."
"This unrestrained and free-spirited person can be a chivalrous knight, a wild scholar, or anyone, except a member of the royal family."
The queen's brow was filled with sorrow.
"I gave birth to the three of you. Your eldest brother and you were both good children who were humble, respectful, and abided by the palace rules. But now your eldest brother——"
The blood in Jiang Xue's chest stagnated.
That year, there was heavy snow in Beijing for half a month, and it seemed to have buried everything deep in the soil.
The eldest brother died of illness, the second brother went to the border, and she——
Since then, he has been silent all day.
From then on, she vowed to uphold the royal dignity, be a good princess of Ji Chao, and never act arbitrarily in anything.
Both mother and daughter were plunged into sorrow.
"Your Majesty has arrived—"
"The Second Prince has arrived—"
The loud announcement from the palace servant outside the door woke Jiang Xue up.
Jiang Xue stood up, leaned forward and half-embraced the queen, saying:
"Don't worry, mother. Let's go with Xue'er to greet our father and brother first."
The queen wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiled and let her stand up, and the two of them went to the palace gate to greet them.
Soon, a majestic, bright yellow figure appeared in Jiang Xue's sight.
The emperor was over fifty, but he was well-maintained. He had a tall and strong figure, distinct facial features, and an air of majesty without even getting angry.
The man accompanying him was tall and slender, wearing a dark purple court robe. He had taken off his court hat and wore a black iron hair crown on his head. It was the Second Prince Jiang Yu.
Jiang Xue bowed and saluted:
"Your son greets the emperor, father, and greets the second brother."
"Your Majesty, I have seen you."
"Congfang, Xueer, get up quickly."
The emperor stepped forward quickly and lifted up the two men's arms.
"Your son greets the Queen Mother. May your Majesty be well." Jiang Yu bowed.
"Good boy, get up quickly," the Queen said, "Your Majesty, Yu'er and Xue'er, it's windy here, let's go in first."
A group of people walked into the hall.
Jiang Xue quietly looked at Jiang Yu. His skin color was much darker and rougher than three years ago. His facial features were more chiseled, but his eyes were much calmer, no longer as unruly and playful as before.
Jiang Yu also looked at her with a complicated expression.
At the banquet, the empress kept picking up food for her two children. The emperor asked Jiang Xue about her husband's family situation several times, but Jiang Xue just said that everything was fine and didn't say much.
"Originally, we wanted to keep the prince consort to have dinner, but the Shangshutai had important matters to attend to, so we asked him to go and handle the official business first." The emperor smiled and said, "Does Xue'er blame your father?"
"Although the Prince Consort is my son's husband, he is first and foremost my father's subject. State affairs come first in everything. How dare Xue'er blame you?"
Jiang Xue smiled, "Father, if you are worried that I will be bored, can you please order my second brother to accompany me in the afternoon?"
The Queen saw this and felt that Jiang Yu had changed his usual temperament and became unusually calm.
From the time he arrived at Yi'an Palace until now, he had only briefly greeted Jiang Xue.
In the past, the brother and sister would always quarrel when they met.
The Queen felt melancholy and only hoped that she could take advantage of Jiang Yu's return to the capital to allow them to spend more time together so that the relationship between the brother and sister could be as close as before.
"Your Majesty, after dinner I will serve you a nap. Yu'er hasn't been back for a few years, and Xue'er will rarely come to the palace in the future, so let the brother and sister go and reminisce about the past." The Queen said.
The emperor agreed: "Yu'er, you have already presented the border military affairs in the morning court. Don't rush back to the Ministry of War in the afternoon. Spend some time with your sister."
Jiang Yu nodded in agreement.
After dinner, the brother and sister left Yi'an Palace.
Jiang Xue looked at Jiang Yu for a long time without saying anything, and said, "Brother Emperor, please come to my palace and have a seat."
Jiang Xue was born in Yi'an Palace and lived in Xiaoxiang Pavilion to the east of Yi'an Palace before she came of age. After she came of age, the emperor bestowed her the title of Princess Changle and built Changle Palace for her to live in.
From now on, the years will be long and joyful, and old age will return.
The emperor and empress hoped that she would be as happy as a child every year, but how could a person never grow up?
"Let's go." Jiang Yu said.
"Why did you get married without saying anything?"
The two walked side by side on the palace road. Jiang Yu turned his head to look at her and asked.
"My brother hasn't contacted me in the past few years, so I just wanted to say something..."
Jiang Xue stuck out her tongue and said, "I'm afraid there's no way."
Jiang Yu looked at her coquettish and naughty expression, raised his hand and rubbed her head helplessly.
"You've grown up. You didn't even discuss such a big thing with me."
"I thought my royal brother didn't want to care about me anymore." Jiang Xue's tone was a little lonely.
"How did he treat you?"
Jiang Xue was silent, then suddenly stopped and pointed at a flower on the palace path.
"Look at that flower, my royal brother. It's blooming so beautifully. I think this is what flower growers hope for the most."
"I am from the royal family. My father, the emperor, and my mother, the empress, have loved me since I was a child. Just like this flower, I have been pampered and brought up."
"As a woman, I cannot serve the country, nor can I help with government affairs. I am just like this flower, forever planted in this soil, with no other advantages except being beautiful for people to admire."
"So, I just want to do the only thing that this flower can do. Let my father and mother know that I am growing well, with enough sunlight and water."
She walked closer and gently stroked the pistil with her fingers.
"My parents think that marrying a good husband is the most important thing for me, so that's what I'm going to do."
"As for what kind of son-in-law he is - if he treats me well, we will treat each other with respect and dignity for the rest of our lives."
"If he treats me badly, I have the power to check and balance it. In any case, I will not bring shame to the royal parents or cause them worry."
"Doesn't he treat you well?" Jiang Yu asked anxiously.
"I thought that my royal brother would be calm and experienced after spending several years at the border." Jiang Xue burst out laughing.
"But I didn't expect that I'm still an impatient person who can't be hidden."
"I'm not kidding you. How does he treat you?"
"Brother, I actually prefer you like this. Every time you become more silent and more steady, I feel guilty."
Jiang Xue avoided the question.
Jiang Yu was stunned for a moment, "Xue'er, you shouldn't be the one feeling guilty."
"Why shouldn't it be me?" Jiang Xue's eyes were filled with tears. "If it wasn't for me, my eldest brother wouldn't have died."
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