Chapter 342 Heroes Should Be Remembered
Liu Qinghe stepped out of the carriage and looked at Liu Que, who was riding on horseback, with a somewhat somber expression.
“Brother, once you step through this city gate, you will no longer be Liu Que, and I will no longer be Liu Qinghe.”
Liu Que's gaze also turned serious.
Their identities destined them to never have peace after stepping through that door.
At the palace gate, palace servants from the East Palace were waiting with their ceremonial guard.
"Welcome, Your Highnesses."
Liu Qinghe was helped off the carriage.
Looking at the palace servants who were bowing, he said, "Rise. Are you returning to the East Palace?"
The palace attendant who came to greet them immediately said, "Your Highness, it is time to enter the palace. His Majesty and the Empress are already waiting for the two young princes."
Liu Qinghe's eyes flickered, and he turned to look at Liu Que, "Brother, let's go."
Liu Que nodded, and the two turned to look at Liu Wushi, who had seen them off all the way.
Liu Qinghe called softly, "Mother, let's go back."
The two knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Liu Wushi.
Liu Wu burst into tears; this was probably the last time her two children would call her "mother."
The Liu family's men immediately returned via the same route.
The brother and sister boarded the imperial carriage to enter the palace.
The Empress and the Emperor waited in the Jiaofang Palace.
The two were also somewhat emotional, as they were overwhelmed with grief when their grandchildren passed away.
Upon learning that the two people were not dead, the two elderly people were filled with mixed emotions of joy and relief at having them back.
The brother and sister were led into the Jiaofang Palace.
The Empress looked at the two of them, and her eyes immediately reddened.
"Can'er! Piao'er!"
Upon hearing the Empress's voice, the brother and sister disregarded etiquette and rushed to her side.
"Royal Grandmother!"
The Empress held the brother and sister tightly, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
The emperor, seeing the three people weeping uncontrollably, couldn't help but have tears well up in his eyes as well.
It took the Empress a while to help the two siblings up.
"Let your grandmother take a good look at you. Have you suffered any hardships while you were away all these years?"
Xiao Piao shook her head, "Piao'er and her brother did not suffer, but they missed their grandmother and grandfather very much."
Xiao Can wiped away his tears, stood up, and respectfully addressed the two of them:
"Grandson Xiao Can has been unable to fulfill his filial duties to his grandparents for many years, causing them great sorrow. I beg your punishment, Grandparents!"
The emperor waved his hand, "The affairs of the adults are none of your business. Now that you are back, visit your grandmother in the palace more often."
The brother and sister stood up. "Yes!"
The Empress ordered the imperial kitchen to serve the meal, and it had just been placed on the table when the Crown Prince arrived.
The prince said with great emotion, "Our family can finally have a reunion dinner."
The brother and sister stood up when they saw the crown prince and said, "Father!"
The crown prince patted their heads, "It's good that you're back."
After everyone was seated, the Crown Prince looked at the dishes on the table. They were all sent from the Imperial Kitchen, and there were no dishes from the Small Kitchen. He smiled and said, "Why didn't Mother make the usual bok choy?"
The Empress smiled and said, "Jinzhi is not in the palace either."
She served food to the two siblings.
The prince's smile faded slightly.
Whenever Qin Jinzhi ate in the palace, the Empress would personally prepare dishes for her at every meal.
The bok choy that she often cooked was Qin Jinzhi's favorite dish.
But are even her own grandchildren not as good as Qin Jinzhi?
Xiao Piao's eyes lit up. "Grandmother, why isn't Sister Jinzhi in the palace today? Doesn't she know I'm back?"
The Empress smiled and said, "Your elder sister is not in the capital. She just led troops to attack Fengchi Kingdom and will be back in the capital soon."
Xiao Piao's face lit up with admiration. "Really! Sister Jinzhi is such a hero!"
Xiao Can smiled and echoed, glancing casually at his father.
Xiao Chengqian's expression remained unchanged, but the smile in his eyes diminished considerably.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was strangely harmonious.
The grandparents never asked a single question about where the two siblings had been, how they had lived, or what had happened back then.
It's as if asking about it would shatter the illusion of harmony.
The crown prince was eating, but he was thinking about what the empress had just said.
The two have tacitly agreed that Qin Jinzhi can now lead troops.
Neither of them ever intended to take back military power.
Qin Jinzhi brought down several of the most prestigious families in the capital.
The newly established aristocratic family has intricate connections with Qin Jinzhi.
Now everyone knows that the Qin family supports him.
He never imagined that the most powerful person in the Jin state today would be the spoiled brat who grew up right under his nose.
The imperial court formed its own faction and held considerable military power.
But if Qin Jinzhi were to turn around and support the other princes, wouldn't he, as the crown prince, become a joke?
The Emperor and Empress Dowager are so biased towards Qin Jinzhi.
Looking at the Crown Prince's expression, the Emperor's joy at the reunion of grandfather and grandson was somewhat diminished.
He turned to look at Xiao Piao, "Piao'er, do you still remember when you were little, you and Can'er always followed behind Jinzhi. You always cried, and Jinzhi would always comfort you with a little dog made of willow branches."
Xiao Piao said very embarrassedly, "Grandfather, please don't make fun of me. Father always thought that it was Sister Jinzhi who liked those little trinkets, but actually I wanted them all."
Upon hearing the emperor's words, the empress gave him a meaningful look.
His expression, however, was somewhat pleased.
The prince was taken aback, remembering the straw-woven puppy he had made for Qin Jinzhi before.
Qin Jinzhi has never said this all these years.
His voice was a little hoarse, "It's only because Jinzhi is willing to spoil you."
Xiao Piao put down his chopsticks, turned to the Empress and said, "I will definitely give Sister Jinzhi a surprise when she returns to the capital."
The Empress smiled and said, "Alright, let's give her a surprise."
The emperor held his chopsticks above the steamed pork, then hesitated and pulled them back.
Seeing this, Xiao Can picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and placed it on the plate in front of the emperor.
The emperor smiled and said, "If Jinzhi sees this, she'll throw a tantrum again."
The Empress put the meat into her own bowl and ate it. "The imperial physician forbids your grandfather from eating meat. The amount of meat he eats must be rationed. He can't eat any more today."
The emperor looked at the empress and said, "When Jinzhi returns, I will definitely tell her that I did not steal any food."
Xiao Piao covered her mouth and chuckled, "Only Sister Jinzhi has a way."
The Crown Prince served food to the Emperor, saying, "When Jinzhi returns to the capital, we must hold a grand celebration banquet for her. Jinzhi won a great victory in her first time leading troops. Congratulations!"
The emperor laughed heartily, "Of course! We'll hold a grand celebration then, so the whole world can see just how amazing my granddaughter is!"
The Crown Prince smiled and said, "Perfect timing! We can announce the return of Piao'er and Can'er at Jinzhi's victory celebration banquet. It'll be a double celebration."
The Emperor and Empress did not respond after hearing this, but Xiao Piao spoke up instead:
"no!"
All eyes turned to her.
Xiao Piao looked at the Emperor and Empress.
"Grandfather, Grandmother, if it's to celebrate Sister Jinzhi's victory, why should we show up and steal her thunder?"
This was clearly her moment of glory!
She was a heroine of the Jin state and should be remembered by the people!
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