When Lu Kai returned to report to him that the Prince of Zhenbei had brought back Huang Ranhu's head, Yuwen Xuanhong was genuinely happy. The Prince of Zhenbei, Huo Xiaolong, was a born general.
He killed a fierce general who terrified the surrounding countries of Da'an.
The emperor had originally intended to open the palace gates wide and let Huo Xiaolong ride in on horseback, but after standing on the Forbidden City wall and watching the Princess bow to her, he changed his mind.
Lu Kai had been with Yuwen Xuanhong for a long time, and the steward could tell what Lu Kai was thinking and what he was planning.
The emperor can always act according to his own will, but not today.
"Your Majesty, it's time to open the palace gates," Lu Kai said, approaching the emperor.
Yuwen Xuanhong placed his hand on the city wall and asked impatiently.
"What? You also think I should open the palace gates and welcome her in?"
The head eunuch knew the man was angry, so he changed his approach and said...
"Your Majesty, the Prince of Zhenbei has brought back Huang Ranhu's head as a tribute to you."
Yuwen Xuanhong knew in his heart that Huo Xiaolong had made a great contribution, so great that he didn't know how to reward her.
When the emperor heard that a young girl had conquered the grasslands, he only thought she was a brave and skilled female general who knew how to use people and govern the land.
That grassland area is inhabited by barbarians; they will be grateful to you if you do them even a small favor.
Later, I learned that Huo Xiaolong was Xiao Lanyi's sister-in-law. Needless to say, with so many martial arts practitioners and fierce generals in her family, it was well-deserved that she was able to conquer the grasslands.
Let's bestow upon her the title of a king of a different surname. She's just a woman; what's wrong with elevating her status?
But now, she has returned to Beijing with Huang Ranhu's head, and her intentions are not friendly.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Huo Xiaolong and his men bowed to Yuwen Xuanhong.
"My dear subject, please rise."
The girl sensed that the man sitting on the dragon throne was a little unhappy. "I'm out there fighting hard, and you come back with such a long face?"
May I ask you this?
Why are you unhappy, you bastard?
"Is His Majesty unhappy?" Long'er asked directly.
"Why does the Prince of Zhenbei say such a thing?"
"Why aren't you laughing? You don't even laugh when Huang Ranhu's head is right in front of you. Then tell me, what can make you laugh? I'll give you Da'an, or I'll put the imperial seal in front of you, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Xuanhong could no longer laugh. "I am the emperor, are you forcing me to laugh?"
But even if Huo Xiaolong were to tear down the roof of his palace today, he couldn't lose his temper.
"Your Highness, you jest. Speak, what reward do you desire this time? As long as it is within my power, I will grant it to you." Yuwen Xuan Hong forced a smile.
Huo Xiaolong nodded, grinning broadly. "Isn't this wonderful? Festive, isn't it?" Then the girl spoke:
"Not at the moment, but could you leave this request open? I'd like to ask for it again later, is that alright?"
"OK."
Huo Xiaolong rarely used honorifics when speaking to him, but Yuwen Xuanhong was used to it. No matter how uncomfortable he felt, he was happy just looking at Huang Ranhu's head. It was time to write a letter to the King of Da'an.
Da'an has owed me so much money over the years, and I must pay it back today!
Even though the Empress Dowager was deep within the palace, she still received letters from the palace maids.
Huang Ranhu is dead.
The old woman with gray hair was breathing tremblingly. The grassland king and the northern king were standing together, even going to war together. She would never help her.
Now, even the Duke of Da'an is dead.
She refused to accept it!
I disagree!
The Empress Dowager swept the things on the table to the ground. She reached out her hand, and a palace maid of about the same age as her immediately helped her up.
"Go and summon the Emperor! Summon the Emperor! She dared to burn my imperial edict! Does she not respect the Yuwen family at all?!"
The woman's voice was hoarse and frantic; her aunt beside her tried to comfort her, speaking softly.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. We must not disturb His Majesty now."
"Even if Huo Xiaolong has done something these past few days, His Majesty would not punish her. Why should you get yourself upset over this?"
The Empress Dowager's hands were trembling; she was old and had some Parkinson's symptoms. She pointed shakily to the door and said to the head palace maid...
"So she just burned my imperial edict and that's it?"
It was just a coincidence that Xiao Lanhua was happy to hear that her brother and sister-in-law had returned, so she wandered over to the Empress Dowager's place. The arrogant and domineering Consort in the palace had long disliked this old empress. Last time, she even killed He Yi's elder sister and framed her. If it weren't for Qingman's presence, she would have succeeded.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager didn't even want to see who was at the door; she only heard the woman's voice laughing as she spoke.
"The Prince of Zhenbei dared to burn not only imperial edicts, but also the imperial decree bestowing marriage upon her. Your Majesty, have you forgotten?"
"That's true. As you get older, your memory isn't what it used to be, and you always end up doing things like arranging marriages, which inevitably annoys the younger generation."
"In terms of seniority, you are the great-grandmother of the Prince of Zhenbei, so please be more tolerant of the younger generation."
Xiao Lanhua: There's nothing I wouldn't dare to do in this palace. I'd beg the Emperor to throw me into the Cold Palace and kill me. You'll see if my brother and sister-in-law don't get to you then.
"You bitch!"
Xiao Lanhua had already gone far away, but those who practice martial arts have good hearing and could still hear the Empress Dowager scolding them from afar, followed by the sounds of things being smashed and broken.
"Hahahaha, living is a waste of food, it's better to be dead."
The Imperial Concubine laughed wildly, and the two head maids following behind her also suppressed their laughter.
At the main gate of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, there were two children who had just been sent back today, carrying bundles on their backs. They were Liu Buhui and Xiao Siman. Xiao An'an was already inside the mansion.
The two children each held a stone lion and stared longingly at the palace gate.
"I think you two deserve a beating! How many times have I told you not to ride the lions at the gate? Don't you know that's a matter of Aunt Huo's dignity?!"
Mando rushed out with a feather duster, as did Miao Cuifang. Surprisingly, neither of their family members went out to break up the fight.
While in the military camp, he received messages from the Mo family and the Miao village. These two kids were completely out of control at home, almost like Huo Xiaolong playing with saltpeter.
"Sister, Sister, Master Miao, don't hit it! It's nothing, just a lion. Why are you hitting the child?"
Huo Xiaolong quickly dismounted from the horse. These two kids thought they could finally get some affection from their parents after not seeing them for so long, but instead they were going to get a beating. So now they could go back to their grandparents' house, at least they wouldn't get beaten.
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