Su Yi said with a proud look, "Does Third Brother usually think so highly of me?"
Su Yuntian smiled slightly and said, "This is my cousin, Shen Qianqian. She has lived in the palace since she was a child. It's normal that you haven't seen her before, since you rarely attend palace banquets."
Instead of discussing Shen Qianqian based on Su Yuntian's words, Su Yi suddenly spoke up.
"Back then, I was so captivated by the beautiful scenery of Xuan Yue Kingdom that I couldn't make it back for your wedding. Please forgive me, Third Brother! Oh, by the way, I haven't met my sister-in-law yet. Today is a rare occasion, so please allow me to pay my respects to her."
Su Yuntian's expression did not change much when he heard Su Yi's words.
"Unfortunately, she hasn't been at home these days. She went to the estate to escape the summer heat two months ago and hasn't returned yet."
Su Yi laughed as he listened, "Oh~ My sister-in-law really knows how to enjoy herself. She left Third Brother and Cousin Qianqian at the Prince's Mansion while she went off to have a good time."
At this moment, Su Yi's guard Ling Feng stepped forward and reported: "Your Highness, the carriage has been repaired."
Su Yi opened his folding fan and laughed heartily.
"I had intended to stay at my third brother's residence for dinner before leaving, but unfortunately I have urgent business to attend to, so I must leave now. I will pay a formal visit another day."
Su Yuntian looked at Xiao Yi and nodded.
Su Yi then turned around and glanced at Shen Qianqian, saying, "Beauty, until we meet again." After saying that, he led Ling Feng out of Yun Jing Garden, while Shen Qianqian blushed deeply at the mention of the word "beauty."
Outside the gates of the Prince Yun's mansion, Ling Feng followed Su Yi into the carriage.
Ling Feng said, "Master, I just heard from the servants of the Yun Prince's Mansion that the Yun Princess ordered someone to push Shen Qianqian into the river. The Yun Prince was furious and sent the Yun Princess to Hanshan Village."
Su Yi lay half-reclined in the carriage, his brows slightly furrowed as he fiddled with the folding fan in his hand.
"That woman doesn't seem like the type to kill someone out of jealousy. Even if she did, it shouldn't be easy for anyone to find fault with her so quickly. Could it be that she loves Su Yuntian too much and has lost her sense of propriety?"
Ling Feng said, "I've also discovered something interesting these past few days. The Mu family and the Yun Prince's Mansion are both secretly searching for Princess Yun around Hanshan Village. The Yun Prince's Mansion is obviously trying to keep the disappearance of Princess Yun a secret from the Mu family, but the Mu family already knows that Princess Yun is missing and has even sent people to search for her alongside the people behind the Yun Prince's Mansion."
Su Yi took a cup of tea from the tea table on the carriage and said, "This is interesting. Marquis Mu Wei has made such great military achievements this time. The old man in the palace has already issued an imperial edict to allow the Mu family army to return to the capital to be enfeoffed. They should arrive in the capital in a few days. Now let's see how Su Yuntian finds that woman. Heh~."
Ling Feng also said with great interest, "I heard from people in Consort De's palace that Consort De is planning to make Shen Qianqian Su Yuntian's concubine. She wanted to do this last year, but Princess Yun suddenly disappeared and they haven't been able to find her to return to the mansion. However, Consort De has already had people make preparations in the palace. Now it seems that even if Princess Yun doesn't come back, Shen Qianqian will still become Su Yuntian's concubine this year."
Su Yi chuckled as he fiddled with the teacup on the coffee table, “It’s been a long time since anything this interesting has happened in the capital. Let’s go check out Yixianglou.”
Inside the dining hall of the Prince Yun's mansion, Su Yuntian and Shen Qianqian were having dinner. Shen Qianqian used chopsticks to pick up some refreshing side dishes and sliced roasted pigeon meat, rolled them up in tofu skin, and placed them in Su Yuntian's bowl and plate.
"Cousin, try this. I think it's quite good."
Su Yuntian nodded and asked, "Did you go to Huguo Temple to pray for blessings with your mother today? How is she?"
Shen Qianqian smiled broadly: "My aunt is in good health, but she misses you terribly. She wanted to ask when you will come to the palace to keep her company."
Su Yuntian also put a piece of spiced mandarin fish into Shen Qianqian's bowl: "I'm usually quite busy, so I'll trouble you to spend more time with my mother. I'll go to the palace to visit her in a few days when I have a day off."
As they were talking, a guard came in to report: "Your Highness, after leaving the palace, Prince Yi went to Yixiang Pavilion. I heard that a courtesan from the Western Regions has come to Yixiang Pavilion tonight. The starting bid is 500 taels of silver, and Prince Yi is also participating in the auction."
Su Yuntian said calmly, "Is this the important matter he mentioned? Alright, I understand. You don't need to follow any further. Go on."
Shen Qianqian asked in surprise, "Cousin, how could Prince Yi openly go to such a place? Isn't he afraid of being punished by the Emperor?"
Su Yuntian sneered: "Heh~ Who told him to have such a good mother and such a good maternal family! Father still misses his deceased mother all these years. No matter how many wrong things he has done, he doesn't blame him much. But it's good that he's become a hopeless case. Otherwise, any effort from others would be in vain."
Shen Qianqian nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
On the new day, the streets of the capital were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the people eagerly awaited the triumphant return of Marquis Mu Wei and his soldiers to the capital.
The two strongest nations on this vast land of China were the Eastern Yue Kingdom and the Northern Qi Kingdom.
The Mu family army, led by Marquis Mu Wei, fought against the Beiqi Kingdom for three years. In the end, the Beiqi Kingdom was defeated and signed a letter of defeat. The Mu family army was like a god in the hearts of the people of Dongyue Kingdom.
The imperial court issued an edict that all soldiers who had fought for many years and made great contributions in this battle could return to the capital to receive imperial rewards.
This time, Marquis Muwei personally led his troops back to the capital, and the emperor and all members of the royal family led the officials to welcome them outside the city gate. Even King Yi, who rarely appeared on ordinary days, came out to greet them.
The imperial court suspended court for three days and granted a special pardon to some prisoners in the capital to show that the people of Jin and Tian were celebrating together.
Marquis Mu led his troops along the newly cleaned and decorated streets of the capital, where cheering citizens lined the streets.
Mu Weihou was filled with emotion, silently thinking, "Ah Jin's father has come back to find you."
In the court of Dongyue, Marquis Muwei led his generals to kneel in the main hall and loudly proclaimed "Long live the King of Dongyue!"
King Xiao Mu of Dongyue smiled and said, "My beloved ministers, please rise."
Upon hearing the order to be raised, the generals and soldiers rose to express their gratitude to the King of Dongyue.
The King of Dongyue bestowed titles upon all the generals and soldiers below the court, and Mu Yan was also granted the title of General Xuanwei, a fourth-rank official.
Mu Yan was only 25 years old. He was the first person in the history of Dongyue Kingdom to become a fourth-rank military officer at that age.
When it was Mu Weihou's turn, the King of Dongyue asked him, "Minister Mu, you are already a first-rank general. Is there anything you want? Tell me, and I will grant it to you."
Marquis Muwei walked to the center of the hall and said, “Your Majesty, serving the country is the duty of every citizen of Dongyue. It is what we should do. We do not want any reward. We are already very grateful that Your Majesty has allowed us to return to the capital to reunite with our families. We dare not ask for anything more.”
The King of Dongyue laughed loudly, "Your righteousness is admirable! I will reward you with one hundred taels of gold, five thousand taels of silver, and one hundred bolts of silk as a reward."
Marquis Mu Wei immediately knelt down to express his gratitude.
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