novelraw Chapter 667: She Is My Sister, After All!
Chapter 667: She Is My Sister, After All!
"Your Highness, news from Liangjing has arrived."
Yang Shiqi lifted the curtain and entered; Li Qingmu was standing by the window, gazing into the distance.
He wasn’t looking towards Liangjing, but rather towards Shengjing City!
There was the person he missed most, there was his kin and elders, when would he be able to return?
It’s been a year. Closing his eyes, the prosperity and beauty of Shengjing City have not faded, but rather intensified.
Someone spoke behind him, and he slowly turned around, saying indifferently, "Is it about the Little Emperor?"
Yang Shiqi replied, "Yes, it’s said His Majesty the Emperor is gravely ill and has been recuperating in the palace, not attending court for over a month."
"Recuperating?" Li Qingmu laughed softly again, "Wouldn’t it be more truthful to say he’s been placed under house arrest?"
Yang Shiqi remained silent.
"Fortunately, that Little Emperor is still smart. Though he’s lost his freedom, at least he’s kept his life."
"Your Highness, what should we do next?"
"What to do? It’s simple, naturally, to accept the worship and praise of the people. Mother surely will have arranged everything for me."
Li Qingmu spoke with a soft chuckle, as Rong Si wholeheartedly sought to elevate him, so she could better govern the country. In that case, why not fulfill her wish?
Li Qingmu urgently needed power; without it, he couldn’t take a single step, but with even a small degree of power, he could turn Daliang upside down!
"We will reach Liangjing tomorrow, get a good rest tonight!"
"Yes, I take my leave."
Once Yang Shiqi left, Li Qingmu continued gazing in the direction of Shengjing City.
Early the next morning, the army returned to the Capital City.
At the city gates, a sea of people crowded the paths, welcoming them.
Li Qingmu rode a black horse, accompanied by two personal attendants, proceeding slowly, while exclamations came from young girls nearby, voices of admiration.
Li Qingmu paid no attention, his expression cold as he advanced.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhi would occasionally turn to greet some ladies, appearing very warm-hearted.
Among other generals, some were indifferent, others shy, and some boldly exchanged glances with young women. Comparatively, the customs in Liang Country were more open and bold.
The army marched grandly into the city, stretching far as the eye could see, though few paid attention to the soldiers at the rear, only their families would greet them briefly, most attention centered on Li Qingmu.
This Eldest Young Master of Daliang was a mystery, suddenly emerging without any warning, stirring a considerable amount of public discourse, but it remained a royal affair, merely a topic of conversation over tea and meals, forgotten thereafter.
Until last year, this Eldest Young Master declared he would lead the troops in expedition.
Many were astonished by his words, confused as to whether there was truly no one capable in the Daliang Court, that they had to resort to a young lad to command the troops?
Quite a few commoners were actually dissatisfied with the court’s decision, yet the people’s thoughts could hardly sway the court’s agenda. Li Qingmu led the troops in expedition nonetheless.
But then, victory messages after victory messages made the citizens of Liangjing see this Eldest Young Master in a new light.
Indeed, it was astonishing, so young, barely in his twenties, yet capable of commanding an army, and consecutively breaching barriers, capturing the Five Northern Counties of the enemy country in one fell swoop!
Such outstanding achievements at his young age were truly matchless, no one before or since could compare, thereby raising the reputation of the Eldest Young Master of Daliang to a terrifying height.
Then, amidst this, news of the Emperor languishing on his sickbed spread.
A nation’s Emperor being gravely ill is an undeniable gloom for a country, yet this gloom dissipated with Li Qingmu’s arrival.
The state of the Emperor wasn’t their concern; as long as the people’s lives were well-off, everything was well.
The army slowly departed, leaving the cheering populace behind.
In a small alley, a few young ladies were whispering among themselves.
"Miss Wei, your family has an Imperial Concubine. Did she gather any news about this Eldest Young Master within the palace?"
A girl in a purple dress spoke sweetly, looking at the girl in an ochre yellow dress before her, her eyes filled with flattery and servility.
Because this girl’s father is Duke Wei, holding a hereditary title, while one of her uncles held a significant position in the military, contributing to the expedition.
Her background was the most prestigious amongst these girls, naturally attracting attention and sycophancy.
The girl in an ochre yellow dress raised her head a bit haughtily, "Hmph, of course, I know. Reportedly, the Eldest Young Master is extremely handsome, both scholarly and martial, an outstanding gentleman in the world!"
As she spoke, her eyes filled with admiration.
Someone whispered nearby, "But I’ve heard his temper isn’t good? Previously he even killed quite a number of palace maids in the palace."
"What do you know? That’s because those maids were foolish, trying to seduce the Eldest Young Master! Hmph, they should have looked at themselves in the mirror first, with their looks and backgrounds, daring to pine for such a lofty man? They deserved to be killed!"
Miss Wei rebuked lightly, seemingly displeased with the girl’s words.
"Also, you may not know, this time, the Eldest Young Master returns victorious; surely, he will be granted a title, and soon a concubine may be chosen for him..."
She paused here, glanced at the ladies again, her eyes akin to looking at country bumpkins, "I shall head back first! Enjoy yourselves!"
She turned and left, leaving behind several young ladies with differing expressions.
These ladies were no fools, Miss Wei’s few sentences instantly revealed some hidden information, and they each found excuses to leave.
Miss Wei sat in a sumptuous carriage, attended by her maid Tao Yao and wet nurse Xing Gu.
"Dai’er, have some pastries!"
Wet nurse Xing Gu handed her an exquisite pineapple cake.
Wei Yundai took her embroidery, carefully accepted the pineapple cake, and began eating it with small bites.
"Oh, my Dai’er truly lives up to being a lady of nobility, even eating so gracefully, unlike those from modest families who lack any manners!"
Xing Gu looked at Wei Yundai with satisfaction and pride, yet as she spoke, her tone turned disdainful and contemptuous.
Beside her, Tao Yao quickly chimed in, "Isn’t that true? Miss is a legitimate noble lady, incomparable to those rural girls. They’re like frogs, forever stuck in foul swamps!"
"Ahem, Tao Yao, how can you speak that way? At the very least, she is my sister."
Wei Yundai lightly coughed, glancing at Tao Yao with a bit of grievance, yet her eyes were full of self-satisfaction and superiority.
"Miss, I’m speaking the truth, though, she and her mother are shameless, taking advantage of the mistress’s illness back then to worm their way in and giving birth to that vile spawn! The master loves the mistress, naturally drove them away, yet the old lady insisted on not letting the Wei bloodline wander outside, demanding their return. Tell me, isn’t that disgusting? To even bathe in sunlight alongside that baseborn feels like disgrace..."
Tao Yao grumbled incessantly, seeing Xing Gu and Miss remain silent, she quickly shut her mouth.
"Alright, matters of the elders are not for us younger ones to comment on, let’s go!"
Wei Yundai said blandly, seemingly unconcerned, yet in her eyes, a flash of viciousness appeared!