On the return journey, as the army was carrying a lot of baggage and spoils of war, its march was not very fast.
It took over a month on the road before finally seeing the city gates of Dingyang Pass at the end of February.
Lifting the curtain of the carriage, and seeing this city, now even more majestic than before, Mingyang Princess could not help but feel tears well up in her eyes, full of complex emotions.
Fifteen years ago, she had walked out of this very gate, heading for Tubo.
When she looked back at this place, she had thought she would never be able to return to her homeland again. She did not expect that fifteen years later, she would have a day to return here.
After resting for a day at Dingyang Pass, Jing Yan led five thousand horses and carts of spoils to enter the capital.
The rest of the army remained here temporarily, awaiting redeployment by the imperial court.
After another month, finally, in the blossoming spring, Mingyang Princess returned to the capital she had been separated from for fifteen years. It was now the eighth day of the fourth month.
The Emperor and Empress led the civil and military officials to welcome her outside the city gates, both to greet the triumphant return of the army, and to welcome back their daughter who had been separated for fifteen years.
At the sight of Emperor Xia Jing, Mingyang Princess could no longer hold back, tears streaming down her face as she wailed loudly. The grievances pent up over fifteen years erupted all at once in this moment.
Emperor Xia Jing hugged his daughter whom he had not seen for years, also unable to stop his eyes from reddening.
In his lifetime, he only had 5 children, and this eldest daughter was the one he had wronged the most.
He looked at Mingyang Princess carefully, and saw that the once beautiful and radiant daughter, who was like a flower, now had a careworn face.
Choking with sobs, he repeatedly apologized, “It was Father who wronged you, it was Father who wronged you!”
Hearing this, the ministers could not help shedding tears as well.
Mingyang Princess cried for a while in Emperor Xia Jing’s arms, then paid her respects to Empress Qin, “Mother.”
Empress Qin helped her up, holding Mingyang Princess’s gaunt face, unable to stop the tears flowing, murmuring, “As long as you have returned, as long as you have returned. I didn’t expect that we mother and daughter would see each other again while still alive.”
Although Mingyang was not her biological daughter, she had raised her for several years at her knee.
She was beautiful and had an amiable disposition. She treated Empress Qin with utmost respect and filial piety, like she was her birth mother.
Among the few princesses, this was the only one she truly cared about from her heart.
Back then, when Tubo came to propose a marriage alliance, and the Emperor wanted to marry Mingyang to Tubo, she had strongly opposed it at that time.
But at that time, Mingyang was the only adult princess in the Great Xia dynasty. Even if they wanted to pick a girl from the imperial clan to confer the title of princess, no one could be found.
With no other choice, they could only marry Mingyang Princess off in the end.
The day before Mingyang's departure, Empress Qin held her and was extremely reluctant to part, shedding silent tears.
On the contrary, Mingyang comforted her, “I was born as the noble Crown Princess, receiving the worship of all the people under heaven. Since I have enjoyed this glory, now Great Xia needs me, so Mingyang should take on this responsibility and obligation. Mother need not be sad.”
Her past words were still vivid in Empress Qin’s ears. That flower-like maiden now looked even more careworn than herself as the mother. How could she not grieve?
“Mingyang, let’s not go anywhere anymore in the future, just stay in the capital. With Jing Yan and Father and Mother to support you, no one will dare mistreat you again.”
“Alright!”
After the tears, came the joy.
In this campaign against Tubo, the achievements of the generals could not be overlooked. At the early morning court session the next day, the Emperor rewarded the meritorious ministers of this western expedition, conferring them with high ranks and rewards. Everyone was overjoyed.
At the same time, in order to make amends for letting down his eldest daughter, Emperor Xia Jing not only rewarded Mingyang Princess with a large amount of money and treasures. He also bestowed upon her a “Mingyang Princess Residence”, and even allowed her to reside in the palace and keep him company.
That night, there was a celebratory banquet held in the palace, which was also a homecoming banquet for Mingyang Princess.
That night, Mingyang Princess drank too much and got heavily drunk. Jiang Yuqing sent her back to the Fragrant Flower Pavilion, and asked the palace maids to bring her medicine to sober her up.
He thought for a moment, took out a top-grade Beauty Preservation Pill and fed it to her as well. Then she fell asleep with a smile.
Before leaving her bedroom, Jiang Yuqing took another look at her. Hopefully she can put aside everything from the past and start a new life.
The Tubo rebel king used the princess to threaten Great Xia for grain but failed. Instead, Great Xia annihilated their country.
From the moment the princess sent her letter for help, to Tubo formally being incorporated into the territory of Great Xia, it was only a short 3 to 4 months.
This caused the surrounding smaller countries to tremble uncontrollably. They secretly unanimously decided to get along well with Great Xia, and must not provoke the authority of Great Xia.
Otherwise, the Xiongnu and Tubo would be lessons from history.
If they did not stir up trouble, Great Xia would naturally be happy to enjoy the peace and quiet.
No one liked war. War means some families would be destroyed. After a long time, even the wealthiest country would fight until utterly impoverished.
Great Xia would not engage in impoverishing the people to enrich the military.
In mid-May, invitation cards were widely distributed by the Duke of Jiang’s residence, announcing that on the 20th day of the fifth month, Jiang Yuqing, the Young Lady of the Dukedom for Protection of the State, would have a belated coming-of-age and hairpinning ceremony for her 15th birthday.
This was one of the most important events in a girl’s life.
The Jiang family had already started preparing a few months ago, just to hold a grand coming-of-age ceremony for their daughter.
Unfortunately, by the time she turned 15, the main guest had not yet returned, so the matter was delayed.
After she returned to the capital, either Jiang Wenyuan or Jiang Yuqing had so many matters to handle and did not have time for it.
Now, most of the big matters had been decided, and finally they could take a breather and hold a belated coming-of-age ceremony for her.
Thus, on the 20th day of the fifth month, Jiang Yuqing’s hairpinning ceremony, the main doors of the Jiang Ducal Residence were flung wide open, graced by the Emperor and Empress, with nobility filling the seats.
Ronghua Crown Princess personally hosted the event as the female lead for Jiang Yuqing, and she also had several daughters of prominent marquesses to assist her and as maids of honor.
This level of grandeur, apart from princesses, was the first ever held for a girl from a noble family since the founding of Great Xia.
The elaborate and complicated hairpinning ceremony required Jiang Yuqing to change several sets of clothes. The three-tiered hairpins were carefully prepared by the Jiang family, and some were prepared by Jing Yan as well.
For the final tier, Empress Qin personally took off the nine-tailed dangling pearl phoenix hairpin from her own head, and inserted it into Jiang Yuqing’s hair with her own hands, leading to gasps of surprise from those present.
This nine-tailed dangling pearl phoenix hairpin was personally crafted by the founding emperor of Great Xia for his empress.
Before the empress consort of Emperor Taizu passed away, she passed this hairpin down to her daughter-in-law. By the time it reached Empress Qin, it was the fourth generation.
Jiang Yuqing was the fifth woman to wear this phoenix hairpin. Although she was already a confirmed Crown Princess Consort, being so highly favored by the Emperor and Empress still made everyone rather envious.
Watching their daughter kneeling before them and receiving their teachings, Jiang Wenyuan’s couple felt moved, gratified, as well as the reluctance of their daughter having finally grown up, their hearts filled with complex emotions.
That formerly soft and gentle little daughter had unknowingly grown up now.
She had grown into an determined, brave, and peerlessly elegant maiden. Not only could she protect herself, but she could also protect her family, nation, and the world. She was worthy of this phoenix hairpin.
After the ceremony was complete, the Jiang residence held a banquet to entertain the guests.
After drinking one cup too many, Jing Yan took the chance when no one was paying attention to pull Jiang Yuqing back to the Clear Wave Pavilion, pressing her against the wall.
He lowered his head next to her ear and said, “When does Lady Qing plan to marry me?”
The slightly intoxicated moist and hot breath blew onto Jiang Yuqing’s ear and neck, making her involuntarily want to shy away.
She struggled twice without breaking free, so she resigned to letting him have his way.
“I’ve only just had my coming-of-age ceremony today. Let’s wait two more years, shall we! Besides, isn’t this proposal a little too hasty?”
Jing Yan felt a little aggrieved, but also rather helpless. “Can't it be sooner?”
Jiang Yuqing rolled her eyes. “That depends on your performance. If you perform well, then we might be able to pull it forward. If you don't perform well, it’ll be postponed indefinitely.”
“Alright, I’ll show Miss Qing my sincerity.”
Jiang Yuqing immediately recalled something and said, “Oh yes, don’t write any more love letters, okay? Too cheesy. If my father catches them again, how embarrassing!”
Jing Yan was rather troubled, “Then what should be done? I’m busy every day with many things, I can’t come find you every day, and you refuse to come into the palace to see me.”
Jiang Yuqing took out some stacks of talisman paper and gave them to him. “These are some unidirectional communication talismans I just researched. They can communicate with me after you inject spiritual power.
Each piece of talisman paper can only communicate once, for up to one hour. Think of me when you want to talk.”
Jing Yan immediately smiled. “Okay.” Then he carefully placed the talisman paper in his storage ring. “Who would have expected Lady Qing to have such nice things. I’m fortunate from now on.”
“Humph, as it should be!” Jiang Yuqing was extremely proud of herself.
Jing Yan looked at her for a long time, and finally couldn't help but pull her into his arms and gently kissed those red lips he had been longing for for a long time.
This sudden attack stunned Jiang Yuqing. Her grape-like big eyes stared round instantly, looking straight at him with a blank mind.
What was even more fatal was that, when she reacted, she did not push him away at the first moment. Instead, she stuck out her tongue and licked it.
It was warm and soft, with a hint of wine flavor, and it didn't seem bad?
This action completely snapped Jing Yan's last bit of reason. With one arm hugging her and the other hand holding the back of her head, he kissed fiercely...
In her previous life, Jiang Yuqing was single until the day she died, and Jing Yan was also a virgin. Neither of them had any experience, they just followed their instincts and messed around.
Fortunately, the kiss did not last long. Looking at the tooth marks on his lips that she accidentally bit out, to be honest, she still felt a little guilty.
The two looked at each other with flushed faces, neither said a word, but their hearts felt as sweet as honey.
Just then, the courtyard door slammed open.
Jiang Wenyuan, dragging a big stick, stood at the door with a black face and shouted, "What are you two doing?
Jing, you bastard, let go of my daughter. Don't think that I don't dare to beat you just because you are the prince."
Jiang Yuqing's face changed drastically. She immediately pushed Jing Yan away and said anxiously, "You can take the blame yourself, I can't deal with it."
With that, she hid in the room in three quick steps and slammed the door shut.
Slammed shut?
Jing Yan looked at the closed door, then looked at the momentum-filled future father-in-law. Well, they were both ancestors, he couldn't afford to offend either. He shook his head helplessly and had to reluctantly jump over the wall to leave.
A gentleman shouldn't stay under a dangerous wall, he didn't want to get beaten.
Only leaving Jiang Wenyuan jumping with anger in the yard, yelling that he would definitely ask someone to stick the sharpest broken porcelain pieces all over the yard walls tomorrow.
Damn boy, pissed him off.
Bai Xiaoshi was laughing wildly in the spiritual realm, almost breathless from laughing. While laughing, he rolled over with his four hooves in the air.
With his big mouth laughing, his teeth were showing. A deer laughed with human expression, which was also rare.
Jiang Yuqing was worried that he would laugh to death, so she went over "very kindly" and said, "Do you want me to prepare an oxygen tank for you? Rest assured, considering our many years of friendship, I will give you a 99% discount."
Bai Xiaoshi laughed loudly: "Ha ha ha, it's fine to get caught by dad while dating, ha ha ha ha. Kissing—ha ha—don't even know how. Others have passionate French kisses, romantic and beautiful. Did you two gnaw each other's mouths like pig's trotters? Hahaha..."
The master of the realm was completely furious: "Bai Xiaoshi, you're dead, you actually dared to peep. Do you know what privacy is? You have been single for thousands of years. If I don't beat you until you need an oxygen tank today, I will take your last name."
With that, she pounced on the spirit weapon...
So in the vast Lingjing of Furong, the cheap cry of a certain spirit weapon could be heard everywhere.
