Now that the Junior Mentor has returned, the drought near the capital will finally be relieved.
"I heard the Junior Mentor can now cover over a hundred miles with her rain-making powers!" said Huo Ying, the Minister of War, who rarely had a moment's rest since the war between Dayan and Nanyue broke out.
"Isn't that so? Prefect Shen of Jizhou reported one hundred and fifty miles," added Dong Qianli, the Minister of Revenue, who was most sensitive to numbers.
"I remember when she left the capital just over two months ago, it was only seventy or eighty miles." The Junior Mentor's growth rate had truly exceeded their expectations.
The Minister of Rites turned to Yu Chongshan and said, "I have yet to congratulate you, Senior Mr. Yu."
Yu Chongshan, who had been craning his neck toward the northeast, absentmindedly clasped his hands in return and said, "Congratulations to all, congratulations to all!"
And indeed, it was cause for celebration. There was nothing wrong with that sentiment—if his granddaughter's abilities grew stronger, the beneficiaries were the rulers and subjects of Dayan and all its people.
"Look!" Yu Zhongchun suddenly pointed at the rolling dark clouds on the horizon and asked Yu Chongshan, "Father, is that Fuguang approaching?"
Yu Chongshan nodded. "It must be Fuguang! Only our Fuguang, a true divine maiden, can be draped in clouds and rosy light, bringing wind and rain with her."
Suddenly, the thunderous sound of horse hooves rolled in from the distance.
Through the gaps in the trees, the crowd could not only hear the hoofbeats but also see a troop of iron cavalry bursting out from the forest.
At the front was a chestnut-red steed, its rider clad in black armor and holding a silver spear, his battle robe dusty yet still sitting ramrod straight. It was Shen Jian, the former Commander of the Forward Army.
"He's here!" Emperor Mingxi recognized his nephew Shen Jian and knew that Yue Fuguang's carriage would follow closely behind.
Without waiting for Eunuch Qian's assistance, the emperor quickly descended the steps, his imperial tassels swaying lightly. The forbidden troops on both sides of the road turned in unison, clanging their halberds to the ground, the sound shaking the wilderness.
In just moments, Yue Fuguang's luxurious carriage, drawn by five white horses, came into everyone's view.
Following the emperor, the civil and military officials also took the initiative to step forward.
The cavalry halted abruptly fifty paces from the rulers and subjects of Dayan.
Shen Jian dismounted swiftly. Without removing his armor, he unbuckled his sword, held it in both hands, and strode forward.
Kneeling on one knee ten paces from Emperor Mingxi, his iron armor clanged against the stone-paved ground. He declared loudly, "Your subject Shen Jian, obeying the imperial decree to protect the Junior Mentor, has successfully fulfilled the mission!"
Behind him, the hundred cavalrymen dismounted in unison, their armor clattering as they knelt in a row.
Shen Jian kept his head lowered, seeing only the hem of the emperor's black robe stop before him.
A hand landed on his shoulder, patting firmly through the layers of armor scales.
"Well done, young man!" the emperor's voice was low but clearly audible to all present.
"Is Fuguang well?" He raised his head, looking toward the carriage.
His gaze met Yue Fuguang's, who had just pulled back the carriage curtain and was preparing to step down.
Emperor Mingxi grinned at Yue Fuguang.
Yue Fuguang: After not seeing this old fellow for over two months, he's becoming less and less restrained.
Yue Fuguang smoothed her sleeves and slowly stepped down from the carriage.
The moment her figure appeared, a thunderous chorus of welcomes echoed through the Ten-Mile Pavilion.
"We welcome the Junior Mentor back to the capital!"
"We welcome the Junior Mentor back to the capital!"
"We welcome the Junior Mentor back to the capital!" ...
Emperor Mingxi hurried forward a few steps to greet Yue Fuguang. "Fuguang, the journey was arduous!"
"Your Majesty." Yue Fuguang clasped her hands in salute. Hard work it was truly hard work, and she would not be so insincere as to say otherwise.
The emperor carefully examined Yue Fuguang's complexion. Other than a bit of travel grime, she hadn't lost weight. His heart finally eased slightly.
Taking a small white jade bowl from the tray held by Eunuch Qian behind him, he said, "You must be thirsty. I had the imperial chef freshly brew some iced sour plum soup."
Yue Fuguang gazed at the amber-colored sour plum soup in the jade bowl and found it rather surreal.
She had anticipated that the emperor would lead the civil and military officials to greet her at the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside the capital.
But wasn't the proper greeting to offer wine? Why had it become sour plum soup, and in a bowl of all things?
She took the jade bowl, sipped it gently, and praised, "Chef Bao's skills have improved again."
Emperor Mingxi burst into laughter at her words. "Isn't that so? I told you you'd like it, but the Crown Prince didn't believe me!"
As he spoke, he cast a sidelong glance at Crown Prince Xie Zhiyan, who was a step behind.
"Zhiyan pays respects to my aunt. Your journey was arduous," Xie Zhiyan said, bowing to Yue Fuguang.
Yue Fuguang nodded to him. "Crown Prince."
A crown prince bowing to a "minister," and Yue Fuguang accepted it without hesitation, and no one else found it improper.
Even if some had found it improper in the past, having seen it so many times, they had long since been forced to accept it.
Besides, Yue Fuguang's latest exploits had brought immense merit to Dayan, and the empire still relied on her rain-making powers to relieve its woes.
After greeting the Crown Prince, Yue Fuguang spotted Qian Gui behind Emperor Mingxi and smiled at him. "Eunuch Qian, it's been a while."
Qian Gui, looking flattered, quickly bowed deeply. "This old servant pays respects to the Junior Mentor. You must be weary from the journey."
Yue Fuguang's gaze then fell on the princes and princesses behind Emperor Mingxi, with particular attention on the Fifth Prince, Xie Zhiquan, whom she eyed again and again.
Xie Zhiquan had been trying to hide among his brothers since Yue Fuguang stepped out of the carriage. But being tall, and with only a few fully grown princes, even hiding among the younger children couldn't conceal him.
When Yue Fuguang's gaze landed on him, he felt an overwhelming pressure like a mountain bearing down on him, as though a thousand pounds were crushing his shoulders.
Just as Xie Zhiquan's legs began to tremble and cold sweat soaked his back, Yue Fuguang let out a loud, deliberate snort and released the pressure.
Emperor Mingxi, standing nearby, secretly sighed in relief. If Fuguang truly decided to strike his son in anger, all he could do as his father was watch—could he take the punishment for him?
The emperor shook his head. He was still hoping to live a few more years; he dared not bear the brunt of Fuguang's wrath.
Fifth Prince was young; a few beatings wouldn't kill him!
Xie Zhiquan: You really are my dear father.
Emperor Mingxi: If you weren't my son for daring to covet Fuguang's sister, you'd have been dead eighty times over!
"Fuguang, you must be tired. Why don't we head back?" Emperor Mingxi cleared his throat lightly, changing the subject.
Yue Fuguang cast another side-glance at Xie Zhiquan and asked knowingly, "Your Majesty, is everything well at my home?"
Emperor Mingxi was taken aback by her question. Shouldn't she be asking Yu Chongshan about the Yu family's well-being?
Asking him—how would he know?
Ever since the incidents involving Sima Jing, the Murong family, the Prince of Qi, and the Prince of Ming, Emperor Mingxi had been wary of all high officials. The Yu residence was the one place where he dared not plant a single informant.
But when his gaze landed on Fifth Prince Xie, who was secretly wiping sweat, he immediately understood the implication. Fuguang was reminding him.
"Minister Yu, come here." Emperor Mingxi waved at Yu Chongshan. "Fuguang has just returned and is already worried about the family. Tell her what's going on to ease her mind."
Emperor Mingxi decisively kicked the ball to Yu Chongshan, otherwise he really wouldn't have known how to answer Yue Fuguang's question.