The Tang Clan members chatted casually with the guards, familiar from their frequent cross-border dealings in escort and weapon businesses. Despite the guard’s suspicions about Yuan Xiao, he lifted the carriage curtain and let us pass.
An Jin’s arrangement to have the Tang Clan assist was clever. Although nothing went wrong, I still scolded Yuan Xiao and Xiao Huang, who hung their heads in submission.
The carriage successfully left the Qi Kingdom and entered South Rui territory. Our first stop was Lan City, where my biological mother, the Proclamation Emperor, had died during childbirth, and where I was born.
Lan City was small, with a somewhat damaged signboard at the city gate, but a solemn guard was stationed beneath it. The leading man was tall with handsome features. Xiao Huang flapped its wings and landed on his shoulder, excitedly shouting, “General! General!”
My younger sister rolled her eyes. “Him again?”
General Shen dismounted and calmly bowed to me.
“I was entrusted by His Majesty to meet your family here. He also has a message he specifically asked me to convey.” He paused, his expression softening. “Welcome home.”
My heart warmed. Despite my lingering caution about the South Rui journey, these words touched me.
Author’s Note: An An went to Xiliang. Soon, his news will arrive… Cough cough, being a husband is really not easy.
Chapter Fifty-Seven: South Rui’s Wind and Clouds
South Rui retrieved Princess Zhao Hua, celebrated for three days in Feng Zhu City, and issued a general pardon.
“I truly regrets, truly,” Emperor Hong held my hand, his eyes misty, his face sorrowful. “If I had tried to prevent your mother empress’s marriage, she would not have married your father consort; if she had not done so, she would not have been neglected in the inner palace and had her political power seized; if your father consort had not seized political power, he would not have had the opportunity to rebel; if he had not rebelled, your mother empress would not have fled…”
I had heard this heartfelt speech eighteen times already. Emperor Hong always began our daily conversations with this. Initially, I felt deeply sad, but now, whenever I hear “I truly regrets,” I unconsciously drift off.
