He was not entirely sure of the purpose, though.
At this moment, Ye Ying reported on matters in the palace to Jun Mohan.
“Your Highness, the Emperor unexpectedly lifted the Empress’s confinement a while ago. However, informants within the palace have reported that on the night before the Emperor released the Empress, he visited Fengqi Palace. He did not stay long before horrifying screams from the Empress echoed from Fengqi Palace. After the Emperor emerged, the Empress had lost an eye and had one leg crippled. Her sleeping chambers were stained with blood, and the entire Fengqi Palace was enveloped in a bloody stench. The Empress is now in a most pitiable state,” Ye Ying said with indignation.
They did not find the Empress’s fate surprising, as her many transgressions had crossed the Emperor’s boundaries, and he harbored deep resentment.
“This matter does not involve us, so we need not concern ourselves with it.”
Jun Mohan’s voice was deep and firm, possessing a naturally aloof magnetic quality. He seemed unconcerned with the matter Ye Ying had reported.
“Yes, your subordinate understands,” Ye Ying said respectfully, cupping his fists in a salute.
“However, Your Highness, your subordinate has one more matter to report. Last night, Consort Leng of Qing King’s estate gave birth…”
Ye Ying was interrupted mid-sentence by Jun Mohan.
“Ye Ying, I have already heard rumors of this matter on the streets. There is no need for you to report it to me,” Jun Mohan said indifferently.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
—
The Palace.
Upon hearing of the return of the Cold King and his consort to the capital, the Emperor immediately put down his memorials and, with Eunuch Li, hurried towards Changshou Palace.
Simultaneously, the Empress Dowager, upon learning of the Cold King and his consort’s safe return, was overjoyed. These two had been away for five months, causing her, their imperial grandmother, considerable worry. She resolved to scold the young couple soundly when they came to pay their respects.
As she mused,
Her son, the Emperor, entered.
“Mother, Han’er and Li’er have returned. I wish to visit the Cold King’s estate to see them. Will you accompany me?”
“Yes, yes, your mother has not seen them in five months and misses them dearly. I will certainly go.”
“Then your son shall accompany you. I have already instructed Old Li to arrange for a carriage to be prepared at the palace gate,” the Emperor said with a smile.
Subsequently, the Emperor quietly left the palace with the Empress Dowager, boarded a carriage, and headed straight for the Cold King’s estate.
138 Read Net
—
General Leng’s Residence.
Leng Jinyu was practicing his sword in the courtyard when Steward Qi suddenly rushed in.
“General, General, the eldest daughter has returned!” Steward Qi said with a smile.
“Li’er is back? She wrote to me five days ago saying she was still in Haojing. She’s returned to the capital today? This is quite unbelievable. Haojing in Beichen is over a month’s journey from Tianwu’s capital! Did Li’er and the others fly back?” Leng Jinyu muttered to himself, full of doubt.
However, he was naturally delighted that his Li’er had returned.
Leng Jinyu, without even changing his sweat-soaked practice clothes, rushed towards the main gate, eager to see his daughter.
—
Xia Mansion.
Grand Tutor Xia and Old Madam Xia were discussing Leng Ruo Li.
“Alas, old man, why haven’t my Li’er and the Cold King returned to the capital after being away for nearly five months? Could something have happened to them?” Old Madam Xia sighed mournfully.
“Wife, rest assured. Our granddaughter is not only intelligent and quick-witted but also highly capable. Nothing will happen to her. Besides, isn’t the Cold King with her? You’ve heard of the Cold King’s character. He is not only accomplished in both literary and martial arts but also resourceful. With Li’er by his side, we have nothing to worry about,” Grand Tutor Xia patiently comforted Old Madam Xia.
Although he, as her maternal grandfather, was also worried about his precious granddaughter’s situation abroad, it was important to think positively, wasn’t it?
As they were talking, Madam An, Leng Ruo Li’s maternal aunt, and her maternal uncle, Xia Shanyi, rushed into the inner living room.
“Father, Mother, Li’er and the Cold King have returned to the capital today,” Xia Shanyi said ecstatically.
“What? Li’er is back? Did I hear correctly?” Grand Tutor Xia thought he had misheard.
“Father, you did not mishear. The Cold King himself sent someone to notify us,” Madam An confirmed.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s hurry to the Cold King’s estate!”
Grand Tutor Xia, who had just been reassuring Old Madam Xia, was now more excited than anyone upon hearing of his precious granddaughter’s return and was most eager to see Leng Ruo Li.
“Let’s go, let’s go! Yi’er, quickly have the steward prepare a carriage. We must go to the Cold King’s estate,” Old Madam Xia also urged impatiently.
Not long after, Grand Tutor Xia and Old Madam Xia, leading a retinue from the Xia mansion, majestically headed towards the Cold King’s estate.
—
Cold King’s Estate.
Leng Ruo Li had just finished bathing and put on a pale blue, wide-sleeved, belted cloud-gauze dress. She then called for Xing’er and Ling’er to help her style her hair into an elegant bun. She adorned her hair with a crystal beaded flower hairpin she had bought in Nan Zhao’s Jade Town, exuding a cool and elegant demeanor.
As Leng Ruo Li finished dressing, a maid announced the arrival of the Emperor and Empress Dowager at the Cold King’s estate, and that the King wished for her to come out and greet them.
Originally, Leng Ruo Li had planned to bathe, change into clean clothes, and then accompany Jun Mohan to the palace to pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor and Empress Dowager had rushed to the Cold King’s estate.
As a result, by the time Leng Ruo Li arrived at the main living room from Hanchen Garden, not only the Emperor and Empress Dowager had arrived, but also her father Leng Jinyu and the Xia family.
“Li’er pays respects to Father Emperor and Imperial Grandmother. I wish Father Emperor and Imperial Grandmother everlasting fortune and health!” Leng Ruo Li respectfully greeted the two.
“Li’er, come here quickly so Imperial Grandmother and your maternal grandmother can see you.” The Empress Dowager and Old Madam Xia were beaming with joy upon seeing Leng Ruo Li.
As for the Emperor, Grand Tutor Xia, and Leng Jinyu, after Leng Ruo Li’s arrival, the women had crowded around her, asking all sorts of questions. The men, unable to converse with Leng Ruo Li, had turned to engage Jun Mohan in conversation.
They inquired if the wolf poison had been resolved, and what difficulties and interesting events they had encountered on their journey to find medicinal herbs.
The men bombarded Jun Mohan with several questions, leaving him unsure which to answer first.
“Father Emperor, Maternal Grandfather, Father-in-law, Li’er has already dissolved the wolf poison from me. Li’er and I encountered many difficulties on our journey to find medicinal herbs, but we resolved them one by one,” Jun Mohan said slowly.
“Then how did you escape from Flame Mountain last time? I heard that after the volcanic eruption, the scorching lava flowed down the mountain, killing many climbers. How did you and Li’er survive the disaster on the mountain peak?” the Emperor asked with great curiosity.
“Father Emperor, your son and Li’er had a fortuitous encounter, but I cannot disclose what that fortuitous encounter was,” Jun Mohan said mysteriously.
Although the Emperor, Grand Tutor Xia, and Leng Jinyu were eager to know about the fortuitous encounter of the Cold King and his consort, since Jun Mohan was unwilling to reveal it, they did not press further.