Leng Ruo Li arranged for Mei Ji, then changed into a pale violet, cinched-waist, wide-sleeved gown. Her face covered by a thin veil, her robes fluttering, she emerged from the alley. She found the street bustling, with people excitedly rushing towards the city gates.
Leng Ruo Li thought something exciting had happened, so she stopped a woman and asked, "Aunty, has something happened in the city? Why is everyone running towards the city gates?"
The aunty, with smiling eyes, said, "Young lady, don't you know? Our Tian Wu's Guardian General, General Leng Jin Yu, has returned to the capital from his campaign!"
"Isn't the Guardian General Leng Jin Yu the original host's father? Steward Qi only told her yesterday that her father would return in a few days, but how did he get back to the capital so quickly today?"
Leng Ruo Li thanked the woman and headed towards the city gates.
At this moment, both sides of the city gates were already packed with a dense crowd of onlookers.
Those who couldn't get to the front stood on tiptoe, craning their necks towards the city gates.
The windows of the buildings on both sides were also filled with people.
Leng Ruo Li exerted all her strength to squeeze to the front. She saw that at the city gates, Jun Mo Han sat atop a white precious horse, his face calm as he gazed outside the gates. A gentle breeze brushed past him, making the hem of his robes flutter.
Beside Jun Mo Han was Jun Mo Yao, riding a black horse. Because everyone's gaze was focused on Jun Mo Han, Jun Mo Yao's expression looked rather awkward. Behind them, over a dozen court officials waited for Leng Jin Yu's return to the capital.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a vast procession from outside the city gates, riding warhorses, galloped towards the city gates. The middle-aged man at the forefront was the original host's father, Leng Jin Yu.
Upon seeing Leng Jin Yu's figure, Leng Ruo Li felt a tightness in her chest. The residual emotions of the original host surfaced again.
Seeing who had arrived, Jun Mo Han and Jun Mo Yao dismounted and went to greet them. Leng Jin Yu, along with several deputy generals, also dismounted their warhorses.
"Your subject pays his respects to His Highness Prince Leng, His Highness Prince Qing!" Leng Jin Yu, clad in golden armor, along with the generals behind him, prepared to bow.
Jun Mo Han quickly held Leng Jin Yu steady, his face filled with respect, "General Leng, there is no need for such formality. You have had a long and arduous journey; you have worked hard."
Jun Mo Yao also stood beside them, laughing obsequiously, "Yes, General Leng, you are a great contributor to our Tian Wu Kingdom. You have worked hard, you have worked hard."
"Your Highness Prince Qing, a great contributor, your subject dares not accept such praise," Leng Jin Yu replied humbly. He straightened up and did not bow further, but his deputy generals still performed the kneeling and kowtowing rites of subjects to their sovereign.
Jun Mo Han glanced at the generals behind Leng Jin Yu and said, "This time, General Leng Jin Yu of our Tian Wu Kingdom, along with his generals, has pacified the northern frontier. Today, they return to the capital. The Emperor has ordered me and Prince Qing to personally welcome the generals and soldiers back to the capital. All deputy generals and soldiers need not be so formal. Tonight, the palace has prepared a banquet for all the generals. The Emperor will reward all generals and soldiers according to their merits."
The generals and soldiers rose, "Thank you to His Majesty, His Highness Prince Leng, and His Highness Prince Qing."
Afterward, Jun Mo Han and Jun Mo Yao swiftly remounted their horses. Leng Jin Yu, with a few deputy generals, also mounted their horses and followed closely behind the two princes into the palace to report.
"Daddy~"
At this moment, a clear voice rang out from the crowd. Leng Jin Yu found the voice very familiar and looked towards the crowd. After searching for a while, he finally found that small, slender figure amidst the throng.
Leng Jin Yu stopped his horse and stared intently at a girl wearing a pale violet, cinched-waist, long gown, her face covered by a veil. With a choked voice, he asked, "Ruo Li, is that you?"
Hearing the word "Ruo Li," Leng Ruo Li's eyes instantly reddened.
"Yes, Daddy, I am Ruo Li."
She looked at Leng Jin Yu's familiar face, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.
Leng Jin Yu was in his early forties, a dignified and handsome man with thick eyebrows and large eyes. He looked exactly like her foster father from her previous life, which truly shocked her.
Leng Jin Yu dismounted and walked towards Leng Ruo Li.
The surrounding onlookers finally came back to their senses, and whispers spread among them...
One gossipy woman remarked, "So this young lady is the eldest daughter of General Leng's mansion! No wonder she wears a veil when she goes out. If it were me, I wouldn't dare go out."
Another young woman chimed in, "Yes, I heard that the eldest daughter of General Leng's mansion, Leng Ruo Li, is extremely ugly. She has a large black birthmark on her face, making her look like a hideous demon."
A man added, "Alas, if I were a woman and looked like that, I would simply not want to live anymore."
However, someone spoke up indignantly for Leng Ruo Li, "You people have such wicked tongues! So what if she's ugly? Has she eaten your rice? Stop gossiping."
"..."
Both Leng Ruo Li and Leng Jin Yu heard the gossipy remarks from the surrounding crowd, but they chose to ignore them.
"Come, Ruo Li, let Daddy have a good look at you."
Leng Ruo Li also walked towards Leng Jin Yu.
Leng Jin Yu reached out and gently patted Leng Ruo Li's small head, looking at her earnestly. His heart ached; he hadn't seen his daughter in eight years, and she had grown so much. Her almond-shaped eyes were exactly like those of his deceased wife, beautiful, captivating, clear, and pure...
Leng Jin Yu recalled that Steward Qi had written multiple times about his precious daughter having a large black birthmark on her face, disfiguring her. This had caused him immense distress. Hearing the crowd speak ill of his daughter just now made him feel even worse, blaming himself for not taking better care of her.
He himself was over forty, and he understood how important a good-looking face was to a person. Moreover, his Ruo Li was a young girl in her teens. When she heard people speaking ill of her behind her back, she must have felt terribly hurt.
Leng Jin Yu wanted to see the black birthmark on his daughter's face, but it was a busy street with too many people. They would discuss it at home.
He intended to relinquish his military command this time and find a reliable husband for his daughter. Then, he would take her to seek renowned doctors across the land, determined to cure the black birthmark on her face.
"Ruo Li, come, let Daddy escort you back to the mansion first."
Leng Jin Yu took Leng Ruo Li's hand and led her to his warhorse. He helped her mount the horse, personally leading the horse for his daughter. This scene made the onlookers extremely envious.
Then, Leng Jin Yu said to Prince Leng and Prince Qing ahead, "Your Highnesses, please proceed to the palace first. Your subject will escort Ruo Li back to the mansion and will follow shortly."
Jun Mo Han cast a meaningful glance at Leng Ruo Li and replied, "Then I shall ride ahead to report to His Majesty, and then, in the palace, I will host a welcoming feast for General Leng."
Leng Jin Yu cupped his hands in gratitude towards Jun Mo Han, "Then I shall trouble Your Highness Prince Leng."
As soon as Leng Jin Yu finished speaking, the crowd erupted in chatter again.
"General Leng dotes on his daughter too much!"
"Who's saying he doesn't? I wish I had a father like General Leng! *sniffles*"
"Exactly, give me a dozen fathers like that!"
"..."
In fact, Leng Jin Yu's actions were against imperial orders. Generally, when generals returned to the capital, they were to see the Emperor first before returning home. Leng Jin Yu was violating regulations this time, but no one dared to criticize him, thanks to his military achievements.
And so, Leng Jin Yu, leading his daughter's warhorse, swaggered through the crowd, leaving the onlookers filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Along the way, "Ruo Li, Daddy is back this time. Shall I arrange the wedding date with Prince Qing for you?" Leng Jin Yu asked tentatively.
"Daddy, Ruo Li doesn't want to marry Prince Qing. Please help me cancel the engagement with Prince Qing."
Leng Jin Yu was somewhat surprised by Leng Ruo Li's words.
"Ruo Li, haven't you liked Prince Qing since you were little?" Leng Jin Yu asked, full of confusion.
"Daddy, Prince Qing is not suitable for me, so Ruo Li begs Daddy to help me cancel the engagement with Prince Qing," Leng Ruo Li pleaded.
"Alright, alright, my Ruo Li has finally grown up. Daddy also doesn't think highly of Prince Qing as your husband. After Daddy helps you cancel the engagement, Daddy will find you a good husband,"
Leng Jin Yu readily agreed to Leng Ruo Li's request because he had always been unimpressed by Prince Qing's character. Furthermore, Steward Qi had written in his letters that Prince Qing seemed to have some unsavory private relationship with his second daughter, Leng Ruo Shuang. He certainly could not let his Ruo Li marry such a scumbag.
As for the second daughter, it didn't matter to him who she married, as long as she was given enough dowry to save face. He guessed that Liu Ruo Yi and her daughter would like him to do so.
Leng Ruo Li also did not expect Leng Jin Yu to agree so readily to her request to cancel the engagement with Prince Qing.