AMLFS Chapter 112

Chapter 113: Reunion

Seated in the carriage for several days, Song Huaixi looked somewhat weary. However, the thought of seeing Zhao Fangye soon made the joy in his heart irrepressible.

He kept lifting the carriage curtain from time to time, asking Sun Shu, who was riding ahead, “Deputy General Sun, how much longer until we arrive?”

Hearing the voice, Sun Shu reined in his horse and walked to the carriage, feeling somewhat helpless. This was the third time Song Huaixi had asked him this today. “Your Majesty, we will reach the capital early tomorrow morning.”

“Oh. Can we go faster?” Song Huaixi urged. “I want to see Zhao Fangye tonight.”

Sun Shu smiled wryly. “I’m afraid that won’t do. Your Majesty, you still have to enter the capital through the Daqing Gate early tomorrow morning. The imperial regalia has been prepared for a long time. Everyone is waiting for Her Majesty the Empress.”

It seemed impossible. Song Huaixi didn’t care about the regalia he mentioned. He simply wanted to see Zhao Fangye as quickly as possible.

Early the next morning, Song Huaixi was hustled and bustled about in the post house by Chun Hua and Zhao Lu.

He was dressed in a bright yellow phoenix robe, symbolizing the Empress’s noble status. The golden-thread embroidered phoenixes perched lifelike on the magnificent kesi fabric. On his head, he wore a nine-dragon, four-phoenix crown, each golden phoenix holding a round, dew-like Eastern pearl in its mouth. The jewels on the crown were dazzlingly bright.

“It’s so heavy…” Sitting in the palanquin heading to the Forbidden City, Song Huaixi held his head, feeling that his neck was about to be broken.

Chun Hua adjusted his accessories and clothing. “Your Majesty the Empress, please bear with it for a little while. It won’t be long.”

“This is just the entry ceremony, the pomp and circumstance are still small,” Zhao Lu said cheerfully as she busied herself, teasing, “When Your Majesty attends the enthronement ceremony in the future, the phoenix crown at that time will probably be much heavier than this one.”

“Ah… I have to wear an even heavier one?” Just thinking about it made Song Huaixi’s head ache.

“Your Majesty the Empress, the time is almost here. Please proceed to the palace gate.” The eunuch’s voice sounded beside the palanquin.

After checking and confirming everything was correct again, Chun Hua and Zhao Lu helped Song Huaixi slowly step out of the palanquin.

The clothes on his body were too gorgeous, and the phoenix crown on his head was too exquisite and elaborate. Song Huaixi only felt heavy all over, and every step was difficult.

After getting out of the palanquin, the entire Song family, dressed in court attire, waited on the side. Seeing Song Huaixi come down, they walked over to follow behind him.

Zhao Qiongwan winked at Song Huaixi, who was struggling to move forward. Song Huaixi smiled back at her.

Following the eunuch’s footsteps, Song Huaixi slowly walked towards the Daqing Gate with Chun Hua and Zhao Lu’s help.

The vermilion gate was wide open.

“The Phoenix Carriage returns to the capital!” With the eunuch’s long cry, Song Huaixi, dressed in splendid clothes, crossed the palace gate and walked slowly forward.

Due to the difference in status, Chun Hua and Zhao Lu lowered their heads and followed behind Song Huaixi with the rest of the Song family after crossing the palace gate.

Song Huaixi walked slowly, watching the surrounding expressions become tense. Palace maids and eunuchs knelt on both sides of the avenue.

Everyone shouted in unison, “Welcome Her Majesty the Empress back to the capital, long live Her Majesty the Empress, long live, long, long live!”

Song Huaixi’s heart thumped, the scene before him was too formal, making him feel pressured.

The further Song Huaixi walked under the eunuch’s guidance, the fewer people knelt on the ground, and of course, the higher their official ranks. Without exception, they all shouted the same slogan.

He didn’t dare to breathe loudly, looking straight ahead and walking cautiously. Finally, when he reached the steps of the Qian Qing Palace, he saw that bright yellow figure on the high platform.

The person on the high platform wore a golden crown, and a golden robe with winding dragons shone brightly in the sunlight.

Zhao Fangye’s eyes gazed tenderly at Song Huaixi walking towards him, his lips slightly curved. His light-colored eyes were filled with joy.

As soon as Song Huaixi saw him, all the tension in his body vanished.

Watching the excitement in his eyes as if it was about to overflow, he unconsciously quickened his pace. The jade pendants on his body and the pearl chains on the phoenix crown collided with each other as he moved, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

“Ahem, ahem…” Noticing his excitement, the ushering eunuch coughed softly, deliberately slowing down his pace.

Chun Hua and Zhao Lu behind him couldn’t help but remind him in a low voice, “Your Majesty… mind your manners…”

Everyone was watching, all the civil and military officials were watching. Losing decorum in front of the palace would be a laughingstock.

Under the supervision and reminders of everyone, Song Huaixi restrained himself from running up the steps, lifting his skirt.

His eyes were still fixed on Zhao Fangye, unable to get enough of looking at him.

Arriving in front of the steps, looking at Zhao Fangye so close, Song Huaixi wished he could take three steps at a time, but the Master of Ceremonies was in front, and he couldn’t rashly go forward, so he had to honestly follow behind, one step at a time.

The expression on his face fell into Zhao Fangye’s eyes, his stern face relaxed, and even his eyebrows carried a hint of a smile.

His Huaixi was as lovable as ever.

Stepping forward, Zhao Fangye reached out to his approaching lover. Almost instantly, his hands, calloused from years of battle, were softly grasped.

Song Huaixi’s round, bright eyes met Zhao Fangye’s. In this intertwined gaze, the longing and worry of separation finally received a response.

“Long live the Emperor! Long live, long, long live! Long live the Empress, long live, long, long live!”

Song Huaixi seemed not to hear the voices of the ministers, his eyes fixed on Zhao Fangye, as if he couldn’t get enough of looking at him.

“What are you looking at?”

After the ceremony, back in the palace, Zhao Fangye sat beside him, looking at Song Huaixi, who had been staring at him. The smile on his face deepened.

He had been staring all the way, Zhao Fangye felt like he was being stared through.

“Looking at you!” Song Huaixi said honestly, his big eyes fluttering.

After not seeing each other for several months, Zhao Fangye seemed to have a powerful aura that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. It added to his already sharp and handsome face a majesty that inspired awe without anger.

Song Huaixi didn’t understand, he just felt that he was even more handsome.

Zhao Fangye sat on the bed, reaching out to remove the phoenix crown from his head. Seeing a ring of red marks pressed on his forehead, he reached out and gently rubbed the skin with pity.

“Have you been tired these past few days of traveling, Huaixi?” Zhao Fangye asked softly with a gentle expression.

“Not tired! Not tired at all!”

His head lightened, Song Huaixi leaned into his arms and hugged his waist tightly. “Just thinking about seeing you, I wanted the carriage to run faster!”

Speaking of this, Song Huaixi’s tone was a little dissatisfied. “But Deputy General Sun said, the carriage can only run this fast! It can’t run any faster.”

Zhao Fangye chuckled, putting his arms around his waist and pulling him onto his lap. Song Huaixi was lifted up by his strong arms, and put his hands on his shoulders.

Zhao Fangye moved closer to his lips, his eyes burning. “I also wanted Huaixi’s carriage to run faster, so I could see Huaixi sooner.”

The two were close at hand, their breaths intertwined, the atmosphere ambiguous. Staring at Zhao Fangye’s beautifully shaped lips, Song Huaixi’s heart warmed.

Holding his neck, he lowered his head and kissed him on the lips, “No need to run faster! Huaixi has already come to see you!”