Chapter 484-1 Have Returned
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The area near the city gate was already crowded with people. Xiao Jin did not order the guards to disperse the crowd because he wanted them to see with their own eyes that Su Ying was still alive.
The Imperial Guards solemnly lined up into a human wall, segregating the onlookers from the street.
Su Ying sat on the phoenix carriage and gazed down at the people who had surprised, puzzled, or even resentful expressions. She slowly stood up from the phoenix carriage and swept her gaze across the faces of those people. She even pushed away the beaded veil covering her face. When the convoy reached the spot with the highest concentration of onlookers, she ordered the Imperial Guards to stop.
The sun hung high in the sky. It seemed to have absorbed all the rays of golden light to shine on Su Ying’s body, covering her entire body in a layer of golden light. The sight was so dazzling that one could not look directly at her.
I have returned.” Su Ying’s voice was clear and powerful. It was like a sharp sword that could slice through all the dross and each word stabbed right into everyone’s hearts.
In order to protect the people of our Chu State, as your Empress, I will not hesitate to sacrifice my life. However, the heavens have blessed me and allowed me to return alive. Therefore, those who have doubts in their hearts should put away such thoughts. If I can block the crack in the dam, I can also block those people who have ill intentions!”
Su Ying’s words were loud and clear, and they were a clear warning to those who doubted her.
“May the Empress live for thousands of years! May the Empress live for thousands of years!”
As if intimidated by Su Ying’s imposing manner, everyone knelt down and bowed to her instinctively.
Many officials in ordinary attire muttered in a low voice, “Such arrogance! It is definitely the Empress herself!”
“Could it really be the blessing of the gods? She didn’t die even after such a catastrophic incident…”
When Su Ying fell off the dam back then, hundreds of pairs of eyes had witnessed it. It was impossible to fake such an incident.
No one could explain how Su Ying had survived. What they must do now was accept reality!
The convoy continued to move forward. The scene of Su Ying’s return was deeply imprinted in the hearts of everyone present.
Xiao Jin rode his horse beside Su Ying’s carriage. He gazed upon Su Ying, who was enveloped in golden light, and felt that she deserved all of this. She deserved to be admired by tens of thousands of people and praised by the world.
When Su Ying returned to the cushioned seat and sat down, she had acquired a new fangirl.
“Your Imperial Highness, you are truly the most beautiful and most valiant woman your servant has ever seen.”
Su Ying picked up a fruit and bit into it with a loud crunch.
The dignified and resplendent image she portrayed just now was completely gone. She looked more like an arrogant, idle, and brash master now.
In a private dining room on the second floor of a teahouse, a figure looked at the phoenix carriage that moved past his eyes. That guy clicked his tongue as he shook his head. “This demonic woman has returned again. She truly lives up to the saying… a scourge lasts for a thousand years!”
With the Imperial Guards clearing the way, the journey back to the palace from the city gate was smooth and unimpeded.
After the people in the palace received the news, they all rushed out and waited outside the palace gate.
Aunt Zhao stood outside the palace gate with the two little ones. They were so anxious that they almost stomped a depression on the bricks under their impatient feet.
Ling gripped Ji’s hand and craned her neck out to see.
She knew that her mother would definitely come back. See? She was right!
“They’re coming, they’re coming! The Empress’s convoy is coming!”
Bai Shuang exclaimed excitedly. Everyone ran to the front anxiously, wishing fervently that they could move faster.
As the convoy neared the palace, Su Ying slowly sat up straight. She took out her binoculars and spotted Ji, Ling, and Aunt Zhao in the crowd.
When she saw the nervous and excited expressions on their faces, Su Ying’s heart also began to stir.
The convoy stopped outside the palace gate, and Aunt Zhao and the rest knelt down to pay their respects to Su Ying.
Su Ying couldn’t resist jumping down from the phoenix carriage to run over to Aunt Zhao and the rest.
“Ji, Ling! Aren’t you two going to jump into my arms quickly?”
Ji and Ling stared at Su Ying with wide open eyes. When they heard Su Ying’s voice, they could no longer control themselves any longer and broke free from Aunt Zhao’s grip. They then dashed toward Su Ying like tiny missiles.
“Mother!”
“Mother, Mother! You’re finally back!”
Su Ying gave both of them a big hug before picking them up. As she inhaled the unique toddlers’ fragrance on their bodies, her anxious heart calmed down. The longing that she had suppressed for so long also surged out.
“I miss you guys so much.” Su Ying’s nose felt a little stuffy, and the lump in her throat felt like it had been stuffed with cotton. She hugged the two children tightly and was unwilling to let go.
“Big Brother and I also miss Mother. Thank goodness… thank goodness Mother is back.”
“I just knew that Mother would definitely come back!” Ji exclaimed.
The two little fellows leaned against Su Ying’s body and were unwilling to come down.
After Su Ying calmed them down, she turned to look at Aunt Zhao and the rest.
They had all lost weight. Every single one of them had lost weight. Su Ying’s eyes almost teared up.
“Aunt Zhao…”
Aunt Zhao had been suppressing her emotions just now, but when she finally met Su Ying’s gaze, she couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.
“Your Imperial Highness… my beloved Empress!”
Only the sound of sobbing could be heard outside the palace gates. No one knew how much suffering these subordinates had gone through in the past few months, nor could anyone imagine how deep their friendship with Su Ying was.
Reason told them that Su Ying was most likely gone for good, but their emotions made them very unwilling to believe this fact.
“Your Imperial Highness, come into the palace first. Come into the palace first.” Aunt Zhao held onto Su Ying and refused to let go.
Su Ying turned around and glanced at Zhou Qing. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and follow me.”
Zhou Qing came back to her senses and murmured a reply. She was feeling envious of the outpouring of emotions from Aunt Zhao and the rest toward the Empress, but she also felt that it was only right. It was very difficult to get a master like the Empress in this world.
After Xiao Jin entered the palace with Su Ying and the rest, he quickly returned to his sleeping chamber from another direction and changed into his regular clothes.
Zhang Shuming expected Xiao Jin to return today, but he was still surprised when he saw Xiao Jin. His Majesty had actually gained weight after a trip.
When Zhang Shuming saw that Xiao Jin had regained his spirits, he also smiled. It was truly the blessing of the heavens. If the Empress was fine, the Emperor would be fine. The entire Chu State would be fine.
“Your Majesty, when do you plan to ‘wake up’?” Xiao Jin still claimed to be sick to the outside world.
“When the Empress comes to visit me, it’s time for me to ‘wake up’.”
“Yes, yes. Your old servant understands.”
Su Ying brought the children back to Conjugal Phoenix Palace.
The two children clung tightly to Su Ying’s body and refused to come down at all. Even when Su Ying sat down, they insisted on sitting on Su Ying’s lap.
“Mother, Mother, look at me. Look at me,” Ling clamored.
“Mother, have some snacks.”
“Mother, Ling wants a kiss.”
Su Ying was surrounded by blissful kisses, blissful feeding, and in general, enveloped by the bright glow of bliss.
She had completely forgotten that there was still a moody Emperor waiting for her to wake him up in the sleeping chamber.
Su Ying felt that whether it was Aunt Zhao or the two children, all of them had lost weight. They had really lost so much weight that their bones were beginning to show distinctly.
These people had not eaten properly during this period of time. Even Ji had dark circles under his eyes at such a young age.
Su Ying’s heart ached terribly!