The next morning,
He Heng informed Ah Ming of the fact that the villagers mistakenly brought the Emperor to him, briefly explaining the interests involved. He immediately sailed to inform Xie Chong and others stationed in the south.
When the Great Wei warships docked at the shore, Xie Chong was the first to jump off the boat.
The moment he arrived at He Heng, his eyes sparkled as he rushed over.
He Heng felt that if Xie Chong were really a husky, he would be wagging his tail wildly right now.
As Xie Chong rushed over, He Heng slightly leaned to the side, avoiding being knocked over by the other party.
Xie Chong, who missed his target, was not discouraged. He turned around and hugged He Heng again, then forcefully patted his back. If someone’s body was not sturdy enough, a pat like this might have shattered their bones.
“Lord He! I just knew it!”
He Heng pushed him away, raising an eyebrow. “You knew what?”
Xie Chong: “I knew you have great luck and won’t run into trouble for sure!”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, He Heng and Wen Liangyu boarded the ship docked at the port.
As they left the island, they decided to open up a passage for communication with the outside world, so the people on the island would no longer be as isolated as before.
The sea was calm, with occasional seagulls flying overhead. The mild sea breeze gently brushed against their faces, creating ideal weather for setting sail.
However, despite the favorable weather, their boat was navigating the vast and undulating sea, causing it to sway violently.
Wen Liangyu had spent a restless night with He Heng, managing only an hour of sleep. He hadn’t rested well in the past few days, leaving him feeling somewhat lethargic.
Unable to sleep on the boat and fueled by the excitement of reuniting with He Heng the previous night, Wen Liangyu seemed unable to contain his words. Throughout the journey, he incessantly chattered, eagerly clinging to He Heng, who was trying to rest.
As a result, the moment they disembarked, the emperor was almost too exhausted to walk, and once he sat in the carriage bound for the post station, his eyelids were engaged in a fierce battle. Eventually, his head tilted, and he leaned against He Heng, succumbing to a nap.
Meanwhile, Liu Fuyuan anxiously waited outside the post station. Unable to witness the Emperor’s safe return with his own eyes, his heart remained restless.
Therefore, as soon as the carriage stopped at the station’s entrance, he hurriedly ran to its side.
In the fleeting moment when he lifted the carriage curtain, Liu Fuyuan saw the man inside carrying the still-drowsy Emperor out.
At the same time, He Heng didn’t forget to make a “shushing” gesture towards him.
The moment Liu Fuyuan saw He Heng, he was almost moved to tears. Lowering his voice, he said:
“Prince Jing, you’ve finally returned.”
If you hadn’t come back, His Majesty might have become an immortal by now.
During He Heng’s absence, Liu Fuyuan had been eagerly awaiting his return, looking forward to it day and night.
Now, within the entire palace, only the Regent had the ability to make the Emperor obedient.
Upon hearing this, He Heng chuckled and said in a teasing tone, “Oh, missed me, did you?”
“Missed…” Liu Fuyuan hesitated, then continued, “His Majesty missed you.”
Meanwhile, the Emperor, who was now sleeping in He Heng’s arms, even in his dreams, stubbornly held onto his collar and refused to let go.
Seemingly disturbed by the conversation, the Emperor furrowed his brows and murmured in his sleep, “Empress!”
Although no one knew why he randomly mentioned “Empress” without context, judging by his tone, one might think he believed his Empress had run away.
The next moment, the Emperor tugged at He Heng’s collar again and mumbled, “My Empress!”
Observing this, He Heng couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth. He carried the Emperor into the post station, soothing him like one would comfort a child.
“Oh, Empress, Empress,” He Heng whispered as they walked.
Hearing about the unexpected incident during this southern inspection, with the Emperor being kidnapped again, the court ministers were in a state of chaos. However, at that very moment, news suddenly arrived from the palace that Wen Liangyu had been safely found by the Imperial Guards. Not only that, but the Emperor had also decided to appoint a new empress. Rumor had it that the new empress was the person Wen Liangyu brought back from the mysterious island.
This development left the ministers with mixed feelings. On one hand, they were delighted that their Emperor had finally decided to take an empress, considering it a joyous occasion. However, simultaneous concerns arose as they feared the empress chosen by the Emperor might be an illiterate barbarian, given her background from the uncivilized island. She wasn’t a prestigious lady from a noble family or a renowned heir of a military household; she was someone from a primitive island.
After some contemplation, the ministers concluded that regardless of the empress’s appearance and conduct, as long as she could bear a child for the Emperor and ensure the continuity of the Great Wei, they could accept her.
Within the palace, everyone prepared to welcome the new empress with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
At the moment of the Emperor’s triumphant return, Bai Lishen, the former teacher of Wen Liangyu, and the current retiring Prime Minister, represented the civil officials. He went to Qianqing Palace to express their blessings for the Emperor’s decision to establish an empress.
Inside Qianqing Palace,
A soothing fragrance emanated from the incense burner on the nearby writing desk, creating a pleasant atmosphere in the room. It seemed that the Emperor’s mood had improved during this return, gradually bringing color to his face and brightening his countenance. Bai Lishen couldn’t help but feel joyful and elated for this positive change.
He assumed that the new empress must be dignified, virtuous, and understanding, traits that had won the Emperor’s favor.
Unlike the anxious ministers outside, Bai Lishen believed that appearances could be deceiving. Regardless of her modest background, since the Emperor had decided to make her the empress, she must have exceptional qualities.
Thinking about someone accompanying the Emperor for the rest of his life and the fact that the imperial harem finally had a mistress, Bai Lishen suddenly felt a significant reduction in his concerns. This also seemed to fulfill one of his last wishes before retiring to his hometown.
However, before fully embracing the positive news, Bai Lishen felt the need to inquire about the details concerning the new empress to ease his mind.
With that in mind, he immediately bowed to Wen Liangyu, expressing, “This old minister congratulates Your Majesty on finding a worthy partner.”
“Please rise quickly.” Wen Liangyu hurriedly assisted him, though a hint of undisguised happiness lingered on his lips.
Bai Lishen thought to himself,
‘This empress seems to be quite remarkable. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the Emperor so joyful.’
So, he promptly inquired,
“I have lived for many years, and there are no regrets in this world for me. Now, my only unfulfilled wish is to see Your Majesty and the empress live harmoniously. I’m just curious about the new empress. What kind of person is she?”
Upon hearing this, Wen Liangyu first looked surprised, then shyly lowered his head, pursed his thin lips, and stammered,
“The empress… she… she looks good.”
“Ah?” Bai Lishen was dumbfounded. He had initially intended to inquire about the empress’s personality and character, not expecting the Emperor to offer a simple “looks good”.
Observing the Emperor’s blushing ears and evasive expression, Bai Lishen couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Could it be that Your Majesty is solely captivated by her appearance?
As an empress, looks alone wouldn’t suffice. He pondered this in his heart.
Considering this, Bai Lishen continued his inquiry, “Your Majesty, besides her appearance, I believe there must be other qualities that attract you to this empress, such as her character and personality?”
“Hmm,” Wen Liangyu pondered for a moment and then earnestly stated, “Her personality is quite… lively.”
This time, Bai Lishen was left dumbfounded.
While being lively isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it somehow felt disconnected from the role of an empress.
Considering the Emperor’s resolute expression in accepting her, Bai Lishen felt he wouldn’t be able to extract more information through questioning. He decided he would have to meet the empress in person on the day of the wedding.
On the day of the wedding, the palace was unusually lively. Since the new emperor’s ascension, there had been frequent battles, external threats on the borders, and internal struggles for power. The palace had been constantly troubled by various issues.
Now, they finally encountered a moment of great joy. Although no one had seen the true face of the empress, everyone noticed the Emperor’s constant happiness and improved spirit. It was assumed that the empress must be a woman of dignity and understanding.
In Wei Dynasty, there was a tradition that the empress’s sedan chair would be carried through the main gates, passing through the Meridian Gate, the Noon Gate, and all the way to the harem, with the presence of her father or elder brother accompanying her.
However, He Heng’s father had long passed away in this world, and he had no brothers. This made the choice of a companion for the journey quite challenging.
After a brief discussion, Wen Liangyu decided to have Bai Lishen stand in for his father or brother to accompany the empress’s sedan chair throughout the procession.
Bai Lishen, as a three-time senior official in the Wei Dynasty court, held unparalleled prestige and influence. If he were to accompany the empress’s sedan chair, his presence would undoubtedly shield He Heng from any criticism or interference in the future. The empress’s position would be secure and unchallenged.
Additionally, as Wen Liangyu’s former teacher, Bai Lishen was someone He Heng respected. Wanting to personally meet the new empress, this arrangement allowed him to fulfill that desire.
Therefore, as the phoenix carriage came to a stop in front of the Meridian Gate, Bai Lishen, dressed in dignified court attire with a ceremonial headdress, respectfully approached the sedan chair.
The attendants, seeing him approach, promptly lifted the curtain for him.
The next moment,
Bai Lishen lowered his head respectfully, bowing towards the person inside the sedan chair. However, the instant he lifted his head, he nearly fainted on the spot.
Because he finally saw the empress’s face.
Inside the resplendent phoenix carriage,
He Heng was dressed in a vibrant red wedding gown, a style and decoration that had been intentionally refined, eliminating any unnecessary embellishments. The outfit, when worn by him, appeared dignified and elegant, with a hint of flamboyance.
At this moment, he casually sat with his legs spread open, exuding an extraordinarily carefree and unrestrained demeanor.
In the moment when Bai Lishen saw him, He Heng leaned forward and flashed a smile.
“Bai Lishen, it’s me.”
“What’s this? Surprised?”
The next moment, the attendants beside the sedan chair exclaimed,
“Lord Bai Lishen!”
Immediately, a few people rushed over to support Bai Lishen, who had nearly fainted at the sudden revelation.
In that moment, the only thought running through Bai Lishen’s mind was,
How could it be him?
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