Chapter 128: Meet in Person

Chapter 128

Imperial Palace, Zhaoxiang Hall, the palace where the Empress Dowager lives.

"I've always been very curious what this General Guangwei looks like. Today I finally have the honor to meet him," said the Crown Princess, who sat below the Empress Dowager on the left.

"Ever since I invited Palace Sister to the palace to attend the banquet last time, she has been out on errands and I haven't had a chance to see her again," Princess Ling Long complained.

"Oh? It seems like Ling Long really likes this General Guangwei," the Empress Dowager said curiously.

"I do like her! Palace Sister is straightforward, discerns right and wrong, immediately avenges any grudges, and most importantly, no one can beat her yet, and she's also very smart but not pretentious," explained Princess Ling Long.

"It's just that Brother Yu causes trouble all day long, never does proper work. I bet this time he definitely wanted to bully people again by relying on his status, but ran into Palace Sister who didn't buy into his tricks," she continued.

"Ling Long, Yu is your cousin after all. How can you slander your cousin while siding with an outsider?" Concubine Chen said.

"Aunt, I'm helping what's right, not my relatives," Ling Long replied.

"Alright, as royalty you should watch your manners!" the Empress Dowager said.

"Grandmother, I..."

Sitting next to Ling Long, the Crown Princess gently pulled Ling Long's sleeve and shook her head, stopping her from continuing.

Palace maid Xiaohua was led by the eunuch all the way to the door of Zhaoxiang Hall. Outside the hall, four palace maids and four eunuchs stood on each side.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, General Guangwei has arrived."

"Announce his arrival."

"Yes."

Gong Xiaohua walked into the hall. The interior of the hall was solemn and magnificent. Sitting in the central and highest position above was a dignified and elegant elderly woman. Clearly, sitting in this seat meant that she was the most noble woman in Ye Country. She was well maintained and looked to be in her forties or fifties.

On her left and right below sat two to three people, among whom only Ling Long was an acquaintance.

With steady poise, Xiaohua walked to the center of the hall and bowed to the woman above: "Your humble servant Gong Xiaohua pays respect to the Empress Dowager, may she live ten thousand years."

When Gong Xiaohua entered the great hall, everyone including the Empress Dowager looked at her curiously.

What they saw was a woman dressed in armor like a man, tall and upright. She stood there neither humble nor arrogant. Looking closely, one could see she had great beauty, slender eyebrows, and skin white as snow. But on such a face were a pair of deep eyes, appearing to be just over twenty years old. Yet she gave off an aura as mighty as a rainbow, heroic and unconstrained, as if she walked out of a painting, gallant and aloof, peerless in the world.

The people sitting were surprised that someone like her turned out to be the general who deterred the border at Xu Mountain. It was simply unbelievable. They also wondered how stunning she would look dressed as a woman.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

"Do you know why I have summoned you here?"

"I assume it is about the matter of the Heir Apparent."

"Then do you know, for royal family members and officials ranked six hundred bushels or higher who commit crimes, you are not allowed to privately administer punishment. They must be dealt with by His Majesty. Can General Palace explain this?"

"Empress Dowager, the nation has its laws, the military has its regulations. What the Heir Apparent has done has already disrupted military order. By entering the barracks, whether he is royalty or a commoner, violating military rules, I have only punished him according to regulations, not charged him with any crime by law."

"I'm not afraid of him. He's with Sister every day, what's wrong with letting me have a turn? We can invite more people then to boat on the lake, appreciate the moon, guess lantern riddles, it will definitely be fun." Ling Long was filled with anticipation at the thought.

Suddenly thinking of something, she happily turned to the Crown Princess, "Sister-in-law, you should come with the Crown Prince then too."

"There you go again trying to drag my Crown Prince brother out as your cover," the Crown Princess said, but she was also moved by the idea. It had been a long time since she went out of the palace to have fun with the Crown Prince.

The two looked at Gong Xiaohua expectantly.

"Whatever the Princess decides," Gong Xiaohua said.

"Wonderful!"

The three then headed towards the palace gate. Nearing the gate, they saw Qin Chuyuan standing with his back facing them ahead.

Hearing the sound behind him, he turned around and looked warmly at Gong Xiaohua.

"Palace Sister, Brother Chuyuan is waiting for you, we'll part ways here." Ling Long looked at them meaningfully and said.

"Alright."

Seeing Princess Ling Long and the Crown Princess off, Gong Xiaohua went up to Qin Chuyuan, "What are you doing here?"

"I was discussing state affairs with His Majesty and heard you were summoned by the Empress Dowager to the palace. So I thought to wait for you here. Did you run into any trouble? Do you need help?"

"A little trouble, but it's been resolved. Let's go."

"Alright."

At lunch time in the barracks of Xiyuan Army.

"I heard General Palace was summoned to the palace, wonder what urgent matter it was about?"

"You don't think the Heir Apparent Yu went to complain to the palace?"

"Very likely. Didn't you see his bunch of followers who are always around him also didn't come today?"

"I'd bet on it."

"Looks like the General will be transferred out this time?"

"What, are you reluctant to see her leave now?"

"Sigh, with her gone, we'll just muddle along meaninglessly again like before. After some time, you lose all motivation. It's strange, ever since she came, it's been harsh but I feel hopeful about the future, still have lots of energy left, inexplicably rejuvenated. Don't you think it's odd?"

"I am too, it's a pity to have offended Heir Apparent Yu, it seems like I'll have to leave here just like those other guys before me."

Just then, someone came running from outside: "General Gong is back!"

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Ha, this General Gong is impressive, even a noble like Heir Apparent Yu is helpless against him. It looks like from now on we in the Xiyuan Army can't keep calling ourselves the Theater Army anymore."