Chapter 11

Preparations for the Emperor and Empress’s homecoming visit were extensive, but Chu Ji had issued orders during the imperial wedding preparations. From the wedding day until now, with the palace’s numerous staff and the idle officials from the Ministry of Rites, three days were more than sufficient for preparations.

After concluding state affairs and noticing the late hour, Chu Ji personally went to Kunning Palace to fetch his bride.  

His eyes lit up at the sight of Nie Long, and he praised, “My treasure, you look stunning today!”  

The woman had delicate features like a painting, skin as smooth as congealed cream, and wore an iridescent patterned cloud brocade palace dress. Though her figure was slender and delicate, she exuded the youthful charm of a maiden.  

At the man’s prompting, Nie Long placed her hand in his.  

Chu Ji led her directly toward the waiting dragon carriage.  

Noticing her slight hesitation, he asked softly, “Are you uncomfortable?”  

Nie Long bit her lip lightly and glanced at the empty space behind the imperial carriage—there was no separate palanquin prepared for her. “I…”  

Before she could finish, Chu Ji laughed heartily and, with a gentle tug, wrapped an arm around her waist to lift her onto the imperial carriage.  

“My treasure shall ride with me!”  

The nearby palace attendants bowed their heads, not daring to look.  

Nie Long had no choice but to relent as he guided her to one side with his arm around her waist. Even after sitting down, those shameless hands lingered on her waist, reluctant to let go—only withdrawing when she seemed on the verge of blushing in indignation.  

The route from the palace to Duke Nie’s Mansion had been cleared. Onlookers knew the Emperor was accompanying the Empress on her homecoming visit, and despite the Imperial Guards lining the streets, crowds of spectators had gathered.  

The grand spectacle of the imperial wedding three days prior—where the Emperor personally welcomed his bride amid ten miles of red dowry—was still fresh in everyone’s minds. Now, despite his busy schedule, the Emperor had made time to accompany the Empress home, bringing unparalleled glory to the Nie family.  

The gates of the Nie residence were wide open. Those in the household with official ranks had donned formal court attire, while those without, like the young Nie Hu, wore festive red new clothes, resembling a little fortune-bringing page boy.  

Nie Hu stood beside his elder brother, stretching his short neck eagerly, his little head bobbing around in anticipation until the slender, jade-like man pressed him back with a hand. “Behave.”  

The boy pouted, tugging at his elder brother’s robe and whining, “Elder Brother, you lied to me again! Didn’t you say Sister would come home today?”  

“Wait a little longer.”  

No sooner had he spoken than a eunuch arrived to announce the imminent arrival of the imperial procession.  

Nie Jue’s expression turned solemn, a glimmer of joy flashing in his eyes as he restrained the fidgeting child. “Your sister is here. Be well-behaved later—no rushing to hug her like before, understand?”  

Nie Hu’s eyes sparkled as he stared toward the crowd, barely registering his brother’s words before replying absentmindedly, “Got it… Elder Brother!”  

Under the expectant gazes of all, the golden imperial procession came to a halt. A tall man in a black robe descended from the imperial carriage—the Emperor in casual attire. His black robe bore the dragon-soaring hidden pattern, edged with golden thread, and even this simple outfit carried extraordinary dignity when worn by the Son of Heaven.  

A delicate, pale hand extended from the golden imperial carriage, resting in his as the black-robed man carefully helped her down.  

The two walked side by side—one tall and strong, the other petite and gentle—a perfect and harmonious pair.

Nie Long looked up at the plaque above the Nie family’s main gate, feeling a momentary daze. Although she knew from memory what the Nie residence looked like and was intimately familiar with every plant and tree within, strictly speaking, this was the first time Nie Long had seen the Nie estate and its inhabitants in their entirety with clear eyes.

After seeing it with her own eyes, that thin layer of separation seemed to instantly dissolve, replaced by a spontaneous warmth in her heart.

She quickly stepped forward to help Nie’s father and mother to their feet.

Madam Nie placed her hand on her daughter’s, looking her up and down. Seeing that her complexion was even better than when she’d been at home, a smile appeared in her eyes.

She gently patted Nie Long’s hand and winked at her. Nie Long smiled back, “Mother.”

Arm in arm, mother and daughter walked ahead on their own, while on the other side, Chu Ji was led toward the front courtyard by Nie Sheng and Nie Jue. Little Nie Hu bit his finger, hesitating for a moment before ultimately choosing to follow his sister instead.

Although as a young man he should have gone with his elder brother and father, having finally seen his sister again after so long, Nie Hu decided that today he wouldn’t be a young gentleman!

As soon as Chu Ji and the other two disappeared down the fork in the path, the little chubby boy cheered and threw himself at Nie Long, clinging tightly to her arm and shaking it. “Elder sister!”

“You’ve finally come home! Ah-Hu missed you so much!”

“Sister, sister… were you taken away by bad people…?” The boy hesitated, then pointed at Chu Ji’s tall retreating figure, looking up at her with round, clear eyes full of worry and distress. “That one… so scary!”

Nie Long glanced over just as the man turned his head. Their eyes met directly. Nie Long lowered her head and pinched his little nose helplessly yet fondly. “Your sister got married, she wasn’t kidnapped by bad people.”

Madam Nie was both amused and exasperated. Holding her daughter’s hand, she said, “This little one has been convinced you were kidnapped by villains. No matter how we explained, he wouldn’t listen. He missed you so much he stopped talking to your father and me, even his elder brother. Stubbornly claimed we were bad people too, in league with whoever took you away.”

“Look, hasn’t Ah-Hu gotten chubbier?”

Nie Long seriously examined the little fatty from head to toe. Indeed, he was much rounder than in her memories, plump like a little glutinous rice ball.

“Mother, I have to eat lots and lots, grow up fast and tall like big brother and father, then go snatch sister back…”

Madam Nie repeated her youngest son’s words to Nie Long, laughing so hard halfway through she nearly choked.

This time the little fatty knew shame. Clutching Nie Long’s sleeve, he hid behind her, too embarrassed to show his face.

He even cried out in bashful annoyance, “Mother! You’re bad! I don’t like you anymore!”

“Then Ah-Hu will like sister, okay?”

“Okay!”

“Ah-Hu likes sister best!”

…

Meanwhile, Chu Ji had been taken to the main hall of the front courtyard by his father-in-law and brother-in-law.

Nie Jue had always been composed. Even with the Emperor becoming his brother-in-law, his expression showed no change. Nie Sheng lacked his son’s calmness—the more amiable the Emperor acted, the more cautious he became.

Chu Ji sighed helplessly. After sitting down and taking a sip of tea, with little to discuss among three grown men, he changed the subject. “Any unusual movements recently?”

Nie Jue replied, “According to our scouts, there seems to be activity in Shanxi region. The Shanxi governor has been a figurehead for years. That area…”

Chu Ji picked up the thread after some thought, “Infiltration by Jiang Yue’s faction?”

“…Correct.”

The three of them chatted idly about political matters for about half an hour before the steward came to announce that the banquet was ready, inviting the Emperor to dine.

Although the Nie family was a centuries-old clan, the branch remaining in the capital was quite small, consisting only of Duke Nie, his wife, and their two sons and one daughter. After Nie Long married out, there were only four true masters left in the Nie residence.

Thus, it was treated as an ordinary family meal, with everyone sitting together around a large round table. This was at Chu Ji’s suggestion: “Since this is the bridal return, let’s treat it as an ordinary family gathering.”

Nie Long sat beside him, eating with one hand while the other rested beneath the table, clasped in his.

She shot him several covert glares, but the man seemed oblivious. He picked up a piece of fish and placed it in the bowl before her. Under Madam Nie’s teasing gaze, Nie Long’s ears turned slightly red as she struggled to pick up the fish.