Chapter 500: 12.108: Our Unsullied Love (2)

"Qingsheng, have you packed up all your belonging?"

"Yes, Papa!" Huang Qingsheng replied, and he put the box full of his clothes in the wagon full of their belonging. He jumped to the passenger carriage with his father, and the front carriage started moving, tailed by few wagons behind. 

Huang Qingsheng stared at the courtyard that he would leave soon, alongside the cherry blossom tree where his mom resided. He was already ten years old, and growing up without a mother figure made him grew a lot more sensible for his single dad.

He could barely remember his mom, Bai Yunyu's face because he lost his ability to see spirits as he grew older. But he could still sense his mom's cold but gentle caress on his cheek or patting his head sometimes. 

'Mama, I will leave to the Capital now. I'll visit when I have time and burn incense for you. Please pray for my safety."

[Of course, I'll pray for you ah, my son!] 

[Pupa: You should also pray that Huang Shu could finally rest free and bury that Rewind Stone. You've been stuck here for ten years!]

[I mean, what can I do? I've used my last ghosty-ghosty power to did an apparition in front of Huang Shu before.]

[Pupa: You can just use that last apparition for Huang Shu to let you go and bury the Rewind Stone, including all your memories with him.]

[… I don't want to hurt Qingsheng and Huang Shu. Qingsheng is still young. He needs guidance from his father. If Huang Shu remarried, then Qingsheng will be a number two in his heart.]

[Pupa: Just say that you don't want Huang Shu to remarry.]

[I mean, I doubt he can even forget about me in the first place. His Fatemeter is already 100%. There is no way he can forget me in this lifetime.]

[Pupa: Even as a ghost, your pettiness doesn't disappear.]

Ten years had passed since Yunyu's death, and the Breakmeter was stuck at 50%. Meaning there was still a chance that Huang Shu would use the Rewind Stone again.

Probably because Huang Shu was missing Yunyu so much. 

Yunyu flew towards Huang Shu and sat side by side with him. Yunyu touched Huang Shu's cheek with his hand, giving a cold sensation for Huang Shu.

Huang Shu glanced to his left and smiled, "We're finally returning to the Capital City, to the Imperial Palace, Yunyu…." 

[Yeah, I know, Husband. It's good for Qingsheng as well. He needs a better education rather than staying in the far north. He needs to learn about his root as a branch family of the royal family as well.]

Sometimes, Yunyu felt grievance in his heart, knowing that he couldn't contact anyone in this world, not even Xu Jiansheng. Because Jiansheng grew up properly in this timeline, he still had his complete family, so he didn't have that crazy obsession with chaining Yunyu again. 

But Yunyu hadn't revisited Xu Jiansheng or Meilan for the last nine years. He only visited them once. 

So he didn't know what Xu Jiansheng was doing nowadays. 

**

The trip to the Capital City took a month for them. When they arrived at the gate, the Imperial guards were ready to escort them to the Imperial Palace.

Commander Huang Shu and Huang Qingsheng were greeted full of respect even by the people. Maybe they had forgotten the prejudice that happened ten years ago, where they called Bai Yunyu a slut upon a slight provocation. 

"Papa, why are there so many people cheering for us? Are you a war hero or something?" Qingsheng asked. 

Huang Shu grinned, "I'm not a war hero, but you'll know the reason later." 

Huang Shu and his son arrived at the Imperial Palace. They were immediately escorted to the Dragon throne to face the Emperor. 

Huang Shu and Huang Qingsheng walked to the Dragon throne and saw the Emperor sitting majestically. 

Huang Shu immediately kneeled in front of his First Brother, Huang Bei, better known today as Emperor Shunzun. "This commander and his son, Huang Shu and Huang Qingsheng, have accepted His Majesty's invitation."

Emperor Shunzun laughed heartily at Huang Shu's formality. 

"Seventh Brother, no need to be so formal. We're family here," Emperor Shunzun got up from his throne and descended down the small stair to meet his brother and nephew. 

Emperor Shunzun held Huang Shu's arm and raised him up so he didn't need to kneel. 

"How long has it been?" He asked. 

"Twelve years since my leave," Huang Shu replied. 

"Ah, twelve years…." Huang Bei looked at his nephew and patted his head, "What is your name?"

"Huang Qingsheng."

Huang Bei stared at Huang Qingsheng's eyes. This nephew of his had the same cinnabar mole as Yunyu and the same beautiful, sincere eyes, though he looked more like Huang Shu for his appearance and physique. 

"Qingsheng, do you know about your mom?" Huang Bei asked.

"My Papa told me about Mama sometimes. He said that Mama was such a beauty, even the Emperor loved him back then!" 

Huang Shu slapped his blunt son's back and scolded him, "Manner!" 

Huang Bei laughed heartily and nodded, "What your dad said is correct. I loved Yunyu back then, but your dad is more courageous than me. He stripped all his rank for your mom."

"You might not believe this, but your dad is my Imperial brother, Seventh Prince Huang Shu. He has powerful backing back then before he stripped his title—" Huang Bei looked at his brother again and nodded, "—And Emperor Uncle will restore his title as the Seventh Prince, also adding a new one as the General. General Huang Shu. I will also bestow you land to manage near the Capital, and you will be known as Duke of Shu."

"This—I don't think I deserve this, brother…." Huang Shu came here just to reclaim his title as Imperial Prince. He didn't expect Huang Bei to bestow him another title. 

"You deserve it. You've defended the garrison in the north for years, and you've successfully foiled the Barbarians' plan many times. It's not an easy feat. Bai Yunyu has been awarded as a hero as well because he wrote before his passing, a book to guide the young scholars on how to build a good military."

"Besides, your son also needs to stay in the Capital to study, right?"

…

Huang Bei patted his nephew's head again and said, "Do you know that both your mom and dad are heroes?"

"Um… no, Uncle. I mean, I can see that Papa might be a war hero since he is popular in our hometown. But I don't know about Mama…."

Huang Bei smiled, "Then you should visit the small shrine dedicated to your mom. It's usually scholars who came to his shrine to pray for good exam results because your mom is the smartest national champion and strategist that the empire ever has. I think your dad knows the location."

…

After a lengthy private discussion between Huang Bei and Huang Shu, they finally agreed upon bestowing Huang Shu's title after preparing the documents. 

Huang Shu and Huang Qingsheng then excused themselves because Huang Shu wanted to see the shrine dedicated to his beloved.