Chapter 192 - 190. He Returned For Her I

Third-person POV

Hong er went on her daily tasks like usual and Xue Lang became more attached to her.

Xue Lang: "Imperial Mother, let me feed you."

Hong er: "Hahaha~ You don't need to. Mother is very healthy and can eat by herself."

Xue Lang's face immediately dropped and sat back to his seat with a face filled with dejection. The soft-hearted Hong er felt guilty and put down her chopstick. She patted the pouting Xue Lang and smiled tenderly.

Hong er: "Xue Lang, Mother is hungry. Can you feed Mother?"

Xue Lang: "Uhm! Of course!"

A wide smile spread on his pale face as he nodded vigorously. Xue Lang picked the meat in front of him and positioned it on Hong er's lips. Hong er opened her mouth and slowly munched the meat. Hong er's brows twitched and her chewing movement became slower, but she still maintains her gentle smile.

Xue Lang: "How is it?"

Hong er: "E-en. Very delicious."

Xue Lang: "Really?!"

Hong er: "En, really."

Xue Lang: "I am learning how to cook from the chef and made my first dish for Imperial Mother."

Hong er: "En. You did very well."

Hong er ruffled Xue Lang's hair and smiled proudly. Although the taste wasn't that good, but if she had to compare to Weisheng's cooking then the winner would be Xue Lang.

While the mother and son having a good time together, Ah Tong out of the blue appeared beside Hong er and kneeled.

Ah Tong: "Reporting, His Majesty Emperor and Great General Di won the battle this morning and preparing to head back to the capital."

Xue Lang's face instantly brightened by the news.

Hong er: "How about Dong Fang?"

Ah Tong: "Great General Di announced that under his order, Dong Fang united with Da Qi and became part of us."

Hong er: "The Dong Fang Emperor?"

Ah Tong: "Beheaded in the public, the rest of the royal family would be given poison wine."

Hong er: "Pitiful."

Hong er nonchalantly said whilst sipping on her warm tea.

Hong er: "When will His Majesty Emperor reach the capital?"

Ah Tong: "From the letter that Qier sent us, it will be around 4 days with their current speed."

Hong er: "En. Good job, you can retreat."

Ah Tong: "Yes, Your Majesty Empress."

Ah Tong disappeared into thin air after he gave his salutation. Hong er changed her attention to Xue Lang and noticed that he became restless.

Hong er: "What's wrong? Stomachache?"

Xue Lang shook his head and looked up to Hong er with his glistening white eyes.

Xue Lang: "Imperial Mother, why would Imperial Father kill all the family when only the emperor was in the wrong?"

Hong er was taken back with Xue Lang's sudden question. She vacantly stared at the frozen lake and sighed.

Hong er: "We, as the royal family, have to ensure the happiness of our subjects. These glamorous clothes, delicious food, and comfortable bed are all because of their effort.

They worked for days and nights to pay taxes so we also have to give back what they deserve. And the royal family of Dong Fang failed to do so."

Xue Lang: "But do we really have to kill all of them, even the innocent one?"

Hong er: "Yes. Those Dong Fang royal families were hungry for power. They even dare to use the life of their own child just to gain a single drop of power. Human is worse than a beast."

Xue Lang was silenced with Hong er's heartless answer. Her voice was colder than the blowing winter wind that could make one's heart to freeze. Hong er blinked her eyes and the icy cold eyes replaced with her usual tranquil gaze.

Hong er: "You don't need to understand this now. Eventually, you will understand what mother said today."

Xue Lang: "Yes, Imperial Mother."

Xue Lang obediently nodded his head.

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Just like what Ah Tong reported, Weisheng reached the capital with his close aides and his elite forces. The royal palace and citizens celebrated his triumph in defeating Dong Fang's Imperial Army in less than a month.

The commoners kneeled before him and congratulated him without looking up. Weisheng dignifiedly rode his favorite horse and marched towards the Royal Palace's gate without sparing any glance to them.

Lu Ping sighed when he saw Weisheng's aloof behavior. This behavior makes bad rumors about Weisheng being ignorant and arrogant to circulate around the society. However, Lu Ping aware that Weisheng didn't mean it that way. Since Weisheng was young, everyone would cower in fear whenever he looked at them directly in the eyes.

It didn't take them long to reach the palace gate. From far away, Weisheng saw Hong er standing in the middle of snow, waiting for him to return to her side. Xue Lang smiled widely as he waved his hands towards Weisheng while mouthing 'Imperial Father'.

Under his mask, a gentle smile emerged from his lip, he pulled the rein and fastened his pace. Xiao Hei stopped right in front of Hong er and rubbed his face on Hong er's cold palm.

Hong er: "Good boy."

Weisheng knitted his brows and dismounted from Xiao Hei. He took Hong er's hand that was caressing Xiao Hei with his rough hand.

Weisheng: "Hm?"

Hong er: "Hahaha~ Welcome home, Your Majesty Emperor."

Hong er: 'He is even jealous of his own pet.'

Xue Lang: "Welcome back, Imperial Father!"

Weisheng: "En."

Weisheng ruffled Xue Lang's hair into a mess, despite that, Xue Lang smiled happily and proudly showed his messy hair to Hong er.

Hong er: "Hahaha~ That is not something you should be proud of, Xue Lang."

Xue Lang: "Hehehe~"

Weisheng caressed Hong er's tummy and worriedly asked her.

Weisheng: "You okay?" (A/N: He was asking Hong er and the baby's condition.)

Hong er: "En. Everything is fine."

.

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After Weisheng took a quick bath and ate his meal, he sat beside Hong er and passed her a scroll.

Hong er: "Hm?"

Weisheng: "From General Di."

Hong er rolled open the scroll and read the long list one by one.

Hong er: "Dower for Meiyun?"

Weisheng: "En. Since you are family, I hand the duty to you."

Hong er: "En. I will arrange for her dowry. Did he say anything about the ceremony?"

Weisheng: "He will arrive at Chang An in 5 days and immediately bring her to his residence."

Hong er: "That fast?!"

Weisheng: "If it is me, I will do the same."

Hong er chuckled and slapped his arm to hide her embarrassment.