The Empress

Chapter 8: The arrival [2]

Imperial General Bing Xiaji smiles widely when he sees the new arrival.

"Greetings to both chancellors. It has been a while, Chancellor Yelu." He respectfully greets the 2 older men with a slight bow.

Chancellor Yelu laughs when he sees the young man, "Greetings to you too, Imperial General Bing. It has been a year since we've last met. I do believe that Her Royal Highness is fine too."

Chancellor Hong smiles too, "Of course she will be fine, Yelu. That young man is having a quite hard time because of her back then. Hahahahaha! I cannot wait to see that adorable Mengxiang1. That little lady never stops following me back then. That little maid and fox of hers too."

Chancellor Yelu looks at him and jokingly says, "You forgot to include of her nanny. She is the one that you cannot wait to meet again right?"

Imperial General Bing Xiaji laughs and further adds, "Her Royal Highness is doing fine these days. Our Mengxiang is already a little genius loved by all in our Kingdom. Ahhhh... Mengxiang's nanny and little maid are doing fine too. Madame Red and Lady Red?"

Chancellor Yelu answers, "They are in the carriage with Lord Yujinxiang."

"Ahhh... It has been a while since I've last met him too. Sovereign Princess Long Yinyue2 will be glad to see him." Imperial General Bing Xiaji then instructed his soldiers to let the honourable guests enter the imperial palace.

Emperor Leng turned his back to look at the new arrival. Both Chancellors are on their black coloured horses. Chancellor Yelu is a handsome and well-built man in his 30s. Surprisingly, that man is looking back at him fearlessly. There is a clear indication of hatred in that man's eyes. Chancellor Hong, on the other hand, is a handsome but scholarly looking gentleman. He looks familiar but he cannot remember where he has seen this man before. This man did not look at him at all. Just like their shameless madame, they are unlikable as well. There are two carriages, but it is not open carriages like theirs. Somehow his eyes are drawn to the first carriage. There is a slight tug on his heart.

The guests move forward and only stop when they arrived at the west gate of the imperial palace. One by one dismounted their horses. Those in the carriages to have come down from their respective carriages.

Suddenly there is a loud gasp coming from Empress Jiaohua that immediately made Emperor Leng look at her. She is looking a bit pale as she looks at someone from behind. He looks at that person too and he suddenly stumbled before both of his sons supports him.

They are surprised as well. Why on earth their royal father and royal mother acted in such a way? They look at the person who caused the incident. They only saw a beautiful and regal woman looking back at them with a composed look on her face. That woman emits confidence and kinglike aura. Immediately they knew that she is the infamous Madame Red who had successfully conquered and unites the vast Kingdom of Xi.

Imperial Noble Consort Wan and Noble Consort Meili smile when they saw her. It has been 15 years since they last saw her, today she is looking quite imposing than she did before. Noble Consort Meili is crying as she looks at her, alive and well, her heart is at ease with that knowledge.

Madame Red stared at them and says, "Ah... It has been a while indeed..."

Chancellor Yelu is waiting for her as she walks with unchallenged confidence. When she arrives near him, she extended her left hand at him, he smiles before he takes her hand and holds onto it. 3 figures are slowly walking behind the couple. The beautiful young girl is smiling before she gently nudged the boy on her right side, the boy is smiling too before he says in a loud and clear voice, "Older sister, foster father look quite well match with our mother right..."

The beautiful girl laughs merrily and further adds, "It is an open secret that our beloved foster father is quite smitten with our beautiful mother, Lipin... What do you think senior brother? Aren't them a match made in heaven?"

A handsome man smiles at the beautiful girl walking next to him before he gently takes her hand as well, "Indeed, junior sister. They are a match made in heaven just like the two of us, Xi Ai."

Lady Red is blushing when she heard him to say her name for the first time. This man is using a seductive tone when he said her name. Lipin is smiling, both mistresses have found the men that they deserve. He is happy with that knowledge.

Madame Red laughs hearing their conversations, "These young ones are quite imaginative, Yelu..."

Chancellor Yelu looks at her and says, "I do not mind if it to be a reality, Madame. But, for Yujinxiang, I still do not approves of him just yet. Little Red is still too young."

Lipin nodded in agreement, "True... I am not willing to let go of older sister yet."

Yujinxiang smiles as he looks at them, "No worries, Lord Yelu and younger brother Lipin. The Kingdom of Xi is my home from these days onwards."

Madame Red claps her hands in excitement, "Excellent!!!"

Emperor Leng upon seeing his former empress holding hands with another man clenches his hand. How dare that woman!?!?! She is Madame Red? She even dares to have children from another man. Preposterous!

Empress Jiaohua and the two imperial concubines greeted his former empress, "Older sister...."

Madame Red smiles at them three, "Greetings to you too, Your Majesty. Greetings to Lady Wan and Lady Meili too. These two men are my chancellors, Chancellor Hong and Chancellor Yelu. This is my daughter, Xue Xi Ai. This is my son, Xue Lipin. This young man here is my daughter's senior brother, Yujinxiang. All of you remember my maid right, Xue Yun3."

Imperial Noble Consort Wan then holds onto her hand, "You haven't met my son and daughter yet... This is Fenge. And, this is Yueliang."

Madame Red immediately look at her son. The son that she has given away 15 years ago because she wanted him to be the next emperor of the Kingdom of Leng. He has indeed grown up into a fine young man. She smiles at him and his sister.

"Wan Wan, you have such a good-looking pair of children. They have grown up into a fine young man and woman. Xue Yun, give them the gifts that I have prepared."

Xue Yun looks at her mistress and says, "Yes, Madame."

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The older maid then passed the gifts to both of Imperial Noble Wan's son and daughter. The First Prince is gifted with a high-quality sword that is made by precious metal while the Second Princess is gifted with a pair of hairpins made by precious stones and gold. Both are happy with their gifts.

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Lady Red is adorably pouting her mouth when she sees this. Yujinxiang patted her head gently.

Empress Jiaohua then introduces her daughter to Madame Red, "This is my daughter, Moli."

The Third Princess Leng Moli greeted Madame Red respectfully, "Greeting, Madame Red. Greetings to Lady Red and Lord Red. Greetings to both Chancellors. Greeting, honourable sir."

Lady Red smiles at the princess who acted coyly when she sees her senior brother, "What a beautiful looking younger sister... Isn't that right, Lipin."

Lipin just smiles without answering his older sister. She obviously did not like the princess with the prowling eyes. Empress Jiaohua is a bit embarrassed due to her daughter flirtatious nature.

Madame Red smiles, "Your daughter is very beautiful, your highness. Xue Yun, her gift..."

Xue Yun then gave a beautiful jade bracelet to the Third Princess whom quite enamoured with her new bangle.

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Madame Red look at Noble Consort Meili, "Meili, have you been well? I heard that your son is born with a weak constitution. Where is he?"

Noble Consort Meili wipes her tears, "I have been well, older sister. Yingjun has always been sick since he was a baby. No doctors or healers in our Kingdom can cure him of his sickness."

Madame Red then personally give him a bottle of pills, "These are Golden Ginseng pills. Whenever you have a relapse, take one of it. These pills are made by the healers from the Ghost Sect Fortress. I do also believe that the Crown Princess Long Fenghuang have a maidservant by her side too that is widely known for her ability to miraculously heals any kind of sickness. I will personally ask her to allow for her maidservant to check on you."

She gently smiles at the young man, "When you are completely healed. You can learn to cultivate like the First Prince too."

The Empress and the imperial concubines are grateful for her kindness. As times goes by, she is still as kind as she has always been when she was still the empress of their kingdom.

The princes and the princesses respectfully bowed at her and say, "Thank you for your gifts, Madame Red."

Madame Red laughs and says, "Shall we enter the imperial palace now, Imperial General?"

Imperial General Bing smiles and leads the way for the honourable guests. Emperor Leng is obviously being ignored by those from the Kingdom of Xi. He is glaring at Madame Red as she calmly passes by him to enter the imperial palace together with her children and the rest of her people.

Empress Jiaohua look at the Emperor and cannot help to feel sorry for her husband. Noble Consort Meili slightly smile and feels happy upon seeing her best friend yet again. Imperial Noble Consort Wan feels that a huge burden has been lifted from her heart, older sister is obviously confirming that Fenge is her son when she (Madame Red) gently patted her hand when Xue Yun presented the sword to Fenge.

The princes and the princesses now realized how amazing is Madame Red is. She has an aura of a king despite being a woman. Her daughter emits a dangerous aura as well as she is assessing each of them one by one. The son acts nonchalantly as if none of those from the Kingdom of Leng worthy of his attention. Except, the Fourth Prince realized that he had stared at the First Prince for a few minutes before he looked away, though he slightly smiles at his older brother. The chancellors are watching silently but they are obviously looking out for their mistress's safety. The handsome yet cold looking man only has his eyes for Lady Red. The Third Princess grumpily walks as none of the handsome men she has just met are attracted to her beauty. The Second Princess smirks as she looks at her younger sister.

General Bing smiles as he walks in front of the groups of guests from the 2 Kingdoms. Emperor Leng is obviously quite mad when he discovered that Madame Red is, in fact, his former empress who had been missing for many years. This wedding will be quite an event for the 3 Kingdoms for sure.

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