Early that morning, the Eldest Princess arrived at the Imperial Palace, dressed in her royal purple robes and phoenix crown. The palace maids and eunuchs bowed low in respect. It was unusual for the Emperor to summon her to the morning court.
Normally, in Great Qi, women—no matter how noble—were not allowed to take part in state affairs. But the Eldest Princess was different. Over the past ten years, she had quietly built her power and gained real influence in the imperial court, earning the respect of many high-ranking officials.
In front of the entire court, the Emperor brought up the issue of the Second Prince, Feng Tianhao, who was now involved in a serious kidnapping case. The hall fell silent as he turned to his daughter and asked, "What do you think should be done?"
With a calm expression and steady voice, the Eldest Princess replied, "Those who commit wrong must be punished, and those who render merit should be rewarded. That is the only way justice can prevail."
The other princes—especially those who had long competed for the position of Crown Prince—quickly voiced their agreement.
"Well said... very well said," said the Fourth Prince.
The ministers agreed with her statement. Many of them had been frustrated for a long time that Feng Tianhao had not yet been punished for his crimes.
The Eldest Prince remained silent in front of his father, but inwardly, he was pleased—one less rival to deal with.
The Emperor's face darkened as he listened. In truth, he had secretly sent a message to the Eldest Princess the day before, asking her to help defend Feng Tianhao in front of the officials and find another way to solve the turmoil. But it seemed Feng Yao had no intention of following his request.
At last, the Emperor made the hardest decision of his life. He issued a decree, sentencing Feng Tianhao to death for his crimes of kidnapping and murder. The execution would be held in public, as a symbol of justice.
To balance the judgment, the Emperor also declared, "A merit banquet will be held to celebrate the Duke of Huguo's victory—and the success of his son in solving the kidnapping case."
Though the Emperor spoke with a calm face, bitterness filled his heart. He had just lost his son, yet he still had to reward the one responsible. The name Ye Langhuan echoed in his mind—along with a deep resentment.
The atmosphere in the palace turned heavy and tense after the announcement.
The Emperor spoke privately with Feng Yao. The envoy from the Yan Kingdom had been pressing for answers about their missing officials. He asked Feng Yao to help smooth things over with the Prince of Yan—he knew the man had feelings for the Eldest Princess.
Feng Yao was not pleased to hear this, but she hid her displeasure behind a polite smile.
"Since Father has already sentenced Second Brother to death, just say those officials were killed by him," she said calmly. "The dead can't defend themselves. It's the safest option."
"You…" The Emperor was stunned. He hadn't expected Feng Yao to speak so coldly.
A senior eunuch was immediately sent to the Duke of Huguo's mansion, carrying a scroll made of fine silk bearing the imperial decree. When he arrived at the South Gate of the Duke's mansion, the guards instantly knelt.
"An imperial decree from His Majesty to the son of the Duke of Huguo, Ye Langhuan!" the eunuch announced loudly.
Within moments, the front courtyard was filled with servants and guards bowing respectfully. Su Qing and Lang Huan both knelt to receive the decree.
It was Lang Huan's first time receiving an imperial decree. Her hands were cold and sweaty with nerves.
---
"Your Highness, today is the day Feng Tianhao will be executed. Would you like to go and watch?" A Li asked carefully.
"What's the point of watching someone die? I'd rather rest," Feng Yao replied lazily, reclining on the couch. Her lips curved upward slightly as she imagined Lang Huan's silly face when receiving the imperial decree.
"Have you prepared my new robe for the banquet?" she asked without opening her eyes.
A Li smiled. "Yes, Your Highness. With that new robe, you'll look absolutely stunning. Every heart in the banquet will be yours."
Feng Yao let out a soft laugh and opened her eyes just a sliver. "I only want to capture one."
A Li covered her mouth, eyes wide in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. The princess was nearly thirty, and this was the first time she had ever said something like that.
Only after the words had left her mouth did Feng Yao realize she had spoken too much.
"…Forget what I said," she muttered, turning her face away as if the silk cushion beside her had suddenly become very interesting.
But A Li was already grinning from ear to ear. "Was it… Young Master Ye?"
Feng Yao let out a long sigh and closed her eyes again. "If you're that free, maybe you should go help in the kitchen."
A Li giggled, entirely unbothered. "Even if I'm chopping vegetables, I'll still be thinking about your secret crush, Your Highness."
Feng Yao grabbed the nearest cushion and tossed it at her.
---
Meanwhile, in the main square of Luo City, Lang Huan stood among the crowd with Zhou Ming and A Cai. People had gathered to witness Feng Tianhao's execution.
He was no longer the proud prince he used to be. His body was thin and frail, his hair messy, and his eyes empty and lifeless.
"Even if he hadn't been sentenced to death, just look at him now… he wouldn't have lasted much longer," Zhou Ming murmured.
The Second Prince knelt down. When Minister Zhang threw down the execution board, the executioner raised his sword—with a strike, Feng Tianhao's head rolled across the ground.
A Cai let out a long sigh. "I hope our fallen brothers can finally rest in peace…"
---
The Dragon Stallion Army finally returned to the capital. The sound of gongs and drums echoed through the streets as crowds of cheering people flooded in from all directions. The vanguard troops—those who had fought all the way from the northern border—moved slowly, squeezed tightly between the excited citizens who had come to welcome them home.
In the middle of the marching troops rode the proud and dignified, the Duke of Huguo. Along the way, people showered him with small flowers. They stuck to his armor, his helmet, and even the mane of his horse.
"My Lord," one of the commander said with a chuckle, "the people have been praising your son all along the way. They say he's as fierce and brave as a wolf! He solved a major kidnapping case in the great Qi."
The Duke of Huguo laughed heartily. "As the saying goes—a tiger doesn't give birth to a dog!"
With pride swelling in his chest, the Duke rode on toward the Imperial Palace. That evening, he would attend the Merit Banquet—a grand celebration held to honor those who had served the kingdom. Among the honored guests would be his son, Ye Langhuan, standing tall and proud as one of its heroes.
---
Lang Huan and Su Qing stood at the palace gates, waiting as the sound of marching boots and galloping hooves drew closer. The crowd erupted in cheers as the main army entered the palace road.
The moment Lang Huan saw him, her eyes lit up. She stepped forward quickly, calling out, "Father!" The soldiers immediately made way for her.
It had been nine years since Lang Huan was lost in Great Qi. The Duke of Huguo looked older now—his hair was streaked with gray, and age had begun to show on his face. But his eyes remained sharp and full of determination.
He dismounted and walked toward her. His eyes were slightly red, but a proud smile spread across his face.
"You've grown into someone I can truly be proud of," he said softly.
Lang Huan quickly wrapped her arms around her father in a tight hug. The Duke of Huguo gently patted her back.
After a moment, he turned to Su Qing and called, "Madam."
Su Qing gave a slight nod, her face expressionless but her eyes lingered on Lang Huan for a long time. The Duke noticed the strange look but chose not to overthink it.