Chapter 28
Wei Li Lian
Princess Elora
Her Highness Wei

The city was in full celebration. It could be heard from the Grand Palace. This signaled that the emperor and his generals had arrived in the city. Many people were said to be lining the road so they could watch the procession towards the Grand Palace.

Different instruments were being played. Surely, it was not a normal day for the citizens. Who would pass the commemoration of the enlargement of their empire as Yuwen Hong had taken over almost half of Gurio land.

His aim was just a quarter when he left, but the heavens were with him for the gain was in abundance.

The large gates of the Grand Palace opened and Li Lian observed as they entered, Yuwen Hong leading, his fellow generals riding behind, and down in ranking they followed. The footmen military were the last to enter. There were not many of the servicemen that came to the palace as some were sent home straight away, while others went to the Dura Camp.

Li Lian’s heart beat accelerated at the  sight of her beloved. He was indeed alive.

Yuwen Hong had survived it all and her worries were over. It was sometimes in the middle of the night that she would get delusional and imagine, what if he was dead and they were pretending he was alive just so they could maintain peace over the empire while finding a new leader? Was it really him sending the letters? And even if he was actually alive, was he really faring well or pretending when in truth he had already lost a leg or hand?

The thoughts of anxiety could not be helped. The few people she had opened her heart to love, died, and Mistress Ki was a recent candidate.

The gathered people―palace guards, palace maids, eunuchs, officials, the royal family―started singing praises and clapping their hands.

Yuwen Hong's horse was wounded on the neck, however it did not appear to be a deep wound. The black beast came to a stop before the people, where it's owner jumped off and people screamed even louder.

Everyone on the horses did likewise, as him. Took off their armor when he did. Bowed to the heavens in thanks when he did. And when he raised his right hand, the military dispersed to wherever they wanted to go―to each their own.

The first to present themselves to the emperor were the officials.

"Congratulations to the dragon. May he live thousands and thousands of years!" They knelt around him.

"Thank you."

Her love was tired. She could tell by his eyes and posture. Being away had taken a toll on him.

Next was the royal family, the servants, and lastly his entourage presented themselves, indicating they were ready to start serving.

"Yu'er, did you sleep well? There are eye shadows, and you look pale!" The Grand Consort fussed.

Yuwen Hong looked around. He was looking for a certain someone.

And that someone was at the back. She wanted to be the last because once she was by him, she didn't want to let go.

Her eyes teared. She missed him a lot, and he was back. It was a huge relief!

"Fuhuang!" Cai Wenjin jumped and he carried her, twirling her in the air. She screamed excitedly, and in complete delight she hugged him.

Yuwen Hong laughed. His first since he arrived. "Princess, you are growing so fast."

"Fuhuang, do you like my blue dress? Her Highness Wei made it for me. And we also had tea in her palace. The beautiful phoenix palace!"

Li Lian enjoyed the expression on his face. He was surprised, taken back, awed, happy, and flattered all in one.

"Hao, I like it, you are the most beautiful princess," he tickled her and her laughter danced in the air.

Placing her down, he turned around, looking for someone again.

A man in a Gurio attire approached him. They had arrived together. The man said a few words to Yuwen Hong who gave a half bemused smile, then his eyes went back to roving wildly across the space.

It was the Gurio man who noticed her first. His gaze wavered on her, refusing to look away. Thunder had struck him. He had become a statue before her, and to avoid more from him, Li Lian moved away from her court lady who was blocking Yu'er to  see her from his standing point.

It did not take long for her beloved to notice her there. His face instantly relaxed and it was lovely to see him take on a sheepish smile.

Happiness was Yuwen Hong slowly trudging toward her.

Her stomach was swirling with butterflies and buzzing with excitement. Their eyes exchanged a lot of yearning, love, and understanding.

"My love," he stopped before her.

"My love," she answered.

He took another step and pulled her to him. Kisses on her closed eyes, the tip of her nose, forehead, cheeks, and chin. She missed this too. All his love and affection. His hands slid to her buttocks, then moved up to rest on her waist.

"You lost some weight," he made a passing comment.

"There was no one who eats a lot to push food down my throat."

He laughed. "Well then. Good that I'm back. I will fill you up."

"I will enjoy it," she giggled.

"I'm not talking about your mouth only, though."

"Yuwen Hong!" she groaned. Already, he was making sexual remarks. So like him.

Li Lian escorted him to the dragon palace where they prepared bathing waters for him. She asked to wash him, tracing all his new and old scars, kissing the pain away, and massaging his tight muscles. She felt sorry; it must have been difficult for him in all these past months.

Afterwards, he slept for the rest of the day, specifically tired from the journey. Li Lian watched him as he slept. No amount of joy could describe what she felt to have him back.

She ensured to organize his meal before he woke up. Everything needed to be perfect and rich in nourishment because during the war they ate plain grainy food.

When he woke up, he was a little grumpy. If it was up to him, he would sleep throughout the night too. But he had a commitment to attend to.

The delight he showcased at the sight of the food they brought forth. It was funny. All the grumpiness disappeared. Yuwen Hong always had eating as his hobby.

Later into the night, they joined the generals at the huge blazing fire they prepared for their celebration of winning the war. Along with them, the generals brought their wives and concubines―while Yuwen Hong only took Li Lian there―so it was lively.

The women had their own spot where they fed their little fire with wood. It was away from the men who had the huge fire for themselves. Obviously, the men were the ones who were rowdy and noisy―laughing, howling, exclaiming, shouting.

Li Lian was seated with the women of the generals. They spoke about various topics concerning fashion, children, books, and so on. As a woman who did not grow up in Nevoria, she did more listening than sharing. This was an opportunity for her to learn from other people than just Mistress Ki. However, it seemed that when she was asked to contribute, then said something, everyone was more willing to agree with whatever she said than challenge her. Even the atmosphere of it all was tense, no form of relaxing because the laughter was forced and the ladies were not enjoying themselves.

The women wanted to please her and were closed off from being their real selves as she was the future mother of the nation. Somehow, she was starting to understand what Yuwen Hong felt all of his life.

It did not take long for Li Lian to excuse herself from them. She would rather offer them space to socialise freely while she clung to Yuwen Hong.

They had been apart for such a long time and she missed him dearly, even now, when he was not that far from her.

As she stood up, her eyes met the Gurio man. Apparently, he was a general who they manipulated into selling military information about Gurio. Yuwen Hong had plans to help him settle in Nevoria and rewarding him with a worthy title for selling out his country.

The Gurio general's stare was chilling to the bone. Lust was drooping from his eyes, and she understood that glare. It was a man who wanted to possess her badly.

She saw that in Yuwen Hong all the time, but the difference was the softness, adoration, and admiration her beloved carried.

She ignored the attention of the stranger and found Yuwen Hong at a lowered wooden seat, surrounding the fire with his men.

Li Lian sat next to him and couldn't resist wrapping her arms around him.

Yuwen Hong welcomed her by having his arms also circling her small body into him. He kissed her on the cheek, his alcohol breath fanning her face.

"Why did you leave your fellow women? Anyone offended you?"

Why did he always search for problems?

No wonder he refused to come back for a while. His character likes bloodshed.

She shook her head. "I miss you. I want to be close to you. Can I not sit here?"

He grinned. "You can, my love." Then he sighed with exaggeration. "But you are too beautiful and all these men... I feel like they are undressing you with their eyes."

So it was not just her that felt the Gurio man was weirdly staring.

"They can look all they want, but I belong to the emperor."

He seemed to catch the joke punctuated by the tone of her voice; because he laughed. She was referring to the time they were in YiYuan and he wanted her solely for sleeping with her, but she had rejected him by stating she belonged to the emperor.

"When you said that back then, it messed up my mind, and had me obsessing over you more and more."

She giggled.

"Interesting, isn't it? I was falling for you, not knowing that you were my Lotus flower. Yoh, I fell for the same woman twice."

"You are lying," she teased, "all you wanted was to have me open my legs."

"Not!" He gave that loud laugh that gained attention. This is the one person who saw even the unfunny things about her as hilarious. "And even if I did, you can't deny I had real feelings towards you. No amount of sex could erase you from my mind, it would have been a web locking me in even more."

"A true man speaks truthfully."

"Exactly…"

His coyish smile illuminated by the flames, it gave her jitters. In his smile was his spelt out never ending infatuation.

"And… since you belong to the emperor now…" His hand slid under her robes and caressed her thigh. "Does this emperor receive a reward tonight?"

She shyly laughed. "You are crude."

"I just want to get some."

Heavens, she was blushing so much. "You have been away from me. I'm sure you had a courtesan escorted in for you."

When they met, he had just laid with a woman. It wouldn't be a surprise.

"Li Lian, Li Lian, don't beat around the bush. Just ask the question."

"I'm just saying."

"Ask."

Why was he making it difficult for her? "Hmm… Were you with any woman in these past months?"

Yuwen Hong smiled―a closed lips smile. His eyes were glued to her only. Certainly this way she was his world.

"No," he said it seriously.

"No?" She replied with that. Because what else could she say? She was so loved.

"Do you want to feel my trousers right now?" he winked.

She slapped him on his shoulders. "You are so brazen, Your Majesty."

He snickered at her reaction. Yuwen Hong enjoyed bothering her with shyness.

"Your Majesty! The General of Gurio won!" The men interrupted them. They were cheering after the arm wrestling that took place between two generals.

Yuwen Hong watched the General of Gurio who came to stand before him. "Hao!"

Yu'er was a little drunk, although he had a strong tolerance, the men had been drinking too much for hours now.

"What do you want as your reward? I said I will give the winner anything they want."

The general fidgeted. "Anything?"

"Of course!"

"Then may this servant get private time with Her Highness Wei till midnight?" His accent sold him off that he was a foreigner.

Yuwen Hong guffawed loudly. He laughed even though everyone tensely tee-heed.

"You want her?" He removed his hands from her and unsheathed his sword.

"Just to talk, Your Majesty." The general eagerly added.

Yu'er ran his hand on the blade as if thinking, and that's why it was an off guard move to see the blade whizz through the air and dig into the chest of the general.

At that moment, silence gripped the place.

The general vomited blood and abruptly fell to the ground. His body dramatically shook as he convulsed. It was horrendous to watch. He coughed as air wheezed and gurgled in his throat.

Yuwen Hong sighed and took her back into his arms. She didn't know if he could sense her rigid spine because he started to run his hand down her back.

An eunuch crawled to the general to give immediate physician help, but Yuwen Hong growled in warning.

The eunuch quickly stopped and crawled back like a scared dog with a tail between its legs.

"Let's continue. The night is still young," Yuwen Hong took a sip of his wine.

The mood had been swayed and everyone was frozen by fear.

"You dare keep quiet?" Yuwen Hong shouted angrily, Li Lian felt him squeeze her a little tighter.

Subsequently, everyone started chatting and drinking. Just like before. As if nothing had just taken place.

Li Lian felt sick. A river of blood pooled around the Gurio general, darkening the soil.

"You said anything, Yuwen Hong," her anger was simmering. Why was he still like this?

He turned to her and trailed a finger on her cheek. "I did, my love." It stopped on her upper lip and massaged it. "But he asked for everything."

That night she did not sleep in the dragon palace, and neither with him.

S.V