Started as a thatched house and ended up as a female figure

"Report—" Just as everyone was engaged in various internal monologues, a palace guard loudly reported: "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Jing, along with the Liangzhou birthday celebration delegation, has arrived outside Chengtian Gate and respectfully invites Your Majesty to attend the ceremony."

Arrived!

What a coincidence!

The official from Liangzhou immediately couldn't help but beam with joy.

Some officials looked rather grim, and even Liu Congnan's eyes darkened, his lips twitching even more.

But there was one person whose reaction was different from everyone else's.

That's Gu Yan.

The birthday celebration delegation has arrived.

Ah Wan is back.

After hearing the palace guard's report, Gu Yan's mind went blank for a few moments, and then an uncontrollable surge of joy welled up from the bottom of his heart.

Awan is outside Chengtianmen.

A burning impulse surged through Gu Yan's body, urging him to rush towards Chengtian Gate immediately!

However, this is the square in front of the Xuanzheng Hall, where the emperor is still seated.

He had no choice.

Gu Yan stood stiffly with his head down, his fists clenched tightly beneath his wide sleeves, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest.

Just then, the emperor at the head of the table smiled slightly, stood up, and said loudly, "My ministers, come with me to join in the fun!"

Gu Yan looked up, his eyes instantly gleaming with a burning light.

The emperor gave the order, and the officials, whether they were willing or not, hurriedly followed the emperor's jade palanquin toward Chengtian Gate.

Chengtian Gate was the main gate of the imperial city. While the emperor and his civil and military officials passed through the many palaces, Prince Jing, Cheng Wan, Cai Shu and other officials from Liangzhou, as well as the Liangzhou birthday congratulatory delegation, were waiting in line on the huge square outside Chengtian Gate.

Prince Jing, who was at the front of the group, glanced at Cheng Wan, who was pale-faced, and said in a low voice, "Is Marquis Zhaoping still holding on?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I can manage."

If it weren't for her extremely pale and unsightly complexion, no one would be able to tell from the smile on Cheng Wan's lips and her straight back that she was still recovering from serious injuries and was extremely weak.

Prince Jing glanced at Cheng Wan again, his gaze lingering a little longer on Cheng Wan's right wrist, which was fixed in a splint. Then, he let out a short, cold snort, ignored Cheng Wan, and looked up at the city tower above Chengtian Gate, waiting intently for the emperor's arrival.

When Cheng Wan saw that Prince Jing was no longer going to pay attention to her, the smile on her lips faded slightly.

She was in a lot of pain.

How could it not hurt?

He suffered so many injuries.

A little further away, standing with the city's residents who had come to watch the spectacle, Wang Shi, Lin Laotai, and other members of the Cheng family had already lost control of their emotions and their eyes were red.

As noblewomen of imperial rank, Lady Wang and Old Lady Lin were not qualified to participate in the activities in front of the Xuanzheng Hall. However, whether because of their imperial rank or because they were family members of Marquis Cheng Wan, they were qualified to attend the emperor's birthday banquet afterwards.

But Cheng Wan did not return, and Wang and the others had no interest in attending the birthday banquet.

The Cheng family just wanted to keep an eye on the movements at the city gate so they could know as soon as possible that Cheng Wan had returned.

Fortunately, Gu Yan understood the Cheng family's feelings. Based on his understanding of the emperor, Gu Yan spoke frankly on behalf of the Cheng family and apologized to the emperor, hoping that the emperor would allow the eldest branch of the Cheng family and Old Madam Lin to stay at home and wait for Cheng Wan to return.

The emperor granted permission.

As soon as the birthday celebration delegation entered the capital, Old Lady Lin and the others received the news that they had followed the delegation to the outskirts of the palace.

They clearly saw Cheng Wan's condition.

It's precisely because I saw it clearly that I feel such heartache.

"Mother, daughter-in-law, please stop crying."

Today is His Majesty's birthday; if someone sees us, it'll get Ah Wan into trouble.

Cheng Daniu clenched his fists, his eyes slightly red, and whispered words of advice to Wang and the others.

The Wang family members quickly dabbed their eyes with handkerchiefs, and even though their noses were stinging, they forced smiles.

Anyway, I'm back alive.

It's good that you're alive and back home...

The group consisted almost entirely of people from Liangzhou who were visiting the capital and the city for the first time. They were so nervous that they didn't dare to breathe, and could only tightly grip the sleeves of their companions or rub the hem of their clothes.

They knew they had come to the capital to celebrate the emperor's birthday, but to be honest, the whole journey had felt like a dream.

Standing here, facing the majestic Chengtian Gate and the brightly armored palace guards all around, they truly felt it.

They have arrived in the capital.

They arrived at the foot of the imperial city.

They are about to celebrate the emperor's birthday.

Wang Tiechui, a commoner from Liangzhou who had been held hostage by Prince Jing's guards, gripped Huang Youfu's arm tightly, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Brother Youfu... I... I'm nervous, I'm... scared."

"What's there to be nervous about? What's there to be afraid of? We're here to celebrate His Majesty's birthday, not to do anything bad!" Huang Youfu reassured Wang Tiechui, though his voice was only slightly more steady than Wang Tiechui's.

Wang Tiechui was so nervous he was almost crying: "We're going to meet the Emperor later! What if I forget to march in formation or can't remember the poems we need to recite?"

"Isn't His Majesty Prince Jing's father?" Huang Youfu lowered his voice and whispered, "We've been on the same path as Prince Jing. Besides, think about Marquis Zhaoping."

Huang Youfu took a deep breath: "Marquis Zhaoping has put so much thought and effort into this for us, we must perform well! We can't let Marquis Zhaoping down or embarrass her!"

Yes, Marquis Zhaoping.

Wang Tiechui carefully raised his head and glanced at the front of the line.

He knew that Marquis Zhaoping was there.

Wang Tiechui took a deep breath and suddenly felt less panicked.

"Your Majesty has arrived——"