The Emperor's heart is won, she sits on the Phoenix Throne! The Divine Physician's Eldest

"Xiaxia, it's me, Ayan."

Song Siyao looked at Jiang Hexia with eyes full of guilt.

She was prepared to accept Jiang Hexia's barrage of insults and anger.

However, Jiang Hexia simply looked at her, smiled gently, and answered softly, "I know."

"When did you find out?" Song Siyao asked, somewhat surprised.

Jiang Hexia replied, "When you were injured and poisoned in the palace before, I saw the birthmark on your shoulder when the imperial physician was treating your wound. That birthmark is exactly the same as the one on Brother Ayan's shoulder."

When she was a child, she climbed trees with Song Siyan. Once, a branch tore Song Siyan's clothes, and she saw the birthmark on Song Siyan's shoulder.

It was a blooming rose, small and lifelike.

"I felt like I was dreaming, and at the same time, all the doubts in my mind were resolved."

Jiang Hexia explained, "The first time I saw you, I felt that you were Brother Ayan. I thought it was because you were twins that I had that feeling. It turns out that you really are Brother Ayan."

She smiled and said playfully, "Look, Brother Ayan, I'm still as smart as I was when I was little, aren't I?"

Seeing the brightness in Jiang Hexia's eyes, Song Siyao said with heartache, "Yes, Xiaxia has always been very smart."

"Xiaxia, I'm sorry. I didn't have my memories back before, so I didn't know how to explain my identity to you. I only regained my memories this time because I was brought back to life."

Jiang Hexia was more tolerant and generous, while Song Siyao felt more and more guilty.

"Sister Song, you never need to apologize to me. Whether you are Brother Ayan or Sister Song, in my heart, you are the one who played with me, took care of me, and protected me when I was little."

Jiang Hexia smiled and said, "You used to call me Xiao Hexia, and I knew you definitely didn't remember me. This time you came back from the dead and you called me Xiaxia. I know you remember me. My brother Ayan is finally back."

"The way you look at me has changed. In this world, only Brother Ayan would look at me like that."

"Brother Ayan, Sister Song, no matter who you are, I will always be Xiaxia."

Song Siyao hugged Jiang Hexia. "Xiaxia, thank you. You will always be my sister."

I will always protect you, like an older sister taking care of her younger sister.

Jiang Hexia's heart trembled, she closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her face.

At this moment, all the longing and pain that Song Siyan's death brought her were released.

In the future, whenever she misses Song Siyan, she can come and visit Song Siyao.

She can stay with her brother Ayan forever.

As long as she could stay by Song Siyan's side, she would be happy no matter what her status was.

*

Early February.

Song Siyao led her people from Fengshadu back to the capital.

The journey home is always short. On February 25th, Song Siyao arrived in the capital.

The city gate.

Song Siyao, Shen Pei, and General Jiang stood at the very front on horseback.

Wei Xin, Huo Ye, Jiang Hexia, Hong Shao, and Cang Yue rode their horses back a step.

Behind them were thousands of troops who had gone to the battlefield.

They returned in triumph.

However, what greeted them was neither the cheers of the city's people nor Emperor Changlong's victory banquet.

Instead, it was the cold, hard imperial edict that Grand Tutor Su held.

"Princess Ning'an, receive the imperial decree!"

Song Siyao dismounted and knelt down to receive the imperial decree.

Grand Tutor Su unfolded the imperial edict and continued reading, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that Song Siyao has concealed his identity and committed the heinous crime of deceiving the Emperor. He is hereby ordered to lay down his weapons and be brought to the palace for trial. So be it."

He closed the imperial edict, a cold glint in his eyes. "Guards, remove Princess Ning'an's weapons!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards beside him immediately stepped forward. Before the guards even reached Song Siyao, Shen Pei had already shielded Song Siyao with his body.

"Anyone who dares to touch her weapon, I will take their life!"

“Prince Ling, this is the Emperor’s order. Are you going to openly defy the decree?” Grand Tutor Su said with a stern face.

He had truly underestimated Shen Pei; he hadn't expected that Emperor Changlong would actually order Shen Pei to secretly mobilize troops.

Otherwise, how could the Great Zhou have defeated the Yan Kingdom, and how could Song Siyao have been brought back to life?

His plans were disrupted, and he didn't give Shen Pei a friendly look.

"His Majesty only said that Princess Ning'an should remove her weapon, but he did not allow anyone else to touch it!" Shen Pei exuded an air of dominance.

For soldiers, disarming them is to strip them of their military prestige and trample on their dignity.

However, it is perfectly reasonable to ask those who join the army to disarm themselves.

After all, the palace had a clear rule that unless granted by Emperor Changlong, even those with great military achievements had to lay down their weapons before entering the palace.

In fact, Emperor Changlong's decree was superfluous. It seemed to punish Song Siyao, but it was actually meaningless.

Grand Tutor Su's eyes flashed coldly, "Princess Ning'an, please lay down your weapon!"

Song Siyao removed the sword from her waist, and Shen Pei took it from her.

Su Taifu continued, "Your Highness, the Emperor has instructed you to set up camp here with your men. You do not need to go to the palace now."

"How long do we need to establish a base in Anning?" Shen Pei asked.

"Your Majesty, I am merely conveying His Majesty's orders. I do not know the specific time. Your Highness may await further instructions."

Grand Tutor Su did not want to say much to Shen Pei. He knew Shen Pei well; Shen Pei was too terrifying when he went crazy, and he couldn't let him notice anything.

After calming Shen Pei down, he quickly led Song Siyao into the palace.

At this moment, in the imperial court.

Emperor Changlong sat on the dragon throne, with his officials lined up below him.

Grand Tutor Su stepped into the hall, cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, I have brought Princess Ning’an with me. She is currently outside the hall.”

"Xuan!"

As Emperor Changlong finished speaking, Song Si stepped into the hall with one foot, and then her figure came into everyone's view.

All eyes fell on her, and everyone gasped.

Song Siyao, dressed in red and clad in armor, exuded a heroic air and a calm demeanor. His entire being radiated a murderous aura, and every gesture he made was that of a great general.

They all knew that Song Siyao had a powerful aura, but they didn't expect that after winning a battle, Song Siyao's aura would be even stronger.

One look from her could seem to tear someone to pieces.

Such a Song Siyao is capable of shouldering great responsibilities and protecting this territory.

With her around, the Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion can prosper for another hundred years.

Emperor Changlong looked at Song Siyao with the same gratification a father would show to his beloved daughter.

For some reason, he seemed to see the shadow of another person in Song Siyao.

This person is not the Marquis of Zhenbei.

He used to think Song Siyao resembled the Marquis of Zhenbei, but now that Song Siyao has returned, he no longer thinks so.

But how could Song Siyao resemble that person?

Especially his eyes. Back then, when that person faced a powerful enemy, just one look from him was enough to make the enemy back down.

It's just a pity about their family...

"Your subject Ning'an greets Your Majesty." Song Siyao's voice pulled Emperor Changlong back to reality.

Emperor Changlong said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Song Siyao stood up and looked directly at the emperor before him.

As their eyes met, though they said nothing, they conveyed a thousand words.

This is the tacit understanding between them, the ruler and his subject.

"Princess Ning'an, congratulations on winning this battle, defending the territory of Great Zhou, and protecting the people of Great Zhou."

After praising him, Emperor Changlong changed the subject, "However, merit is merit, and fault is fault. Ning'an, do you know what grave mistake you have made?"

Song Siyao remained calm. "Your Majesty knows that two years ago, I entered the military camp under the identity of Song Siyan and disrupted military discipline. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."