Rebirth: Find a General as Your Backer

The emperor raised his hands gently, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes filled with loving kindness.

"Han'er, Lianxue, you must be tired from your journey." He then instructed the servants to quickly offer them seats.

He gazed silently at his son, a thousand words churning within him, a flood of emotions engulfing him.

Looking back, I was young and full of vigor, but also ignorant and naive. I cruelly abandoned my young son at the border. This separation has lasted for many years, like a fleeting moment.

And now, looking at his son again, he has grown into such an outstanding young man. His posture is as upright as a pine tree, his brows reveal extraordinary heroism, and his demeanor in every gesture exudes excellence and distinction.

The Empress quickly composed herself and smiled, saying, "Get up, you must be tired from your journey." Consort De and Consort Gui echoed her words, though their eyes still lingered on Su Lianxue from time to time.

Su Lianxue bowed slightly, "Thank you for your concern, Father and Mother. I am delighted to see you." Her voice was as clear and melodious as a mountain spring.

The emperor slightly raised his hand, gesturing for them to take seats. After they were all seated, the emperor's gaze softened, and he began to inquire about their situation with concern.

His eyes were full of love, and his words were full of care, just like a kind elder.

Chu Mohan answered the emperor's questions methodically, his words revealing his wisdom. Su Lianxue occasionally added her comments, her elegant and graceful demeanor further pleasing the emperor.

The Empress and the others standing to the side were truly surprised to find that Su Lianxue was so stunningly beautiful, her beauty breathtaking.

What's even more astonishing is her elegant and graceful demeanor, devoid of any vulgarity, making her in no way inferior to the renowned ladies of the capital. In fact, one could say that Su Lianxue's poise and bearing surpassed that of anyone they had ever seen before.

This inevitably aroused their doubts, like a fog swirling in their minds. How could someone from the countryside possess such good manners? The elegance in his every gesture seemed innate, truly perplexing.

At this moment, the Imperial Concubine praised Su Lianxue again, but as soon as she finished speaking, she narrowed her eyes slightly, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in them.

This woman was no ordinary person. The aura she exuded, that elegance emanating from within, could never be possessed by a country bumpkin. The Imperial Concubine pondered this inwardly, and the more she thought about it, the more suspicious things seemed.

Then, the Imperial Concubine's lips curled into a cold smile, a laugh that stood out starkly in the silence, as if she had seen through something. It seemed necessary to send someone to thoroughly investigate this Su Lianxue; she was surely hiding a secret.

Then, the Imperial Concubine frowned slightly, a subtle glint flashing in her eyes. Her tone, seemingly casual yet subtly cryptic, asked, "I saw Han'er guarding that harsh borderland, enduring hardship. Out of compassion, I arranged for a suitable person to take care of him. I wonder if that person accompanied you back to the capital this time?"

Su Lianxue remained calm and composed, without the slightest ripple, and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, those who were granted this favor have all come to the capital with us. However, when we entered the palace today, I originally thought that my father and mother had only summoned us, so I did not bring them along."

Su Lianxue was astute; how could she not understand the hidden meaning in the Imperial Concubine's words? Her reply served two purposes: firstly, to assure the Imperial Concubine that the person she had bestowed the reward upon was safe and sound and had already arrived in the capital;

Secondly, it was also a veiled satire of the Imperial Concubine. On such an important occasion, the Imperial Concubine deliberately mentioned a servant, and her intentions were truly intriguing.

Su Lianxue lowered her head slightly and remained silent for a while before speaking again slowly, her tone full of respect: "Your Highness, the person you bestowed upon has always been treated kindly by Prince Rui. Another day, I will make careful arrangements to have her personally come to the palace to pay her respects to Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's smiling face instantly furrowed, and the displeasure in his eyes spread rapidly like dark clouds obscuring the sun. Everyone present could clearly perceive this subtle change in atmosphere.

The Empress, sitting beside the Emperor, immediately noticed the change in his mood. Her smile remained impeccable, but now held a deeper meaning. She said softly, "Sister, today is a joyous day, a time for Prince Rui to return to the capital, a time for family reunion and happiness. We should all focus on this joyous atmosphere. Why bring up those trivial matters at a time like this?"

The Empress thought to herself, "Didn't I also bestow a close confidant upon Prince Rui back then? It was just a servant, nothing more. Why bring it up on such an important day and upset the Emperor?"

This imperial concubine is usually known for her shrewdness and competence, but today, she seems to be blinded by a fog, doing something so foolish that it's truly baffling.

Having navigated the treacherous waters of the palace for many years, the Imperial Concubine was always an extremely shrewd person. She was meticulous and tactful in her dealings with others. Whether facing the Emperor's unpredictable moods or dealing with the open and covert struggles among the other concubines, she could handle everything with ease and never easily put herself in a disadvantageous position.

However, this time, she truly did not regard Su Lianxue as an opponent, and for a moment she failed to grasp the proper measure, which is why she spoke out of turn.

But the Imperial Concubine was no ordinary person. Her keen insight and judgment of the situation made her realize the inappropriateness of her way of speaking.

Then, the Imperial Concubine slightly raised her chin, parted her lips, and said in a sweet voice, "Princess Consort Rui, please don't take offense. It's just that I haven't seen His Highness Prince Rui for a long time, and I've been missing him dearly. I was so excited to see you all today, and if there's anything inappropriate in my words, I hope Princess Consort Rui will forgive me."

Hearing the Imperial Concubine's words, Su Lianxue's mind was filled with many thoughts, yet her expression remained completely unchanged. She quickly replied, "Of course, Imperial Concubine. We are more than grateful for Your Highness's kindness towards Prince Rui; how could we possibly have any other thoughts?"

Everyone present was shrewd; how could they not understand the many twists and turns involved in this back-and-forth?

It must be said that this Princess Rui was truly a surprise. She was so beautiful and intelligent that she was truly admirable.

Now that Chu Mohan has returned to the capital, the situation there is likely to undergo significant changes.

Once upon a time, the son of the Imperial Concubine, Prince Yao, was deeply favored by the Emperor, while Prince Rui's mother had already passed away. In everyone's eyes, Prince Rui originally posed no real threat to Prince Yao.

However, if the Empress could take this opportunity to annoy the Imperial Concubine, she would naturally be happy to do so.