Wu Caiwei waited for a long time, but did not receive an summons from Wu Qingzhi. The Emperor didn't even reprimand her, which left her utterly bewildered.
After much thought, there was only one possibility: they hadn't implicated her. But what kind of charm did she possess that the former Crown Prince not only didn't resent her but actively protected her?
It seemed Wu Qingzhi was not as simple as the original owner had imagined. Everyone had their secrets.
It was time to inspect the shops again. Whenever this happened, Wu Caiwei would disguise herself as a man, and with her servants, she would saunter through the streets. It wasn't that she didn't want to show her true face, but in this era, a widow was prone to gossip, and the Zheng family had no one to back them up. It was better to be safe than sorry. Sudan Fiction Net.
As she reached the liveliest street, she saw crowds of onlookers lining both sides of the road. Curiously, she glanced towards the end of the street but saw no one passing through the middle.
She quickly stopped a passing man and politely asked, "Brother, may I ask why this street is so lively today?"
The man sized her up and down with some confusion, "You're not from the capital, are you? You don't even know about something so important."
"We only recently arrived in the capital," Wu Caiwei replied with a slight blush.
"No wonder. The Third Prince has returned today. The people lining the streets are those who once witnessed his magnificence and still cherish the memory, standing here voluntarily to catch a glimpse of his divine visage." The man spoke with a hint of pride. Only those of his generation truly knew how valiant the Third Prince had been in his youth.
Wu Caiwei thanked him politely and quickly led her servants to find a good spot to wait quietly. It wasn't because she was infatuated, but because in all her years here, she had never encountered him. This Third Prince, who lived only in rumors and had never appeared in the capital, might just be him.
Standing there, she unconsciously gathered all the information she could about the Third Prince. She learned that over twenty years ago, the Third Prince was a God of War. The former emperor was incompetent, the people suffered, and many were displaced. It was the Third Prince who led his invincible army to conquer the empire.
Soon after, his father ascended the throne. Everyone assumed that the Third Prince, who had contributed so much to the Gao family, would be the next Crown Prince. To everyone's surprise, the second prince eventually ascended the throne, while the Third Prince was demoted to guard the imperial mausoleum. He guarded it for twenty years.
Today, after so long, he had finally returned to the capital. The people who had endured hardships were grateful for his appearance, like a god, liberating them from their suffering. This was their way of expressing their gratitude.
The royal family had always been cruel. Wu Caiwei was not surprised that he hadn't become emperor. The moment he conquered the empire, his father must have become wary of him. Naturally, he wouldn't be pleased to see him, nor would he pass the throne to him.
She stood on the street with the crowd for an unknown amount of time, her legs aching, before someone shouted, "He's here, he's here..."
A commotion immediately arose in the crowd. Wu Caiwei craned her neck to look into the distance. She saw a handsome and distinguished man sitting astride a magnificent horse. Though his attire was simple, the aura of majesty emanating from him inspired awe.
To Wu Caiwei's delight, the moment she saw his eyes, she knew it was him. As he rode closer, as if sensing her presence, he turned his head towards her location. Seeing her, he paused for a moment, and then the corner of his lips curved upward involuntarily.
"The Third Prince is looking at me, and he even smiled at me! Does he fancy me? I heard the Third Prince is still unmarried. Do you think I still have a chance?"
"Don't be delusional. He was clearly smiling at me. I can't believe the Third Prince, now middle-aged, still retains his charm from back then. He's truly the dream lover of many women in the capital."
"Look at yourselves, you silly girls, do you think your status is worthy of the Third Prince? Only noblewomen like me have any hope."
...
A single smile was enough to cause jealousy among the women standing near Wu Caiwei. She couldn't help but shake her head helplessly, which also proved the excellence of her "man."
Gao Zimu, stepping into the imperial palace once more, was filled with emotion. This was the place the original owner had dreamed of returning to. His attachments were here.
"Third Prince, please proceed." The eunuch's voice interrupted his thoughts. He nodded unconsciously and calmly walked into the great hall.
"Your subject pays his respects to the Emperor." The Third Prince bowed respectfully, kneeling on the ground for a long time. Hearing no voice from the Emperor, he knew he intended to assert his authority. He waited patiently.
The Emperor thought he was mentally prepared, but seeing him that moment, he couldn't help but be overwhelmed. So many years had passed, and he had aged considerably, while the Third Prince remained as he was in his youth, as if time had left no trace on him. This was not what he had expected.
When he ascended the throne, he had wanted to stab the Third Prince to death with his own sword. However, considering his prestige among the common people and the support of the generals, he had no choice but to compromise and order him to guard the imperial mausoleum for twenty years.
He had initially thought that such a proud man wouldn't be able to endure such a long time. He never expected him to return unharmed and in such good condition. It seemed he had lived quite a leisurely life at the imperial mausoleum.
Taking a deep breath, the Emperor suppressed his emotions and smiled, "Imperial brother, please rise. I was worried that the hardship of the imperial mausoleum would be too much for you, but it seems my worries were unfounded."
"It is my fault, for causing my Imperial brother to worry for so many years. Although the accommodation was simple and the clothing plain, I studied and practiced martial arts daily at the imperial mausoleum, never slacking off. My learning and martial arts have improved, making me virtually unrivaled in the world. I have gained a great deal." Gao Zimu looked at him calmly, as if unaware of the impact his words had on the Emperor.
The Emperor couldn't help but stiffen. He hadn't forgotten how the Third Prince had single-handedly held off thousands of troops, his eyes red with blood, covered in gore. He had heard that the Third Prince practiced martial arts daily. To prevent his return and to eliminate him as a threat, he had made some subtle moves. Several times, the doctors had said he was beyond saving and that he should prepare for his funeral. Yet, he had appeared before him.
"Is that so? That is a good thing. With Imperial brother here, I don't believe those Xiongnu will dare to attack us arrogantly. I have also trained many men. Would you like to spar with them and let your elder brother broaden his horizons?" The Emperor eagerly seized the opportunity. For years, he hadn't slacked off and had been continuously training his men, thinking that if the Third Prince managed to survive and return, there would be someone capable of subduing him. This was a good opportunity, and he didn't want to miss it.