Sheng Jinyu turned to look at Lu Wanning and sneered. "I'm very busy. I don't have time to play these useless games with you."
When he reached the door, Sheng Jinyu thought for a moment. That jade flute had taken him a great deal of effort to find. Giving it to Lu Wanning would truly be a waste. He turned back, took the box containing the jade flute, and left.
Lu Wanning was utterly confused by his actions. She pulled on Jiyue beside her and asked, "What's wrong with him? He seems so cold, but why did he accept the thank - you gift I gave?"
Jiyue scratched her head and tentatively said, "Perhaps... Your Highness, Prince Yu has always been cold. He treats everyone like that. Moreover, there have been many affairs in the capital recently. As Prince Yu said, he's very busy. As for the jade flute... Your servant thinks Prince Yu accepted your thanks, which is why he took the flute."
Lu Wanning slapped her forehead. "You're right. It must be so. Hehe, done! Let's go home!"
Was that really so perfunctory? Jiyue thought it over seriously and then felt a bit proud. In the past, the princess only knew to chase after the Heir of the Fu family. Now that she was willing to listen to others, it was a good thing. In the future, she would definitely think more and help the princess solve problems.
On the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the King of the South returned in triumph. Everyone in the capital was overjoyed. The common people lined up in a long row that stretched for more than ten miles outside the city. Lu Wanning, accompanied by her maid Jiyue, sat in a carriage and slowly made her way outside the city. Originally, the princess consort was reluctant, but unable to resist her daughter's pleading, she reluctantly agreed and arranged for guards to escort her.
Lu Wanning curiously lifted the curtain and looked out. She asked, "Is today some special day? It's so cold in the middle of winter. Why aren't they staying at home but coming out?"
Jiyue replied with a smile, "Your Highness, they're here to welcome the king back to the capital. The king achieved a great victory over the tribes in the north this time. He's made great contributions. The tribes in the north have already sent a large number of beautiful women and treasures to surrender."
Although Lu Wanning didn't know the specific details, there was such a passage in the original book. After the King of the South defeated the tribes in the north, he became arrogant and didn't put anyone in his eyes. It was from this time that the emperor began to be secretly dissatisfied with him.
Now it seemed that just the return in triumph was such a grand occasion. It always seemed a bit abnormal.
Lu Wanning thought for a moment, called for the carriage to stop, and walked on foot for a while. She noticed that although some of the common people had happy expressions on their faces, most of them were somewhat dissatisfied with having to get up early and stand in a long line.
There were even some young children with red faces from the cold, crying and shrinking into their mothers' arms.
Lu Wanning walked over and picked up a handkerchief to wipe the child's face.
The woman quickly waved her hand with a smile. "Your Ladyship, you mustn't. How could we be worthy of using your handkerchief?"
After saying that, as if frightened, she carried the child and ran away.
Lu Wanning frowned slightly. Since she wasn't from this place, she didn't have a sense of social hierarchy. She just felt very uncomfortable seeing the woman's timid appearance.
An old man on the side of the road rubbed his back and said to a man beside him, "Wasting a day means losing a day's wages. Sigh!"
Lu Wanning quickly walked over and lined up behind them. She asked, "What are you lining up for? Are there things to receive?"
The two men looked at Lu Wanning's silk clothes. They glanced at each other and hesitated. But Lu Wanning was good - looking, with a pair of pure and innocent eyes.
The old man still explained to her, "There's nothing to receive. We were forced to come. The capital guards said that since the General of the South is returning in triumph today, everyone has to come out to welcome him..."
The other man pushed the old man. The old man quickly waved his hand. "Girl, don't ask anymore. You people don't need to line up on such a day. Don't mess around. Your family will worry about you. Go home quickly."
Lu Wanning was deeply affected. When she got back into the carriage, she took off all the ornaments on her head, forced Jiyue to exchange clothes with her, and then got out of the carriage to find a place to line up.
Jiyue was extremely anxious. "Your Highness, at least put on the fur coat. It's so cold. What if you catch a cold?"
Catch a cold? She was wearing Jiyue's woolen robe. How could she be cold? It was the people lining up on the street, adults and children alike, who were all wearing coarse - cloth clothes. The thicker ones were just made of a few more layers of cloth with some stuffing inside, which wasn't warm at all.
After stamping her feet and finally getting to the back of a line, a Royal Guard came over with a whip and shouted, "Which street are you from? Hurry up and go to the outskirts."
A leading man said, "The official told us yesterday to wait here. If we go to the outskirts, what about this place?"
The Royal Guard was fierce. "Just go when I tell you. Stop talking nonsense! Remember to come back after welcoming the king. Do you hear me?"
Lu Wanning's shoes and socks were wet, which made her very uncomfortable. She dawdled, trying to find something to wipe them. Then the Royal Guard's whip came over.
The leading man quickly stopped him. "Hey, sir, please talk nicely. It's so cold. This little girl can't bear a whip like that!"
Someone in front was urging, and the Royal Guard left cursing.
Only then did the leading man take a good look at Lu Wanning. Seeing her porcelain - white face and great beauty, he curiously asked, "Which family's daughter are you? I've never seen you before."
Lu Wanning looked around, pretending to be flustered, as if she had gone to the wrong place.
Seeing this, the leading man sighed. "You're not from our street, are you? Judging from your expensive clothes, you're from Chaozong Street. Well, you've lined up in the wrong place. Forget it. It's chaotic today. Just follow us and don't run around."
Lu Wanning thanked him profusely and followed the man. She asked again, "Uncle, is it really necessary to make such a grand occasion just for a general's return in triumph?"
The man said helplessly, "What can we do when the higher - ups give the order? The General of the South used to be really good, dedicated to the country and the people. But after so many years of war, sigh... It's hard to say. Forget it, little girl. Those things aren't for us common people to think about. Just obey the order."
Lu Wanning asked again, "Did the general order us to line up? But the general isn't even in the capital. How could he make people do such things?"
The man laughed. "Silly girl, who else could it be if not the general? Just because the general is away, doesn't mean others are. Oh, as I'm talking, I've let something slip. The higher - ups don't want us to call him general. We should call him king."
Seeing that she couldn't find out anything, Lu Wanning found an opportunity to slip away.
Back in the carriage, she couldn't calm down for a long time. She pulled on Jiyue and asked, "Who do you think arranged today's grand occasion? My father is just a general. Is it really necessary for everyone in the capital to go and welcome him? It's a waste of money and people's effort."
"The king is very capable. Everyone going to welcome him shows the grandeur. Maybe it was arranged by the emperor." Jiyue didn't care about these things. She lowered her head to take off the princess's shoes and socks and wipe them. She was extremely anxious and wished she could immediately take the princess back to the mansion for a hot bath to ward off the cold.