Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 829: Li Xingsheng & Ling Yuezi Side Story (1) Nanyue Princess

Chapter 829: Li Xingsheng & Ling Yuezi Side Story (1) Nanyue Princess

From the Feihu Village in Zhen An Prefecture, located at the border of Zhao Country, to Luocheng, the capital of Nanyue Country, there are about eight hundred miles.

This journey is mostly mountainous, and many parts are treacherous. Traveling by carriage, it’s impossible to cover a hundred miles in a day.

Ling Yuezi, to care for the frail Li Xingsheng, did not ride a horse and traveled by carriage all the way.

Traveling day and night, it took them ten days to reach Luocheng, the capital of Nanyue Country.

Nanyue Country is poor; even though Luocheng is the capital, it is not as prosperous as the Prefecture in Zhen An Prefecture.

Its city gates are not as grand as those of Zhen An Prefecture.

A child does not despise their home for being poor; however poor it may be, it’s still her home.

Seeing the ancient capital that had appeared many times in her memories and haunted her dreams, Ling Yuezi felt a mix of emotions.

She never thought she could return to the ancient capital again.

Thinking of the ancient capital in her dreams before, she just wanted to come back and see it. But now, apart from seeing it, she has a mission.

She must protect her only kin, her brother.

When reaching the city gate, Ling Yuezi switched to riding a horse, which made it easier for her to observe the streets and passersby.

"Move!" Ling Yuezi nudged the horse’s belly, urging it towards the city gate.

The attendants behind her immediately followed.

"Princess Yue has arrived! Loiterers, clear the way!" shouted the accompanying Imperial Ceremony Officer loudly.

Princess Yue?

The people quickly stepped aside, thinking to themselves, wasn’t Princess Yue missing? Rumor had it she was dead, how could she still be alive?

Everyone moved to the side and looked towards Ling Yuezi.

They saw the young woman on horseback, dressed in fiery red, with stunning beauty, yet her eyes bore a sense of vigor.

The older folks, still recalling the resemblance to Ling Yuezi’s parents, whispered, "She must be Princess Yue. Look, she resembles the late Emperor and Empress a lot."

"She also looks like our Emperor. They are truly siblings, they resemble each other," said another elder.

Listening to the familiar dialect, Ling Yuezi’s eyes gradually turned moist.

She’s come home again!

She’s returned alive.

.

Entering through the outer city gate, they passed through the bustling streets, walking for another half an hour before reaching the gate of the inner city.

Within the inner city gates lies the Imperial Palace and important government offices.

Therefore, the guards in front of this gate are most stringent, with almost no pedestrians on the road, making it extremely secluded.

The city gates were tightly closed, with two squads of twenty guards wielding swords standing in front.

To enter the inner city gates, only officials with a pass, Imperial Family members, or those carrying the Emperor’s decree may enter freely. Ordinary people, even relatives of officials, are not permitted to enter the inner city on a whim.

Li Xingsheng, who had accompanied Ling Yuezi back, was an outsider male without special permission and could not enter the inner city.

Ling Yuezi rode her horse to Li Xingsheng’s carriage, "Godfather, I cannot take you into the palace. I’ll have Ah Qing and Ah Lan accompany you to find a place to stay."

Li Xingsheng lifted the curtain and looked outside, "Once you enter the inner city, you can’t leave easily. How can I be at ease with you? Let them all follow you; I’ll manage with the others."

"But Godfather..." Ling Yuezi glances at the few accompanying people, though skilled in martial arts, they fear attracting attention, so they brought few people; she had twelve maids and Li Xingsheng only had four guards.

"Godfather has lived here for many years; what are you worrying about?" Li Xingsheng chuckled and waved his hand, "I’ll see you off here; we’ll reunite another day."

Where they would reunite, they had already discussed back at Feihu Village.

About five miles away from the inner city gates lies Shengyan Temple.

Li Xingsheng ordered the coachman to continue onward, leaving here and heading to Shengyan Temple.

Watching them depart, Ling Yuezi said to the guiding Imperial Ceremony Officer, "Enter the palace."

"Yes, Princess Yue." The officer replied, turning to shout at the gates, "Princess Yue returns to the palace, open the gates!"

"Open the gates!" The guard leader also shouted.

The sword-wielding guards stepped aside, still assessing Ling Yuezi.

Some secretly marveled, is their Princess Yue a celestial maiden?

The guard troop withdrew to both sides, and the city gates opened from within.

Inside the gates, there were also many guards.

The Imperial Ceremony Officer entered the gate first, Ling Yuezi followed, and her carriage team also entered the inner city.

On one side inside the inner city gates stood several people dressed as palace eunuchs, who ran towards Ling Yuezi briskly, "Welcome Princess Yue back to the palace."

Ling Yue jumped off her horse and walked over to them, "Rise."

"Thank you, Princess Yue," the crowd replied, standing up.

One of the eunuchs dressed in purple approached Ling Yuezi, smiling, "The Regent King is currently accompanying the Emperor to meet with ministers discussing state affairs. He apologizes for not being able to greet Princess Yue in person, and has sent us here, hoping Princess Yue will understand."

Ling Yuezi examined this person’s attire.

Purple clothes indicate the highest rank among the eunuchs.

But no matter how high the status, he was still merely a eunuch.

Yet after leaving the palace for years, upon returning as the Eldest Princess, only a low-ranking fifth-grade eunuch, accompanied by a group of eunuchs and palace maids, came to welcome her.

Those who don’t know might think it’s the welcome for an official’s daughter from outside the palace.

Starting with a show of authority, it seems the days of returning to the palace are destined to be restless.

Ling Yuezi has been on the run, enduring hardships for seven years to avoid assassination.

Life’s difficulties and bitterness, she has tasted them all, such petty threats cannot intimidate her.

She merely smiled calmly.

"The Regent King is a busy man, the affairs of the court large and small still rely on him, how could he be troubled to welcome me personally?" Ling Yuezi smiled.

Her smile appeared gentle, but there was coldness hidden in her eyes.

The eunuch met her gaze and felt a fierce thump in his heart.

Princess Yue, she seems hard to deal with?

After passing through the inner city gate, the palaces were ahead, and the carriages couldn’t proceed, everyone switched to walking.

Ling Yuezi’s luggage was carried by her maids.

The twelve maids given to her by Luo Zhencuan were all dressed as ordinary maids, their short outfits changed into graceful long dresses.

Entering the palace is fraught with trouble, Ling Yuezi didn’t want to attract too much attention from the Regent King.

As they walked, the Imperial Eunuch introduced the residence arranged for Ling Yuezi, "The Emperor has arranged for Princess Yue to stay at the Moon Palace."

"Where does the Emperor stay?" Ling Yuezi asked.

The Moon Palace was where her mother used to live.

"The Emperor stays at Long’an Hall," the eunuch replied.

"How about the Regent King?" Ling Yuezi asked again.

The Regent King’s original title was Prince Ping, an Alien Prince.

He was conferred the title of Prince Ping by Ling Yuezi’s father for his military achievements.

"The Emperor is young, for the Emperor’s safety, the Regent King stays at Longrui Palace," the eunuch said.

Longrui Palace is right next to Long’an Hall, yet directly in front of Moon Palace.

They are all quite close.

Ling Yuezi asked nothing more because their party had already arrived before the largest hall in the palace, Qianyuan Hall.

This is where the Emperor and his ministers hold morning court sessions.

On the left of Qianyuan Hall, there’s Jixian Hall where scholars conduct affairs, and on the right is Martial Arts Hall where imperial exams are held.

The two halls are separated from Qianyuan Hall by wide palace alleys.

Through the alleys, they entered the inner palace.

Ling Yuezi remembered how during her father’s reign, there were often people going to and fro in the alleys, but today she scarcely saw anyone along the way.

Unconsciously, they reached the front of Moon Palace.

The palace doors were wide open, two palace maids standing at the entrance saw Ling Yuezi approaching and immediately descended the steps to greet her, "Princess Yue."

Ling Yuezi glanced at them and walked past.

She said nothing.

From her years of interacting with martial artists, she could tell these two palace maids had trained in combat.

Assigning two martial palace maids to serve her as Eldest Princess, surely her brother the Emperor must be surrounded by martial artists keeping watch?

Ling Yuezi felt heavy-hearted and didn’t bother conversing with the palace maids.

But her cold demeanor took the maids by surprise.

They thought Ling Yuezi was just a frail woman, since the Emperor is like that, surely the brother is like the sister, but upon meeting her, perhaps they were mistaken?

The two exchanged glances, pursed their lips, and kept silent.

Ling Yuezi entered the hall, greeted by several palace maids and eunuchs, "Princess Yue."

Four palace maids, four eunuchs.

All young, yet quite sturdy in build.

Fortunately, these weren’t martial artists.

The eunuch introduced them, "Princess Yue, these are specifically selected by the Regent King to serve you."

Specially choosing sturdy individuals, is this service or surveillance?

Ling Yuezi’s expression remained indifferent, "The Regent King has put much thought into this."

"Princess Yue, the bed is prepared, you must be weary from your long journey, would you like to rest first?" suggested an older palace maid who stepped forward. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Ling Yuezi replied, "No, after I change clothes, I would like to see the Emperor."

She gestured to the maids she brought along.

The twelve of them set out without needing assistance from the palace maids, carrying the rattan luggage chest containing Ling Yuezi’s garments to the bedroom.

The palace maids and eunuchs glanced at one another, not daring to ask much.

Ling Yuezi’s gaze was icy, her speech concise.

This Eldest Princess seems difficult to approach!