And the two horses pulling the carriage were the mounts of Xiao Changyi and Meng Zhuqing, both of which had been on the battlefield. Even when pulling a cart, both horses carried themselves with a majestic and imposing air, exceptionally valiant.
Of course, Zhuri was even more arrogant and domineering and thus more eye-catching.
An Jing had never thought of making Zhuri pull a carriage because Zhuri had accompanied Xiao Changyi through life and death. An Jing didn’t want to belittle Zhuri, but for the sake of convenience and having no other choice, she could only let Zhuri pull them.
Fortunately, Zhuri knew that the two masters sitting in the carriage were her and her husband, so it didn’t strongly resist pulling the carriage.
Xiao Changyi didn’t plan to let others drive the carriage. He would drive one, and Meng Zhuqing would drive the other—it was just perfect.
Seeing everything was ready, Xiao Changyi then looked down at the Emperor of Xiyun, who, holding onto his legs, was sitting on the ground and crying like a child: "Would you rather I knock you out and we leave on our own, or will you see us off?"
The Emperor of Xiyun immediately wiped his tears: "Naturally, I will see you off."
Su Chengyu hurriedly approached Xiao Changyi, smiling brightly, "Brother Yi, I will also see you off."
Xiao Changyi remained extremely calm: "Seeing us to the palace gates is enough; you are not allowed to out of the palace."
The Emperor of Xiyun instantly felt a bit aggrieved: "Yi Er, I want to see you off to the city gates..."
Xiao Changyi was silent.
However, Su Chengyu tried to persuade him: "Father Emperor, the Crown Prince is also considering your safety. There is no Imperial Guard mobilized outside the palace for a security cordon, so it’s better for you not to leave the palace ."
Now the Emperor of Xiyun was still wearing his Dragon Robe.
If he were to travel incognito, it would be possible.
Only then did the Emperor of Xiyun say: "In that case, I will see you off to the palace gates."
Afterward, riding the imperial chariot and the Prince’s Carriage, the Emperor of Xiyun and Su Chengyu escorted Xiao Changyi and An Jing out of the palace.
By the time they reached the last palace gate, as soon as the gate opened, and once they stepped out, An Jing and Xiao Changyi would truly have left the palace. However, the Emperor of Xiyun didn’t let them leave so easily but clung onto their carriage, crying his eyes out and lamenting his reluctance to let them go. It wasn’t until Xiao Changyi’s face darkened that the Emperor of Xiyun finally let go of the carriage and took three steps back, allowing the palace gate to be opened for Xiao Changyi and An Jing to leave.
Xiao Changyi didn’t say anything, but An Jing, vigorously waving her hand towards the Emperor of Xiyun and Su Chengyu, said, "Imperial Father, Chengyu, we will come back to the Capital to see you."
Although they didn’t know when that would be, the Emperor of Xiyun and Su Chengyu still seemed very happy, both smiling.
Xiao Changyi cast a glance at the Emperor of Xiyun, who was weeping so much that his old eyes were bright red, and then drove the carriage out of the palace.
The Emperor of Xiyun, this old father, just stood solemnly within the palace gates, silently watching Xiao Changyi’s carriage getting farther and farther away until it disappeared from his view. Only then did he sigh, turned around, and was helped by Su Chengyu onto the imperial chariot.
"What four characters did your elder brother give you?" the Emperor of Xiyun suddenly asked on the way back to the Jun Palace.
With utmost respect, Su Chengyu answered: "Forged through a thousand hammers and a hundred refinements."
"Excellent! Perfect!" The Emperor of Xiyun finally smiled again, his face still marked by the sadness of his son’s departure. "I have also been forged through a thousand hammers and a hundred refinements. I hope you don’t disappoint the earnest intentions behind these four characters your elder brother has given you."
Su Chengyu solemnly responded: "The earnest intentions of my elder brother, I shall certainly not let them down!"
When An Jing and Xiao Changyi exited the palace gate, they noticed that Li Wuyu was not waiting for them at the gate. Assuming that Prime Minister Li had not allowed Li Wuyu to leave, An Jing and Xiao Changyi didn’t mind it much.
However, as the carriage approached the Imperial Capital’s city gates, there they found Li Wuyu standing—