There were nearly a million people in Chang'an, and now they were all out in the streets, cheering for the return of the Han army.
It could truly be said that the streets were empty as everyone gathered to witness the spectacle.
Emperor Liu Che led the officials of Chang'an, great and small, to personally welcome the army twenty li outside the city!
Wei Qing's great victory at Dragon City was a triumph the Han house had never seen in over seventy years of dealing with the Xiongnu. This was the first time since the peace treaty following the Battle of Mt. Baideng that the Han house had held an absolute upper hand in the war against the Xiongnu.
Seeing the banners fluttering ahead from the city walls of Chang'an, Shaodian Qingnu glanced over.
"This is only the beginning..."
Qingnu murmured softly.
After the grand ceremony where the officials offered their congratulations, a private family banquet was held.
Inside Changle Palace, only Liu Che, Wei Qing, and Wei Zifu were present. At this time, Wei Zifu was not yet the empress. Despite the table being filled with delicacies, none of the three had moved a muscle.
Inside and outside the palace, it was deathly quiet.
Wei Zifu felt uneasy, whispering a question, "Will the teacher come?"
Liu Che took her hand, patting it gently. "She will. The messenger I sent has already seen the goddess. She will come."
Despite his words, Liu Che felt a trace of worry as time passed without any sign of Qingnu.
Suddenly, the doors to the inner hall of Changle Palace were kicked open with a bang!
Qingnu strolled in leisurely, with Hongluan perched on her shoulder in the form of a bird, and Chunyu Tiying following closely behind.
Overjoyed, the three of them immediately bowed in greeting.
Qingnu never cared for such etiquette. She waved her hand and took a seat.
During the meal, Liu Che spoke incessantly of his gratitude toward Qingnu. Had it not been for her, who knew how many people in the Central Plains would have perished due to the flooding of the Yellow River.
"You have also trained a Great General for my Great Han, as well as such a virtuous lady. I..."
As Liu Che was speaking, someone else entered the Changle Palace.
The newcomer was Chen Ajiao.
Chen Ajiao paid her respects to Liu Che and scanned the room. She had never met Qingnu, but she knew of Wei Qing.
Her expression turned cold as she spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, since this is a family banquet, should you not be with the Grand Dowager Empress, the Empress Dowager, and myself? Why are you with them? And who is this person?"
"Empress, you are being insolent!"
Seeing Chen Ajiao glare at Qingnu, Liu Che frowned and shouted a rebuke.
Qingnu continued chewing on some mutton, looking like she was watching a play.
However, Chen Ajiao would not let it go, her face filled with jealousy. Qingnu swallowed her meat and wiped her hands.
She took out the jiao-snake pearl, and while she was at it, she began packing up the food to take with her.
This miraculous feat caused Chen Ajiao's pupils to shrink. Qingnu stood up, waving a hand at Liu Che. "Don't involve me in your family matters. Little Tiying, let's go!"
Chunyu Tiying followed Qingnu's lead and immediately stood up to follow.
As Qingnu's group departed, Liu Che's expression became extremely grim. He shot a cold look at Chen Ajiao.
"Empress, do you realize she is the goddess our Han house has been seeking for decades since the time of Emperor Gao? She is my most honored guest! How dare you..."
"A goddess? She..."
Chen Ajiao looked stunned.
Qingnu didn't care about the affairs of the harem; she was in no mood for it.
After leaving Chang'an, she traveled across the Central Plains.
However, the image of the Jade Maiden of Mount Tai in the eyes of the commoners was one accompanied by a blue bird and a medicine-dispensing fairy. No matter which village she visited, someone would always recognize her.
At the entrance of one village, Qingnu was recognized again. A swarm of villagers poured out, carrying meat and food to offer her.
The snake girl liked excitement, but she didn't like it to be constant.
Being too popular wasn't always a good thing.
She finally managed to slip away from the bustling crowd. Wiping her sweat, she grabbed Chunyu Tiying's shoulder and said seriously, "Little Tiying, you should go!"
"Go back to Mt. Tai, or go home and visit. Just don't follow this snake for now!"
"This snake can't take it anymore, ugh..."
Seeing Qingnu's expression, Chunyu Tiying suppressed a smile and nodded gently. "Yes, My Lady!"
Hongluan was much smaller and easier to hide.
After Chunyu Tiying departed first, the number of people who recognized Qingnu finally dwindled. She was able to travel across the Central Plains in peace.
Over the years, seeing the disaster-stricken lands once ravaged by the Yellow River slowly regain their vitality, Qingnu felt quite gratified.
As she passed through Xinzheng, Qingnu saw several children laughing happily at a village entrance in the distance.
They were holding snakes woven from thatch, chasing each other.
'Hebo, Hebo, be at peace today! Black Snake, Black Snake, bring down heavenly light!'
Hearing this nursery rhyme, Qingnu froze.
She stood on the slope, watching the brilliant smiles on the children's faces. She paused for a long time before letting out a light chuckle.
Qingnu lowered her bamboo hat and turned to walk in another direction. As the sound of the rhyme faded into the distance, she asked as she walked, "Sister Bird, do you know the Hebo of the Yellow River?"
Hongluan was perched on Qingnu's shoulder. Hearing the question, she tilted her head to look at her.
After a long silence, she replied, "...No."
Qingnu asked again, "Does the Yellow River even have a Hebo?"
After another silence, Hongluan shook her head. "It seems... it doesn't."
"Then I won't be polite!"
Qingnu puffed out her chest, ready to take the role.
Hongluan understood her meaning and tilted her head. "Stupid snake, you've got quite the nerve. This is the Yellow River!"
"I already took the title of the Goddess of Mt. Tai. Why should I fear being the Hebo of the Yellow River?"
Qingnu didn't care, waving her hand as she spoke.
If she couldn't do it now, then in a hundred or a thousand years—as long as she kept living, she would eventually succeed!
...
By the time Qingnu heard news from Chang'an again, ten years had passed.
Due to the Yellow River floods, the Han court had rested and recuperated for several years. Now, Wei Qing was the Marquis of Guannei and the Great General, leading the army once more to campaign against the Xiongnu this year.
Wei Zifu had given Liu Che a son—his firstborn!
Because of this, she had been promoted to the rank of empress.
"Truly, those in the mountains lose track of time while years pass by in the world."
Qingnu sighed, waving to Hongluan in the sky. "Sister Bird, shall we go take a look?"
Hongluan descended and transformed into her human form.
She glanced at Qingnu and nodded. "I watched her grow up after all. If you want to go, I'll go with you. But shouldn't we pick out a gift?"
"Oh, just pick some pretty coral from the sea and send it. No need to be fancy!"
Qingnu waved her hand casually, intending to just grab some coral from the shore as a gift.
When they arrived, Liu Che and Wei Zifu were incredibly excited.
Qingnu rolled her eyes at them. "I'm here to see the child, not you two. Why are you so excited? Don't block my way!"
Wei Zifu immediately led Qingnu to the bedside, saying excitedly, "It is this child's fortune that the teacher has come in person!"
The small infant on the bed saw Qingnu and reached out a hand toward her.
"The little girl from back then now has a child of her own..."
Qingnu looked at the infant, then turned to Wei Zifu with deep emotion. "Have you named the child?"
Liu Che nodded quickly. "We have. His name is Liu Ju!"
"Little Liu Che, I wasn't asking you!"
Qingnu glanced at Liu Che with a look of slight disdain.
Just then, a ten-year-old boy came running in from outside the hall. His voice rang out before he even reached them.
"Your Majesty! Aunt!"
Your Majesty?
Aunt?
Hearing these forms of address for Liu Che and Wei Zifu, Qingnu's gaze fell upon the boy.
Seeing the air of nobility about the youth, she asked softly, "Who is he?"
"Qubing, come here!"
Wei Zifu beckoned to the boy.
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