Chapter: Words The long war had ended, and the capital of the Great Xu Empire was once again filled with celebration. Lanterns hung from every street, merchants opened their shops late into the night, and people spoke proudly about the victorious return of the Crown Prince.
Inside the imperial palace, however, the atmosphere in the Phoenix Hall was calm and serious.
After the court session had ended, Crown Prince Xu Chen had been summoned by the Emperor and Empress.
When Xu Chen stepped into the hall, he bowed respectfully.
"Your son greets Father Emperor and Mother Empress."
The emperor waved his hand.
"You may rise."
Xu Chen straightened and stood before them.
The Empress looked at him carefully. It had been a long time since she had seen her son properly. The eighteen months of war had changed him. His bearing was steadier, his gaze calmer, and the aura of a commander seemed to follow him even inside the palace.
"You must be tired," she said softly.
Xu Chen shook his head slightly.
"The army has already rested outside the capital. I am fine."
The emperor leaned back slightly in his seat.
"We did not call you here to speak about the war."
Xu Chen listened quietly.
The emperor continued,
"This matter concerns a request made by your grandmother some months ago."
Xu Chen raised his eyes slightly.
"Grandmother?"
The Empress nodded.
"She came to us with a very unusual request."
The emperor spoke calmly.
"She asked us to prepare an imperial edict granting someone a special privilege."
Xu Chen waited for him to continue.
"She requested that Yue Ning be granted the right to never kneel or bow before anyone in the empire… even before the emperor."
The hall fell silent.
Xu Chen was not surprised that the emperor knew Yue Ning's name.
What surprised him was that his grandmother had personally requested such an edict.
The emperor continued.
"You should understand that this privilege is extremely rare."
"Only one person in the empire currently possesses it."
Xu Chen nodded slightly.
"It's Me."
The emperor looked at him.
"Exactly."
He paused before continuing.
"So we wished to ask you something."
Xu Chen waited calmly.
The Empress spoke gently this time.
"Your grandmother seems to care deeply for Yue Ning."
"She spoke as if the girl were already part of the imperial family."
The emperor's gaze became sharp.
"And before you left for war, you once told me something."
Xu Chen knew what he meant.
Before leaving the capital two years ago, he had told the emperor that he admired someone.
But he had never revealed her name.
The emperor continued.
"You said there was someone you admired."
"Is that person Yue Ning?"
Xu Chen did not hesitate.
"Yes."
The answer was simple and calm.
The Empress smiled faintly.
"I suspected as much."
The emperor watched him carefully.
"So the two of you…"
Xu Chen spoke clearly.
"We are already together."
The emperor raised his eyebrows slightly.
"You mean you are in a relationship?"
Xu Chen nodded.
"Yes."
The Empress seemed surprised but also pleased.
"When did this happen?"
Xu Chen answered calmly.
"Before I left for the war."
"We confessed our feelings to each other."
The emperor crossed his arms.
"And yet you never told us."
Xu Chen replied respectfully,
"I wished to wait until I returned safely."
The emperor sighed lightly.
"You are the Crown Prince."
"Matters of marriage cannot remain secret forever."
Xu Chen nodded.
"I understand."
The Empress then asked curiously,
"Does the Yue family know?"
Xu Chen shook his head.
"Not yet."
The emperor looked amused.
"So neither the court nor the Yue family knows that the Crown Prince and the young lady of the Yue family are already in love."
Xu Chen remained calm.
"The time was not suitable during the war."
The emperor nodded slowly.
"That is reasonable."
He stood up and walked a few steps across the hall.
"Your grandmother's request now makes more sense."
The Empress smiled gently.
"She said Yue Ning had extraordinary character."
"And she seemed very fond of her."
Xu Chen said quietly,
"Yue Ning deserves respect."
The emperor turned to face him again.
"So you truly intend to marry her?"
Xu Chen answered firmly.
"Yes."
"I wish to make Yue Ning my Crown Princess."
The words were clear and unwavering.
The emperor studied his son for several moments.
Finally he nodded.
"Very well."
"If that is your decision, we will not oppose it."
The Empress added warmly,
"We would like to meet her properly soon."
Xu Chen lowered his head slightly.
"I will arrange it."
The emperor then continued.
"As for the imperial edict your grandmother requested…"
He paused thoughtfully.
"We will grant it."
Xu Chen looked slightly surprised.
The emperor spoke calmly.
"Since she may become the Crown Princess of the empire in the future, granting her this privilege is not unreasonable."
The Empress nodded.
"And your grandmother was very determined."
Xu Chen allowed himself a faint smile.
"She always is."
The emperor returned to his seat.
"However, we will announce the edict at an appropriate time."
Xu Chen nodded.
"I understand."
The Empress looked at him kindly.
"You should visit Yue Ning soon."
Xu Chen's eyes softened slightly.
"Yes."
He had not seen her since returning from war.
Although they had exchanged letters for months during the campaign, meeting her in person again was something he had looked forward to since the moment the war ended.
The emperor waved his hand.
"You may go now."
"Rest well tonight."
Xu Chen bowed respectfully.
"Your son takes his leave."
As he walked out of the Phoenix Hall, the moon had already risen over the palace roofs.
The palace guards stood silently along the stone paths.
Xu Chen walked slowly toward the outer palace.
His thoughts were no longer on war or court matters.
They were on one person.
Yue Ning.
The girl who had waited for him during the long war.
The girl he already loved.
And the girl who would one day stand beside him as the Crown Princess of the Great Xu Empire.