Shuhan

The sun shines outside the city of Chang'an. The golden light and the chill of early spring interweave, covering this ancient capital with a solemn and warm cloak.

The news of the emperor's return to the north spread quickly to every corner of Chang'an like a spring breeze.

Outside the Shili Changting, military officials were already ready for battle. They were dressed in iron armor, holding spears, and standing majestically on the side of the road.

The sunlight reflected off their armor, creating a dazzling light.

Liu Bao, the Marquis of Yangquan, was a man of great stature and a face as red as a date. Between his eyebrows, he revealed an aura of majesty without anger. From time to time, he looked into the distance and silently said in his heart: "Your Majesty has returned, and the Han Dynasty will surely usher in a new glory."

Qingyi Hou Xiangju, on the other hand, looked like a scholar, holding a feather fan, smiling, with wisdom gleaming in his eyes. He seemed to be thinking about how to better assist His Majesty in governing the country.

As the distance shortened, the outline of Chang'an City gradually became clear. People gathered spontaneously on both sides of the street. They were dressed in festive costumes, their faces were filled with excitement, and they shouted: "Long live! Long live!"

The laughter of children, the prayers of the elderly and the cheers of young people intertwined together to form a moving melody that resounded through the sky.

A white-haired old man, holding a cane and with tears in his eyes, said to the young man beside him: "In my lifetime, I have been able to witness the heroic figure of the Emperor of the Han Dynasty with my own eyes. I will die without regrets."

The young man responded excitedly: "Yes, Your Majesty has fought many battles in the south and the north, and expanded the territory for the Han Dynasty. He is truly an emperor of all ages!"

Outside the city of Chang'an, an avenue decorated with flowers and colorful silks leads directly to the city gate. On both sides of the road, people are crowded, yet orderly.

They stood or knelt, holding their best fruits, delicacies and wines to express their respect for His Majesty.

The children rode on the adults' shoulders, their eyes wide open, afraid of missing any details.

A mother held her baby, patted the child's back and said softly: "Look, that's our emperor. You must learn your skills well and serve His Majesty in the future."

The ranks of officials were even more spectacular; they were arranged in order according to their rank, and everyone's face was filled with solemnity and expectation.

Prime Minister Zhuge Liang was wearing prime minister's robes and a jade belt on his head, and his brows revealed extraordinary wisdom and calmness.

He stood at the front of the team, his eyes sharp.

Beside him, Yangquan Marquis Liu Bao, Qingyi Marquis Xiang Ju and others also had solemn expressions. Occasionally, they exchanged glances, and one could read the excitement and pride in each other's hearts.

Zhang Yi, with a thin figure and a resolute face, gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and looked into the distance with firm eyes.

Huang Quan, on the other hand, had the demeanor of a Confucian scholar. He gently stroked the sword at his waist with a faint smile on his lips.

Yin Chun, an official under the Grand Marshal, was dressed in gorgeous official robes, with a golden crown on his head. He had a plump face and his eyes revealed a bit of wisdom and cunning.

He whispered to Zhao Qi, the Chang'an official beside him, "Your Majesty will surely do greater things when you return this time. We need to work harder to live up to your Majesty's high expectations."

Zhao Qi nodded in agreement, his face filled with infinite longing for the future.

Yang Hong, a member of the Zhizhong staff, was tall with a resolute face. He clenched his fists, as if he wanted to concentrate all his strength at this moment to make the best preparations to welcome His Majesty's arrival.

He Zong, who served as the chief priest, looked gentle and elegant. He gently adjusted his collar, and his eyes revealed his infinite admiration for His Majesty.

Du Qiong, a member of the Council of Ministers, held a bamboo slip in his hand with a serious expression. He recited poems in praise of Your Majesty in a low voice. Although his voice was soft, every word was sonorous and powerful.

Zhang Shuang, Yin Mo, Qiao Zhou and others who were in charge of encouraging learning had bookish airs on their faces. They talked with each other and discussed how to better spread your majesty's philosophy of governing the country to the people.

Grand Tutor Xu Jing is old but in good spirits. He holds a cane and his eyes reveal his deep concern for Your Majesty.

Taichang Lai Gong, Guanglu Xun Huang Zhu, Shaofu Wang Mou and others were all eagerly waiting.

With a deafening sound of horse hooves, the emperor's carriage slowly appeared in everyone's sight. At that moment, all the noise seemed to stop, leaving only the sounds of heartbeats and breathing.

All the officials knelt on the ground and shouted: "Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long, long live the emperor!"

The people were even more excited. They shouted "Long live the king" and their voices reached the sky.

The Emperor of Han, the man destined to restore the Han Dynasty three times, finally returned to his capital. His people expressed their respect and love for him in the most direct and warmest way.

At this moment, there was jubilation inside and outside Chang'an City, and the whole world was cheering for this great monarch.

The imperial chariot was pulled by eight majestic horses, and the horses' hooves made a steady and powerful sound as they stepped on the official road.

Around the chariot, curtains embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns fluttered gently and swayed in the wind, adding a sense of mystery while retaining the royal nobility and elegance.

The body of the car is carved with intricate totems, and every stroke contains profound cultural heritage and awe for the order of heaven and earth, demonstrating the exquisite skills of the craftsmen of a great country.

As the imperial chariot slowly approached, the civil and military officials and the people of Chang'an City who had been waiting for a long time burst into deafening cheers. They raised their hands high and shouted "Long live the emperor". The voices gathered into an unstoppable torrent, rushing straight into the sky and pushing the atmosphere of the entire Chang'an City to a climax.

Liu Chan, wearing a dragon robe, a crown on his head and a smile on his face, slowly walked out of the imperial chariot. His steps were steady and his eyes revealed an indescribable majesty.

The sun shone on his face, adding a bit of divine radiance to him. He raised his hands high and saluted the people around him. At that moment, the people admired him and cheered loudly. It seemed that the whole city of Chang'an was cheering for the young emperor.

Amid the cheers of the crowd, Liu Chan's eyes fell on Zhuge Liang not far away.

Zhuge Liang was wearing the prime minister's robe, which was embroidered with silver cloud and crane patterns, making him look both solemn and elegant.

Although his hair has turned gray, his eyes are still sharp, revealing wisdom and tenacity.

The years have left marks on his face, but his loyalty to the country and his dedication to his ideals will never fade, just like the feather fan in his hand.

An indescribable feeling of emotion welled up in Liu Chan's heart.

During his campaigns against Wei and Wu, it was Zhuge Liang who single-handedly stabilized the political situation and ensured the normal operation of the country.

This achievement cannot be fully described in words.

He walked quickly towards Zhuge Liang, personally helped the prime minister who was about to salute, and said with sincerity and gratitude in his voice: "Thank you for your hard work, Prime Minister."

Zhuge Liang's eyes flashed with warmth when he heard this. He shook his head slightly and said in a gentle but firm voice: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Without Your Majesty's conquest of the world and winning the hearts of the people, how could I have done these things? This is Your Majesty's achievement, and I am just doing my humble part."

After hearing this, Liu Chan was filled with emotion.

He held Zhuge Liang's hand tightly, and the two of them smiled at each other. There was no need for further words. The tacit understanding and trust between the monarch and his subject were beyond the scope of what words could express.

At this time, the ministers around also came forward to pay their respects.

Surrounded by the crowd, Liu Chan and Zhuge Liang boarded the imperial chariot again. The chariot slowly drove into Chang'an City amid the cheers of the crowd.

On both sides of the streets in the city, flowers and incense tables were placed in front of every household to express their warm welcome to the emperor's return.

Wherever the emperor's chariot passed, people would stop to watch and cheer in tribute.

Inside the imperial chariot, Liu Chan and Zhuge Liang sat opposite each other.

Liu Chan said softly: "Prime Minister, although I have won the war, the world is not yet settled. We need to work harder to realize the last wish of the late emperor."

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly, gently waving the feather fan in his hand, and said in a firm and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my best to help Your Majesty accomplish your great cause until my death."

As the night deepened, the lights in Chang'an City dimmed, but the Taiji Hall was brightly lit, and a grand banquet was in progress. Although Liu Chan was exhausted physically and mentally, he still had to fulfill his duties as a monarch and celebrate his return with all the officials.

At the banquet, there was a dazzling array of delicacies, the aroma of wine, and melodious music. Officials either raised their glasses to drink or chatted in low voices. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

After all the officials paid homage, Liu Chan raised his glass and gave a speech, thanking all the officials for their hard work. His words were sincere and his emotions were genuine.

All officials responded, raised their glasses and drank together to express their loyalty and respect to the emperor.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the atmosphere of the banquet reached its climax. Liu Chan's face turned red, showing that he was a little drunk.

Late at night, the banquet finally ended, and Liu Chan, supported by his attendants, slowly walked towards the harem.

The Pepper Room, the palace built specifically for the queen, is now quietly waiting for its owner to return.

Inside the palace, the queen had been waiting for a long time.

She was wearing a luxurious phoenix robe, a golden crown on her head, and a plump figure, dignified and elegant. Her face was gentle, and her eyes revealed a bit of joy and worry.

When she saw the drunken Liu Chan being helped in by his attendants, she immediately went up to him and asked with concern, "Your Majesty, why did you drink so much? Quickly get someone to prepare some sobering soup."

The queen's voice was gentle. As she spoke, she gestured to the palace maid beside her to prepare a hangover soup.

The palace maids took orders and left, moving quickly and orderly.

Next to the queen stood a young girl in a brocade skirt.

She was the queen's sister, still young, with a pretty face and skin as white as snow. She stood there timidly, like a flower that had just bloomed.

She looked at Liu Chan secretly, her eyes revealing a bit of curiosity and shyness.

This was the first time in recent years that she had come into such close contact with the emperor, and she couldn't help feeling nervous and uneasy.

The queen noticed her sister's strange behavior and gently patted the back of her hand to comfort her.

She knew her sister's thoughts very well, so she said softly: "Don't be afraid, he is your brother-in-law and our Majesty. He will not eat you."

Hearing this, the girl nodded slightly, and the tension and uneasiness in her heart gradually dissipated.

She began to observe Liu Chan carefully and found that although he was drunk, his brows still revealed an indescribable majesty and heroism.

She couldn't help but feel a bit of respect and curiosity for her brother-in-law.

At this time, the palace maids came in with sobering soup.

The queen took the hangover soup and gently fed it to Liu Chan. Under the queen's care, Liu Chan gradually regained consciousness. He looked at the queen with a bit of tenderness in his eyes.

No matter where he is, no matter how much hardship he has experienced, the Queen is always his strongest support.

When the queen saw that Liu Chan was awake, she smiled with relief.

The night was as dark as ink. The flickering candlelight in the Pepper Room illuminated the figures of Liu Chan and the Queen leaning on each other.

Liu Chan found an excuse and casually sent his sister-in-law away. There was a bit of childishness and curiosity in his sister-in-law's eyes.

But Liu Chan's words were gentle but carried unquestionable majesty, so the girl left without thinking too much, leaving only him and the queen in this quiet hall.

When the queen saw this, a gleam of understanding flashed in her eyes and a gentle smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

How could she not understand Liu Chan's feelings, and she also understood what this rare world of two people meant to them.

The fields have not been watered for a year, and now the water is about to overflow.

She slowly stood up and walked towards Liu Chan, and the distance between them narrowed silently.

The queen had a plump figure and wore a gorgeous phoenix robe, looking like a noble fairy.

Her face was gentle and dignified, and her eyes revealed a bit of tenderness and expectation.

Liu Chan was deeply attracted by this beauty and could not help but step forward and hug the queen tightly.

When the queen felt Liu Chan's embrace, a warm feeling surged in her heart.

She closed her eyes, enjoying this rare intimacy and warmth.

She put her arms around Liu Chan's waist, as if she wanted to keep him by her side forever.

The two of them hugged each other tightly, as if the whole world had stopped.

It was a dark night, and the bright moon of Chang'an hung high in the sky. The moonlight shone through the window lattices of the Pepper House Palace and fell on the two of them, adding a bit of mystery and romance to this intimacy.

Under the moonlight, Liu Chan and the Queen seemed to have merged into each other's world and become an inseparable one.

Liu Chan's breathing gradually became rapid. He lowered his head and whispered in the queen's ear: "I miss you so much."

His voice was low and magnetic, which made the queen's heart beat faster.

She raised her head and looked at Liu Chan, her eyes shining, as if she wanted to engrave his figure in her heart forever.

The queen responded softly, "I have always missed Your Majesty."

Her voice was gentle yet firm, revealing her deep attachment to Liu Chan.

The two of them confided their innermost thoughts to each other, as if they wanted to put all their thoughts and love into this brief reunion.

As their emotions grew, the atmosphere between them became more and more heated.

They were like dry wood meeting fire, ready to explode.

Liu Chan hugged the queen tightly, and their bodies were pressed tightly together, as if they were about to merge into one.

Their heartbeats and breathing sounds intertwined together, and the air seemed to become hazy.

On this deep night, the bright moon of Chang'an witnessed the deep affection and passion between them.

In this rare intimacy, Liu Chan and the Queen found each other's support and warmth.

They supported and accompanied each other and spent this unforgettable night together.

As the night gradually faded away and the morning light began to appear, the Pepper House Palace returned to its former tranquility and solemnity.

For Liu Chan, a new day is about to begin. (End of this chapter)