Yu Mingjing felt the mirror's gaze and looked up, meeting his sister's eyes from the window. He waved and continued to follow the procession.
Yu Mingyue felt she could remain calm and composed, yet her eyes still welled up. She didn't even notice Mo Yuxi, whose heart was pounding beside her.
Mo Yuxi stared at Yu Mingjing's retreating back, and even after he disappeared, his smile still lingered in her mind.
The Sage was in high spirits. After receiving the triumphant army, he went to the Taiji Hall for commendations and encouragement. Prime Minister Mo, who was usually neutral, even praised the Seventh Prince for his bravery and skill in battle.
Prime Minister Mo was an elder from the previous emperor's reign, balancing the interests of noble families and the upright officials. His influence in court was extraordinary. When even he spoke in praise, the court officials understood the implication: it was time to petition the Sage in the morning court to establish a Crown Prince soon.
After setting the date for the victory banquet, the Sage kept Xiao Che for a private talk. The soldiers, having been away from the capital for a long time, were eager for the celebrations to end so they could reunite with their families.
Yu Mingjing returned to the Duke's mansion, and it was already late.
The moment he stepped into the mansion, he shed his pretense. Seeing his family, the sternness in his eyes was replaced by tenderness. He strode forward and bowed to Cui Shi, "Mother."
Tears welled up in Cui Shi's eyes. She helped her son up, "Get up quickly, let Mother look at you."
He had grown taller and stronger, his eyes holding the resilience of someone who had experienced war. Her son was only eighteen, yet he was already a true man.
Yu Mingjing stood up and hugged Cui Shi, "Mother, your son missed you so much."
This single sentence broke through Cui Shi's carefully contained tears. For more than half a year, she had not gone a single day without thinking of them, father and son.
At night, her dreams were filled with one being injured or the other being trapped.
Especially when news came from the front lines that her son and the Seventh Prince were missing. Although she knew that Yu family members had an innate sense of direction and wouldn't get lost even on the grasslands, she still couldn't sleep well for days until the news of their triumphant return arrived.
Yu Mingyue's eyes also reddened. Seeing his mother and sister unhappy, the youngest son, Liulang, babbled beside them, even glaring at Yu Mingjing.
Yu Mingjing's attention was drawn to him. He picked up Liulang, "You're quite something, daring to shout at your elder brother."
Liulang, as if understanding, continued to glare fiercely at his brother and even raised his hand to hit Yu Mingjing.
Yu Mingjing caught Liulang's chubby hand, "You even dare to hit your elder brother. It seems I'll have to discipline you properly in the future."
With his hand caught, Liulang burst into tears and cried out to his mother and sister for help. Cui Shi was amused by the brothers and took Liulang, pointing at Yu Mingjing, "This is your elder brother. He will teach you to read and write..."
Liulang could only call out "Mother, Mother." He seemed to understand vaguely. Seeing his mother smiling at his elder brother, he also smiled, giggling, as if calling out to his brother.
"I visited Father before returning to the capital. Father is well. Now that the northern border is peaceful, Mother doesn't need to worry!" Yu Mingjing said.
However, the Sage had kept his father in Jizhou, and he might not be able to return to the capital for one or two years.
Since the Sage wanted to utilize the Duke's mansion, father and son could not both remain in the capital. Although he had military achievements, his age and qualifications were insufficient to serve as a regional commander. The Sage would likely keep him in the capital for two years.
"You and your father always report good news and hide the bad. He left in such a hurry last time and didn't bring many clothes. I don't know if the clothes I sent have been received," Cui Shi said.
"Mother, please rest assured. There is no shortage of anything in the army, and it is not as difficult as Mother imagines. In fact, your son saw that Father seemed more energetic than when he was in the capital," Yu Mingjing said with a smile.