I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 990 The Four Barbarian Tribes Shock the Heavenly Family and the Emperor
Ashley's face turned deathly pale upon hearing this. She had never considered this possibility before, and now that her father had pointed it out, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

"Father, are you saying that His Highness the Prince of Tang is in danger?" Her voice trembled, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her dress.

Gui Shemi's gaze was deep: "I have heard that the power struggles of the Central Plains dynasties are far more dangerous than the battles on the grasslands. Those who achieve great merit and threaten their rulers have rarely met a good end since ancient times."

"Kunmi is right."

The King of Shanshan clearly noticed this as well:

"As far as I know, quite a few of the great generals of the Han state were killed by their own emperor."

Ashley's heart clenched suddenly. She remembered Su Yao's domineering manner and his domineering yet gentle way of treating her, and suddenly felt a suffocating pain.

Could a hero like myself be a fleeting, short-lived figure?

"No, it can't be," she murmured to herself, unsure how to refute it.

Just then, an even louder cheer erupted from the front of the procession. Ashley looked up and saw a magnificent procession slowly approaching from outside the city gate in the distance, its golden dragon banner gleaming in the sunlight.

"It's the Emperor! The Emperor himself has come out of the city to greet us!"

The cheers of the crowd surged forth like a tidal wave.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

The father and daughter were both startled. Before them, a procession of ceremonial guards stretched out, and beneath a golden canopy, a young girl in a dragon robe was slowly walking toward Su Yao's carriage.

"That's the Han emperor?" Ashley's eyes widened. She had never imagined that the ruler of such a vast empire was a girl who looked only a few years older than herself.

What shocked her even more was that after a moment of eye contact, the young emperor threw herself into Su Yao's arms right in front of everyone!
"My husband!" The Empress's voice was filled with undisguised joy. "I have been waiting day and night for your safe return."

Su Yao gently patted her back and said softly, "I'm back."

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Yao cupped Wan Nian's small face in his hands and planted a deep kiss on it.

"what??"

"what?!"

"This is."

The tender scene between Su Yao and his wife was somewhat anticipated by the Han court members, who all lowered their heads and avoided it, saying things like "Don't look at what is improper."

The princes and envoys from the Western Regions were dumbfounded, and the extravagance of the place seemed to have struck them like a thunderbolt.

They then realized they had been completely wrong—the Tang king who commanded respect in the Western Regions was actually the emperor's husband! And the two were so intimate.

Is this even allowed?

In an instant, these envoys from the Western Regions who had come to pay tribute and observe the political climate began to think rapidly, reconsidering their future allegiance.

Princess Ashley watched the two embracing and felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart. She subconsciously touched the silver bell on her wrist, feeling a sense of uncertainty about her future.

The Empress of Ten Thousand Years seemed to sense her gaze, lifting her head from Su Yao's embrace and fixing her eyes precisely on Ashley across the crowd.

Their eyes met, and Ashley felt a shiver run through her body, as if her thoughts had been read. She hurriedly lowered her head.

"That must be the princess of Wusun, right?" Wan Qing asked softly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Su Yao nodded: "That's right. She's been quite well-behaved along the way, Your Majesty need not worry."

Wan Nian smiled slightly: "I'm not worried, just curious. Since you like it, I will grant your wish."

As she spoke, she released Su Yao, straightened her clothes, and regained the dignity of a monarch: "Have the envoys from the Western Regions all arrived?"

“They’ve all arrived.” Su Yao stepped aside, gesturing to the group behind him. “The King of Wusun, the King of Kucha, the Prince of Shule, the envoy from Khotan, and the envoys from Dayuan and Kangju—a total of seventeen envoys—have come with me to pay tribute.” Wan Nian nodded in satisfaction: “Good! Issue my decree: a banquet will be held tonight at the Southern Palace to welcome the Tang King and to entertain the envoys from various countries!”

"Long live your Majesty!"

Amidst deafening cheers, Su Yao, holding Wan Nian's hand, led the massive entourage slowly into Luoyang City.

Upon entering the city, the princes and envoys from the Western Regions were so shocked by the sight before them that they were speechless.

The wide street could accommodate twelve carriages side by side, and it was lined with shops on both sides, with throngs of pedestrians welcoming visitors.

Within the towering walls of the city, exquisite pavilions and terraces can be vaguely seen. Even more astonishing is the cleanliness of the streets—the bluestone pavement is spotless, and there are drainage ditches along the roadside, a stark contrast to the filth and disorder of cities in the Western Regions.

"Is this the grandeur of the Celestial Empire?" Gui Shemi murmured, his eyes filled with awe.

Ashley, however, was drawn to the wide array of goods displayed on the street.

Silk, porcelain, lacquerware, jewelry, and smooth, shiny mirrors—a dazzling array of exquisite goods dazzled her.

What surprised her even more was the attire of the women on the street—they wore gorgeous dresses, held flowers and books, and some even rode horses, chatting and laughing with the men beside them, which was very different from what she had imagined.

"Father, are Han Chinese women allowed to be this free?" Ashley asked softly.

Gui Shemi gave a wry smile: "It seems we still know too little about the Han people."

The procession slowly proceeded along the main street, eventually stopping in the square in front of the Southern Palace. A grand gate had already been erected there to welcome the triumphant return, and civil and military officials lined up to greet them.

Empress Wu Zetian, arm in arm with Su Yao, ascended the high platform amidst the watchful eyes of the crowd. The master of ceremonies loudly proclaimed the imperial edict, praising the Tang emperor's achievements in pacifying the Western Regions and announcing a general amnesty to celebrate with the people.

Subsequently, envoys from various countries stepped forward one by one, presenting tribute and letters of credence to express their submission. Wan Nian accepted them all and bestowed generous gifts in return.

The banquet that evening was held in the Deyang Hall of the Southern Palace. The hall was brightly lit, and music and dance were performed. The Empress Wu Zetian sat high on the main seat, with Su Yao sitting beside her, and below them were civil and military officials and envoys from various countries.

After several rounds of drinks, Wan Nian suddenly raised his wine cup and said to Gui Shemi, "King Wusun has come from afar and must be tired from his journey. I toast you."

Gui Shemi was flattered and quickly rose to return the greeting: "Your Majesty's kindness is too much for this humble subject to accept."

Wan Nian smiled slightly: "Now that Wusun has submitted, they are vassals of my Great Han. I have ordered people to prepare the residence next to the Court of State Ceremonial for the Wusun King to stay temporarily. After the Tang Prince's Mansion is expanded, Princess Ashley will be formally married into the family."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment. Gui Shemi's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Ashley blushed and lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone. She could feel countless eyes on her, especially the meaningful gaze of the Empress, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Seeing this, Su Yao coughed lightly and changed the subject: "Your Majesty, during my recent western expedition, I discovered that the trade routes in the Western Regions have enormous potential. If managed properly, they will surely bring substantial revenue to the national treasury."

Wan Nian understood and followed up on his topic, discussing the development plan for the Western Regions. The atmosphere of the banquet became lively again, with envoys from various countries offering suggestions and advice, creating a very enthusiastic scene.

The banquet lasted until late at night. Su Yao escorted Wan Nian back to his palace, and the two, having been separated for so long, naturally had endless things to talk about.

“I have been worried every day while you are away, my dear minister.” Wan Nian leaned against Su Yao’s chest and said softly, “Especially when I heard that you personally led the army across the Tianshan Mountains, I could hardly sleep at night.”

Su Yao gently stroked her long hair: "Didn't I return safely? Not only that, but I also brought back the entire Western Regions."

Wan Nian raised his head, grabbed Su Yao's hand and squeezed it hard, saying, "It's not just the Western Regions, is it? There's also that beautiful Princess Ashley. What do you plan to do with her, my dear minister?"

Su Yao chuckled: "Didn't Your Majesty already make arrangements for me?"

"I am the emperor, so naturally I must be magnanimous." Wan Qing snorted. "But because of what you've done, coupled with your previous policy of vassal state marriages, many people are now saying that our Prince Tang is a womanizer and has a penchant for collecting foreign princesses."

"Now, the envoys from those tributary states are all sending picture albums, saying they want to show them to His Highness the Tang King so he can choose a consort. They are vying to send their own princesses to our Tang King's residence."

"Huh? Is that so?" Su Yao was both amused and exasperated.

(End of this chapter)