Chapter 58: Let's Be Practical—Just Give a Reward Directly

The Emperor, Song Yunmo, Xiao Jingxuan, and Yunbai all rose to their feet. Song Yunmo, Xiao Jingxuan, and Yunbai nearly rushed to Su Jingluo’s side at the same moment. Only the Emperor, his face shadowed with sorrow, sat back down in silence.

Xiao Jingxuan strode quickly to Su Jingluo and held her tightly in his arms, frowning with displeasure as he glanced at Song Yunmo, who had stepped forward.

“Grand Mentor, this is my princess consort,” Xiao Jingxuan indicated for Song Yunmo to step back.

“She’s my mother,” Yunbai echoed defensively, eyeing Song Yunmo as if guarding against a thief.

“Is she not allowed to be seen then?” Song Yunmo didn’t feel the least bit guilty. After all, he had no ulterior motives—he simply couldn’t help but care.

Xiao Jingxuan ignored Song Yunmo, lifting Su Jingluo into his arms and retreating with Yunbai to the side.

“Excellent, excellent—Princess Consort Jing’s song was truly magnificent. I must reward her handsomely,” the Emperor exclaimed with repeated praise, a breach opening in the fortress of his heart.

“If you want to reward me, make it something practical—just give me money,” Su Jingluo murmured suddenly from within Xiao Jingxuan’s arms, half-awake and half-dreaming.

The entire hall burst into laughter. The gathered generals found Princess Consort Jing’s forthrightness quite endearing.

“Very well, a thousand taels of gold, a hundred acres of good farmland, and ten measures of the finest pearls from the Eastern Sea,” the Emperor announced cheerfully. Su Jingluo’s song had truly moved him. For the soldiers below, rewards alone were not enough; each of them risked their lives for peace. Beyond rewards, they needed to feel understood.

Su Jingluo gave no thanks, for she had already slipped into a deep sleep.

“Your Majesty, the princess consort has had far too much to drink. I ask your leave to take her home,” Xiao Jingxuan said, deeply worried as he looked at Su Jingluo.

“Yes, yes, go on,” the Emperor replied, his heart aching at the sight of Su Jingluo’s flushed cheeks, and a trace of resentment toward the Empress stirring within him.

“Cousin, I’ll be staying in the capital for some time. May I come to see you and reminisce?” Lin Wanwan asked sorrowfully, her voice soft and tentative as she watched Xiao Jingxuan.

Xiao Jingxuan merely nodded, saying nothing as he hurried out with Su Jingluo in his arms. Lin Wanwan wanted to say more, but he departed too swiftly. In that instant, she realized many things had changed—she felt powerless, as if everything was slipping from her grasp.

Yunbai quickly followed, not even pausing to greet Xiao Chengze. As he left, he shot Lin Wanwan a fierce glare, patted the pouch on his chest, and rushed out. With the prince gone, Lin Feifei hurried after them, not forgetting to give Lin Wanwan a withering look as she left.

Once outside in the fresh air, Su Jingluo started to feel unwell, and the jostling of the carriage only made it worse. Though she seemed to be sleeping, she would open her eyes from time to time, her gaze hazy with drunkenness as she pulled Yunbai into her arms, showering him with kisses. Yunbai endured the smell of alcohol, not resisting.

“Yunbai, I’m sorry. Mother drank too much. Did I scare you?” Su Jingluo whispered, holding Yunbai and mumbling softly.

“Yunbai, if we really have to part, you can choose to go with your father, but remember, where there’s a stepmother, there’s a stepfather.”

“Yunbai, how is it that you’re so beautiful, and you’re actually my child? It’s a miracle. If you stay with me, I promise you’ll want for nothing and grow up carefree.”

Yunbai’s face was pale. He clutched Su Jingluo’s sleeve, lips pressed together, lost in thought.

“Mother, will we leave our bad father?” After a long silence, Yunbai finally voiced his worry.

“No, we won’t. Your mother just drank too much. Don’t let your thoughts run wild,” Xiao Jingxuan interjected at last, unable to bear it any longer. Seeing his son so frightened, her drunken ramblings pained him deeply.