Chapter 488

"General Mu has returned victorious!"

Suddenly, a cheer rang out, and immediately the whole city seemed to boil!

Fei Yi hadn't even figured out what was going on before she was squeezed together by the suddenly surging crowd.

He certainly knew this General Mu.

Nobody in the Great Zhou is unaware of him.

At sixteen he won fame in a single battle, was ennobled and appointed general; this eighteen‑year‑old Mu Yumo is, since the founding of Great Zhou, no—indeed the youngest juvenile general under all heaven, without precedent.

Recently, the newly established Turkic state invaded; the emperor ordered General Mu to lead troops and meet with the fleet commanded by the Cloud Mirror Tower on the frontier, where they soundly defeated the Turks, and their fame once again thundered far and wide!

Fei Yi finally squeezed out of the crowd, her heart still pounding as she gazed at the black‑pressing sea of people, thinking, "Is the whole city out?"

Speaking of which, this General Mu is the son of the Protector‑State Princess.

Fei Yi had originally been quite interested in this young general, but now he needs to sort out his own origins first.

Other people's affairs are ultimately none of his business.

The army returned to the city; the hundred‑thousand troops marched with fierce vigor, led by the young general now in the limelight, his spirits high, head held high, chest out, smiling as he greeted the enthusiastic crowds.

In the crowd, his eyes suddenly met a pair of eyes; for some reason he wanted to see more clearly, but immediately another figure drew his attention.

"Mom!"

The battlefield slaughter who commands wind and cloud, upon seeing his mother, instantly reverted to his childish side, grinning ear to ear; he rode his horse over and stopped beside Mu Yuanzhi.

The crowd had long since made way, so mother and child could reunite.

"General Mu." Mu Yuanzhi teased, looking at her son whom she hadn't seen in months.

He's gotten thin.

Proud yet a little heart‑ached.

Campaigning and fighting, sleeping out in the wind and dew, plus mental strain—how could he not be thin?

Mu Yumo, dismounting, was much taller than Mu Yuanzhi, yet when facing his mother he was still utterly childish, taking her hand and cooing, "Mom, have you missed me?"

The deputy general beside them pretended not to see or hear, eyes straight ahead, observing the nose, observing the heart.

"At this age, still acting coy—aren't you afraid people will laugh?" Mu Yuanzhi scolded, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her son's sweat; no matter how you look at it, she thought her son was outstanding—tall, handsome, smart, both literary and martial.

"No matter how big he gets, he's still Mama's treasure." Mu Yumo didn't care how many people were around; he just wanted to act coy with the mother he hadn't seen in a while—no excuses!

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help laughing: "No shame, just learning nonsense from your father."

"Where's Dad? Why isn't he with you?" Mu Yumo looked up, but didn't see Gu Rongjin.

He's gone to the palace; you'll see him after you report to the emperor later.

I'll go to the palace first, then come home later to catch up properly with Mom," Mu Yumo said.

Go.

Mu Yuanzhi finished speaking, her gaze unintentionally falling on the rear of the troop.

There's a girl in the army?

But it's not strange—although few women hold office nowadays, it's not unheard of, and joining the army isn't anything to make a fuss over," Mu Yuanzhi thought.

After seeing her son off, Mu Yuanzhi returned to the Grand General's residence; although Mu Yumo had been ennobled as a general, he declined the imperial gift of a manor and still lived in the Grand General's residence, naturally to return there later.

"Little Yuanzhi!"

"You're asking for death, daring to shout like that at your mother!" Mu Yuanzhi put on a stern face and looked at her daughter.

Gu Yutong stuck out her tongue: "I want to learn from Dad, right?"

She thought she did a pretty good imitation.

Mu Yuanzhi: "No matter how you fake your voice, as a mother I can tell right away!"

"Ventriloquism still needs practice!" Gu Yutong shook her head.

Don't go learning all kinds of random junk—can your brain even hold it?

How could I forget? Do you think my brain is the same as my brother's? By the way, Elder Brother—has he gone to the palace?" Gu Yutong asked.

Mu Yuanzhi nodded: "You have to go to the palace to report before you can come back."

I've already made snacks and am waiting for him! Mom, come try them and see how they are.

You cooked—can it even be eaten?

Last time that was because I was researching new flavors! Besides, Lord Sima said it was delicious!

If you trust his taste, you'll never be able to make anything edible in your life." Mu Yuanzhi was speechless.

Her daughter really has been led a little astray by Lord Sima.

Will it work?

It will!

Never mind—you have to try it first!

"Young Master, the osmanthus‑hibiscus‑crab‑aroma cake is truly awful!!"

The newly appointed clerk of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau walked over with his head down, completely failing to see Gu Yutong still standing beside Mu Yuanzhi, and instantly shut his mouth.

Done for—his future prospects are worrisome!

As the clerk's superior, the current Vice Director of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, Gu Yutong, gritted her teeth at this clueless subordinate who couldn't read the room.

How could he disparage her pastries in front of his mother?!

Mu Yuanzhi doubted: "What is osmanthus‑hibiscus‑crab‑aroma cake?"

What a complicated, tongue‑twisting name.

It's a new dessert my daughter researched, made from osmanthus‑hibiscus flower, crab roe, and cilantro!" Gu Yutong laughed.

"... Cilantro?"

Mu Yuanzhi actually likes eating cilantro, but putting cilantro on pastry together with crab roe—what kind of move is that?

Gu Yutong glared at the chief clerk who had just said it tasted bad, and said listlessly: "This time, Mother, you'd better not taste it; next time I'll improve it before speaking."

"Exactly, exactly, exactly! Princess, the Heir Apparent is actually quite good at cooking!" The chief clerk hurriedly offered a few words of flattery.

"Shut up!" Gu Yutong whispered a reprimand.

If I had known, I wouldn't have called this big-mouth over to taste!

The chief clerk hastily shut his mouth.

Just then, a voice came from outside: "The young master is back!"

"My older brother is back!" Gu Yutong's eyes instantly regained their spirit; she wanted to rush to be the first to welcome her brother!

The chief clerk let out a sigh of relief and followed Mu Yuanzhi over as well.

"Older brother!"

Gu Yutong hopped over, pulling at her older brother who hadn't yet had time to take off his armor; the lethal aura of the battlefield still clung to him, making even enemies retreat three li upon seeing him—a general who is warm toward civilians and even warmer toward family, fully befitting a youth's age.

"You've become even more beautiful after not seeing each other for several months!"

"Older brother, you're getting more and more slick-tongued as you grow older."

"You don't want to accept my praise? Do you insist on me criticizing you instead?"

"I'm also praising you."

"Cut it out!"

"Yu Mo..." a clear, sweet, soft voice came from behind.

Gu Yutong curiously poked her head out and saw a woman wearing armor just like his, but she lacked any heroic spirit, as if she were awkwardly wearing someone else's clothes.

"Who is this young lady...?" she asked curiously.

Mu Yuanzhi also came over at this time and saw the woman as well.

Isn't this the woman she had just seen on the street?