The long road to the Imperial Capital of the Xu Kingdom was lined with people as far as the eye could see.
For days, news had spread across the empire.
The Crown Prince had returned.
Not merely returning from war—but returning victorious after conquering the Northern Kingdom.
The gates of the capital stood open wide as drums thundered across the city walls. Golden banners of Xu fluttered proudly in the wind while soldiers of the imperial guard lined the grand avenue leading toward the palace.
Excitement filled the air like a rising tide.
Children climbed onto their fathers' shoulders to see the army.
Merchants closed their shops.
Noble families sent their carriages toward the streets to witness the historic moment.
The people waited eagerly.
Then the distant sound of marching reached the city gates.
The army had arrived.
The first to enter were the vanguard soldiers.
Their armor bore scars of countless battles, yet their posture remained disciplined and proud. Behind them marched rows upon rows of Xu soldiers carrying the banners captured from the Northern Kingdom.
Cheers erupted across the streets.
"Victory to the Xu Kingdom!"
"Long live the Crown Prince!"
"Long live His Highness!"
The soldiers could not hide their smiles as the crowd welcomed them with flowers, food, and cheers.
Behind the infantry came the cavalry.
War horses stepped proudly across the stone road as armored generals rode in formation.
But everyone waited for one person.
At last, a tall black horse appeared through the city gates.
Upon it sat the young man whose name had shaken the northern lands.
Crown Prince Xu Chen.
Even after eighteen months of war, his posture remained steady and calm. His dark armor reflected the sunlight while the golden dragon emblem of the royal family shone clearly on his chest.
The cheers grew even louder.
People bowed deeply as he passed.
Some even knelt along the road.
As Xu Chen rode through the city, countless voices whispered among the crowd.
Their words carried admiration and awe.
"Look! That is His Highness!"
"He looks even more imposing than before!"
An elderly man spoke with excitement to his grandson.
"Do you know? The Crown Prince has already fought three wars."
The boy's eyes widened.
"Three?"
"Yes!"
Another man nearby continued proudly.
"The first war he led… he expanded the territory and made the Xu Kingdom the third largest kingdom in the world."
A merchant added loudly,
"Then in the second war, he defeated the western alliance. After that victory, the Xu Kingdom became the second largest kingdom."
People nodded eagerly.
Everyone remembered those victories.
But the greatest achievement had just happened.
A young scholar spoke with admiration.
"And now this third war…"
"He conquered the entire Northern Kingdom."
Another man finished the sentence proudly.
"Now the Xu Kingdom stands equal to the greatest empire in the world."
The whispers spread like waves through the crowd.
"A prince who changed the fate of the empire."
"A general who conquered kingdoms before the age of twenty."
"The pride of the Xu Kingdom."
Xu Chen heard fragments of these voices as his horse moved through the capital.
Yet his expression remained calm.
Praise from the people did not make him arrogant.
He had fought those wars for the empire—not for fame.
---
The grand gates of the Imperial Palace opened slowly.
Imperial guards stood in perfect rows, their spears shining under the sun.
The army halted outside the palace square.
Only Xu Chen and several high generals continued forward.
He dismounted gracefully from his horse and handed the reins to a palace attendant.
Without wasting time, he walked toward the Golden Hall.
Inside the palace, the imperial court was already assembled.
Every minister and high-ranking official stood in their formal robes.
They had gathered since morning, waiting for the victorious crown prince.
At the end of the hall sat the ruler of the empire.
The Emperor of Xu.
Beside him sat the Empress, observing quietly.
The moment Xu Chen entered the hall, the atmosphere grew solemn.
Xu Chen stepped forward with steady steps.
His armor echoed softly across the polished floor of the hall.
When he reached the center, he bowed respectfully.
"Your son greets Father Emperor."
The emperor looked at him with deep pride.
Months earlier, when the war began, Xu Chen had left the capital at the age of seventeen.
Now he stood before the court at nineteen, having conquered an entire kingdom.
The emperor spoke calmly, though his voice carried authority across the hall.
"Rise, Crown Prince."
Xu Chen stood.
For a moment, silence filled the hall as the court officials studied him.
Many ministers could hardly hide their amazement.
They had watched Xu Chen grow up in the palace.
But none had expected the young prince to achieve such astonishing victories.
Finally, the emperor spoke again.
"We have received reports of your campaign."
He paused slightly.
"You defeated the Northern Kingdom and secured its territories for the Xu Empire."
Xu Chen answered simply.
"Yes, Father Emperor."
The emperor's eyes shone with pride.
"You have done well."
At those words, the court officials immediately bowed.
"Congratulations to His Highness!"
"Congratulations to the Crown Prince!"
Their voices echoed through the hall.
One of the senior ministers stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, with the Northern Kingdom conquered, the territory of Xu has expanded greatly."
Another minister added respectfully,
"Our empire now stands equal in strength and land with the greatest kingdom of the world."
The emperor nodded slowly.
This was a moment that would be remembered in history.
The Xu Kingdom had transformed from a powerful nation into a true empire-level power.
And the one responsible for this transformation stood before them.
The emperor looked at Xu Chen carefully.
"You have fought continuously for eighteen months."
"You should rest."
But Xu Chen answered calmly.
"The empire's affairs come first."
The emperor smiled faintly.
"You truly have the heart of a ruler."
---
As the court continued discussing the war and the newly conquered territories, Xu Chen stood quietly.
Yet his thoughts were not fully inside the court.
They drifted somewhere else.
Back in the capital.
To a certain girl
He wondered if she had heard the news of his return.
Yue Ning.
The letters they had exchanged during the war were still carefully kept in his chambers.
After eighteen long months…
He had finally returned.
Outside the palace, the celebration across the capital continued.
The empire rejoiced for its victorious prince.
But the story was far from over.
Because somewhere in the city, Yue Ning would soon hear that the Crown Prince had returned to the capital.