Novel Full Chapter 328: Compared to Before, He's Become Even More Handsome
“They’re back!”
“The Flame Prince has returned triumphantly to court!”
“Our Qin Kingdom’s army is about to enter the city!”
Throughout Qin Kingdom’s imperial capital, civilians shouted one after another, their expressions looking extremely excited.
Not only that, many young ladies from good families came out from their homes. They walked onto the main streets, standing on tiptoe and looking forward excitedly, wanting to see that handsome young general.
At the same time, outside the imperial capital, Xiao Mo was riding beside Qin Huo.
Xiao Mo raised his head and could see the tall city gates of Qin Kingdom’s imperial capital.
Qin Huo glanced at Xiao Mo beside him and said with a smile, “Xiao Mo, don’t you want to put on your mask?”
Xiao Mo asked in confusion, “General, we’re not going into battle now. Why would this subordinate wear a mask?”
“Just wear it when I tell you to.” Qin Huo said in a half-joking tone, “You’re still my soldier. You must obey military orders.”
“…”
“…”
Xiao Mo’s expression was somewhat helpless, but since it was called a military order, Xiao Mo could only take out his mask and put it on his face.
Soon, the army entered through the city gates.
On both sides of the imperial capital’s streets, civilians lined the way to welcome them, throwing flowers and various fruits at the soldiers.
The vast majority of people’s gazes quickly focused on Xiao Mo.
“Look, look, is he General Xiao, Xiao Mo?”
“It must be him. Don’t you see he’s the only one in the entire army wearing a mask?”
“Wow, his bearing is so upright.”
“Those eyes are so beautiful. I wonder what he looks like under the mask?”
“If I could just see him once, my whole life would be worth it.”
“But I didn’t expect his mask to actually look like this. After I go back, I’ll have Father make one.”
On both sides of the street, various women discussed among themselves, their gazes glittering as they looked at Xiao Mo, their beautiful eyes full of fervor and expectation.
“Xiao Mo, you can remove the mask now.” Qin Huo said to Xiao Mo with a smile, conveniently adding, “That’s a military order.”
“Yes.” Xiao Mo shook his head helplessly, knowing this was General Qin building momentum for him and just as Xiao Mo was about to remove the mask, everyone held their breath.
As the mask slowly came off Xiao Mo’s face and Xiao Mo revealed his true features, all the women instinctively covered their mouths, their eyes staring at Xiao Mo in a daze.
Xiao Mo was already handsome to begin with. Add to that Xiao Mo’s young age and his achievements in establishing merit and career, which added another layer of filter to Xiao Mo.
Finally, Xiao Mo’s handsome features beneath the mask formed a sharp contrast with the fierce and menacing Asura mask.
Adding these three together, they felt they had never seen such a good-looking man. Some women even directly fainted to the ground.
Soon, flowers like ocean waves were thrown at Xiao Mo one after another.
The women of the capital seemed intent on burying Xiao Mo in flowers.
“Today, who knows how many women, just from seeing you once, Xiao Mo, will have their lives ruined.” Qin Huo said teasingly with a smile.
Xiao Mo said nothing, only continued riding forward.
Half an hour later, Qin Huo brought Xiao Mo and other commanders to bathe, changed into clean clothes, then entered the palace for an audience and to report.
In the imperial study, Qin Huo vigorously described to the Qin Kingdom’s ruler the illustrious military achievements Xiao Mo had established over these four years, praising him without reservation, afraid Xiao Mo’s reputation would be buried.
After the Qin Kingdom’s ruler rewarded Qin Huo and others, he specifically had Xiao Mo remain.
“Xiao Mo, do you still remember me?” In the imperial study, the Qin Kingdom’s ruler looked at Xiao Mo and said with a smile.
Xiao Mo cupped his fists in salute, “When this subject was a child, I saw Your Majesty once. Your Majesty’s heroic bearing is unique in the world. This subject has always remembered and dares not forget.”
“Hahaha, you boy certainly know how to talk.”
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler stroked his beard and smiled.
“However, I truly didn’t expect that such a small child back then would now become a commander and general renowned throughout the realm. I’ve heard your exploits in Wei Kingdom countless times. Even ordinary palace maids admire you greatly.”
Xiao Mo shook his head, “All of it is merely empty reputation. This subject is ashamed.”
“But the twenty-plus cities you broke through are illustrious military achievements!”
The Qin Kingdom’s ruler said seriously.
“Draft an edict. Xiao Mo performed bravely on the battlefield. Below Shuanghong City, he became famous in one battle. Moreover, he broke through twenty-one cities and annihilated Wei Kingdom, establishing illustrious military achievements. Reward Xiao Mo with a thousand taels of gold and a thousand bolts of silk. Enfeof him as the Frost Prince. Grant him a prince’s residence!”
Hearing the Qin Kingdom’s ruler’s reward, Xiao Mo was slightly stunned.
Xiao Mo had thought he would be enfeoffed, but he hadn’t expected to be enfeoffed as a prince in one step.
This reward was somewhat excessive.
“What? Frost Prince won’t thank me for the grace? Could it be you’re dissatisfied with my reward?” The Qin Kingdom’s ruler said with a smile.
“Your Majesty’s reward far exceeds what this subject imagined. How dare this subject be dissatisfied? This subject thanks Your Majesty!”
No matter what, Xiao Mo could only cup his fists in thanks.
After the Qin Kingdom’s ruler exchanged a few more pleasantries with Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo took his leave from the imperial study.
Walking on the path out of the palace, Xiao Mo recalled the Qin Kingdom’s ruler’s every word and deed, every action.
Xiao Mo felt the Qin Kingdom’s ruler was trying to win him over, possibly even wanting to cultivate him as a trusted confidant, so using heavy rewards to exchange for his loyalty.
Regarding this, Xiao Mo felt there was nothing wrong with it. It was just that accompanying a ruler was like accompanying a tiger. He needed to be careful everywhere and just as Xiao Mo’s thoughts were drifting, before he knew it, he had already walked out of the imperial palace.
Outside the palace gates, Xiao Mo stopped in his tracks, his gaze looking ahead.
Before Xiao Mo, a young lady wearing a light pink long dress stood straight, like a newly blooming late cherry blossom, her graceful bearing pure and refined.
She wore a light pink palace dress with an extremely thin outer layer of cloud gauze embroidered with hidden patterns of intertwining lotus, a moon-white brocade belt tied at her waist with a pigeon blood ruby set in the center, outlining her slender waist to perfection.
The young lady’s figure was graceful and slender, her shoulders as if carved, her waist as if bound with plain silk. Her waist-length black hair was not gathered in a bun but cascaded down like an ink-colored fountain, the ends threaded with fine pearls on silver thread. When she moved, pearl light appeared and disappeared, as if a galaxy had spilled down.
Looking upward was a perfectly proportioned oval face, her skin luminous as jade, a lotus flower ornament on her forehead, making her brows and eyes appear even more exquisite.
Her pupils were clear amber, and when her eyes moved, they held both sentiment and three parts aloofness. Her nose bridge was elegant and peaked, below which her vermilion lips needed no rouge yet were red, her lip pearl full, the corners of her mouth naturally slightly upturned, seeming to contain a smile even in silence.
Looking at the young man standing in a daze before her, the young lady’s lips curved slightly upward, radiantly beautiful, “Sister Huasheng said that women change greatly at eighteen, and men are the same. She said you would definitely change and no longer be like when you were small.”
Xiao Mo also smiled, “Then in this young lady’s view, have I changed?”
The young lady moved forward with lotus steps, examining him carefully, “You’ve changed!”
“How have I changed?” Xiao Mo asked.
The young lady covered her face with her sleeves. Below her curved and upturned eyelashes, her eyes looked up slightly at Xiao Mo. With each blink, it was like spring lake ripples gently undulating, “Compared to before, you’ve become even more handsome.”