Half a month later.
Hengyun Ferry, on the western edge of the Capital Region Circuit.
A fleet stretching for more than ten li slowly sailed northwest along the Sea of Clouds Post Road, which ran across Great Jin from east to west.
The five warships leading the way were all clad in golden armor. The command banners of Great Jin's Capital Region Imperial Guard hung from their bows, and battle soldiers wearing purple-gold scale armor filled their decks.
Dozens of Spirit-Suppression Spirit Cannons lined both sides of each ship. Formation patterns beneath their hulls breathed clouds and mist, tearing a broad passage through the gang winds along the way.
Behind the warships came five scarlet treasure ships carrying ceremonial vessels for the homecoming visit, gifts bestowed by the palace, and offerings for the Nian Household's ancestral rites.
Golden-silk yunan wood, Millennium Spirit Incense, palace-made precious garments, medicinal pills, talismans, and the spirit wine and immortal fruit Emperor Jingtai had bestowed upon the Nian Household were neatly sealed in chests inside the treasure ships.
Every treasure chest bore a seal from the Directorate of Ceremonial and was jointly guarded by the accompanying palace attendants and Nian Household cultivators.
At the very center of the fleet, a purple-gold treasure ship more than five hundred zhang long was sheltered like the moon surrounded by stars.
The treasure vessel had nine levels, its main structure refined from high-grade fourth-tier purple cloud spiritwood. Thousands of Glazed Palace Lanterns hung between its towers and upturned eaves.
The ship's main flag was embroidered with the emblem of Great Jin's Imperial House.
Beside it, the Golden-Plumed Phoenix Banner representing the noble consort's ceremonial escort flew high, shedding great swathes of scarlet-gold radiance.
The homecoming procession was exceedingly grand.
The provinces and pass cities along the route had long