Later, Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan could not refuse the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s requests, so they agreed.
A moment later, the Emperor and Empress Dowager changed into ordinary clothes. With only Eunuch Li and Madam Gong accompanying them, they quietly left the imperial palace with the Cold King and his consort.
The Cold King and his consort, along with the Emperor and Empress Dowager, left the imperial palace. The four of them then boarded the Cold King’s manor’s carriage, heading towards Grand Tutor Xia’s mansion.
In fact, the Cold King and his consort didn’t need to guess much to know where the Emperor and Empress Dowager wanted to go after leaving the palace with them.
Did this mother and son pair not want to join in the fun at Grand Tutor Xia’s mansion? Since the couple also wanted to visit the Grand Tutor’s mansion, they might as well take the Emperor and Empress Dowager with them.
When Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan returned to Grand Tutor Xia’s mansion, as the group walked onto the garden path leading to the inner hall, they heard bursts of laughter from inside from afar.
The laughter coming from the inner hall included both men and women, old and young. No one knew what they were discussing inside, but everyone seemed to be having a great time.
The moment Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan stepped into the doorway, they immediately captured everyone’s attention. All eyes were fixed on the Cold King and his consort.
At this moment, present were Grand Tutor Xia and his wife, Leng Ruoyu’s two uncles and their wives, and her eldest cousin, Xia Annan, had all returned. Leng Ruoli’s parents and elder brother were also present. However, Leng Ruoli did not see Ming Jiuxiao’s figure. Perhaps he felt it would be awkward to witness others reuniting and weeping, so he had left.
Upon seeing Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan enter the room, Madam An and Madam Jiang immediately went to greet them.
“Rier, Your Highness, you’ve finally returned. We were all waiting in the room to discuss what to have for dinner.”
Madam An, filled with emotion, held Leng Ruoli’s fair and tender little hand, a brilliant smile gracing her lips as she spoke rapidly. Madam Jiang was equally delighted to see Leng Ruoli.
“Hehe, Eldest Aunt, Youngest Aunt, I’m back, aren’t I? And we’ve even brought two distinguished guests for everyone?”
After Leng Ruoli spoke, she and Jun Mohan moved aside, revealing the Emperor and Empress Dowager, dressed in simple clothes but with noble bearing.
Leng Jinyu was most familiar with the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Recognizing them at first glance, he immediately led everyone in saluting them.
Meanwhile, Xia Shanyi and Xia Lingxuan, having been promoted by the Emperor recently, had become important officials in the Tianwu Dynasty’s court and attended morning audiences daily, seeing the Emperor every day. Thus, they were also quite familiar with the Emperor’s appearance. Upon clearly seeing the Emperor’s face, they immediately reacted and knelt with Leng Jinyu to pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager.
Next, Grand Tutor Xia and Old Madam Xia were about to kneel, but the Emperor and Empress Dowager stopped them in time.
Man: “Your subject pays respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!”
Woman: “Your subject’s wife pays respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!”
The Emperor waved his long sleeves and said with a smile, “Everyone, please rise! We heard Madam Leng has returned, and today, the Empress Dowager and I have come to Grand Tutor Xia’s mansion to join in the fun. You needn’t be too formal.”
Hearing this, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief and stood up.
At this moment, Xia Wan’er walked towards the Emperor and Empress Dowager with a smile.
As she smiled, her lips curved like a serene crescent moon. After more than ten years, her appearance remained ethereal and elegant; time had left no trace on her face.
This was the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s first impression of the current Xia Wan’er.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, we were just discussing what to have for dinner tonight. Your arrival is most timely.”
Xia Wan’er said enthusiastically. Her oval face, almost identical to Leng Ruoli’s, was adorned with a radiant smile, and her clear, serene eyes were filled with happiness.
The Emperor gazed at Xia Wan’er’s charming smile, which made him envy Grand Tutor Xia even more. Now in middle age and having experienced so much, he had become more sentimental. If he hadn’t treated Yiyun that way back then, and if he had remained true to his heart and treated his beloved like Leng Jinyu, perhaps his Yiyun wouldn’t have died, and his Han’er wouldn’t have been poisoned.
The Empress Dowager beside the Emperor also greatly favored the lively and harmonious atmosphere in the Xia mansion; she couldn’t find such a beautiful ambiance among the royal descendants.
“Wan’er, you’ve finally returned,” the Empress Dowager said, chuckling.
Finally, the Empress Dowager glanced at Leng Jinyu behind Xia Wan’er and added, “Your appearance is still as young and beautiful as before, not changed at all. Anyone who didn’t know would think you were Leng Jinyu’s daughter.”
The Empress Dowager was deliberately teasing Leng Jinyu and Xia Wan’er.
Upon hearing this, Xia Wan’er let out a chuckle, her smile like a small stone tossed into a placid pond, creating ripples on the water’s surface.
Leng Jinyu, however, felt extremely awkward, thinking to himself: Did he, Leng Jinyu, really look that old? Was the difference in his and Wan’er’s appearance truly that significant?
He then reached up and touched his rough face, thinking silently: No, he must immediately find Rier for some beauty-enhancing and rejuvenating recipes. He had to maintain his handsomeness…
“Alright, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please stop teasing us. Your subject and Yu Ge are no longer young, and the age difference between us isn’t much. It’s just that I usually pay more attention to my appearance and enjoy wearing makeup, which is why I don’t look as old. He, on the other hand, is busy with this and that every day and doesn’t have as much time to care for his skin, which is why he appears older. However, that’s healthy for a man, and Wan’er likes his sun-kissed skin.”
Xia Wan’er quickly tried to ease Leng Jinyu’s embarrassment.
“Well, Wan’er is indeed discerning!”
With that, the Empress Dowager stopped teasing Leng Jinyu and Xia Wan’er.
Next, Xia Wan’er continued, “Then, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please have a seat. This is my first reunion dinner since returning tonight, and we were just discussing what to eat. How about you both give us some suggestions?”
The Emperor and Empress Dowager were both food enthusiasts. The moment they heard about food, a gleam flashed in their eyes.
“The Empress Dowager and I are not picky eaters. As long as it’s personally cooked by Rier, we will both enjoy it.”
Everyone present: “……”
The old Emperor’s words clearly implied that Leng Ruoli should cook.
He had become addicted to her cooking.
Alas, forget it!
Considering how much the Emperor and Empress Dowager doted on her, she would take charge of tonight’s meal.
“Alright, I’ll be in charge of tonight’s meal. Tell me what you all want to eat?”
As soon as Leng Ruoli said this, the entire inner hall erupted in lively discussion.