The dead wet nurse suddenly appeared?
Song Chaoyu looked at Qiu Qing in confusion, "Has it been verified?"
Qiu Qing shook her head, "Not yet, but His Highness Prince Chang is also on his way back. Now, it's likely that more than half of the people in the capital know that this wet nurse who saved His Highness has returned."
More than half of the capital knows?
Song Chaoyu frowned, "Why do so many people know?"
Qiu Qing also felt something was not quite right, "When the wet nurse came to the capital, she asked many people along the way to find Prince Chang's mansion. Naturally, she also told them about her experiences, so now there are many people gathered outside our Prince Chang's mansion, waiting to see the outcome!"
For some reason, Song Chaoyu felt that this person was likely not someone to be trifled with easily.
She ordered the coachman to hurry, and then asked Qiu Qing, "Did she come alone? Is there anyone else with her?"
Qiu Qing thought for a moment and nodded, "There is indeed someone, who claims to be her nephew. He looks about eleven or twelve years old and is following her."
---
The carriage returned to the entrance of Prince Chang's mansion, and indeed, many people were already gathered there.
Seeing Song Chaoyu's palanquin arrive, they parted to make way.
Song Chaoyu alighted from the carriage and entered the mansion. She turned and instructed a servant, "Close the mansion gates and send away all the people outside. There's nothing exciting to see; it's our own household's affair."
The servants had seen Song Chaoyu's capabilities a couple of days prior, so they dared not delay.
Song Chaoyu entered the main hall and saw an old woman with a boy of eleven or twelve, sitting in the hall and looking around.
It was only when she saw Song Chaoyu enter that the old woman stood up.
She brought the boy to bow to Song Chaoyu. Their etiquette and manners were flawless, "Greetings to Your Highness the Princess Consort."
Song Chaoyu did not tell them to rise, knowing in her heart that this wet nurse Jiang was likely not someone easy to deal with.
Otherwise, why would she sit in the hall as a "servant" instead of standing and waiting for the master to arrive?
After sitting down, Song Chaoyu looked at Wet Nurse Jiang, "You may rise. Wet Nurse Jiang, I have heard about you. I heard that in the Southern Kingdom, if it weren't for your protection of His Highness, the Prince, no one knows what his situation would be now. However, everyone says that Wet Nurse Jiang died in the Southern Kingdom that day. Now that you have come back from the dead and appeared before us, I must investigate thoroughly. I hope you will not mind, Wet Nurse."
"That is only natural!"
After standing up, Wet Nurse Jiang's eyes showed a hint of pride, "Your Highness the Princess Consort has probably heard that this old servant saved His Highness the Prince in the sea. Later, I was severely injured in the sea and washed away. Others naturally assumed that this old servant would not survive. But this old servant was fortunate enough to be washed ashore to a fishing village, where I was treated by a fisherman and managed to survive."
Seeing that her words were not evasive, Song Chaoyu became even more convinced that this person was indeed Wet Nurse Jiang.
She naturally had to ask another question, "Since you survived, why did you not return to His Highness's side? Instead, after so many years, you have only returned to Prince Chang's mansion? Do you know how many years His Highness grieved for you? Even the Noble Consort always mentioned that in the Southern Kingdom, if it weren't for your protection of His Highness, he might not have reached his current position and returned to the capital!"
Wet Nurse Jiang's eyes darted around, her words naturally well-rehearsed, "Alas... that fishing village was remote and isolated from the world. Moreover, at that time, this old servant stayed by her benefactor's side to repay his life-saving kindness, giving birth to children for him. Now that my benefactor has passed away, and my children have all made their own lives. For years, this old servant has missed His Highness. Hearing that His Highness has triumphantly returned to the capital, I naturally had to come to the capital to see His Highness before I could rest assured."
Could it be that simple?
Song Chaoyu's gaze also fell on the boy beside Wet Nurse Jiang, "Then why didn't you bring your children to the capital, but instead brought a nephew?"
"Ah—speaking of which, this old servant is truly embarrassed."
Wet Nurse Jiang patted the boy's head, "Most of this old servant's children have their own lives. Only this nephew has been raised by this old servant's side. He is young and useless. This old servant also thought that since I am returning to serve His Highness, I might as well bring him. Although he is clumsy, he is sincere. If he serves by His Highness's side, he will be loyal and obedient. I hope Your Highness the Princess Consort and His Highness will take him in."
She said this as soon as she returned.
If Song Chaoyu didn't believe that she was leveraging her status as someone who had saved Prince Chang to gain an advantage, she wouldn't believe it.
However, Song Chaoyu's expression did not change at all. She just smiled and nodded at Wet Nurse Jiang, "When His Highness returns later, if he confirms that you are Wet Nurse Jiang, then you will naturally have a place in the mansion. Please rest assured, Wet Nurse!"
"That's wonderful!"
Wet Nurse Jiang showed no concern for her status and immediately smiled, pulling her nephew along, "His Highness is a most kind-hearted person. You must serve His Highness well from now on and not be presumptuous."
The child nodded, looking rather simple and clumsy, making one feel that he was not someone who could serve others.
As they were speaking, Xiao Ruizi's voice was heard from outside, "Prince Chang has returned to the mansion—"
"His Highness is back!"
Before Song Chaoyu could say anything, Wet Nurse Jiang stood up and rushed towards Mu Changxi outside, "My Prince! This old servant has finally seen you! It's wonderful, truly wonderful!"
Without a word, she lunged at Mu Changxi. She didn't even mind the rules between master and servant, which startled Mu Changxi.
It also made Xiao Ruizi step forward and stop Wet Nurse Jiang, "Wet Nurse Jiang, what are you doing?!"
Xiao Ruizi naturally recognized Wet Nurse Jiang. He pulled Wet Nurse Jiang away and looked her up and down, "Didn't you die in the whirlpool of the South Sea that day? When did you suddenly appear?"
Wet Nurse Jiang glanced at Xiao Ruizi, then smiled, "You have also become a capable person by His Highness's side? That's good. If we serve His Highness together in the future, things will surely get better!"
Saying this, she even wiped away a tear, "We got through those difficult days in the Southern Kingdom, so can we not get through them now?"
"Oh, please don't cry, elderly one!"
Xiao Ruizi seemed to have had some acquaintance with Wet Nurse Jiang before, and now he seemed to be reminded of sad memories. He stepped forward to support Wet Nurse Jiang, "Aren't good days coming?"
He looked back at Mu Changxi, who understood a little and stepped forward to comfort Wet Nurse Jiang, "It is my fortune that Wet Nurse can return. With Wet Nurse by my side in the future, I can be more at ease."
Wet Nurse Jiang seemed to be crying tears of joy, "Your Highness, please rest assured, this old servant will, as before, handle everything around His Highness perfectly!"