"Why are you bringing up weight loss again? Is there no end to it?"
Chu Jiangtun felt a bit dejected. So what if he was fat? He wasn't eating their food or drinking their water...
Frustrated, he felt disheartened, his mood inexplicably low.
Little Xi Tian thought that being a bit thinner would be healthier, and since Sister Shuang Er didn't seem like someone who would break her promise, she nodded in agreement, "Brother Jiang Tun will lose weight, but Sister Shuang Er, you have to give us a month..."
"Deal!" Hu Ge Shuang Er readily agreed, then leaned closer to Chu Jiangtun with a smile, "Little fatty, put in some effort and try to lose weight sooner!"
Chu Jiangtun: "..."
Why did he feel like this girl was a bit cunning?
After leaving the Marquis's mansion, it was already completely dark.
As Xiao Jin Heng and Little Xi Tian boarded the carriage, Xiao Ying rushed to report, "Your Highness, the Emperor and Empress have arrived and are waiting for you at the Yun Mansion!"
When Xiao Jin Heng and Xiao Xin Ling first returned to the capital, Emperor Cheng had wanted to visit them, but due to too many affairs in the palace, it had been delayed until now...
If Empress Xiao hadn't nagged Emperor Cheng every day, he probably would have delayed it for another two days.
"Alright, I understand!" Xiao Jin Heng nodded, lowered the curtain, and looked at Little Xi Tian, "Little village girl, it's a good opportunity for Mother to see you!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Why look at me? I'm socially awkward, you know.
In fact, Xiao Jin Heng had mentioned Little Xi Tian to Empress Xiao more than once, and Empress Xiao herself had long wanted to see this youngest daughter of the Yun family...
Han Chi Jiao was brought back to the Yun Mansion. Ever since she learned that her sister wasn't taking her home, she felt she was back in control. She hummed a little tune all the way, her mood exceptionally good.
In the main hall of the Yun Mansion, Old Man Yun and Madam Gu were warmly entertaining Emperor Cheng and Empress Xiao...
Now that things had progressed this far, Emperor Cheng saw no need to hide his identity. There weren't too many barriers or generational gaps between him and Old Man Yun.
After all, the old emperor had also been a farmer, climbing his way up to become emperor.
"I came in a hurry this time and didn't bring many gifts. Next time, Brother Yun, you and your wife can come to the palace, and I'll have the imperial kitchen prepare a good meal for you..." Emperor Cheng said with a smile.
Old Man Yun was flattered and quickly rose to bow, "Oh my, how dare a commoner eat food prepared by imperial chefs? Your Majesty, if there were any shortcomings in our hospitality when you visited Dashui Village last time, please bear with us!"
"Alright, alright, my brother and I don't need to exchange pleasantries. Sit down quickly!" Emperor Cheng waved his hand, his face beaming, "Heng'er has been raised by you to be plump, healthy, and strong. I heard that your daughter even cured his asthma. For this alone, I should reward you handsomely..."
That's right, ever since Xiao Jin Heng used Little Xi Tian's asthma inhaler, he had completely gotten rid of the daily suffering of drinking medicinal soup.
Moreover, the frequency of his attacks had significantly decreased.
Empress Xiao and Madam Gu sat in the inner room. The two mothers, meeting for the first time, not only felt no awkwardness but also chatted very congenially, even addressing each other as sisters...
"Sister, are you really the eldest daughter of the Jingbei General's Mansion?" Empress Xiao asked Madam Gu, holding her hand, with a look of shock.
These matters had all been told to her by Xiao Jin Heng.
Although Empress Xiao had stayed in the palace for a long time, she had always longed to visit Dashui Village, preferably for ten days to half a month, to experience the life her son had lived in the countryside...
Madam Gu smiled and nodded, "Yes, but my parents passed away early, and I was too young then. I was bullied and abused in the general's mansion, so in a fit of anger, I left the capital!"
Upon hearing this, Empress Xiao felt a pang of sadness, "I heard that after you left the capital, you suffered a lot. But now, your hardships have finally paid off. I hear you have many descendants and are living well in Dashui Village. You've probably forgotten all about the general's mansion, haven't you?"
"Not entirely..." Madam Gu shook her head and sighed softly, "After all, there is still a brother alive in this world. This bond of blood is unbreakable!"
"That's true!" Empress Xiao nodded gently.
The two chatted about other things until Madam Qian came in to report that the Crown Prince and Miss Yun had returned. Then they both got up and went to the main hall...
As soon as Emperor Cheng saw his son and daughter, his temper flared up, and he said indignantly, "You two have quite the airs. I had to come here personally just to see you!"
Xiao Jin Heng: "..."
You didn't have to come. Once everything was settled, I would have returned to the palace to confess.
Xiao Xin Ling pouted, "Father, we haven't seen each other for so long, why are you scolding us as soon as we meet?"
"I'm scolding you!" Emperor Cheng was so angry he was panting, "You have no semblance of an older sister. Why didn't you try to persuade Heng'er when he secretly left the palace? What if he encountered danger? Instead, you not only didn't dissuade him but even ran away with Heng'er. You're becoming more and more capable..."
Xiao Xin Ling was thoroughly scolded and meekly hid behind Sweet Baby.
Seeing this, Empress Xiao gave Emperor Cheng a look, "Heng'er and Xin Ling are fine, Your Majesty, so don't interrogate them. This little girl, however, is so fair and tender. The more I look at her, the more I like her. You must be Yun Xi Tian, right?"
As Empress Xiao spoke, she reached out and pinched Little Xi Tian's cheek...
It was warm and soft, very pleasant to touch.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Little Xi Tian said with a smile.
"Oh, good, good!" Empress Xiao beamed with joy. Seeing Xiao Xin Ling's nonchalant demeanor, she couldn't help but complain, "Alas, why can't I have such a delightful daughter?"
Xiao Xin Ling: "..."
Mother, you've changed.
After scolding his children, Emperor Cheng's mood slightly improved.
As his mood lifted, his stomach began to rumble again.
"Brother Yun, did you bring any sorghum or anything else when you came to the capital this time?" Emperor Cheng asked.
It had been a while since he had eaten sorghum gruel. The stuff made by the imperial kitchen just didn't have the same aroma as the one cooked in a large farmhouse pot.
Old Man Yun scratched his face, "No sorghum, but I brought plenty of cornmeal. If Your Majesty is hungry, I'll get you some sour dough soup later, and stir-fry a bowl of pickled mustard shreds..."
Emperor Cheng's eyes sparkled upon hearing this, "Yes, yes, yes, sour dough soup it is!"
It seemed today wasn't in vain; at least his stomach could be satisfied.
As people age, they especially enjoy coarse grains, and Emperor Cheng was no exception.
After eating too much rich food, delicacies, and rare delicacies, he found it difficult to digest...
After eating his fill at the Yun Mansion, Emperor Cheng took Empress Xiao back to the palace.
As soon as he entered the imperial study, Eunuch Zhao followed in, "Your Majesty, General Gu requests an audience!"