At noon, La Mei came with the maids to deliver the herbal medicine and refreshments. Wei Dongling pouted and chewed on the sweet treats, stubbornly refusing to drink the bitter Chinese medicine.
La Mei tried to coax her for a long time, but it was all in vain. She was really puzzled. She couldn't figure out how Lady Ruan managed to persuade the princess to take the medicine before. Why was it so difficult for her?
Looking at the resistant Wei Dongling, La Mei flattered her with a smile, "Princess, Lady Ruan said this medicine isn't bitter. You have to take it obediently so that you can get better."
Wei Dongling gave La Mei a bitter look and still refused to take the medicine.
Just then, the emperor walked in from outside and said with a hearty laugh, "My precious daughter is throwing a tantrum again and refusing to take the medicine?"
Everyone quickly stepped forward to pay their respects. Wei Dongling curtsied and complained aggrievedly, "I've been reconciling accounts for so long. How can I drink such bitter medicine?"
The emperor sat down gracefully in the seat where Wei Dongling had just been sitting. He smiled gently and said, "Tell me, what do you want to do to take the medicine obediently?"
Wei Dongling pursed her lips and didn't answer.
The emperor casually flipped through the account books that Wei Dongling had sorted out and said with a smile, "How about you go back and rest after taking the medicine?"
Wei Dongling's eyes lit up and she asked in surprise, "Really?"
The emperor nodded and said, "I know you're still injured. Sitting still for a whole morning must have made you tired."
Wei Dongling picked up the bowl and drank the medicine in one gulp. She wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve and said happily, "Thank you, Father!"
The emperor looked at the markings in the account books and said with a smile, "You've checked so many already?" Then he waved to Lord Li, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue beside him, and asked, "Lord Li, after watching Princess Five reconcile the accounts today, what do you think?"
Lord Li wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and replied, "Princess Five is extremely accurate and as fast as lightning. I'm completely convinced!"
Hearing this, the emperor waved his hand with a smile and said, "Then you have to learn from her carefully and be modest in asking Princess Five for advice!"
Lord Li replied, "Yes."
The emperor waved his hand to dismiss everyone and said to Wei Dongling, "I know you've worked hard. If you want any rewards, just tell me!"
Wei Dongling blinked her eyes and replied, "I've been worried about my grandfather. I don't know if his eye disease has improved. I hope Father can allow me to go out of the palace from time to time to visit them."
The emperor nodded and said, "It's only natural. But you have to pay attention to your own safety when you go out of the palace. Take some high - quality tonics for your grandfather!"
Wei Dongling quickly knelt down and bowed, "Thank you, Father! Then Father, please lift my house arrest!"
The emperor laughed and said, "I've allowed you to come to the Ministry of Revenue from time to time. Isn't that the same as lifting your house arrest? Don't overwork yourself. Lord Li is a simple and honest man. As long as he can do it, let him do it!"
Wei Dongling replied, "Okay."
"By the way," the emperor said softly, "The Prince of Xiliang, Li Mingyang, has come."
Wei Dongling asked in surprise, "He's here again? What does he want?" This man is full of tricks. Father, don't be deceived by him.
The emperor shook his head and said, "I don't know. He just arrived and I haven't summoned him yet."
Wei Dongling remained silent. The Zhao family had colluded with Xiliang early on. Now that the Prince of Xiliang had come to the capital again, could it be related to the Tenth Prince, Murong Yunqian?
The emperor and Wei Dongling were thinking along the same lines. He said in a deep voice, "Your tenth brother is still young. I won't let him receive the Prince of Xiliang." If Xiliang intended to secretly support Murong Yunqian, he naturally wouldn't reuse him easily.
After the father and daughter chatted briefly, they went back to their respective places.
With the emperor's permission, Wei Dongling packed a lot of things and rushed back to the Su Mansion with Cheng Hao and several maids.
During the day, everyone was busy in the milk tea shop. When Aunt Liu opened the door and saw Princess Five coming back, she quickly welcomed everyone in respectfully to have tea. She happily sent someone to inform all of Wei Dongling's uncles.
Lv Kou, who rushed over from the kitchen after hearing the news, was both surprised and delighted to see Wei Dongling. She quickly lowered her head to pay her respects. Wei Dongling stepped forward and grabbed Lv Kou, looking her up and down. She joked happily, "Oh my! My Lv Kou has gained some weight! It seems Jing Zhe has taken good care of you!"
Lv Kou blushed deeply and waved her hands repeatedly, "Princess, don't talk nonsense! The maid and Jing Zhe... have nothing to do with each other."
Wei Dongling laughed mercilessly and glanced at Cheng Hao beside her with a malicious look, as if to say, Look at how timid your brother is. He can't even court a girl!
Cheng Hao spread his hands with a sympathetic look. Jing Zhe was a taciturn man. It would be strange if he could catch a girl's heart!
Cheng Hao's mother, who had stayed in the Su Mansion, also came to pay her respects to Princess Five. Wei Dongling pulled the two of them and chatted with them affectionately.
Before long, all of the uncles came back one after another. They were very excited to see Wei Dongling. Everyone in the room gathered around, chatting noisily.
Old Su's eyes were red as he held Wei Dongling's hand and looked her up and down for a long time. He was happy to see her, but also felt sorry for her serious injuries.
Uncle Li, as always, mercilessly mocked her for being weak and unable to beat anyone.
Cui Huan rushed up and gave her a bear hug. She almost pressed Wei Dongling to the ground. Fortunately, Lady Ruan managed to hold them up in time.
The two hugged each other, shouting and laughing for a long time, which stunned the maids behind them.
Cui Huan whispered in Wei Dongling's ear, "Miss Wei, I can't wait to tell you that Brother Long and I have already completed the engagement ceremony!"
Ah! Cui Huan and Luo Xunlong got engaged so soon? Does that mean the wedding day is not far away? This is really great news! Wei Dongling was so excited that her eyes sparkled.
Cui Huan asked in a low voice, "How about you and the young master?"
Wei Dongling looked at the man standing in the distance, looking eagerly at her. She saw Yu Zixi smiling. When he saw her looking over, he winked at her from afar. Immediately, Wei Dongling was so smitten that she giggled like a fool for a long time. She blushed and whispered to Cui Huan with a smile, "I don't even know if I've slept with him."
Cui Huan was so shocked that her eyes almost popped out.
Slept together? Did she mean that kind of thing? But they hadn't even done anything formal yet. How could they directly discuss such a question? Moreover, what did Miss Wei mean by "I don't even know"? Didn't she know if she had slept with him?
In front of everyone, Cui Huan didn't dare to ask in detail. She had to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
One by one, the uncles came over to ask how she was living in the palace, whether she was used to it, and whether the father who had just recognized her was good to her. Wei Dongling nodded one by one, saying everything was fine for fear that her family would worry.
After chatting for a while, everyone unanimously decided to go to Pengcheng Restaurant to welcome Wei Dongling back.
It just so happened that Wei Dongling was craving their squirrel - fish. So, a large group of people went out in a grand manner.
In the private room on the second floor of Pengcheng Restaurant, two tables were set up. Everyone was sitting neatly. Wei Dongling leaned against Old Su on the left and hugged Cui Huan on the right. From time to time, she whispered a few words to Cui Huan, and the two of them smiled at each other for a long time.
Cheng Hao put his arm around Jing Zhe's shoulder and chatted non - stop. Jing Zhe nodded in response from time to time.