"Actually, Your Majesty knows it. It's your 30,000 imperial guards," the imperial attendant who reported to Duke You of Dugu looked at his emperor speechlessly. "Really?"
Duke You of Dugu glanced at Empress Yirong, who was covering her mouth and smiling beside him. "Qin'er, are you laughing at me too?" The empress glanced at the attendant, and Duke You of Dugu waved his hand to signal the attendant to retreat. "I'm laughing at you for not knowing you've been sitting on a treasure."
"What do you mean?" Duke You of Dugu didn't understand the empress's words.
"The imperial guards all belong to you. You just haven't paid attention to them. They'll all be left to Qing'er in the future. What else do you want to do?"
"I just wonder why I didn't notice before," Duke You of Dugu was quite entangled. He never thought there were so many capable people around him.
"Your Majesty, when will you take me to the south of the Yangtze River?" The empress looked at Duke You of Dugu eagerly. "Soon... really." Looking at the beauty on the verge of tears in front of him, Duke You of Dugu felt a pang of heartache.
"Qin'er, just wait a little longer!"
Leaving aside the two in the palace, after Mei Qingxue saw that the matters of Xiaobei and Mengya were settled, she and Dugu Qing discussed going back to the prime minister's mansion for a short stay.
"Are you done packing, my Crown Princess?" Dugu Qing had been sitting in the front hall for a long time but still hadn't seen Mei Qingxue come out. "Xuanqiao, go and see if the Crown Princess is moving house?"
"Your Highness, please wait a while. It's rare for the Crown Princess to go back to her natal home. She must pack up. Besides, this time she's going back for a short stay!" Xuanqiao had been sent by Dugu Qing to check several times. In fact, Mei Qingxue hadn't packed at all. She was just lying in bed!
Dugu Qing came back from court to pick her up and go back to her natal home. Mei Qingxue sent Xuanqiao out to say that she was making preparations... In fact, she hadn't even gotten out of bed.
Dugu Qing had no choice but to stand up and go to see Mei Qingxue. Xuanqiao lowered her head. She couldn't imagine what expression the Crown Prince would have when he found out that the Crown Princess hadn't gotten up yet.
"Xue, don't you want to see your parents, elder brother, and sister-in-law?" Dugu Qing knew very well his wife's habit of loving to stay in bed. In the past, when Yue Ru wasn't married yet, it was Yue Ru who woke her up. She had tried every means, shouting, shaking, and even lifting the quilt, to get her up.
Seeing Mei Qingxue sleeping soundly, Dugu Qing had to dress her himself. Then he told Xuanqiao to fetch water and personally washed Mei Qingxue's face.
Feeling the warmth on her face, Mei Qingxue mumbled a few words. Opening her eyes and seeing Dugu Qing washing her face, she blushed immediately. "You're back?"
"I've been back for a long time. You can really sleep!"
"Well, people tend to feel sleepy in spring," Mei Qingxue said brazenly. Then she took the towel from Dugu Qing's hand. "I just slept a little longer. Now that I'm up, tell Xuanqiao to pack up casually, and let's go!"
Mei Qingxue casually coiled up her hair into a lazy bun and inserted two tassels. She looked fresh and charming.
Dugu Qing nodded. "Xue'er is the most beautiful no matter what!"
"Of course. Don't you know your Crown Princess is naturally beautiful?" Mei Qingxue said. Then she saw Xuanqiao covering her mouth and snickering. Mei Qingxue looked at her. "What? Do you have any objections?"
"None, none!" Xuanqiao waved her hands hurriedly. How dare she have any objections? She didn't want to die. Besides, the Crown Princess was indeed the most beautiful woman.
"Let's go. You'll just be in time for dinner at the prime minister's mansion," Dugu Qing joked. She had made him wait for most of the day for nothing. He had just eaten some snacks to satisfy his hunger. "It's my fault, okay!" Mei Qingxue stuck out her tongue. She just loved to sleep in, and this problem hadn't changed for several lifetimes.
"The young lady is back." The guard immediately exclaimed in surprise when he saw Mei Qingxue. Immediately, someone beside him reminded him, "We can't call her young lady now. We have to call her Crown Princess."
"She's the young lady of our prime minister's mansion. That's right. Hurry up and inform the master and the mistress,"
"Let's go in. I don't know how happy mother will be when she sees us later." As soon as Mei Qingxue entered the courtyard of her own home, she felt extremely happy, looking at the familiar layout and the familiar people.
Not long after, they saw Luo Jiao supporting Xia Ruolan coming out to greet them. Following the rules, Luo Jiao was about to salute when she saw Mei Qingxue and Dugu Qing. Mei Qingxue quickly grabbed her. "Sister-in-law, there are not so many rules in our family. I'm not the Crown Princess, and he's not the Crown Prince. We're just a far - married daughter and her husband coming back home."
"Yes, sister-in-law!" Hearing Dugu Qing also call her sister-in-law following Mei Qingxue, Luo Jiao was stunned. She had always abided by the rules since childhood. She never thought that many things after she got married would subvert her ideas. When she got married, her mother had told her that her mother - in - law would set rules for her when she arrived at her husband's house. It had made her tongue - tied. She had hoped to meet a lenient mother - in - law. Unexpectedly, after she got married, not only had her mother - in - law never set any rules, but she was also very lenient.
"Sister, brother - in - law." This was the first time Luo Jiao was so unruly, and her voice was very soft. Mei Qingxue supported Xia Ruolan's other arm. "Mother, come on. Let's go in and talk." "Mother," Dugu Qing called softly. Xia Ruolan nodded with a smile. "Come on, daughter - in - law. Go and tell the kitchen to make some dishes that Xue'er likes."
"Yes, mother!" Luo Jiao had never seen such a strange situation. Seeing her mother - in - law sending her to the kitchen, she quickly left as if fleeing.
"Mother, look at how reserved sister - in - law is," Mei Qingxue noticed Luo Jiao's reserve. "Last time, we came back before mother had a chance to reply to my letter. I asked in the letter. Mother, tell me. Are they okay or not?"
"What's the hurry? Come in and talk. Why do I see that you and Qing'er have both lost weight?" Xia Ruolan grabbed her daughter's hand and wouldn't let go. She looked at Mei Qingxue and then at Dugu Qing. Her eyes were full of joy. Mei Haoxuan had returned triumphantly from the battlefield, and her daughter and son - in - law had come back from the south of the Yangtze River.
"Xuanqiao, go and invite your master out of the study. The daughter and the son - in - law are back. Is he playing tricks in the study?"
"Yes, madam. I'll go and invite... the master who's playing tricks right away," Xuanqiao covered her mouth and smiled. "This naughty girl. How has she become so bold?" Xia Ruolan pretended to be angry. She knew that the maid was bold, mostly because she had learned from Mei Qingxue.
"I didn't. I'm just following your instructions, madam. I didn't change a single word!"
"Stop being so talkative. Be careful that the young lady will get angry later," a maid who was familiar with Xuanqiao beside Xia Ruolan tilted her head at Xuanqiao. Didn't she know to finish the errand quickly and come to meet the sisters?
"Yes, Sister Lingluo. You're becoming more and more like a senior maid."
Xuanqiao stuck out her tongue and quickly went to the study. Mei Zhengguo knew what Xia Ruolan meant when she sent Xuanqiao to the study at a glance. Since Xuanqiao was here, Mei Qingxue was probably here too. Mei Zhengguo, who hadn't seen his daughter for a long time, immediately closed the book in his hand. "Is His Highness the Crown Prince here too?"
"Yes!"
"Go and fetch my good tea and make it. Tell the kitchen to cook according to what the young lady likes," Mei Zhengguo immediately ordered. "The madam has told the young mistress to do it."
"Master, hurry up," Xuanqiao was an impatient person. She wished she could pull Mei Zhengguo to the front hall. She was most annoyed by the master's official gait, slow and deliberate, one step to the left and one step to the right.
"What's the hurry?" Xue'er wouldn't leave without seeing him. Moreover, since their matters were settled, they were probably coming back for a short stay. He knew his daughter very well. Although he didn't know how his daughter had commanded the war in the front line, he was very proud of her.
His son had the bearing of a military general, and his daughter was a heroic woman.
Both were the apples of his eye.
"Master, I'm in a hurry just following behind you. You can walk slowly by yourself. I'll go and report to the madam."
Xuanqiao ran away before Mei Zhengguo could reply. If they waited for the master to walk with his official gait, the young lady would have drunk two pots of tea by then.
When Xia Ruolan saw Xuanqiao appear alone without seeing Mei Zhengguo around, she asked, "Where's the master you were supposed to invite?"
"Madam, you don't know the master's official gait," Xuanqiao imitated Mei Zhengguo's walking for a few steps. She frowned. "I was so anxious just following behind the master."
"You imitated it very well. That's how father walks. I wonder if he could still walk so steadily with his robe on fire!"
Mei Qingxue laughed, imagining the sight of her father with a fire behind him. He probably wouldn't be so calm then.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Xia Ruolan looked at her outspoken daughter. Dugu Qing slowly sipped his tea, listening to the mother - daughter talk and laugh.
"Mother, the kitchen has been arranged," Luo Jiao came in and stood obediently beside Xia Ruolan. "Daughter - in - law, sit down too. I've told you many times. You don't need to follow the rules. When I married into the Mei family, my mother - in - law never asked me to follow the rules."
Mei Zhengguo just walked in and heard Xia Ruolan's words. "You still remember it after so long. When mother was alive, she was the most kind - hearted to others."
"I know. So, I told our daughter - in - law not to be so reserved. We're all family, not outsiders."
"Daughter - in - law, sit down and talk to your sister. Xuan'er's sister is also your sister. We're all family. Don't be so polite."
Mei Qingxue quickly walked over, pulled Luo Jiao, and pressed her into the chair. "Sister - in - law, we're all family. Why are you so reserved?" Luo Jiao was good in every aspect, but she was too abiding by the rules. She was always cautious in her words and deeds. After all, she was a woman in ancient times. Mei Qingxue couldn't make everyone she met be as open - minded as her.
"Sister, but..." Luo Jiao was extremely nervous and was about to stand up immediately. She secretly glanced at Dugu Qing's expression. Dugu Qing knew that she minded the rules. "Sister - in - law, there's only the brother - in - law here, not the Crown Prince!"
"Yes, bro... brother - in - law!"
Luo Jiao's voice became even lower. Seeing that she could accept the identity of the Crown Prince as the brother - in - law, Mei Qingxue smiled faintly. "When will elder brother be back?"
"He should be home in half an hour," Luo Jiao blushed and secretly glanced at her mother - in - law. Her mother - in - law nodded slightly. Mei Qingxue saw that there seemed to be some secret between the two, so she laughed. "Mother, is there something you haven't told me?"
"Nothing!" Xia Ruolan looked at her daughter with a smile. Luo Jiao lowered her head even more.