A group of people had come, but only three were going back.
Weirui had long regarded Old Man Zhang as her own grandfather. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Even after Old Man Zhang's carriage was out of sight, she still sobbed uncontrollably.
Shen Yuning gently put her arm around Weirui's shoulder. "Like fallen leaves returning to their roots, they're going back home."
Weirui felt lost. The small village was their root, and the Xue family was her aunt's root. But where was her own root? Was it Shenjiapo? She didn't recognize it.
Perhaps she was just a rootless child.
Shen Yuning and Weirui sat in Zidu's carriage, feeling a bit ill - at - ease. Maybe it was because the carriage was too luxurious and they had never ridden in such a one before.
Zidu's hands were well - jointed. He skillfully brewed some tea and offered it to the two of them.
Under the princess's tutelage, Weirui looked no different from an ordinary noble girl - if one didn't look at her red and swollen eyes.
Shen Yuning felt awkward. Thinking that she was the oldest among them, she should be more proactive. So she looked up with a smile and asked, "Your Highness must be very busy recently."
However, Zidu didn't seem very happy. Just like when he was scolded by Shen Yuning as a child, he pursed his lips and drooped his eyebrows. "We grew up together. There's no need to be so formal."
He had said this just now, but Old Man Zhang had repeatedly warned them that etiquette must not be neglected. He told Shen Yuning and Weirui not to be disrespectful in front of the prince.
After Zidu finished speaking, he tightened his lips. "I am really busy. I even don't have time to visit you outside the palace. The emperor's health is not good. He's ill for about half a month every month. The affairs in the court are so complicated. I've never dealt with them before, so I'm really in a muddle."
Hearing this complaint, Shen Yuning didn't know what to say for a moment. She just noticed that there seemed to be a small pimple at the corner of her younger brother's mouth. She instinctively reached out her hand to touch it but then retracted it shyly.
Now she couldn't act as carelessly as before. This was the capital city. According to the custom, men and women should not sit together after the age of seven. How could she ignore her status like she did in the countryside?
She coughed lightly. "If you're too busy, don't drink strong tea. Ask your servants to make some chrysanthemum tea or cook some soup to reduce internal heat."
In the past, when they were busy outside, Miss Zhang Rongcen and Xi'er always remembered to cook fire - reducing tea for them. But the Inner Palace Office didn't handle things properly. They were afraid people would freeze in winter but didn't think that the regent was so busy that he might get irritated. Why didn't they serve him more carefully?
Shen Yuning looked a bit unhappy. After all, Zidu was the younger brother she had raised. Even though she had raised him roughly before, she was used to taking care of him personally. Handing him over to others, she always felt a bit worried.
Zidu was a bit happy at this moment. He deliberately picked out some trivial matters to say, indicating that he was so busy with all the affairs around him that he wished his hair would turn white from worry.
Shen Yuning asked repeatedly, "Do you have to worry about such small things? Are all those court officials just there for nothing? They're just pushing all the work onto one person. They'll exhaust you! If you're too tired, talk to the emperor. Don't be so stubborn and take on everything by yourself."
Zidu immediately pouted, even showing a bit of coquetry. "Although I'm tired, I don't dare to trouble the emperor. He also has a lot of things to deal with. It's not that everything depends on me, but I have to be careful with everything."
The concern in Shen Yuning's eyes didn't fade. She sighed deeply. "Yes, after all, he's in a high position. He can't be careless... But since you've never learned or done these things before, it must be much more difficult for you to start. Your adoptive father is smart and kind to you. If you encounter difficulties, you can ask him for advice more often. Don't exhaust yourself."
Weirui watched the two of them chatting back and forth. She thought they were just talking nonsense. But her mood seemed to get better. She sipped her tea leisurely with her eyes half - closed.
The tea in the palace was really more delicious. Since he was her uncle, she would ask him for more later.
When Shen Yuning returned to the Xue Mansion, Xue Yuxin happily ran over and took her hand. "Grandmother will be back in about two or three days."
Grandmother was coming back?
Shen Yuning had been back in the capital for a year and had been in the Xue family for the same long time, but she had never met her grandmother. At first, she was afraid of trouble, and later, her grandmother was away.
She didn't know why, but she felt a bit nervous like a traveler approaching home.
She was clearly happy but also extremely nervous. She knew that her grandmother still cared about and loved her, but she always worried that since she was no longer considered a proper Xue girl, would her grandmother treat her differently?
On the day when her grandmother was due to return, Shen Yuning got up early and stood at the gate of the marquis's mansion waiting. Actually, she planned to wait at the city gate, but Mrs. Shao thought it was still too cold during the late spring cold. She was afraid Shen Yuning would catch a cold running around, so she didn't allow her to go. So Shen Yuning had to stand in a thick cloak waiting at the mansion gate.
The gatekeeper felt embarrassed and advised Miss Shen to go inside several times. He said he would inform her as soon as the old lady came back.
Shen Yuning ignored him. Like a silver statue, she stood under the corridor outside the mansion, eagerly looking in the direction from which they would come.
It was not until noon, when the sun had risen a bit and it was not so cold, that the marquis's carriage came back.
A beautiful girl got off first. She looked a bit like Xue Yuxin. She was Xue Yuhan, the concubine - born younger sister of the second branch. She didn't even look at the mansion gate. Instead, she turned back to lift the curtain and help the old woman in the carriage down.
Compared with when they parted six or seven years ago, Grandmother looked much older. She wore a headband on her head, a thick cloak on her body, and muffs on her hands.
As soon as Mrs. Xue stood still, she saw the young girl at the gate, staring at her without blinking. There seemed to be tears in her eyes, showing both grievance and joy.
Shen Yuning took a step forward, staggering a bit, then stopped. She looked at her grandmother longingly.
A smile bloomed on Mrs. Xue's face. She couldn't walk fast but was eager to move forward. She waved as she walked. "My dear, you're back?"
Tears welled up in Shen Yuning's eyes immediately. She ran towards her grandmother but was afraid of hurting her, so she stopped just in time and was immediately embraced by her grandmother.
Mrs. Xue patted Shen Yuning's back. "You ungrateful girl. I've been missing you day and night. Finally, I've got you back."
"Grandmother..." Shen Yuning choked with sobs.
She had been doted on by her grandmother since she was a child. Her grandmother was always afraid that she would be cold or hungry. She was really treated like a precious treasure.
Mrs. Xue loosened her embrace a bit, touched Shen Yuning's face and then her hands. She frowned. "Why are your hands so cold? Are you being vain and not willing to dress warmly?"
Shen Yuning's maid, Lvtiao, laughed. "You're wrong, old lady. Miss is very obedient now and dresses warmly. But she's been waiting for you here since early morning and got cold from the wind."
Mrs. Xue gave Shen Yuning a reproachful look and quickly rubbed her hands and face to warm her up.
Only then did Xue Yuhan step forward with a smile and salute. "Second elder sister."
Shen Yuning got out of Mrs. Xue's embrace and returned the salute. "Third younger sister."
Their conversation was just like when they were children, and they didn't mention Xue Yujiao at all.
Xue Yuhan took Mrs. Xue's other arm. "Grandmother, second elder sister has been standing in the wind at the gate for a whole morning. Let's go inside quickly to warm up."
Mrs. Xue nodded quickly. "Yes, yes. Look at my old - fashioned mind."
The three of them walked into the mansion hand in hand. Only then did Mrs. Shao and Xue Yuxin come out to greet them.
Mrs. Shao looked at Shen Yuning with a bit of blame. Her grandmother had been back for so long, but she didn't even send someone inside to inform them.
Xue Yuxin happily skipped forward. Seeing this, Xue Yuhan let go of Mrs. Xue's hand and took a step back, giving her place to Xue Yuxin.
Xue Yuxin coquettishly said, "Grandmother, you don't know. I didn't mean not to wait for you. But there are so many betrothal and dowry lists. They make me dizzy. I'm so annoyed. Mother doesn't even pity me. She even forces me to make clothes. After making one for Zhu Bin, I still have to make a set for his grandfather, second uncle, and second aunt, and even for his cousin. Look, there are so many holes in my hands."
Mrs. Xue reached out and poked her on the forehead. "You can't do anything well. You're just lazy."
The whole family walked in happily.
Mrs. Shao explained, "The master and Yusong are on duty. The Sun family is having a small celebration today. Ayun took her children there. They're not at home now."
Mrs. Xue nodded. "It's not a big deal that I'm back. There's no need for everyone to come out to greet me. But Xiner's wedding is coming soon. A Zhao should handle it carefully. You only have one daughter. You can't be careless."
Mrs. Shao nodded with a smile. She glanced at Shen Yuning and said, "Mother knows that this is my first time marrying off a daughter. I'm really a bit muddled. Next time, I'll know how to handle it and won't be so flustered."
Hearing this, Mrs. Xue looked back at Shen Yuning and asked, "Have you found a good match for my Ning girl?"
Shen Yuning immediately protested. "Grandmother, how can you discuss someone's marriage in front of them?"
Mrs. Xue scraped her nose. "You're shy now? I thought you had the thickest skin!"
Xue Yuhan sat there quietly drinking tea. After everyone had finished talking, she got up and saluted. "Grandmother, I should go back now."
As soon as she spoke, the room fell silent. Everyone stared at her in a daze.
Mrs. Shao was the first to react. She immediately asked someone to prepare gifts for her to take back.
But Xue Yuhan just shook her head. "Aunt knows my situation. If I take something back, I'm afraid..."
If she went back empty - handed, they would just curse at home, saying that the first branch was too stingy. But if she took something back, they would surely go too far and might even make a scene, blaming Xue Yuhan for siding with the first branch.
Mrs. Shao pondered for a while and sighed helplessly. "I'll send someone to accompany you."
After sending her away, Mrs. Shao whispered back, "Mother, what about Yuhan's marriage?"
After the New Year, this little girl was already eighteen. Due to the misfortunes of her elder sisters, her marriage also couldn't go smoothly. What was even more frustrating was that the old lady had intended to find a match for her, but they were just ordinary concubines' sons or scholars from low - ranking families. But Xue Yujiao refused to agree. She said that since she, as the elder sister, was unmarried, how could her younger sister have the nerve to get married first.
And Xue Yuxuan and Mrs. Xiao of the second branch also ignored this concubine - born daughter, allowing Xue Yujiao to do as she pleased.
Mrs. Xue shook her head. "I've found a match. He's from a poor family. The family background is a bit weak. I originally thought that if they made trouble again, I'd just marry Yuhan off. Anyway, Yuxi is not at home now, so there's no need to worry so much. But... That girl Yuhan is reluctant to leave her mother. She doesn't agree."
This was a dead - end. Mrs. Bai was just a concubine. Others didn't care about her, but she was Xue Yuhan's biological mother after all. She was soft - natured. She would rather suffer from the bullying of her elder sister than leave her mother alone.