"Zhao Zhao, you’re pregnant, why aren’t you resting at home? And yet you’re out and about. Jingzhe is really something, making you wait at the gate of the Imperial Palace."
Tong Huaqiong glanced at Lu Zhaozhao’s belly, slightly protruding at four months.
Gu Jingzhe is quite inconsiderate, how could he let a pregnant woman come out to pick someone up?
She had been in the palace for a long time, and knowing Gu Jingzhe, Gu Dashu, and the others, she estimated that from the moment she entered the palace, Lu Zhaozhao was already waiting outside the gate, which was not a pleasant experience for a pregnant woman.
Lu Zhaozhao smiled and said, "You’ve wronged my husband. He told me to wait at home, but how could I rest easy? I’d be nervous staying at home. Besides, sitting in the carriage with food and drink is just as comfortable as being at home."
Hearing that Tong Huaqiong and Chen Sufen had entered the palace, Lu Zhaozhao and the others were indeed anxious.
The Old Emperor is famous outside, and anyone whose family holds an official position in the court knows he’s sensitive and suspicious. The Gu Family feared he might trouble Tong Huaqiong and others.
Lu Zhaozhao was certainly unwilling to stay at home waiting for Tong Huaqiong.
Only when she sat next to Tong Huaqiong in the carriage did Lu Zhaozhao feel somewhat at ease.
Because of her pregnancy, Lu Zhaozhao was enveloped in a gentle glow.
Her smile was especially lovely.
Tong Huaqiong held Lu Zhaozhao’s hand, scrutinizing it carefully while inquiring about her health in detail.
This pregnancy was very smooth for Lu Zhaozhao, and coupled with Gu Jingzhe’s thoughtfulness, along with the company of her sister-in-law and brother and sister-in-law, she was in a good mood every day, so she looked very well.
"Mother, once you see your daughter-in-law, you don’t care about your daughter anymore, do you?" Gu Taohua said on the side, seeing Tong Huaqiong eager to treat Lu Zhaozhao like a treasured panda.
Tong Huaqiong then looked at Gu Taohua.
The water and soil of Shengjing nourished people, and in just a few months, Gu Taohua had grown taller. Her already fair skin had become even more delicate due to Shengjing’s environment.
Tong Huaqiong smiled and embraced Gu Taohua, saying, "You can even run a shop in Shengjing. With such capabilities, do you still need me to worry about you?"
Gu Taohua leaned against Tong Huaqiong, displaying a coy demeanor.
As evening approached, the carriage stopped at the entrance of a grand courtyard.
This grand courtyard was acquired by Gu Jingzhe upon Tong Huaqiong’s arrival in Shengjing.
Liu Yueer personally held a lamp at the gate, accompanied by Mrs. Hong, Old Mrs. Huang, Aunt Tang, and others.
Seeing so many old friends greeting her, Tong Huaqiong felt a surge of warmth.
"Mother, Sister-in-law, you finally arrived. We’ve been anxiously waiting for you..."
Hearing Liu Yueer’s voice, Mrs. Zhao couldn’t help but rush to the carriage door.
Liu Yueer lifted the curtain and was stunned to see her mother, Mrs. Zhao’s face, appear before her eyes.
"Mother, why are you here?" Liu Yueer exclaimed in surprise and joy.
"Your mother-in-law understood my longing for my daughter and let me come to Shengjing to see you."
Mrs. Zhao was so emotional her eyes turned red.
Seeing Liu Yueer so extravagantly dressed under the lantern’s light, she knew Liu Yueer hadn’t suffered any grievances in Shengjing.
Liu Yueer looked gratefully toward Tong Huaqiong.
"Exhausted from the trip and after staying in the palace so long, best to quickly come inside," Mrs. Hong suggested.
Tong Huaqiong, Chen Sufen, and others disembarked the carriage and went inside.
"You must be hungry, so let’s eat first," Old Mrs. Huang said, holding Tong Huaqiong’s hand.
After Huang Jingshan became pregnant, the Huang Family became worried, and Old Mrs. Huang had previously traveled on the same ship as Lu Zhaozhao to Shengjing to take care of her granddaughter.
Upon hearing Tong Huaqiong was coming, she rushed over to help at the house.
Tong Huaqiong replied, "We’ve eaten in the palace."
"How was the palace food?" Aunt Tang asked.
Having never tasted food from the Imperial Kitchen, Aunt Tang was curious.
Old Mrs. Huang remarked, "It surely cannot compare to home cooking. Many dishes are served cold, coupled with the large regulations in the palace and restricted movements, any delicious imperial meal loses its flavor."
Old Mrs. Huang had never been to the palace.
Though her granddaughter Huang Jingshan had attended palace banquets with Lu Zhaoyang, she always returned home as if she hadn’t eaten.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Indeed, it lacks flavor. Though it filled my stomach, I can’t eat more now."
Despite not being satisfied by the palace food, Tong Huaqiong didn’t feel hungry.
After a month’s journey to Shengjing and experiencing the complex ceremonies of the Grand Crown Prince, navigating the palace and dealing with the Emperor requiring immense mental effort, upon reaching her own courtyard and finally relaxing, Tong Huaqiong felt utterly exhausted.
Seeing Tong Huaqiong’s fatigue, Aunt Tang urged her to rest, saying, "Amongst family, there’s no need for formality. Go take a nap; we’re all in Shengjing, so there will be plenty of opportunities to meet later."
Both Old Mrs. Huang and Mrs. Hong also joined in advising Tong Huaqiong to rest first.
Liu Yueer and Gu Taohua instructed people to prepare bathwater.
Utterly fatigued, Tong Huaqiong apologized and, after bathing, immediately went to sleep.
Chen Sufen and Gu Baishuang, unable to stay awake any longer, also went to rest.
However, Tong Pandi and Mrs. Zhao didn’t feel tired at all and regaled Liu Yueer and the others with tales of their palace experience.
Tong Huaqiong slept until the sun was high in the sky.
After washing and grooming, she arrived at the main room, only to suddenly hear distant noises from the courtyard.
"Mother, Grandma, I’m here."
Just from the voice, she knew it was Nie Xiaofeng.
Gu Baishuang excitedly peeked out from behind the folding screen, nearly losing her balance and would have fallen if not for Su Qing’s support.
Separated from her son for three years, suddenly hearing his voice calling her mother left Gu Baishuang uncontrollably emotional.
"Grandma," Nie Xiaofeng said apologetically to Tong Huaqiong, "I was ordered to the military camp yesterday and couldn’t come to greet you and my mother right away."
Tong Huaqiong, with a smile, examined Nie Xiaofeng, remarking that the child had grown up.
Nie Xiaofeng was clad in armor, looking highly impressive.
The boyish features on his face had faded, replaced with a chiseled, mature appearance.
The very picture of a hardened soldier.
Originally, he intended to wear simple, coarse clothing, but Gu Dashu had advised him to wear armor and carry a sword, emphasizing how his mother hadn’t seen him in his deputy general’s form, insisting she should see him this way.
Gu Baishuang felt both proud and pained at her son’s appearance.
Proud because her son had the air of a general.
Pained because it was through torrents of blood and battle that he earned this outfit.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Speak well with your mother; she has worried about you day and night."
It had been three years since Gu Baishuang last saw her son.
Nie Xiaofeng took Gu Baishuang from Su Qing’s arms, tearfully saying, "Mother."
The long-awaited mother-son reunion was suffused with a deeply moving atmosphere.
Chen Sufen, Mrs. Zhao, and others couldn’t help but get teary-eyed.
Just as Tong Huaqiong began to immerse herself in the emotions, Gu Baishuang suddenly picked up the feather duster from the table and started beating Nie Xiaofeng with it.
Nie Xiaofeng was stunned.
What was happening? Wasn’t his mother supposed to be tearfully delighted? Shouldn’t she be proud of him?
Why, after three years of not seeing him, was she suddenly hitting him?
"I’ll beat you, you unfilial son."
"You’ve really grown, haven’t you?"
"You had the nerve to join the army without a word."
"Don’t think becoming a deputy general makes your mistake go away."
While scolding, Gu Baishuang furiously wielded the feather duster in her hand.