On the carriage.
Zhao Jiaqi felt puzzled by the two princes' continued absence and asked the person beside her, "Husband, what's going on with Huangfu Xian and Huangfu Xu?"
"Those two are too ashamed to show their faces now. They wear felt hats when they go out, hiding from people like thieves!" Fan Zehao curved his lips upwards, in a good mood.
Yesterday's beating had truly satisfied him.
The frustrations that had been suppressed in his heart for so long were finally released, making him feel full of life and energy everywhere!
Seeing his smug smile, Zhao Jiaqi didn't even need to think to know he had beaten them to an unrecognizable state, either resembling a beaten dog or a panda!
"When we left, we already issued an edict. Why is there no commotion in the capital?"
Fan Zehao glanced at her. His wife had clearly forgotten that Huangfu Xian colluded with Huangfu Xu to escape!
He put his arm around his wife's shoulders, patted her gently, and said, "After we see our son, we'll tie Huangfu Xian to the capital!"
This time, no matter what, he wouldn't let him get away.
Zhao Jiaqi sighed softly. Since they had endured so much, a few more months wouldn't make a difference.
The events in Hedong Prefecture caused a sensation throughout the Yun Kingdom. Everyone knew that the Emperor and Empress were in Hedong Prefecture. All the prefectures bordering Hedong Prefecture were extremely cautious, fearing they would be investigated next if they weren't careful.
Everywhere was exceptionally orderly. Bullies, village tyrants, ruffians, and even beggars on the streets were all managed perfectly by the local officials. Soldiers at the city gates never dared to be negligent towards any passing carriages.
They were like startled birds. The couple, however, did not know this, as they traveled by boat after only one day in the carriage.
Inner City.
By the time their group arrived in the inner city, spring had fully bloomed. The peach blossoms had faded, and pear blossoms were in full bloom, a beautiful expanse of pure white!
As they got closer to home, Zhao Jiaqi's spirits lifted. She lifted the carriage curtain and peeked outside. The streets were familiar, but the crowds were even larger than before!
The Prince's Manor.
Two disabled soldiers stood at the gate. One had lost his left arm, the other his right. Zhao Jiaqi immediately thought they looked like the two guardian generals, Heng and Ha.
Their group stopped in front of the Prince's Manor. The Heng and Ha generals frowned and stepped forward to question them, "This is the Prince's Manor. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to linger here. Leave immediately!"
Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao exchanged glances. What, they couldn't even return to their own home?
Sixi stepped forward and said, "These two are the masters of the manor, the former Zhenguo Prince and Princess, now the Emperor and Empress. Why haven't you gone to report to the steward that the masters have returned?"
These two were new gatekeepers and had never seen the masters before. Upon hearing this, they were startled.
Old Wang said to Old Li beside him, "I'll go report it. You stay here and guard!"
"Aiy.... Aiy...." Old Li reacted a beat slower than Old Wang. Watching him run off, he secretly cursed him a few times.
He was as cunning as a monkey, a combination of a fox and a lemur, incredibly sly!
He turned sideways to look at Sixi and Fan Zehao and gave an awkward laugh, "Well... I haven't been here for even a year, so I really don't recognize you all. How about we wait for the steward to arrive?"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled. She understood. On the contrary, she approved of their actions, seeing it as responsible guarding!
Although Old Wang's arm was injured, his legs were perfectly fine. He ran swiftly and explained the situation to the steward, who then ran out even faster than he did.
Inside the manor, seeing the steward rush out without regard, followed by the gatekeeper Old Wang, everyone assumed something had happened. The servants inside were momentarily stunned before immediately grabbing brooms, shovels, clubs, whips, and other implements, following Old Wang out.
Outside the manor, Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi saw a stream of people following the steward, all carrying weapons. They were dumbfounded!
Fan Zehao: "Wife, is this how the manor greets its masters now?"
Zhao Jiaqi's mouth twitched, and her eyes slanted upwards. "Perhaps... maybe... it's possible. Our manor's people are very understanding!"
The old steward saw his masters and was extremely excited. He immediately knelt on the ground, grabbed the hem of Fan Zehao's robe, and cried with snot and tears, his grief unrestrained. He stammered, "Masters~~*hiccup*~~, you've finally returned. This servant thought you had abandoned us, *hiccup*~~ this servant missed you and Madame so much... *sob sob*!"
Seeing the old steward's state, a line of black sweat dripped down Fan Zehao's forehead.
He sounded so pitiful, as if he were the unfaithful one. He helped the steward up, explaining helplessly while also comforting him, "How old are you, crying like a child? Get up quickly. Without your permission, I wouldn't even be able to enter this manor!"
This statement made the old steward realize his mistake. As he rose, he wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve and did not forget to invite his masters into the courtyard.
At this point, the servants outside the manor who were holding their fighting implements became awkward and quickly tried to hide them behind their backs. But could these things be hidden so easily?
Zhao Jiaqi entered the manor, smiling as she swept her gaze over them and said, "Our manor's people are quite united!"
When there's trouble, they truly come out!
Laughing and chatting, they returned to their courtyard. The rooms inside and out were cleaned spotlessly, indicating they were cleaned regularly. Zhao Jiaqi felt very comfortable returning home and seeing this scene!
When the two little ones heard that their parents were back, they stopped fussing and ran directly to the main courtyard!
As soon as they entered the moon gate, they started shouting, "Dad, Mom, we're back! Bao Bao misses Dad and Mom!"
"Beibei also misses Dad and Mom!"
Yao Yao and Sen Sen called out obediently, one after the other!
Behind them, Fan Xueyao, not to be outdone, called out, "Uncle, Auntie, Yao Yao misses Uncle and Auntie too!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a figure in a pink long dress drifted by, standing tall and elegant. Her looks resembled her elder sister-in-law more than anyone else!
Their long-awaited sons had returned. Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao stepped out and were immediately embraced by the two children. To their surprise, the children were now half a head taller than their mother.
Estimating that the two children were nearly 1.7 meters tall, they had grown incredibly fast in the two years they hadn't seen them. Zhao Jiaqi suddenly felt the sense that children grow up and age parents.
But she was clearly not yet thirty!
"Uncle, Auntie, are you back to stay this time? Grandma and Grandpa miss you both every day. They miss you very much, but their health isn't as good as before, otherwise, they would have come to the capital to find you long ago!" Fan Xueyao said softly from a short distance away.
Fan Zehao sighed deeply.
Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety are difficult to balance.
"Once Uncle resolves matters here, we will stay in this inner city and won't go anywhere else. We will stay to care for your Grandma and Grandpa!"
Upon hearing her uncle say this, Xueyao was so happy that she flew away, laughing as she ran, "I'll go back and tell Grandma and Grandpa right away. They'll definitely be overjoyed!"
Zhao Jiaqi watched the small pink figure run away, feeling a sense of remorse and guilt. She could face the world but not her parents and children!
"Husband, we're back. Let's go and see my parents and bring the elders to live with us!"
"Good, let's go now. From now on, our whole family will not be separated!" Fan Zehao said resolutely.