Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 324 - 322

Chapter 324: Chapter 322

Snowflakes fluttered down. This year’s winter came exceptionally early and was especially cold.

The fourth branch, consisting of Shen Nirui and her family, finally arrived in the Imperial Capital.

Since they learned of their journey, the weather had grown colder day by day. Mrs. Liu’s persistent worry was finally relieved when she saw that each of them had arrived safe and sound.

Following his official duties, Ming Zhijie, along with Shen Chengyao, returned to the Marquis Shengping Mansion. He had come to take his wife home.

His mother-in-law had already informed him about Shen Nirui’s situation. At that time, he had intended to ask Shangguan for leave to bring her back, but his mother-in-law had already sent a letter back home, encouraging his wife to travel to the capital with Uncle Shen’s family as it would be quicker, so he gave up the notion. But unexpectedly, this wait turned into a few months!

Looking at his wife, who had become noticeably thinner and more withered, Ming Zhijie nearly shed tears. He had failed her.

Shen Nirui’s eyes also turned red.

Xiao’er, looking at the tearful eyes of the two, coughed, "It’s cold outside, and the food is ready. Brother Ming, Sister Nirui, you should eat first before the food gets cold!"

The couple came back to their senses, their cheeks flushing slightly.

Men and women sat separately. Shen Chengyao warmly greeted his younger brother, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time. Of the siblings who grew up together, only this younger brother, whom he had personally raised, remained close to him.

As for the others, he wanted to be close to them, but he didn’t dare!

Ming Zhijie didn’t drink much because he had to take his wife home afterwards, but he had a little to warm himself up.

Both Shen Chengyao and Shen Chengzu were drunk.

After attending to their respected husbands, Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Lu started chatting again.

Having learned what the second branch had done, Mrs. Liu wiped the nonexistent cold sweat from her forehead.

Thankfully, they no longer had any relations with the second branch, otherwise, she would need to worry every day about when her daughter might be schemed against next.

Those people were, after all, incorrigible, and they had ultimately reaped what they sowed.

However, the brother of Mr. Tan, the principal of the Imperial College? Wasn’t he the foolish one who had been crippled? She had heard that he had gotten married some time ago, but she hadn’t paid much attention to who he had married.

If Shen Yuzhu really did marry him, it would probably be worse than marrying into Landlord Tian’s family.

At this thought, Mrs. Liu looked towards Xiao’er and said, "Xiao’er, isn’t Mr. Tan, the principal of the Imperial College..."

"There’s only one Mr. Tan, the principal of the Imperial College." Xiao’er contemplated the reason why the main family married Shen Yuzhu to Mr. Tan’s brother.

Hearing this, Mrs. Liu gasped and then told Mrs. Lu what she knew.

Mrs. Lu: The people from the main family are too terrifying! They are all so ruthless! I wish I never had to see them again in my life.

...

Although the weather was very cold, the year was coming to an end. Many people went out to purchase New Year’s goods and order new clothes.

After several days of snowfall, it had finally stopped. Today, every street in the Imperial City was filled with people.

Xiao’er was shopping for fabric with Shen Nirui and Lai Ruoqing.

Lai Ruoqing’s wedding was set for the sunny March of the next year. Regardless of her relationship with the Lai family or with Shen Zixuan, Xiao’er felt compelled to design a wedding dress for her.

Today, they were out picking out fabrics for the dress. Under Xiao’er’s suggestion, the fabric for the dress had been decided, and now they were choosing fabric for the bedding.

"Make way! Everyone, make way! Get ready to greet the procession. The Empress Dowager’s carriage is about to enter the city! The Empress Dowager’s carriage is about to enter the city," someone shouted from outside.

Immediately following that, Xiao’er saw Shangguan Xuanhao leading the way. Several princes rode past the shop on their horses.

The Empress Dowager was returning from Jiangnan? So sudden? Xiao’er was taken aback.

As Shangguan Xuanyi passed by the cloth shop, he seemed to sense something and turned to look inside the shop. Their gazes met in mid-air.

"Quick, ladies, hurry out to kneel and welcome the Empress Dowager!" The shop manager hastily reminded those who were still standing dumbfounded in his shop.

Had they not heard the people outside, or noticed that the entrances of the other shops were already filled with kneeling people?!

Xiao’er came to her senses, hastening to pull the two people beside her outside to kneel.

With the Empress Dowager’s grand entrance into the city, what was brewing? Xiao’er had a hunch that trouble was on the way.

By the time Xiao’er’s knees hurt from kneeling, Her Majesty’s carriage finally appeared.

Wherever the carriage passed, the commoners collectively bowed their heads and shouted, "Long live the Empress Dowager, may she live for thousands of years, thousands and thousands of years."

Everyone kept their heads low and did not raise them until a team of riders had passed by.

From the procession of the several princes riding majestic horses, Xiao’er recognized one figure she hadn’t seen in a long time and another unfamiliar one.

The First Prince is back!

And he’s returned with the Empress Dowager.

Could it be that the Empress Dowager is back to give her support to the First Prince?

Could the unfamiliar figure be the Third Prince?

Now, not one person is absent, all gathered in the Imperial Capital. The Imperial City is about to become lively.

Upon returning home, she must ask Aunt Rong about the Empress Dowager’s character, thought Xiao’er.

The gates of the Imperial Palace were wide open.

The Emperor and Empress were waiting at the city gate, with thousands of maids and eunuchs following behind.

The carriage came to a halt, and an elderly maid jumped down from it, with eunuchs immediately gathering around the carriage.

An old woman with white hair, a stern face but a vibrant spirit leaned out from the carriage. With the assistance of the maid, she stepped on the eunuch’s back and descended from the carriage.

"Blessings to Mother on her return to the palace, may Mother have good fortune!"

"Your servant greets Mother on her return to the palace. May Mother have longevity!" Both the Emperor and Empress were the first to salute.

The maids and eunuchs in the back knelt in unison, "We servants welcome the Empress Dowager to the palace, may the Empress Dowager live a thousand years, and a thousand years more!"

Everyone performed their courtesy.

The Emperor and the Empress personally assisted the Empress Dowager into the palanquin, one on each side.

Cining Palace

"The comfort of the palace is unmatched." The Empress Dowager looked at the palace where she had spent half her life with nostalgia.

"Since Mother finds comfort in the palace, perhaps she should refrain from leaving in the future, so the Emperor and I won’t be filled with worry." The Empress smiled.

"Without me meddlesome in the palace, you only have to pay your respects at dawn and dusk. Your life would be even more leisurely, wouldn’t it? How could you possibly carry an ounce of worry for me?" The Empress Dowager’s smile wilted upon hearing the Empress’s words.

"Mother, the Empress truly misses you. Look at this Cining Palace, hasn’t it been taken care of quite well? Every flower and tree has been attentively cared for by people ordered by the Empress. She checks them regularly every day."

The Emperor spoke up. Naturally, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t snub him, "She has at least put in some effort."

The Emperor heaved a sigh of relief in his heart; dealing with such a matter was quite challenging indeed!

"I heard that the marriage of Yi’er is settled?" The Empress Dowager turned the topic to the Empress, beginning to focus on the crux of the matter.

"I have bestowed the daughter of Marquis Shengping, Miss Rui’an, to Yi’er." The Emperor preemptively answered the Empress Dowager’s question.

The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor, who always sided with the Empress, nearly fuming in indignation. After all these years, he still had no backbone!

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