The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Zhong Siyu was startled and turned around abruptly. Her pupils dilated in shock, her heart raced, and her breathing became rapid. The person she had been longing for had miraculously appeared before her.

In an instant, her eyes welled up with tears, like a river bursting its banks, and she broke down in grief. Overwhelmed with emotion, she collapsed before her parents, struggling to confess, "Father, Mother... your daughter is unfilial."

The whole family suddenly knelt down on the ground. Zhong Siyu kowtowed to them, and they kowtowed to Zhong Siyu. The scene was chaotic. Zhong Siyu hurriedly pulled her parents up. "Get up, Father and Mother, get up! You are making Yu'er suffer like this."

Zhong Siyu's parents were dressed in coarse linen clothes, and her brother and sister-in-law were also dressed in tattered clothes. Their former elegance and grandeur were gone. It was the first time she had seen her family in such a sorry state. She had never imagined that she would see her parents in Fengqi one day. She didn't even dare to hope that she would see her family again in her lifetime. Everything came too suddenly, and she hadn't even had time to think about it.

The emperor of Dalang was incompetent and tyrannical, and every year many unjustly accused ministers were exiled, and the Zhong family was no exception. On trumped-up charges, the Zhong family was exiled three thousand li to the north, to the coldest frontier region of Dalang, where the lack of food and clothing caused many to freeze to death on the way.

Zhong Siyu hadn't heard from her family for over a year. She vaguely knew that something had happened to the Zhong family, but she couldn't get anything of value from Wan Lianxing. She also tried to find out from others, but to no avail. She knew that Wan Lianxing was deliberately covering her up and not letting her know the Zhong family's situation. Wan Lianxing was all-powerful, and even if she were the Empress, she would be powerless to do anything about it.

Zhong Siyu was in tears and very emotional. She held her parents' hands and asked, "Father, Mother, the journey was long, how did you get to Fengqi?"

Zhong Siyu's father looked haggard, tears streaming down his face. "It was the Emperor who rescued our family. After he came to our rescue, he escorted us all the way, with attendants meeting us along the way. Without his rescue, we would not have been able to leave our place of exile. He impersonated Wang Quanzhi, a favorite minister of the Emperor of Dalang, and forged an imperial edict to deceive the officials, which allowed our whole family to escape!"

Upon hearing that it was Wan Lianxing who arranged it, Zhong Siyu knelt down and kowtowed to thank Wan Lianxing. The rest of the Zhong family also knelt down, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving Yu'er's parents and elder brother."

Wan Lianxing teased Zhong Siyu, "Didn't the Empress complain that she didn't have any family to support her? I've brought your family here. I want to see if you can stand up straight from now on."

Zhong Siyu was extremely embarrassed. "Your Majesty, I was drunk last night and I don't remember what nonsense I said. If I said anything inappropriate, please punish me."

Wan Lianxing stopped teasing Zhong Siyu. He knew that after such a long separation, Zhong Siyu and her family must have a lot to say. He couldn't delay their heartfelt conversation, so he said, "Empress, everyone has had a long and tiring journey. Please take them to rest first. I will host a banquet for you all later."

After everyone expressed their gratitude, they followed Zhong Siyu and left for Wankang Palace.

After everyone had gone some distance, Cheng Youning rushed in, "Grandpa, who are these people dressed in coarse linen clothes?"

Wan Lianxing said with a smile, "They are the Emperor's father-in-law, the Emperor's wife, and two others who are the Emperor's brothers-in-law."

Cheng Youning used her little brain and quickly figured out the relationship, "Could it be my great-grandmother's family?"

Wan Lianxing smiled and said, "That's right."

Cheng Youning nodded thoughtfully, as if he knew something: "No wonder my little grandma was standing at the entrance of Wankang Palace yesterday, looking around and crying. It turns out she was so excited to see her family that she shed tears!"

Wan Lianxing wanted to say that almost all of Zhong Siyu's tears were for him, Wan Lianxing. When she stood at the door looking around, she was also looking for him, Wan Lianxing. Zhong Siyu was a different kind of woman. She was selfless and had no ulterior motives. There was only him, Wan Lianxing, in her heart.

"You Ning, go play by yourself. Your great-grandfather is going to have a welcome dinner for your great-grandmother's family later, so he won't have time to play with you today."

Seeing that his great-uncle was urging him to leave, Cheng Youning didn't linger any longer. "Then I'll go to the Prince Pang's residence to visit my grandparents."

Madam Wan's courtyard was filled with joy and laughter, even more lively than yesterday's Lantern Festival. The house was almost full of Han family members, and Cheng Youning's parents were also drinking tea there.

Shang Xi comes here every day as if it's a routine. If she doesn't come to sit with Madam Wan, she'll be scolded by her mother-in-law. Sitting here is just to watch the Han family put on a show. The Han family is quite capable; they manage to keep Madam Wan in a good mood and all smiles every day.

Today, the Han family performed even better. Han Muran sat dignifiedly to the left of Madam Wan, while Madam Han sat to the right of Madam Wan. Shang Xi knew that her mother-in-law had given Zhong Siyu an order last night, and Zhong Siyu had also agreed to let Han Muran enter the palace as a concubine. Presumably, the matter was settled.

Madam Wan asked Cheng Youning, "Grandson, where did you come from?"

Cheng Youning smiled and reported truthfully: "My grandson came from my great-uncle's place. I had breakfast with my great-uncle this morning, and after breakfast I helped my great-uncle feed the birds, and then I came."

Did your great-uncle say anything?

Madam Wan's eyes held a hopeful look that Cheng Youning couldn't decipher. "What does Grandma mean?"

Did your great-uncle mention your sister, Muran?

"Han Muran?" Cheng Youning never called her "sister" nor acknowledged her as his sister. In his view, his relationship with this person was much more distant than his relationship with He Ye. Cheng Youning felt confused and shook his head. "My great-uncle has never even met Han Muran. Why is he mentioning her?"

Madam Wan frowned, but still wouldn't give up, "Did the old butler mention Han Muran?"

Cheng Youning couldn't help but laugh: "Grandma, why is everyone bringing up Han Muran? Han Muran just wants to enter the palace to serve my great-grandfather! I think her wish will soon come true. I heard the little maid Zhu'er mention it yesterday."

Madam Wan was taken aback, and Han Muran blushed. Although this matter was an open secret, people would not usually discuss it so openly in public. Unexpectedly, Cheng Youning had seen through their thoughts in one sentence.

Unable to contain her relentless questioning, Madam Wan pressed Cheng Youning, "Grandson, was it only that little maid Zhu'er who mentioned it briefly? Didn't your great-grandfather say anything? Didn't he mention Muran?"

"No, my great-uncle is busy. I tried to pester him, but he chased me away."

"What is your great-uncle busy with?" Madam Wan still imagined that Wan Lianxing was busy summoning Han Muran to be his concubine.

Cheng Youning told the truth, "The Emperor's father-in-law has arrived, and my great-uncle is busy welcoming them."

"The emperor's father-in-law? What emperor's father-in-law?"