The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Cheng Youning gave her grandmother a meaningful look. "Grandma is really getting old and confused. How many fathers-in-law can our Fengqi have? Of course, it's the Empress's maternal father!"

"Has Zhong Siyu's father come to beg?"

"More than that! The Emperor's father-in-law, the Empress Dowager, and my great-uncle's two brothers-in-law have all come, bringing their families—more than twenty people in total."

"Wasn't the Zhong family exiled three thousand miles away? How did they get here?"

"It's still my great-uncle who cares about my great-aunt. He sent his attendant to serve as an official in Dalang under the guise of Wang Quanzhi, a favorite minister of Dalang. I guess it was to rescue Zhong Siyu's family. The attendant was indeed my great-uncle's right-hand man. He falsely conveyed the imperial edict to rescue the Zhong family and escorted them safely for half the journey. Later, my master's attendant came to their aid, which is how they were able to reach Fengqi safely. According to my master, the journey was quite dangerous. They encountered several groups of yatuo people, but they all died at the hands of my master and his attendant."

Madam Wan said with satisfaction, "Lianxing is so thoughtful! It was worth it for Zhong Siyu to follow Lianxing. Now Siyu has a family and is no longer lonely. Lianxing did a good job!"

While Madam Wan was happy for Zhong Siyu, the rest of the Wan family had already changed their expressions. Shang Xi noticed that Madam Han's smile was very stiff, her eldest son Han Yuanqiao, who wanted to enter officialdom, was also pondering something, and her granddaughter, who wanted to enter the palace as a concubine, looked even worse.

Shang Xi couldn't understand why the fact that Zhong Siyu's family had been brought here by the Emperor bothered them.

Cheng Feng, who was about to fall asleep sitting there, perked up when he heard that his entourage had returned. He asked Cheng Youning, "Son, your entourage that went out for a year has returned?"

While traveling, he disguised himself as Wang Quanzhi, an envoy from Dalang, and escorted the imposter Princess Zhuoyang to the Southern Yan Kingdom. The real Wang Quanzhi had already been skinned alive by Wan Lianxing. It seems that the mission of this trip has been completed.

Cheng Youning said with a smile, "Sui Xing not only returned, he returned in great style! My great-uncle will reward him handsomely! Sui Xing not only successfully made his mission to the Southern Yan Kingdom, but he also rescued the Zhong family. Even more impressively, he successfully instigated a conflict between Da Lang and Ya Tuo. Even the silver-tongued Ge Dongqing couldn't provoke a war between Ya Tuo and Da Lang, but Sui Xing accomplished it. My great-uncle praised him highly; he was even happier to see Sui Xing than to see me."

Cheng Feng said, "His assistant is your great-uncle's right-hand man. Whether things are accomplished or not, your great-uncle will be happy to see him."

"Father, I reckon they'll be holding a big banquet in the palace soon. I heard they've even sent someone to invite my grandfather Ge and Hong Zhekai. I think they were both officials in Dalang back then. They'll also invite musicians from the music hall. With my grandfather Ge there, how can there be no singing and dancing? I bet my great-uncle will send someone to summon you to the palace for the welcoming banquet soon."

Cheng Youning's prediction was spot on. As soon as he finished speaking, people from the palace arrived, inviting the people from Prince Pang's residence to the palace to attend the Zhong family's welcoming banquet.

Madam Wan instructed Cheng Feng, "Your father is too ill to go out, so your father and I won't go. Feng'er, take Shang Xi with you and convey our regards to the Zhong family!"

Since Master Wan became bedridden, Madam Wan has not entered the mansion and rarely even steps out of the gate.

Cheng Feng had long wanted to leave, but then the Emperor's men arrived. Now was the perfect time to go. Cheng Feng looked at Shang Xi and said, "Let's go! If we're late, my uncle will punish me with wine."

Shang Xi also disliked her mother-in-law's place. No matter when she came, she would always run into the Han family. The Han family's intentions were obvious, and their purpose was too clear. Shang Xi didn't want to have much contact with these people.

Just as Shang Xi was about to get up, she heard Madam Hen say to her mother-in-law, "Great-aunt, you and the Zhong family are related by marriage. It was also my sister who arranged the marriage between Zhong Siyu and the Emperor. The Zhong family has come all the way from afar to beg for alms. Shouldn't you go and see them?"

Madam Wan wanted to go, but she hadn't left the house in a long time and was too lazy to go out. "Let Feng'er and my daughter-in-law go. This old man won't go to join the fun. We'll hold a grand banquet for the Zhong family another day."

Madam Han continued to gently persuade Madam Wan: "Great-aunt, you're still old. You look younger than me. For such an important occasion, your absence shows that you don't value the Empress's family enough. Will the Empress..."

“No!” Madam Wan knew Zhong Siyu’s character well. “Siyu is a woman of few words, but she is very sensible. She knows that I am getting old and do not like to attend any banquets.”

"Her great-aunt, Muran, was raised in seclusion and has never seen the world!" Madam Han was referring to Han Muran, who was Madam Han's granddaughter, and called Madam Wan her great-aunt.

Shang Xi found it amusing. In the end, they just wanted Madam Wan to bring Han Muran into the palace! She had never heard of anyone wanting to go to the palace to broaden their horizons! Today, she had truly seen it all. The Han family was really opportunistic, their ability to seize every opportunity was superb, and they would never miss a single chance. Look at Han Muran, sitting there dignified and proper, his eyes already filled with anticipation as he looked at Madam Wan.

Han Muran's father, Han Yuanqiao, would further fuel the flames, pleading with Madam Wan: "Aunt, please take my daughter to the palace to see the world! My daughter has long admired the current emperor and longs to see his private parts every day. Please grant my daughter's wish today!"

Madam Wan could resist Madam Han's persistent pleading, but she couldn't resist her nephew's three soft words. She was deeply concerned for the Han family and longed to see Wan Lianxing, but at the welcoming banquet, she found it difficult to find an opportunity to speak with him alone.

Every time Wan Lianxing came to the Prince's residence, Madam Wan would try to recommend the Han family, but each time she failed. Before she could even steer the conversation towards the Han family, Wan Lianxing would find an excuse to leave in a hurry.

Wan Lianxing was deliberately avoiding her, and she wasn't unaware of it. However, the Han family's affairs were urgent, and Wan Lianxing couldn't hide forever. It was the same whether he was choosing a concubine for the Emperor or talking to the Empress.

Madam Wan believed that her words carried some weight with Zhong Siyu, so yesterday she directly revealed that the Han family's granddaughter was going to enter the palace as a concubine.

She understood Zhong Siyu's personality. She knew that Zhong Siyu would tell Wan Lianxing the truth about their conversation yesterday, and might even discuss it with the old steward. So telling Zhong Siyu was the same as telling Wan Lianxing. At this moment, she only needed to wait patiently. Unfortunately, the Han family members were too impatient. Madam Wan leaned on the armrest and used her strength to stand up. "After I change and wash up, I'll have Muran accompany me to the palace."