An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

"Your Highness, the First Prince, is saying that the Prince is preparing to return?"

In the flower hall in the front yard, the three of them had just exchanged a few words and sat down. Xu Zize was about to answer Prince Jing's question when he suddenly heard the sound of jingling bells coming from behind the screen.

Princess Jing, dressed in a crimson brocade double-breasted gown, slowly entered, supported by two maids. Her face, now less wrinkled, was filled with anxiety. The question had just come from her slightly trembling lips, her voice filled with suppressed anticipation.

When Prince Hong first led his troops north, they could hardly sleep at night. It was not until later that Prince Yan returned, overthrew the court, and took back the throne that rightfully belonged to him.

Later, he learned that the two generals were not dead, and that they had already joined Prince Hong in the northern border to fight the enemy together. Only then did he slowly relax.

"Yes, Princess, Prince Hong should be able to return to the court soon." Xu Zize immediately stood up, the silver cloud pattern on his black brocade robe shimmering slightly. He performed a standard junior's salute.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jing Chunxi beside her also rise, her lilac skirt swaying gently like petals. As they saluted side by side, a burst of crisp birdsong could be heard outside the window, which seemed to have a different meaning.

Upon hearing this, the princess' eyes instantly reddened. She trembled as she walked to the main seat, where Prince Jing had already stood up to greet her.

The veteran general, who had spent half his life in the military, displayed a rare tenderness at this moment, his calloused hands firmly grasping the princess's left hand. This gesture, speaking volumes, finally convinced the princess that the news she had been waiting for for half a year was true.

"Father is coming back? Ling'er, go tell mother!" Upon hearing this, Ling'er suddenly jumped up from the embroidered cushion, and the hem of her apricot-yellow skirt drew a cheerful arc in the air.

As she turned around, the silver bells in her hair rang crisply, like an impatient lark ready to fly out of the hall.

"Ling'er, wait for me." Jing Chunxi stood up quickly. She turned to the two elderly people and bowed, "Grandpa and grandma, Xi'er will go see Auntie too."

"Go! Go!" The old prince waved his hand.

When he turned to his wife, his voice softened unconsciously: "Princess, you go and have some fun with the children. Your husband will have a chat with His Highness." As he spoke, he patted the back of the princess's hand, showing a rare gentleness that was not often seen in a military commander.

Jing Chunxi and Ling'er immediately stepped forward, one on each side supporting the old princess. As they stepped out of the doorway, the old general's deep voice echoed out: "Remember to ask someone to prepare a table of good wine and food!"

"Grandma's eyesight has improved?" Walking in the corridor, Jing Chunxi keenly noticed the difference.

In the past, when I supported her, I could always feel the old lady's tense muscles and hesitant steps, but now the strength coming from the palm of my hand is even and steady.

When passing by the persimmon tree full of fruits at the corner of the eaves, the old princess suddenly stopped and looked up, and the mottled shadow of the tree fell on her silver hair.

She squinted her eyes and counted the green and yellow persimmons on the branches, and said with a smile: "I haven't eaten persimmon cakes for many years. There are so many. I can dry a few baskets this year." As she spoke, the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were filled with joy.

"Okay, I can see more clearly from a distance, but I can't thread the needle." The old princess said, suddenly letting go of her hand and turning to Jing Chunxi: "Xi'er, step back two steps and let grandma take a good look."

Jing Chunxi's heart warmed, and she quickly let go of the hand that supported her and stepped back. Her embroidered shoes crushed a few early fallen sycamore leaves, making a slight crisp sound.

At this moment, she suddenly understood that happiness really could cure diseases - the renewed glow in the old princess's eyes was more precious than any panacea.

No wonder the space doesn't give medicine, it's really wrong to blame it.

"Good! Beautiful! She's a beauty, even better than your mother when she was a child." The old princess squinted her eyes to take a closer look, then couldn't help but take two steps forward.

Her trembling fingers gently stroked Jing Chunxi's cheek, and her rough fingertips caressed the girl's delicate skin, as if confirming a lost treasure.

"Grandmother still remembers it very clearly. When your father was five or six years old and still alive, he always liked to chase after your mother..." The old princess' voice suddenly choked, and the scenes in her memories made her tears seep into the corners of her eyes, like crystal amber in the sunlight.

Seeing this, Jing Chunxi felt heartbroken. She quickly took out her silk handkerchief and gently wiped the old woman's tears. When she held her grandmother's hand again, she smelled the faint scent of sandalwood on her collar, the scent left by years of worshiping Buddha.

She leaned her head gently on the old man's shoulder, and the fragrance of osmanthus oil in her hair blended wonderfully with the fragrance of medicine on the old man's body.

When I failed to find my son, I gave up on myself. Now I should pray to Buddha every day, praying for the Buddha to bless this hard-won reunion, praying for the safety of my children and grandchildren, and for the well-being of my family.

"Ladies! What's taking so long?" Xiu Gu's anxious voice came from behind the moon-shaped door.

The dowry aunt, who was over a decade older than the Princess of Hong, came trotting over, her skirt in hand. The silver hairpin in her hair was slightly askew. "The Princess already ordered the sedan chair to be brought back, and it wasn't your aunt who stopped her. She insisted on going to the front yard herself."

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly saw who was coming and quickly knelt down to salute: "Why is the old ancestor here too? If the princess knew you were coming, she would definitely come out to greet you personally."

"Why can't I come?" The old princess glared in mock anger. "Do you think her soon-to-be-born twin should be asked to pay her respects to me?"

He suddenly lowered his voice and added as if telling a secret, "Don't be so noisy when you talk or do things on weekdays. You disturbed my daughter-in-law and grandson. You are the only ones who are questioned."

"Don't worry, old ancestor." Xiu Gu quickly assured with a smile, and at the same time signaled the little maid behind her to go and report the news.

Unexpectedly, Ling'er had already run in a few steps ahead of her.

Xiu Gu held the old princess's other arm and said, "Even the maid who was cutting flowers in the courtyard, I sent her away to guard the door first. Everything else should be done by the princess first."

"As it should be." The old princess nodded appreciatively. "Everything will be sorted out after my grandson is born. The courtyard should stop messing around."

"Yes! Ancestor."

"Mother, you're here. Xi'er, no~ Princess Anping, you've kept me waiting."

The voice of Princess Hong came from the inner room, with a hint of anger but also unconcealable joy. She called "Princess Anping" respectfully and intimately, with a slightly rising ending tone, revealing the unique doting of an elder to a younger generation.

As expected, as soon as they entered the courtyard, Princess Hong had someone lift the door curtain. The brocade curtain was lifted high by two maids, one on the left and one on the right, and the golden thread sparkled in the sun.

The voice came out before anyone was seen, and the clear voice revealed an unconcealable expectation.

"Mother," Ling'er called out loudly, her crisp childish voice echoing in the courtyard. Her feet were already uncontrollable as she rushed inside. The old princess gave her a gentle push, and Jing Chunxi also rushed forward.

She rushed forward and spoke, her voice filled with the joy of reunion after a long separation.

"Aunt, it will be too formal if you keep calling me like that. I won't respond unless you call me Xier." Jing Chunxi stepped forward quickly.

"It's not easy to wait for you to come back. Now your aunt is relieved." Princess Hong's voice was a little choked. She held the hand of the maid and walked quickly to the door. The hem of her skirt embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns swept the ground.

Princess Hongjun was almost at the door when she saw Ling'er and immediately leaned to the side, cautious as a pregnant woman. Her slender fingers subconsciously protected her slightly swollen belly. The maidservant even stood in front of her, like a human wall separating the lively Ling'er, fearing she might offend her master.

Ling'er was also pulled by Jing Chunxi from behind, and she stuck out her tongue and stopped walking. Her pink little face wrinkled into a ball, and she knew she was wrong.

"Mother, father will be back soon. The Tartars have surrendered." This time she approached very carefully, not daring to act rashly. She even lowered her voice for fear of disturbing her mother and the younger brother or sister in her belly.

"Really? So fast?" Princess Hong couldn't believe it. A hint of surprise flashed across her well-maintained face, and her carefully drawn willow-shaped eyebrows raised slightly.

She first glanced at Jing Chunxi, her eyes filled with inquiry, then at the old princess who had already entered. She bowed slightly and called out, "Daughter-in-law greets mother." She deliberately slowed down her movements as she saluted, revealing the caution unique to pregnant women.