The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

"Alright, stop working and sit down to rest. You're still a patient."

Ruan Yuhu never expected that her arrival would cause such a huge uproar.

"I originally thought that since you were injured, I should come and see you."

"Who knew it would cause you confusion? It was my mistake."

Ruan Yuhu smiled and shook her head; she had never been so reckless in her life.

"No, no, no, it's not your fault. It's all my fault. I've been injured lately and need to rest in bed, so I've become lazy."

Zuo Yutang also comes from a prestigious family, and rules and etiquette are ingrained in her very being.

She could not accept her rudeness in front of Ruan Yuhu today.

“You are a patient, so it is only natural for you to stay in bed and recuperate.”

Ruan Yuhu helped Zuo Yutang to the bed, saying, "I'm not an outsider, so you don't need to be so formal."

“I’m just here to visit my old sister, not with any imperial decree. You should just do whatever makes you feel comfortable.”

Ruan Yuhu's words brought tears to Zuo Yutang's eyes.

After covering Zuo Yutang with the blanket, Ruan Yuhu took her hand and said, "You've really suffered a lot this time."

"I heard from Her Majesty the Empress that you almost lost your life. Those villains were truly despicable."

"But things will be better in the future. Those bad guys have received the punishment they deserved, and you've finally gotten over your suffering."

Ruan Yuhu already knew that the relationship between Wang Yunzhi and Zuo Yutang had greatly improved.

Zuo Yutang's life has truly been difficult. She gave everything for Wang Yunzhi and the Wang family, yet she couldn't be treated with sincerity. Anyone would feel disheartened.

But who could have imagined that in her old age, Wang Yunzhi would change his mind and treat her sincerely? All the suffering she had endured in the past had finally paid off.

"Ah."

Faced with Ruan Yuhu's concern, Zuo Yutang suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

Originally, Zuo Yutang's eyes were just red, but now a surge of sorrow welled up and she couldn't help but cry.

She had been suppressed for too long. As the matriarch of the family, she had to take responsibility for everything, even when faced with things that were beyond her capabilities and filled her with fear.

She also had to appear fearless and had to grit her teeth and find a way to solve the problem.

Her status dictated that she could not have any weakness, much less show it to others.

A seemingly weak woman was forced by her environment to become an all-powerful superwoman.

No one cares whether she feels wronged or not, no one can take her burdens for her, and she has to shoulder everything herself.

But they forgot that she was also a person, and a vulnerable woman who needed protection and care.

Seeing Zuo Yutang cry, Ruan Yuhu felt terrible.

As a woman herself, she could empathize with Zuo Yutang.

After all, she had experienced more of this kind of hardship than anyone else.

Ruan Yuhu simply watched Zuo Yutang cry without offering any words of comfort. Sometimes, when others are sad, it's best to let them vent their pain by just silently staying by their side without saying a word.

The two of them just stood there, one silently shedding tears, the other remaining silent, only handing over a handkerchief when Zuo Yutang needed it.

Just as Li Shu was drifting off to sleep, she heard her maid, Amei, say, "Madam, wake up. The Second Madam sent me to wake you."

"They say that the old matriarch from the palace has arrived and wants you to get up and get ready to go see her."

Li Shu suddenly woke up with a start. She forced herself to stay awake and then asked, "Who did you say came? Is it the old matriarch from the palace?"

"Yes, Madam, you heard right, it is the old matriarch of the palace who has arrived."

Ah Mei stood to the side and quietly repeated what she had just said.

"That old matriarch in the palace."

Li Shu was momentarily stunned. Of course, she knew that the old matriarch in the palace was Ruan Yuhu.

Although she had been away from the capital for many years, she still knew some things about Ruan Yuhu.

Moreover, after she returned to the capital and saw her daughter, Qiongniang told her many things about the palace.

Not only the Empress's, but also Ruan Yuhu's.

There is probably no one else besides Ruan Yuhu who can be addressed as "Grand Ancestor" both inside and outside the palace.

I never imagined that the two of them would meet again in this lifetime.

Years ago, she happened to see Ruan Yuhu being bullied in the palace, and out of sympathy for another woman, she felt for her.

Their interaction in the palace was limited to this one time.

Not long after, she was forced into marriage by her unscrupulous brother. Left with no other choice, she risked her life, gambling with her innocence, to escape from her family's clutches.

Her own brother, because she disobeyed, actually conspired with others to kill her.

But to her surprise, the woman she had only saved out of pity extended a helping hand to her when she was abandoned by everyone.

It not only saved her life, but also helped her escape her suffering and fulfill her wish.

She has always kept this kindness in her heart, but has had no opportunity to repay it.

Knowing Ruan Yuhu's difficulties back then, she would never have dared to associate with him.

Later, because of the Wang family, she could no longer have any contact with Ruan Yuhu.

Then the Wang family had an accident, and she went to northern Xinjiang with Wang Hengshan and his family.

When separated by thousands of miles and with their fates uncertain, the matter of repaying kindness is even more out of the question.

It's truly remarkable that they were able to reunite with their old friends today.

"Madam, what's wrong?"

Seeing Li Shu sitting on the bed in a daze, not saying a word, Amei asked cautiously.

"Oh, it's nothing."

Li Shu came to her senses, let out a long sigh, and instructed, "Help me up, quickly change my clothes and do my makeup."

"Since an important person has arrived, we must not be impolite."

During her years in northern Xinjiang, Li Shu had long since grown accustomed to going out without makeup and without any cosmetics.

After returning to the capital, conditions improved, but she continued to live her previous simple and frugal life.

This is the first time I've ever had to change clothes and do my makeup for such a grand occasion.

"Yes."

Amei helped Li Shu up from the bed. During those years in the northern frontier, life was so hard that Li Shu was now riddled with illnesses.

Without assistance, she couldn't even get out of bed.

"Madam, would you like to bring out that sky-blue peony dress that was made a few days ago?"

The sky-blue peony dress that Amei mentioned was one that Zuo Yutang had specially ordered to be made for Li Shu a few days ago.

The clothes Li Shu wears now are not only too plain, but also mostly made of cotton.

Zuo Yutang prepared many clothes for her, made of the finest silk, but Li Shu never wore a single one.

In her words, she prefers to wear the clothes she's currently wearing, as they make her feel comfortable and at ease.

Although Li Shu said that, Zuo Yutang didn't think so.

As the eldest wife of the Wang family, she still hoped that her sister-in-law could dress more beautifully and elegantly.

Before the Wang family committed any crimes, when they were exiled to the northern frontier, her eldest sister-in-law was known for her love of beauty, and her favorite thing to do was to buy new clothes.

Back then, if any new fabrics or clothing styles came out in the fabric shops and clothing stores in Beijing, they would definitely appear on her sister-in-law the very next day.

Therefore, Zuo Yutang felt very uncomfortable seeing the difference between Li Shu now and before.

Although some very nice clothes were made for Li Shu, she just left them unworn, but Zuo Yutang would still make more for her.

That sky-blue peony dress was designed by Zuo Yutang, who had the embroiderers in the manor draw up the pattern and then personally selected it to be made for Li Shu.

Although the color was a bit bright, it complemented Li Shu's skin tone very well. Li Shu's skin was already fair, and wearing this sky-blue peony dress made her look even more radiant and beautiful.

"Okay, bring it."

Before going to see Ruan Yuhu, Li Shu even had the unusual urge to dress up.

They hadn't seen each other for a long time, and Li Shu didn't want Ruan Yuhu to see her without makeup, lest it make everyone feel sad and remind them of those unpleasant memories.

Amei brought the clothes, and Li Shu changed her clothes, instantly transforming her demeanor.

She transformed from a kind and quiet ordinary woman into a lady of extraordinary bearing.

After getting ready, Li Shu, supported by Amei, left the room and headed towards Zuo Yutang's place.

After having a good cry, Zuo Yutang felt much better after venting her pent-up frustrations.

The two were chatting casually when Li Shu came in.

Seeing Li Shu arrive, Ruan Yuhu stood up, walked up to her with a smile, took her hand, and said with a smile, "Princess Jing'an, it's been many years, how have you been?"

Li Shu looked at Ruan Yuhu, her nose tingled, and her eyes reddened. "Okay, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Madam Ruan."

"It's been many years since I last saw you, Madam Ruan. You haven't aged at all."

Ruan Yuhu and Li Shu helped each other walk towards the bed.

"Princess Jing'an, please don't flatter me here. I'm several years older than you."

"She's already an old woman with a face full of wrinkles, useless, and needs help to walk."

"How can things be the same as they were back then? When we first met, you were still a young, unmarried girl."

"Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, we've all grown old."

Li Shu nodded. Time really flies; decades have passed in the blink of an eye.

The once beautiful young girl has turned into an old woman with a full head of white hair in the blink of an eye.

"Yes, life goes on, but what I just said wasn't a compliment."

“Madam Ruan, there really has been no change.”

Ruan Yuhu was once known as the most beautiful woman in the capital.

Even though she is old now, you can still see the charm she had in her younger days in her.

The phrase "time cannot diminish beauty" perfectly describes Ruan Yuhu.

Ruan Yuhu smiled and said, "Princess Jing'an, you must have suffered these past years."

"The northern frontier is a harsh and cold place, but it's good to be back now, it's good to be back."

"I was chatting with Her Majesty the Empress a few days ago, and she even said she wanted to help Lord Wang overturn his case."

"When the Wang family's case is overturned, you will be able to reunite as a family and live a harmonious and happy life."

Upon hearing Ruan Yuhu mention that Shen Tianjiao wanted to overturn the case against her family, Li Shu felt a strange emotion rising within her.

She wasn't emotional because Shen Tianjiao had overturned her family's case and allowed them to return to their previous lives.

She reasoned that if Shen Tianjiao overturned the Wang family's case, then Wang Hengshan's innocence could be restored.

In this way, her children would not have to bear the stigma of being the sons of a disgraced official, nor would they have to be pointed at and gossiped about behind their backs, unable to hold their heads high.

She and Wang Hengshan didn't care how much they suffered, but their children couldn't suffer any more injustice and humiliation.

Over the years, her children have suffered greatly because of this incident.

Whenever she thinks about these things, she can't calm down.

"In that case, I am very grateful for the great kindness of Your Majesty the Empress and Madam Ruan."

Li Shu quickly stood up and bowed to Ruan Yuhu.

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing?"

Ruan Yuhu reached out and helped Li Shu up. "I came here today to catch up with you all, not to ask you to be so polite with me."

"If you continue like this, I'll get angry and leave."

Li Shu wiped away her tears and quickly said, "Madam Ruan, please don't be angry, please don't be angry."

"It's rare for us to get together, so let's have a good chat."

"Well, that's right."

Ruan Yuhu's gaze shifted from Li Shu's face to Zuo Yutang's face before returning to it.

She pulled Li Shu and Zuo Yutang's hands together and said, "The three of us are all unfortunate people, and we have all experienced life and death."

"It's truly remarkable to have lived to this age. We should all visit each other more often and get together more frequently."

Ruan Yuhu's words made Li Shu and Zuo Yutang feel a pang of sadness, and their eyes instantly welled up with tears.

These three women are indeed unfortunate, each one more miserable than if they were soaking in a jar of bitter gourd.

It is truly a great blessing that they are still alive.

"Yes, Madam Ruan is right. We should get together more often in the future. At our age, we don't know when God will take us away."

"We should all cherish the present moment."

At this moment, time seemed to have transported these three women back to their youth.

They are no longer anyone's daughter, wife, or mother; at this moment, they are simply themselves.

Their lives were both long and short, but not a single day was lived for themselves.