The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

Gongsun Ruotang slightly furrowed her delicate brows, her eyes fixed on the distance, as if trying to see the truth through the layers of mist. She parted her lips slightly and said softly, "Brother is always cautious. If we had already agreed to meet here, he would surely arrive on time, given his usual style. So, in my opinion, we should wait here for another half an hour. If he still hasn't appeared after half an hour, then we can set off for Qingfeng Pavilion to find him. What do you think, Senior Brother?"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Mo, who was standing to the side, pondered for a moment before slowly nodding in agreement. His deep and bright eyes were filled with praise for Gongsun Ruotang as he softly replied, "Junior Sister's considerations are indeed thorough and comprehensive. Very well, let's do as you say."

At this moment, Nangong Sheng, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly turned his gaze to Gongsun Ruotang. A slight smile curved his lips, as warm and gentle as the spring sun. He spoke, "Junior Sister is so intelligent and quick-witted; I imagine your brother must dote on you and cherish you dearly. Come to think of it, we haven't yet had the chance to travel together."

Gongsun Ruotang's lips curved slightly upward, revealing a faint smile as beautiful and captivating as a flower blooming in spring. Her large, bright eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of pride that was barely perceptible, as she softly said, "My brother is always so busy, as if he's always swamped with things to do. But even so, every time we siblings meet, he thoughtfully brings me little surprises! Just last time, when he returned from out of town, he even brought me back a long-lost medical classic! He told me that he found this treasure by chance, and knowing that I've always been fascinated by these strange and unusual things, he went to great lengths to bring it back for me!"

Hearing this, Yuwen Mo, who was standing to the side, was also intrigued and asked with a look of curiosity, "Oh? It's that long-lost medicine book? Could it be the one that Master's wife mentioned before?"

Gongsun Ruotang nodded excitedly, gesturing wildly in the air as if trying to convey her joy through her gestures. She replied cheerfully, "That's right, Senior Brother! As you know, Master has often told me how precious and rare that lost medical classic is. I only mentioned it casually to you once, Brother, but I didn't expect you to take it to heart!"

At this moment, Nangong Sheng, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the two, suddenly had a bright light flash in his eyes and slowly said, "Judging from this, your elder brother is indeed much stronger than those people from the Su family!"

Gongsun Ruotang's face was originally beaming with a smile as bright as spring flowers, but when she heard Nangong Sheng utter the words "Su family," her smile faltered slightly, as if blown away by a sudden gust of cold wind. A barely perceptible hint of hatred flashed in her beautiful eyes. However, in the blink of an eye, she quickly composed herself, returning to her usual gentle and graceful demeanor, as calm as a still lake, and softly replied, "How the Su family acts is no longer of much concern to me. My only thought is that my brother has always treated me with great care and protection; that alone is enough to make me content."

Yuwen Mo, who had been silently observing everyone's words and actions, naturally noticed the subtle emotional fluctuation in Gongsun Ruotang at that moment. However, he did not point it out directly, but subtly changed the subject: "I wonder if that mysterious and unpredictable pharmacopoeia contains any unique and wonderful prescriptions? Perhaps these prescriptions will be of great help to our future cultivation path and recovery after injuries."

Gongsun Ruotang nodded slightly after hearing this, her eyes, which had dimmed slightly when the Su family was mentioned, now brightened with renewed interest. She parted her lips and slowly said, "This pharmacopoeia does indeed record many amazing and unique prescriptions. One of them is particularly noteworthy; it requires seven rare and precious herbs to refine into a pill. Legend has it that this pill possesses miraculous effects, capable of significantly enhancing the user's cultivation level in a very short time. Even more remarkably, it produces no side effects whatsoever. However… gathering these precious and rare herbs is no easy task; we'll likely need to expend considerable effort and time searching far and wide."

Nangong Sheng slightly raised his right hand, gently stroking his sharply defined chin with his index finger. His eyes were half-closed, as if he were rapidly pondering something. After a while, he slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and said, "Hmm, it seems this is indeed a very good clue! After your brother arrives, we might as well get together and discuss the specifics of finding the herbs."

Just then, a very faint, almost inaudible footstep sound suddenly came from outside the previously quiet house. Gongsun Ruotang, who was inside, stood up quickly without hesitation and walked briskly towards the door.

Upon reaching the door, Gongsun Ruotang looked outside. She saw a tall, slender figure hurrying towards her. As the figure drew closer, Gongsun Ruotang recognized the person's face—it was her elder brother, Gongsun Lin.

Gongsun Lin spotted his younger sister, Gongsun Ruotang, standing anxiously at the door from afar, and a hint of apology appeared on his slightly tired face. As he approached, Gongsun Lin quickly said softly to Gongsun Ruotang, "Tang'er, I'm so sorry to have kept you and your senior brothers waiting. We were delayed a little on the way."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Ruotang anxiously asked, "Brother, are you alright? Did you encounter some troublesome matter?" Gongsun Lin felt a surge of warmth in his heart upon sensing his sister's worry. He gently shook his head and smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, Tang'er. It's just a trivial matter. I've already taken care of it, and there's nothing to worry about."

Hearing her brother's words, Gongsun Ruotang finally felt relieved. At this moment, Yuwen Mo and Nangong Sheng, who had been sitting inside, rose and approached Gongsun Lin upon his arrival. They first bowed respectfully to Gongsun Lin, then greeted him in unison, "Brother Gongsun, how have you been?"

Upon seeing this, Gongsun Lin quickly returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute, replying with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, senior brothers. I am perfectly fine. I am truly ashamed to have kept you waiting here for so long!"

"It's alright, you can rest here for a while. I'll immediately instruct the servants to prepare the carriage." After Yuwen Mo finished speaking, he waved to the attendants beside him to quickly take care of the necessary arrangements for the trip. Once everything was arranged, he turned to Gongsun Ruotang beside him and asked gently, "Junior Sister, where do you wish to go?"

At this moment, Nangong Sheng, who had been standing quietly to one side, also spoke up and asked, "Yes, junior sister, do you have a place in mind? Why don't you tell me?"

Gongsun Ruotang tilted her head slightly, as if recalling something. After a moment, she parted her lips and said, "Before leaving the palace, I heard Tangqiu mention that a variety show troupe had recently come to the capital. It sounded very interesting. Why don't we go and take a look together?" After speaking, she looked at everyone with her beautiful eyes full of anticipation.

Then, as if remembering something important, Gongsun Ruotang continued, "Oh, right! I was thinking of going to Jinyufang to carefully select a gift for Sister Linglan, Aunt, and Grandmother. In a few days, I'll be able to return to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion from the palace for a short stay." As she spoke, she turned her gaze to her elder brother, Gongsun Lin, who was standing not far away.

Seeing this, Gongsun Lin smiled slightly and nodded gently, saying, "Good sister, as long as it is your wish, your brother will grant it. The distance between the acrobatic troupe and Jinyufang is not too far. In that case, we might as well go and watch the acrobatic performance first, and after we have enjoyed ourselves, we can go to Jinyufang to choose gifts at our leisure."

Yuwen Mo, who had been listening attentively, chimed in, "I've heard about it too. They say this acrobatic troupe is quite unique, with many novel tricks up their sleeves. Today is a good opportunity to feast my eyes and see for myself."

Nangong Sheng smiled and nodded in deep agreement: "Indeed! We are usually so busy with work that it's rare to have such a relaxing and stress-free trip." As he spoke, the coachman had already prepared the carriage, and everyone boarded it. The wheels rolled forward, speeding towards Xuanyuan Street.

During the journey, Gongsun Ruotang appeared exceptionally excited. Her bright, expressive eyes were pressed against the carriage window, curiously gazing at the bustling street scene outside. Shops lined both sides of the street, and the cries of vendors rose and fell incessantly; pedestrians thronged the area, shoulder to shoulder, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere. This scene filled Gongsun Ruotang with anticipation for the rest of the trip.

Before long, the carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the acrobatic troupe's performance area. Looking up, they saw a huge crowd, packed in layers, a truly spectacular sight. After a difficult search, they finally squeezed out a small space in the crowd and sat down, then eagerly turned their attention to the center of the stage.

At that moment, the juggler was intently displaying his superb skills. First, he spewed forth a torrent of flames, shooting straight into the sky, eliciting gasps from the audience; then, he wielded a sharp blade, its flashing light dazzling the eye. This series of spectacular performances won thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd.

Gongsun Ruotang sat in her seat, her eyes glued to the scene before her. Each time a juggler completed a difficult move, she couldn't help but gasp in amazement, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. Her innocent and charming demeanor deeply touched not only her companions, including Gongsun Lin, but also those around her, who all smiled knowingly.

As the performance drew to a close, Gongsun Ruotang remained completely absorbed, unable to tear herself away. She turned to Gongsun Lin, gripped his arm tightly, and exclaimed with delight, "Brother, this acrobatic show was absolutely wonderful! It was far more entertaining than any of the performances I'd ever seen in the palace!"

Gongsun Lin gently reached out and stroked her silky hair with tenderness in his eyes, saying softly, "As long as you like it, that's fine. If we find a good opportunity in the future, we will definitely come again."

Jin Yu Fang is renowned as the largest jewelry shop in the capital, and is also a property of Qingyu Manor. Stepping inside, one is greeted by a dazzling array of exquisite jewelry, a feast for the eyes.

Gongsun Ruotang flitted among the glittering jewels like a joyful butterfly, her gaze focused and fervent. After careful selection, she finally settled on a jade hairpin. The hairpin was entirely emerald green, crystal clear, and the exquisite orchid pattern carved on it was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, as if the real flower were in full bloom, lifelike and breathtakingly beautiful.

Gongsun Ruotang held the hairpin in her hands with great joy, a sweet smile appearing on her lips. She murmured to herself, "Sister Linglan has always had a special fondness for orchids. I'm sure she'll love this hairpin when she sees it." With that, she carefully put the hairpin into the brocade box.

Immediately afterward, Gongsun Ruotang didn't stop, continuing her search among the many pieces of jewelry for her favorite item. Before long, she selected a pair of pearl earrings for her aunt. The pearls were round and full, with a soft luster and a subtle sheen, making the earrings look even more elegant and sophisticated.

Finally, Gongsun Ruotang's gaze fell upon a Hetian jade bracelet. The bracelet was smooth and delicate, pure white and flawless, resembling mutton-fat jade. Its color and quality truly complemented her grandmother's gentle and elegant temperament.

As Gongsun Ruotang focused on choosing a gift, Yuwen Mo and Nangong Sheng offered suggestions from time to time and teased her occasionally. As a result, the originally serious and reserved atmosphere instantly became relaxed and joyful, with bursts of laughter rising and falling.

As all the carefully selected gifts were neatly arranged together, the sun began to set, and the once bright sky gradually dimmed, as if shrouded in a light veil.

Standing on the bustling street, a faint trace of reluctance appeared on Gongsun Ruotang's beautiful face. She tilted her head slightly, gazing into the distance, and murmured softly, "Today was truly a happy day."

Seeing this, Gongsun Lin quickly stepped forward, gently patted Gongsun Ruotang's shoulder, and softly comforted her, "Sister, you should go back to the palace to rest first. When we have some free time next time, your brother will definitely take you out to play again."

As Gongsun Lin finished speaking, everyone, filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment, embarked on their respective journeys home. Gongsun Ruotang, supported by her personal maid, slowly boarded the ornately decorated carriage. With a flick of the driver's whip, the wheels began to roll, making a "gurgling" sound, and the carriage slowly moved towards the palace.

Sitting in the spacious and comfortable carriage, Gongsun Ruotang leaned back against the soft seat, her thoughts drifting back to the past two days. The bustling streets, the dazzling array of goods, the wonderful performances... every scene flashed before her eyes, making her involuntarily smile sweetly.

She lowered her head, her gaze gently falling upon the gifts she had carefully chosen for her family, laid out beside her. These gifts, though not particularly expensive, contained her deep love and blessings for her loved ones. At that moment, Gongsun Ruotang gently stroked each gift with her slender fingers, as if she could feel through them the ecstatic joy on her family's faces upon receiving them, and a profound sense of warmth and happiness welled up in her heart.

And so, the carriage moved at a leisurely pace, finally slowly entering the tall and majestic palace gates. Gongsun Ruotang gracefully alighted from the carriage, and then, with elegant steps, walked along the familiar road towards her palace.