The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs she encountered all stopped in their tracks, bowed, and greeted her. Gongsun Ruotang maintained a polite smile and nodded slightly in response to their greetings.

Gongsun Ruotang returned to the palace with light steps and carefully placed the gifts prepared for the people of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Then, she slowly moved to the window and sat down quietly. The night breeze gently stirred the curtains, bringing a slight coolness. Gongsun Ruotang gazed blankly at the tranquil scenery outside the window, bathed in moonlight, her thoughts drifting away.

Just then, the personal maid Luo Chun entered the room with light steps. She steadily carried a tray with a steaming cup of fragrant tea on it. Luo Chun walked to Gongsun Ruotang's side, bowed slightly, and said softly, "Princess, you've been playing all day, you must be a little tired. This cup of hot tea will help you relieve some of your fatigue."

Gongsun Ruotang was startled back to her senses upon hearing the sound. She turned her head, looked at Luo Chun's concerned face, smiled slightly, and reached out to take the exquisite teacup. She first brought it close to smell the aroma of the tea, then took a small sip, feeling a warm current slide down her throat into her stomach, instantly making her feel comfortable all over.

Setting down her teacup, Gongsun Ruotang said to Luo Chun with emotion, "Luo Chun, today was truly a wonderful day! I hope to take you out more often in the future."

Upon hearing this, Luo Chun's face immediately lit up with a joyful smile. She quickly curtsied and said gratefully, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. We will serve you wholeheartedly." Gongsun Ruotang smiled and waved her hand, signaling Luo Chun to rise.

Before she knew it, time had slipped away. Gongsun Ruotang felt it was getting late, so she instructed Luochun to help her with her washing and grooming. Luochun's movements were skillful and gentle, and she quickly helped Gongsun Ruotang complete the washing, grooming, and other tasks.

After everything was tidied up, Gongsun Ruotang dragged her slightly tired body to bed and pulled the soft quilt over herself. Before long, her breathing became steady and even, and she gradually drifted into a sweet dream.

The next morning, warm sunlight streamed through the carved windows, falling like golden threads onto Gongsun Ruotang's delicate face. She slowly opened her eyes, lazily stretched her limbs, and yawned. Feeling the gentle caress of the sunlight, Gongsun Ruotang's mood remained as joyful and cheerful as the day before.

"Tangqiu, come quickly! Help me get ready. We need to go to Cixi Palace today to have breakfast with the Empress Dowager." Gongsun Ruotang called out loudly to the outside.

A series of light and hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by the door being gently pushed open, and a clever and obedient maid entered. It was Tang Qiu. After responding, she quickly came behind Gongsun Ruotang and began to wash and dress her with nimble hands and feet.

Tang Qiu first gently combed Gongsun Ruotang's long, cascading hair, then skillfully styled it into an elegant bun, inserting a gold hairpin inlaid with gemstones to enhance its noble and elegant appearance. Next, she meticulously drew Gongsun Ruotang's eyebrows, applied lipstick, and powdered her face... a series of movements performed with unparalleled skill, flowing naturally like clouds and water.

Before long, Gongsun Ruotang, after being carefully dressed by Tang Qiu, resembled a blooming flower, delicate and radiant. She nodded in satisfaction, rose and walked gracefully out of the room, slowly heading towards Cixi Palace.

Along the way, various exotic flowers and rare herbs were planted on both sides of the palace road. Bathed in the morning sunlight, they appeared exceptionally vibrant and lush. A gentle breeze blew, and the branches swayed gracefully, releasing a delicate fragrance that soothed the soul. Gongsun Ruotang strolled among them, admiring the beautiful scenery, and her mood became increasingly pleasant and cheerful.

Before she knew it, Gongsun Ruotang had arrived at the gate of Cixi Palace. Looking up, she saw the palace standing majestically, its red walls and yellow tiles gleaming in the sunlight. The guards at the gate bowed respectfully to welcome Gongsun Ruotang.

Gongsun Ruotang nodded slightly in return and stepped lightly into the palace. Upon entering the main hall, she saw the Empress Dowager seated on the main seat, looking at her with a kind smile. Gongsun Ruotang quickly stepped forward, curtsied, and greeted her: "Granddaughter greets Your Majesty, my maternal grandmother. May Your Majesty enjoy good health, longevity, and all the best!"

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager stretched out her hand with a happy expression and said kindly, "Ruo'er, please make the rules and come sit with your grandmother. Let your grandmother take a good look at you and see how you have been doing at the Su residence these past two days." As she spoke, the Empress Dowager took Gongsun Ruotang's hand and looked her up and down.

Gongsun Ruotang's beautiful face beamed with a sweet smile as she replied in a clear voice, "Grandmother, Ruo'er has been doing very well these past few days. Yesterday, I even went to the bustling Xuanyuan Street to play, and I had so much fun!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's beautiful eyes flashed with surprise, but it was quickly replaced by a kind smile. She nodded gently and asked in a soft voice, "Oh? To make our Ruo'er so happy, she must have encountered many interesting things. Tell your grandmother quickly."

Encouraged, Gongsun Ruotang immediately became enthusiastic. Her bright eyes sparkled with excitement, shining as brightly as the stars in the night sky. Then, she began to recount her experiences from the previous day's outing with her brother and two senior brothers.

When talking about the acrobatic troupe, she gestured animatedly, her face beaming with excitement, as if the thrilling and spectacular performances were unfolding right before everyone's eyes. She vividly described how the performers tumbled and leaped in the air, conjuring up all sorts of jaw-dropping stunts as if by magic. And when she recounted her experience of choosing gifts at Jin Yu Fang, her face was filled with happiness and satisfaction as she detailed the unique features of each exquisite gift, making everyone who heard her feel a longing to try them out.

The Empress Dowager sat quietly to the side, listening attentively. She nodded slightly at times as Gongsun Ruotang spoke, and at other times smiled gently, clearly quite interested in the story. After Gongsun Ruotang finished, the Empress Dowager slowly spoke, "It seems our Ruo'er had a very fruitful day yesterday. However, while going out to play is certainly enjoyable, remember to always be mindful of your safety and don't get too carried away with your playfulness." With that, she looked at Gongsun Ruotang with eyes full of tenderness.

Gongsun Ruotang quickly nodded obediently and replied, "Ruo'er remembers, thank you for your concern, Grandmother." As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the Empress Dowager turn her gaze to her and ask softly, "Ruo'er, I wonder if you heard any news about your master from your two senior brothers yesterday?"

“Grandmother, my senior brother hasn’t heard from Master either. But don’t worry, he’s very concerned about this matter and has already arranged for people to inquire everywhere. I think we should have news coming back soon.” Gongsun Ruotang stood obediently in front of the Empress Dowager and said softly.

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, indicating that she understood: "Hmm, that's very good. Once you have definite news, you must come and tell your grandmother as soon as possible. You can leave the rest to your grandmother to arrange and handle."

.........

At this moment, in a quiet and secluded hot spring resort outside the capital city.

"Master, Mistress, you two have really gone too far this time! Junior Sister is almost frantic with worry. The day before yesterday, she even ran out of the palace to come to the Su residence to find me, just to ask about your whereabouts." Yuwen Mo looked at the loving couple in front of him with a helpless yet amused expression, truly at a loss for words.

Upon hearing this, Madam Yu Luo blushed slightly and looked at her husband beside her with a hint of embarrassment. She said coquettishly, "Oh dear, Mo'er, your master and I only wanted to create a surprise for your junior sister. Who would have thought it would make her so worried?" As she spoke, she gently patted her husband's arm.

Zhuang Yichen's face was full of doting affection. He gently held Madam Yu Luo's jade hand, turned to look at Yuwen Mo, and said with a smile, "Alright, alright, it was indeed my oversight!" As soon as he finished speaking, a hint of relief inadvertently appeared in his eyes.

Yuwen Mo shook his head slightly, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he replied, "Master, Mistress, you don't know this! Although Junior Sister has had a relatively smooth time in the palace these past few days, her heart has always been with you. Just the day before yesterday, she specifically came out of the palace to find me and Junior Brother, hoping to find out about you. At the time, Junior Brother and I were worried that if we accidentally revealed your whereabouts, the consequences would be unimaginable, so we didn't dare to say much to her, for fear of arousing her suspicion. However, even so, we still took her out of the palace to play yesterday, and all the way there, she kept talking about your whereabouts, Master. That stubbornness and persistence of hers is exactly like yours, Mistress, back then. You've truly surpassed your teacher!"

Hearing this, Madam Yulu couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth and saying coquettishly, "Oh dear, you're the best at being sarcastic! But then again, Ruo'er has been meticulous and thoughtful since she was little. We haven't replied to her letter for so long, no wonder she's so anxious."

Zhuang Yichen slowly stood up from the chair, his steps steady yet slightly heavy, as if each step carried the weight of his thoughts. He walked slowly to the window, stood there quietly, and gazed at the shimmering hot spring pool outside.

At this moment, Zhuang Yichen's brows were slightly furrowed, his eyes deep and unfocused, as if he were lost in deep thought. After a long while, he spoke softly, "Your junior sister wrote to say that she hopes your master's wife and I can go to the palace for a few days. Actually, the reason your master's wife and I have been keeping our whereabouts hidden is to secretly observe how those people in the palace treat her. After all, she is a child we raised ourselves, and we really can't bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Mo, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement, saying, "Master is absolutely right. Judging from the current situation, Junior Sister is indeed quite favored in the palace. You must know, she is the Empress Dowager's own granddaughter, so the Empress Dowager naturally dotes on her. Moreover, as far as I know, the other concubines have not deliberately made things difficult for her."

However, upon hearing this, Zhuang Yichen's face did not show any relief; instead, his brows furrowed even more. He gently shook his head and said earnestly, "You must not be deceived by appearances! The harem has always been a place of open and covert struggles and undercurrents. Our Ruo'er is innocent and kind by nature and does not understand the wickedness of people, so even if everything seems fine now, she still needs to be careful in everything she does in the future."

Lady Yu Luo, who had been listening quietly, couldn't help but show a worried expression. She sighed softly and said, "Yes, your master is right. We should arrange a suitable time to go to the palace to see Xiao Ruo'er as soon as possible. To be honest, I've been really missing her for so long."

"Master and Mistress, do you two intend to return to the Su residence with me now, or would you like to stay here at the hot spring resort for the time being?" Yuwen Mo turned his gaze to his master, his eyes revealing a hint of inquiry.

After a moment's thought, Zhuang Yichen slowly said, "Your master's wife and I will rest here at the hot spring resort. You should send a message to your junior sister to let her know that we have arrived, so that we can meet as soon as possible." With that, Zhuang Yichen gently patted Yuwen Mo's shoulder.

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Mo immediately nodded and replied, "Alright! Then tomorrow morning, I will arrange for someone to deliver a letter to my junior sister and invite her to come to this hot spring resort for a soak." After speaking, he turned to look at his master's wife beside him, playfully raising his eyebrows as if asking if such an arrangement was appropriate.

At this moment, Madam Yu Luo smiled slightly and replied softly, "That's very good. However, please remember to have Ruo'er invite her brother Gongsun Lin as well. Last time at the manor, I only met him briefly and didn't have a chance to have a proper conversation. This time, we can take this opportunity to get to know him better."

"Yes, Master's wife, please rest assured, I have remembered everything," Yuwen Mo replied respectfully.

He then looked up at the sky and realized it was nearing dusk. He said with concern, "It's getting late. You and Master must be exhausted from your journey. Why don't you go back to your rooms and rest? As for the arrangements for the estate, leave them to me. When Junior Sister arrives in a few days, I'll make sure she has a comfortable place to stay." With that, Yuwen Mo turned and left to begin preparations.

Zhuang Yichen and Madam Yu Luo exchanged a smile and walked hand in hand toward their room.