The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

"It looks like a downpour is about to begin!" Gongsun Lin frowned slightly, then decisively ordered, "Everyone, speed up and find a place to take shelter as soon as possible!" At his command, the entire group immediately quickened their pace. The sound of hooves echoed through the sky, and the wheels rolled forward.

Fortunately, it didn't take long before they spotted a rather dilapidated temple not far ahead. Although the temple had been in disrepair for many years, its main structure was still intact and could provide shelter from the wind and rain. Feeling as if granted a reprieve, the group rushed towards the temple.

Upon entering the temple, Gongsun Lin quickly made arrangements. He first deployed his shadow guards to strengthen security around the temple in case of any unexpected events. Then, he instructed his entourage to take out the dry rations and water they had prepared in their bags and distribute them to everyone.

Gongsun Ruotang sat quietly in a corner of the temple, her gaze fixed on the dense, beaded rain outside the window. Large raindrops pounded the ground, splashing up tiny droplets. She clasped her hands together in front of her chest, silently praying that the rain would stop quickly so as not to delay their journey.

The torrential rain poured down as if to engulf the entire world. Large raindrops pounded against the ground, splashing up sprays of water. This downpour lasted for nearly an hour before gradually subsiding. The sky cleared, the dark clouds dispersed, and sunlight shone through the thin wisps of clouds onto the earth.

After a short rest, the group resumed their journey towards the hot spring resort. The once-smooth road was now muddy and difficult to traverse, thanks to a recent heavy rain. However, this did not deter them in the slightest.

They continued their trek, and before they knew it, evening was approaching. Suddenly, the group noticed the faint outline of a manor house appearing in the distance. The manor house was cleverly hidden among the dense forest, appearing and disappearing like a secluded paradise, mysterious and enchanting. Bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, the entire manor house exuded a peaceful and serene atmosphere, inspiring a sense of longing in everyone present.

Seeing this, Gongsun Ruotang couldn't help but smile with delight, and she quickly urged the group to speed up their journey. Before long, the group arrived at the gate of the hot spring resort. Yuwen Mo was already standing there, eagerly waiting. When he saw Gongsun Ruotang and the others appear before him, an indescribable joy and warmth welled up in his heart.

"Ruo'er, Brother Lin, you've finally arrived!" Yuwen Mo hurried forward and said with a smile.

Gongsun Ruotang gracefully dismounted from the carriage and said with a sweet laugh, "Senior brother, this journey has been full of twists and turns, but thankfully we have finally arrived safely." Gongsun Lin, who was standing beside her, also dismounted and walked over, cupping his hands in greeting, "Brother Mo, thank you for waiting patiently here."

With a smile, Yuwen Mo personally welcomed everyone into the manor. The group walked through winding corridors and exquisite courtyards, finally arriving at a spacious and bright hall.

Well-trained servants had already prepared a sumptuous tea and snacks, which were quickly served to everyone. On the trays were various exquisite pastries, some small and delicate like pearls, others with an alluring color like gemstones; while the tea brewing in the teapot emitted a delicate fragrance that was refreshing and delightful.

As soon as Gongsun Ruotang saw Yuwen Mo, she rushed forward and grabbed his sleeve, asking anxiously, "Senior Brother, didn't you say you had news of Master and the others? Tell me quickly, where are Master and the others now?" Her voice trembled slightly with anxiety.

Seeing this, Yuwen Mo quickly comforted her gently, "Junior Sister, don't be in such a hurry. Come, sit down and have a bite of this delicious pastry, and then drink a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up." As he spoke, he gently put his hand on Gongsun Ruotang's shoulder, gesturing for her to sit on a chair to the side.

However, Gongsun Ruotang had no appetite for food or tea at this moment. Her mind was completely focused on news of her master's whereabouts, but she couldn't disobey her senior brother's kindness, so she slowly sat down as instructed. Even so, her bright, watery eyes remained fixed on Yuwen Mo, not relaxing for a moment, as if afraid of missing a single word. At the same time, her hands were fidgeting nervously with the hem of her clothes, revealing her extreme tension and anxiety.

Seeing his sister in such a state, Gongsun Lin felt a pang of heartache. He stepped forward, gently stroked Gongsun Ruotang's hair, and said softly, "Sister, please sit down and have some tea. I'm sure Brother Mo will tell us the whole story."

Gongsun Ruotang nodded slightly, indicating that she agreed with her brother.

Seeing this, Yuwen Mo shook his head helplessly, chuckled, and said again, "Junior Sister, you can't keep going like this. I promise I'll give you a big surprise later! Before that, enjoy this cup of fragrant tea, and then go to the room I've prepared especially for you to rest for a while. That room has a natural hot spring pool, you can soak in it comfortably and relax your mind and body. After you've recovered, I'll tell you more about Master's situation." After saying that, he reached out and gently patted Gongsun Ruotang's shoulder, his eyes full of doting affection.

Hearing Yuwen Mo's words, Gongsun Ruotang was still very anxious, but she knew that her senior brother wouldn't say such things without reason; he must have some special arrangements. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, picked up the teacup in front of her, and took a small sip of hot tea. The warm tea flowed down her throat, easing her tense nerves slightly.

Setting down her teacup, Gongsun Ruotang stood up and said to Yuwen Mo, "Alright, Senior Brother, I'll go rest for a while. But you must remember to come and tell me about Master as soon as possible." Yuwen Mo smiled and nodded in agreement, then called over a maid and asked her to take Gongsun Ruotang to her room.

Gongsun Ruotang followed her maid through several quiet paths until they arrived at an exquisitely furnished room. The maid opened the door, and a gentle steam from the hot spring wafted out. Inside, the hot spring pool was steaming, and brand-new bathrobes and various toiletries were laid out beside it. Gongsun Ruotang stepped into the room, looked around, and felt a warmth in her heart at Yuwen Mo's thoughtful arrangements.

She slowly removed her clothes and stepped into the hot spring. The warm water enveloped her body, instantly relieving much of her fatigue from the journey. Gongsun Ruotang closed her eyes, leaning against the edge of the pool, her thoughts drifting involuntarily to her master. She recalled her master's daily teachings and care, silently praying that her master would be safe and sound.

After soaking in the hot spring, Gongsun Ruotang's skin was flushed with a faint blush from the steam, as alluring as a ripe peach. She gently changed into a new and elegant set of clothes; the soft fabric clung to her graceful figure, further highlighting her refined and ethereal beauty.

Having changed her clothes, Gongsun Ruotang moved into the room and gracefully sat on the couch, her heart filled with anticipation for the news Yuwen Mo would bring about her master. Time passed quietly, and soon a soft knock reached her ears. Gongsun Ruotang's delicate body trembled slightly at the sound, then she quickly rose and moved gracefully to the door. When she gently opened the door, the person before her was none other than the exceptionally handsome Yuwen Mo, smiling broadly.

"Junior Sister, did you rest well?" Yuwen Mo asked gently, his deep, pool-like eyes fixed on Gongsun Ruotang, as if he could see through every emotional fluctuation in her heart.

Gongsun Ruotang nodded eagerly and replied, "Senior brother, I have rested well. Please tell me about Master as soon as possible!" Her eyes were full of anticipation and anxiety, and she couldn't wait to know everything about Master.

Yuwen Mo smiled slightly, stepped into the room, and gestured for Gongsun Ruotang to sit down. Once they were both seated, Yuwen Mo spoke slowly and deliberately, "Junior Sister, to be honest, Master and the others are currently in this manor."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Ruotang's beautiful eyes widened, a look of astonishment flashing across them. She asked incredulously, "Senior brother, are you perhaps toying with me?"

Seeing this, Yuwen Mo quickly waved his hand, explaining solemnly and seriously, "Junior Sister, how could I dare to play tricks on you about such an important matter? Master and the others arrived here the day before yesterday. Having traveled a long way, they are currently resting and recuperating in the backyard. I originally planned to let you rest and recover your strength after your arrival, and then take you to pay your respects to them."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Ruotang was overjoyed. She stood up abruptly and said, "Senior brother, let's go see Master now! I miss Master so much." With that, she headed towards the door.

Yuwen Mo quickly stopped her, smiling as he said, "Junior Sister, don't be in such a hurry. Master and the others know you're here, but they just told me to help you calm down first. Moreover, Master also said that the reason he brought you to the hot spring resort is twofold: firstly, to help you relax, and secondly, because he has important matters to discuss with you and Gongsun Lin."

Upon hearing Yuwen Mo's words, Gongsun Ruotang's delicate body trembled slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes. She asked softly, "Senior brother, is it because of my invitation to Master and the others to stay in the palace for a while?" Yuwen Mo nodded solemnly and said slowly, "That's right, that's the matter."

Although Gongsun Ruotang was filled with countless questions, she knew that this was not the time to ask. So she suppressed her curiosity and eagerness and slowly sat back down in her chair.

Seeing this, Yuwen Mo continued, "Junior Sister, you must know that for Master and the others to stay in the palace for a short time is no ordinary matter. The situation in the palace is very complicated, with various forces intertwined like a spider web, where a single move can have far-reaching consequences. Therefore, Master and the others must be extra careful on this trip."

Gongsun Ruotang listened intently to Yuwen Mo's words, her delicate brows furrowed, nodding occasionally to indicate that she understood the implications. Gongsun Lin, sitting beside her, also looked worried, his brows furrowed, and anxiously interjected, "Brother Mo, according to you, what are the potential risks involved in Master and the others' trip to the palace? And how can we prepare for them in advance?"

Yuwen Mo pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "There are naturally risks. But Master and the others are all highly respected figures in the martial world, so they must have a plan to deal with them. However, as disciples, we must also make thorough preparations in case of any unforeseen circumstances."

Gongsun Ruotang gripped her small, fair hands tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force. Her gaze was resolute as she looked at her senior brother, her lips parted slightly, and she said in an unwavering tone, "Senior brother, how about this? I think we should have a proper talk with my maternal grandmother and my aunt, the Empress. Just a simple meeting will suffice; we shouldn't let Master and the others stay in the palace. In any case, Master and the others' safety is more important!"

Upon hearing these words, Yuwen Mo gazed at the petite yet courageous woman before him with deep, bright eyes, his gaze filled with tenderness. He smiled slightly and replied softly, "Junior Sister, your intentions are indeed commendable, but we cannot act so rashly. This matter is of great importance, and we need to think it over carefully and plan thoroughly. Moreover, regarding whether to stay overnight in the palace, we should ultimately listen to Master's and the others' opinions."

Gongsun Lin, standing to the side, nodded repeatedly in agreement with Yuwen Mo's view. He then said, "Brother Mo is absolutely right. In my opinion, we should first go and pay our respects to our master and the others, report the situation to them in person, and then follow our master's instructions to see what the best course of action is."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Mo immediately stood up, put his hands behind his back, and nodded solemnly, saying, "Yes, that's very good. Then, let's head to the backyard to pay our respects to Master." With that, he took the lead and walked towards the backyard.

Seeing this, Gongsun Ruotang hurriedly followed, walking alongside Yuwen Mo. At this moment, her heart was filled with mixed feelings, a mixture of excitement and joy at the prospect of seeing her master, and an indescribable nervousness. She unconsciously quickened her pace, as if she wished she could leap to the door of her master's room in a single bound.

And so, the three of them hurried along, and soon arrived at a house in the backyard. Although the house looked simple and unadorned, it exuded a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Yuwen Mo extended his right hand, his index and middle fingers slightly bent, and gently tapped the door with his knuckles. The crisp yet soft knocking sound seemed to be a release of his anxious emotions.

Soon, a voice all too familiar came from inside the room: "Come in." To Gongsun Ruotang, who stood outside the door, this voice was like heavenly music. Because she knew that the person who spoke this voice was none other than her beloved master, whom she had longed for day and night.

When Gongsun Ruotang heard her master's voice, her heart skipped a beat, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears. Tears swirled uncontrollably in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment. Unable to contain her excitement any longer, she flung open the door and rushed inside.

Upon entering the room, Gongsun Ruotang immediately saw her master sitting upright on the couch. A gentle and kind smile graced his face, his gaze soft and tender as he looked at her. At that moment, time seemed to stand still; Gongsun Ruotang felt as if the entire world consisted only of her and her master.

"Master!" Gongsun Ruotang called out loudly, her steps quickening involuntarily, and she rushed to her master's side like a gust of wind. Then, she knelt down, her knees hitting the ground heavily, but she felt no pain at all. At this moment, all she could see was her master's kind face and loving eyes.

Gongsun Ruotang's tears finally flowed like a burst dam, streaming down her cheeks and dripping to the ground. She raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, and looked at her master, choking back sobs as she said, "Your disciple missed you so much!"

The master smiled as she looked at her disciple, who was crying her eyes out, her eyes filled with tenderness. She slowly reached out and gently stroked Gongsun Ruotang's hair, softly comforting her, "Silly child, don't cry, don't cry. Your master is here now. Look at you, you don't look good crying like this."

Just then, Gongsun Lin stepped forward. He first bowed respectfully to his master before saying, "Madam Yuluo, you must be tired from your journey."

Tang Yulu nodded slightly and replied with a smile, "You've all worked hard. Get up, don't kneel anymore, let's sit down and talk slowly." As she spoke, she gently patted the spot next to her, gesturing for Gongsun Ruotang and Gongsun Lin to sit down beside her.