Chapter 114: Be Well

The morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year is the grand ceremony for exchanging New Year greetings. Si Fang went to the palace before dawn, presumably to give the Empress Dowager a heads-up and inform her in advance.

So when Yuan Siyin brought Yuan Fuqing to the palace to pay New Year's respects, the Empress Dowager had a dark face and wouldn't laugh no matter how she tried to make her laugh.

Helpless, she gave Jade a wink, and Jade immediately understood, coaxing and cajoling Yuan Fuqing away.

As soon as the two left, Yuan Siyin immediately sat down next to the Empress Dowager, obediently clinging to her arm and acting coquettishly: "Aunt~"

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly and turned her head away: "If you stay in the capital and give up your idea of ​​going to the frontier, I will still be your aunt."

Otherwise, I will disown you!

As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, exuding absolute authority.

“Aunt, Yin’er’s decision is not just a passing fancy; I also want to contribute to the Yuan family.”

Knowing that the Empress Dowager was worried about her, Yuan Siyin was not in a hurry. She still leaned close to her and reasoned with her little by little: "Doesn't Aunt often reminisce about the past, before you entered the palace?"

You said that you only gave yourself two paths at the time: either enter the palace and become a pillar of the Yuan family.

"Or go into business or learn martial arts, live like a real man, and give the Yuan family another pillar of support."

The Empress Dowager fell silent upon hearing this.

"His Majesty does not trust the Yuan family, and my aunt knows this."

On the surface, the Yuan family enjoys boundless glory and endless wealth; but this is only how it appears to outsiders. Behind the scenes, they endure countless hardships, swallowing their bitterness in silence.

She lowered her voice and said, "Father returned to Beijing yesterday."

"He's back? When? Where is he right now?"

The Empress Dowager was taken aback, then quickly grasped her hand, her voice filled with delight: "Did the Emperor send him back to the capital to report on his duties? How is he? Is he safe?"

"Aunt, don't be anxious. You have to ask one question at a time."

Yuan Si sighed and then said, "Father originally intended to return to the capital in secret to report the famine in the northern border, but unexpectedly, Prime Minister Lin had already received the news and submitted it to the emperor in advance."

To avoid arousing His Majesty's suspicion, he left again that very night. I only had a brief meeting with him, and even Aqing didn't know her father had returned.

"They've left?"

The Empress Dowager's tense body relaxed instantly, and after a long while she shook her head with a sense of melancholy: "She's still such an impatient person, afraid that the reports from the local areas won't be timely, completely disregarding her own safety."

Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Yuan Siyin quickly comforted her, "Don't worry, Aunt. Father must have known what he was doing before he dared to return to the capital alone, so I will know what I'm doing too."

The Empress Dowager glared at her helplessly, then picked up her teacup and said, "You know, you're just as stubborn as your father!"

After all that talk and beating around the bush, you still want to leave.

"Of course she has the same temperament; otherwise, how could she be a daughter of the Yuan family?"

She frowned as if in distress, then threw herself into the Empress Dowager's arms and acted coquettishly: "If you ask me, Aunt is also capable of throwing a tantrum, otherwise she wouldn't be Yin'er's aunt."

"You're all talk!"

The Empress Dowager feigned anger but ultimately couldn't bring herself to lay a hand on her. She simply patted the back of her hand lightly and said, "Even if you're going to leave, wait a few days and make sure you've packed everything."

Qing'er is being raised by my side, so managing the Yuan residence isn't difficult. I just need to ask Emerald to keep an eye on things; she understands that.

It's you, you little rascal..."

The Empress Dowager paused for a moment but ultimately couldn't continue speaking. She simply embraced her, the two leaning against each other, and quietly patted her shoulder with one hand.

"Aunt, the Yuan family will be fine."

"Yes, I'm here."

Yuan Siyin closed her eyes contentedly, deeply enamored with this warm embrace.