Chapter 297 Return to the Capital

Zhao Lixiang and Zhao Lin were very disappointed. "Brother Zhou is really gone. What a pity!" "Yes!"

Zhao Liya: "Eat quickly, or the food will get cold and won't taste good."

"Oh, sister!" The brother and sister's attention was quickly drawn back to the food on the table.

"Let's eat first. We'll be able to see Brother Zhou the day after tomorrow when we return to the capital!"

"Yes, yes!"

Zhao Liya: “.”

She seemed to suddenly understand. Zhou Hansheng was particularly good at pleasing the two children when he was in Yan Village. Could it be that he had already been preparing for a rainy day? This treacherous scumbag!

Zhao Xiang looked at the extremely rich expressions on his eldest daughter's face and felt secretly amused in his heart. This child, no matter how smart and capable she was and how difficult to mess with her outside, she did not hide anything in front of her family. Whatever she thought in her heart was reflected on her face.

The next morning, Zhao Liya and her family set out as usual. As she boarded the carriage, Zhao Liya couldn't help but glance back. Not far away, not too close, Zhou Hansheng was riding his horse, half-hiding his gaze. Seeing her looking over, he waved and smiled at her.

Zhao Liya silently withdrew her gaze, pretending nothing had happened and pretending not to see him.

It's just a little embarrassing.

No conversation along the way.

As for whether Zhou Hansheng had been following their convoy closely, Zhao Liya didn't know because she didn't see Zhou Hansheng again.

However, when they rested on the road, meals were prepared in advance, and when they stayed overnight, someone was waiting at the city gate and then led them to the inn.

If Zhou Hansheng hadn't done this, there would be no one else who could have done it.

Even Mrs. Deng smiled and praised Zhao Xiang, saying, "Han Sheng is such a thoughtful and considerate kid. It's really hard for him!"

Zhao Xiang smiled, thinking, "It's just your daughter's bad temper." Well, he wouldn't interfere in their young people's affairs. Anyway, it looked like this marriage was a done deal.

I didn’t expect that after going around in circles for a long time, I ended up back here.

The Zhao family's motorcade entered the capital at noon. Beyond the thin curtains, the clamor and bustle was almost heaven-shaking. Zhao Liya didn't lift the curtains again to look outside; there would be plenty of time to do so later.

We finally arrived at the capital.

For the Zhao family, it was a return, but for her, it was her first time to set foot in this prosperous capital.

She felt a sense of panic and emptiness that she couldn't control. Whether this was a blessing or a curse, she didn't know.

The Zhao family's mansion was sealed by the government during the house search, but now it has naturally been returned to them.

Duke Liguo had always been on good terms with Zhao Xiang, so he ordered his son, who had returned to Beijing last year and officially appeared in public, to bring people to clean up the Zhao Mansion.

A small number of the servants who had been dismissed earlier were brought back.

Zhou Hansheng didn't buy any more people and decided to wait until they came back.

On the contrary, he felt that his father-in-law and mother-in-law would probably not hire any more people. When they were in Yan Village, they didn't need any servants. Now that they found these ten people, they were probably enough.

Uncle Hu, Aunt Hu, Hu Ling, Qu Yutao, Widow Qu, and the eleven or twelve servants they brought with them when they were in Lingnan, made up a large group of people. Zhao Liya was served by two maids named Chunfen and Chunxia respectively. Deng and others also had servants.

It seemed normal for others to see Duke Liguo helping to clean up the Zhao Mansion. After all, Duke Liguo and Minister Zhao had always had a good relationship. Although the children of the two families later broke off their engagement, their friendship still existed.

The second prince was somewhat sarcastic and waited to watch the fun with a gloating look on his face.

He really wanted to see what the reaction would be when the Duke of Liguo's Mansion found out that Zhao Xiang had actually defected to him!

That expression must have been extremely wonderful.

The Duke of Liguo's Mansion is the Queen's maiden family and the Crown Prince's maternal family. The Second Prince is extremely looking forward to seeing them suffer a loss and look humiliated.

The Second Prince completely believed Eunuch Shu's words because he would never dare to lie about such a matter. Zhao Xiang, on the other hand, was a tough guy. Since he had expressed such an intention, it definitely couldn't be fake.

Little did he know that Zhao Xiang, who had fallen from heaven to dust, been exiled, and then risen from the dust, was completely different from before.

Zhao Xiang has realized that the Crown Prince's status must be completely reversed and changed! There is no time to wait!

Although things have been relatively good in the past few years, the emperor is getting older day by day, and the second prince and Concubine Yan will only become more and more anxious and more and more unscrupulous.

It would be too difficult if he could still be as well-behaved as before!

This time when he returned to Beijing, he had no intention of being an orthodox gentleman.

The second prince was destined to be disappointed.

When Zhao Xiang and his family returned to the Zhao Mansion, the servants all had tears in their eyes and came forward to pay their respects.

Zhao Xiang sighed, and Deng's eyes also turned red.

It's not easy for everyone

There are few people in the city, so it is convenient to make arrangements.

Uncle Hu and Aunt Hu simply stayed and continued to work as steward and steward's wife in the mansion. With them around, Zhao Xiang and Deng Shi could worry less.

Uncle Hu insisted on still calling them "Master" and "Madam", and Zhao Xiang had no choice but to agree, but when there was no one around, they still called each other brothers.

It’s good that Uncle Hu’s family doesn’t show too close a relationship with them at this moment.

Zhao Liya and others continued to live in their original courtyards, and Deng arranged for Qu Guafu and Hu Ling Qu Yutao to live in adjacent courtyards so that they could take care of each other.

Widow Qu was close to Deng when she was in Yan Village. When she arrived at the Zhao family, she did not feel unfamiliar and continued to interact with Deng as usual, which made Deng feel relieved.

Zhao Xiang did not yet have a clear position, and was temporarily given the title of Wenhua Pavilion Grand Secretary, but he had no real job. However, Wenhua Pavilion Grand Secretary was also qualified to submit memorials and seek an audience with the emperor.

For Zhao Xiang, this was enough.

The next day after returning to Beijing, Zhao Xiang asked to see the emperor in the palace to pay his respects.

The emperor had always held Zhao Xiang in high regard. If the deadlock over the crown prince had not infuriated the emperor, he would never have exiled him. Now Zhao Xiang had returned, thinner and more reserved, but still the same loyal minister. The emperor nearly cried when he saw him kowtow.

The emperor was also an old man. He had selected countless top scholars, but Zhao Xiang was the only one he valued the most.

No one knows what the emperor and his ministers said, but in any case, the emperor was quite satisfied with Zhao Xiang's return.

Less than two hours after Zhao Xiang returned home that day, the reward from the palace came down.

As a result, Mrs. Deng also had to prepare to receive guests from various families who came to visit.

When the women arrived, Deng was always busy, and neither was Zhao Liya. If someone she knew well came, Deng would ask someone to invite Widow Qu and her daughter as well, explaining that they were her adopted relatives from Lingnan.

Mrs. Deng valued Widow Qu and her daughter, and no one looked down on them.

(End of this chapter)