Xu Zhi has been informed that her parents and brother have returned.

Xu Zhi was a little confused. Weren't her parents murdered? Wasn't her brother's leg broken? How did they get back?

Xu Zhi is now very eager to see her parents and brother. She wants to see what her parents look like, and she is even more eager to see if her brother's legs are alright.

After receiving the letter, the little girl sat strangely on a large chair in the old lady's main room, staring longingly at the doorway. The old lady had already returned from offering incense and was waiting. Seeing the little girl's expression, her heart warmed again.

Xu Zhi was placed in the old lady's gauze-covered wardrobe last night. After watching the little girl fall asleep, the old lady returned to her own bedroom. After lying down, she couldn't fall asleep. She kept thinking about what to do next and also about the little girl. Such a well-behaved girl, she must be taken care of.

Having not slept well all night, the old lady didn't have a good appetite when she got up for breakfast in the morning. However, Xu Zhi noticed that the old lady's complexion was not good, so she timidly added a bowl of rice porridge to her bowl. After adding the porridge, she stared at the old lady expectantly. The old lady really couldn't refuse the child's kindness, so she drank the bowl of porridge with a few side dishes. When Xu Zhi saw the old lady drink the porridge, she grinned and smiled. Her round, big eyes, which had been red from crying for the past two days, curved into two crescent moons when she smiled, which made the old lady feel much better.

Seeing that Xu Zhi could persuade the old lady to eat like this, Li Mama was very happy. She took a spoon to feed Xu Zhi, but Xu Zhi did not let her. She steadily drank the porridge in her bowl. Xu Zhi had experienced hunger before and had a natural reverence for food. She was unwilling to waste a single grain of rice and ate every last grain in her bowl.

When Madam Xu saw this, she felt even more sad. Only children without the love of their parents would do things so well in order to please those around them. Madam Xu made up her mind that she would take good care of a young girl in the future. Even if she died early, she would make sure that the girl's future was secure.

Just as they finished eating, news came from the front yard that the Third Master and his family of three had been brought back by the people from the Jingbei Marquis's residence. The old lady was overjoyed and hugged Xu Zhi to tell her the news. Xu Zhi was first shocked, then overjoyed. She didn't know if her parents had returned because of her, but there must have been something she didn't know about that had happened.

The Marquis only sent a message to the Old Madam regarding the Third Master's return to the manor. However, there were many spies in the manor, and everyone knew that the Third Master and his family of three had returned, and that they had been escorted back by people from the Jingbei Marquis's manor. Some people thought that the Third Master was really lucky; his horse had died and his carriage had fallen into the river, but he was unharmed. Others thought it was good that the Third Master was back, because the selection of officials was coming up, and the manor would produce an official who had passed the imperial examinations. This was a rare opportunity. Among so many marquis's manors in the capital, how many could be like their Third Master, who had passed the examinations step by step from the lowest level? You must know that this dynasty has been established for over a hundred years, and only those who have passed the imperial examinations can enter the cabinet.

Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci, along with Xu Di, were led into the old lady's courtyard.

The old lady's courtyard was a three-section courtyard. After entering the gate, there were three passageways directly in front of the gate, with covered corridors on both sides. You could go directly through the passageway connecting the gate and the passageways. After passing through the passageways, there was a pink screen wall. After turning past the screen wall, there were the old lady's five main rooms.

When Xu Zhi heard the people outside say that Third Master had returned, she twisted her little body and slid down from the high chair, which frightened the old lady and Granny Li, who were afraid that the little girl would fall. However, the little girl stood steadily on the ground and took small steps towards the door, just in time to meet Xu Rao and the others who were entering.

Xu Zhi looked at the unfamiliar man and woman standing in front of her, and then at her brother, who looked somewhat unfamiliar as a child, standing beside them. She couldn't hold back any longer, and large tears streamed down her face. Zhang Zhaoci couldn't bear to see the little girl crying in front of him, so he pulled her into his arms and whispered "my darling" to her while wiping away her tears.

Xu Zhi was held stiffly in Zhang Zhaoci's arms. So this is what it feels like to be held by your own mother. It's not bad at all.

When the old lady saw this, her eyes also welled up with tears. Xu Rao quickly tugged at Zhang Zhaoci and said, "Come and pay your respects to Grandmother first."

Zhang Zhaoci, holding Xu Zhi, knelt before the old lady along with Xu Rao and Xu Di, and kowtowed respectfully to her. The old lady instructed people to help them up, and only after seeing that the family was unharmed did she feel relieved.

Xu Rao said, "Grandson is guilty for causing Grandmother so much worry and trouble."

The old lady said, "It's good that you're back safe and sound. Xiao Jiu stayed with me for one night. You can take her back later and the whole family can have a good reunion. Alright, alright, come and see me. I know you're all safe and sound. You should go back now and get some rest. Kiss our Xiao Jiu. She's been crying so much these past few days that her eyes are all swollen."

Zhang Zhaoci bowed very respectfully to the old lady and said, "Madam, thank you so much."

The old lady waved her hand and said, "They are all my descendants, it is only right that I do this. There is nothing more for me here, you should all go back quickly."

Xu Rao, with his wife and children, went to pay his respects to the Lady of the Marquis before returning to his own courtyard.

It was already dinnertime, and the kitchen brought over a feast. After Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci ate, Zhang Zhaoci held Xu Zhi, and the family of four sat on the daybed by the window in the bedroom and talked.

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