"..."

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Granny Gui remained silent. Not only was the Empress Dowager worried, but she was also concerned. Jiao Jiao was already in poor health, and this time she had been injured. She didn't know if she had recovered yet.

For some reason, the Imperial Kitchen did not help Niannian at the time, but instead watched coldly from the sidelines.

She felt something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on why.

"They're here, Your Majesty! The Emperor, the Princess, the Fifth Prince, the Four Guards, and Prince Xuan are all here. They'll be here soon."

Just as Granny Gui finished comforting them, Eunuch Pu, whom the Empress Dowager was eager to know if they had returned, rushed back to Cining Palace.

He ran while excitedly sharing the information he had gathered.

"Granny Gui...Granny Gui, they...they're back, and Xuan'er...Xuan'er is finally back too."

Hearing what Eunuch Pu said, the Empress Dowager's hand, which was holding that of Granny Gui, trembled.

She finally got her two children back.

"Your Majesty, your son has returned."

"Your Majesty, how are you feeling? I heard the journey was fraught with danger. Thankfully, you're home safely now, and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

That being said, the Empress Dowager kept glancing at Chen Nian, Yong Xuan, and Qing'er behind the Emperor.

Her eyes reddened as she looked at Chen Nian and Yong Xuan, who were standing properly.

The Emperor, who could clearly see that the Empress Dowager didn't want to talk to him: ...

She glanced resentfully at Chen Nian and Yong Xuan standing behind her.

These two brats, even the Empress Dowager doesn't care about them anymore.

The two, clearly receiving the Emperor's resentful gaze, exchanged a glance, then turned their heads in unison, looking at the Empress Dowager with slightly aggrieved expressions.

Shen Nian Yongxuan: Waaaaah~, the Emperor is bullying the two of them.

Both siblings are drama queens.

The people behind them watched the two acting like drama queens with smiles in their eyes.

Having perfectly received the aggrieved looks from the two children, the Empress Dowager shot the Emperor a sharp glare.

The Emperor immediately stopped looking at the two with resentment and obediently exchanged pleasantries with the Empress Dowager.

Shen Nian and Yongxuan were both secretly laughing.

Outside the palace, the emperor watched their drama unfold and enjoyed their gossip. But once back in the palace, finally someone could "control" the emperor.

It's hilarious! The emperor, looking wronged and unable to resist, can only obediently listen to the Empress Dowager's "lectures." He's quite adorable.

emperor:……

Waaaaah, three of them are bullying him, and he's the one being watched and laughed at.

Where is his good friend Furen? Come and save him!

He felt wronged, but he didn't say anything.

"We owe our journey to the Empress Dowager's great fortune, as well as to the four guards and Yongxuan and the others."

The Emperor began to praise.

"May the Empress Dowager be blessed with good fortune, may the Empress Dowager live a thousand years!"

When the Empress Dowager's gaze fell on them, Xiao Yanzi immediately knelt down and performed a proper salute. The four guards behind her also clasped their fists in salute.

"Okay, okay."

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded to the group, saying "good" three times in a row. Her gaze fell on Ertai, her eyes filled with joy and anticipation.

She said it, she said it, these two are definitely going to work out, Ertai is really promising.

A reward is a must!

Now that the two are together, Jiao Jiao no longer needs to struggle to find a purpose in life, and she no longer has to worry about Jiao Jiao having suicidal thoughts at any moment.

When the Empress Dowager's gaze, which had been fixed on the others, turned to him with excitement, Yongxuan stepped forward and solemnly knelt down to perform a grand salute.

"Your Majesty, your grandson is back."

...