Jiang Youchen smiled faintly as he presented his birthday gift, saying, "Wishing my grandmother a long and healthy life, and may her health and happiness be as bright as the sun and moon."

The nanny took the box and handed it over. Madam Li exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually a ten-thousand-year-old snow ginseng! Truly a wonderful thing that brings longevity and good fortune!"

"This item is extremely rare and likely to be priceless!"

"Who can argue with that? In a critical moment, it can be a lifesaver!"

Everyone showered him with praise once again.

A lady, unaware of the situation, asked, "And who is this young master...?"

Madam Su replied with a smile, "He is my eldest son, named Su Youchen. He went to Guigu Mountain to study seven years ago, and has returned today. I suppose he has already completed his studies and left the mountain?"

After saying that, she looked at her son expectantly.

Su Youchen cupped his hands in a respectful bow to his mother, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. Your son has indeed completed his studies and left the mountain."

Madam Yun chuckled, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. After you come back, stay in the manor well and tell us more about what Ghost Valley Mountain is like."

Su Youchen smiled, bowed, and withdrew. Madam Su immediately led him to the front yard to settle in.

Su Youran followed along excitedly, "Brother, brother, you're finally back!"

Stepping out of the flower hall, Su Youchen stopped, turned around, and gestured to her head to show his height, then ruffled her hair. "Why are you still so short!"

Su Youran jumped up, "Hey, brother, why are you still so sharp-tongued! I'm younger than you, and I'm a girl, so what's so strange about me being shorter than you? If I were taller than you, you and Mother would be worried to death!"

Su Youchen smiled and followed Su Shi forward.

Su Youran then asked, "Brother, you've left the mountain, so what about Master?"

Su Youchen gave her a haughty look and said as she walked, "Master left the mountain only two hours earlier than me."

"What?!" Su Youran exclaimed in surprise, "You and your master left the mountain on the same day?"

"That's right!" Su Youchen puffed out his chest.

Just then, one could faintly hear a servant outside the door announcing, "The Crown Prince of Xuan has arrived—"

Su Youran's eyes lit up. "Hehe, I didn't expect that Senior Brother would be back today too!"

After saying that, she turned around and immediately headed towards the gate of the mansion.

Watching her sister's retreating figure without a backward glance, Su Youchen felt a surge of anger welling up inside her, unable to move.

Madam Su smiled and explained on behalf of her daughter, "Chen-ge'er, don't blame your sister. Her senior brother went to the Southern Border to rescue the Xuan King six years ago. After that, Nan Yue took the opportunity to launch an attack, and the two countries have been at war ever since. I didn't even expect that the Xuan King's heir would return at this time. I don't know if the war has subsided."

Su Youchen immediately felt a sense of crisis. "My senior brother has been gone for six years, but I, his own brother, have been gone for seven! What an ungrateful wretch!"

Madam Su chuckled, "Go wash up first, then you can meet them properly. You haven't met your father yet, have you?"

Su Youchen nodded, quite pleased, and said, "Seeing you and my sister living such a smooth and happy life, I should thank Father properly."

In the main hall, Yun Yue welcomed the Crown Prince Wen Yuanbai into the hall. His biggest concern was the war in the south. "But I wonder what the battle report is like now that the Crown Prince has returned?"

Wen Yuanbai smiled and said, "Nan Yue has already submitted its surrender document, which was just delivered to the palace by express courier."

Yun Yue was overjoyed, "That's wonderful! It must have been hard on you, Your Highness and the Crown Prince. Has the Crown Prince returned yet?"

Wen Yuanbai paused, then said, "His Highness the Crown Prince is injured, so I returned to the capital first. He will return to the capital in about half a month."

Yun Tianbai, standing to the side, thought to himself that in his previous life, the Crown Prince was diagnosed with a lifelong limp after returning to the capital in this very year, rendering him unfit to inherit the throne and soon to be deposed by the Emperor.

Therefore, the Crown Prince Xuan, who is on good terms with His Highness the Crown Prince, will also not be given important positions.

He only regretted that he had not yet met the Third Prince and could not invite him to his grandmother's birthday banquet.

However, what puzzled him was that in his previous life, the eldest princess died in childbirth early, Princess Yueyue went missing in her childhood, and Prince Xuan was ambushed and his fate was unknown a few years ago. Therefore, when the news of the Crown Prince's injury and incurable illness spread after he returned to the capital this year, the emperor lost the two great arms of the eldest princess and Prince Xuan, and could not stand alone. Under the pressure of the cabinet and the ministers, he had no choice but to depose the crown prince.

But now, not only is the eldest princess alive and well, but the Xuan King is also alive and well. Even the Xuan King's heir, who was frail in his previous life, seems to be in excellent health now.

Wen Yuanbai felt Yun Tianbai's gaze scrutinizing him and looked over at him. He then cupped his hands in greeting, "This must be You Ran's elder brother, right? Greetings, young master of the Yun family."

Yun Tianbai quickly returned the greeting, "Greetings to the Crown Prince."

"Senior Brother—" Su Youran's clear voice rang out as she fluttered towards Wen Yuanbai like a butterfly, "Senior Brother Dabai! You're finally back!"

Yun Tianbai froze.

Wen Yuanbai smiled broadly, "Junior Sister!"

Su Youran looked him up and down, then compared his forehead to her own, and said with a hint of frustration, "Senior Brother Da Bai! You've grown quite a bit taller too!"

Judging from his height, he was actually an inch taller than his older brother.

"Also?" Wen Yuanbai looked at Yun Tianbai and suddenly realized that this eldest son of the Yun family, whom he had never met before, also had the character "Bai" in his name.

However, he didn't think much of it and just smiled and said, "Junior sister, it's been many years since we last met. We can catch up later. Let's go and wish the old lady a happy birthday first."

Yun Yue hurriedly said with a smile, "Yes, yes, Youran, quickly take your senior brother to offer birthday greetings! Later, please move to the men's seats, Your Highness, we will be waiting for you there."

Wen Yuanbai raised his right hand slightly, "Thank you, Duke."

"please--"

A moment later, when Wen Yuanbai stood in front of Madam Yun, Madam Yun exclaimed in surprise, "Today is truly a wonderful day!"

Who would have thought that three unexpected people would appear together today?!

When the four sisters-in-law of the Su family saw their old friend, they were all overjoyed and exchanged pleasantries.

Su Youran didn't hold back at all and reached out to ask him for a gift.

Wen Yuanbai didn't take it seriously and simply had someone bring out the birthday gift for Old Madam Yun.

As soon as it was carried up, the ladies and young women exclaimed in surprise.

"Such tall coral trees!"

"What a rare treasure!"

"Madam Yun is truly blessed; the birthday gifts she receives are all incredibly rare!"

Wen Yuanbai smiled faintly, "I found this item in a small coastal town in the southern border. It is indeed a rare item. When Madam Yun was in Taizhou, she took good care of me. I am using this as a token of my respect. I wish Madam Yun a long and happy life. I hope you will smile."

Madam Yun felt her face was stiff from smiling so much today, and said happily, "Yuanbai, you're too kind! I like you very much. Please have a few more drinks with the young master later!"

"Definitely!" Wen Yuanbai bowed and left, and Su Youran escorted him to the male guest seats in the main hall.

"Hmph! Senior brother is so mean! He only remembered to bring a gift for Grandmother, but forgot about mine!"

Wen Yuanbai laughed, feigning confusion as he asked, "Yours... what?"