Consort Jiang, who rushed over upon hearing the news, happened to see this scene from afar.

Consort Jiang stopped walking, which puzzled Aunt Sulan.

Upon hearing the news of the prince's return, the Dowager rushed straight to Yilan Courtyard without a second thought. Why did she stop now that the prince is right in front of her?

Consort Jiang smiled and said, "Sulan, let's go back first and leave some time for this family of three."

She was indeed very excited to hear that Chu'er had returned.

Now that they have seen Chu'er and confirmed that she is safe and sound and has not been injured, Consort Jiang is relieved.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so she decided to spend her time with the young couple and Nian'er first.

When Hu Qing, who was following Xiao Yanchu, dismounted, he also spotted Yanluo following Su Ruojin.

Yan Luo also saw Hu Qing, and the affection in their eyes was no less than that between Xiao Yanchu and Su Ruojin.

However, with the prince and princess in front of them, the two had no choice but to suppress their longing.

Upon entering the house, Steward Zhang had already arranged for a bath tub to be prepared, and Xiao Yanchu and Hu Qing took a bath first.

After Xiao Yanchu finished tidying up and returned to the room, Nian'er, who was playing on the tatami mat, looked up at Xiao Yanchu as he walked in and suddenly called out, "Dad~~"

Xiao Yanchu froze instantly, stopped in his tracks, stared wide-eyed at Nian'er in disbelief, and asked in a slightly excited voice, "Nian'er, what did you call me?"

Su Ruojin, who was playing with Nian'er, was also a little surprised when she heard the word "Dad".

Nian'er was a little afraid of Xiao Yanchu before, so how come she can call him "Dad" now?

"Dad~" Nian'er called out again.

Xiao Yanchu quickly walked to Nian'er's side, picked her up, and rubbed her little face against his own.

The baby was whimpering softly, its little face pressed against Xiao Yanchu's. Xiao Yanchu felt the warmth spread from his face to his whole body, and his voice was full of affection as he said, "Daddy's little darling."

When Nian'er was suddenly picked up, she neither resisted nor was afraid; instead, she giggled.

Xiao Yanchu picked up Nian'er and spun her around, making Nian'er even happier and causing her to laugh even more.

Fearing that he might make his daughter dizzy, Xiao Yanchu gently put Nian'er down.

He sat down next to Su Ruojin with his daughter in his arms. "Ajin, thank you for your hard work."

Su Ruojin didn't respond to him, but looked at Xiao Yanchu and then at Nian'er, as if she was thinking about something.

Xiao Yanchu felt a little uneasy under her gaze. "A-Jin, what are you looking at?"

Su Ruojin seemed to be deep in thought, then suddenly got up, walked to the side, and picked up a painting.

Approaching Nian'er, he opened the painting.

"Nian'er, who is this?"

Nian'er looked at the painting in front of her, waving her chubby little hands, "Daddy~~~"

Xiao Yanchu looked at the painting that A Jin had brought. The person in the painting was himself. He was wearing a moon-white robe, with a white jade pendant hanging from his waist. He had delicate features and his hair was tied up with a jade belt. Compared to when he was wearing armor, he had a more refined and scholarly air about him.

Su Ruojin smiled and said, "I know why Nian'er is willing to call you father now."

Xiao Yanchu had just finished bathing, trimmed his beard and straightened his hat, and now his clothes were almost exactly the same as those in the painting.

He realized what was happening and was somewhat moved.

Previously, he was dressed in full armor and looked completely unkempt. To a child who was not even a year old, he was a completely different person from the one in the painting. How could Nian'er recognize him?

Now that he has tidied up and changed his clothes, Nian'er calls him "Dad." It seems that when he is not around, Ajin shows Nian'er his portrait so that she knows that this is her father.

"Ah Jin, I'm so sorry to have troubled you."

"It's good that you're back," Su Ruojin said with a smile.

Before Xiao Yanchu could say anything more, Steward Zhang came over and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, dinner is ready."

Xiao Yanchu picked up Nian'er and took Su Ruojin's hand, "Let's go, don't keep Mother and Grandmother waiting."

He had already seen Consort Jiang and knew that his mother had deliberately given them time.

I imagine that his mother and Madam Zhao also miss him very much.