Su Luo didn't care; as long as Zhao Ruyun was happy, she didn't mind worshipping the moon.
"Okay, okay, we'll go later. Mother-in-law, come here, I brought you lots of gifts."
"Oh, why bring gifts home? I have everything. There's no need to buy this or that. As long as you come back safely, that's the best gift for me."
And Luo Luo, you didn't even tell me you were coming back, otherwise I would have gone to Yongle County to pick you up.
Although Zhao Ruyun said that, her face was still full of joy.
"Mother-in-law, I didn't tell you in advance because I was afraid you would have to work hard. Look at what I brought you. This jade pillow is a very good thing. I finally got it."
It keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer. Sleeping in it can also help with neck pain. I saved it especially for you.
Zhao Ruyun touched the jade pillow; it was bright and warm. Even though she had never seen anything good before, she knew it was no ordinary item.
"Oh dear, I'm just an old woman, I don't need this at all. Luo Luo, you can take it and use it."
Su Luo's smile faded, and she said, "This is for your health, Mother-in-law. Don't you like it?"
Every time Su Luo did this, Zhao Ruyun would immediately get anxious: "I like her, I like her, how could I not like her, it's just..."
"If you like it, Mother-in-law, you can keep it. I also have a set of jewelry for you, look..."
Su Luo bought these things to make Zhao Ruyun happy, until she saw a set of exquisite turquoise.
I felt happy, but also heartbroken and reluctant to part with her.
"Luo Luo, this must be very expensive, right?"
“It’s not expensive. Mother-in-law, you can enjoy it from now on. If you’re reluctant to spend this or that, then all the money I’ve earned will have been for nothing.”
The moment I saw this headdress, I knew it would suit you perfectly. Mother-in-law, why don't you try it on?
Zhao Ruyun tried on the bracelet; it was dark green and looked dignified and composed, which she liked very much.
"Luo Luo, thank you."
Su Luo was also pleased: "You're welcome!"
As she spoke, Zhao Ruyun took off the bracelet and put it away, saying, "I'll save this for important holidays. Luoluo, now that you and Huanhuan are back, go to the ancestral hall to burn incense first."
Yan Chuan is here too. The mother and her two children were all taken by Zhao Ruyun to pay their respects. That's the custom here. When you come back from a long trip, you have to go to the ancestral hall to burn incense for your ancestors.
"Luo Luo, you three wait for me. I asked Shi Shuang to buy the best incense, candles and paper money. I'll take them to worship you when you come back. Wait for me to get them."
Zhao Ruyun returned from helping out wearing a slightly older outfit. Her back was somewhat hunched, but her laughter infected the entire West Courtyard.
Soon, Zhao Ruyun came out carrying a pile of incense, candles, and paper money. Su Luo was worried that she would have trouble carrying them, so she went forward to help her.
"Grandma, give it to me, I'll take it."
Zhao Ruyun hugged the things tightly, dodging Su Luo's outstretched hand.
"No need, no need. The journey is long, and you'll be tired enough from the carriage ride. You'll also have to review the accounts with Steward Shi when you get back. I can carry these. You three should hurry up and finish the prayers. The meal should be ready by then."
"Okay! Chuan Chuan, Huan Huan, follow Grandma."
The two children hadn't seen each other for a long time, and once they did, they didn't want to be apart.
When the group arrived at the ancestral hall, they found that the door was open.
Zhao Ruyun entered with suspicion. By then, it was already dark, and the entire ancestral hall was lit with candles. The candlelight flickered, and one of the memorial tablets on the steps was missing Chen Huaixu's tablet.
Beneath the prayer cushion in the ancestral hall, knelt a man in black robes, who looked extremely familiar to Zhao Ruyun.
His black hair was tied on top of his head, and his back view was very similar to Huai Xu's, except that Huai Xu was more scholarly and did not have the same robust physique as this man.
Zhao Ruyun felt a sense of doubt. Who was this person? Why did his back look so much like Huai Xu's, and why was he kneeling in the Chen family ancestral hall, burning incense and worshipping?
As soon as Su Luo entered, she saw Nangong Chiyu kneeling in front of her father-in-law's memorial tablet, but Chen Huaixu's tablet was missing.
Su Luo frowned, her first thought being that Nangong Chiyu was responsible; the servants in the house shouldn't have touched things from the ancestral hall.
Zhao Ruyun would never hide her precious son's memorial tablet and refuse to accept incense offerings. Nangong Chiyu went to someone else's ancestral hall for no reason, so what exactly is he trying to do?
"Who are you?"
Zhao Ruyun was still holding incense and paper money in her arms. Su Luo was about to tell her that this was Nangong Chiyu, a guest who had come back with her.
Before she could finish speaking, Su Luo witnessed an unbelievable scene: Nangong Chiyu kowtowed heavily to her father-in-law's memorial tablet.
Even for a royal sacrifice, a prince like him doesn't need to perform such a grand ceremony, leaving Su Luo speechless.
Then Nangong Chiyu stood up, his tall figure blocking the candlelight. As he turned around, Zhao Ruyun saw a face that was exactly the same as Yan Chuan's.
The incense and candles in her arms fell to the ground instantly. She was stunned, as if struck by lightning, staring blankly at the man in front of her, holding her breath. She was afraid that if she moved, the man in front of her would disappear.
Seeing Zhao Ruyun's reaction, Su Luo assumed that she was only surprised by Nangong Chiyu's appearance. After all, he looked like Yan Chuan, and everyone in the Chen family had the same expression when they first met him.
"Grandma..."
She wanted to remind her mother-in-law again, but then she stopped herself, startled. What had she seen?
Nangong Chiyu actually knelt down before Zhao Ruyun, his knees striking the wooden planks of the ancestral hall with a sound comparable to the ringing of a temple bell, shocking Su Luo to her core.
When Nangong Chiyu finally spoke, Su Luo's complex emotions were beyond words.
"Mom, the child is unfilial!"
Zhao Ruyun stood frozen in place, her heart feeling as if it were being squeezed and released repeatedly by a large hand.
After kowtowing, Nangong Chiyu stood up. He was so brave and tall that he was a head taller than Zhao Ruyun.
With her eyes following his face, Zhao Ruyun used all her strength to lift her hands.
His hands were trembling violently, tears streamed down his cheeks, and his mouth was open, but he couldn't utter a single word.
The candlelight was warm, and Nangong Chiyu's eyes also reddened. He grabbed Zhao Ruyun's wrinkled hand and pressed it against his face.
"Mother, it's Huai Xu. I'm back."
Zhao Ruyun was too excited; all the words she wanted to say were stuck in her throat, and she could only make muffled sobs.
She thought she was seeing things and that it wasn't real, so she touched Nangong Chiyu's face again and again.
It's true, it's true, it really is her Huai Xu, he didn't die, he's back.
"Ah... my son..."
Zhao Ruyun hugged the person in front of her tightly, choking back sobs for a long time before finally bursting into tears.
"Huai Xu, Huai Xu, you're finally back! You thought... you thought you..."
The two hugged even tighter, and Zhao Ruyun sobbed uncontrollably, "It's good that you're back...it's good that you're back..."
Yan Chuan looked at his younger sister, only to see that Yi Huan also looked bewildered, as she didn't know what was going on either.
Suddenly, Su Luo gripped their hands tightly, and her aura changed.
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