The Prime Minister's Mansion, a mansion steeped in countless memories and stories, stands quietly through the passage of time. The stone lions at the gate, like loyal guards, silently protect this world. The lions are still draped with a three-year-old red silk, gently swaying in the breeze, as if evoking a bygone era of prosperity and bustle. The silk's color is no longer as vibrant as it once was, its edges tinged with white, bearing the mottled marks of time, yet lending it a touch of rusticity and ageless charm.
Su Qingyao leaned gracefully against the porch, like a vibrant painting. The rouge on her face was even more vibrant than it had been three years ago, a touch of delicate color, like a blossoming spring flower, adding a touch of maturity and charm to her. She raised her eyebrows slightly, a playful smile playing at the corner of her mouth as she parted her red lips. "Hei Tan is back?" The voice was crisp and melodious, tinged with a hint of teasing, as if transporting her back to the past.
As soon as Nian Li saw Su Qingyao, her eyes lit up with excitement, like the twinkling stars in the night sky. She cheered and threw herself into Su Qingyao's arms like a little pink whirlwind. Her movements were light and eager, full of the joy of reunion after a long separation. "Big sister!" Nian Li raised her little face, her eyes full of intimacy and joy. Her little hand tightly grasped Su Qingyao's sleeve, as if holding the warmest support. "I brought you Yangzhou rouge! I heard that it is produced by the most famous shop in Yangzhou. The color is beautiful. Big sister will definitely like it!" As she spoke, she carefully took out an exquisite little box from her arms and handed it to Su Qingyao. Her eyes were full of anticipation, as if she was waiting for Su Qingyao to open this loving gift.
At this moment, Young Marquis Su rushed out like a brave little beast, carrying a toy sword. He had an upright posture, a heroic look in his eyes, and the youthful vigor and ambition of a young man made him look as if he wanted to put the whole world under his feet. "Sister!" He shouted loudly, his voice clear and loud, echoing like a bell in front of the prime minister's residence, "Whoever dares to bully you, I will chop him down!" His tone was firm and resolute, as if if anyone dared to harm Su Jinli, he would not hesitate to brandish the sword in his hand to protect his sister from the wind and rain. However, his hasty action accidentally caused the sword tassel to sweep across Si Yan's abacus. With a "clatter", the beads were scattered all over the floor like pearls.
Si Yan, who had been concentrating on observing everything around him, both familiar and unfamiliar, was startled by this sudden change. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted and squatted down to pick up the beads. As he did so, he muttered, "It'll cost three coins to repair the tassel, and it'll be deducted from your monthly allowance." His serious expression, as if he were dealing with something extremely important, made people laugh. His fingers nimbly moved across the ground, picking up beads one by one and placing them on the abacus. A hint of cunning and shrewdness flashed in his eyes, as if he had already calculated how to deduct the three coins from Young Marquis Su's monthly allowance.
Su Xiang walked out of the main hall slowly with steady steps. His beard seemed to have turned a little whiter, like the first snow in winter, adding a bit of vicissitudes of life to him. However, his eyes were still vigorous, revealing his deep love for his family. He walked to Si Yan, patted Si Yan's shoulder gently, with a kind smile on his face, stuffed a banknote into Si Yan's pocket, and said: "I heard that you made money in Yangzhou? Give some to Dad too?" There was a bit of teasing in that smile, and a bit of pride and love for his grandson. He looked at Si Yan, his eyes full of expectation, as if waiting for Si Yan to share the joy of making money with him like a little adult.
Su Jinli couldn't help but laugh at her father's childish expression. She walked forward, gently took her father's arm, and said coquettishly, "Dad, you haven't even paid the monthly wages for the secret guards you secretly sent." Her eyes were full of a smile, a mixture of teasing and deep affection. She knew that her father had sent secret guards to follow them out of concern and love for them. Although this method was a bit "secret," it made her feel her father's meticulous care.
At this moment, Liu came out of the house with tea in her hand and small steps. Her smile seemed a little stiff, as if it was forced out. "Jinli is back and has lost a lot of weight." She said, with a hint of deliberate concern in her voice, but it made people feel that her words were insincere. Behind her, the bastard shrank his neck, like a frightened little quail, and seemed to be full of fear of everything around him. When Nianli saw the bastard's appearance, her eyes glared at him, and her eyes seemed to carry invisible pressure, which scared the bastard so much that he quickly lowered his head and dared not look her in the eye. Nianli has been straightforward since she was a child, and she has never been polite to those she dislikes.
Jiang Yan stood beside Su Jinli, his gaze calm and indifferent as he glanced at Liu. He frowned slightly and said indifferently, "Mother-in-law, the tea in the capital is still not as spicy as the tea in Shu." His voice was steady, yet it seemed to carry a subtle chill. He recalled his time in Shu, when his family enjoyed spicy delicacies and a free and easy life. The hypocrisy and affectation of Liu before him formed a sharp contrast with the worldly life in Shu, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust.
At that moment, sunlight filtered through a gap in the clouds, illuminating the crowds at the prime minister's residence, adding a touch of warmth to the scene. Su Jinli gazed at her familiar family, a mixture of emotions welling up within her. Three years of travel had exposed her to the vast world outside and made her cherish family time all the more. She knew that despite some discordant moments within the prime minister's residence, it was still her home, a place she held a deep bond she couldn't let go of. This return also meant reintegrating into this extended family, navigating interpersonal relationships that were both heartwarming and complex.
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