The spring sunshine shines on the official road outside the capital, gilding the yellow dirt road surface with a layer of gold.
Lu Jingze stood outside the city gate, his fingers unconsciously stroking the amulet at his waist—it was given to him by Wang Xiuxiu three years ago before she left.
After an unknown amount of time, dust billowed in the distance as a large caravan slowly moved toward the capital.
On the lead chestnut horse, a slender figure made Lu Jingze's heart clench.
Wang Xiuxiu, dressed in red, was dazzling in the sunlight.
I could see that tall figure at the city gate from afar, and the corners of my mouth unconsciously turned up.
As she got closer, she suddenly spurred her horse and charged forward at full speed.
"Lu Jingze!" Her clear voice carried on the wind.
The horse stopped just in front of Lu Jingze. Wang Xiuxiu nimbly dismounted, but before she could even stand up, she was tightly embraced by a pair of strong arms.
"Welcome home," Lu Jingze whispered in her ear, his voice filled with undisguised joy.
Wang Xiuxiu chuckled and playfully punched his back: "What's wrong, Your Highness Prince Jing? You've been missing me?"
Lu Jingze released her, offering no reply, but instead carefully scrutinizing the face he had longed for day and night: "You've lost weight, and you're darker."
He reached out and brushed the dust from her hair. "Is the sun in the south really that strong?"
"Absolutely!" Wang Xiuxiu sighed dramatically, "It's nothing like the capital, which is so nurturing."
She blinked, then suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered, "But... I brought you a gift, I guarantee you'll like it."
Lu Jingze raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What gift could compare to..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wang Xiuxiu had already pulled a ledger from her bosom and waved it in front of him: "Huaxi Pearl Shop's first-quarter profits, how about that, not bad, right?"
Lu Jingze chuckled and was about to speak when he heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats behind him.
The two turned to look and saw a troop of imperial guards galloping towards them. The leading general shouted, "Your Highness Prince Jing, His Majesty urgently summons you!"
Lu Jingze and Wang Xiuxiu exchanged a glance and sighed at the same time.
"It seems," Wang Xiuxiu shrugged, "that the trouble has only just begun."
"I'm going to the palace to see my brother, the Emperor. You go back to your residence first. Yingxue has had a table full of your favorite dishes prepared. You can eat first, don't wait for me."
"Okay, you should go and come back quickly too."
"Okay, you get in the car first, I'll watch you get in before I leave."
---
Wang Xiuxiu left the capital quietly, and her return to the capital was also kept secret.
As they approached the capital, Wang Xiuxiu led her people to separate from the merchant caravan.
As the wheels rolled over the bluestone road, she vaguely recalled the scene when she left Beijing a year ago. It was late autumn then, and the city was filled with falling yellow leaves. Now that she had returned, spring was in full bloom.
At the back gate of the Prince's Mansion, several peach trees were in full bloom.
Su Yingxue had already made all the arrangements, even the gatekeeper was a carefully selected confidant.
Young Master Lu Yunian had already pulled Su Yingxue to wait at the back door.
He specially asked the Grand Tutor for half a day's leave today, determined to personally bring his concubine home.
Since returning from Lizhou, Nian Ge'er has grown quite a bit taller.
The child, who originally only reached Wang Xiuxiu's waist, has now grown quite a bit.
The jade pendant at his waist swayed back and forth with his restless pacing, reflecting a warm luster in the sunlight.
Wang Xiuxiu got out of the car and hugged him; the little boy blushed.
"It's been a year, and Nian-ge'er has grown taller again!" Wang Xiuxiu patted his shoulder, her fingertips touching his now-solid bones.
She suddenly remembered the child's chubby cheeks when she left Lizhou, but now the child's features had become more angular.
She quickened her pace and snuggled into Su Yingxue's arms. "Sister! I missed you so much!"
Before he could finish speaking, his eyes were already red.
Su Yingxue's embrace was still as warm as ever, carrying a faint scent of jasmine.
Su Yingxue smiled knowingly, gently smoothing Wang Xiuxiu's wind-blown hair with her fingers.
She keenly noticed the faint bluish shadows under her sister's eyes, guessing that she hadn't slept well on the journey.
"Come in quickly, everything you need is prepared. You've had a long journey, so go take a bath first to relax. We'll have our reunion dinner in your courtyard in a little while!"
\"good!\"
The two sisters joined hands and turned to leave.
At this moment, Lu Yunian, who was standing to the side, tugged at Wang Xiuxiu's sleeve: "Auntie, where is Father?"
Su Yingxue then realized that Lu Jingze, who had gone to pick people up early in the morning, was not here.
"He was summoned by the Emperor and will probably be back late. Tell us to eat first and not wait for him."
What she didn't mention was the sudden change in Lu Jingze's expression after receiving the secret report when they parted ways at Shili Pavilion outside the city.
Su Yingxue was very clever; she noticed something was amiss when she saw Wang Xiuxiu's unusual expression.
She calmly took Wang Xiuxiu's hand: "In that case, let's settle in first. Granny Li, go tell the kitchen to simmer the yam and pork rib soup a little longer."
The three walked through the winding corridors, where spring was in full bloom.
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