The list of people who had sought refuge with Su Rong in Nanchu was long and maintained by Ye Xiang. They were all granted residences and were well settled. Even Fen Ling and Ziye had their own separate residences.
Of course, Fen Ling and Ziye didn’t go to their own residences. Instead, they became the guards of Su Rong and Zhou Gu, naturally following their trails.
The guards gifted to Zhou Gu by the old Duke also came with Zhou Gu to the Nanchu Royal Palace.
Accompanied by Ye Guiyan, Ye Guixue naturally returned directly to the Prime Minister’s Residence as well.
During the journey, Ye Guiyan introduced Su Rong briefly to the Nanchu Royal Palace, emphasizing that the King currently resided in the Qinzhen Hall. Initially, the King had been living in the Imperial Sleeping Hall, but it had been occupied by the Queen during his absence from the capital. Upon his return, the King had his old sleeping palace sealed and the queen confined to it. Apart from her daily meals, the King neither visited nor punished her, waiting instead for the princess to return to the capital to decide what to do with the Queen.
Su Rong nodded, understanding that the Nanchu King wanted her to take her own revenge as the queen had endeavoured to kill her multiple times over the years.
Seeing that Su Rong remained silent, Ye Guiyan continued: "Zhao Momo and Yuewan, who have been serving you, have already been arranged in the palace. Now, Zhao Momo is a first-class wet nurse in the palace, and Miss Yuewan is a top-ranking supervisor."
"Ha," said Su Rong inwardly, thinking that it’s no surprise for experienced Zhao Momo to be appointed as the top-ranking supervisor. Still, Yuewan had been promoted to a top-ranking supervisor, which was of no small status.
She said with a smile, " Good, Yuewan must be very happy."
Ye Guiyan didn’t know whether Yuewan was happy or not. He had only met her and Zhao Momo once on the day they returned to the capital, and had not seen them since.
While talking, they arrived at the entrance of the palace.
The palace gate opened, a group of people were waiting, led by Zhao Momo and Yuewan.
Su Rong spotted both of them immediately. The two were dressed in palace attire, standing in front of a group of palace maids, eunuchs, and wet nurses.
Upon seeing her, both of their eyes glistened. Zhao Momo was calm as usual. Yet Yuewan, despite her palace training, couldn’t hide her excitement, "Miss, you’re finally back!" she exclaimed with delight.
Su Rong got off her horse, and before she could even stand firmly, Yuewan had already rushed over and hugged her. Her joyful expression quickly turned into tears, "Sob sob, Miss, I was scared to death. I thought you wouldn’t come back. I almost wanted to die."
Su Rong, not particularly sentimental, quickly pushed her away, "Shut up! No crying! You’re a top-ranking supervisor now, so act sophisticated!" After pushing her away, she added disdainfully, "Be careful, or you’ll lose your authority as a supervisor."
Yuewan immediately stopped sobbing, stamped her foot, and retorted, "Miss, do you have a heart at all?"
"Not much of one," Su Rong took out a handkerchief and tossed it to her, "Wipe your face, look at how thin your face is. Hasn’t my father fed you?"
Grabbing the handkerchief, Yuewan sobbed while wiping her tears. "I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, worried about you every day. Why wouldn’t I lose weight? I didn’t even have to diet or exercise, and I still slimmed down."
Amused, Su Rong replied, "That’s good. Now you won’t have to worry about losing weight anymore."
Yuewan pouted.
Zhao Momo then stepped forward with a smile. Her eyes were faintly red, but her face was filled with joy, "Princess, the letter of peace from the frontline arrived at the palace just as you did. His majesty immediately informed me, and Yuewan and I were immensely relieved. Otherwise, just like Yuewan said, we’d follow you to death."
Su Rong reached out to give Zhao Momo a hug, saying affectionately, "Sorry to have worried you, Momo. Are you used to Nanchu’s climate and palace life?"
"I am. As long as you are well, Princess, I will accompany you wherever you go," Zhao Momo replied cheerfully.
Releasing her, Su Rong also laughed, "That’s good."
Yuewan murmured on the side, "Miss, it’s indeed not fair. You pushed me away but embraced Zhao Momo."
Flipping her forehead, Su Rong teased, "Was I disgusted by you? I was disgusted by your tears. They were scalding."
Yuewan hummed, turned her head, and ignored Su Rong.
Zhao Momo laughed and led Su Rong further into the palace. Meanwhile, she said to Zhou Gu, "Fourth Prince, the Princess will stay in Feng Hall, and you will stay in Huang Hall. The names were given by His Majesty a month ago when he ordered the renovation of these two adjacent halls. Both are not far from his Qinzhen Hall where he is currently staying."
Zhou Gu was pleased. Judging from the names, they seemed like a pair. He nodded, "Alright."
Su Rong turned her head to look at him, noticing his pleased manner, yet she didn’t voice her question of whether he truly intended to reside separately from her.
"This old servant and Yuewan will stay and serve in Feng Hall to accompany the princess. Only a few young eunuchs are arranged for the Fourth Young Master’s residence. As for other attendants, the Fourth Young Master can select them himself once he moves in."
Zhou Gu nodded, "A few young eunuchs are enough. Ziye and the guards are with me."
Nanny Zhao laughed, "I remember that Fourth Young Master didn’t like to be attended by too many people around, hence the minimal arrangements."
"What about me?" Fen Ling wondered. As the master’s shadow guard, he should technically live in Feng Hall as well, but was the brother-in-law okay with that?
Hearing this, Su Rong turned to look at Zhou Gu.
Zhou Gu glanced at them both, "Why are you both looking at me? Fen Ling is your guard, naturally, he has to protect you."
Fen Ling smiled, "Brother-in-law, you’re really generous."
He didn’t drive him away from his sister.
Zhou Gu was irritated, "I’m not that petty."
Fen Ling chuckled mischievously.
Su Rong took the initiative to grasp Zhou Gu’s arm and whispered to him, "Are you really going to your Huang Hall? Wouldn’t you live with me in Feng Hall?"
"We haven’t had our grand wedding yet, so don’t take advantage of me." Zhou Gu pridefully shook off her hand, "I’ll live in my sleeping quarters."
Having just returned to the royal capital, the civil and military officials of Nanchu were all watching. He cared about his reputation and didn’t want her to offend him.
Su Rong marveled internally, thinking that as soon as they returned to the capital, Zhou Gu’s manner changed like flipping a book as if he didn’t care about her anymore. She laughed, "Alright."
So, after a long walk, they arrived in front of two neighboring palaces. Su Rong followed Yuewan to Feng Hall, while Nanny Zhao led Zhou Gu to Huang Hall.
Although the two sleeping palaces were adjacent, the palaces were so large that there was still some distance between them. At the very least, it would take about the time to drink one or two cups of tea to go back and forth between them.
Yuewan whispered to Su Rong, "Miss, these two sleeping palaces are similar. Only, upon my request, more flowers and plants are growing in your palace, while Fourth Young Master’s sleeping quarters, as Nanny Zhao said, are for practicing martial arts and have left a large open space as Fourth Young Master’s training ground."
Su Rong had no objection and responding with a hum, she pinched Yuewan’s face, then regretfully withdrew her hand, "Ah, there’s no sense of fatness anymore."
Yuewan glared at her and rubbed her face, "Nanny Zhao said I look better now. Miss, you can’t fatten me anymore. I don’t want to be like Ahua."
Just as she finished speaking, a yellow dog ran up, rubbed against Su Rong’s skirt, and barked at her.
Su Rong was surprised, "How did it get here too?"
Yuewan giggled, "The Madame sent someone to bring it. It arrived a few days ago. She said that Ahua grew up with us, so we can’t abandon it. Naturally, we have to give it a good retirement."
Su Rong: "..."
She had to thank her mother for this.
Yuewan continued, "Since we left, it’s reportedly been quite down, not eating and I guess it must miss us. Look, the whole dog has lost weight."
As if to match Yuewan’s words, Ahua raised its dog face and barked at Su Rong.
Su Rong lifted her foot and kicked it, very speechlessly, "Guess I can’t escape from you two foodies, right?"
Yuewan was proud, "What is Miss saying? With us two around, doesn’t your mind feel at ease? After all, we grew up together. How could you leave us? We will always be with you."
Su Rong laughed in annoyance, "I have to thank you two for that."
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