It unexpectedly drizzled the day I left the palace, but it didn't dampen my good mood. Adhering to the principle of keeping things simple, I didn't want the grand ceremony of phoenix-draped sedan chairs and the moon surrounded by stars. I simply rode out of the palace with Xiao Cui and Xiao Tao in a carriage. It didn't feel like a visit to my parents, but more like a leisurely escape. Although that was my initial thought.
The Emperor actually approved everything, but he also sent soldiers to secretly escort me to the Mu Mansion. The Empress was now even more eager to tear me apart. I also heard that someone in the court had changed their mind and started to curry favor with my father, believing that I might be able to give birth to a prince, thus preparing for the future.
Look at this emperor, how high his rank is; look at me, this chess piece, how well-behaved. It is mutually beneficial, and I will naturally cherish this opportunity to play, otherwise it would be a loss!
Sitting in the slightly rocking carriage, I listened to the street vendors' shouts along the way, the playful and childish sounds of children chasing each other, and the vulgar but down-to-earth teasing of the women on the street, and felt very relaxed for a moment.
Curiously, he lifted the curtain and looked outside the sedan. The street was bustling with people and traffic. Suddenly, he saw a heavily made-up woman standing in front of a prosperous and magnificent building.
The moment our eyes met, we were both startled. Then a portly, big-eared man walked up and pulled her into his arms, his bearded mouth already rubbing against hers. I saw her move aside, but the next second she pressed her slender waist against his, passionately wrapping her arms around his neck, and together we entered the pavilion.
"My dear, what are you looking at?" Xiao Tao also looked outside curiously: "Oh, this kind of brothel should not pollute my eyes!"
She immediately helped me lower the curtain. I didn't say anything, just closed my eyes and rested for a while. That woman was A Jian.
When Xiao Cui and Xiao Tao helped me down, I had adjusted my state, but I couldn't help feeling nervous - I didn't know anyone in the Mu Mansion except Mu Chenfeng, so I had to be careful later.
Following the maid's clear cry like a silver bell: "The young lady is back! Master and Madam, the young lady is back!" a group of people came towards them.
Walking in front was a middle-aged man with gray hair on his temples but bright eyes. Beside him was a kind-looking, dignified and elegant woman holding his arm.
"Shuang'er—" The woman let go of my hand and walked towards me. She grabbed my hand and said in a sobbing voice, "Come here, let me see you. I haven't seen you for two years. How come you have become so thin?"
Although it was the first time I saw her, my eyes also became wet when I saw her tearful eyes, but I replied, "I have been exercising every day in the palace recently, so I naturally lost weight!" My arms felt a little sore when I thought of those two buckets of water.
"Exercise? What kind of exercise do you want to do?" Zhuang continued to ask, touching my shoulder.
"Okay, let's eat first." Mu Anguo interrupted us coldly and turned to go to the main hall. Zhuang had no choice but to pull me to follow him.
Indeed, when the original master wanted to enter the palace, Mu Anguo and Zhuang Shi both refused, and it was only after they cried and threatened death that they finally fulfilled their wish. How could Mu Anguo be so unhappy? I suddenly feel that the next seven days will not be so easy...
Mu Chenfeng hadn't returned from his errands yet, and the table was laden with mouth-watering dishes. Zhuang kept serving me food and asking how I was doing in the palace, while Mu Anguo simply ate without even glancing at me. I cherished every moment, naturally reminiscing about how wonderful my life was in the palace while savoring the delicacies.
I didn't stop eating until I felt the food was already at my throat and I couldn't swallow another bite. Mu Anguo also turned around and went back to his room without saying a word to me. Zhuang took a look at Mu Anguo's figure walking away and took my hand affectionately: "Shuang'er, don't look at your father like this now. He misses you the most and loves you the most."
I nodded in agreement and listened to her continue, and I accidentally burped.
She was amused by my laughter and pinched my nose before continuing, "Just now, when he heard you were back, he was the first one to rush out of the yard. Look at him running so fast at his age! This table of food was specially prepared by Chef Wang from Yipinlou, who your father invited. When you were a kid, you pestered him every day to go to Yipinlou for dinner!"
"I don't know him yet. Now I want to talk to you but I can't bring myself to do it!" Zhuang glanced at Mu Anguo's door and suddenly said with some regret: "We didn't let you enter the palace because we didn't want you to suffer any grievances. After all... Alas, Shuang'er is so great. Mother once thought that you and your husband would grow old together, but in the harem..."
I know what she meant was that there are countless concubines in the harem, and even if she is favored, she is still sharing a husband with so many other women. What's more, the heart of the emperor is unpredictable, and who knows where the favored concubine will end up in the next second.
But I am an "abnormal favorite concubine," and I won't be in the palace in a year and a half. But she immediately squeezed my hand and laughed, "Look, what nonsense am I talking about again? As long as Shuang'er is happy, I have my parents!"
I looked at the woman in front of me, tears in her eyes but smiling so happily, and my nose suddenly felt a little sore: "Mother..." She hugged me when she heard the voice, and coaxed me like a child: "Mother is here, Mother is here..."
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