Consort Liu strode over, grabbed Xiao Yuan's hand, and said with a smile, "I didn't expect you to come at this time. Are you hungry?"
While Xiao Yuan was speaking with Emperor Liang Cheng in the imperial study, Chen Wufu brought out a plate of snacks. Xiao Yuan didn't hide it and told Emperor Liang Cheng with a smile that he was hungry. Emperor Liang Cheng then asked Chen Wufu to bring out two more plates. Xiao Yuan ate half of them himself. Emperor Liang Cheng originally wanted to say that Xiao Yuan's behavior was not good, but Xiao Yuan smiled and said that in the Xu family, if there was homework to do at night, a late-night snack was a must. In the first few years, he didn't eat much, but in the later years, with more homework, he had to work very late at night. Sometimes, when the accommodation was good and there was a small kitchen, he would ask the people in the kitchen to make some wontons or dumplings. Sometimes, when conditions were not good, he would buy some snacks and keep them on hand. He would eat a few pieces when he felt like it. He also said that his aunt from the Chen family had said that teenagers are in the prime of their growth, and they should eat when they are hungry, as long as they don't overeat.
After Xiao Yuan explained the situation to Emperor Liang Cheng, Emperor Liang Cheng didn't say anything more. However, Chen Wufu, seeing that Xiao Yuan liked the food, said when he saw Xiao Yuan off that he would make it for Xiao Yuan next time he went. Xiao Yuan smiled and thanked Chen Wufu.
Xiao Yuan then recounted what had happened in the Imperial Study to Consort Liu. Consort Liu frowned upon hearing this and said, "Isn't it inappropriate for you to speak to your father like that?"
Xiao Yuan explained, “Mother, Father and I haven’t seen each other for so many years, and we still need to get to know each other better. At this time, we should speak our minds and not keep things to ourselves.”
Consort Liu thought about it and realized it made sense. Not only Emperor Liang Cheng, but she herself hadn't been with her child for over a decade. She knew nothing about the hardships her child had endured, the kinds of people he had met, what he liked to eat, or what he liked to do. She needed to get to know her child better and understand his temperament so that they could have a good relationship in the future.
Xiao Yuan said somewhat embarrassedly to Consort Liu, "Mother, it's too late. I thought you had already retired for the night and that I was disturbing you at this time. But after speaking with Father, I wanted to come and see you. Otherwise, I wouldn't feel at ease."
Upon hearing Xiao Yuan's words, tears streamed down Consort Liu's face. Afraid that her child would see, she turned away and took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. Xiao Yuan, however, walked to Consort Liu's side, embraced her frail body in his arms, and whispered, "Mother, your son has returned. I will certainly take good care of you from now on and make up for the past ten years."
Consort Liu felt even more distressed. Her child was so small, yet he was about to be sent away, and she didn't even know what awaited him. Consort Liu knew very well that sending the child away was a gamble for herself, the Emperor, and the Empress. If they won, they would all have a way out; if they lost, the child would be gone, and she would have no reason to live in this world.
Fortunately, the child returned safely. Chen Zhaoci came to the palace several more times to examine Consort Liu's pulse, and each time he offered her a room and told her to take good care of her health and wait for the child to return. Because Consort Liu had this hope in her heart, she not only took her medicine well, but also asked Chen Zhaoci to teach her the Five Animal Frolics. Over the years, Consort Liu's health improved a lot.
After crying for a while, Consort Liu wiped away her tears and smiled with red eyes, saying, "Yes, our A-Yuan is back. Mother has been waiting for so many years, and finally, Mother's A-Yuan has returned."
Regarding Xiao Yuan's marriage, Emperor Liang Cheng made no secrets from Empress Gu and Consort Liu. He wanted Xiao Yuan to marry a girl from Empress Gu's family. The Gu family was a family of upright officials, and after Empress Gu, the head of the Gu family had been even more disciplined in controlling the clan's members. Over the years, the Gu family had not only not produced any dissolute imperial uncles, but also produced many talented individuals.
Of all the noble families in the capital, those that produced favored concubines, like the Wan and Wang families, never had a good ending. Over the years, how could Emperor Liang Cheng not know how many arrogant and domineering sons these two families had produced? Just because they had a favored concubine, they were so reckless and even treated human life like dirt. If Xiao Yuan were to marry a girl from such a family, the sons of these families would rely on their families' power in the harem to commit evil deeds. At that time, wouldn't it be Xiao Yuan who would be worried?
These were the words Emperor Liang Cheng spoke with Empress Gu during a casual chat. Naturally, Empress Gu had to have a good talk with Consort Liu about it. Although Xiao Yuan was now the Crown Prince and Empress Gu was his rightful mother-in-law after marrying the Crown Princess, Consort Liu was Empress Gu's cousin. Not to mention the good relationship between the two of them and their mutual support in the palace, back then, Consort Wang and Consort Wang conspired to frame Empress Gu. If it weren't for Consort Liu, Empress Gu might have really been forced to depose her from her position as Empress by Emperor Liang Cheng due to the situation.
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