With both internal and external troubles resolved, Gu Yuzhi was in no hurry to return to Mobei. The group leisurely enjoyed the beautiful scenery and delicious food, and if they found a particular place to eat well, they would stay for ten days or half a month.
It was half a year later when he returned to Xinliang with Consort Taixian.
The Prince's Mansion had already been completed, and Chen Dianyi had already had Gu Yuzhi's belongings packed up, just waiting for his return.
Just as Gu Yuzhi arrived in Xinliang, he was excitedly introducing the roadside crops to Consort Taixian when he heard an excited shout from ahead: "His Highness is back!"
Gu Yuzhi raised his eyebrows high: "Mother, it's Consort Chen's voice."
The closer they got to the northern desert, the more uneasy Consort Tai Xian became, because she didn't know whether it was true or false that her son said the people and officials in the northern desert liked him.
Upon hearing Gu Yuzhi mention Chen Dianyi, Consort Taixian's hand clenched tightly, and she unconsciously looked at Chief Secretary Xie.
Xie Changshi held the highest official rank, and he respected and loved his son so much. Surely everyone else would feel the same way?
Filled with trepidation, Consort Tai Xian slowly stepped out of the carriage. As soon as she stepped out, she froze on the spot.
Because starting from the carriage, there were endless figures of people ahead.
Everyone's face was beaming with smiles, and when they saw them come out, they all knelt down in unison: "Welcome, Your Highness Prince Qin, and Consort Tai Xian."
Consort Tai Xian felt an indescribable excitement, but didn't know how to respond.
She had been trapped in the harem for too long in her life. At first, she lived in fear and trembling because she was not favored. Later, her son went to the northern desert and news of his meritorious service came from time to time. She was coaxed by the concubines in the palace, but her heart was always adrift.
She was terrified that she might make a mistake in the palace and cause trouble for her son, so she was used to being very careful. When she saw such a grand scene, she was completely unable to make a judgment.
Her foot involuntarily took a step back, and she turned her head to stare blankly at her son.
Gu Yuzhi looked up at her and smiled, then jumped off the carriage, turned around and helped her down. He then quickly stepped forward and helped Chen Dianyi and the others up.
He said affectionately, "Commander Chen, Commander Liu, I miss you so much!"
Chen Dianyi wiped away his tears: "It's good that Your Highness is back safe and sound. It's good that you're back safe and sound. My heart, which has been hanging in suspense, can finally rest easy."
Gu Yuzhi chuckled and was about to speak when Liu Dianyi coughed lightly and stepped forward to push Chen Dianyi aside: "Your Highness must be tired after your long journey. Why don't I take you and the Empress back to the Prince's residence to rest?"
He smiled faintly: "The Prince of Qin's residence is complete, and we are just waiting for Your Highness and the Empress to return."
Upon hearing that the Prince's Mansion had been completed, Gu Yuzhi's eyes lit up. He turned to look at his mother and saw that her smile remained unchanged, but he could not see the stiffness at the corner of her mouth. He quickly took her hand and said, "Mother, these two are the Consort Chen and Consort Liu that I told you about."
Consort Tai Xian nodded slightly to the two of them: "The Prince of Qin has been well-educated. You have worked hard all these years."
When Consort Tai Xian spoke, Consort Chen and Consort Liu naturally put aside their secret rivalry and bowed in unison: "Your Majesty is too kind. These are all things we should do."
Consort Tai Xian nodded slightly again, her face adorned with a noble and gentle smile. Only after she boarded the carriage again did she truly breathe a sigh of relief and turn to pat Gu Yuzhi's head.
Gu Yuzhi smiled and took her wrist: "Mother, Consort Chen and Consort Liu are all very good and knowledgeable people, so you don't need to worry."
Consort Tai Xian nodded, took Gu Yuzhi's hand in return, and listened to the chattering voices of the people bidding her farewell. She was somewhat dazed until she got off the carriage again and saw the Prince of Qin's residence, which finally brought her back to her senses.
"Mother!"
With no one else around, Gu Yuzhi reverted to his true nature, happily running up the steps and turning to smile at Consort Taixian: "Mother, come on up quickly, I'll show you around!"
Consort Tai Xian blinked, lifted her skirt and followed slowly. Just as she entered the gate, before she could even hear Gu Yuzhi's introduction, she heard sobbing.
She glanced down and said, "Granny Xu."
Xu Mama was preparing a welcoming banquet in the mansion and did not go outside to greet them. She had been waiting anxiously for a long time. When she heard Tai Xianfei's voice, she knelt down and took two steps forward, then kowtowed heavily to the ground: "Your Majesty!"
Hearing the sorrowful cries, Consort Tai Xian couldn't help but tear up as she helped Xu Mama to her feet: "In Xiao Liu's letters to me, he always said you were doing well. Now that I've seen you in person, I'm truly relieved."
On the day she sent Xiao Liu away, Consort Tai Xian thought she would never see Xu Mama again in her life.
Xu Mama's tears kept falling as she nodded repeatedly: "His Highness treats this old servant very well. This old servant only needs to cook meals every day, and doesn't have to worry about anything else."
She wiped away her tears and stood naturally to the right of Consort Taixian, helping her slowly walk inside.
Speaking of her days in the northern desert, Granny Xu's face was full of smiles: "His Highness is a prince, and everyone in the manor is of one mind. The affairs outside are taken care of by Chief Secretary Xie and the others, and the affairs inside the manor are handled by the steward. At first, this old servant was extremely unaccustomed to it and felt as if this was a life of paradise."
"The household is small, and His Highness is quite capable, so this old servant has nothing else to worry about but to find ways to improve his cooking skills."
"Your Majesty, today this old servant has prepared some new dishes for you according to your preferences. Please try them and see if you like them."
With familiar faces around, Consort Tai Xian's tense body finally relaxed a bit. Listening to Granny Xu's rambling voice, she smiled and nodded: "That's wonderful, I was just thinking about Granny's cooking."
The two walked in chatting and laughing. The bluestone road was very clean, and the flower beds along the roadside were filled with flowers, emitting a fragrant aroma.
Suddenly, Gu Yuzhi's cheerful laughter came from behind them, and Consort Tai Xian turned around to look.
Gu Yuzhi was surrounded by Xie Changshi and others, his eyes filled with smiles.
Xie Changshi and the others all wore smiles on their faces. Moreover, Consort Taixian could clearly see the doting look in their eyes.
Only then did Consort Taixian's worries truly subside.
Everyone says that the northern desert is desolate, but Consort Taixian thought that the northern desert was barren and covered with snow all year round.
But along the way, she had only one feeling: the desolate place in the northern desert was indeed desolate. Sometimes, when the weather was bad, she would encounter sandstorms, but the towns were still very lively.
Although Xinliang is newly built, it already shows signs of prosperity.
Furthermore, after seeing the way Xie Changshi and the others looked at Gu Yuzhi, Consort Taixian knew that her son had not lied to her; he was truly doing well here.
Smelling the faint fragrance, Consort Tai Xian slowly raised her eyes.
After all her worries were put aside, she felt that the sky in the northern desert was exceptionally blue.
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