Seeing that the time was right, Sun Ningxiang slowly stood up, moved gracefully to her father's side, knelt down, and said with great emotion, "Father, your daughter has been praying for you and your mother for ten years. Now that you are able to return home, I only wish you and your mother good health, long life, harmony and happiness in your home, and all things going well."
Sun Mozhi carefully examined the daughter in front of him and suddenly realized that he had not seen her for ten years.
Recalling those years, in the first two years after his daughter left home, he would send servants to deliver some silver to her. But as time went by and he became preoccupied with many trivial matters, he gradually forgot about his daughter.
Seeing her again now, the look in her eyes was so much like that of her deceased mother. Memories of the past flooded back, stirring up a complex and indescribable emotion within him.
"Good child! You're finally back." Sun Mozhi squatted down slightly, helped Sun Ningxiang up with both hands, his voice trembling slightly, and his eyes seemed to express both emotion and guilt.
Sun Mozhi was just about to put on a loving, teary-eyed expression.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Xihe shouted loudly, "Look at this touching scene of fatherly love and filial piety, it's truly enviable! But I heard that Miss Sun said that her parents needed to come to pick her up, so where is the mistress of the house?"
Her voice was clear and loud, causing a slight commotion in the crowd. People whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.
Sun Mozhi's face darkened, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and coldly ordered, "Go and call Madam out, as well as Ming'er and Ruo'er, all of them come out together."
"Yes, sir."
The servant received the order and hurriedly entered the mansion.
Sun Mozhi held Sun Ningxiang's hand tightly and said earnestly, "Ningxiang, back then you insisted on going to the temple to pray for the family's well-being, and no matter how much the family tried to dissuade you, it was to no avail. You must have suffered a lot in the past ten years, and I feel really guilty as your father."
“Father, back then, Master said that I had a connection with Buddhism, and that as long as I prayed sincerely, my family would be safe and well. For the sake of my parents and siblings, I did it willingly and without complaint.” Sun Ningxiang said with her head down, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. Her obedient and gentle appearance made people feel sorry for her.
Before long, more than a dozen people came out of the mansion.
The leader was a beautiful woman in her thirties. She had a graceful figure, exquisite makeup, and a shrewd look in her eyes.
She was surrounded by several children, the oldest of whom looked to be only about ten years old, except for a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl.
"My lord, when I heard that Ningxiang had returned, I quickly had Ruo'er and Ming'er prepare so that we could welcome Ningxiang into the manor together," the beautiful woman said softly, a perfectly measured smile on her face, though the smile did not reach her eyes.
“Mother, there’s no need to say that. If it weren’t for Master’s instructions that Father and Mother must personally welcome me into the manor so that the good fortune can continue, I would never dare to trouble you.” Sun Ningxiang bowed and spoke softly.
Lin Xihe stood in the crowd, lost in thought.
When I was a teenager, I devoted myself to reading and learning to read. Compared to Sun Ningxiang now, I feel that I was ignorant and naive back then. Although I don't seem to have much ability now, I can't help but feel a bit of admiration for Sun Ningxiang when I see her so shrewd and capable.
At this moment, Sun Mozhi broke the brief silence: "It's freezing outside, let's go inside quickly."
"Yes, sir," the others replied.
So, Sun Mozhi and his current wife, one on each side, led Sun Ningxiang slowly into the mansion.
The other children who came out, upon seeing this scene, only the eldest girl reluctantly bowed slightly, while the others pouted, their faces full of reluctance, and their eyes even carrying a hint of hostility.
Seeing this, Lin Xihe took advantage of the fact that the crowd had not completely dispersed and praised them loudly a few more times. Her voice drifted away with the wind, causing the people around her to nod in agreement.
Only after the onlookers gradually dispersed did Lin Xihe slowly turn around and leave, boarding her own carriage.
As soon as he lifted the curtain and stepped into the carriage, he saw Gu Qinghuai sitting inside. He was wearing a scarlet official robe, the bright color of which stood out in the carriage, making his posture even more upright and his demeanor more imposing.
"Huh, what are you doing here?" Lin Xihe was slightly taken aback, her eyes filled with surprise, and she blurted out the question.
"On my way back from court, I happened to pass by here and spotted you immediately. So I had my servants take my horse back and wait for you here," Gu Qinghuai explained slowly with a faint smile on his lips.
"I was in that crowd, a huge mass of people, how could you see me?" Lin Xihe still found it hard to believe, her brows furrowing slightly, her eyes full of doubt.
"You're really conspicuous, working so hard in the crowd. What, are you being paid by someone? Are you planning to earn my food money with this kind of work?"
Gu Qinghuai chuckled softly, his laughter like a gentle breeze in spring.
His face was full of a playful expression, as if he had suddenly returned to a year ago, to the carefree and somewhat cynical man he was back.
"Gu Qinghuai, don't smile at me like that."
When Lin Xihe saw Gu Qinghuai's teasing smile, her heart skipped a beat. A strange thrill, like a new bud breaking through the soil in spring, grew uncontrollably in her heart.
But in an instant, reason ruthlessly reined in these spreading emotions.
So she turned her head slightly to avoid his burning gaze, and tried her best to make her voice sound calm and even: "It's getting late, it's time to go back to the manor."
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