Chapter 83: The News

General Yuan returned to the capital under imperial decree as the year-end approached. Now retired, he was returning home. However, unlike others, his ancestral home was in the capital, where the Yuan family was a deep-rooted, influential clan.

This connection was one of the main reasons why the Empress Dowager, despite her enmity, dared not go further than exiling Yin Qianhua’s parents. Were it any other family, their bones might have turned to ashes long ago.

Yin Qianhua’s father was merely a Censor at the time. Yet when Prince Jing defied the Empress Dowager and insisted on marrying the daughter of the Yin family, the Empress Dowager and the Han family accused the Yins of fabricated crimes, demoting them to commoners and exiling them from the capital.

Upon hearing the news, General Yuan and his wife immediately took action. They sent people to protect the exiled Yin family and wrote letters urging the Yuan clan in the capital to pressure the Empress Dowager and the Han family, ensuring the Yins’ survival and maintaining Yin Qianhua’s status as the legitimate wife in Prince Jing’s residence.

It could be said that without the protection of General Yuan and his wife, Yin Qianhua might not have survived to this day.

With Prince Jing’s persuasion and guidance, Yin Qianhua realized that confining herself to Jinhuayuan would not change the Empress Dowager’s opinion of her.

Why should she wrong herself then? When her aunt and uncle returned to the Yuan estate, she stood at the gates to personally greet them with Yun Yichen.

Upon seeing her once-beautiful aunt now with graying hair and aged features, Yin Qianhua couldn’t suppress her emotions. She knelt at her aunt’s feet, weeping bitterly.

“Is it Hua’er? Why are you crying? Stand up and let your aunt take a good look at you,” said Madam Yuan. It had been years since she last saw her niece. She helped Yin Qianhua up, carefully examining her, and wiped the tears from her face with trembling hands.

This poor child—though seemingly glamorous as a royal consort—had endured countless hardships due to the Empress Dowager’s hostility. She must have suffered greatly all these years. Now that Madam Yuan had returned to the capital, Yin Qianhua was no longer alone and had her maternal family for support.

The two women talked for a long time, only then remembering the group of people standing outside with them.

“Greetings to the Princess Consort,” General Yuan led his family in saluting Yin Qianhua.

“Uncle, I was so focused on seeing Aunt that I neglected to greet you. Please forgive me,” Yin Qianhua explained, helping General Yuan to his feet.

“Ah Chen, greet your great-uncle.”

“How could we allow this?” The Yuan family was unanimous in their objection. After all, Yun Yichen was a royal descendant. Who dared to accept such a courtesy from him?

“Cousin, there’s no need to be so formal. After all, we’re family,” said Yuan Yutong, who had accompanied her parents back from Songjiang.

Ordinarily, Yun Yichen would have turned away from such a scene, but today, seeing his mother crying uncontrollably, he found himself unable to leave.

The Yuan family had not only saved his maternal grandparents but also cared for them for many years. For this alone, he owed them deep respect.

“Yun Yichen greets General Yuan,” Yun Yichen bowed respectfully.

“Please rise, Your Highness,” General Yuan hurriedly stepped forward to help him up.

In public, Yun Yichen refrained from bowing to General Yuan as a junior. Such a gesture would embarrass the Yuan family and provoke the Empress Dowager, potentially bringing trouble to his mother. By paying respect as a prince, he spared everyone discomfort and silenced any gossip—especially since he was known to bow to General Xiao.

“Let’s not stand at the gate. Come inside to talk,” Madam Yuan said, holding her niece’s hand and leading her inside. She hadn’t been back in years and was filled with nostalgia.

“Hua’er, do you remember this place? You and Yutong used to run around this courtyard. Whenever you two were together, you’d bicker endlessly, but apart, you’d find it boring. I spent most of my days mediating your little disputes back then.”

“That’s not true!” Yuan Yutong stubbornly refused to admit it.

“I remember. When we argued, Yutong would try to settle it with her fists if words failed. Uncle even joked that one of us inherited our father’s eloquence as a Censor, while the other took after her general father’s penchant for physical solutions.”

“Should I not have come back today? This is so embarrassing! Could you two please spare me some dignity in front of the younger generation?” Yuan Yutong said with mock indignation, relieved her own children weren’t there to witness this. Otherwise, they’d tease her endlessly.

Laughter erupted from everyone around.

Once inside the living room, Madam Yuan presented a thick letter entrusted to her by Yin Qianhua’s parents before returning to the capital.

Holding the letter, Yin Qianhua wept again. Her parents wrote about their well-being, urged her to take care of herself and the children, and included handmade clothes and shoes for their grandchildren.

For a while, the room was silent except for Yin Qianhua’s quiet sobs.

Meanwhile, when Yuan Yutong returned to the Xiao residence, it was already dinner time.

“Mother, have you forgotten you still have a daughter? My heart has been aching from missing you,” Xiao Yuan said theatrically while enjoying her snacks.

Circling her noticeably chubbier daughter, Yuan Yutong failed to detect any genuine signs of longing.

“Ping’an, come greet your aunt.”

“Greetings, Aunt.”

“I’d sooner believe Ping’an misses me than accept your words, so fake and insincere!” Yuan Yutong quipped, shaking her head.

“I’ve been practicing! Qianyu said it was convincing, but she must’ve lied. Don’t worry, I’ll deal with her tonight,” Xiao Yuan replied with hands on her hips.

Yuan Yutong sighed, choosing not to argue further.

“Everyone, see what a good daughter I’ve raised!” she exclaimed, sitting down to avoid fainting from frustration.

The lively banter continued through dinner, leaving everyone in high spirits.

“Your parents—how are they? I’d like to visit them in a few days. It’s been over a decade since I last saw old Yuan,” General Xiao said.

“They’re well, but my father said to wait until after the New Year. On the twelfth day of the first month, the Yuan family will host a banquet for relatives and friends,” Yuan Yutong explained.

“Great. On the twelfth, our whole family will attend,” General Xiao replied decisively.

Lady Tong was hesitant about letting her daughter go, given the cold weather.

Xiao Yao smacked her forehead, suddenly remembering she hadn’t told her parents about her recovery. She’d been so preoccupied experimenting with cream cakes that she’d forgotten such an important matter.

Later, as they left Ninghetang, Xiao Yao leaned on her father’s shoulder and announced her recovery.

“Ping’an, are you joking? This is wonderful news!”

“I’m not lying; I’m truly better.”

“That’s fantastic! It must be Grand Physician Sun’s new prescription and Nanny Ruan’s medicinal baths,” Xiao Jingkang exclaimed, nearly tossing her into the air in excitement. Instead, he kissed her forehead and rubbed his beard against her cheek.

“Tickles! Stop, Father,” Xiao Yao giggled.

Her brothers—Xiao Yi, Xiao Yang, and Xiao Rui—joined in, playfully ruffling her hair until she looked like a disheveled little beggar.

The Xiao family courtyard echoed with joyous laughter.