Chapter 920: Chapter 732: I Will Take You Back (Part 2)
Han Qiu glanced at Zhou Zongbao, then slightly lowered his head.
"Alright, with Hetian here, Xiao Leizi, your and Liyang’s return to the Imperial Harem will surely face no obstacles. Go now... I assure you two will be safe. Xiao Leizi, if you think about it, you’re also my cousin. Your mother has always been kind to me, and you are also someone close to Changsheng. Go, when everything has settled, if you wish to return to the Heavenly Palace, naturally no one will dare to stop you!" With the worries of his childhood resolved, Zhou Mu was in high spirits, and his tone inadvertently became much warmer.
"Indeed, go ahead, Xiao Leizi. The doors of my Heavenly Palace are always open to you. I’m still waiting for you to return soon and cook with me!" Gu Changsheng said with a smile.
"Really? Can I really come back?" Hearing this, Xiao Leizi looked up in surprise and disbelief.
"Of course, even if you are the Emperor Zhoulin’s niece, you cannot stay in the palace. At most, after recognizing your relation with the Emperor, Du Mingli will take you back to the Du Family. Thinking about it, your mistress here saved the Du Family’s life, so go on. Once everything is over, I’ll go to the Du Family to get you back!" Gu Changsheng nodded affirmatively.
"Really? Mistress, will you really take me back? But I... my father... will he be willing?" Xiao Leizi was initially delighted to hear this but then quickly grew worried.
Hearing this, Gu Changsheng suddenly laughed, "Ha! Xiao Leizi, you sure have a knack for joking! Do you know who your mistress is? Understand the Southern Emperor? Although I don’t like bullying people or forcing women, I can definitely be forceful if needed. I’ll get you back once your matter is settled. If Elder Du cooperates, it’ll be alright, but if not, even if I have to use force, I’ll snatch you away. After all, my little Xiao Leizi is my beloved companion!"
"Hehe..." Hearing this, Xiao Leizi instantly relaxed.
The surrounding people also chuckled softly. Their Majesty’s words were clear: the beloved companion? Clearly, the Majesty is worried about having no food to satisfy the palate without Xiao Leizi!
Zhou Zongbao led Xiao Leizi, along with Liyang Princess Zhou Nuanyang and her family, and left. This farcical recognition scene finally came to an end.
Gu Changsheng felt a bit sorrowful and looked at Zhou Mu with particularly unfriendly eyes.
Darn it, no matter how it was calculated, her little Xiao Leizi was somehow taken into the Imperial Family. Without Xiao Leizi, who would cook her meals?
"Evildoer! Return my chef to me!" Thinking of this, Gu Changsheng felt exceptionally sorrowful, wishing to tear Zhou Mu apart.
"Don’t worry, don’t worry, it’s just about food? If Xiao Leizi can do it, so can I!" Zhou Mu, seeing the furious young woman, felt helpless and had no choice but to gently soothe her.
"You only say that because you’re not the one cooking!" Gu Changsheng retorted, not in the least good-natured.
Zhou Mu looked deeply at Gu Changsheng, sighed, and resignedly left.
Outside, Hongyan Jiaojiao was still on the streets searching for handsome and robust men. She considered it a daunting yet glorious task that must be done well. Hence, in the Zhou Dynasty Capital Region, the Capital City streets were almost all combed through by Hongyan Jiaojiao and her team. Rumors spread like wildfire, claiming that the Southern Emperor had a penchant for handsome young men, and the more, the better!
But all this had nothing to do with the Heavenly Palace. Mr. Ban Shan, wielding a broom, attempted to drive them away and failed. However, a man resembling a divine residence remained immovable. Mr. Ban Shan sighed; after all, it is said that gentlemen have nothing to hide, whereas the petty ones worry incessantly. As an exemplar among gentlemen, Mr. Ban Shan found himself helpless when faced with such a shameless person who insisted on hanging around his Heavenly Palace, clinging to his adopted daughter.
In the end, Mr. Ban Shan put away his broom and decided to let things take their course. However, he thought that when his adopted daughter’s biological father returned, this "petty son-in-law" would undoubtedly be given a good scolding.
With this thought, Mr. Ban Shan found some balance, choosing not to constrain the pair. Let them do as they wish, until Gu Taitian comes to discipline this unruly young couple!
The most beautiful time of the year is spring, as the majestic smoke of willows fills the Imperial Capital.
On this day, the afternoon sunlight was warm. Gu Changsheng calculated that there were only two or three days left before her father arrived in the capital, making her feel particularly cheerful and excited.
Princess Liyang and Xiao Leizi had returned to the palace. Although Gu Changsheng hadn’t witnessed the grand recognition scene personally, she heard about the imperial edict issued in the Imperial Palace. Emperor Zhoulin had sent an urgent decree to Huai Water City, summoning the retired former Elder Du Mingli to quickly navigate the Grand Canal to the Capital. Another decree was issued for Princess Liyang, who was to return to the palace, still married to Wang Man, and bestowed the County Princess Mansion.
Praying for blessings for the Imperial Clan outside the palace? Listening to this absurd excuse of returning from the dead, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but snicker. Truly, the Imperial Family had a knack for far-fetched explanations!
Was this meant to deceive fools?
She was curious to see how, with Du Mingli coming to the capital, Emperor Zhoulin would explain Xiao Leizi’s origins and background.
The thought itself was amusing!
Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but feel a perverse delight.
In the warm afternoon sunlight, Gu Changsheng lay in the flowerbeds of the Traveling palace’s back garden, listening to the sounds of three Little Adous next to her trying their best to recite texts. Her mood was great, making the sky seem bluer, and the air fresher.
Thinking carefully, when her father finally arrived in the capital, and Little Monk Bu Jie returned with him, the wedding date would likely be settled.
With everyone’s eagerness, it was clear the wedding date wouldn’t be too far off. The thought of her impending marriage overwhelmed Gu Changsheng with anxiety. The fear of marriage, it turns out, knows no bounds of time and space.
Just as Gu Changsheng was leisurely gazing at the blue sky, her nose suddenly itched, causing her to frown deeply, "What is that smell?"