At the door outside Yunqi Courtyard, Li Xinlan had been waiting there for a long time. When she saw Xia Chu and Su Qian'an walking over, she stepped forward to greet them.
"I just received the news that the young master is back. I thought you were going to chat with the Marquis in Hengwu Courtyard for a while, but you came back so soon."
Xia Chu stepped forward and hugged her warmly: "Then you are still waiting outside."
Li Xinlan touched his face and then his slender wrist. Xia Chu spoke quickly before she sighed: "Let's go in and wash up. We have to get up early tomorrow."
Li Xinlan nodded repeatedly and led the way: "The hot water is ready."
"Aunt Li is always so considerate." Xia Chu took two steps quickly, took her arm and walked with her, turned to Su Qian'an and said, "You should also rest early, come with me tomorrow."
Su Qian'an responded "Yes" and stepped back. Xia Chu walked to the plum tree and stopped.
Li Xinlan stopped along with him: "You worked so hard to transplant it, but the young master didn't even have time to take a look at it this year."
Xia Chu looked at the plum forest, with a hint of ambiguity on the corners of his wry smile.
Since that night when he went to the palace to deliver medicine happily, it was only today that he returned to the Marquis Mansion for the first time after half a year.
"Things are over now. There will be more leisurely days spent cooking wine and admiring flowers." Xia Chu pulled Li Xinlan and continued walking towards the room: "Besides, Mu Bai has already admired it, so I don't regret it."
Li Xinlan opened the door to let him go in first, followed him and closed the door before sighing: "Yes, now that the war has subsided, you can finally stay in the house peacefully. You will also be a hairpin girl this year."
Li Xinlan paused for a moment when she said this, then took two steps forward, holding her face handkerchief, and said to Xia Chu, who was washing her face: "Did you discuss with Mr. Marquis tonight when to resume the identity of a woman? Since we are talking to Mo His Royal Highness, if the two of you are in love, you can't..."
Xia Chu took the facekerchief from her hand and interrupted her: "This matter is no longer a secret. When the emperor wakes up, let dad go into the palace to discuss it with him."
Li Xinlan was slightly startled. She thought he would be shy, but she didn't expect that he would be very open-minded, but...
Li Xinlan untied his bun and said worriedly: "The emperor has been in a coma for many days..."
Xia Chuxian held her hands and looked at the clear moonlight outside, thinking in her heart that the emperor had indeed been in a coma for many days. He and Xiang Chengfang had corresponded from time to time, and the emperor's physical condition stated in the letter was all normal.
However, it took a long time to wake up.
Seeing that he was deep in thought, Li Xinlan couldn't summon him, so she quietly withdrew. Xia Chu was in a daze for a moment, and when she turned around, she realized that Li Xinlan had already withdrawn.
The bedding had already been laid out, and Xia Chu didn't bother to think about it anymore. After all, after going to the Zhao Mansion tomorrow, he still had to go to the palace in person.
Xiao Zimu in the palace didn't learn about Xia Chu's return to Beijing until the evening.
At that time, he was still discussing matters with Yin Guangbo in Yongning Palace.
When Xin Ya came to report the news, Yin Guangbo was so happy that he couldn't wait to quit the palace and went to Mingxiang Garden to see Xia Chu in person.
Xiao Zimu looked at Yin Guangbo's leaving figure with a blank expression, and felt a little envious. Even he could express the joy in his heart, but he had to suppress his mixed emotions.
Xia Chu is back, and the girl he missed day and night finally returned to Beijing.
But she followed Xiao Mubai back to Beijing...
Ever since he received the news that Xia Chu was leaving Fengwu and returning to Beijing, he was both happy and anxious at the same time.
Both looking forward to her return, but also fearing her return.
He was afraid that after Xia Chu returned to Beijing this time, not only would she change her identity as the legitimate son of the Hou family, but she would also change the fact that she was about to become Princess Mo.
Xiao Zimu looked up at the dark blue night sky. The bright moon was setting in the west, and the stars were shining brightly.
In this world, things that are out of reach always seem to be brighter.
Or maybe it's too bright, so it seems difficult to reach.
But he clearly had a chance before. The woman who was once beside him has now become the most dazzling but unreachable star in the distant Milky Way.
As a result, that bright light seemed to be burning in his heart, making him toss and turn every day, thinking about it unbearably.
Deeper still, everything is silent.
Xia Chu kept the matter of getting up early in mind, so he didn't sleep deeply that night. He got up when he heard the chirping of birds in the early morning.
Su Qian'an was already in the courtyard asking the raven for sword skills. Xia Chu signaled them to have some breakfast, and he went to Hengwu Garden before getting ready to go out.
On the way to Hengwuyuan at the beginning of Xia, he happened to bump into Cong Ting who was looking for him.
It turned out that Xiao Mubai came early in the morning and had been chatting with the Marquis for a while. It was not until breakfast that the Marquis ordered Cong Ting to come look for him.
The Marquis and Xiao Mubai were sitting on the couch at the back of the hall, chatting and waiting for him. They looked like they were having a great time talking to each other.
The maids had already laid out the breakfast, and the bowls contained steaming porridge, accompanied by seven or eight exquisite side dishes, which was considered rich even if it wasn't luxurious.
"Am I my biological child? He beat me and scolded me when he saw me last night. When I saw him, his face was full of smiles and his eyes were kind." Xia Chu pretended to be angry and stepped into the hall.
Although his tone was full of sourness, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.
"I came to apologize early in the morning, and it wasn't until now that you saw this pleasant scene." Xiao Mubai bowed to the Marquis.
Marquis Xin took him by the hand, pointed at Xia Chu and said, "This little brat's wings are stiff. I can't deal with it. You'll have to bear with it in the future."
"Prince Mo's palace has prepared the betrothal gifts according to the mother's instructions. We are waiting for the Marquis to restore her daughter's body and come to propose marriage immediately to solve your worries."
Xiao Mubai's words made the Marquis and Xia Chu cough together.
"Your Majesty is not awake yet. We will discuss this matter later." The Marquis handed him a bowl of porridge and tried to shut his mouth.
"Leave this matter to the prince and give him a direct order. Maybe it will make him happy, and my father will wake up faster." Xiao Mubai held the porridge in his hand and said it seriously, which made the Marquis and Xia Chu cough again.
"Eat quickly." Xia Chu stuffed a golden jade steamed bun into Xiao Mubai's mouth.
With her head lowered, she was picking up the porridge silently, with a slight blush on her cheeks.
The Marquis followed his words and diligently served Xiao Mubai with food, fearing that his mouth would be free.
Xiao Mubai had just swallowed the steamed bun in his mouth. As soon as he opened his mouth, the Marquis held a full bowl and said to him: "Eat vegetables, eat vegetables."
Xiao Mubai politely picked up two chopsticks and swallowed. Just as he opened his mouth, the Marquis gestured to him: "Drink porridge, drink porridge."
He finished the last bite of the small bowl of porridge, but before he could swallow it all, the Marquis asked again: "Another bowl?"
Xiao Mubai: "..."
He had a hearty breakfast. When he left the house, the Marquis told Xia Chu that he must talk to Huo Wenshu more and comfort her.
Xia Chu meekly agreed, but felt very melancholy in her heart.
Talking is fine, but he is really not good at this kind of relief...
(End of chapter)