"Princess Consort, the Prince, the Heir Apparent, the young misses, and the young masters have already entered the city gates. The Prince sent me ahead to report that they should be arriving at the estate gates around this time," Steward Liu Quan bowed and reported to the beautiful young matron in the seat of honor.
"Understood," the beautiful matron replied, though her brief words could not conceal the joy on her face. She looked at another ordinary-looking woman seated nearby and said, "The Prince has returned. Come out with me to welcome them."
"Yes." The woman smiled in response, stood up, bowed to the Princess Consort, and then stepped forward to support the Princess Consort as they walked toward the estate gates.
By this time, Mo Chenfeng and his entourage had already reached the estate gates. Handing their horses and carriages over to the attendants to manage, they walked into the courtyard. Just as they reached the outer courtyard, they saw the Princess Consort walking out, supported by a woman. The moment Chu Qingmeng caught sight of her, she froze and muttered to herself, "'Swift as a startled swan, graceful as a circling dragon. Radiant like autumn chrysanthemums, lush like spring pines. Seemingly as elusive as light clouds veiling the moon, fluttering like swirling snow caught in the wind. Viewed from afar, bright as the rising sun casting morning mists; observed close at hand, glowing like a lotus emerging from clear ripples. Neither too full nor too slender, neither too tall nor too short.' Surely such poetry was written for a beauty like the one before us?" Hearing this, Mo Wushuang covered her mouth and chuckled quietly. Meanwhile, Mo Chenfeng strode forward a few steps and said gently, "Siyu, why did you come out? With your delicate health, you should have waited inside."
"I am quite well, Husband." Princess Consort Chen Siyu smiled brilliantly, her eyes brimming with love.
"Greetings, Prince." The woman curtsied to Mo Chenfeng.
"Rise," Mo Chenfeng said with a smile as he looked at the woman. "You have worked hard taking care of the Princess Consort during my absence. Let's go, let's head inside first." With that, he supported Chen Siyu as they walked inward.
Inside the main hall, Mo Chenfeng and Chen Siyu took the seats of honor, while the woman from earlier seated herself in the topmost chair to the left of the Princess Consort.
"Your son Liufang pays his respects to Mother! I have not seen you in several months. Are you well, Mother?" Mo Liufang was the first to step forward and kowtow in greeting.
"Good, good, good, everything is well." Chen Siyu could not hide her joy as she looked at her son. "Rise quickly."
"Greetings, Heir Apparent." The woman stood up, curtsied to Mo Liufang, and said gently, "May the Heir Apparent be well."
"Please rise, Concubine Liu," Mo Liufang said, offering a polite gesture of support. "Please take a seat."
"Your sons Mo Liujin, Mo Liuchen, and Mo Liuteng pay their respects to Mother. May Mother be well." The three of them knelt together to offer their greetings, and the Princess Consort likewise told them to rise and be seated quickly.
"Concubine Liu," Mo Liujin turned and knelt toward the woman, "Greetings." Seeing the woman looking at Mo Liujin with tear-filled eyes and a face full of deep affection, Chu Qingmeng stepped forward to help him up. "Third Master, please rise and sit down to rest. You must have been exhausted along the way, right?"
"Your daughter pays her respects to Mother. May Mother be well." Beaming with smiles, Mo Wushuang looked at the Princess Consort and acted coquettishly, saying, "Mother, I missed you."
Chu Qingmeng felt somewhat awkward. After all, this was a family reunion, warm and harmonious, and having never had a family of her own, she had no idea how to behave. But since she was a guest, she could not abandon proper manners. She imitated Mo Wushuang's curtsy and said, "Greetings, Princess Consort. May the Princess Consort be well." Then she turned to Concubine Liu and added, "Greetings, Concubine Liu."
"Who is this?" Chen Siyu asked Mo Chenfeng, casting a glance at Chu Qingmeng.
"Ah, look at my memory! I was so busy talking to you that I forgot such an important matter!" With that, he invited Chu Qingmeng to sit down quickly and said to the Princess Consort, "This is my savior! If not for her, Liujin and I might have perished on the road..."
A quarter of an hour later, Chen Siyu and everyone present had learned the entire course of events. Chen Siyu took Chu Qingmeng's hand and said, "Thanks to you, good child! I must thank you."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," Chu Qingmeng hurriedly demurred. "It was merely a slight effort, not worth the Princess Consort's thanks. However, I have been an orphan since childhood and no one taught me etiquette. If I have shown any discourtesy just now, I beg the Princess Consort not to hold it against me."
From various history books, Chu Qingmeng knew that ancient rules of etiquette and hierarchy were extremely strict, and she was terrified of offending these high-ranking and powerful people.
"Mother, didn't you just completely dazzle Sister Qingmeng?" Seeing the puzzled look on the Princess Consort's face, Mo Wushuang said with a playful smile, "Sister Qingmeng said you are 'swift as a startled swan, graceful as a circling dragon. Radi... radi...' Radi what was it again, Sister Qingmeng?"
Inwardly, Chu Qingmeng covered her face and sighed. How could she hear such a quiet murmur? Maintaining an outwardly calm expression, she recited, "'Radiant like autumn chrysanthemums, lush like spring pines. Seemingly as elusive as light clouds veiling the moon, fluttering like swirling snow caught in the wind. Viewed from afar, bright as the rising sun casting morning mists; observed close at hand, glowing like a lotus emerging from clear ripples. Neither too full nor too slender, neither too tall nor too short. Shoulders sculpted, waist slender as a silk band. Neck slender and graceful, fair skin exposed. Needing no added fragrance, wearing no cosmetic powder.' Surely such poetry describes a woman of peerless beauty like the Princess Consort."
Chen Siyu blushed unconsciously at the praise. This child really knew how to say things that warmed the heart!
Mo Chenfeng laughed heartily, a sudden thought taking root in his mind. He immediately spoke up, "Qingmeng, how about I take you as my adopted daughter?"
"Ah?" Chu Qingmeng froze. What kind of twist was this? This had never been mentioned before! She didn't want to stay here, but would a direct refusal offend the Prince's face? After all, a whole room of masters and servants was standing about.
Sensing Chu Qingmeng's dilemma, Mo Chenfeng added, "It is just a sudden thought of mine. Ponder it slowly and do not rush to answer me. Whether you agree or not, we are all family."
Chu Qingmeng nodded, muttering inwardly, I have no desire to be family with you. I need to find a way to go back home, and even if I cannot return, I certainly don't want to stay in this grand estate. The best thing would be to have a shop to make money, build a large three-room tile-roofed house, and live a peaceful life by myself—wouldn't that be wonderful? Modern times or ancient times, all I want to do is lie flat!
After the exchange of pleasantries, everyone returned to their respective courtyards. Mo Wushuang had originally wanted Chu Qingmeng to share her quarters, but the Princess Consort worried that Mo Wushuang's restless and lively temperament would give no one any peace. Thus, she arranged for Chu Qingmeng to stay in the courtyard right next to Mo Wushuang's.