She couldn’t help but burst into laughter, “To avoid any mistreatment yourself, you want the entire empire under your rule? You truly are audacious!”
Lu Qingwan dangled from Feng Xiwu’s arm, whining, “Thinking about it doesn’t break any laws. Besides, one must have dreams, right? What if they come true?”
The Crown Princess chuckled at their peculiar thoughts and words, and even Yuan Niang, who was leading the way, couldn’t help but tremble slightly.
“Esteemed guests, we have arrived at the ready-to-wear shop.”
She led them into a shop with an open door, gesturing to the racks of clothes and bolts of fabric. “You may look around first. If you don’t find anything you like ready-made, and if there are any fabrics you fancy, our embroiderers can make them for you on the spot.”
After speaking, she instructed the young maidservants at the counter, “Bring out the sets of jewelry that Jinxiu Pavilion has collected for our guests to see.”
Not everyone in Buye Zhou recognized Lu Qingwan as their true mistress, but seeing Yuan Niang’s deference, the young maidservants were exceptionally diligent.
Lu Qingwan quickly selected an outfit for the Crown Prince and his consort, then picked out a few more clothes and accessories before following Yuan Niang back to their room.
Having been informed in advance, Yuan Niang had prepared the Mirror Room for them.
As soon as they entered, Lu Qingwan asked, “Are there any court officials here today? What about the defensive measures?”
Buye Zhou’s defenses were fixed. Lu Qingwan’s sudden question made Yuan Niang a little suspicious. “Before I came in, there were people watching. Some scions of noble families were here for entertainment, but no important court officials. As for defenses, ever since the young prince arrived in Buye Zhou, Miss Wuying specifically dispatched a team of guards to patrol various corners of Buye Zhou to protect him. Additionally, the leader of the Red Robe Sect also sent people who disguise themselves in different identities daily to dine or stay in Buye Zhou. I believe the defenses should be sufficient.”
Confirming Buye Zhou was safe, Lu Qingwan turned to look at Feng Xiwu. He nodded gently, then chose his words carefully.
“Imperial Brother, Imperial Sister-in-law, Yuan’er is here. Would you like to meet him?”
Lu Qingwan slapped her forehead. She knew her words could be too blunt and didn’t consider people’s emotions, which was why she had specifically asked Feng Xiwu to speak. To think he was even more direct than her!
However, the Crown Prince and his consort were indeed too preoccupied to care about politeness. As soon as Feng Xiwu finished speaking, Si Fengming pinched him.
“Yuan’er is here? Really?” His expression told Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu that he wasn’t disbelieving Feng Xiwu, but rather, he was in disbelief. Their child, taken from them when he was only two months old, was now on the same pleasure boat.
The Crown Princess also wanted to ask something, but tears of excitement streamed down her face, and she couldn’t utter a complete sentence for a long time.
Lu Qingwan generously let the Crown Princess lean into her embrace, calmly soothing her emotions. “Don’t get too worked up. Yuan’er is indeed here. You should both control your emotions first, so you don’t frighten the child. Also, although this place is my territory, walls can have ears. Let’s all calm down, so as not to scare Yuan’er, and also prevent him from being discovered by those who shouldn’t know, alright?”
Si Fengming and Yan Ruozhao nodded in unison, but the excitement of a reunion with their flesh and blood radiated from the bottom of their hearts. How could they truly calm down just like that? Therefore, by the time they had completely calmed down and were ready to see the little bun, nearly half an hour had passed.
Lu Qingwan ordered Ru Yue to personally fetch the little bun. Yan Ruozhao, full of unease, paced in front of Lu Qingwan. “Is my makeup alright? Did my makeup run when I was crying earlier? Will I scare Yuan’er?”
Over there, Si Fengming was no different. Unlike Yan Ruozhao, who pestered Feng Xiwu about his appearance, he kept preening in front of the large floor-to-ceiling mirror in the Mirror Room. Their behavior was somewhat comical, but Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu, who deeply understood their longing for their son, couldn’t bring themselves to laugh.
Seeing their excessive nervousness, Feng Xiwu suddenly said, “Every year on Yuan’er’s birthday, I show him portraits of you. From his first birthday up until his last birthday, without fail. Yuan’er knows what his parents look like and understands that you had no choice but to place him by my side. You can treat him as a child anytime you wish, but today, please be calm for once and treat him as an adult. He will accept you.”
Upon hearing this, Si Fengming and Yan Ruozhao’s nervous expressions indeed relaxed a little. Lu Qingwan, listening nearby, felt a pang of melancholy. The little bun, who had called her ‘Imperial Mother’ for a year, would now have to call someone else that.
As they waited anxiously, the door was pushed open. At first glance, Ru Yue seemed to be holding a thick quilt, but this quilt was alive. After hearing the door close, a pair of small hands emerged from the quilt, excitedly pushing at the edge. “Imperial Mother!”
“Yes!” Lu Qingwan instinctively responded and stepped forward to free the little bun from the thick quilt. “Were you uncomfortable being wrapped up? Did you sweat?”
After speaking, she immediately instructed Yuan Niang, “Quickly, get some handkerchiefs. He’s covered in sweat. If he catches a chill from the breeze later, he’ll get sick. Yuan Niang glanced at the Crown Princess, whose expression was uneasy and hesitant to step forward, but she still brought a handkerchief. After handing it to Lu Qingwan, she intended to remind her, but saw Lu Qingwan holding the little bun and shoving him into Yan Ruozhao’s arms. “He’s like a little furnace. I’m wearing too much, and after I wipe him, I’ll be sweating too. Let your darling Imperial Mother wipe you. I’ll be here with your two Imperial Fathers, watching you….” As she spoke, she playfully tickled the child’s armpit.
The little bun, initially bewildered by suddenly being held by a stranger, began to giggle, squirming in Yan Ruozhao’s arms like a caterpillar. He tried to escape Lu Qingwan’s teasing by using his hands and feet to climb Yan Ruozhao like a tree. After much effort, the little fellow still couldn’t escape Lu Qingwan’s playful grasp. In desperation, he reached out to Si Fengming behind Yan Ruozhao. “Imperial Father, help!” he exclaimed, then pushed off with his feet, successfully traversing the human landscape and landing in Si Fengming’s embrace.
The little bun's cheeks were red from laughing, and his chubby arms wrapped around Si Fengming’s neck, hanging on him. He pouted and grumbled, “Imperial Mother is bad. She only bullies Yuan’er!”
“We’re bullying you!” Lu Qingwan made a face and wiggled her fingers at him, mimicking tickling. “Who else is a little brat here but you?”
The little bun puffed up his cheeks, kicking Si Fengming’s shoulder with his short legs. “Let me down.”
“Hm?” Lu Qingwan glared fiercely. “Who do you want to let you down?”
The little bun’s eyes darted around. Earlier, he had called out ‘Imperial Father’ in desperation, needing Si Fengming to save him. Now that he was out of danger and wanted to return to Lu Qingwan’s side to act cute and spoiled, he couldn’t bring himself to say ‘Imperial Father’ again.