"Lier, you're going out again, and this time your father is going with you?"
Madam Xia's eyes showed a hint of worry.
"Yes, Grandmother, Father will be going out with us this time."
Leng Ruo Li nodded gently and smiled sweetly.
"Alas, although we don't know the reason for your trip or how we can help, we will silently pray for your safe return in the capital."
Madam Xia's eyes reddened slightly, showing a bit of reluctance, but she suppressed it.
Grand Tutor Xia, Xia Shanyi, and Madam Jiang were all the same.
"Oh dear, Grandmother, Grandfather, Eldest Uncle, and Eldest Aunt, we're not going and not coming back. We'll hurry back as soon as we finish our business."
Leng Ruo Li patiently comforted everyone.
"Then when will you be back?" Xia Shanyi asked her caringly.
"We don't know yet, but we'll complete our mission as soon as possible and return early," Leng Ruo Li said with a slight smile.
"Alright, then you must be careful when you're on the road outside..." Xia Shanyi replied helplessly.
Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mohan nodded in unison upon hearing this.
Then, Leng Ruo Li continued, "Grandfather, Grandmother, Eldest Uncle, and Eldest Aunt, let's take a look at the gifts I brought for you first."
"Oh, I'm really curious, what treasures has Li'er sent me this time?"
After hearing Leng Ruo Li's words, everyone hesitated slightly. It was Madam Jiang who recovered first and burst into hearty laughter.
"Father, Mother, shouldn't we first see what treasures Li'er has brought for us?"
Madam Jiang's beautiful eyes looked at Grand Tutor Xia and Madam Xia, her face showing a curious expression.
"Alright, let's all open them and see," Madam Xia chimed in.
Grand Tutor Xia opened his gift first. It was a set of top-quality stationery. He immediately beamed.
The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone that his granddaughter gave him looked extraordinary. Especially the stack of white paper, he had been Grand Tutor for so many years and received countless stationery sets from his students, but this was the first time he had seen such beautiful and flawless white paper.
"Li'er, this stack of white paper you sent your grandfather is even better than the white paper supplied to the royal family by imperial merchants."
Grand Tutor Xia caressed the stack of smooth, flawless A4 paper, holding it dear.
Upon hearing this, Leng Ruo Li's eyes lit up, and she replied, "Grandfather, I'm glad you like the gifts I sent."
When Madam Xia and Madam Jiang opened their gift bags, they saw several porcelain bottles, and neither could see what was inside.
"Li'er, what are these things you sent me and your aunt for?" Madam Xia asked, a little confused.
"The porcelain bottles you are holding are health teas that I have specially prepared for you, and I have formulated them according to your current physical conditions."
"Grandmother, I know you haven't been feeling well lately and have been coughing frequently, so I've prepared some health teas that can relieve coughs and phlegm. Drink them brewed in water for a while to slowly regulate your body, which is better than taking medicine."
"My Eldest Aunt's gift is also health tea, but the effect I formulated for her is different from the one for the Empress Dowager. I also formulated flower tea for my Eldest Aunt based on her physical condition, with the main effect being beauty and skin nourishment. As for my Second Aunt, I formulated qi-invigorating and blood-enriching flower tea for her. The flower teas for the three of you all have different effects."
Leng Ruo Li explained earnestly to Madam Xia and Madam Jiang.
"Oh, oh, Li'er, you are too thoughtful," Madam Xia and Madam Jiang said, touched.
At this moment, Leng Ruo Li's Eldest Uncle, Xia Shanyi, also took out the gift Leng Ruo Li had given him. He looked at the strange object in his hand from all angles but couldn't figure out what it was.
"Li'er, what is this thing?" Xia Shanyi asked Leng Ruo Li with a puzzled look.
"Eldest Uncle, this is called an electric shaver, used by men to shave their beards."
Leng Ruo Li explained with a smile.
After speaking, Xia Shanyi looked at the shaver Leng Ruo Li had given him twice more and said with a sullen tone.
"Li'er, this thing? But your uncle doesn't know how to use it."
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Li was about to teach him how to use the shaver when Jun Mohan spoke first.
"Eldest Uncle, I also know how to use this shaver. I'll teach you."
He knew how to use almost everything in his consort's spatial dimension, except for the various instruments in her space laboratory and operating room...
Thinking this, Jun Mohan walked over to Xia Shanyi and taught him step by step how to use the shaver, even carefully explaining how to replace the batteries after they were used up.
Xia Shanyi quickly learned and kept praising how convenient this shaver from Leng Ruo Li was to use.
Next, Leng Ruo Li accompanied Grand Tutor Xia, Madam Xia, and her Eldest Uncle and Aunt for a walk by the lake in the mansion.
The sunlight today was not as strong as yesterday, and occasionally a cool breeze blew, making people feel extremely refreshed.
They walked and stopped, chatting about various topics, each possessing an interesting soul.
However, as noon approached, a steward with white hair, dressed neatly in gray, and walking with a straight back suddenly came to report.
"Your Highnesses, Master, Madam, Son-in-law is here."
Upon hearing this, Grand Tutor Xia, Madam Xia, and Leng Ruo Li's Eldest Uncle and Aunt were momentarily stunned. They glanced at the Cold King and his consort and immediately guessed Leng Jinyu's purpose in coming to the Xia mansion.
"Leng Jinyu is here? Then please invite him in," Grand Tutor Xia replied indifferently.
The steward acknowledged the order and immediately withdrew.
Not long after, the steward led Leng Jinyu to the group. He also carried several gifts in his hands.
He was not surprised to see the Cold King and his consort at the Xia mansion, as he had expected it.
He had originally planned to arrange a time to visit the Xia mansion with the Cold King and his consort, but he still had some matters to arrange in the military camp that morning. Therefore, he had gone to the military camp early in the morning to finalize the last of his affairs before coming at noon.
"Father, Mother, your son-in-law has come to see you." Leng Jinyu politely bowed to Grand Tutor Xia and Madam Xia.
Grand Tutor Xia glanced at Leng Jinyu helplessly. The man who was once so handsome and spirited now had wrinkles on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes, and his hair was even showing signs of graying.
Speaking of which, it wasn't entirely Leng Jinyu's fault for Wan'er's death. He was also quite pitiful.
Years after Wan'er's death, Leng Jinyu had not lived well, and his love for her had not diminished in the slightest; instead, it had deepened.
If he hadn't had a sacred mission – to protect the country – he might have become very decadent, or even might not have survived.
The people of their Xia family really shouldn't have treated Leng Jinyu with such disdain.