Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 279 Mother and son reunited

The eunuch turned to look at Li Chengge and, seeing his hesitation, said softly, "Just now, Consort Jin was overjoyed to learn that Your Highness was coming and immediately sent me to fetch you. I presume that Consort Jin is already waiting for Your Highness in the palace."

Li Chengge actually missed Consort Jin very much, but he was hesitant to go any further because he was afraid of returning home.

His voice was a little hoarse: "How is Consort Jin doing lately?"

"Consort Jin is in good health, but she is always thinking about His Highness. Since His Highness left Chang'an, for the past three years, Consort Jin has been copying scriptures and praying for His Highness every day without fail. She also made clothes for His Highness to wear in all four seasons, but she can't give them away and can only keep them and take them out to look at from time to time."

Li Chengge recalled the scene from ten years ago when the emperor decreed that he be adopted by Crown Prince Renxian. He was only eight years old at the time. He did not want to be separated from his parents, but the imperial decree had been issued and there was no room for maneuver. He had no choice but to leave the palace.

He closed his eyes to clear his mind of the painful images, and when he opened them again, he finally started walking up the stairs once more.

Inside the Immortal Abode Palace, a beautiful woman dressed in a magnificent palace dress craned her neck to look outside, but she still couldn't see the person she longed for day and night, and she couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

She frowned and asked, "Why hasn't Sanlang arrived yet? Did something happen to him on the way?"

The palace maid gently comforted her, "Your Highness, don't worry, the palace is very safe, nothing should happen. They should be on their way."

"Songqing, go outside and check for me."

"Here."

The palace maid named Songqing curtsied and then walked outside. She stopped at the door and exclaimed in surprise, "His Highness Prince Jin has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Consort Jin could no longer sit still. She stood up abruptly and strode to the door, just in time to see Xiao Wang and Li Chengge crossing the small arched bridge and heading in her direction.

Consort Jin unconsciously walked outside, wanting to be closer to her son.

Song Qing quickly stopped her and whispered a reminder: "Your Highness is an elder, and there is no etiquette for an elder to go out and greet a junior."

Consort Jin didn't care about these formalities, but she knew that there were eyes everywhere in the palace, and she had to think of Li Chengge's feelings. If word got out that she had her elders come out to greet her, it would surely cause him controversy.

She had no choice but to stop in her tracks and stand still.

Once Li Chengge and Xiao Wang stood at the foot of the steps, Consort Jin stared intently at Li Chengge, scrutinizing him from head to toe several times. He had grown much taller and tanned considerably; his features had fully developed, his nose and mouth resembling those of a saint, but his eyebrows and face shape were more like hers. He was now a true adult, completely different from the little darling she remembered. She felt a mixture of relief and loss.

Li Chengge was also looking at her. She was still as radiant as before, and time seemed to have left few traces on her.

Many past scenes flashed through his mind, the little moments he shared with his mother, overwhelming him like a tide.

He felt his eyes getting hot, so he quickly lowered his head, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and slowly said.

"Your humble servant pays respects to... Consort Jin."

The words "Consort Jin" trembled slightly.

He used to call her "Mother Consort," but now, he could only respectfully address her as Consort Jin, just like Xiao Wang.

Because he is no longer her son, he has been adopted by the Emperor to Crown Prince Renxian, and he has been forced to become Crown Prince Renxian's son. Now he can only call the Crown Princess Renxian, who has been dead for many years, his mother.

When Consort Jin heard her son address her, she felt a pang of sadness and almost burst into tears.

But she held back, trying her best to maintain a dignified and virtuous appearance, and said with a smile, "I heard that you two went out to travel. When did you come back?" Li Chengge lowered his eyes and replied, "Yesterday."

"Come in and sit down."

"Thank you, Consort Jin."

Once the three were seated in the hall, the palace maids immediately brought tea and refreshments.

Li Chengge looked at the candied bayberries and cherry crisps that were brought to him. These were his favorite snacks when he was a child.

He picked up a candied bayberry and put it in his mouth. The sweet and sour taste stimulated his taste buds, and he immediately remembered the scene when he was a child eating candied bayberries, and his mother always reminded him to spit out the pit.

Unexpectedly, after so many years, the taste of this candied bayberry is exactly the same as I remember.

Consort Jin asked expectantly, "How does Prince Jin find the taste?"

Li Chengge spat out the bayberry pit from his mouth and said, "It's delicious."

Consort Jin breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The imperial chef who made desserts back then is no longer here. This was made by his apprentice. I was worried that it wouldn't taste as good as before, but thankfully you like it."

Li Chengge picked up another cherry pastry and savored it carefully. The sweet taste evoked memories, and he recalled the scene from his childhood when his mother would half-squat down and wipe his mouth and hands with a fragrant embroidered handkerchief after he finished eating dessert.

He swallowed the cherry pastry and said, "I've eaten cherry pastries outside the palace before, but none of them taste as good as this one."

Consort Jin was very pleased. She immediately ordered Song Qing to pack cherry pastries and candied bayberries for Li Chengge to take back and eat later.

Song Qing acknowledged and withdrew.

Consort Jin inquired about Li Chengge's experiences and observations during his three years away from home.

Li Chengge picked out some interesting things to tell her.

Consort Jin listened intently, her eyes fixed on Li Chengge. Her child had not only grown up, but was also able to see the vast world outside. He had made many friends and formed his own little circle.

Although she regrets not being able to be there for him as he grew up, she feels content seeing that he is doing well.

When Li Chengge mentioned that he had met Ning Ci, he paused, still immersed in the anticipation and joy of reuniting with his mother. He almost forgot that Ning Ci was currently in trouble.

He straightened his expression and then began to talk about Fu Hui's murder that day.

"I feel sorry for Fu Hui's fate, but I believe in Ning Ci. She is not the murderer who killed Fu Hui. Now she has been brought to the palace, and General Fu wants to ask the Emperor to make a judgment. I don't know how the Emperor will deal with Ning Ci in the end?"

Consort Jin pondered for a moment and said, "General Fu lost his wife early in life and has not remarried since. He only has one son, Fu Hui. Now that Fu Hui has suddenly been murdered, this must be a great blow to him. His Majesty trusts General Fu very much. If General Fu insists that Ning Ci is the murderer, His Majesty may choose to listen to his opinion."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengge immediately became anxious. Although Xiao Wang did not speak, his expression looked very solemn.

He said, "This time, my grandfather accompanied Ning Ci to the palace to meet the emperor. With my grandfather there, there might still be room for maneuver in this matter."

Consort Jin was surprised that her father had also come to the palace. She pondered for a moment and said, "Please wait here for a while. I will send someone to the Sizheng Hall to inquire about the situation and see how Ning Ci is doing."

These words were exactly what Xiao Wang wanted to hear, and he immediately said, "Then I'll leave it to Consort Jin."