His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

On the day of the investiture banquet.

It happened to be the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the auspicious day of Double Ninth Festival.

Before dawn, the palace began to bustle with activity. Palace servants carried various utensils and moved through the corridors, decorating the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony in a solemn and festive manner.

Mo Sangyu changed into a deep purple phoenix robe, her silver hair was tied up high, and she wore a small gold crown. She looked cold and dignified.

She stood in front of the bronze mirror and looked at herself, then turned to glance at Zhao Zhao, who was being dressed up by Granny Yu and the others.

The little pink girl wore a crimson dress with gold cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and a small pearl crown on her head, which made her pink face look even whiter.

Zhao Zhao wasn't too happy to wear the pearl crown. She grabbed at it several times with her little hands, and it was only after being coaxed by Granny Yu that she finally calmed down. She was making babbling sounds as if she was complaining.

Mo Sangyu walked over, bent down to straighten her jeweled crown, and kissed her forehead: "Sweetie, you're the star today, you have to look beautiful."

Zhao Zhao pouted, but still obediently stopped pulling at the things on her head and nestled quietly in Granny Yu's arms.

Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials were already lined up and waiting, their court robes neat and their ceremonial guards solemn.

Feng Xingyu, dressed in a black dragon robe, stood on the steps in front of the palace, his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the ceremonial guard slowly approaching from afar.

When Mo Sangyu carried Zhao Zhao to his side, he naturally took the child with one hand and held her hand with the other. The two looked at each other for a moment, their eyes filled with gentle smiles.

The master of ceremonies announced the start of the investiture ceremony.

Zhao Zhao was held in Feng Xingyu's arms as they walked step by step up the steps of the palace. The little one stared at the dark, grape-like eyes with curiosity as she looked at the dense crowd below.

Eunuch Lian Chen received the imperial edict and read it aloud on his behalf.

"My daughter, who is intelligent and virtuous by nature, is hereby conferred the title of Princess Yuan Si, and is granted a golden seal, a fief of a thousand households, to enjoy eternal honor."

After the imperial edict was read, Zhao Zhao was lifted up by Feng Xingyu to help her father complete the ceremony.

Below, a chorus of kneeling and worshiping filled the air.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Her Majesty! Congratulations, Princess Yuan Si!"

Hearing the deafening shout, Zhao Zhao was not afraid at all; on the contrary, she was very excited and giggled with joy.

The solemn atmosphere of the hall was broken by this childish laugh, and the ministers below couldn't help but laugh along.

This princess is indeed extraordinary; she is incredibly bold, showing no shyness or stage fright whatsoever.

After the ceremony, a banquet was held.

Inside the hall, wine cups clinked and songs and dances filled the air. Zhao Zhao was carried around in the crowd, receiving countless praises and gifts. Exhausted and sleepy, she fell asleep on Feng Xingyu's shoulder, her drool smearing half of his clothes.

Feng Xingyu didn't mind. He looked down at the little pink bundle sleeping soundly in his arms and gently patted her back.

Mo Sangyu glanced at his sleeping daughter and told the wet nurse to take her back first. He didn't want this dignified emperor to be holding a baby in his arms all day long, otherwise the way the court officials looked at him would change.

Halfway through the banquet, singing and dancing filled the hall.

Suddenly, a palace maid hurried in through a side door, bowed, and announced, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has returned, accompanied by a group of distinguished guests."

The noise inside the hall instantly subsided, and everyone's eyes turned to the entrance of the hall.

Feng Xingyu and Mo Sangyu exchanged a glance, then quickly got up and headed towards the door.

The first person to enter outside the palace gate was Empress Dowager Yun Wangshu.

She was dressed in a light dress, exuding composure, with a smile in her eyes, and followed behind her was Rong Huaijin, the third master of the Rong family.

On the surface, Rong Huaijin still maintained his cold and indifferent demeanor, though the gloom in his eyes had lessened considerably. However, his gaze remained fixed on Yun Wangshu, clinging to her intently.

Following closely behind was Yun Yihe.

He stood tall and exuded confidence and vigor, suggesting that he had been living a very comfortable life for the past year or so.

Rong Xuanci walked beside him, dressed in a blue robe, with delicate features and a steady pace. However, his gaze had already passed over the crowd and was eagerly scanning the hall.

The two spoke almost simultaneously as soon as they entered the main hall.

"Where is my niece?"

"Where's my little niece? Let me see her!"

Of all the civil and military officials in the hall, only Gu Jinzhi and his entourage recognized them. Most of the court officials did not recognize them and were inevitably stunned by their imposing presence and grandeur.

Yun Wangshu walked straight up to Mo Sangyu, reached out and grabbed her, looking her up and down.

"Let me see if you've lost weight, and how your recovery is going?"

Mo Sangyu smiled and said, "Mother, I'm fine."

Yun Wangshu examined her carefully again, making sure her face was rosy and she looked great, before finally letting go of her hand with satisfaction. She turned to look at Feng Xingyu and gave him a reproachful look.

"You didn't even send someone to let us know you were back. If Lord Gu hadn't let it slip, we wouldn't have known you were back yet."

Just as Feng Xingyu was about to explain, Yun Wangshu seemed to remember something, suddenly turned around, and waved towards the door: "Oh right, I almost forgot, look, who else is here?"

Two more figures walked in through the light at the entrance of the main hall.

One male and one female.

The man was tall and slender with a handsome face. His brows and eyebrows bore a resemblance to Rong Xuanci, but he possessed a more composed and gentle demeanor. A few strands of white had appeared at his temples, but his eyes remained clear and bright, carrying a sense of tranquility that had settled after experiencing many vicissitudes of life.

The woman beside him was slender, with a pale yet gentle face, and her features bore a striking resemblance to Mo Sangyu's.

She was dressed in a simple blue dress and was gently supported by the man beside her. Her steps were a little slow, as if her body had not fully recovered. As soon as she entered the main hall, her gaze fell directly on Mo Sangyu.

The moment Mo Sangyu saw those two faces, she seemed to be nailed to the spot.

Her fingers twitched slightly, her lips moved, but she remained silent for a long time.

"younger sister."

Rong Xuanci gently nudged her arm and whispered, "Father and Mother are back!"

Ling Xueyuan's eyes reddened, and her lips trembled several times before she finally managed to squeeze out a muffled, tearful cry: "My daughter..."

"..."

Mo Sangyu's breath hitched.

She took a step forward, then stopped, as if unsure how to approach.

The person in front of her was important to her, yet also a stranger.

Rong Yanzhi stood beside Ling Xueyuan, looking at Mo Sangyu with complicated emotions. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he said softly, "Yu'er, she is your mother... your parents. I'm sorry."

Ling Xueyuan's tears had already fallen. She took two steps forward, then stopped in front of Mo Sangyu, her outstretched hand trembling slightly in mid-air.

Looking at the face in front of her that resembled her own, and seeing the tears in her eyes and the cautious expression, Mo Sangyu was suddenly overwhelmed by all the kinship she had lacked since birth and had never experienced.

She raised her hand and grasped Ling Xueyuan's hand, which was suspended in mid-air.

"daughter."

It wasn't as difficult to pronounce this word as I had imagined.

Ling Xueyuan's tears finally broke free, and she hugged her daughter tightly, crying so hard that her whole body was trembling.

Mo Sangyu stiffened for a moment as she was held in her arms, before slowly relaxing and raising her arms to hug her back.

Rong Yanzhi stood aside, watching his wife and daughter embrace, then turned his head away and quickly wiped the corner of his eye.

Feng Xingyu did not make a sound to disturb her, but simply stood silently beside Mo Sangyu, keeping her company without a word.

Yun Wangshu's eyes reddened as she watched from the side. Rong Huaijin handed her a handkerchief, which she took and used to rub her eyes, then couldn't help but laugh.

Yun Yihe and Rong Xuanci stood behind, both of them quieting down to watch.

The hall remained silent for a long while until Ling Xueyuan's sobs gradually subsided. Only then did Mo Sangyu release her, raise his hand to wipe the tears from her face, and then turn to look at Rong Yanzhi, naturally calling out, "Father."

When Rong Yanzhi heard the word "father," he was slightly taken aback, his eyes filled with both guilt and relief.

Before they arrived, they were all filled with anxiety, worried that their daughter would resent him, that she wouldn't forgive him for leaving for so many years and for not searching for her sooner...

"Father, Mother, don't stand at the door anymore, let's go back to Zhaohua Palace."

After saying that, Mo Sangyu turned to Feng Xingyu and said, "I'll take my parents back first."

Feng Xingyu nodded: "Okay, I'll be there shortly."

With one arm around Ling Xueyuan and the other holding Yun Wangshu's hand, Mo Sangyu and the group walked out of the hall.

After the others left, the court officials were completely dumbfounded.

The Empress suddenly gained a third uncle, and now she has gained parents?

Can someone please explain what's going on here?

People started whispering among themselves.

In the end, it was Chief Minister Gu who had to step in and spout a bunch of nonsense to smooth things over in this complicated situation.

Back at Zhaohua Palace, once the palace doors were closed, the noise outside was shut out.

Mo Sangyu instructed people to prepare another table of dishes, which were soon filled with food.

Ling Xueyuan sat beside Mo Sangyu, her gaze fixed on her face as if she couldn't get enough of looking at her.

As soon as Yun Yihe sat down, he couldn't help but peek into the inner hall: "Little Fish, where's my niece? Bring her out so I can see her."

Rong Xuanci also said anxiously, "Yes, quickly bring my little niece out."

Mo Sangyu nodded to Granny Yu.

Granny Yu immediately went out and brought Zhao Zhao, who was wearing a scarlet dress.

The little pink dumpling had just woken up, her face rosy from sleep, her eyes still misty, nestled in Grandma Yu's arms, like a freshly peeled lychee.

Yun Yihe jumped up, leaned over and peeked inside. His eyes lit up immediately: "Tsk, those eyes are like Xiaoyuer's, that little nose is like hers too, and that mouth looks even more like Afeng's... She's really got good looks, how can she be so beautiful? It makes me want to have a daughter too..."

"you?"

Rong Xuanci also moved closer, gently touching Zhao Zhao's hand as he mocked, "Are you born to a ghost?"

Yun Yihe: "...Sooner or later, someone will be willing to have a child with me."

Zhao Zhao grabbed Rong Xuanci's fingers with such force that it shocked him.

"Little Bao, can Grandma give me a hug?"

Yun Wangshu tentatively reached out to Zhao Zhao, thinking that the child might be shy around strangers. To her surprise, as soon as she reached out, little Zhao Zhao ran towards her.

"Oh, Xiao Bao."

This completely melted Yun Wangshu's heart. She hugged Zhaozhao in her arms, looked at her tenderly, and kissed her little face. She was absolutely delighted with her.

Others also found it amazing.

Is this what it means to be connected by blood?

Ling Xueyuan sat next to Mo Sangyu, looking at Xiao Zhaozhao who was surrounded by everyone. She turned her head to look at her daughter beside her, and tears welled up in her eyes again, but she held them back from falling.

Now, her daughter is by her side, and she also has such a lovely granddaughter.

very nice.

"Don't cry."

Rong Yanzhi held her hand and said helplessly, "Your health is weak; crying too much will harm you."

Yun Yihe tried to hold back, but finally couldn't resist and took Zhaozhao from Yun Wangshu's arms, holding her carefully, his movements stiff as if he were holding a firecracker that could explode at any moment.

Zhao Zhao twisted his hair a couple of times, then suddenly grabbed his hairband and yanked it hard. Yun Yihe hissed, grimacing but daring not to move, only tilting his head and shouting, "Let go! Let go! Let go, my ancestor!"

Seeing this scene made everyone at the table laugh, and Ling Xueyuan also smiled, the tears in her eyes finally being washed away a bit.

Rong Xuanci, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines, reached out and took Zhaozhao from him, his movements much more practiced than Yun Yihe's.

As soon as Zhao Zhao was in his arms, she loosened her hairband, leaned against him quietly, and even yawned a little.

Yun Yihe rubbed his disheveled hair and glared at Rong Xuanci: "You certainly know how to hug."

Rong Xuanci looked down at Zhaozhao in his arms, his eyes as gentle as melting spring water.

Mo Sangyu leaned back in her chair, looking at the people in the room, her gaze finally settling on Ling Xueyuan and Rong Yanzhi.

She was silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "Father, Mother, when...when did you return here?"

Rong Yanzhi glanced at her, then looked down at his wife beside him, his voice deepening: "It's a long story."

The atmosphere right now is definitely not suitable for discussing this matter.

Mo Sangyu nodded and didn't ask any further questions. She simply said, "Then get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'd like to have Mother's body checked out."

Upon first seeing Ling Xueyuan, Mo Sangyu realized that not only was her body unwell, but her soul was also damaged.

Perhaps this is why they haven't returned to Cangxuan Realm for over twenty years.

"Silly child, Mother is doing well now." Ling Xueyuan didn't want her to worry: "Don't think nonsense. I'm already content to be alive and able to see you and Aci."

Mo Sangyu gripped her hand tightly, suddenly feeling very sad.

Her parents in two lifetimes, one of whom perished, and the other who endured so much suffering in this life, must have been here to collect their debts after meeting a daughter like her.

No matter what, she will find a way to cure her mother.

After the meal, Zhao Zhao was taken back by her wet nurse.

Mo Sangyu had the rooms cleaned up and arranged for everyone to stay.

Judging from this situation, not to mention Yun Wangshu and Ling Xueyuan, even Yun Yihe and Rong Xuanci will probably stay here for a few days before leaving.

When arranging rooms, everyone had to squeeze into Zhaohua Palace, but fortunately there were quite a few empty rooms in the side halls.

Rong Yanzhi and Ling Xueyuan shared a room, while Yun Yihe and Rong Xuanci each had a room.

Yun Wangshu and Rong Huaijin were left. Yun Wangshu also wanted to stay here, but as the Empress Dowager of Da Chen, she had her own palace, so she naturally returned to her own palace to live.

Yun Wangshu went back to live, and Rong Huaijin was another story.

He no longer cares what others think of him. As long as Yun Wangshu doesn't drive him away, he will continue to follow her, regardless of whether he has a formal title or not.