Entering the palace means entering a high position; I'm His Majesty's cousin, who am I afr

Until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Today is the day the Duke of Zhenguo returns to the capital. A message sent by carrier pigeon a few days ago said that the elite cavalry would arrive this morning.

Shen Jiayu was overjoyed and tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. She woke up early this morning.

While she was washing up, the emperor had not yet left, and he couldn't help but remind her, "It's still a bit cold outside. When you go to the Empress Dowager's palace, wear an extra layer of clothing. I've also sent someone to tell the Empress Dowager that you're not allowed to eat any greasy or spicy food, so you should be careful too."

Sitting at the dressing table, Shen Jiayu, who was putting on makeup, nodded repeatedly: "I understand."

Seeing her absent-minded look, Pei Yan walked to the dressing table, lifted her small face with his large hand, and asked solemnly, "What did I say? Repeat it."

Shen Jiayu: "..."

How did she know what she said?

I was lost in thought and didn't pay much attention.

Seeing her like this, Pei Yan's eyes darkened: "You're happy now, but I'll pursue the matter further tonight."

Shen Jiayu didn't really care.

Let them investigate; it's already evening anyway.

What she wants most right now is to see her father immediately.

Shen Jiayu brazenly demanded of him, "Your Majesty is in the capital and cannot keep Father for too long. My aunt and I are anxiously waiting."

Pei Yan reached out his long, slender fingers and pressed them against her brow: "Once your uncle has finished reporting on the situation in the Northern Border, I will send him to Cining Palace."

Shen Jiayu's brows relaxed, and she hugged his wrist, saying sweetly, "I knew it! Your Majesty is the best!"

Pei Yan was slightly lost in thought.

This was the first time she had smiled so broadly in days.

This is good; he likes to see her smile.

Pei Yan's heart softened, and the corners of his lips curved slightly. "Then I'll be leaving. Be careful of what you need to be careful about."

Shen Jiayu rubbed his fingers: "Your Majesty, please go. I will take good care of myself."

Pei Yan returned to the bedside, glanced at the little dumpling again, and strode away.

After getting dressed, Shen Jiayu couldn't wait and took Xiao Tuanzi to Cining Palace.

When Empress Dowager Shen saw them arrive, she first pressed Shen Jiayu onto the chaise longue in the inner palace: "You should rest for a while. I'm having someone prepare the meal; it will be ready in a little while."

Shen Jiayu originally said she would sit in the outer room, but Empress Dowager Shen insisted that she lie down: "Be good, or your back will hurt after you finish your confinement."

Shen Jiayu obediently lay down.

Empress Dowager Shen and the Duchess of the State took turns holding the little girl and gently coaxing her.

"Look at our little princess, how beautiful she is."

"This child doesn't cry or make a fuss, and has a calm temperament. In my opinion, she looks just like her father."

Shen Jiayu lay on the couch, her eyes full of smiles.

After having breakfast, Shen Jiayu and Xiao Tuanzi took a nap together in the inner palace.

When she opened her eyes, Shen Jiayu faintly heard a familiar voice.

She sat up and listened carefully.

It was her father's voice.

Shen Jiayu threw off the blanket and quickly left the inner hall.

Outside, a warm smile filled the air. The Duke of Zhenguo, dressed in military attire, was sitting with his wife, conversing with Empress Dowager Shen.

This scene is so beautiful.

Shen Jiayu stood frozen in place, not daring to step forward for a moment.

The old nanny Li, who was serving her not far away, was the first to see her: "The Imperial Concubine has arrived?"

The Duke of Zhenguo stood up abruptly with a "whoosh".

He stood inside the hall, rubbing his hands together and asking with a smile, "Has our Ayu woken up?"

A simple sentence brought tears to Shen Jiayu's eyes.

She quickened her pace, embraced the Duke of Zhenguo, and burst into tears.

Zhenguo patted her back soothingly, then stepped back a little, tenderly wiping away her tears: "Why are you crying? Your father is back safe and sound, isn't he?"

With red eyes, Shen Jiayu asked anxiously, "Is Father injured?"

The Duke of Zhenguo opened his arms wide to show her, "Father is doing well!"

Shen Jiayu looked him up and down and was completely relieved to see that he was indeed unharmed.

The Duke of Zhenguo, fearing she might tire herself out, helped her sit down next to the Duchess. "It's also my fault for making you worry."

Shen Jiayu shook her head with tears in her eyes: "Father is not bad."

The Duke of Zhenguo did not reveal the assassination attempt publicly.

He only mentioned one unexpected incident: he happened to encounter the fleeing Northern Qiang King and chased after him. It was the deputy general who misunderstood and delivered the wrong message.

Empress Dowager Shen scolded, "You should have explained what you were going to do to your subordinates. You rashly led troops to chase after them. The deputy general didn't know your whereabouts, so he naturally misunderstood. This also caused us in the capital to live in fear."

The Duke of Zhenguo scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and said, "It was indeed my oversight in this matter, which has caused my elder sister, my wife, and Yu'er to worry."

The Duchess gave him a disapproving look: "It's bad enough that you've made my elder sister and me worry, but don't you even consider that Yu'er is about to give birth? What if she hears this news and gets frightened?"

The Duke of Zhenguo felt quite ashamed when the matter was brought up.

It's really inexcusable that he wasn't by his daughter's side during childbirth.

"Yu'er, I'm sorry, Father."

Shen Jiayu felt truly distressed. It was she who had implicated her father, yet he apologized to her instead. This was truly unacceptable.

The father and daughter began to blame each other.

Empress Dowager Shen waved her hand and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, go and bring the little princess out so that the Duke can have a look at her."

Speaking of this, the Duke of Zhenguo was delighted, his spirits lifted, and he said with a smile, "Yes, yes, I haven't seen my little granddaughter yet, bring her here so I can see her."

Then Granny Li brought over the little dumpling.

The Duke of Zhenguo stepped forward, looking at the soft, adorable little one in swaddling clothes, somewhat at a loss.

Sometimes I hold the baby like this, sometimes I hold him like that; I don't know which way to hold him.

The Duchess couldn't bear to watch any longer and offered some guidance before the Duke of Zhenguo carefully picked him up.

The Duke of Zhenguo said with delight,

"Look, these eyes look just like our Yu'er's, they're so beautiful."

"She's not afraid of people at all, which is really endearing."

"Call him Grandfather, call him Grandfather so we can hear it..."

The saying "love me, love my dog" is perfectly embodied in the Duke of Zhenguo at this moment.