The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

A few days later, the carriage did not drive directly into the imperial city, but stopped in front of a deserted mansion in Wuyi Lane in the capital.

This is the Yun Mansion.

The entire Yun family, numbering several dozen, had already received the message and were now dressed in plain clothes, kneeling tremblingly outside the mansion gate to welcome them.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Shen Wangxi stepped out first. He was dressed in plain white clothes, but his imposing presence was still undeniable.

He didn't look at the people kneeling on the ground, but turned around and helped Shen Qingruo out of the car.

In her arms, she held a memorial tablet covered with brocade.

"This humble subject kowtows to Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty! Kowtows to Consort Zhao, long live Consort Zhao!" The middle-aged man kneeling at the front led his family in kowtowing.

He is Yun Wan's older brother, Yun Jin.

Since Yun Wenhan left the capital with Wei Zheng, he has become the current head of the Yun family.

Shen Wangxi gave a faint "hmm" and didn't say anything more.

Shen Qingruo's gaze fell on Yun Jin. Holding the memorial tablet, she took two steps forward and asked softly, "Are you my uncle?"

Yun Jin raised her head and looked at the beautiful face in front of her that resembled her younger sister Yun Wan. Her gaze then fell on the memorial tablet in Yun Wan's arms, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"Yes." Yun Jin choked up, looking at the memorial tablet. She never expected that her charming younger sister from back then would be gone forever.

"Uncle, please rise," Shen Qingruo said softly. "Mother misses home very much."

Yun Jin nodded and led everyone to stand up and make way: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please come in."

Shen Wangxi led Shen Qingruo into the main hall of the Yun family mansion. The hall was elegantly decorated, but it revealed the poverty of the family's decline.

The Imperial Guards silently spread out all around, their chilling aura making the Yun family members dare not even breathe, standing with their heads bowed in reverence.

Shen Qingruo then said to Yun Jin, "Uncle, I would like to first enshrine Mother in the ancestral hall."

"Yes, yes, Your Highness, please follow me." Yun Jin quickly led the way.

Shen Wangxi did not follow, but watched as she carried the memorial tablet and, led by her uncle, walked towards the ancestral hall at the back.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The Yun family members dared not raise their heads to see the emperor; they all held their breath, their inner robes soaked with cold sweat.

Just then, Shen Wangxi's gaze was drawn to a little boy in the corner.

The child was about four or five years old, wearing a slightly worn brocade jacket. His big, dark eyes were curiously looking at him, unlike the fear and avoidance of the others.

Shen Wangxi raised an eyebrow and waved to the child.

The little boy paused for a moment, glanced at his mother who was pale with nervousness beside him, and then at Shen Wangxi. He wasn't afraid at all, and took his short legs and walked over.

The woman beside him, Yun Jin's wife, Liu, was terrified. She wanted to pull her son back but dared not, and could only anxiously whisper, "Rui'er, don't be rude!"

The little boy named Yunrui had already walked up to Shen Wangxi, tilted his head back, and greeted him in a childish voice, "Your Majesty, how are you?"

Looking into the child's clear and fearless eyes, Shen Wangxi became quite interested.

He leaned down slightly, looking at the little one: "Aren't you afraid of me?"

Yunrui blinked her big eyes and shook her head: "Grandfather said that a gentleman is open and honest. I haven't done anything wrong, so why should I be afraid?"

Shen Wangxi found this interesting.

The Yun family is now in decline, and it's rare to find a promising young man with such courage. If A'Ruo has a prince in the future, she can be his study companion.

"What's your name?" he asked, his tone softening.

"My name is Yunrui," the little boy said in a calm and respectful voice.

How old are you?

"Four and a half years old."

Looking at his clever expression, Shen Wangxi asked again, "Have you started learning? Can you read?"

"I recognize some of them. My father taught me the Thousand Character Classic, and I can already recite many of the first few lines." Yunrui puffed out her little chest, quite proud.

At this moment, Shen Qingruo and Yun Jin returned from the ancestral hall.

Her eyes were slightly red, clearly she had been crying.

As Shen Qingruo approached, she saw Shen Wangxi talking to a tiny child who barely reached her knees.

A young woman standing nearby was pale and so nervous she could barely stand.

Upon seeing this scene, Yun Jin's heart leaped into her throat, fearing that her young son might offend the Empress Dowager out of ignorance. She quickly stepped forward to apologize.

Shen Wangxi had already stood up and said to Yun Rui indifferently, "Go back to your mother's place."

Yunrui even bowed respectfully in a similar manner before running back to the woman's side, where his mother hugged him tightly.

Looking at the child's clever appearance, Shen Qingruo felt curious and softly asked Yun Jin, "Uncle, who is this child...?"

A look of embarrassment crossed Yun Jin's face, and she quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, this is my youngest son, named Yun Rui, who is four and a half years old."

He said awkwardly, "I had a son late in life and neglected to discipline him. He has offended Your Majesty and Your Majesty. Please forgive me."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingruo's eyes flashed with surprise. So it was her cousin?

Looking at the tiny baby who wasn't even as tall as her own legs, she couldn't help but find it amusing.

Shen Qingruo took a few steps closer, squatted down slightly in front of Yun Rui, and looked him in the eye.

"Your name is Yunrui?" Her voice was already soft, but now it was deliberately softened, making it even more pleasant to listen to.

Yunrui peeked her little head out from her mother's arms, looked at the pretty older sister, and nodded: "Mmm."

"Weren't you afraid of His Majesty just now?" Shen Qingruo asked him, tilting her head with curiosity.

Yunrui blinked her big eyes and whispered, "I'm a little scared, but I have to answer His Majesty's questions."

He paused, then added, "And His Majesty is handsome."

Children speak without thinking, and these words inexplicably eased the atmosphere around them.

The young Lady Yun, Liu, was both amused and exasperated, and gently patted her son's back.

Shen Qingruo was amused and reached out to pat his head.

Shen Wangxi watched quietly from the side, without making a sound to disturb them.

Only when Shen Qingruo looked at him did he step forward, take her hand, and say to Yun Jin, "It's getting late, the Imperial Concubine and I should return to the palace."

"Furthermore, now that Yun Wan has returned to her clan, she should be well taken care of. If the Yun family has any matters to attend to, they can submit a petition to the palace to request an audience with the Imperial Concubine."

These words, though seemingly casual, are no less effective than a protective charm.

"Yes, yes, this humble subject respectfully sees off Your Majesty and Your Highness!" Yun Jin led her entire family to kneel on the ground once again.

Shen Wangxi said no more, and led Shen Qingruo away from the Yun residence, surrounded by a group of imperial guards.

Only after the imperial procession had gone far away did the Yun family dare to truly breathe a sigh of relief.

Looking at the direction in which her sister's memorial tablet was placed, and recalling the different way His Majesty had treated Rui'er earlier, Yun Jin was filled with mixed emotions.

Perhaps, the Yun family still has hope of reviving.