Novel Full Chapter 329: Madam, Young Master Has Returned
Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao walked on the streets of the imperial capital.
Because both their appearances were too outstanding, especially Qin Siyao who had world-toppling beauty, every passerby would stop and look, taking a few more glances.
Regarding this, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao didn’t really mind. However, Xiao Mo truly hadn’t expected that after nearly seven years apart, that little girl who was only in her early teens back then had now grown so much, blossoming into such graceful elegance.
Women change greatly at eighteen.
This saying was indeed correct.
Qin Siyao hadn’t expected either that the little boy from back then was only about as tall as her, even at the time she had been half a head taller than him but now, she was only as tall as his shoulder!
When looking at him, she even needed to raise her head.
“What’s wrong?”
Xiao Mo noticed Qin Siyao kept raising her head to look at him and asked.
“Nothing.” Qin Siyao shook her little head, “I just feel like you’ve grown so tall, Xiao Mo… I was clearly taller than you before.”
“Childhood was childhood, now is now. Naturally it’s different.” Xiao Mo said with a smile.
“Oh…” Qin Siyao nodded, not taking it to heart.
She felt Xiao Mo like this now was quite good too and in Qin Siyao’s view, although Xiao Mo was much taller than before, as a person he was still the same as before, unchanged.
The two walked and chatted along the way. Most of the time it was Qin Siyao talking about things she had encountered over these years, such as how she was made difficult by Father Emperor and Mother Empress, how she went to study music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, then came out of the palace to establish her residence.
Xiao Mo listened carefully at her side, nodding from time to time.
If Qin Siyao asked about Xiao Mo’s military life, only then would Xiao Mo respond a few sentences.
Although the two hadn’t seen each other for nearly seven years, they were still just like seven years ago—
She was always talking and he was always listening.
The only difference was that the little boy and little girl from back then had both grown into adults, reaching marriageable age.
Before long, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao returned to the Xiao Manor.
Xiao Mo brought Qin Siyao directly to the Xiao Manor’s rear courtyard.
The closer he got to the courtyard where his mother lived, the faster Xiao Mo’s footsteps became involuntarily.
At this time, Qin Siyao also stopped talking, just quietly accompanying him.
When Xiao Mo arrived at the courtyard gate where he had lived since childhood, seeing everything familiar in the courtyard, smelling that familiar food aroma, Xiao Mo’s consciousness became hazy. He felt as if he had never left this place.
A moment later, the maid Cuicui came out of the kitchen carrying dishes. When she saw a man standing outside the gate, her eyes widened slightly, looking at him curiously.
She felt this man was very familiar, but couldn’t remember who he was.
“Auntie Cui, I’m back.” Xiao Mo slowly spoke.
“Young Master? Is it really you?” Cuicui’s eyes suddenly brightened. She hurriedly called toward the kitchen, “Madam, Young Master has returned, Young Master has returned…”
As Cuicui’s words fell, a woman wiped her hands while quickly walking out from the kitchen.
Looking at his mother nearing forty, Xiao Mo stared blankly. It seemed the years hadn’t left the slightest trace on his mother’s face.
It seemed Mother was still the same as when he left, without the slightest change.
Zhou Ruoxi walked to stand before her child. Looking at the child who was taller than her, her eyes were covered with a faint layer of mist. Her small hands tightly gripped her sleeves, her gaze not leaving Xiao Mo for a moment.
As if for this mother, the child she had longed for day and night had finally returned. Everything was like a dream. Everything was so unreal.
“Mother, I’m back.” Looking at his mother, Xiao Mo slowly spoke.
“Mm.” Zhou Ruoxi nodded, tears in her eyes. Her small hand gently caressed the child’s cheek, “You’ve gotten thinner…”
“I haven’t gotten thinner.” Xiao Mo said with a smile, “It’s just that this child has grown taller, so it looks like I’ve gotten thinner.”
“Young Master, Madam guessed long ago that as soon as you returned to the city, you would come back immediately. She got up very early and prepared a welcoming banquet for you. Please come eat quickly.” Cuicui said happily.
“Alright.”
Xiao Mo responded and sat on stone benches together with his mother and Qin Siyao.
Xiao Mo ate the food his mother made. It was still the same taste as before, without any change, and didn’t need any change.
“Eat slowly. Acting as if you couldn’t eat your fill at the military camp.” Zhou Ruoxi sat to the side, constantly adding more rice to her child’s bowl.
“How could the food at the military camp be as good as what Mother makes?” Xiao Mo smiled, “Mother, why aren’t you eating?”
“I am eating.” Zhou Ruoxi served Xiao Mo a bowl of soup, “But Mother wants to watch Mo’er eat more.”
“Then this child will eat more.” Xiao Mo grinned like a little child and buried his head in eating.
An incense stick’s time later, after Xiao Mo ate and drank his fill, Zhou Ruoxi brewed a pot of tea for Xiao Mo, asking how Xiao Mo’s life in the army had been over these years.
To let his mother feel at ease, Xiao Mo naturally said it was alright, not mentioning at all how he nearly trained to death several times at the military camp, how he nearly became someone else’s military merit on the battlefield several times.
And just as Xiao Mo was reminiscing well with his mother, Eunuch Li from the palace arrived outside the courtyard.
When Eunuch Li saw Her Highness the Princess was also there, he couldn’t help but be stunned, but didn’t pay much attention. He just acted as if he didn’t see her.
“Zhou Ruoxi of the Xiao Manor, receive the imperial edict.”
Eunuch Li cleared his throat and called out in his characteristic eunuch’s voice.
“This subject wife receives the edict.” Zhou Ruoxi knelt on one knee. Xiao Mo and the others also bowed.
“The Xiao Manor’s Third Madam Zhou Ruoxi has given birth to an outstanding talent, a pillar of the nation. It is proper to bestow high honors to manifest her virtue. We specially enfeof you as a First-Rank Lady by Imperial Mandate, bestow upon you the pheasant-feathered carriage and pearl crown, allowing you to match the radiance of the vermilion writing brush. May you further uphold the model of women’s virtue, long enjoy abundant favor, forever bring glory to your family, and enjoy longevity like the Ailanthus tree.”
“Subject wife Zhou Ruoxi receives the edict.”
Zhou Ruoxi accepted the imperial edict.
“Congratulations, Madam. From now on, Madam’s status in the Xiao Manor will be equivalent to the First Madam.” Eunuch Li said with a smile.
“Thank you, Eunuch Li.” Zhou Ruoxi gave Cuicui a look.
Cuicui immediately understood, took out some gold, and secretly slipped it to Eunuch Li.
“Alright, then this servant shall return to report. Madam need not see me off. With Madam’s current status, this servant truly cannot accept such treatment.”
“Duke, take care.”
Zhou Ruoxi still insisted on seeing him off a few steps, then watched Eunuch Li leave.
Xiao Mo stood to the side, falling into contemplation.
Regarding his mother being enfeoffed as a Lady by Imperial Mandate, Xiao Mo naturally felt happy. From now on, Mother in the Xiao Manor would no longer be a concubine. Her status was equivalent to a principal wife.
And he himself was no longer a concubine-born son. However, Xiao Mo felt His Majesty seemed deliberately elevating his status, as if wanting to do something significant.
“Young Master Xiao…”
And just as Eunuch Li’s front foot left, another maid arrived at the courtyard.
“Miss, you are?” Xiao Mo asked.
“Reporting to Young Master, I am a maid from the Second Prince’s residence. The Second Prince asked me to inquire whether Young Master has time tonight. His Highness wants to host a welcoming banquet for Young Master.”