Chapter 712: Chapter 702: Extra 2: Everyone Loves Tang Zhaozhao (Part 3) (6,000 Words)

Pei Shu’er stopped talking, and Tang Zan leaned in closer.

"What, is the Empress Dowager thinking about something else?"

Pei Shu’er glared at Tang Zan and snorted coldly, "No, what I’m thinking about is naturally a surprise."

The smile on Tang Zan’s face widened.

"Pei Shu’er, I’ve noticed you’re becoming less serious now."

Pei Shu’er rolled her eyes, her peach blossom eyes glanced sideways at Tang Zan, containing both authority and a bit of charm.

"Tang Zan, think carefully before you speak."

Tang Zan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his voice turned husky.

"Yes, Empress Dowager."

Tang Zhaozhao was happy seeing her mother and father so affectionate, yet she felt a tinge of envy.

Her parents had been married so many years without ever arguing, at most they bickered playfully, with her father mostly teasing her mother.

Moreover, on ordinary days, if there was anything good, her father would think of her mother first, not the children.

Sometimes, her mother would mention something casually, and her father would remember, then surprise her mother unexpectedly.

Throughout, they only had each other.

A true lifelong, exclusive partnership.

She often set her standards for love based on her parents, only to find most men nowadays had multiple wives and concubines, with mistresses outside.

And some high-status women would also keep male companions, which inevitably disappointed her.

Indeed, the love her parents shared was rare.

The Grand Empress Dowager and Supreme Emperor were just the two of them without concubines, but that was not the case when they were young.

While she was pondering, she felt someone grab her hand.

It was Chu Mu.

Chu Mu’s eyes were gentle, "The love you want, I can give you."

Tang Zhaozhao blushed, and when she felt others looking, she quickly pulled her hand back.

"I..."

She had to admit her heart skipped a beat because of those words.

Throughout the banquet, she said little, until midway through, Pei Shu’er called her over.

Tang Zhaozhao had many things she wanted to share with her mother and happily gathered her skirt to sit beside her.

Pei Shu’er smiled, "On the journey, did you encounter anything fun to tell mother?"

Pei Shu’er’s tone was gentle, making Tang Zhaozhao eager to share endlessly.

"On this journey, I did see many fun things. I also met many chivalrous people along the way, who were quite kind to me."

Pei Shu’er asked, "Did anything dangerous happen on the journey?"

Since childhood, Tang Zhaozhao felt her relationship with her mother was more like friends, as her mother never imposed on her, and supported whatever she did, as long as it wasn’t harmful.

Therefore, she didn’t feel the need to hide anything from her mother.

"I did encounter some trouble; a few times I was kidnapped by mountain bandits, but Chu Mu saved me each time."

"Mother, you don’t know, Chu Mu is really clever. Fortunately, with him by my side, I could turn dangers into safety, and it’s also because of him there were fewer bandits along the way."

Pei Shu’er glanced at Chu Mu again, and he bowed.

Pei Shu’er smiled, "Bringing him to the family banquet, do you have any thoughts about him?"

Chu Mu blushed and quickly shook his head, "No, we were just travel companions. I’m afraid he’d be uncomfortable if left alone in the Imperial Palace."

Pei Shu’er said, "I heard his legs are crippled, unable to stand?"

At this, Tang Zhaozhao immediately bowed deeply.

"Mother, I know your medical skills are excellent, can you heal his legs?"

Seeing Tang Zhaozhao being so earnest, Pei Shu’er became serious too.

"Why does mother need to save him?"

Her gaze was steady as she looked at Tang Zhaozhao’s eyes, seemingly trying to see something different through them.

Tang Zhaozhao said, "I... because he saved me."

Chu Mu said, "Princess has also saved me."

Pei Shu’er laughed, finding the two quite amusing.

"Chu Mu, come over to me."

As he approached, Chu Mu showed some surprise on his face.

He had always assumed Pei Shu’er appeared youthful because he couldn’t see the fine lines from a distance, but upon nearing her, he realized there were truly no fine lines on her face.

Her skin was as smooth as a young girl’s.