Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 818 - 761: The Grand Finale (Part 2)

He learned that the Emperor lives in the Capital and governs a country.

The father of Lixing, the little brother, is the County Magistrate and governs a county.

The County Magistrate resides in the county town.

The Emperor lives in the Imperial Palace in the Capital.

Thus, it seems that Li Jing, Guoguo, and Li Yu will go to the Imperial Palace in the Capital to live with their grandfather.

The people of the Emperor’s family are not casually seen by ordinary people, and they do not leave the palace easily.

Chai Tianlang sighed sadly, "Will you come back? Will I not see you again?"

After the adults all entered the North Courtyard Main House, several children played in the South Courtyard House under the care of Song Chunniang, two palace maids, and two eunuchs.

The four children sat in a row on a bamboo bed.

The three children of the Li Family looked unanimously at Chai Tianlang, whose face was full of sadness, his little brow furrowed, and his eyes lifelessly gazing at the other three.

Li Yu, only a year and a half old, did not quite understand what separation meant, and he said with a smile, "No, if you want to see me, just come, Brother Tianlang, it’s quick to get there by carriage."

Li Jing disagreed, "It’s not quick, I remember when I came here, I took a month’s carriage ride, that’s what aunt and uncle said."

"What does a month mean, big brother?" Li Yu shook his little short legs and imitated Chai Tianlang’s expression, furrowing his little brows and asked Li Jing.

Li Jing demonstrated by counting his fingers, "Count these three times, one finger is one day, thirty days make one month."

So, Li Yu began to count his fingers.

But the more he counted, the more confused he became, always failing to finish.

He could only count from one to ten, and beyond eleven, which numbers to arrange and how, Chai Eying had not yet taught him.

Guoguo watched anxiously and had to come and help.

Pleasing Li Yu, Guoguo said with a smile, "Brother Tianlang, we will come back to see you, in the future, we will also bring Brother Rui to see you."

Only then did Chai Tianlang smile broadly, "Okay."

.

The next day, Prefect Lou, upon receiving an urgent dispatch from the Capital, brought several other sons to the Li Family.

Mr. Lou and Prefect Lou knew the Li Family belonged to the Lu Ling Royal Mansion and that Prince Luling would ascend the throne, and the father and son were not too surprised.

Prefect Lou had long anticipated this outcome.

The most shocked were Second Young Master Lou and Third Young Master Lou.

Because they had always assumed the Li Family were merely commoners fleeing from the Capital, struggling for a livelihood, and upon hearing that the Li family head was now the Emperor and previously Prince Luling, they were stunned for half a day before coming to their senses.

The two secretly sighed in relief, glad they hadn’t disrespected Li Yu En, or their lives would have been at risk!

The father and son entered the Li Family, seeing the dressed-up Li Family members, all with solemn looks, greeted and paid respects, fearing any mistakes.

"Not knowing that our relatives hold Imperial Family status is truly a sin." Prefect Lou self-reproachfully said.

Wei Family smiled, "To tell the truth, we concealed it from your family first, so where is your fault? Do not feel guilty. You are a third-rank family, and initially did not despise the plain-clothed Second Princess but instead married her with full propriety. The Emperor and I should be grateful to your family."

Prefect Lou promptly and humbly said, "The Empress speaks too highly, this humble servant is deeply fearful."

In his heart, he secretly celebrated, fortunate that he arranged a grand wedding for Li Yu En at that time.

If he had disrespected Li Yu En at that time, Empress Wei would not be speaking cheerfully with him now, and he might not have kept his official hat.

.

After resting for two days, accompanied by the send-off from Prefect Lou, his sons, County Magistrate Li, his sons, and Chai Dalang’s family, Li Xingmao took Wei Family and Chai Eying with their children, and traveled to the Capital by carriage.

Prefect Lou anticipated Wei Family’s reluctance to see Li Yu En marry far away and suggested that Lou Chengye also join the journey north.

The guards accompanied the convoy front and rear.

Passing through Taohua River Village, along the road, villagers came out to watch.

People in the village would not say auspicious or pleasant words.

Everyone stood at the entrance of the road like sending off relatives on a long journey, waving at them.

Some held wine from home, some carried teapots, and some had fruits and treats.

They knew that the Li Family, now, would not regard their items, but this was their way of hospitality, sending off honorable guests on a journey, they would take out the best food from their homes to see them off.

Li Xingmao nodded frequently to them and waved in greeting.

In his heart, he thought if there was a chance, he would return.

The three children felt sad, they had mingled with the village children daily.

Now they were to separate, not knowing when they would meet again, the three children leaned out of the carriage window looking outside, and the village children, upon seeing them, called their names aloud.

Li Jing cried sorrowfully.

But he must go, he couldn’t decide to stay.

Guoguo also loathed leaving here, but she hadn’t returned home for so long, she wanted to return home first to see.

The youngest, Li Yu, did not know the meaning of separation and reunion.

When his siblings laughed, he laughed, when they cried, he also pouted.

Chai Eying held the three children in her arms, filled with emotions.

.

When Li Xingmao returned to the village, he traveled lightly, reaching in ten days.

But this time, with three children and Li Yu En pregnant, the journey was slow.

After forty days, they arrived at the Capital.

At the end of October in the Capital, the north wind howled, and the weather was cold.

The Capital had vast open spaces and sparse trees, wherever one went outside felt cold, with no place to hide.

Though there was no snow and the sun shone brightly, it felt lacking warmth.

Raised in the south, Chai Eying felt somewhat out of place seeing such a Capital.

But she knew she should follow her husband upon marriage, and despite the discomfort, she did her best to adapt.

.

The carriage convoy drove directly to the front of the Imperial Palace, where eunuchs who received prior notice, along with a group of eunuchs and palace maids, waited to welcome them at the palace gates.

Besides, there were also some ministers and noblewomen from court.

Seeing Wei Family, Li Xingmao, and Chai Eying alight from the carriage, they all knelt down.

"Welcome the Empress, His Highness the Eldest Prince, and Crown Prince Consort back to the palace."

Wei Family naturally raised her hand slightly towards them, "Please rise."

"Thank you, Empress."

Wei Family looked at familiar faces, her lips curled into a faint smile.

How many among these people truly welcomed her back?

Yet, she returned!

The welcoming individuals noticed little change in Wei Family compared to before, still dignified and noble as a woman of the Imperial Family.

Which was expected, since Prince Luling father and son showed no major changes, what could change in Wei Family?

Finding no surprises in Wei Family, they turned their attention to Chai Eying.

People observed this Crown Prince Consort, married by the Li Family from the countryside of Zhen An Prefecture.

Some were puzzled and surprised, while others were contemptuous and dismissive.