Chapter 840: The Princess Has Returned
Nanny Su, along with the two new maids assigned by Yun Jiao, entered the third courtyard.
Inside, Nanny Su looked around, noting that all the furnishings and bedding were top-notch, no less impressive than those in Marquis Wu’an Mansion in the Capital City.
It was clear that Yun Jiao genuinely cared for Qi Er.
The maid took care of Qi Er, putting him to bed early.
It was midnight when Lin Shuo returned to the courtyard. Quietly, he went to bed, lying down next to Qi Er.
The next morning, Lin Shuo woke up early intending to return to the military camp. Just as he sat up and lifted the quilt, Qi Er awoke.
Lin Shuo touched his head and said, "Dad is going to the military camp. Stay home and be good, listen to your Aunt Gu."
Lin Shuo thought Qi Er couldn’t understand him, so he said it casually, intending to get out of bed, when Qi Er suddenly nodded.
Lin Shuo was pleasantly surprised, "You understand what Dad is saying?"
Qi Er nodded again.
While lying in bed, he suddenly called softly, "Dad."
"Ah!" Lin Shuo was overwhelmed with joy; he was nearly moved to tears as he looked at Qi Er.
Qi Er seemed shy, suddenly burying his head under the quilt.
Lin Shuo pulled Qi Er out, gave him a big kiss on the cheek, "From now on, Dad will visit you every ten days."
"Grow quickly, when you’re a bit older, Dad will take you to the military camp."
Qi Er suddenly said, "Ride a big horse."
Lin Shuo laughed heartily, "Good kid, turns out you can speak, just chose not to."
"Alright, Dad’s horse is in front, Dad will take you riding now."
He called the maid to help Qi Er dress and wash. After getting ready himself, he took Qi Er to the front yard and mounted the horse with him.
Lin Shuo held the reins with one hand and hugged Qi Er with the other, dashing out from the gate of Duke Mansion, galloping freely around the street.
Qi Er giggled on the horse, and his eyes were still sparkling when they returned to Duke Mansion.
From that day on, Yun Jiao managed the three kids, copying medical texts whenever she had free time, occasionally visiting Renxin Hall to treat patients.
Life was calm and peaceful, three years passed quickly.
Qi Er was over five years old, Ruru was nearly five, and You Er was more than three.
On this day, Yun Jiao was contemplating how to start Qi Er and Ruru’s education, when Cai Ping, Duruo’s married former maid, came in saying, "Madam, I was just out and heard from people on the street that Princess Shoukang has escaped from Jin Country."
Cai Ping had lived in Huining for some time and naturally knew that those princesses were either married off as concubines, sold off, or left in the laundry court.
To escape back was extremely difficult.
Yun Jiao asked, "Has she entered the palace?"
Cai Ping shook her head, "Not yet, I heard she’s staying at the courier station now."
"The emperor hasn’t summoned her, and the entire city is discussing this. No one knows if the princess is genuine or not."
Yun Jiao thought about it, the emperor had left Dingjing early, and back then, Princess Shoukang was still young. With five years passed since Dingjing fell, it would be hard for the emperor to recognize if she is his real sister.
By evening, Jiang Youzhi returned, and Yun Jiao asked about this issue.
Jiang Youzhi said, "This woman, along with a nun, knelt in front of the palace gate early in the morning claiming to be Princess Shoukang."
"The emperor plans to summon her tomorrow."
"However, the emperor has already sent a nanny who used to serve in the palace to the courier station for a preliminary check. After returning to the palace, the nanny said she should be the real princess, resembling her former appearance."
"Did she say how she escaped all the way from Jin Country?" Yun Jiao asked curiously.