Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 89 Chunyu Family

"Yes, but you won't be gone for long. You should stay in the palace obediently during this time. His Majesty is a very good person and will protect you. You must also be obedient. After all, the palace is not like our own home, and there are many rules. But don't worry, with His Majesty here, no one will provoke you."

"...That's it."

Although Ying Yuandao and the others trusted Jiu Que's words, there were different times. For example, right now, Lord Ying was not in the capital, and they were going to the legendary imperial palace, so they felt uneasy. But since their lord was about to depart, they couldn't let him worry about them before he left, could they?

So, although the little ones were uneasy, they didn't show it, being a bit too mature. Seeing them like this, Jiu Que felt bad, but she wasn't going out for fun this time, but had a mission, so it wasn't appropriate to take them with her. Besides, no one could be sure what the situation was like in Quanzhou. What if there was danger? The children were still too young to protect themselves.

"Well, how about this? When you're all grown up and can take care of yourselves, I'll take you traveling. The world is so big, with all sorts of places, and every place has its own unique scenery. We can travel all over the world together then, okay?"

"real?!"

Ying Yuandao and the other children were incredibly excited. Children always yearn for distant places, and upon hearing that they could travel the world with their most respected Master Ying, they couldn't contain their smiles. After repeatedly asking and receiving an affirmative answer, they beamed with joy.

With such a big pie hanging in front of them, the children finally didn't feel lonely anymore.

After receiving a secret audience and appointment from His Majesty, Chunyu Shuang and the others all returned to prepare. After leaving the palace and thinking it over carefully, Chunyu Shuang headed towards Guihua Alley.

In fact, she was very familiar with the entire city of Beijing, but the path to Guihua Hutong felt so unfamiliar and difficult. However, no matter how slowly she walked, the road eventually came to an end. When she saw the familiar neighbors at the entrance of the hutong, Chunyu Shuang forced herself to smile.

The neighbors were both surprised and delighted to see her return, after all, she was an official who had come from their very alley. Even if she was a young woman, she was still a respectable official. They warmly and politely came over to greet her. Gradually, more and more people gathered, almost surrounding Chunyu Shuang, but she didn't feel displeased at all; on the contrary, she felt genuinely relieved.

She still preferred talking to her neighbors, but just as everyone was catching up, a puzzled female voice rang out, causing Chunyu Shuang's entire body to stiffen.

"Shuang'er? You're back?!"

Chunyu Shuang remained silent for a moment, took a deep breath, turned around, and showed a standard smile.

"mother."

A middle-aged woman squeezed through the crowd. She was dressed more elegantly than her neighbors, but perhaps due to overwork, she looked older than her actual age. Upon seeing Chunyu Shuang in her official robes, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She then gently stepped forward and led Chunyu Shuang back.

Chunyu Shuang let her tug at her sleeve, the middle-aged woman's soft, rambling voice ringing in her ears, from everyday matters to news about the neighbors. Her manner was so familiar, as if Chunyu Shuang had never left home.

Because of her attitude, Chunyu Shuang's stiff body relaxed slightly, but her back involuntarily straightened as she stepped through the wooden gate of the small courtyard. A person was lazily sunbathing on a wicker chair in the courtyard. "You're back? Why were you gone for so long… You rebellious daughter! You still have the nerve to come back! Who let you back? Get out!"

The man was around forty or fifty years old. The first half of his sentence was clearly addressed to Chunyu Shuang's mother, while the second half came after he saw Chunyu Shuang standing behind the middle-aged woman. His originally gentle tone suddenly became intense.

The man stood up from his chair, waving his arms wildly, as if he had seen his greatest enemy. This wasn't seeing his daughter; it was seeing his father's killer!
Chunyu Shuang's already stiff back straightened even more. She glanced quietly at her father without saying a word, while the middle-aged woman standing in front of her whispered words of comfort.

"Alright, alright, sir, the child has finally come back, so please don't be angry. Even if Shuang'er isn't good, she's still your daughter. How can a father and daughter hold a grudge overnight?"

"you?!"

The middle-aged scholar-looking man pointed a finger at his wife, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.

"Isn't it all your fault for spoiling her?! If you hadn't pampered her, would she have grown into this disgraceful figure? A woman, not only showing her face in public, but also insisting on going to a gloomy place like the Ministry of Justice. She's already twenty-five this year and still hasn't found someone to marry. Look at our neighbors, which family's daughter is like her? I've completely lost face! Why don't I go out and talk, drink tea, and play chess with Old Yu and the others? It's because I feel ashamed. Their daughters have two eight-year-old children, doting on them, living a very comfortable life! And her? She hasn't even found a husband. If she continues like this, what man would even look at her?"

“Women are different from men. After they turn eighteen, it’s very difficult for them to find a better man of the same age. I’m only telling you this because I’m a father. If this were a stranger outside, they wouldn’t care whether your daughter is married or not!”

"Alright, alright, that's enough. Our daughter has finally come back, so you, as her father, should shut up. The eldest son and the others will be back soon. Go and make a pot of good tea, and we'll have a lively family meal together later."

With Chunyu's mediation, the father and daughter finally stopped arguing before Chunyu's sons returned.

Of course, the main reason was that Chunyu Shuang hadn't said a word.

Before long, the table was laden with delicious food. A commotion arose outside, and with the sound of a door opening, three tall figures entered. Perhaps they had heard about Chunyu Shuang from their neighbors before entering the house, because the three brothers weren't surprised to see her sitting at the table; they even gave her a perfunctory greeting.

Chunyu Shuang's mother had just finished preparing a delicious meal after a busy morning. She didn't let Chunyu Shuang help, since she was still wearing her official robes. Now that everyone had arrived, she warmly invited everyone to eat together.

However, Chunyu Hong glanced at his daughter, who was sitting motionless beside the table, and couldn't help but frown, habitually giving her a lecture.

"Your mother has been busy all day, and you didn't even lend a hand. Is this how you act as a daughter? Have you forgotten the principles of loyalty and filial piety so quickly?!"

(End of this chapter)