Su Qian handed Su Yue's horse to a servant beside him, and immediately a few servants came forward carrying a sedan chair.
"Sister, get on the sedan chair, there is still some distance to go."
Su Yue was a bit taken aback, but did not object. She knew that in the capital, she would not have the same freedom as in the mountains, but she was willing to adapt to the local customs, as long as no one came to bother her.
Su Qian continued to ride his horse, following her and introducing her to the customs and people of the capital. Although Su Yue's mind was not really on it.
Soon, they arrived at the street where the Mansion of the Zhenguo General was located. From a distance, Su Yue saw the imposing plaque of the "Mansion of the Zhenguo General", with two majestic stone lions standing guard on either side of the main gate.
At this time, a crowd had gathered at the entrance, with an old woman in elegant attire at the very front - this was Lady Zhang, the wife of the Zhenguo General.
Su Yue stared at her intently. Although her hair was completely white, her face was well-preserved, looking no more than fifty years old. She seemed to have poor eyesight, as she was squinting to look in their direction. Then, as if unsure, she took a few more steps forward. By her side was a middle-aged beautiful woman constantly supporting her - this was Lady Liu, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Su family.
Lady Zhang waved her hand, signaling for Lady Liu to let go. Su Yue knew this was her maternal grandmother. She got off the sedan chair and just stood there, not approaching. Su Qian next to her did not urge her forward either.
Watching the old woman slowly come forward, Su Yue finally couldn't hold back. She stepped forward and supported the old woman. Before she could say anything, her eyes were already brimming with tears, and her voice slightly hoarse as she called out, "Grandmother."
"You... are you Yue'er?" The old woman looked at her intently, as if verifying something.
"Yes, I am Yue'er." Su Yue let the old woman look at her.
"Your eyes are like clouds, and your eyebrows are just like hers." She reached out and gently touched Su Yue's cheek, then quickly withdrew her hand, as if afraid of hurting her.
Su Yue quickly caught her hand, "See, I am Yue'er, you can touch me."
Lady Zhang just stood there, stunned, gently stroking her face, her eyes reddening as tears quickly began to fall. "It's... it's her, my granddaughter." She then covered her face and wept.
"Grandmother, don't cry." Su Yue looked at the old woman in her arms, not knowing how to console her, only clumsily wiping her tears, feeling a bittersweet ache in her heart. "Don't cry, please don't cry..."
The people behind them also had reddened eyes. It was Su Qian who spoke up, "Grandmother, you mustn't do this, you'll frighten Sister. I know Sister looks similar to our late Aunt, which is why Grandfather was so insistent on accepting this granddaughter, but on your first meeting, this is too much for Sister to bear."
Lady Liu also sensed the impropriety, and stepped forward, "Mother, let's have Yue'er come into the mansion first. Yue'er must be exhausted from the journey."
"Yes, yes, it's this old woman's fault, not being nimble-minded anymore. Yue'er, you must be tired. Come, let's go inside the mansion." She then took Su Yue's hand and walked into the Mansion of the Zhenguo General, the others clearing a path for them.
Su Qian had already briefed everyone earlier that the General, in his grief over the loss of his daughter, had come across a girl on the border whose resemblance to the late Princess was uncanny, and had taken her in as his granddaughter, naming her Su Yue. Of course, this was the public story. Those within the family knew Su Yue's true identity.
Once they were in the inner courtyard, Lady Liu dismissed the servants, leaving only a few maids and Lady Zhang's personal maid, Liu Mama.
"Yue'er, sit here next to your grandmother. You must be tired from the journey and hungry. Liu Mama, have someone bring some food."
"Yes, Madam."
"Mother, you shouldn't be so eager. At least let us get to know Yue'er a bit." Lady Liu smiled, "Yue'er, I am your eldest aunt, and these are your second and third aunts."
She gestured to the two beautiful women beside her - Lady Li, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, a refined and graceful lady of a prominent family, and Lady Lin, the daughter of the Grand Preceptor, from a scholarly household, gentle and magnanimous.
"Eldest Aunt, Second Aunt, Third Aunt, it's nice to meet you." Su Yue greeted them one by one.
"Oh my, what a good child. As soon as I saw you, I took a liking to you," Lady Li said warmly, her enthusiasm evident, even though Su Yue was still dressed as a man.
"Yes, our Yue'er is so beautiful. Look at this skin, so smooth and supple. You've just returned from the border, yet you're still so lovely." Lady Lin affectionately held Su Yue's hand.
"It's a pity your second uncle was also summoned to the palace today, otherwise he would be so delighted to see such a beautiful niece."
"Alright, alright, you three don't hog her from me. Yue'er, come sit by your grandmother." The old Madam was impatient, not wanting to share Su Yue.
"Look at her, our old Madam is getting jealous." Lady Liu covered her mouth, teasing.
"Enough, you rascal. How dare you mock your elders in front of Yue'er. Should I have your eldest sister-in-law cook for me for a month as punishment?"
"Yes, yes, make the eldest sister-in-law cook for you."
The sisters-in-law joked with each other.
"You two are no better, punishing your eldest sister-in-law, is that punishing her or punishing me?" The old Madam scolded them, but her eyes were full of laughter.
"Mother, you're laughing at me too."
Lady Liu had been managing the household for the past ten years since her marriage into the Mansion of the Zhenguo General. She was able to handle all affairs with ease and composure, except for one thing - she was hopeless at cooking, to the point of being a disaster in the kitchen.
Su Yue watched the banter between the mother-in-law and daughters-in-law, feeling quite happy. In a large family, there were often many hidden conflicts and unspeakable matters, but to see such harmony between the mother-in-law and daughters-in-law was truly rare.
"Alright, you all stop fooling around. Yue'er, tell your grandmother how you've been these past years."
Su Qian was dissatisfied at being forgotten, "Grandmother, I already told you about it when I returned."
"What you told and what Yue'er tells won't be the same. Come, come, shoo, don't obstruct us."
Su Yue looked at Su Qian's helpless expression, finding it rather amusing. "Grandmother, I've been living in the mountains with my master and senior brothers all these years. This is the first time I've come down the mountain. Life in the mountains is quite boring, just practicing martial arts and studying medicine. Our master often shuts himself in seclusion, and my eldest, second, and third senior brothers have all left the mountain one after another. Only I, my master, and fourth senior brother remain, oh, and Big White..."
They chatted on until the afternoon, the atmosphere very harmonious.
The old Madam looked at Su Yue, her expression a little guilty. "Yue'er, your grandmother has a request."
"Grandmother, just say it. I'll agree to whatever I can do."
"Grandmother would like to see your birthmark, if that's alright? Of course, Grandmother isn't doubting you, it's just that..." The old Madam's eyes reddened.
"Grandmother, don't feel bad. I understand." Su Yue said, then turned around and pulled down the collar of her garment, revealing the faint red butterfly birthmark on her right shoulder.
