Madam Gong had just finished asking when Gong Xiaohua saw a group of people walking out from the room. Among them were two elderly people walking towards her with the help of youngsters. They should be her grandpa and grandma.
She had received letters from home when she was at the border, saying that money was spent to buy a house for her eldest cousin and her family from their hometown had all been brought over.
"Grandpa, grandma, uncle, aunt..." Gong Xiaohua greeted them one by one with Qin Chuyuan following closely behind.
"Good good, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!" The two elders said happily.
"Let's not stand in the yard, come inside to talk." Dad Gong said.
The group of people started walking towards the room again.
"Xiaohua, did you two just come out of the palace or from the Qin house?" Dad Gong asked.
"Just came from the palace. Why would we go to the Qin house first?" Gong Xiaohua wondered why both dad and mom asked about going back to the Qin house.
Madam Gong: My silly daughter, how could you ask that? Master is still here.
"Child, you're already married. Just came back from outstation. Your mother-in-law must be waiting at home to welcome you back. Rest for a while, then go back with Master later. You can always come over when you're free, it's not too late." Madam Gong said caringly.
If her delicate mother-in-law knew that her daughter went to the Gongs first instead, there would surely be endless nagging.
"My mother-in-law is going to welcome me back?" Gong Xiaohua signalled Qin Chuyuan with a look that only both could understand.
Unfortunately Qin Chuyuan ignored her gesture and said plainly, "That's right. Father, mother and sister-in-law are all waiting for you at home."
Gong Xiaohua: You were serious about it?
And upon hearing so, Madam Gong urged, "Then hurry back, don't rest anymore."
"Sis has barely come back." Gong Xiaonan complained while sitting beside Gong Xiaohua.
"Mom, it's alright to go back a bit later. Don't you think so, husband?" Gong Xiaohua emphasized the word "husband" and said it word for word to Qin Chuyuan.
Receiving threats from the other party, Qin Chuyuan quickly changed his words, "Mom, it's not urgent. Xiaohua came back with difficulty. It makes sense that she wants to let all of you know she's safe first."
"That's good then. Flower, tell us more about what happened when you were outstation."
Madam Gong could flip her face faster than flipping books.
Gong Xiaohua: Mom, have you been seized by him?
After Gong Xiaohua briefly told her family what happened on the battlefield, everyone went silent, especially upon hearing that Ye Country had suffered 170 thousand casualties.
"Sigh...the battlefield has taken so many innocent lives and destroyed so many families. I only wish there will be everlasting peace in the world without any more wars," someone said.
"Who doesn't think so? Flower, you won't go out anymore this time round right?"
"Probably no in the near future."
"That's good. By the way, what general did His Majesty confer you in this triumphant return?"
"Fourth-rank General Guangwei."
"Fourth-rank? Not bad. You all have to work hard too, learn more from your sis."
"Yes, dad, uncle."
"Xiaonan, let me take a look at your leg."
"Yes sis."
Gong Xiaohua squatted in front of Gong Xiaonan and started examining her leg.
The rest of the Gong family waited anxiously at the side.
"How is it? Can it still be cured?"
"Hmm...still alright. I came back just in time. The bones haven't fused together yet. I'll go find my disciple tomorrow to see if the tools are ready, then prepare some other stuff. Should be able to operate on you after a few days."
"Really? That's so great, thank you sis!"
"Why be polite with me?"
"It's getting late, you two go back early to avoid the Qins waiting anxiously." Madam Gong said.
"Then I'll put down my luggage first and make a trip to the Qins', then come back here to gather with all of you this afternoon."
Before anyone could stop her, Gong Xiaohua had strode towards her own room in big steps.
Yet when she pushed open the door, apart from a bed, the room was empty.
Thinking that she might have gotten the wrong room, she went out again to double confirm.
Madam Gong who followed behind embarrassingly explained, "Xiaohua, I packed up all your stuff last time and let Master bring everything back to the Qin house. You can only live in the Qin house now."
Gong Xiaohua???
"Qin Chuyuan, this was your idea again right? You planned all this?" Gong Xiaohua gnashed her teeth at Qin Chuyuan standing behind Madam Gong.
"It wasn't his idea but mine." Madam Gong quickly defended her son-in-law, afraid that the couple would fall out.
Seeing that Qin Chuyuan kept quiet while her own mother strongly shielded him, Gong Xiaohua gave in helplessly, "You two really know how to fix me."
Before leaving, Madam Gong pulled her daughter to the side and instructed her alone, "Don't simply say everything in front of your husband, it will spoil the harmony between you two. Now that you're a general in the city, spend more time to keep an eye on your husband. He's good looking, has power and money. It's unavoidable that those vixens will be eager to pounce on him."
"It would be good if they could pounce on him. Less scheming against me." Gong Xiaohua mumbled softly.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. I'll take my leave."
Looking at the fading figure of Gong Xiaohua, Madam Gong sighed with great feelings: When a daughter grows up, she's no longer under mother's control.
The two arrived at the Qin residence before noon.
Servants were already waiting outside the main entrance of the Qins. Seeing Master and Mistress coming back, they rushed in to report.
"Fifth Young Master, Fifth Young Mistress is back."
Gong Xiaohua seldom came to the Qins. And during those few times due to her low status then, she was chased away.
Yet now, her identity took a huge turn. She's actually entering as the Fifth Young Mistress of the Qins. She had become one of the masters of this magnificent residence. It's hard to tell if it's a good or bad thing.
Both of them came to Fuyun Courtyard where Qin Chuyuan's parents resided. The hall was already filled with people now.
Once they stepped into the hall, maids placed two cushions in the middle.
Gong Xiaohua followed behind Qin Chuyuan and bowed to the people in the hall, "Greetings father, mother."
"Xiaohua, since you married into our Qins, the elders have yet to receive tea from their junior. Take this opportunity today since everyone's here to complete this tea serving custom." Third Madam Qin said.
The sudden situation caught Gong Xiaohua unprepared. She looked to Qin Chuyuan silently asking: Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? Isn't this a bit overrated?
Qin Chuyuan leaned closer and whispered into Gong Xiaohua's ear, "Don't worry, I've prepared everything in advance. You just have to serve tea. We have to put on an act thoroughly."
In the eyes of onlookers, the affection between these two ran deep.
With Qin Shi not around, everyone else in the Qin family was present. After finishing serving everyone tea, Gong Xiaohua managed to recognise all their faces.
She really had to admire her own brain's astounding memory power. It's difficult for her to forget anything even if she wanted to.
Outwardly, the family had a harmonious reunion meal before the day ended peacefully. Mainly because Qin Chuyuan was around, no one dared make trouble overtly with Gong Xiaohua.
From then on, Gong Xiaohua formally moved into the Qin residence. Of course when it was deep into the night, one slept on the bed while the other slept on the couch.
