For a modern person like Zhao Xing, traveling by carriage was pure torture!

The entourage needed around ten days to travel from Fenglong Mountain to the capital. Unfortunately for them, the road was bumpy and they had to pass through several cities and forests.

Even though the prime minister’s carriage was one of the best—the cushions were soft, warm, cozy, and filled with many delicacies, Zhao Xing could still feel as if her bottom was eroding away! There was no doubt her tailbone would break as well ah!

A maid would usually walk or use another carriage when they travel with their master. However, since Zhao Xing didn’t have the heart to let the girl walk for ten days, she forced Xiao Yi to join her inside the carriage. Moreover, she needed a friend to have a chat or else she‘d die from boredom for real.

If only bullet trains were invented two thousand years earlier....

“Miss, we’ll arrive at the capital in around an hour. Do you want me to help tidy up your appearance?” Xiao Yi offered, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Xiao Yi easily became happy when she heard the news about going back to the capital. The maid innocently thought the prime minister’s heart finally softened, and how he missed the second miss. Zhao Xing, on the other hand, guessed her father must have other reasons.

At the moment, Zhao Xing was propping her head on the carriage’s window lazily whilst placing her hands inside her hand muffs. She glanced at Xiao Yi, sitting across from her and replied with a weak tone, “You can do as you wish, Xiao Yi-ah. I already have no energy to even lift a finger.”

With her master’s approval, Xiao Yi quickly did her job. She combed Zhao Xing’s long, silky hair before putting on some beautiful hairpins, and helped freshen up her face. Xiao Yi knew best her second miss was too lazy to apply makeup on her face, so she only applied some faint powder to cover her miss’ dark circles. Yes ah, dark circles!

After ten days of torture, the entourage finally entered Yecheng City’s gate. The liveliness of the capital city’s immediately greeted Zhao Xing. She slightly opened the window of her carriage and took a peek at the bustling capital.

For a moment, she was a bit stunned. It was natural for her to be slightly awestruck at how busy everyone was, and the different shops and people they passed since she’s been living in such an isolated place for a long time.

Zhao Xing took a glance at Xiao Yi, who immediately said, “Do Young Miss like it so far?”

“En... a little different than what I imagined.” She already began plotting to sneak out of the manor as soon as she can to explore the bustling streets. How could she not? This was a great place!

When they finally saw the prime minister’s manor, it was located at the elite district of Yecheng City. The place was a complex dedicated for rank one ministers, noblemen or rich merchants. In short, only the capital’s most influental families could afford to buy a mansion in these areas. The prime minister’s manor was obviously situated right at the center of the complex.

The carriage abruptly stopped in front of an imposing building. Not long after, Wu Ruyi’s magnetic voice echoed from the carriage’s window, “Xiao Xing, we have arrived!”

Zhao Xing was quite nervous. She needed some time to calm her heartbeat before finally holding Xiao Yi’s hand and descending from the carriage.

At the prime minister’s manor gates stood a woman in her early thirties. The woman’s face and figure was resembled Zhao Xing a lot. She wore a light blue dress embroidered with dark blue begonia flowers as she held a matching color handkerchief, her exquisite face filled with both excitement and anxiety. And once Zhao Xing finally got off the carriage, the woman quickly reached for the girl and held her hands tightly.

“Xing’er, my Xing’er!” Princess Chao Yang couldn’t hold back her tears.

Zhao Xing felt a little bit awkward when her hand was held by a stranger. However, when she looked at the kind and gentle appearance of the woman before her, and recognized such a warm love, she gradually melted down.

She must be her mother...

In her previous life, the girl never had the privilage to feel motherly love. Her mother lost her battle with cancer and passed away when Zhao Xing was only three years old. It was also the reason why she wanted to learn medicine. She didn’t want to lose someone she loved again.

And now that heaven had granted her a blessing, she will definitely treasure it. She might not accept this woman as her mother directly, but slowly. She would definitely treat her as the best she can.

“Xing’er greets Mother!” Zhao Xing slightly bent her knees and let out a sweet, warm smile. “Please forgive this unfilial daughter for this daughter can only pay respects to Mother right now.”

Princess Chao Yang shed her tears and returned her beloved daughter smile. It seems that Xiao Yi was right. Her daughter has changed a lot. She was more lively and healthier! That’s good, that’s really good!

“Good daughter, there’s nothing to forgive. As long as Xing’er is well, mother cannot be more happy!”

Zhao Xing’s judgment was right. Princess Chao Yang was such a good mother. She had heard from Xiao Yi her mother was just like her old self, gentle like jade and extremely kind-hearted. Princess Chao Yang was delicate, and her health deteriorated since she gave birth to Zhao Xing. However, she never mistreated her daughter even a bit. Even though she was weak, she would do anything to protect her daughter.

“Ruyi greets the princess! Wishing Her Highness a healthy and long-life!” Ruyi cupped his hand and slightly nodded his head. This action of him slightly surprised Zhao Xing. She didn’t know that Ruyi could bow his head in front of another person. Woah, the sun must have risen from the west!

Princess Chao Yang’s smile grew wider, “This Princess can finally meet Ruyi. Xing’er has told me a lot about you in the letter. This Princess should thank you for protecting Zhao Xing when this Princess is not around.”

“Ruyi’s just doing his duty, Princess doesn’t need to thank Ruyi!”

When her mother was chatting with Ruyi, Zhao Xing casted a glance to the direction of the main building of the manor. There was no one who welcomed her home other than her mother and her servants. It seemed like Prime Minister Zhao really treated her like a nobody. Concubine Yun Rong and her half-sister also belittle her ah!

Secretly, Zhao Xing sneered and bitterly thought of ways to properly discipline those worthless servants of her father. She’s a direct descendant of a royal bloodline, yet they couldn’t even spare a couple of hours to greet her? Tsk! She’ll definitely cause trouble here as soon as she gets the opportunity to!

The princess seemed to partially understand what Zhao Xing’s intentions were. Not wanting her daughter to feel dejected, she quickly explained, “Xing’er, the court is quite busy preparing the celebration. Lately, your father always comes home late. He will surely visit you later.”

“Xing’er understands, Mother doesn’t need to worry.” Zhao Xing let a smile bloom on her face as she held her mother hands, hoping she could transfer some warmth to her. “It’s cold outside, Mother’s hands are freezing. Let’s go inside and have hot tea, Mother!”

Laughing in a happy mood, Princess Chao Yang pinched Zhao Xing’s nose. “Yes, yes! Let’s go to your courtyard. Mother has instructed people to clean and re-decorate it. Xing’er will like it!”

Zhao Xing lived in Feng Yang Pavilion, located at the back of the manor before she left for her isolation. Even though the courtyard was secluded, it was quite vast and extremely beautiful.

The previous Zhao Xing loved plum blossoms and peony flower the most, so the princess instructed her servants to plant a lot of them around the courtyard. Surrounded by countless plum blossom trees which bloomed, the courtyard’s view became even more exquisite to Zhao Xing’s eyes.

Plum blossoms were also considered as the ‘friend of winter’. It represented the value of endurance. When all the flowers withered, and when the tree branches lose all their leaves in the midst of winter, the plum blossoms would still bloom. Its crimson color contrasted with the spotless snow, making the view more eye catching.

Feng Yang courtyard also had a man-made lotus pond in which a stunning, ancient pavilion proudly stood in the middle of it. When spring arrives, there’ll be dozens of lotuses floating on the water surface. Zhao Xing had a feeling the garden’s appearance in spring will be much better.

Zhao Xing was exceptionally pleased with her new home. Even though the prime minister was cold to her, at least he didn’t forget his responsibility to give her a proper housing. He, actually, still gave some face to her mother and her maternal family.