"Ancestors, the master has returned! The master has returned..."
In the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion, Shen Nijing had just taken her seat after washing her hands, with a few delicious breakfast dishes laid out on the table. Just as she lifted her chopsticks, a loud shout suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
"Clatter--"
Shen Nijing's hand shook, with the jade chopstick holder hitting the table heavily.
"Qingyue, what are they shouting outside?" Her expression was stunned, as if she dared not believe it.
"I... I did not hear clearly, I need to go out and check..."
How could she not hear such a loud cry?
She just didn't dare to believe it.
Shen Nijing could not suppress the excitement surging in her heart, and abruptly rose, startling Qingyue, who was about to go out.
"Young Mistress..."
"I... I'll go and see for myself..."
Cheng Anyun, her husband who was said to have "died on the battlefield" six years ago, has he truly come back to life?
As she spoke, she rushed out the door hastily, the maids scrambling to follow after.
"Miss, Miss, slow down, be careful not to trip..."
This was the first time they had seen the always dignified and well-mannered Shen Nijing so flustered, which left them somewhat at a loss.
Shen Ni's eyes were red as she left the shouts of the maids behind her, with only one voice echoing in her mind.
"Her husband has returned, he's come back alive..."
When she rushed all the way to the archway, the boundary between the front yard and the back house, she suddenly stopped, covering her chest to soothe her rapidly beating heart.
What if... it was all a false celebration, the servants had mistaken someone else for him, then what?
As this thought flickered in her mind, her heart ached.
She had been guarding this empty house for a full six years, living in seclusion, spending her days with only a memorial tablet for company. She always acted strong in front of others, never revealing her inner bitterness.
No one knew that every day, she prayed for him, that he was still alive, that he would return safely...
But such hope and prayer, after all, gradually wore out in her six years of widowhood, leaving only a numb body to pass the remaining days.
Could Heaven really grant her wish this time?
Just as Shen Ni was in a daze, a large group of people rushed over from the walkway, led by Old Lady Cheng.
"Qi'er, Qi'er... he's finally back!"
The old lady Cheng's excited cry came mixed with a touch of sadness, making Shen Ni's eyes well up, and she immediately went to greet her.
"Ni'er, Qi'er has come back, he's come back."
Mother Cheng, who was beside Old Lady Cheng, grabbed Shen Ni's wrist tightly as soon as she saw her, her face full of excited tears.
"Mother..."
"Grandmother! Mother!"
Shen Ni was just about to console them when she was interrupted by a clear voice, as refreshing as a moon-lit night.
"Qi'er, Qi'er!"
Mother Cheng rushed out like an arrow, causing Shen Ni's grip to loosen, standing frozen on the spot.
It's... truly him...
He really came back...
With tear-filled eyes, Shen Ni turned around to see the man being tightly embraced by Mother Cheng in the distance, her tears rolled down like pearls off a broken string.
The man had a tall and slender figure, a brow as sharp as a sword, and was as gentle as jade just like when he left six years ago. But after all, he was older now, and no longer held the youthful bashfulness, carrying more maturity and steadiness.
The man before her was resolute and cold, like a sharp blade that had withdrawn its cutting edge, hidden in the scabbard, ready to strike at any moment.
"Qi'er, is it really my Qi'er, good, good, good!"
Lady Cheng was full of old tears, repeatedly exclaiming joy, with a face full of gratification.
The man knelt before the old lady, "Unfilial grandson greets his grandmother."
“It's good to be back, it's good to be back...” Lady Cheng, trembling, helped him up, her eyes full of concern. "You must have suffered a lot outside these years, you've gotten so thin."
"Your grandson has been unfilial, causing worry for his grandmother...."
The man was comforting his own grandmother. When he raised his head, his gaze met Shen Ni's warm eyes, looking a little stunned.
Shen Ni, with tears in her eyes, respectfully bowed to him, without uttering a single word, yet conveying everything needed to be said.
"Ni'er, Ni'er… Come here quickly, take a good look at your husband." Madame Cheng hastily wiped her tears and turned around to beckon Shen Ni.
Shen Ni stepped forward at the call, casting her eyes down slightly as she stood in front of Cheng An Yun. Although her face didn't reveal much, her fingertips, which were clutching her handkerchief, had turned a little pale. It was clear that she was extremely agitated.
"Ni'er pays her respects to her husband…"
Her voice was gentle, the excitement in her voice mixed with a touch of sorrow, hitting the man's heart like a heavy hammer.
Shen Ni was also lost in her thoughts.
The Cheng family and the Shen family were old friends. She and Cheng An Yun were childhood sweethearts who were betrothed to each other at a young age.
From the age of six, learning to read and write, practicing female etiquette, she had been instructed daily by the nurturing nannies in the house. She was taught to behave as a wife and trained to fulfill her responsibilities; all of this was done in preparation for her eventual marriage into the Cheng family.
Who would have thought that, six years ago, an imperial edict came down, assigning Cheng An Yun and Marquis Wu An to escort provisions to the border. They both suffered misfortune on their journey.
As for her, she married into the marquis's house on their wedding day with his spiritual tablet in her arms, becoming the youngest widow in the capital, Yanjing.
She was only twelve then, having spent six years as a widow, and now finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. She had been yearning for her husband to return safely.
Always careful to follow the rules, with her emotions never shown on her face, she could no longer hold back her tears.
"Qi'er, throughout these years, you must have suffered a lot living out in the open. Ni'er hasn't had an easy time either. She became a widow at a young age and took on the responsibility of taking care of your mother and me. Now that you have returned safely, if the two of you could give your grandmother a great-grandchild, this old woman's life would be complete."
Saying this, Madame Cheng, with tears in her eyes, placed Shen Ni's hand in Cheng An Yun's. She gently patted their hands, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.
Shen Ni's cheeks were flushed with a slight blush, her heart fluttering with joy. Just as she was filled with hope and expectations for the future, an enchanting female voice broke the moment.
"Cheng Anyun!"
It was a major taboo to directly call the name of the legitimate son of Marquis Mansion.
Everyone was shocked, raising their heads together, and they saw a delicate and beautiful woman standing not far away.
The woman was wearing a leek-green gathered silk outfit, her black long hair half casually tied up with a white jade embedded hairpin, and half casually scattered over her shoulders. Adding to this, those sprightly, lovely cat-like eyes of her, which instantly sparkled in front of people.
As Cheng Anyun turned his head, he subconsciously let go of the hand he was holding.
Shen Ni raised her head in a daze, glancing back and forth between the young girl and Cheng Anyun a few times, like realising something, she tightly sealed her lips and retracted her empty hand.
"Brother Anyun, you haven't introduced Ling'er to everyone yet."
The young girl smiled and moved forward, unabashedly standing next to Cheng Anyun.
Her actions were seen by everyone, provoking different reactions. Shen Ni's previously slightly reddened cheeks visibly paled.
However, Mrs. Cheng and Cheng's mother were staring at the young girl, with expressions of displeasure on their faces.
Cheng Anyun unnaturally moved a step aside, coughed and said, "This is Miss Chen. When I met with danger on the border, it was her who came to my rescue. Otherwise, I might have died in a foreign land!"
