Doted By The Regent King-Chapter 1083 - 1081: Mother and Son Reunited

Beiyan Imperial Palace, grand and imposing. Within the palace, unless there are special urgent circumstances, horseback riding is not allowed. The scene of Ah Jiu whipping his horse caught the eyes of many and reached the Imperial Study.

Emperor Yan heard the report from the Chief Steward of Internal Affairs beside him and was momentarily stunned: "The Imperial Brother has returned?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Jin has already gone to Cining Palace." Eunuch Huang, the Chief Steward of Internal Affairs, reported respectfully while holding a horsetail whisk.

Emperor Yan slightly furrowed his brows, pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and after a long pause said, "Prepare to go to Cining Palace."

Cining Palace.

A medicinal fragrance lingered in the main hall, growing stronger as one approached the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber.

"Your Grace, Your Grace." Nanny Shui, close confidant of the Empress Dowager of Beiyan, walked in with joy on her face, curtsied to the Empress Dowager, and said happily, "Your Grace, the Prince has returned."

The Empress Dowager of Beiyan was pushing away the medicinal concoction brought by the attending palace maid. Hearing this news, she was first shocked, then delighted: "What did you say? It’s Jiujiu who’s returned?"

"Indeed, Your Grace, the Prince has entered the palace gates and is coming to the harem." Nanny Shui replied joyfully.

"Quick, quickly arrange my hair." The Empress Dowager could not contain her joy, revealing a genuine smile.

"Yes, Your Grace."

Nanny Shui waved her hand, and the palace maids and eunuchs swarmed up. Even before the bed curtains lifted, Ah Jiu’s voice was heard from outside the bedchamber.

"Royal Mother, Royal Mother."

A Little Palace Maid ran in to report: "Your Grace, the Prince has returned." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Following behind her, a man of exceptional bearing walked in. The Empress Dowager of Beiyan looked over, and tears of excitement immediately welled up in her eyes as she smiled at him.

"Jiujiu."

"Royal Mother." Ah Jiu rushed over like an arrow, fell to his knees before her with a thud, and knocked his head on the floor three times soundly: "Your son has been unfilial, your son has returned."

"Good, good, it’s good that you’ve returned." Tears slipped down the Empress Dowager’s cheeks as she reached out her hand to support her young son from the ground: "Silly child, why kneel on the ground? Get up, let mother take a look at you."

Ah Jiu raised his head, and the first thing he saw was his mother’s pale face. His eyes immediately turned red as he supported her, softly calling: "Mother."

The mother and son reunion was filled with warmth, eyes brimming with tears.

Nanny Shui wiped the corners of her eyes, gestured for the attending palace maids and eunuchs to leave, and retreated to one side, watching this mother and son pair.

"You’ve lost weight and become tanned." The Empress Dowager of Beiyan gently touched every inch of her son’s face, her eyes filled with joy and heartache, reflecting a mother’s most sincere emotions for her returning child.

"Mother, you’ve also lost weight and aged." Ah Jiu sat on the embroidered stool in front of the divan, full of guilt, said: "It’s unfilial of me to make you worry."

The Empress Dowager of Beiyan was actually not very old; she entered the palace at sixteen, gave birth to Ah Jiu at twenty-two, and this year she was only forty-two. Well maintained, she looked no more than in her early thirties. But now, after being ill, she appeared much frailer, her once youthful features now carrying additional wrinkles.

Ah Jiu was startled. He had been gone for less than two years, how could his mother have changed so much? What illness could have caused it?

Thinking about how he hadn’t returned for two years to fulfill his filial duties, Ah Jiu felt both guilty and regretful.

No one knows a child better than their mother. The Empress Dowager of Beiyan, seeing the look in Ah Jiu’s eyes, understood his thoughts. She embraced him, gently patting his back in comfort, "Mother is fine. Now that Jiujiu is back, Mother is happy, that’s all that matters."

"Mother." Ah Jiu snuggled close, just like when he was a child, embracing her waist and acting spoiled.

At the doorway of the bedchamber, a figure in plain yellow attire stood watching the heartwarming scene, lips lightly pressed together.