A few carriages stopped in front of the Xiao Mansion.

Chun Ning jumped down holding Grandmother’s memorial tablet in her hands.

"Grandmother, we are back in the Capital, we’ve arrived home."

Chun Ning then shouted towards the carriage behind.

"Aunt, Mother, Third Aunt, we have arrived, we are home."

Arrived, home!

Mrs. Xu, Mrs. Xu, and Mrs. Huang stepped down from the carriage hand in hand, lifting their heads to see the plaque, tears immediately welled up.

Seven years, more than two thousand days and nights, they didn’t even dare to dream of the day they would return!

On both sides of the street, many people were watching the spectacle.

"What’s happening?"

"The family members of Doctor Xiao have returned to the Capital."

"It’s good they are back, finally returned."

"Indeed, Doctor Xiao is truly..."

Some words shouldn’t be spoken; understanding in one’s heart is enough.

The gates of the Xiao Mansion opened, and Xiao Chunyu came out with Panpan and her son.

"Mother, Second Aunt, Third Aunt, sisters, brothers, welcome home."

"Good, good, home, home."

Everyone was in tears, step by step they walked into the gates of the Xiao Mansion.

The Xiao family’s members have returned, the Xiao family’s members have entered the mansion.

"Chun Ning, place your grandmother’s tablet in the ancestral hall. Arrange for someone to buy incense candles to inform the Xiao family ancestors and your grandfather."

"Mother, everything has been arranged, Chun Ning just needs to take Chun An to pay respects."

Xiao Chunyu replied.

"Yu’er, you have suffered these years."

On that day, when disaster struck the Xiao family, the old man passed away, the women went to Shu City, and the men were exiled to the Northern Desert, leaving only the pregnant Xiao Chunyu struggling bitterly in the Capital.

Thinking of her being schemed against by the Wu family, ending up penniless, holding the month-old Panpan wandering the streets; thinking of her weak body enduring the iron nail board just to drag the Wu family down to hell together; thinking of her being isolated in the Capital, only able to hide in the village with Zhen Pan to endure...

Now look at her today, a second-rank titled lady!

Moreover, her husband has achieved great merits, waiting for the day he returns triumphantly, surely there will be more honors bestowed.

"Mother, all the suffering was worthwhile." Xiao Chunyu looked at her mother’s graying hair: "Mother, you all truly endured hardships, your daughter can’t imagine how you managed through it all?"

"Nuannuan was there, our days were manageable." Mrs. Xu wiped away tears: "By the way, is this my granddaughter Panpan?"

"Yes, Grandmother, Panpan waited painfully for you!"

"My precious darling."

Mrs. Xu felt compassion for her granddaughter, knowing she was a fortunate girl, and that being able to return to the Capital was largely due to her efforts.

"Grandmother, I also have a brother, your grandson, you can’t favor one over the other."

Mrs. Xu... this child is quite the little troublemaker!

Back in the Capital, she could finally truly enjoy her grandchildren.

"Mother, according to the journey, Father and the others will return in about five days." Xiao Chunyu said: "I have already arranged for the servants to inquire daily outside the city gate, and they will inform us when news comes."

"Good, good, good, you are thoughtful."

"The Xiao family was bought back by Nuannuan’s husband." Xiao Chunyu said: "The servants and other things were just purchased, Mother, this house..."

"Leave it to Mrs. Zhu." Mrs. Xu said: "Before your father and the others return, leave the mundane affairs to Mrs. Zhu; the external matters will be managed by Chun Ning, after they return we will discuss other things."

"Yes, Mother."

Xiao Chunyu went to hand over matters with Zhu Lingling.

Before the Xiao family’s return, Xiao Chunyu had already arranged everything smoothly.

Now, naturally, it was time to hand all this over to Mrs. Zhu.

"Elder sister, thank you."

Xiao Chunyu was the eldest granddaughter of the Xiao family, and when Mrs. Zhu married into the family, she had already been married off, so the sisters-in-law did not spend much time together.

Mrs. Zhu felt quite touched upon hearing about her experiences in the Capital, thinking this eldest sister-in-law was formidable.

Don’t think teachers are easy to bully, in fact, they are not to be trifled with.

"No need to thank, Mother is getting old, from now on the Xiao family will rely entirely on you."

Zhu Lingling nodded.

Actually, she was pondering a question: When Father-in-law and the others return, the Xiao family should split, right?

Yes, while parents are still alive, the family doesn’t split.

But now, both the Old Master and Old Madam are gone!

After going through so much, some unpleasant things have happened between the three branches of the Xiao family.

Especially what Third Aunt did in Changzhou deeply hurt the hearts of the first and second branches.

Because the circumstances were special, things were lightly glossed over.

Now, back in the Capital, certain matters inevitably need to be addressed.

In the outer courtyard, Mrs. Xu was explaining things to Chun Ning.

"Now that we are back, we must remain restrained, expecting many calling cards, given we are in mourning, we should decline what can be declined."

"Aunt, what if Li Mansion, Xu Mansion, Xuu Mansion, and Huang Mansion come to visit?"

Chun Ning had been pondering this issue: Indeed, the Xiao family has returned to the Capital.

But, a Xiao family without Grandfather and Grandmother is like scattered sand.

Moreover, the Xiao family doesn’t have anyone or anything worthy of their concern, but perhaps they might still visit.

Not for anything else, but because the Xiao family has Xiao Chunyu, General Xia’s wife; and now the new emperor and the Empress Dowager especially favor Princess Anping, the Xiao family’s granddaughter.

These families seeking profit and avoiding harm are not easy to deal with, they will all rush to curry favor with the Xiao family.

"Them..." Mrs. Xu sighed: "It depends on your Mother and Third Aunt."

Meeting is necessary, warmth is another matter.

After all, Mrs. Xu doesn’t have any strong emotions towards the Xu family anymore.

Now the eldest sister-in-law runs the household.

The affection from Mother back then, proved over the years to have faded with time and distance.

If they don’t come, she would wait for her husband to return and then go visit her maternal family.

Indeed, from now on visiting maternal family also requires sending a card.

The Xiao family, with no official or position, is no longer favored by others; the Xiao family, in their eyes, is merely a bridge to the Xia family.

People are so realistic, understandably.

Just then, the gatekeeper reported: Mr. Zhao is visiting.

Mr. Zhao, is Nuannuan’s husband, Zhao Minghua.

"Quick, please invite him in." Mrs. Xu hurriedly said: "Chun Ning, go greet your brother-in-law."

"Yes, Aunt."

Zhao Minghua visited, bringing a carriage full of gifts.

There was cloth, goods, and food... in summary, these are all things the newly returned Xiao family could use in establishing themselves.

"Mr. Zhao is thoughtful."

Mrs. Xu was moved, as Nuannuan was a meticulous woman, and her husband was the same.

They say couples don’t always match perfectly, but look, isn’t this a perfect match?

"Aunt, no need to be formal, should anything else be needed, feel free to ask, Minghua has no other skills but is good at buying things."

Now Zhao Minghua is a newly appointed Imperial Merchant, quite prosperous.

"I thought Nuannuan would come to the Capital with Aunt, but she didn’t."

This clearly disappointed Zhao Minghua.

"Nuannuan said the child is still young, and wait for another two months until the second son passes the high exams, then he will come to the Capital with the Zhao family." "That also works."