Dai Yin also stood up and bowed to Zheng Xiang, "Your Highness, I will take my leave as well. I have been out for too long, and my family must be worried."
Zheng Xiang nodded, cautioned them to be careful on their journey, and watched them depart.
"Prince Duan is so busy, we shouldn't bother him any longer. It's getting late, and we should head back too," Zheng Xiang said.
"Wei'er, aren't you going back with your Royal Father?"
He said this with great caution.
His demeanor, when seen by others, made him appear as a father begging his son for forgiveness with guilt.
In an instant, the impression of Prince Duan among the onlookers greatly changed.
Zheng Wei, however, shook his head, "No. I am a rough person who doesn't know where I came from. It's better that I don't go to places like the Prince's manor..."
Just as the two were bickering, they suddenly heard a commotion.
Following the sound, they saw Jiang Yubao leading a group of people towards them.
Jiang Yubao, with a smile on his face, greeted Sima Han and Yi Zhiye as soon as he approached, "This servant greets His Imperial Highness, the Fifth Prince, Grand Tutor Yi Zhiye, the Consort of His Imperial Highness, the Fifth Prince, and the wife of the Grand Tutor."
After speaking, he straightened up and clasped his hands towards Zheng Wei and the others in greeting.
Upon seeing Zheng Xiang, his expression changed slightly in surprise, "Why is Prince Duan also here?"
Shen Xiaoyan and the others, seeing his reaction, almost believed that he truly knew nothing.
However, such thoughts were merely fleeting.
If they were told that Zheng Xiang did not send people to inform the Grand Empress Dowager of their whereabouts, they would never believe it.
Still, whether he had informed on them or not, their purpose for coming out had been achieved.
Zheng Xiang also clasped his hands towards Jiang Yubao, "Greetings, Director Jiang. Today, I met my son, who has been lost for ten years, on the street, and thus..."
"Oh? Is that so? Is it this Young Master Zheng?" Jiang Yubao asked, greatly surprised, and then looked at Zheng Wei standing before Zheng Xiang.
Zheng Xiang nodded, "Indeed."
Jiang Yubao quickly bowed to Prince Duan again, "Then congratulations to Prince Duan. You have not slept or eaten well for so many years because of your eldest son. Now that your son has returned, you will only enjoy happiness from now on."
"Thank you for your kind words, Eunuch," Zheng Xiang replied, his gaze falling on Zheng Wei, and he sighed, "It is ultimately my fault for what happened in the past. Now that my son has returned, it is only right that he is unwilling to acknowledge me."
Jiang Yubao frowned upon hearing this, "How can this be? Where in the world is there a son who does not acknowledge his father? Come, follow this servant into the palace and let the Grand Empress Dowager and His Majesty discuss this. His Majesty was just saying that he wanted to meet Young Master Zheng, who contributed greatly to disaster relief. If he knew he was Prince Duan's son, he would surely reward you greatly."
"Oh?" Zheng Xiang looked at Zheng Wei in surprise.
He did not know about this.
Could it be that Zheng Wei was the one who provided food for the Fifth Prince, free of charge, during the disaster relief?
If so, then Zheng Wei must have lived quite well over the years.
Otherwise, where would he have gotten so much spare money to help with disaster relief?
Upon learning this, Zheng Xiang's desire to control Zheng Wei grew even stronger.
It seemed that Zheng Wei had indeed grown a lot in the years he had been away from him.
"Since His Majesty wishes to see me, I will accompany you. It will also give me a chance to ask His Majesty to put in a good word for me, so that this child will forgive me..."
As he spoke the last words, Zheng Xiang lowered his head helplessly, looking utterly dejected.
The people around, upon hearing this, were all utterly shocked.
They had never expected, no matter what, that the Fifth Prince Sima Han and Grand Tutor Yi Zhiye were among those seated there.
Although Grand Tutor Yi Zhiye had never been seen before, it was unlikely anyone would dare to impersonate him.
Upon closer inspection of the people seated there, one of them truly resembled the Fifth Prince Sima Han.
However, in just a few years, how could the Fifth Prince have changed so much?
Some who knew of the Fifth Prince's contributions to the disaster relief wanted to step forward and strike up a conversation.
But Jiang Yubao did not give them any opportunity.
He led a group of people away.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others had not spoken a word since Jiang Yubao arrived.
Speaking any more now would only be a waste of breath.
There would be time to say what needed to be said when they entered the palace and met the key figures.
Leaving "All Visitors Are Guests," they boarded the carriage brought by Jiang Yubao and sped towards the palace.
In the carriage, Shen Xiaoyan could not help but sigh.
As expected of a carriage from the Forbidden City, it was truly luxurious and magnificent.
Most importantly, it was incredibly comfortable.
The carriage ran fast, but inside, there was no sense of rocking at all.
Perhaps fearing any further mishaps on the way, Jiang Yubao did not stop at all.
With people clearing the way ahead and a rapid pace behind, they soon arrived at the gates of the Forbidden City.
They alighted at the gates of the Forbidden City and entered through a side door with Jiang Yubao.
All the way, Jiang Yubao did not utter a word, merely walking briskly ahead to lead the way.
Shen Xiaoyan watched his retreating figure and chuckled inwardly.
This Jiang Yubao was truly frightened by them.
Still, why did she always feel like she had forgotten something?
"What's wrong?"
Zheng Wei, seeing Shen Xiaoyan's somewhat troubled and puzzled expression, asked.
"I feel like I've forgotten something," Shen Xiaoyan said with a smile.
"Ah? You know what it is?" Shen Xiaoyan looked at Zheng Wei in surprise.
How could Zheng Wei know something she herself couldn't recall?
"Your cheap master that you just took..."
As Zheng Wei spoke, Shen Xiaoyan suddenly realized.
No wonder she kept feeling like something was forgotten.
So that was it.
Moreover, upon reflection, it seemed that the old man had not been seen since the sparring ground.
Zheng Wei then slowly said, "When I was beating up Zheng Fan earlier, I saw that old man leave with his wine."
Shen Xiaoyan was speechless.
He just left like that?
She had done it for him, at least. Although the primary motive was to embarrass Zheng Xiang and Zheng Fan.
But was it really right for him to leave like this?
"Never mind him. He's just a cheap master anyway. If he leaves, he leaves."
Shen Xiaoyan said, smiling at Zheng Wei. The two of them put the matter of the old man out of their minds for the moment.
Now that they had entered the Forbidden City, a far more arduous battle awaited them.
Although the two were talking, their movements were not slow at all.
As cultivators, such a short distance at this speed was extremely easy for them.
When Jiang Yubao finally stopped walking ahead and looked back at the group, his expression became quite amusing.
His face was now covered in sweat.
Yet, looking at the people following him, each and every one of them had normal complexions. Even Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin, the two women, were breathing steadily, with not even a hint of a blush on their faces.
Jiang Yubao found it strange but knew this was not the time to dwell on it.
Wiping the sweat from his face, Jiang Yubao smiled, "This servant will go and report first."
After speaking, he bowed deeply and quickly ascended the steps, entering the room.
Seeing Jiang Yubao leave, Zheng Xiang glanced at the group, his gaze finally settling on Zheng Wei, and said softly, "This is the Grand Empress Dowager's palace, and His Majesty is likely here as well. When you enter later, you will simply kowtow."
Zheng Wei glanced at him indifferently and did not speak.
Having spent most of the day together, Zheng Xiang had come to understand Zheng Wei's temperament and no longer cared about his current attitude.
Shortly after, Jiang Yubao emerged again, smiling as he invited everyone in.
As they followed him in, a wave of warmth immediately assailed them.
Although the sun was shining brightly outside, it was still very cold, a dry cold.
Upon entering this room, however, it felt as warm as spring.
And it did not feel very dry.
There was no one seated on the main seat of the main hall. The group followed Jiang Yubao towards the east.
Upon entering the east wing, they immediately saw two figures in imperial yellow seated opposite each other on a couch, engrossed in what appeared to be a game of chess.
Jiang Yubao bowed and walked forward, "Reporting to Your Majesty, reporting to the Grand Empress Dowager, they have arrived."