The corner of Chu Lian's mouth twitched. Nothing good ever happened when she met Prince Jin. This fellow didn't hold back his words in front of her at all. Didn't he know that women hated talking about being fat the most?

The Great Wu Dynasty worshipped the kind of beauty that was thin and frail.

Chu Lian squeezed out an awkward smile at Prince Jin before introducing Sima Hui to him.

Sima Hui was heroic and straightforward. She had spent most of her time in the army, so she lacked the restraint and restraint of an ordinary noble lady. Instead, she had a carefree and dignified air about her.

The Fourth Prince, who rarely interacted with unfamiliar women, actually had a good chat with her.

Chu Lian held the reins and followed behind the two of them. She looked at their backs thoughtfully.

In the original novel, Sima Hui had only been briefly mentioned by the author. From what she knew, the Fourth Prince had never met Sima Hui before. But now, the two of them seemed to have hit it off at first sight.

Chu Lian's large almond-shaped eyes sparkled, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

Just as Chu Lian was in a daze, her horse suddenly turned around and was about to gallop towards the side of the road. She was startled and hurriedly looked over, only to discover that it was He Sanlang's trick.

Chu Lian grumbled, "He Changdi, what are you doing!"

He Sanlang held the reins of her horse and turned to her with a faint smile. "Teaching you how to ride a horse."

Chu Lian cried out in surprise. The originally docile mare under her started galloping. She was so frightened that her face instantly turned pale. Just as she thought that she was about to be thrown off the horse, she felt something tighten around her waist and was suddenly lifted into the air. The next moment, she landed on He Changdi's horse.

Chu Lian was still in a state of shock. When she landed in He Changdi's arms, she was so frightened that she tightly hugged He Sanlang's thin waist.

With one hand holding Chu Lian in his arms and the other holding the reins, He Changdi still had more than enough strength to hold the horse even though it was galloping.

Under the clear sky, He Sanlang had a warm smile on his face. It was a smile that she had never seen in her previous life.

After a while, Chu Lian calmed down in He Changdi's arms and angrily pinched his arm.

He Changdi's eyes twitched in pain. He helplessly lowered his head and said, "Chu Lian, if you pinch me again, my hand will shake and we will really fall off the horse."

Chu Lian glared at him. "Don't do this again."

He Sanlang lowered his head and gave her a peck on her smooth, slightly red cheek. "Then next time you won't allow anyone else to teach you how to ride a horse. Only I can teach you."

"I already know. I don't need you to teach me."

Riding a horse was actually not difficult. What was difficult was just getting used to the jolts on horseback.

He Changdi raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Chu Lian was unconvinced. "Didn't you see it?

I was riding that horse just now. "

As soon as Chu Lian finished speaking, He Changdi let out a low whistle and the Raven Chasing Godly Steed beneath him started galloping.

The scenery on both sides flashed past her eyes in a flash. The horse's back jolted violently. Chu Lian jumped in fright and hugged He Changdi tightly.

She could vaguely hear He Changdi's deep and magnetic voice whispering in her ear, "Are you sure you can ride a horse now?"

Chu Lian had already realized that this guy was deliberately teasing her. She blushed and said angrily, "He Changdi, how can you be so childish!"

Then, in the sound of the wind blowing past his ears, he could only hear He Changdi's hearty laughter that shook his chest.

Chu Lian suddenly froze. Her gaze couldn't help but move up and fall on He Changdi's well-defined chin. At this moment, his face actually didn't have the usual gloominess.

At this moment, he was sincerely immersed in this kind of happiness and warmth.

Chu Lian suddenly wanted to protect this gloomy mood that he had thrown away his worries.

She hugged her arms and buried her head in his chest. She didn't say anything to refute him. Instead, she smiled from the bottom of her heart.

By the time the young couple returned to the group, an hour had already passed.

The strong wind on horseback fluttered the two's cloaks. He Sanlang and Chu Lian, who had ridden the same horse, looked a bit disheveled. However, this disheveled state couldn't hide the couple's joy.

He Changdi personally escorted Chu Lian to the carriage.

Not far away, Xiao Hongyu's eyes lit up as she stared at the two of them. She clicked her tongue and laughed vulgarly. "Big Brother He really doesn't know how to control himself. We're still on the road!

He's taking sister-in-law out! "

Beside him, Zhang Mai glared at him speechlessly and rewarded him with a chestnut on the head. "You brat, what are you thinking about all day!"

Xiao Hongyu hurriedly covered his head in grievance. He protested, "Big Brother Zhang, don't hit my head. My mother already thinks I'm stupid. If you hit me, I won't be able to marry a wife in the future!"

Lieutenant Guo laughed heartily as he looked at the clown.

The great victory of the Northern Territory against the Tuhun people had lifted the spirits of this group of hard-working soldiers in the Northern Territory.

The day they entered the capital happened to be the second day of the second month.

Emperor Chengping had sent officials from the Ministry of Rites to personally welcome them outside Shili Pavilion in Shengjing.

At that time, General Qian would lead the Northern Border Army generals to change into standard armor. They would follow the officials from the Ministry of Appointments and enter the palace under the guard of honor given by the Emperor. This could be said to be the highest treatment given to a general who had returned from a meritorious service.

Because of this arrangement, Prince Jin and Chu Lian couldn't travel with the Border Army troops when they neared the outer city of Shengjing.

Outside Shili Pavilion, Chu Lian and He Changdi parted ways and entered the city with He Erlang to return to the estate.

As for He Sanlang's group, they had to first report to the palace after entering the city before returning to the estate.

In the afternoon, Chu Lian finally arrived at the gates of Count Jing 'an's estate.

A family guard had already gone to report to Count Jing 'an's estate. As soon as Chu Lian's carriage stopped, she could hear the excited voice of a woman outside.

"Third Young Madam, you're finally back!"

Xiyan had clearly wanted to act like a proper maidservant, but before she even saw Chu Lian, she couldn't control her emotions. Her voice carried a hint of sobbing.

Wenqing, who was sitting in the same carriage as Chu Lian, lifted the curtain and jumped out of the carriage. She glanced at Xiyan speechlessly and joked, "If you miss Third Young Madam so much, why are you just standing there? Hurry up and help her up!"

Xiyan finally reacted. She raised her head and looked into the carriage. Sure enough, she saw Chu Lian smiling at her with her large, clear eyes.

She hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and reached out to support Chu Lian's arm. "Third Young Madam, this servant has acted inappropriately."

Chu Lian let Xiyan help her out of the carriage. "Alright, I'll forgive you this time."

After getting out of the carriage, Chu Lian finally saw a row of people standing in front of the gates.

At the head of the group was the benevolent-looking Matriarch He. Beside her was her mother-in-law, Countess Jing 'an, who was being supported by Miaozhen. Chu Lian's gaze swept over Miaozhen's body. She noticed that Miaozhen's dress was loose, and her stomach was slightly protruding.

She had a moment of emotion. She hadn't expected Miaozhen to be pregnant with her eldest brother's child so quickly.

Her gaze shifted again, and she suddenly saw two strangers.

One of them was a middle-aged woman standing to Matriarch He's right. She had a round face and was dressed in a dress. She looked rich and noble, but the way she looked at people without restraint was inexplicably repulsive. Upon closer inspection, this middle-aged woman actually bore some resemblance to Matriarch He.

The other person was a tall young girl standing behind the middle-aged woman.

The young girl looked to be about the same age as Chu Lian. She wore a bright pink dress and an intricately made hooded cloak embroidered with fox fur. A pearl hairpin swayed gently in the bun next to her ear.

Chu Lian felt that her attire was somewhat familiar.

The young girl's gaze was a bit timid. She didn't dare to look directly at Chu Lian. She only dared to lower her head slightly and occasionally glance at Chu Lian.

Xiyan noticed the confusion in her mistress's eyes. She whispered to her mistress, "Third Mistress, those two are Eldest Young Mistress and Young Miss Cousin who came to the estate before the new year."

Eldest Young Mistress?

Young Miss Cousin?

Chu Lian quickly recalled the events in the original text, but she was a bit disappointed to find that there was no mention of these two people.

However, she had heard from her mother-in-law, Countess Jing 'an, that Matriarch He did indeed have a daughter who had married far away.

But why were they suddenly brought to the capital?

Although Chu Lian was puzzled, she didn't show it on her face.

She smiled sweetly and walked quickly in the direction of Old Matriarch He.

When she arrived in front of Matriarch He, she first bowed, then said, "Greetings, Grandmother. Your granddaughter-in-law has returned." She then bowed towards Countess Jing 'an and the others.

Matriarch He grabbed Chu Lian's arm. "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back. Hurry and enter the estate. Look at your petite figure. You've lost a lot of weight."

As the group neared the estate, He Ying said, "Mother, this must be Ah Di's wife. Why didn't you introduce her to us?

This is the first time I've seen this child! "

Matriarch He smiled. "What's the hurry? Lian 'er just came back. You should at least let her drink some hot tea. You and your niece-in-law will have plenty of time to chat in the future."

He Ying was snubbed. She pursed her lips and followed behind Matriarch He.

Pan Nianzhen, who had been following behind her mother, had never taken her eyes off Chu Lian.

Now that Chu Lian was in front of her, she didn't need to look into those clear and shameful eyes. She could boldly size her up without worry.

She didn't expect Chu Lian to be so young. She looked to be about the same age as her. Although she wasn't as tall as her, she was dressed very casually. She only had a dark green jade hairpin in her hair and a small jade ring on her left thumb. She didn't even have a bracelet.

Matriarch He grabbed Chu Lian's arm. "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back. Hurry and enter the estate. Look at your petite figure. You've lost a lot of weight."

As the group neared the estate, He Ying said, "Mother, this must be Ah Di's wife. Why didn't you introduce her to us?

This is the first time I've seen this child! "

Matriarch He smiled. "What's the hurry? Lian 'er just came back. You should at least let her drink some hot tea. You and your niece-in-law will have plenty of time to chat in the future."

He Ying was snubbed. She pursed her lips and followed behind Matriarch He.

Pan Nianzhen, who had been following behind her mother, never took her eyes off Chu Lian.

Now that Chu Lian was in front of her, she didn't need to look into those clear and shameful eyes. She could boldly size her up without worry.

She didn't expect Chu Lian to be so young. She looked to be about the same age as her. Although she wasn't as tall as her, she was dressed very casually. She only had a dark green jade hairpin in her hair and a small jade ring on her left thumb. She didn't even have a bracelet.

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