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Chapter 408: Mother and Son Reunion
Chapter 408: Mother and Son Reunion
The news of Shang Wuyou's return shook the entire Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion.
Disciples reported the news up the chain, finally reaching the Pavilion Lady.
The Pavilion Lady was selecting a wedding gown for her eldest daughter.
The Grand Marriage was set for the 13th of March, and with only ten days left, there was still much to prepare.
The wedding gown was of utmost importance.
The Heaven-Fated Phoenix, born under auspicious circumstances, must wear the most stunning gown to dazzle everyone.
"Didn't I instruct that no one and nothing should disturb me?"
Lady Xiao, stroking the phoenix-feathered robe on the table, said, "Here, add a bit more golden thread."
"Yes, ma'am."
The seamstress noted it down.
The young maid outside wanted to speak but hesitated, constantly glancing at the senior maid beside Lady Xiao for help.
The senior maid shook her head slightly, signaling the maid not to disturb the lady.
But the young maid was anxious and couldn't help it.
The senior maid glanced at the lady who was talking to the seamstress and quietly walked to the door, whispering to the young maid, "The lady is busy with the eldest miss's wedding. Disturbing her now, are you asking for trouble?"
The young maid pleaded, "The Young Master of the Pavilion has returned!"
"What?"
The senior maid's face changed.
The young maid was on the verge of tears. "Sister Hongxiao, please don't let the lady punish me. I don't want to disturb her either, but I... I..."
Hongxiao waved her hand, signaling the maid to leave.
The young maid's tears turned to joy, and she repeatedly thanked her before leaving the courtyard.
Hongxiao approached Lady Xiao.
Lady Xiao pointed out a few more places she wasn't satisfied with, and the seamstress noted them down.
"Lady."
Hongxiao spoke softly, "The Young Master of the Pavilion has returned."
Ssss...
Lady Xiao's crimson-dyed nails scratched the brand-new wedding gown.
The seamstress and the maids in the room were all startled.
Except for Hongxiao, who had been with Lady Xiao for a long time.
Hongxiao remained composed, her brows slightly furrowed as she waited for the lady's instructions.
Lady Xiao's gaze fell on the gown she had scratched, and she smiled apologetically at the seamstress. "Oh dear, look at me getting so excited that I even ruined Liuying's wedding gown."
The seamstress felt that what she had sensed earlier wasn't excitement.
It must have been her imagination.
How could a mother not be excited when her son returns to the Imperial City?
"Is the third miss's health better?"
When the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion moved to the Imperial City, the eldest and second misses had accompanied them, except for the Young Master of the Pavilion and the third miss.
It was said that the third miss was unwell and couldn't endure the journey, so she stayed in Ling Shan to recuperate.
The Young Master of the Pavilion stayed with her.
Lady Xiao's face was filled with maternal love. "I hope so. That child, Chang Le, has always been weaker than her two sisters. She's the one I worry about the most."
The seamstress smiled and said, "Yes, you care for the third miss the most. While making the eldest miss's wedding gown, you constantly think of making one for the third miss as well."
The Dragon and Phoenix twins were so auspicious. How could she have thought that the Pavilion Lady didn't love her son?
Lady Xiao spoke gently, "This gown doesn't need alterations. I'll pay the full price, and I'll look at the others tomorrow."
The seamstress reminded her, "The eldest miss's wedding is approaching, and I fear..."
Lady Xiao smiled, "Liuying is my sister. She'll understand. Even if the gown isn't perfect, we can't let my own brother feel slighted."
The seamstress praised, "The siblings' relationship is truly admirable."
Lady Xiao instructed, "Hongxiao, send the seamstress back to the embroidery tower first."
"Yes, ma'am."
"This servant takes her leave."
The two left the Bitan Courtyard.
Lady Xiao, facing the bronze mirror, removed the most eye-catching golden hairpin from her head and handed it to the maid beside her.
The maid quietly placed the cosmetic box back into the dressing case.
"Mother!"
Shang Wuyou appeared at the doorway, his expression a mix of anxiety and excitement.
Lady Xiao turned around, her eyes widening in shock. Upon seeing him, her eyes instantly welled up with tears, and she choked out, "My son..."
Shang Wuyou's heart, which had been filled with doubt during the journey, softened at the sight of her tears.
What was he suspecting?
Would he rather believe the words of a stranger than his own mother, who had raised him for so many years?
Lady Xiao waved him over, struggling to hold back her tears, "Come here, let Mother have a look at you!"
Shang Wuyou's throat tightened with a dull pain.
He took difficult steps into the room, approaching Lady Xiao. His eyes, too, began to redden, "Mother..."
Lady Xiao raised her hand, trembling as she caressed his face, "You've lost weight... Did they mistreat you...?"
Shang Wuyou opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but then hesitated.
After being abducted by Chen Long and Yu Zichuan, he had indeed endured some hardship, but it was more due to the occasional discipline from the Majestic King than any real torment.
"Why aren't you speaking?" Lady Xiao asked, her eyes filled with concern. "It's fine, Mother won't ask anymore. Now that you're back, that's all that matters."
"No, Mother, I..." Shang Wuyou began, but the countless things he had thought of saying on the road now escaped him.
"Mother, I'm fine. Don't worry. How are you? How are Father and my sisters? I heard that my eldest sister is to marry into the Crown Prince's Mansion. Is this true?"
"During the time you and Changle were away, the entire family was worried sick. What could possibly be good? If not for the Emperor's arranged marriage, which we couldn't refuse, Father and I would never have been distracted by your eldest sister's wedding at such a critical time. You know that Father and I love you and Changle the most."
Indeed, their parents adored him and his younger sister the most.
Growing up, whatever he and his sister desired, their parents would provide.
Occasionally, when the second sister would argue with them, their parents would still side with them.
Lady Xiao added, "By the way, where's Changle? Did she come back with you?"
Shang Wuyou replied with shame, "Only I returned."
Lady Xiao was startled and gripped Shang Wuyou's hand tightly, "Is Changle still in their hands?"
Shang Wuyou wanted to assure her that they wouldn't harm Changle, but for some reason, his words changed as they reached his lips, "Yes."
Lady Xiao frowned and asked, "Who are they?"
"Shang Wuyou, if the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion asks who abducted you, tell them it was Chen Long."
A strange thought flashed through Shang Wuyou's mind, making him furrow his brows.
"Wuyou, Wuyou," Lady Xiao gently patted his hand.
Shang Wuyou snapped back to attention, hesitated for a moment, and said, "It was Chen Long, one of the Twelve Guards under Duke Chu. He has another identity, the son of General Shang - Shang Xu."
"Him?"
A glimmer of understanding flashed in Lady Xiao's eyes, and she looked at Shang Wuyou with concern, "Did he say anything strange to you?"
"What does Mother mean?" Shang Wuyou asked.
Lady Xiao released his hand and turned to pick up a fruit from the table, "Your father and I have always respected the Shang family. Back then, when your grand-uncle colluded with the Loulan King and the Shang family was massacred, we rushed over, but it was too late. We thought there were no survivors, but we never expected that Shang Xu was alive and had become one of Duke Chu's Twelve Guards."
She chose a particularly red and ripe tribute fruit, "The Shang family has a successor, a reason for celebration."
(End of Chapter)
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