Zhao Chao was momentarily stunned.
He stretched out his trembling hand, pointing at Feng Zhan and Feng Jin sitting below.
"What... what are these two young masters here for?"
Zhao Chao had thought that since the Zhao family had grown more powerful, these betrothal gifts must be for one of the unmarried daughters in his mansion.
He had considered Zhao Shuning, but since he heard her call the other's parents "father" and "mother", he assumed that during her years of disappearance, she might have already gotten married.
He never thought that the Emperor would come to the Zhao mansion in person to propose marriage.
"This is my elder brother and younger brother. And this is my elder sister."
The three of them nodded.
Feng Zhan took Shi Jiu's hand beside him, indicating that his heart already belonged to someone.
Zhao Chao let out a sigh of relief.
Feng Qingchen said, "Ning'er is the girl Bu Ran likes. We should all be present for his marriage. We can't let our in - laws lose face."
Zhao Chao quickly nodded.
"This... Your Majesty, I'm a bit overwhelmed with all this right now. Please wait a moment. I'll go check when my father and second elder brother will be back."
Only Old Master Zhao was qualified to receive such high - ranking guests.
After saying that,
Zhao Chao walked towards the door.
On the way, he almost tripped on flat ground.
"What's going on?"
"Which distinguished guest has come with such a grand show?"
"In all these years, our Zhao family has never seen such a grand occasion."
"The whole Linjiang City has heard about it in just one hour."
Before the people arrived,
their voices could already be heard.
Zhao Shuning smiled slightly.
She explained to everyone, "If I'm not wrong, the one speaking should be my second uncle."
Sure enough.
The next moment,
Zhao Xue followed Zhao Chao into the room.
Perhaps Zhao Chao had said something important to him at the courtyard gate, so Zhao Xue rushed in impatiently.
When he saw Zhao Shuning,
his eyes widened immediately.
"This... this is really Shuning?"
"Second uncle."
Zhao Shuning spoke.
The tense look on Zhao Xue's face immediately relaxed.
Zhao Shuning said again, "Why are you so nervous?"
"Me? Shuning, where have you been all these years? Do you know how much your parents and our Zhao family have done to find you? Even Shui Yunsheng's top priority now is to find your trace."
Zhao Shuning said, "Second uncle, don't be so anxious. Look, I'm back safe and sound now."
"Yes... now that you're back, father will be very happy to see you. It's a pity that your father just took your mother out for a trip not long ago. You won't be able to see them this time."
"It doesn't matter." It was a good thing that her father finally took her mother out for a trip.
Given Lin Min'er's personality, she probably hadn't left Linjiang in all these years.
"By the way, girl." Just as Zhao Xue was about to say something, Zhao Chao nudged him with his elbow. Zhao Xue looked at Zhao Chao, and Zhao Chao winked at the people beside Zhao Shuning.
"Why are you so nervous? The people the girl brought back aren't... ah... this... he... I..."
When Zhao Xue came in, all his attention was on Zhao Shuning, so he ignored the others.
When he clearly saw who was standing beside Shuning, his legs went weak. Fortunately, Zhao Chao held him up.
They were really brothers.
Their reactions were exactly the same.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, it's the Emperor."
Zhao Chao nodded.
Earlier in the courtyard,
Zhao Xue had mocked Zhao Chao for being so cowardly. He said that their Zhao family was now well - known, and even if the guests came with a grand show, they shouldn't be so panicked and lose their etiquette.
But he never thought that the person accompanying Shuning was actually the Emperor himself!
Zhao Shuning then said, "Second uncle, let me introduce them to you."
She unconsciously swallowed.
"These two are Bu Ran's parents."
"My goodness!" These were no ordinary people. The Emperor's parents were so young and stunningly beautiful.
"Hello, in - laws."
"Hello, you two."
"This is Bu Ran's elder brother."
"Feng Zhan. Nice to meet you in the future."
"This is... this is elder brother's wife."
Shi Jiu blushed.
"Hello, madam."
Shi Jiu nodded.
"This is elder sister."
"Hello, elder sister. No, hello."
"Hello."
"This is Bu Ran's younger brother, Feng Jin."
"Hello, hello."
"Hello."
Zhao Xue had mocked Zhao Chao earlier, but he couldn't stand steadily himself when facing such high - ranking people in the room.
"Them..."
Zhao Chao whispered in Zhao Xue's ear, "They're here to propose marriage for Shuning."
"What?"
"Those outside are all betrothal gifts."
"All betrothal gifts?"
"Yes."
Yu Ge and Feng Qingchen stood up, and the others sitting also stood up immediately. Zhao Chao and Zhao Xue quickly bent down.
Yu Ge said, "You two don't have to be like this. We're just an ordinary couple. Your reactions will make us afraid to come again in the future."
Zhao Shuning said, "Second uncle, little uncle, what are you doing?"
"I... I'm a bit nervous."
Zhao Shuning couldn't help but smile.
"In - laws, shall we go outside to have a look at the betrothal gifts?"
"Okay."
Just then, Old Master Zhao came back.
The voice of a servant came from the courtyard gate.
"Old Master Zhao."
Yu Ge and Feng Qingchen looked at each other and smiled. The elder of the other family came back just in time.
In the courtyard,
Old Master Zhao didn't even have time to take off his armor.
He said, "What's going on?"
"Why are there so many things?"
"And they're all red boxes?"
"Is someone coming to pick a fight or what?"
Zhao Shuning walked out of the door.
She smiled sweetly.
The old man glanced at her.
"You girl, what are you smiling about? I'm asking you a question."
Only after the old man said this did he realize that the person he had just seen looked so familiar.
He turned around.
He stared fixedly at Zhao Shuning and couldn't take his eyes off.
"Shuning?"
Old Master Zhao rubbed his eyes.
He seemed unable to believe it, as if it was just a dream he had imagined.
Zhao Shuning smiled.
Old Master Zhao grabbed a servant beside him and whispered, trying not to be too excited, "Did you see a girl at the door?"
"Old Master Zhao, there is a girl."
"Does that girl look like my Shuning?"
"Old Master Zhao. That seems to be the second young lady."
"I'm not seeing things, am I?"
The servant quickly lowered his head.
Zhao Shuning softly called the old man, "Grandpa."
Back then, when Zhao Shuning went to the Yanyu Tower to study, Grandpa gave her his most important armor. She had never forgotten that heavy affection.
The word "grandpa"
was like a heavy hammer, instantly hitting Old Master Zhao's heart.
He was stunned.
Zhao Shuning walked out gently and hugged him.
The old man's hands trembled a little, and his voice was a bit choked.
"Girl, you've found your way home."