Chapter 1254: Chapter 762: Growing Up, Reunion (Second Update)

Luming thought that since his mother was pregnant, his father and mother would settle down in the Imperial Palace. However, after becoming pregnant, his mother claimed that her morning sickness was severe, and she left with Youyou to Wenzhou for her pregnancy care, never to return.

Xiao Luming couldn’t remember how long it had been since he’d seen his father, mother, and sister.

Ten months later, they received news that a brother was born, and once he grew a bit older, he would be brought back. Meanwhile, Luming was to remain in the Imperial Palace and govern the realm diligently.

At fifteen years old.

His father sent his brother Xiao Muan back to the Imperial Palace and officially abdicated the throne to him. Xiao Luming ascended the throne, Xiao Jinxing became the Supreme Emperor, and An Ning became the Empress Dowager.

An Ning found it hard to accept the title.

She always felt that such a title in books and dramas had negative connotations, and moreover, it sounded like one was in their seventies or eighties.

But, determined as Xiao Jinxing was about abdication,

considering that Xiao Luming had worked hard for Xiao Jinxing in the shadows for years, it was indeed time to make things official.

The new emperor’s ascension naturally called for a nationwide celebration.

The Imperial Palace was bustling with activity.

An Ning and Xiao Jinxing, having returned to the palace this time, didn’t rush to leave. They decided to spend more time with their children.

Primarily because Anqi, at seventeen, needed to prepare for marriage.

In An Ning’s mind, her children should be marrying at twenty at the earliest, not as teens... Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Of course, An Ning felt it was important to respect Anqi’s wishes.

If she wanted to marry, she could; if not, then not.

At night, the Imperial Palace remained brightly lit. Today, all royal relatives and ministers stayed in the palace to enjoy the feast.

An Youyou was utterly bored. Having grown used to the freedom outside the palace with her father and mother, returning to the constraints of palace life was suffocating. Sitting at the banquet felt like sitting on pins and needles. Her mother quickly noticed her impatience and signaled that she could return to her chamber.

Receiving her mother’s signal, An Youyou felt a wave of relief.

She cheerfully left the banquet hall and headed towards the rear of the palace.

Despite her dislike for the palace, it still felt familiar, having lived there for some time.

An Youyou sent the Palace Attendant away and wandered the palace alone.

She disliked having so many people following her, finding them cumbersome.

An Youyou wandered for some time before hearing a slight sound from a corner.

Curiosity piqued, An Youyou quietly walked over to see who was hiding there.

Her eyes suddenly paused.

She didn’t expect it to be her sister Anqi.

She hadn’t seen her sister for a long time at the banquet, and now she was hiding here without inviting her along.

Just as An Youyou was about to angrily call her sister,

"Anqi."

A man’s voice suddenly emerged from the darkness.

An Youyou was startled.

In an instant, she realized.

Was her sister Anqi meeting someone secretly?!

Oh my! She felt her heart about to leap out.

Soon, with the help of the moonlight, she saw the man’s face clearly.

It was surprisingly her little uncle Xiao Jinyu.

When they were young, Xiao Jinyu lived with them in the same Imperial Palace, but as he was older, he rarely played with them. Mostly, she, Luming, and Anqi played together. Never had she imagined Anqi would... with little uncle...

Isn’t this a scandal?!

Wait.

An Youyou suddenly remembered Anqi was not her birth sister and had no blood ties, so they could be together.

But...

What about her brother?!

If she wasn’t mistaken, her brother had feelings for Anqi...

Perhaps that was just childhood stuff.

Once they grew up, such thoughts likely faded away.

An Youyou stayed hidden, eavesdropping.

"Anqi, I heard the Minister of Justice has sought a marriage proposal with your father and mother for you, I..."

"Don’t worry. My parents will respect my wishes," Anqi quickly said. "As long as I don’t agree, they won’t consent."

"I know, but this situation can’t go on. I’m twenty-six now, and if I don’t marry soon, my mother will break my legs," Xiao Jinyu said. "I’ve resisted so much pressure just waiting for you to grow up. You should have been married after your coming-of-age ceremony, but you insisted on staying because you felt the Crown Prince was lonely and couldn’t leave him. Now that he’s the emperor, with a harem of beauties and no longer needing your company, we should bring our marriage plans forward."

"Alright," Anqi nodded in agreement. "Once Luming’s coronation ceremony is fully over, I’ll speak with my parents and Luming. I’ll also ask him to give us his blessing."

Upon hearing Anqi’s reassurance, Xiao Jinyu finally smiled in relief.

He embraced Anqi, displaying their love for each other.

An Youyou quietly left.

Feeling that from here on, things might become inappropriate for younger audiences.

After leaving, she couldn’t help but breathe heavily.

On the one hand, she couldn’t believe Anqi liked her little uncle; on the other...

What about her brother?!

An Youyou walked thoughtfully, not watching where she was going.

"Ah!"

An Youyou suddenly cried out.

In the dimly lit palace, An Youyou suddenly bumped into someone.

She quickly clutched her head.

Before she could fully react, she heard a slightly magnetic voice say, "Greetings, Princess."

An Youyou looked at the man kneeling on the ground.

He wore noble attire, not like a eunuch and not in a guard’s uniform.

So, who was he?!

An Youyou felt he was familiar but couldn’t recall.

"Rise." If she couldn’t remember, she wouldn’t try.

An Youyou said lightly.

The man stood up.

Once he stood, An Youyou realized how tall he was.

Standing next to him, he was nearly a head taller than her.

Seemed about the same height as her brother.

She didn’t understand.

They all grew up together,

So why was it that upon this return, Xiao Luming was so much taller, and she felt like a tiny person next to him?

Plus, over the years, she lost the chubbiness she once proudly displayed.

Her body had become much slenderer.

"Is the Princess returning to the palace?" the man asked.

"Oh," An Youyou responded.

"Do you need an escort, Princess?"

"No need," An Youyou replied lightly, "You can attend to your own affairs."

"Princess."

As An Youyou was leaving, the man spoke again.

An Youyou frowned.

Why was this person so bothersome?

"Did you see Princess Anqi and Prince Jing earlier?" the man asked directly.

Prince Jing was Xiao Jinyu, who was conferred the title of prince at twenty and left the palace. He was in the palace today for the feast.

"So you saw too?" An Youyou was surprised.

Why hadn’t she noticed him?

"A chance encounter," the man replied.

"Don’t you know it’s inappropriate to pry?!" An Youyou was a bit displeased.

After all, Anqi was her sister, and she didn’t want her to be noticed by others.

"I didn’t look closely, just a swift glance," the man clarified.

"Don’t go spreading this around," An Youyou admonished.

"Rest assured, Princess. I stopped you because I hope you won’t tell the emperor yet. He’s just ascended and still needs to receive envoys from allied and subordinate states. He shouldn’t be distracted," the man respectfully said.