Huo Yuan laughed: "Since my sister appreciates me, she might as well grant me permission to stay for lunch. I presume the meals at the mansion this afternoon must be very grand and coincidentally, I’ve yet to settle my luncheon!"
"Yes, yes, Big Brother Huo, please dine at our home!"
Before Cai Wei could say anything, the two youngsters were already clapping their hands in agreement.
Cai Wei froze, surprised to find that, unbeknownst to her, Huo Yuan had already bribed the two kids. As soon as they heard he wanted to stay for lunch, the brothers were overjoyed, clapping their hands!
She shrugged her shoulders, adopting an air of resignation: "Look, you’ve already influenced my family’s internal affairs. If I disagree, won’t I become the public enemy of my own home?"
Huo Yuan laughed cheerfully – a laugh as warm as sunshine: "In that case, I will be depending on you, sister..."
At noon, the meals at the Mu Family were indeed grand: Roast Suckling Pig, Braised Salmon, Old Hen Chicken Soup, Hibiscus Prawn Balls, Spicy Prawns, Grandmother’s Steamed Meat, Abalone with White Ling Mushroom, Stir-fried Winged Beans, and remarkably, there was even a plate of Sugar Coated Watermelon which was unattainable at this time of the year...
Looking at the lavish spread of delicacies on the table, Cai Wei exclaimed in astonishment: "Mother, have we struck it rich?"
Lady Du glanced at Huo Yuan, then smiled bashfully: "Ah, didn’t expect my daughter to make fun of her own mother. If we struck it rich, wouldn’t it have been the doing of Young Master Huo? All I did was prepare the chicken soup, the rest were all courtesy of Young Master Huo!"
Upon hearing this, Cai Wei turned her jocular smile towards Huo Yuan: "So, Big Brother Huo, is it a custom of yours to carry your own delicacies when you dine at others’ homes?"
Huo Yuan laughed and counter-questioned: "What if it is?"
Cai Wei stroked her chin, replied with mock seriousness: "If Big Brother Huo does indeed have such a habit, I can consider inviting him over for meals every day!"
Huo Yuan couldn’t hold back his laughter and his eyes beamed charmingly: "Mr. Huo wouldn’t dare to ask for more!"
As the two of them were caught up in their banter, Mu Zhongqing returned. Not only him, but even Cai Fei was taken home. Sisters meeting each other inevitably led to an emotional downpour. Dou Momo advised: "Second Miss, Older Sister’s return is a good thing. You’ve already wept with Madam for a while, if you keep crying, it might harm your health!"
Upon hearing this, Cai Fei quickly wiped away her tears, choosing to share cheerful stories with her sister.
"Older sister, I am currently learning Shu Embroidery. Did you know, my master was released from the palace, and he is the Deputy Manager of the Embroidery Bureau. I heard he was in charge of embroidering the Empress’s Phoenix Robe, he’s extremely skilled!"
Cai Wei, astonished, replied: "A Deputy Manager of the Embroidery Bureau who was responsible for embroidering the Empress’s Phoenix Robe wouldn’t have been discharged easily. You might have been deceived!"
Cai Fei anxiously shook her head in denial: "Not at all! Nanny Xiu’s embroidery skills are unparalleled in this world, there’s no way she’s an imposter. And she was introduced by Big Brother Huo, he wouldn’t deceive us!"
Cai Wei directed her gaze at Huo Yuan, raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to explain.
Huo Yuan laughed a little, and said: "Nanny Xi is indeed the Deputy Manager of the Embroidery Department in the Palace and she has indeed been discharged. Palace intrigues are always unpredictable, I am not privy as to why they discharged her!"
Cai Wei didn’t say anything further and sat down silently to have lunch.
If the person responsible for embroidering the Empress’s Phoenix Robe could be discharged from the Palace, it seemed that the Empress was completely suppressed, with no power to fight back. Otherwise, the Empress Jin Guifei wouldn’t have been so brazen. If Empress still had a chance to make a comeback, she wouldn’t dare to go to such extremes. After all, even she would need to leave a way out for herself!