Tong Airui had just looked at a few pages when a knock sounded at the door.
He turned his head towards the door and said, "Co in."
The butler entered. "Duke Airui, a few of the Queen’s classmates heard she was discharged from the hospital and want to co visit her. However, at the mont, the Queen and King Randy are filming, so I didn’t dare to disturb them. I’ve co to ask you—would today be a suitable day for the Queen to see visitors?"
Tong Airui curled his lips slightly. "Let them wait until the filming is done before entering."
"Understood."
"Before they go inside, remind them to avoid saying anything that might trigger my father- and mother-in-law emotionally."
"Understood." The butler responded respectfully and then withdrew. After the filming was done, the butler guided the visitors waiting in the side hall to the back sleeping chambers.
The Queen of Haotian stood up and smiled as soon as she saw them co in. "I’ve heard from Luowa that you’ve visited the hospital several tis. I’ve been aning to call you once I got back to let you know I’m alright, but things ca up and I lost track of ti."
Xiao ng glanced at her, his nose reddening, choking back tears as he said, "Seeing that you’re okay puts my heart at ease. I was really afraid, with one crisis after another, you’d struggle to recover."
Yuan Sha chuckled and nudged her arm. "Zhi Lan’s fine now, so you don’t need to shed tears here."
"Zhi Lan, what happened? You and King Randy suddenly ended up in the hospital?" Xiao ng asked in confusion after sitting down.
The Queen’s eyes dimd slightly. "Don’t even get started. It ca out of nowhere—I barely had ti to process it, it scared so badly."
Joel gave her a long, quiet look. "Don’t overthink it. At our age, health is what matters most. Live happily however you can. After working hard for half your life, now might be the perfect opportunity to rest and recuperate."
The Queen sighed lightly. "Though that’s true, if Randy and I were to rely enjoy ourselves, then Luowa would end up in misery."
"Zhi Lan, speaking of Luowa—there’s sothing you might not know yet, given that you’ve just been discharged. Your daughter is absolutely extraordinary!" Xiao ng moved closer with a grin. "Nowadays, when the common folk speak of Luowa, there’s not a single person who doesn’t give her a thumbs up. She’s efficient, capable, and always thinking of the people. But there’s just one thing..."
"One thing?" Zhi Lan’s prior reaction was all smiles, but she froze mid-motion, clearly sensing sothing unpleasant about to follow.
"What on earth is it!" Yuan Sha glared at Xiao ng. "You sure find ways to stir things up with that mouth of yours!"
The Queen extended a hand to draw Xiao ng closer. "We’ve been friends for years. If you’ve got sothing to say, don’t hold back or keep secrets from ."
"I...was just saying, she’s a married woman, yet the people’s support for her in Haotian has completely overshadowed Danton’s. That’s not necessarily a good thing. You should’ve let Danton take the political helm earlier."
In the inner room, Haotian’s Emperor furrowed his brows and attempted to stand, but Yi Luowa hurriedly pressed him back into his seat, whispering softly, "Dad, they’re not wrong. If you don’t want to hear this, I can take you ho to rest."
"I’m not leaving! With them chatting like this, I’m worried they might upset your mother further! I need to keep an eye on them!"
Yi Luowa pursed her lips montarily. "This is just how close friends talk—it’s all done out of concern for you, Mom, and Danton."
"Talking without knowing the facts—if I don’t go out and drive them away, I won’t tolerate this!"
The Emperor attempted to rise again, but Yi Luowa wrinkled her nose at him. "Disobey , and I won’t care about you anymore!"
Faced with his daughter’s stern expression, the Emperor instantly deflated, grumbling, "Fine, I’ll keep listening. But if they say one more unpleasant thing, they’re banned from the palace in the future!"
Yi Luowa sighed and gently stroked her father’s chest to relax him.
The room fell quiet for a while before the Queen finally spoke. "I worry about Luowa too, but with Danton overseas, unable to return in ti, we had no choice but to let Luowa take charge.
You wouldn’t believe it—the sight could break your heart. She doesn’t even have ti for her own children, rushing back and forth to help here. Those two little ones cry daily for their mom... So, no matter how imnse her public support might be—even if it overshadows Randy and —I don’t want to hear any accusations against her."
Feeling remorseful, Xiao ng looked at the Queen. "I wasn’t questioning her—I just blurted it out without thinking. Zhi Lan, don’t be mad at . I’m simple-minded, I say whatever cos to my mind."
"Who you are, I know all too well!" The Queen smiled. "I’m not blaming you, but your thoughts do reflect a segnt of public opinion. Which makes it all the more important I defend my daughter. What does she seek? To co here and suffer? To spend lavishly?
She’s poured all her own savings into this, and her in-laws haven’t hesitated to join the effort. Money and disaster relief supplies keep flowing in—none of this was ever disclosed to . If it hadn’t been Marcus the Pri Minister who inford , I’d be just as clueless as all of you.
Haotian suffered natural disasters followed by human calamities. Without Luowa, Airui, and her forr schoolmate—the Prince of Beidi—we’d already be wiped out as a nation. Do you think we’d still be here casually chatting over tea?"
Yuan Sha remarked passionately, "This child is truly remarkable, accomplishing so much without ever ntioning it. That day in the disaster area, her speech focused solely on you, King Randy, and Danton—she didn’t highlight her own contributions one bit. But the people see through everything clearly. Even if she doesn’t say it, they’ll rember her good works!"
Joel nodded approvingly with a smile. "This child takes after Zhi Lan—everything she does is thoroughly considered, and she’s decisive in her actions. I’ve heard the reconstruction plans for the disaster zone’s new district have already started."
Haotian’s Queen nodded. "She’s anxious to ensure the displaced people have hos before winter arrives."
Joel exclaid with heartfelt praise, "Princess Luowa’s major is car manufacturing, isn’t it? Who would’ve thought she’d excel in military strategy too? Truly impressive!"
The Queen laughed. "She’s just a little rascal! It’s not like she studied seriously. Everything she knows, she learned from Airui!"
Joel quipped jokingly, "Seems Duke Airui put in a lot of effort teaching Princess Luowa."
Xiao ng joked, "Teach her a skill a day—she wouldn’t even need to learn the full set before being able to handle R Nation’s troublemakers easily! This battle was such a satisfying victory!"
Joel glanced at her, smiled warmly, but didn’t reply.
The Queen grinned and asked the group, "Hey? Where’s Xiang Zuo? The few of you visit often—he’s never missed out once."
Xiao ng froze. "You don’t know?!"
"Ahem..." Joel cleared his throat lightly.
Yuan Sha pinched Xiao ng sharply from behind.
Xiao ng winced in pain.
The Queen looked at them skeptically. "Are the three of you hiding sothing from ?"
"Nothing’s going on—we’ve always been open with you," Joel glanced at the clock, "Seeing that you’re doing well puts us at ease. Rest up properly, and we’ll take our leave."
Joel stood up as he spoke.
Unhappy, the Queen glared at him. "If you still consider a friend, sit back down!"
Joel looked at her hesitantly before slowly taking his seat again.
"What happened to Xiang Zuo? Has sothing happened to him?" The Queen asked nervously.
"Even if sothing did happen, it’s his own fault. Don’t inquire further," Xiao ng said sullenly. "You keep telling not to say anything, but now you won’t talk yourselves. Are you trying to drive Zhi Lan crazy with worry?"
Yuan Sha shot her an exasperated glare. "We told you not to talk too much, but have you held back even a little? Zhi Lan just got out of the hospital, and here you are spilling all this negative information. Isn’t that intentionally making her feel worse? Next ti we visit Zhi Lan, you’d better stay put at ho—don’t co along!"
The Queen shook her head at Yuan Sha. "Yuan Sha, don’t bla her—I need soone like Xiao ng around to let hear things I wouldn’t otherwise know. If you truly consider your friend, tell honestly: what’s been going on?"
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