Chapter 159: The Young General and the Handsome Emperor (12)

Madam Wei gazed at the daughter sitting before her.

Having left her side at a tender age, the girl had grown up enduring the hardships of the battlefield alongside her elder brother. It was her own incompetence as a mother that had brought this about.

"My child, as long as you're back, everything is fine. As long as you're back..."

She embraced A-Si, realizing the daughter in her arms was no longer a child.

She was no longer the tiny infant she could cradle in the palms of both hands when she was first born. Now, her daughter had grown taller and more beautiful.

Holding A-Si tightly, Madam Wei clutched her like a priceless treasure retrieved after being lost.

The sensation was wondrous to A-Si. The feeling of being held in Madam Wei's arms brought an indescribable sense of peace.

This person was her very own mother.

A-Si pressed her lips together and suddenly broke into a smile. Her dark, limpid eyes sparkled brightly.

She glanced up at Greed, who was floating above her head, the joy in her gaze utterly transparent.

It was as if she were saying: *Greed, Greed, I have a mother now, and she likes me very much!*

Greed felt a strong surge of envy nearby, though he scoffed aloud, "Hmph! This king is free and unfettered; I have no need for something like a mother."

Despite saying this, Greed could not resist drifting a little closer to Madam Wei.

-

Madam Wei and A-Si walked into the inner rooms.

Lord Wei was seated at the table, awaiting their arrival.

A-Si looked at the people gathered in the room.

The person sitting right in the center must be her father, Lord Wei.

Beside him sat a striking woman in her twenties, dressed in a peach-pink gown and looking exceedingly flamboyant.

That was Concubine Yue. Sitting next to her was her daughter, Wei Xiaorui, clad in a pristine white dress that lent her a pure and graceful air.

Further down sat a young boy—the child of another concubine in the household who had been adopted into Concubine Yue's care.

His name was Wei Jingbao, and he was seated right beside Wei Xiaorui, gazing at A-Si with undisguised curiosity.

A-Si tilted her head and smiled at him, causing the little boy to instantly blush crimson and lower his head, his two dainty, pale hands twisting together nervously.

Seeing this, A-Si could not help but smile.

"Jingyu and A-Si are finally back! We've been waiting just for you!"

The moment Concubine Yue saw Wei Jingyu, A-Si, and Madam Wei enter, she rolled her eyes before speaking in a shrill, sarcastic tone.

Hearing this, Madam Wei trembled visibly with suppressed anger, yet she merely sat down quietly.

Wei Jingyu let out a cold snort and raised his voice. "General Sima's subordinates rendered distinguished service in wiping out the enemy. The Emperor kept us behind to bestow praises upon us for quite some time. What is this? Are you dissatisfied with the Emperor, or are you unhappy that we successfully killed the enemy?"

Concubine Yue choked on her words. Her expression darkened for a fraction of a second before she immediately forced a smile. She placed several morsels of food into Lord Wei's bowl and feigned deep grievance. "My lord, look at Jingyu! How can he speak to me like that? I was only thinking that the lord is getting older and worrying that you might be going hungry!"

Lord Wei cast a displeased glance at Wei Jingyu and reprimanded, "Jingyu! Is that any way to speak to your concubine mother?"

Wei Jingyu ignored Lord Wei and lowered his head.

A-Si sat quietly beside Wei Jingyu, gently tugging at the hem of his robe.

Her dark eyes were filled with silent inquiry.

The moment Wei Jingyu looked at his little sister, all his anger vanished instantly.

His gaze softened significantly as he murmured, "I'll tell you all about it after dinner."

"Okay."

A-Si raised her head to glance at Concubine Yue across the table, her innocent eyes gradually clouding with confusion.

At the dining table, Madam Wei kept piling food into A-Si's bowl.

Her enthusiasm knew no bounds.

Just as A-Si was about to smile and say something to her mother, she heard Wei Xiaorui begin to sniffle and whine nearby.

"Father, Mother... Mother has put all the food in Elder Sister's bowl... I want to eat some too..."

A-Si thought: *I won't give any to you! It'll drive you crazy! Hmph!*