Li Xiu stepped forward and hugged her younger brother as well, only letting go after a long while.
Li Xuancang was surrounded by his family, who fussed over him with concern.
A moon-white figure stood quietly to the side, her delicate hands tightly clutching her sleeves until her knuckles turned white. Tears silently slid down her cheeks, falling drop by drop onto her lapels.
She used all her strength to restrain the urge to rush forward, unwilling to interrupt this moment.
Her eyes never left Li Xuancang for an instant, brimming with the longing she had suppressed for years.
Li Xuancang looked toward Du Ruomei, and their eyes met.
Father Li, Mother Li, and his eldest sister released Li Xuancang. He walked heavily toward Du Ruomei and pulled her into his arms.
"I'm sorry... I made you wait so long."
Du Ruomei clung tightly to Li Xuancang, shaking her head desperately as tears poured down like rain.
"Xuancang, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Come, eat first."
The family entered the main hall, their steps noticeably lighter.
Li Xuancang turned to Bai Meng and the others and instructed, "Go rest first!"
Li Xuancang wanted to spend time with his family, so he had Bai Meng and the others withdraw first.
"Understood."
They accepted the order loudly, as though they had returned to several years ago.
They also had much to say to Li Xuancang, but they knew he needed to be with his family.
Now that Li Xuancang had returned safely, there was no need to rush.
"The Marquis has returned. This is wonderful."
"With the Marquis here, no one will dare bully us."
"Now that the Marquis has returned, we no longer have to live in fear."
"..."
The servants of the Guard Commander's Estate were all longtime retainers