As soon as Song Yaoyao appeared at the palace gates, Assistant Minister Song called out:
"Yaoyao!"
Song Yaoyao spotted Assistant Minister Song too. After saying goodbye to Chen Yixiao, she hurried over.
When Song Yaoyao reached him, Assistant Minister Song took her by the arms and looked her over.
"It's been months. Let your father have a good look at you. Have you lost weight?
"You little rascal, you went away for so long. Your mother and I missed you to death.
"Your mother talks about you every day..."
"Father, were you waiting here just for me?"
"Yes. I'd just finished work when I heard you'd returned and gone to see His Majesty, so I waited for you at the palace gates."
"Father, I missed you and Mother too. Let's hurry home."
"Yes, yes, yes. Get into the carriage."
Assistant Minister Song could never get enough of looking at his youngest daughter.
When she was by his side, he always thought she was such a scatterbrain. But during the months she had been away, he and his wife had talked about her every day.
Was she getting enough to eat? Had she fallen ill? Had she been hurt?
The couple had worried themselves sick!
Now that their child was back, he just wanted to look at her a little longer.
When the carriage reached the residence gates, Madam Song, Song Qingyu, Song Qinghui, and Song Qingling were all there. They had been waiting for some time.
When Listening Wind brought Ying Huiyan and her brother to the assistant minister's residence, Madam Song had learned that Song Yaoyao was back.
Overjoyed, she had immediately busied herself.
She directed the maids and older serving women to heat water so her daughter could have a hot bath when she returned, and instructed