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"Yaya, Shuanger, come here quickly!" Lady Liu, in a moment of urgency, accidentally called out her daughter’s nickname and quickly corrected herself.

Lin Jiaxin also placed Xiao Yongyan on the ground and joined Lady Liu in paying their respects to Princess Anle.

As they were about to kneel, Princess Anle stopped them, "We are all family here, why bother with such empty formalities! Qiu Ju, Dong Mei, help Old Master Lin and his wife up."

With smiles brimming on their faces, Qiu Ju and Dong Mei swiftly supported the couple’s arms. At this moment, Xia Zheng also hurried over, assisting Lin Jiaxin to rise, and said with a smile, "There is no need for such courtesies with my mother; all these formalities are for outsiders. We don’t stand on such ceremony within the family. "

"That’s exactly right." Princess Anle looked over the couple and nodded to herself, clearly impressed. They indeed were Lin Yuan’s parents; despite a hint of awkwardness, they exhibited none of the country folk’s humble poverty or an inability to present themselves properly.

The couple’s emerging familiarity with the Capital city’s amusing tales, thanks to Xia Zheng’s efforts to share them these past days, undoubtedly played a part.

Listening to the stories had given them an unconscious grasp of various rules in the Capital; even if they weren’t experts, they at least wouldn’t embarrass themselves.

As elders, Lin Jiaxin and his spouse had the privilege of being exempted from certain forms of respect by Princess Anle, but as a junior member of the family, Lin Yuan naturally could not feign ignorance.

She approached with a smile, flanked by Lin Wei and Xiao He, followed by Ding Ming and Ding Liang, all of them offering a proper curtsey to Princess Anle.

Princess Anle had been eagerly anticipating her daughter-in-law and was naturally not willing to let her offer such grand gestures of respect upon arrival; she quickly pulled her over, clasped her hands tightly, and praised, "After more than a year, Yuanyuan has grown even more striking, but that little face has thinned. Has Xia Zheng been bullying you, making you worry about the restaurant business? From now on, we won’t bother with these trivial matters, let him deal with it!

You, just sit at home every day, keeping me and your sister-in-law company with chats! "

With that, Princess Anle included both her daughters-in-law in the conversation, causing Tian Hui’s face to flush red, as she timidly glanced at Xia Zhen.

However, Xiao Zhen, ever oblivious to subtlety, failed to catch Tian Hui’s shy glances and stood beside them with stern dignity. Only the hand he occasionally jabbed into Xia Zheng’s side betrayed him.

"I heard Elder Zhen has returned?" Princess Anle, holding Lin Yuan’s hand, scanned the crowd but didn’t see Lao Fan, prompting her to ask.

Lin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh at the mention of Lao Fan, who had grumbled all the way about not returning to the Capital until he ate his fill of the city’s various teas and pastries upon entering the city gates.

The old fellow, while munching, kept nodding, "It’s been years since I last returned, and the Capital’s edibles have only gotten tastier. Had I known, I would’ve come back sooner. Tsk tsk, returning to the Capital isn’t without its perks!"

Xiao Linshuang tugged at Princess Anle’s sleeve and said, "Sister, oh Madam, my master said there are too many people in the Capital who want to learn medicine from him, so he didn’t leave the carriage to avoid being pestered by visitors every day."

Indeed, Elder Zhen Taihe’s reputation resonated powerfully within the Capital, and even in the years of his absence, many had inquired about him both openly and covertly.

"Princess, it’s windy here, and quite chilly. Let’s go inside and talk. Haven’t you also prepared lunch for Old Master Lin and his wife? Please ask them to go home," Dong Mei suggested to Princess Anle at the right moment.

Princess Anle, realizing her oversight, exclaimed, "Oh my, I’ve been so happy I forgot!" She quickly ushered everyone toward the house.

Before they reached the door, they heard a carriage approaching from a distance.

Two well-dressed young ladies stepped down, one as radiant as a peach blossom and full of smiles, the other with bright and curious eyes that spun around.

Upon seeing the attire of Lin Yuan’s family, she clearly looked down upon them.

"Han Yan greets the princess, wishing you peace and safety," Yao Hanai courteously knelt, performing a greeting that was impeccably befitting a young lady of her standing upon meeting her elders.

Yao Zhilan might not have thought highly of the Lin family, but the presence of Princess Anle, the Xia brothers, and Tian Hui demanded her respect, and so she followed her sister’s lead and curtsied.

Recognizing the Yao sisters, Princess Anle paused and said with a smile, "Miss Yao, please rise."

Yao Hanai rose gracefully, turned to Xia Zhen, Xia Zheng, and Tian Hui, and greeted, "Greetings to the gentlemen and Miss Tian."