The moment the Emperor's carriage arrived, all chatting ceased as everyone scrambled to welcome the imperial couple.
When Long Yang and Lu Liangwei got down from the carriage, the crowd was already on their knees, and cries of greeting rose one after another from among them.
"You may all rise!"
Kneeling among the throng of family members, Li Tong'er could not help raising her head to sneak a peek when she heard the Emperor's deep voice.
From her position at the far back, all she could glimpse was the man's profile.
However, even that was enough to make her breath catch in her throat.
In the span of a little more than ten years, the once-youthful Emperor had grown into the calm and reserved man he was now.
A mere glance at the perfectly sculpted outline of his face was enough to send her heart palpitating.
She stared on in a daze, almost forgetting to get up until Madam Li tugged at her arm.