Empress Yuan stood, composed, looking Zhangsun Wuji up and down with a cold glare that displayed no hints of their mother-son relationship.
"Have you been healthy, Mother?" Zhangsun Wuji asked expressionlessly with a slight bow. "Please pardon me for not having welcomed your arrival, as I had no idea."
"Save it," Empress Yuan said curtly. "It's good enough that you do not fault others. Who would dare find fault with you?"
As if he hadn't heard anything Zhangsun Wuji continued, "I have tasks to handle. I will visit you when they are done. The scenery in Huazhou is decent. If you like it, I can arrange for the local official to take you on a tour."
"What are you going to do?" Empress Yuan questioned, before spotting Meng Fuyao, who was standing behind him. "Whose wild child is that? Not paying any respect?"
Meng Fuyao stepped forward and was about to bow when Zhangsun Wuji stopped her. "She is an outside official. I'll send her out right now."
