Shopkeeper Liu felt utterly dejected. Watching Mu Jinghu and Pang Xiao exchange polite greetings, his heart was filled with unspeakable bitterness. If Mu Jinghu knew that the person he had captured was him, who knew what he would think?
Pang Xiao ordered his men to tie up Shopkeeper Liu securely, planning to bring him back to the old capital for interrogation.
Turning back to look at Tianji Zi, a sharp glint flashed through Pang Xiao’s phoenix eyes. “We’ll rest here today and set out for the old capital tomorrow.”
Tianji Zi could only nod glumly.
The next morning, Pang Xiao departed with his troops. Mu Jinghu and Tianji Zi naturally accompanied them. As for the case in Boan Town, that was no longer Pang Xiao’s concern.
Fearing that Qin Yining would worry, Pang Xiao ordered someone to ride ahead at full speed to deliver news.
At this moment, Qin Yining was rushing anxiously yet joyfully toward the Qin Manor. Since the distance was short, she didn’t need anyone to prepare a carriage and ran all the way.
Bingtang was panting heavily as she ran: “Princess, please slow down! Watch your step!”
But Qin Yining wouldn’t listen, leaving Bingtang and Qiu Lu far behind. Only Ji Yun could keep up with her pace.
Arriving at the Qin Manor’s entrance, the gatekeepers had already received instructions. They smiled as they bowed, their words flowing like pearls: “Greetings to the Princess. The Qin family madam has arrived with the two young masters. They are currently in Cixiao Garden. The Grand Madam instructed us to wait here, and when the Princess arrives, she should go directly to Cixiao Garden.”
“I understand.” Qin Yining didn’t stop walking and rushed toward Cixiao Garden as soon as she entered.
Ji Yun carefully protected her from the side. Seeing Qin Yining so anxious made her heart ache.
The two young masters had left when they were over five months old, and now they were already one year and eight months old. Children this age could talk and call for their mother, yet neither the Prince nor the Princess had been called even once.
The Princess’s life had been too difficult.
“Princess, please slow down. Please stand and rest for a moment. We’re almost at Cixiao Garden—let’s walk slowly.”
Qin Yining was slightly breathless. Hearing Ji Yun’s advice, she stopped running but still walked very quickly.
All the way to Cixiao Garden, she passed through the entrance hall and walked quickly along the azure stone brick path toward the main house.
The maid standing at the door immediately called inside: “The Fourth Young Mistress has returned.”
A maid from inside lifted the dark green door curtain decorated with fortune and longevity flower patterns.
Qin Yining rushed straight through the door, circled around the pierced carved screen depicting magpies on branches, and suddenly stopped in her tracks.
The Old Madam and Madam Zheng were sitting sideways on either side of the luohan couch by the window, both extending their legs to block the view of the two children inside.
The two children wore identical red silk jackets. The slightly sturdier one was crawling around, while the thinner one quietly played with a nine-ring puzzle.
Qin Yining stood frozen in place, gazing at the two children with near greed.
The sturdy one was her younger son, Han Ge’er. He had been lively since childhood.
The quiet one was her older son, Zhao Ge’er. He had been born somewhat frailer than his brother and had a more well-behaved temperament.
Previously, when they were still in swaddling clothes, it wasn’t apparent, but now that the children had grown some, she could see that except for their eyes, which resembled hers, their entire features took after Pang Xiao. Zhao Ge’er was more well-behaved, and a small red mole between his brows made him look even more handsome, like a pretty little girl. Han Ge’er, however, was a complete little rascal.
Seeing Qin Yining enter but standing there staring at the children without approaching, everyone in the room began to laugh.
Madam Zheng smiled and said, “Yi Jie’er, come over quickly.”
Qin Yining’s hands were sweating from nervousness. She walked over stiffly, first bowing to everyone present, then looking at Madam Zheng anxiously.
Madam Zheng smiled and reached out, scooping up Han Ge’er, who was crawling around and making continuous “swish swish” sounds with his mouth.
Having his movement interrupted, Han Ge’er said dissatisfiedly, “Great-great-grandmother, what are you doing?”
The child’s voice was soft and adorable, with clear pronunciation and plenty of vigor. His pair of lively almond-shaped eyes turned and fell on Qin Yining’s face, and he made a sweet “eh” sound.
Qin Yining eagerly stepped forward.
But Han Ge’er buried his face in Madam Zheng’s embrace, stealing glances at Qin Yining.
Qin Yining’s heart nearly broke. Her eyes grew hot, and tears almost fell.
Zhao Ge’er, however, threw down the nine-ring puzzle, supported himself with both hands on the luohan couch to stand up, took two steps on his short legs across the couch, and curiously tilted his head to look at Qin Yining.
Qin Yining nervously clutched her sleeves.
Zhao Ge’er’s eyes sparkled with lively light. Pursing his small lips, he asked seriously, “Mother?”
Qin Yining nodded repeatedly, holding back tears as she smiled. “Yes, I am Mother. How did Zhao Ge’er recognize Mother?”
“Zhao Ge, look painting,” Zhao Ge’er said earnestly.
Madam Zheng explained, “I specifically had your Second Cousin paint your portrait for the children to recognize.”
“Grandmother… thank you.” Qin Yining’s tears finally couldn’t be held back and streamed down her face.
As if surprised that adults could also cry, both Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er seemed stunned.
Zhao Ge’er stretched out both hands: “No cry.”
Han Ge’er also emerged from Madam Zheng’s embrace and, as if competing with his brother, said smoothly, “Mother no cry, Mother eat candy.” As he spoke, he reached into Madam Zheng’s embrace, clearly very familiar with where the candy was hidden.
Qin Yining sobbed as she stepped forward, extending both arms to embrace both children.
Her heart, which had been suspended for so long, finally settled. Although her children were no longer familiar with her, they still knew to call her Mother!
Qin Yining looked gratefully at Madam Zheng: “Grandmother, thank you. If not for your good teaching, the children wouldn’t recognize me at all.”
This scene moved the Old Madam, Sun Shi, the Second Madam, and others to the point of tears as well.
Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er smelled Qin Yining’s scent and seemed to find it familiar. They didn’t resist at all and even burrowed into Qin Yining’s embrace.
Han Ge’er was particularly curious about Qin Yining’s long hair: “Mother, did you buy Han Ge’er lots of pastries?”
Madam Zheng said, “When I taught these two little ones to call ‘Mother,’ Zhao Ge’er was fine—his temperament is more well-behaved—but Han Ge’er, this little mischief-maker, chases after me all day asking questions, asking where Mother went. I told them you went to the capital on important business and would bring them pastries when you returned.”
Qin Yining nodded understandingly with a smile. “I naturally brought pastries, but they’re too sweet. Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er can only eat a little. Otherwise, bugs will bite their teeth.”
Han Ge’er was somewhat dissatisfied: “Han Ge’er can eat them, bugs won’t bite.”
Zhao Ge’er, however, was concise: “Bugs bite.”
Han Ge’er said to his brother dissatisfiedly, “Bugs don’t bite, can eat food, can eat pastries.”
“They bite. Great-great-grandmother.” The brother, who was slower with words, anxiously turned to Madam Zheng for help.
Madam Zheng smiled and patted Zhao Ge’er’s head. “Zhao Ge’er is right.”
The two children seriously discussed whether bugs really bite or not, melting Qin Yining’s heart completely. At this moment, she wished she could immediately conjure up a mountain of pastries, otherwise nothing could make up for the fourteen months she had missed. But Madam Zheng had taught the children very well, and as their mother, she couldn’t break the rules.
Sun Shi laughed and said, “These two little clever ones are so smart. They can call ‘Mother,’ ‘Great-great-grandmother,’ and ‘Grandmother.’ I think these children take after you and the Prince—they’re all particularly intelligent.”
The Old Madam, being advanced in years, might not like Qin Yining, but she absolutely adored the two soft, fair little bundles. She said gratefully, “It’s all thanks to our in-law’s good teaching. You’ve really worked hard during this time.”
“Not at all. We’re all family—what hardship is there to speak of?” Madam Zheng smiled as she made room for Qin Yining.
Qin Yining was no longer polite, sitting sideways on the edge of the luohan couch, holding the two children and speaking to them softly.
Zhao Ge’er: “Mother, fragrant.”
Han Ge’er: “Mother, you’re prettier than the painting!”
Zhao Ge’er agreed: “Pretty.”
Han Ge’er hugged Qin Yining and smeared saliva on her face: “Mother, kiss kiss.”
Qin Yining held the children, happily kissing this one and that one, feeling that the most satisfying thing in the world was nothing more than this.
The Old Madam instructed her two daughters-in-law to prepare the meal, so Sun Shi and the Second Madam took their leave.
Madam Zheng smiled and asked Qin Yining, “Does Yi Jie’er plan to take the two brothers back to the Prince’s manor?”
Qin Yining hesitated for a moment and said, “I do want to take them back, but they’ve been with you all this time. If I suddenly take them away, they might not be used to it. How about I stay home for a few days to get familiar with the children before we discuss it?”
“That’s good too,” Madam Zheng said. “Stay for a few days first, let the Old Madam and your mother bond with the children, and then I’ll accompany you back to the Prince’s manor. I’ll send them off safely before returning.”
“Thank you, Grandmother.” Qin Yining was deeply grateful.
Madam Zheng had taken such good care of the two children. Even in the middle of summer, the children had neither heat rash nor mosquito bites, and were both so adorably fair—this was all thanks to Madam Zheng.
The family had a sumptuous dinner together.
During the meal, Qin Yining held Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er’s hands, leading them to greet everyone one by one.
Zhao Ge’er was intelligent and quiet, with an excellent memory. He could remember things after being taught once, and it was the same with people he had met. However, his speech wasn’t as smooth as his brother’s. His tender voice often spoke in very short phrases, but his expression was very serious.
Han Ge’er was the opposite—he spoke fluently and was mischievous. He would even pee on ant holes, but when he was being naughty, the way his big eyes sparkled was so adorable that no one had the heart to scold him.
With these two precious ones, even the gloom that had hung over the Qin household dispersed.
Perhaps due to their natural mother-child bond, by evening, Qin Yining had become very familiar with the two children. She personally cared for them, not delegating to others, bathing them, changing their clothes, drying their hair, then holding them as they lay down in the green gauze canopy bed, gently fanning them with a palm fan.
The children seemed particularly excited to see Qin Yining. Even at midnight, they refused to sleep, playing and frolicking on top of her. Han Ge’er especially loved to hug Qin Yining’s neck and talk.
It wasn’t until midnight that the children tired from playing. Qin Yining covered them with thin blankets and gently fanned them to sleep.
Seeing Qin Yining like this, Bingtang, Ji Yun, and the others all felt relieved. They left Qiu Lu to keep night watch while the rest went to rest.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, after Qin Yining had breakfast with the children and was about to teach them to read, Xian Yun hurried in to report: “Princess, the Prince’s manor’s Grand Master, Grand Madam, and Old Madam have all come calling together.”