Xiao Rongyan nodded repeatedly, his arms tensed as he maintained his posture, afraid that any slight mistake would make the child in his arms uncomfortable.

It was rare to see the usually composed and unflappable Xiao Rongyan in such a restrained state. Bai Qingyan chuckled softly and said to Xiao Rongyan, “When Kangle was born, she was tiny, so Imperial Physician Huang took extra care of her. Children recover quickly, too. Mother says both children are more well-behaved and sensible than I was as a child. When I was Kangle and Xile’s age, I was very spoiled and loved to cry and fuss, but Kangle and Xile are very well-behaved. Unless they’re hungry or need their diapers changed, they’re generally good—either sleeping, or opening their big eyes to look around, or sucking their fingers.”

“It seems our Xile and Kangle will both have steady temperaments when they grow up…” As Dong Shi spoke, Chun Zhi had already brought up the chilled sour plum soup.

“Boys are one thing, but Yan thinks girls should be more lively!” Xiao Rongyan said earnestly to Dong Shi, then lowered his gaze to look at the daughter in his arms. He had always felt that if daughters could remain lively and adorable, it must be because their parents and relatives all cherished them dearly.

Just like Bai Jinzhi—even after the Bai family encountered troubles, she still maintained that fearless, carefree disposition because she had her eldest sister supporting her from above, with her aunt, sister-in-law, and mother all loving her.

Xiao Rongyan had always felt heartache for A’Bao. His A’Bao had always lived such a difficult life. Others looked at A’Bao and felt she seemed confident and in control of everything, but Xiao Rongyan knew how tired and suffering she truly was!

He knew even more what kind of efforts Bai Qingyan had made to protect the Bai family and to pick up the Sun-Shooting Bow again. All those things that seemed effortless to others were Bai Qingyan giving her all.

Even to this day, Bai Qingyan’s arms were still wrapped with heavy iron sand bags, never slackening for a single day.

“Have some sour plum soup first. Nanny Tong’s craftsmanship is quite excellent…” Dong Shi said to Bai Qingyan. “You hold the child first!”

Though Xiao Rongyan still wanted to hold the child, he didn’t want to refuse Dong Shi’s kind gesture. He carefully handed the child to Bai Qingyan and accepted the sour plum soup with both hands: “Thank you, Mother!”

“Yan… good child, from now on, like A’Bao, call me Mother!” Dong Shi’s expression was kind and gentle. “Now that you and A’Bao are married, we are family. You were willing to give up the opportunity to enter the capital first for A’Bao’s sake—Mother is very moved and understands how deep your feelings for A’Bao are. So to me, you, A’Bao, A’Yu, and Jinse are all the same! You are all my children! You don’t need to be so formal in front of Mother.”

There were other words Dong Shi didn’t say, afraid of stirring up Xiao Rongyan’s sadness…

Xiao Rongyan had lost his mother from childhood, worked tirelessly for Yan, and in the end wasn’t even trusted by his sister-in-law.

Moreover, this time, when Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan pretended to have a falling out, even deploying troops at Yan’s border ready for war at any moment, Xiao Rongyan came to the Great Zhou. Dong Shi, thinking about it briefly, understood that it must have been Xiao Rongyan’s sister-in-law who sent Xiao Rongyan to Great Zhou.

Otherwise, given Xiao Rongyan’s temperament, he would never be the type to come to the capital city out of momentary romantic feelings without considering the bigger picture, causing the Yan Empress Dowager to become suspicious.

Xiao Rongyan’s sister-in-law also knew Xiao Rongyan’s identity and knew that Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan were already married with children. After she had secretly betrayed Great Zhou behind Xiao Rongyan’s back, nearly causing A’Yu to lose his life in Xiliang and using this to sow discord between Xiao Rongyan and A’Bao, she then sent Xiao Rongyan to Great Zhou. Wasn’t she afraid that A’Bao would fly into a rage and take Xiao Rongyan’s life!

Xiao Rongyan’s sister-in-law didn’t truly consider Xiao Rongyan as her own child or family member at all.

But none of this mattered. Xiao Rongyan had already married A’Bao. They say a son-in-law is half a son. If his sister-in-law didn’t treat Xiao Rongyan as family, then… from now on, Xiao Rongyan would be Dong Shi’s son. If his sister-in-law didn’t cherish him, Dong Shi would!

Hearing these words from Dong Shi, Xiao Rongyan’s eyes suddenly grew hot…

Previously, when he and Bai Qingyan had made a great mistake together and Dong Shi scolded Bai Qingyan with a stern face, Xiao Rongyan had felt envious and hoped his mother could scold him the same way.

He hadn’t expected that today… His mother-in-law would say such words to him.

Xiao Rongyan also understood that Bai Qingyan’s intelligence came from her mother, and her mother must have guessed that he had been sent to Great Zhou at his sister-in-law’s request. For a moment, Xiao Rongyan didn’t know whether he should feel embarrassed or grateful; his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

The sister-in-law he respected had pushed him to Great Zhou, while his mother-in-law said… from now on she would be his mother.

Xiao Rongyan placed the unfinished sour plum soup on the black lacquered square tray in Chun Zhi’s hands and solemnly bowed to Dong Shi, his voice slightly choked: “Yan… pays respects to Mother!”

The corners of Dong Shi’s lips curved up, and her eyes were also somewhat red. She picked up the redwood brocade box that had been beside her and said with a smile, “Come to think of it, Mother hasn’t properly given Yan a meeting gift yet. This jade pendant was your father’s beloved possession. Today… Mother will give this jade pendant to Yan. From now on, our family… will depend on you and A’Bao.”

Xiao Rongyan crawled forward on his knees and received the jade pendant with both hands raised high above his head.

“Now that the realm is not yet settled, as a precaution, your identity… only a few people in this hall know about it. Your aunts don’t know yet. When the realm is settled in the future, Mother will introduce you to your aunts. Your aunts are all wonderful people!” Dong Shi said to Xiao Rongyan with a smile.

“Mother’s considerations are thorough. Yan will follow Mother’s arrangements…” Xiao Rongyan bowed again.

“Enough!” Dong Shi supported Xiao Rongyan’s hand as he was about to bow, and patted his hand gently. “Enough… our family doesn’t observe such formalities!”

Xiao Rongyan’s lips moved silently, feeling warmth flowing through his heart like a gentle stream.

“I’ll take the two children with me first. You and A’Bao haven’t seen each other for a long time as husband and wife, and surely have important matters to discuss. Mother… won’t stay here to disturb you!” As Dong Shi spoke, she stood up with Chun Zhi’s support.

“Mother…” Bai Qingyan stood up and said to Dong Shi, “Let’s leave the children here for now. Yan hasn’t had much chance to see the two children yet!”

Dong Shi, who had already put on her shoes, looked back at the respectfully postured Xiao Rongyan and nodded: “Mother didn’t think it through. Very well… if you need to discuss serious matters later, have the wet nurse bring the two children to Mother!”

“Good!” Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded.

After seeing Dong Shi off, Xiao Rongyan eagerly took Kangle from Bai Qingyan’s arms, while Bai Qingyan took Xile from Chun Tao’s embrace. Walking to Xiao Rongyan’s side, she instructed Chun Tao and Wei Zhong: “You may withdraw first!”

Wei Zhong, Chun Tao, and Chun Zhi acknowledged and withdrew.

Xiao Rongyan kissed Xile in Bai Qingyan’s arms, then looked up at Bai Qingyan, his voice hoarse as he spoke: “A’Bao… you’ve worked so hard. We had agreed that I would be by your side when you gave birth, but I didn’t make it in time.”