Qin Yining’s smile remained unchanged as she said cheerfully, “Zhao Ge’er, Han Ge’er, your great-great-grandmother, great-great-grandfather, and grandmother have come. Do Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er miss great-great-grandmother?”
Zhao Ge’er nodded earnestly and said in his sweet voice, “Great-great-grandmother, missed you.”
“Missed you! Great-great-grandmother knows kung fu! Hoo-hoo-ha-ha!” Han Ge’er excitedly demonstrated some punches, his little arms and short legs actually moving with proper form!
Qin Yining watched in surprise: “Han Ge’er learned this from great-great-grandmother?”
Both children nodded simultaneously.
Qin Yining smiled and instructed Ji Yun to fetch outdoor clothes for the two children.
Today, both wore goose-yellow silk jackets with small gold locks hanging from their necks. Qin Yining also wore a goose-yellow jacket. Holding one child’s hand in each of hers, she bent down and slowed her pace to match the children’s speed. As they walked, she taught them the names of the flowers and plants they saw, and what the little insects hopping through the grass were called.
Ma Shi couldn’t wait and hurried into the courtyard. She saw the mother and two children and couldn’t help but laugh. The three of them together were too adorable, like a brood of fluffy little ducklings.
“Oh, my precious darlings, Zhao Ge’er, Han Ge’er, come quickly so great-great-grandmother can give you sweet kisses.”
Ma Shi rushed over quickly.
Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er immediately ran toward her on their short legs, embracing her fully as they said in unison, “Great-great-grandmother!”
“Yes!” Ma Shi happily kissed this one and that one.
Qin Yining approached and smiled, “Grandmother.”
Seeing Qin Yining smiling like a flower with particularly good color in her cheeks, Ma Shi couldn’t help but tease, “Seeing these two precious little ones, have all your worries disappeared?”
“Yes, all the unpleasantness can pass now.” Qin Yining smiled, squatting down to pat the children’s heads.
“Mother.”
“Mother!”
The two children spoke in unison, one with slightly slower speech, the other with full vigor. Their calls melted Qin Yining’s heart into a puddle of water.
Ma Shi joyfully took Han Ge’er’s hand while Qin Yining held Zhao Ge’er’s little hand. Both women walked sideways, adjusting to the children’s height and pace as they slowly moved forward.
Zhao Ge’er was quiet by nature and walked alongside Qin Yining. Han Ge’er, however, was like a little calf, pulling Ma Shi’s hand forward with all his might while urging in his sweet voice, “Hurry up, great-great-grandmother, go faster!”
Ma Shi kept saying “alright, alright” while telling Qin Yining, “Han Ge’er’s temperament is exactly like Dafu’s when he was small. You don’t know—when Dafu was little, his mischief could take all sorts of forms. He’d pee in his grandfather’s tobacco, steal his grandfather’s tea and mix sand into it. Haha, and when he got bigger, climbing on roofs and pulling off tiles was routine.”
Qin Yining laughed with a “puchi” sound: “This little rascal is the same. Yesterday he saw an ant hole and deliberately peed on it.”
Ma Shi couldn’t suppress her laughter and burst into hearty laughter.
Qin Yining then bent down and picked up Zhao Ge’er.
The child was well-behaved and quiet, finding a comfortable angle to lean against Qin Yining’s shoulder. His little hand grasped Qin Yining’s long hair. His trusting and dependent appearance made Qin Yining happily kiss the top of his head.
The group made their way to Cixiao Garden. Upon entering the room, they saw Yao Shi sitting on a side chair chatting with the Old Madam, Madam Zheng, and Sun Shi.
Madam Zheng smiled and said, “I’m very grateful for how well our in-law treats Yi Jie’er. I’m usually in Nanyan and rarely have opportunities to return. When the Qin family had such terrible troubles recently, I was extremely anxious but helpless from thousands of miles away. Fortunately, our in-law is righteous and has helped the Qin family greatly. I must thank you here.”
Having been the wife of Duke Dingguo of Great Yan for so many years, Madam Zheng still maintained her dignified bearing despite her family’s decline.
She spoke in neither high nor low tones with a gentle and warm attitude, turning non-existent kindness into reality, delivering soft but merciless slaps that made Yao Shi uncomfortable and flushed with embarrassment.
Yao Shi felt stifled inside, making her voice somewhat sharp: “Madam Zheng needn’t thank me. The Qin girl is quite outstanding—truly worthy of being raised in the Qin Manor. Her manners are excellent, never offensive to her mother-in-law. She’s attentive to everything in the Prince’s manor, managing both big and small matters. I, as the mistress, often can’t even get involved.”
Qin Yining had never grown up in the Qin Manor. By saying this, Yao Shi was scolding Qin Yining for lacking manners, offending her mother-in-law, and usurping her housekeeping authority.
Sun Shi had already disliked Yao Shi since the last time the Qin family members were driven out. Now hearing her dare to speak sarcastically even when visiting, Sun Shi could barely contain her temper. Just as she was about to explode, Madam Zheng beat her to it.
Madam Zheng said, “Thank you for our in-law’s praise. As a princess, Yi Jie’er is merely doing her duty. You should scold and teach her more in the future, criticize her in public and mock her in private, lest she become proud.”
Yao Shi was so angry she nearly fell backward.
Sun Shi felt secretly delighted and laughed.
The Old Madam sipped her honey water as if suppressing a smile at the corner of her mouth.
The Second Madam watched awkwardly from the side. After all, they were in-laws, and if a real fight broke out, it would be Qin Yining who’d be in a difficult position. Seeing figures moving at the entrance from the corner of her eye, she smiled and said, “Here they come.”
Everyone’s attention was diverted as they all looked toward the entrance.
Qin Yining and Ma Shi were leading the children into the room. Though they had heard half of the previous conversation, they could only pretend they hadn’t heard it.
When both parties met, they naturally exchanged polite greetings.
Yao Shi felt stifled inside but still smiled on the surface as she examined Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er.
“These two children are certainly adorable as jade and snow, but they still look more like their mother and not much like their father.”
Yao Shi had always suspected the twins’ bloodline and had even given Qin Yining safflower. Now feeling out of sorts with her stubborn preconceptions, she naturally focused on ways the children resembled Qin Yining, such as their almond-shaped eyes that were very similar to hers.
But to say the children didn’t resemble Pang Xiao would be speaking with eyes wide open to lies. Though the children’s eyes resembled Qin Yining, their features took more after Pang Xiao. Anyone could tell at first glance that these were Pang Xiao’s sons.
Yao Shi’s words made Ma Shi extremely embarrassed. With so many people present, she couldn’t discipline her in public and could only smile apologetically at Sun Shi, Madam Zheng, and the others before saying:
“Your eyes must be getting cloudy with age too. The two children look so much like Dafu when he was small, especially Han Ge’er’s temperament. I think you should bring a mirror when you go out next time to avoid seeing things wrong.”
Yao Shi’s face flushed red from being scolded by her own mother.
Madam Zheng and Sun Shi were now even more certain that Qin Yining’s days at the Prince’s manor would definitely be troubled by Yao Shi.
After thinking for a moment, Madam Zheng took Ma Shi’s hand and smiled as she suggested, “Elder sister, I’ve finally made this trip, and who knows when I’ll come again. I miss the children and would like them to stay at the Qin Manor to keep me company for a while. Yi Jie’er can’t bear to be separated from the children either, so let her stay a few days too. What do you think?”
Ma Shi understood clearly—Madam Zheng couldn’t stand Yao Shi’s behavior and feared Qin Yining would suffer grievances. This was a tactful way of letting Qin Yining return to her natal family.
Ma Shi felt very anxious and very angry with Yao Shi. It was bad enough to lose face at home, but to think she’d come out and still be covered in thorns.
But honestly speaking, which daughter wasn’t the treasure of her parents’ hearts before marriage? Yi Jie’er was a good child. What parent could bear to see their child suffer grievances? If Yi Jie’er’s father were still alive, he would probably give that son-in-law a good talking-to. Now with only women in the family with no other options, they could only let Yi Jie’er come home to stay and keep distance from Yao Shi.
Ma Shi sighed, “That’s fine. Yi girl can also spend more time with you. The Prince’s manor is conveniently close too. When I miss these two little ones, I’ll just come calling.”
Turning to look at the Old Madam, she smiled and said, “Elder sister mustn’t find me bothersome then.”
The Old Madam, advanced in years, had been affected by Qin Huaiyuan’s incident and her health wasn’t what it used to be. Though she later learned that Qin Huaiyuan hadn’t died, her body had suffered damage, and she was now somewhat lacking in energy.
She forced herself to be spirited and smiled, “Please don’t be polite, in-law. Our two families are one family. You’re welcome anytime—how could we find you bothersome?”
Thus, before Qin Yining could speak, the decision for her to temporarily stay at the Qin Manor was settled.
Qin Yining thought of Qiu Feishan, who was staying at the Prince’s manor, and then said to the Old Madam, Sun Shi, and Madam Zheng:
“The new wife of Young Master Mu, the Prince’s good friend, is now with child and will give birth in another two or three months. I get along well with her, and since Young Master Mu has gone away, I invited Mrs. Mu to stay at the Prince’s manor the other day. Now that I’m coming back to stay, I shouldn’t neglect her. I’d like to invite her to come along.”
Sun Shi smiled, “Young Master Mu showed protective kindness to our family back then. I never expected he’d married and was about to become a father. I think this is good—let Mrs. Mu come to our home. I’ll find two experienced women to care for her. We can consider this repaying Young Master Mu’s kindness.”
The Old Madam couldn’t quite remember who Mu Jinghu was, so she asked Nanny Qin beside her. After Nanny Qin whispered a few words in her ear, she remembered and smiled, “So it’s his wife. Perfect to invite her over. Our home has such large grounds—we won’t lack one courtyard for her. It’ll be lively with the whole family living together.”
Thus, Qin Yining went to invite Qiu Feishan.
Originally worried that Qiu Feishan might not want to come, she unexpectedly agreed immediately.
“The Princess’s manor has beautiful scenery. I’ve long wanted to see it.”
When she was brought to the Qin Manor and met Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er, Qiu Feishan was filled with envy.
Qin Yining taught the children to address her: “This is Mrs. Mu. You should call her Aunt Mu.”
Zhao Ge’er said sweetly, “Hello, Aunt Mu.”
Han Ge’er also competed with his brother and said loudly, “Hello, Aunt Mu!” After speaking, he tilted his head and looked up at Qiu Feishan with his little face: “Aunt Mu is also pretty. Aunt Mu is rounder than Mother!”
Qin Yining didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Little brother is living in Aunt Mu’s belly, so Aunt Mu looks round now.”
“Little brother?” Zhao Ge’er curiously walked closer and looked up at Qiu Feishan’s abdomen.
Han Ge’er was amazed and widened his eyes: “Living in the belly? Mother, did Han Ge and ‘gege’ also used to live in Mother’s belly?”