After Wushuang finished speaking, she immediately turned around and ran back.
Chu Yao stood there, watching her retreating figure as she ran further and further away, his smile deepening.
Chapter 74 | Table of Contents
Chapter 74:
Willow catkins filled the sky, resembling drifting snowflakes.
On the eastern official road of the capital, a caravan of carriages sped by.
A corner of the car curtain was lifted, revealing Wushuang's smiling face.
She took a deep breath; the air was filled with the rich fragrance of flowers and the faint scent of new leaves.
"I miss it so much," Wushuang said. "I haven't smelled the scent of the capital for seven years."
"I really miss those days." A clear, youthful male voice followed, and a round little head appeared on Wushuang's face, mimicking her taking a deep breath and sighing in a similar manner.
"What do you miss?" Wushuang tilted her head and pinched her younger brother's soft cheek, asking him, "Do you remember what the capital was like? You were only this big when we left." She spread her arms apart, gesturing about half an arm's length away, "You couldn't even speak, all you did was cry for milk all day long."
“Third sister, you are mistaken.” Junyu imitated the way the tutor at home would sway his head while lecturing. “If I can’t even speak, how would you know if I’m crying because I’m hungry, because I need to relieve myself, or just because I’m bored?”
Wushuang was speechless at his question, but unwilling to show weakness in front of her younger brother, she rolled her eyes and changed the subject, saying, "Since you remember, then tell me, which way does the main gate of the Marquis of Runan's mansion face, and how many courtyards are there in total?"
"The Marquis's residence faces south, so the main gate naturally faces south," Junyu replied unhurriedly. "Originally, there were twelve courtyards in total. Because my second, third, and fourth sisters have all grown up, my grandmother specially suggested building a new courtyard for you sisters to live in. I have seen the blueprints with my father."
"You're cheating." Wushuang grabbed her younger brother's braid and wouldn't let go.
Junyu retorted, "I didn't specifically go to see it to answer your question; I saw it a year ago."
"In short, it wasn't something you remembered before you left the capital."
"If I remember, why do I need to specify which year I remember? When I take the imperial examination in the future, will I have to indicate on the exam paper when and from which book each question was read?"
Yang took the teacup from Bailu's hand and calmly sipped her tea, occasionally glancing at the spring scenery outside the window, completely ignoring the daily bickering between her two children that took place right on time for each of their three meals.
In front of the Shili Pavilion, Wuxia stretched her neck and gazed into the distance without stopping. Although she could not see her parents and younger siblings, her thoughts had already drifted to their side for a reunion.
If it weren't for Chu Ye constantly bringing her tea and water, she probably would have had a dry, cracked mouth from the sun.
Wuxia gave birth to a son, Chu Heng, in the second year after marrying Chu Ye. The third year, she had her second son, Chu Ke. She did not have any more children for the next two years until last year when she gave birth to her youngest daughter, Chu Yi.
The couple were as loving and affectionate as newlyweds, and Chu Ye always kept his promise, keeping only Wu Xia as his concubine in the backyard and not taking in any other concubines or mistresses.
After waiting and hoping, a whole morning passed, and finally, dust rose in the distance.
Wuxia suddenly stood up.
"It's a carriage, my husband, it's a carriage!" she exclaimed happily.
Chu Yi, who was sleeping soundly in her wet nurse's arms, was suddenly awakened by the shout. When she opened her eyes, she could only see her dear mother's back as she ran further and further away.
It feels like I've been abandoned!
Chu Yi pouted and started wailing, refusing to stop no matter how her nanny tried to soothe her.
"It's my sister! She's here to pick us up." Wushuang, who had been peering out the window, was the first to see Wuxia approaching.
The carriage stopped, and Wang Hongbo, who was riding a horse, stepped forward to help her jump down from the carriage.
Wushuang didn't even have time to say thank you and rushed straight at Wuxia.
Junyu also emerged from the carriage, and Wang Hongbo dismounted and carried him down. [No pop-ups, I love this kind of website, definitely deserves a good review!]
"Brother Bo, you're so kind." Jun Yu grabbed the hem of his robe and said obsequiously, "It's a pity that when we return to the capital, Third Sister will become a princess, and I can no longer pretend that you are my brother-in-law."
After saying that, without waiting for Wang Hongbo's reaction, he chased after Wushuang and left.
Wushuang buried her face in Wuxia's arms. She had grown taller now and could no longer be picked up by her sister like when she was little. She could only hug Wuxia's neck, laughing and calling out, "Sister, I missed you so much. You are still as beautiful as before, you haven't changed at all."
“How could you not have changed?” Wuxia said. “When you left, you were only up to my thigh, but now you’re almost as tall as me. If I hadn’t changed at all, wouldn’t I be a monster?”
Wuxia looked Wushuang up and down and asked in surprise, "You've grown taller, but your face is still chubby. You should be thirteen years old by now. This shouldn't be the case."
“Third sister isn’t thin either,” Junyu interjected. “It’s all because her husband sends her truckloads of fresh fruit, seafood, beef, mutton, and delicacies from all over the country every month. He feeds her like a piglet. How could she not be fat?”
"You talk too much!" Wushuang reached out and tapped her younger brother on the forehead. "What is feeding piglets? Have you ever fed piglets? You jump to conclusions without knowing the facts. Is this how Mr. Gu taught you?"
"Sigh..." Wuxia was interrupted by Madam Yang before she could utter a single word.
“Ignore them. They keep arguing all day long. Your father can at least ride his horse to avoid them, but my ears are practically calloused from all the way here.” She said as she pulled Wuxia toward the pavilion. “Let’s go inside and talk.”
“I envy them so much.” Wuxia followed her mother into the pavilion. “Shuangshuang and Yu’er can spend every day together, and they’re always by their parents’ side. Unlike me, I can only see my parents in my dreams.”
“You’re a mother of three now, you can’t be so clingy to your parents.” Madam Yang said, taking Chu Yi from the wet nurse. “Oh, this is my little granddaughter, she looks exactly like your mother when she was little, she’s so adorable.”
Chu Yi had just finished crying and was still sobbing intermittently.
However, the little girl naturally loved being kissed and hugged, and Yang held her in his arms and showered her with affection. Chu Yi still had tears on her face, but she was already giggling.
Wushuang squeezed next to her mother and sister to tease her little niece.
As for Junyu, although he and Wushuang bicker all the time, he actually has a very good relationship with his third sister and naturally joins in.
Standing behind Chu Ye, Chu Heng and Chu Ke, who had been ignored, stepped forward together, unwilling to give up, and tugged at Jun Yu's sleeve, shouting, "Are you my little uncle?"
Junyu turned around and saw two little boys who were about the same height as him. He remained silent and didn't answer. What if he suddenly didn't want to be his uncle anymore?