The Beauties of the Song Dynasty - Chapter 114
Xu'er is two years old now, I wonder how tall he is? He should be able to walk by now. Originally, she planned to rush back for Xu'er's second birthday, but Xian'er—her second son in her arms—had a high fever that wouldn't go down due to catching a cold, which terrified the couple. By the time they finally managed to cure the child's illness, Xu'er's birthday had already passed.
That child...they owe him so much.
"lady!"
The surprised voice made Wanlan look up. Seeing the woman who came to greet her with an expression of ecstasy, she smiled slightly.
"Wu Niang, it's been a long time."
With tears welling in her eyes, Wu Niang tightly grasped the hand holding the child, choking back sobs, "Madam, you're finally back! Last year, when we heard you were missing and caught in the plague, it terrified my mother and me. But you wouldn't come back to let us see you and put our minds at ease!"
"Wu Niang, I'm sorry, how is Mother?"
"Thank goodness, everything has been fine this past year. Xu'er has grown up, but he's so naughty!" Wu Niang smiled through her tears, looking down at the baby in her arms, and said happily, "This must be Xian'er, what a beautiful child!"
The sleeping baby had delicate features and fair, smooth skin, making it impossible to look away.
"Madam, let's go inside. Xu'er is having a snack with Her Highness in the palace right now."
As Wu Niang walked, she talked, her face beaming with joy. "Xu'er has already started studying. Every morning he stays up for an hour and a half, then he comes to Bao Ci Palace to have snacks and chat with the Empress. After lunch, he takes a nap in the afternoon, and when he wakes up, it's Xu'er's own time. Don't let his young age fool you, he's only two years old, he's very clever. When he talks to the servants, he's like an adult, speaking eloquently and logically. Even the Empress sometimes can't answer his questions!"
Wanlan listened quietly with a slight smile, her mind filled with the image of that little face she last saw a year ago. A wave of sorrow washed over her, and she almost burst into tears.
"What if Xu'er... doesn't he recognize his mother anymore?"
"Madam, don't overthink it. How could Xu'er not recognize you? You haven't seen each other for a year. Don't worry, just wait for the child to call you!" I guarantee she'll be so happy she'll cry tears of joy!
Before she even stepped through the palace gates, the laughter emanating from inside made Wanlan instinctively stop her foot from rising, almost holding her breath as she listened to the clear, childlike voice—
"Grandma, I haven't recited the Three Character Classic to you yet! Shall I recite it for you?"
"Alright, alright, of course. You recite it, Grandma is listening."
"Hmm... Once upon a time, Mencius' mother chose a good neighborhood. When her son did not study, she cut the threads of her loom."
"Tell Grandmother, did Master Qi teach you the meaning of these words?"
"Yes! This tells a story: Mencius' mother kept moving house after house in order to give him a good environment to grow up in, until they moved to a place near a school. Later, Mencius went to school but did not study properly. So Mencius' mother cut the loom and told Mencius that studying is like weaving cloth. You can't stop once you stop. Even if you can stop, the cloth you weave will be full of knots and no one will want to buy it."
What an amazing kid! He managed to deliver such a long speech so smoothly.
Standing at the palace gate, Wanlan smiled through her tears, exchanged a glance with Wuniang, who looked at her with affection, and continued listening.
"Xu'er is amazing! She remembers everything her master taught her perfectly!"
"But Xu'er asked Master Qi a question today, why didn't he answer it?"
"Oh? What question did my Xu'er ask that stumped even her master?"
"Xu'er asked the master if Xu'er's mother would also keep moving house because of Xu'er?"
Those listening inside and outside the hall tensed up. Wanlan choked, almost sobbing. She quickly covered her mouth, turned away, and gasped for breath, trying to suppress her sobs.
Xu'er, her son...
Is he resenting his irresponsible mother? Does he not want to see her anymore?
Wu Niang sighed and took the child from her arms. "Madam, please go in." With that, she stepped into the hall first and called out, "Your Majesty, look who has come."
After walking around the screen, Wanlan only had time to glance at Song Huining before her gaze was drawn to the little boy sitting next to her.
He looked up at Song Huining, his clear eyes filled with doubt and curiosity. His shoulder-length hair was tied up with a plain white jade hairpin, and his light blue scholar's robe was neat and tidy. He was a very handsome and gentle child.
He looks like Zehua!
His dark eyes and gentle, calm expression were very similar to Zehua's!
This child is only two years old...
"Lan'er!"
Overjoyed, Song Huining abruptly stood up from the couch, pulled Wanlan close, and looked her up and down. "Lan'er, are you alright? You scared your mother half to death. Why did you only come back now!"
"I'm sorry, I've made Mother worry."
The sudden surge of tears almost rendered Wanlan speechless. For a moment, she couldn't tell whether it was from the long-suppressed emotions she had felt about everything that had happened before, or from suddenly seeing her son, whom she hadn't seen for a year but who had grown up. She just suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
The Great Song Dynasty's Beauties, Volume Six, Chapter 102: The Return of the Swallows in the Drizzle (2)
"Lan'er!"
Overjoyed, Song Huining abruptly stood up from the couch, pulled Wanlan close, and looked her up and down. "Lan'er, are you alright? You scared your mother half to death. Why did you only come back now!"
"I'm sorry, I've made Mother worry."
The sudden surge of tears almost rendered Wanlan speechless. For a moment, she couldn't tell whether it was due to the long-suppressed emotions she had felt about everything that had happened before, or because she had suddenly seen her son, whom she hadn't seen for a year but who had grown up. She just suddenly felt an urge to cry.
She held back her tears and turned to look at the boy who was still sitting on the bed, staring blankly at her. She called out to him timidly, her voice choked with emotion:
“Xu’er…”
Song Huining smiled slightly and waved to Xiao Weixu, "Xu'er, come here quickly."
Xiao Weixu obediently got up and walked down from the bed, calling out to her softly, "Grandma..." but his eyes remained fixed on the woman with tears in her eyes.
He just felt that this person looked familiar, but suddenly his mind went blank and he couldn't remember who the person in front of him was.
Song Huining tenderly stroked his head, "Xu'er, don't you remember your mother? Quickly call her mother."