Chapter 913: Family Reunion
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Galetron]
O R A N G E S T A R
[Alma S.] [Azurixa] [Christine G.-L.] [K.Rom]
[Lily J.] [Ziana K.-P.]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Anasi G.] [Jwyla C.] [Passerby] [Rose Ky] [Xena]
G O L D S T A R
[Anne C.]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Debra W] [Smurfinbatik]
C E L E S T I A L C O N Q U E R O R
[Ava C.] [kuroneko_chan] [Leeyue] [Manon]
[Raquel G.] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes] [Woon Li Ying]
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Grandma Zhou’s birthday was coming up in a few days, so she had bought rice, flour, and spices. Xiao Heng helped carry the goods into her home, and coincidentally ran into her grandson reviewing his studies.
The child struggled with recognizing certain characters and couldn’t remember the correct stroke order, so Xiao Heng took the opportunity to teach him a little.
By the time he returned home, the other children had gone to the backyard to play. Xuanyuan Qi was also there, enjoying some granduncle-grandnephew bonding time with Jing Kong.
Though he was fond of his son, his son had already passed the age of being all cuddly and adorable; how could he possibly be as fun as little Jing Kong?
Gu Jiao was in the east room, tidying up clothes. She had neatly laid out a bed full of beautiful dresses and blouses.
When Xiao Heng entered the room, she was just admiring each piece of clothing one by one.
There was a look of contentment and a trace of pride between her brows.
Xiao Heng walked over to her side and looked at her with amusement. “What’s going on? You look so happy.” As he spoke, his gaze landed on the bed full of clothes, and his face filled with surprise. “So many clothes, where did they all come from?”
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and replied, “My mother made them!”
Xiao Heng smiled in surprise. “You called her ‘mother’?”
Gu Jiao blinked. “…Mm.”
This girl could actually get shy? Xiao Heng couldn’t help it and burst out laughing.
“What are you laughing at?” Gu Jiao asked sternly.
Xiao Heng cleared his throat. “Ahem, nothing.”
Because you’re adorable.
Of course, Xiao Heng’s laughter wasn’t just because she amused him; there was another very important reason. He was genuinely happy for her, from the bottom of his heart.
He didn’t know exactly what she had gone through to form such a psychological barrier.
But regardless of what it was, today, she had stepped over it.
In truth, Xiao Heng knew these clothes had been made for her by Yao shi. They had left the capital in the third month of last year, and it was now the fifth month again. One year and two full months had passed since Yao shi last saw Gu Jiao.
But there hadn’t been a single day when Yao shi didn’t miss her. Whenever she had spare time, she would sew clothes for Gu Jiao, and she didn’t even make that many for Gu Xiaobao.
And these were just the best ones Yao shi had carefully selected. There were many more she felt weren’t good enough, so she didn’t even bring them out.
After proudly showing Xiao Heng her clothes, Gu Jiao sat down on the edge of the bed and began folding them one by one.
Xiao Heng sat at the other end of the bed, handing the clothes to her as she folded them. As he passed each one, he said, “I have good news and bad news to tell you. Which one do you want to hear first?”
“The good one.” Gu Jiao replied.
Looks like she was really in a good mood tonight. Otherwise, given her usual personality, she would definitely ask to hear the bad news first.
Affected by her cheerful mood, the corners of Xiao Heng’s lips couldn’t help lifting ever so slightly. “The good news is, our wedding has been moved up. We won’t have to wait until the tenth month.”
“Huh?” Gu Jiao paused mid-fold and looked at him in surprise.
Xiao Heng said, “My imperial uncle the Emperor changed it. It’s now set for the eighteenth of next month, though it hasn’t been publicly announced yet. As for the reason, well, the Empress Dowager of the State of Zhao has taken ill, and they want to use a grand wedding to lift her spirits. So the marriage alliance between the two states has been brought forward.”
Gu Jiao: Grandaunt, you’re really something.
After being constantly provoked by Marquis Xuanping’s daily bragging about his beloved daughter, Empress Dowager Zhuang had finally given up her principles. She wanted a precious little great-grandchild, right here, right now, immediately!
Xiao Heng looked at her gently and said, “But don’t worry, although the date is moved up, the wedding itself won’t be cut short or simplified.”
In fact, Princess Xinyang had already begun preparing for the wedding back in the first month of the year, so everything had long been arranged.
Seeing her remain silent, Xiao Heng added, “Of course, if you’re not comfortable with the change, I can have the date moved back.”
Gu Jiao answered seriously, “Whether it’s moved up or not doesn’t matter. I mainly want to help bring some good fortune to Grandaunt.”
Xiao Heng stifled a laugh.
“So, what’s the bad news?” Gu Jiao asked.
At the mention of this, Xiao Heng sighed up at the ceiling. “Ah, the bad news is, since we’re getting married, I have to resume my identity as Xiao Heng and can no longer be Xiao Liulang. According to custom, I can’t continue living here before the wedding. And since Granduncle comes back late, Jing Kong, Gu Yan, and Xiaoshun’s studies… will all be left in your hands.”
Gu Jiao: A bolt from the blue!
……
After nightfall, the whole family sat together in the main hall to have dinner.
Little Jing Kong insisted on sitting next to Gu Jiao, still using his own set of small, exclusive utensils and vegetarian dishes.
Xuanyuan Qi sat on his other side, listening as the little one proudly bragged about his dining set, “This wooden bowl was made by JiaoJiao, and this spoon too! The pattern on the chopsticks was carved by Big Brother Xiaoshun…”
He listed everything like a treasured inventory, and it was clear that he was being raised with the utmost care and affection in this home.
Gu Xiaobao reached out to grab his chopsticks, messing up the neatly arranged tableware he had worked so hard to set up. But instead of getting angry, he simply picked up a wooden bowl and handed it to Gu Xiaobao, saying, “You can only play with this one. The chopsticks and spoon might poke you.”
Gu Xiaobao obediently took the bowl and began playing with it clumsily.
Xuanyuan Qi had never imagined that there would come a day when he could share a family meal with people other than his son.
That meal was filled with joy as everyone at the table ate happily.
Xuanyuan Qi’s gaze kept shifting back and forth between Little Jing Kong and Gu Jiao, so frequently that even Liao Chen took notice.
It was understandable to look at Jing Kong. He was, after all, his grandnephew. But why did he keep staring at that girl?
Xuanyuan Qi murmured under his breath with emotion, “I never thought there would come a day when she could live like a normal person.”
“Father, what did you say?” Liao Chen thought his father was speaking to him and hadn’t quite caught it.
“Ah, nothing.” Xuanyuan Qi replied. “Let’s eat.”
……
After dinner, it was time for Xuanyuan Qi to head back.
Duke An’s people had already purchased a residence in the capital, and Xuanyuan Qi and Liao Chen were currently staying there.
He bid farewell to the family, and Gu Jiao took Little Jing Kong’s hand to walk them to the door.
“You chat with your Granduncle for a bit. I’ll go boil some water.” Gu Jiao said to Little Jing Kong.
“Okay, JiaoJiao!” Little Jing Kong nodded vigorously and let go of Gu Jiao’s hand.
Gu Jiao turned and went back inside the house.
Xuanyuan Qi knelt on one knee, lowering himself to meet the boy’s eyes. He carefully removed a grain of rice stuck to the corner of his mouth and gently said, “Jing Kong, would you like to come stay with Granduncle for a few days?”
“Why?” Little Jing Kong asked.
Xuanyuan Qi replied, “Because Granduncle misses you very much and wants to spend more time with you.”
Little Jing Kong let out a soft “Oh,” then said, “If you miss me, you can just come visit me! I can’t leave; bad brother-in-law already left, so I have to stay with JiaoJiao! I can’t let JiaoJiao be all alone!”
Xuanyuan Qi chuckled and patted his small shoulder. “Alright, we won’t let JiaoJiao be alone.”
Little Jing Kong saw the two off at the door, standing just inside the threshold and waving goodbye in his adorably sweet voice, “Goodbye, Granduncle! Goodbye, Master!”
The father and son rode off on horseback.
Little Jing Kong closed the courtyard gate behind them, stood on tiptoe to latch it shut, and in that very moment, his cute act vanished completely.
With a serious expression on his little face, he clasped his hands behind his back and began walking in the exact same meandering pace as Uncle Zhao from next door.
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Description:
In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.
When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.
The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.
From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.
***
Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.
After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"
Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"
Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”
Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
He hasn't finished his lines yet though…