For a long time, Shangguan Yun had always thought that the person on that night was Wei Dongling! If Qi Jinxuan had confessed this matter to him earlier, he wouldn't have harbored this grudge for so long! Now, just when he had finally brought Luoluo back to the Prince's Mansion and the whole family was happily reunited, within less than a day, such a thing had to come along and spoil his mood.
If he had known that the person on that night was Qi Jinxuan, he might as well have just drowned in the Falling Moon Lake!
Wu Luoluo whispered, "My lord, do you know what my greatest feeling has been since I followed you back to the capital?"
Shangguan Yun gently hugged her, and his guilt deepened.
Wu Luoluo kissed his neck and smiled softly, "I'm so envious of you! It's not because I envy the noble status of the Prince's Mansion. I'm more envious of the fact that you have parents who love and dote on you unconditionally. They will always stand behind you, willing to shield you from the wind and rain. If anyone dares to say a single word about the daughter-in-law you brought back, the Princess Consort will not hesitate to retort, regardless of whether that person is a high - ranking princess! I know that the main reason the Princess Consort is willing to protect me is because she loves you whole - heartedly. So she loves what you love. She just can't bear to see me get hurt in any way."
Shangguan Yun hugged Wu Luoluo tightly and pressed her against his chest. Fortunately, Luoluo was by his side, willing to accompany him and soothe his soul with her gentle words.
Wu Luoluo said a little dejectedly, "My lord, I like your parents so much. Because they made me realize how heart - warming it is to be cherished by one's parents."
Shangguan Yun replied in a muffled voice, "It will always be like this from now on. They will treat you as if you were their own daughter." Luoluo had been abandoned by her biological parents since childhood. Although she never said anything, she must have been very sad, right?
Wu Luoluo nodded and said, "My master took me in, so I've always remembered his kindness. My mistress wasn't very nice to me. She always seemed fierce. But now that I think about it, she didn't treat me too badly..."
Shangguan Yun said with heartache, "From now on, my parents and I will love you. You won't lack anything."
Wu Luoluo nodded and said, "Okay. My lord, I want to bring that child back."
So it turned out that after all that talk, Wu Luoluo's real purpose was to persuade him to keep the child! Shangguan Yun's face darkened, and he shook his head, "No way!" If he kept the child, he was afraid that every time he saw the child, he would think of Qi Jinxuan and that most shameful and humiliating part of his life. He might not be able to sleep well for the rest of his life.
Wu Luoluo whispered, "My lord, if you're not willing, then we won't bring him back! But when I saw that child today, I suddenly remembered the scene of myself being abandoned by my parents. I just can't bear to let such a tiny baby go through the same heart - wrenching pain that I experienced. It's so unfair to him!" He's just lost his mother. Now he only has you.
Shangguan Yun felt a sudden pang in his heart. He tightly hugged Wu Luoluo's slender waist. After a long silence, he replied, "Let me think about it and then make a decision."
Wu Luoluo smiled softly, "I'll follow your decision! If we bring him back, your parents should be very happy, right? If you don't want to be reminded of his birth mother, we can claim that he's my child!"
Shangguan Yun's face darkened again. He turned his head and said, "Let's not talk about this. We'll discuss it later."
For several days in a row, Pin Hao brought the child to Wu Luoluo every day and asked her to help massage the child's belly. Shangguan Yun gradually changed. At first, he was impatient, but later he would occasionally look up at the child.
Wu Luoluo said excitedly, "My lord, look! He's smiling!"
Shangguan Yun's face darkened, but he couldn't help but take a peek. How could such a small child smile?
He stared carefully for a long time and finally found that when the little guy was sleeping, he unconsciously twitched the corner of his mouth into a smiling expression. He was actually quite cute!
Wu Luoluo said cheerfully to Pin Hao, "Look at him. Doesn't his nose and chin look like our Prince?"
Shangguan Yun was at a loss for words. He turned his head awkwardly and didn't look at them.
Pin Hao looked carefully at the child and then at his master. He exclaimed in surprise, "It really does look like they're carved from the same mold!"
Their banter made Shangguan Yun roll his eyes. He simply flicked his sleeves and went back to the study to read.
For several days in a row, He Xiao took Wu Luoluo to the Huixiang Mansion for treatment every day. Ouyang Luofeng's consumption disease actually got better day by day.
When Ouyang Yuqing learned that his elegant master was actually the Prince of the Prince's Mansion, he was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped.
Pin Hao stared at Ouyang Yuqing running around the Prince's Mansion in astonishment. He said to He Xiao speechlessly, "Who is this guy?"
He Xiao rubbed his nose and smiled, "The Prince's beloved disciple."
Pin Hao was at a loss for words. The Prince had been suffering from a cold illness and still had to take medicinal baths from time to time. How could he still have the leisure to take in a disciple?
He Xiao waved with a smile and said, "Yuqing! Come here!"
Hearing He Xiao call him, Ouyang Yuqing rushed over immediately and said repeatedly, "Hero He, why didn't you tell everyone earlier that my master is Prince Yun? If my unlucky uncle - in - law knew about this, he would probably be scared out of his wits on the spot!"
He Xiao just smiled and didn't answer. He just introduced Pin Hao to him, "This is Lord Pin Hao, Prince Yun's personal bodyguard. His martial arts are much better than mine!"
Ouyang Yuqing's eyes sparkled as he looked at Pin Hao. He bowed and said, "I've long admired you, Lord Pin Hao. I'm Ouyang Yuqing, a junior. It's really great to have you by my master's side!"
Pin Hao smiled politely at him. Ouyang Yuqing immediately got familiar with him and pestered Pin Hao to teach him some martial arts skills.
Pin Hao was a bit speechless, but because Ouyang Yuqing was the disciple of Prince Yun, he had to show his best skills and intended to teach him a few moves. But why did he notice that when He Xiao turned around and left, he seemed extremely happy, with a grin that almost reached his ears?
The Prince and Princess Consort were also busy all the time. They discussed the schedule with the matchmaker, selected the betrothal gifts, and were involved in every detail, from choosing the clothes and shoes for the newlyweds to the guest list for the banquet. They were as busy as two spinning tops, only wanting to give their son an unprecedentedly grand wedding.
Wu Luoluo was also not idle. She was busy embroidering sachets, wedding handkerchiefs, etc. with red silk thread... She also wanted to take the time to embroider a more suitable bellyband for the baby. After all, the little guy was so thin and small that if the size was a bit bigger, it would look empty on him.
Shangguan Yun went to the palace to perform the rites of a subject to the emperor. He paid respects to the Empress Dowager and went to the imperial mausoleum to pay homage to Murong Yuchen. For the rest of the time, he mostly shut himself in the study and refused to see guests. He really didn't know what to do with this child. It wasn't that the huge Prince's Mansion couldn't afford to raise a little baby. It was just that he didn't want to feel uncomfortable every time he saw the child. Nor could he claim that the child was Luoluo's as she had suggested. It wasn't fair to her! He couldn't let her be wronged like this!
Maybe he should send the child to the countryside to be raised. He could go back to visit from time to time and hire the best teacher to teach the child to read and write.