The He family was so frightened that her face turned pale. She covered Sun Bingwen's mouth and said, "Are you sleepy? Come on, I'll carry you back to sleep..."
"Wait a moment."
Princess Chengping said, "I'd like to hear what he has to say."
She ordered someone to stop the He family and walked up to Sun Bingwen herself. She coaxed him softly, "What did you just say? Can you say it again?"
Sun Bingwen saw that this beautiful aunt in front of him was not only good - looking but also had a nice voice. So he obediently said, "My grandmother said that I should be filial to my great - grandmother in the future because she has no grandson... From now on, I'll be her grandson."
The He family quickly said, "Yes, yes. It's just to let him be filial..."
The palace attendant beside her hit her on the shoulder with a ruler and said, "When the princess is asking questions, irrelevant people are not allowed to talk!"
The He family winced in pain and didn't dare to say another word.
Princess Chengping asked again, "Did your grandmother ever say that she would let you change your surname to Li?"
"Yes."
"Oh? What did she say?"
"She said that she and my great - grandmother had already discussed it. In the future, they would write my name on... on..." Sun Bingwen frowned and thought for a while. "Write it on a genealogy... Then, I'll become a grandson of the Li family..."
The He family groaned inwardly.
She had originally planned to ask Mrs. Li to sign a document after Mrs. Li's birthday banquet and then secretly add Sun Bingwen's name to the Li family genealogy, completing this matter without anyone knowing.
By the time the Li family elders found out, it would be a done deal, and they couldn't object even if they wanted to!
But unexpectedly, Sun Bingwen had exposed this matter in public.
Princess Chengping's voice turned cold. "General Li, do you want to adopt a child?"
Li Rusong quickly said, "How is that possible? There's no such thing!"
He knew that his mother wanted to adopt Sun Bingwen.
But he thought it was just his mother talking nonsense when she was confused, so he never took it seriously.
Not to mention that he never thought about adopting a child. Even if he did, he would choose from the nephews of the Li family. How could he adopt a child from the Sun family?
Wasn't this just making a fool of himself?
Princess Chengping said, "Mrs. Li, is there no such thing?"
Mrs. Li stammered and didn't know what to say.
She had indeed promised her younger sister that after Li Wanming got married, she would adopt Sun Bingwen. Who knew that later Li Wanming had caused so much trouble with finding a husband and having a son - in - law, and she had forgotten about this matter.
Now that this matter was suddenly brought up, she didn't know why Princess Chengping looked so unhappy.
This was a family matter of the Li family. It should be up to her to decide. But why did everyone present look so solemn?
And why didn't Minister Han say a word?
She saw that the princess looked unhappy and vaguely felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't figure it out. So for a moment, she didn't know how to answer.
Pei Yanqi stood up. "Your Highness, this is a family matter of the Li family. Now the Li family elders are outside. We might as well call them in and ask."
Princess Chengping said with a straight face, "Approved."
Li Rusong was a fourth - rank general with a bright future. He might even become an important official of the emperor!
His heir was related to the power struggle in the court and the stability of the country!
How could she allow an inexplicable grandson of the Sun family to inherit his legacy?
In the yard, Third Master Li was enjoying his drink. The wrinkles on his face were all flushed.
When he heard that Princess Chengping wanted to see him, he thought it was an invitation to talk. He immediately stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked unsteadily into the room with the help of his juniors.
He was very excited.
Attending a birthday banquet today, he had the honor to sit at the same table with so many high - ranking officials and was now summoned by the princess. What an honor!
Little Songzi was so promising. He really made the whole clan proud!
He must talk to him properly when he got back and tell him to work hard in the officialdom without worrying about having few descendants. It was okay. The whole Li family was his backup!
The room was extremely quiet, eerily so.
But Third Master Li didn't notice at all. He knelt down excitedly and said, "This commoner pays respects to the princess."
Princess Chengping directly asked, "General Li wants to adopt a heir. What's your opinion?"
Ah?
Third Master Li was stunned by this question.
Who... who wanted to adopt a heir?
Li Rusong??
If he wanted to adopt a heir, why didn't he tell him?
Third Master Li stood up unsteadily and stared at Li Rusong. "Little Songzi... You... You want to adopt a child?"
"No."
Li Rusong felt both wronged and unjust. "I've never thought about this..."
He wanted to explain, but Mrs. Yuan quietly grabbed him.
Mrs. Yuan shook her head slightly at him, signaling him not to speak and just wait and see.
Since Princess Chengping entered the door today, she had felt something was wrong.
All things seemed to be driven by an invisible hand and were beyond their control.
Fortunately, this invisible hand didn't intend to harm the Li family. Whether it was the princess's arrival or Li Wanming's fight, they had all managed to get through safely.
So this time, she also wanted to see how things would develop.
Anyway, it was better that this matter of adopting a heir was exposed today than being secretly done by the He family later.
The He family covered her shoulder and quickly said, "Yes, yes. There's no such thing. It's just a child talking nonsense..."
She couldn't keep silent anymore.
If Third Master Li found out about this, this matter might never be accomplished.
Mrs. Li was muddle - headed, but Third Master Li was not easy to deceive!
All the Li family members were present today. If they knew that she intended to adopt Sun Bingwen and wanted to embezzle the Li family's property, the Li family members would tear her apart on the spot!
Third Master Li shouted at the He family, "Who are you? What does it matter to you if Little Songzi wants to adopt a heir?"
By this time, Li Wanming had already understood.
Wasn't this just using someone else's hand to get rid of an enemy? Who couldn't do that?
A smile curled up on her lips. She walked over to support Third Master Li attentively. "Grandpa, this is my great - aunt. She's my grandmother's younger sister. The child my grandmother wants to adopt is my great - aunt's grandson. His name is Sun Bingwen... My grandmother likes him very much."
"Nonsense!!"
Third Master Li suddenly got angry.
What?
The Li family was adopting a heir but choosing from the Sun family. Did they think the Li family had no one?
He stretched out his finger and pointed at Li Rusong unsteadily.
"Little grandson, you're an official. How could you be so muddle - headed!"
"Choosing a son from the children of the Sun family. Aren't you afraid of being pointed at the back when people hear about it? How will you face your dead father in the future? Have you read all your books for nothing?"
He was so angry that he forgot his status and started scolding.
Li Rusong felt even more wronged. "Third Master, I really didn't..."
Mrs. Li couldn't stand it anymore and directly said, "It was I who said I wanted to adopt. So what?"
She had disliked this Third Master Li for a long time!
What master? She hardly ever saw him once a year. What right did he have to act like an elder here?
Adopting a child was a matter of their branch. What did it matter to these grandfathers and uncles?
She was the current mistress of the Li family, and the Li family's affairs should be up to her!
Mrs. Li had lost her husband at a young age and had raised her son and daughter by herself. She had long developed a domineering personality.
Moreover, Li Rusong was filial. As long as it wasn't a matter related to Yuan Jinqiu, he always followed her wishes, which made Mrs. Li even more overbearing in recent years.
She was used to being the old mistress of a general's family and thought everyone should follow her.
Even adopting a child only needed to follow her wishes. She didn't need to care about others' opinions at all.
"I'm adopting a child for my son. What does it matter to you?"
Mrs. Li said with a cold face and simply made it clear. "To tell you the truth, I've set my sights on that boy Bingwen. He's filial and well - behaved. He will definitely take care of me in my old age. He's much better than those three girls!"