Mei Qingxue had an inkling of the secrets the two of them were keeping. But since her mother didn't say anything, and her father seemed equally in the dark, it was obvious he was also unaware.
Du Gu Qing simply lowered his head and sipped his tea.
The group chatted idly for a while. Then Mei Haoxuan returned from his duty. Seeing Mei Qingxue and Du Gu Qing there, his face lit up with joy. "Sister, brother - in - law," he hadn't expected to see his sister and brother - in - law as soon as he got back.
"Sister, brother," Mei Qingxue beamed happily at Mei Haoxuan. "Brother," Du Gu Qing greeted him calmly.
"Brother - in - law, when did you two come?"
"We've been here for a while."
"Brother, I'm really happy for your triumphant return," Mei Qingxue's eyes were glistening with tears. She had almost lost her beloved brother at that time.
"I owe it all to you and brother - in - law. Otherwise, you really wouldn't have seen me," Mei Haoxuan knew his sister cared about him. As soon as his sister received his distress letter, she immediately mobilized several forces. He had never had the chance to ask his sister in person how she managed it. As far as he knew, Du Gu Qing was just a powerless prince. How did his sister manage to mobilize 30,000 troops and 100,000 dan of grain?
"Brother, those things are not worth mentioning. As long as you return victorious, everything is fine."
"Alright, you two siblings stop flattering each other," Mei Zhenguo glanced at his daughter and son. "You're both great." He had never expected his daughter to achieve so much. He thought at most his daughter could get some grain for his son as supplies. He never imagined that his daughter had mobilized the old Duke and recruited 50,000 troops. Even Mei Haoxuan didn't know that his sister had gathered 50,000 soldiers.
"Dad, I still have many questions for sister."
"Your sister will be staying at home for quite some time. You don't have to rush this moment," Xia Ruolan said, nodding in satisfaction as she looked at her proud children.
"Yes, mother," suppressing his many questions, Mei Haoxuan smiled at Du Gu Qing. "I didn't expect sister to give me so many surprises."
"I think mother has more surprises," Du Gu Qing's calm tone drew everyone's attention to Xia Ruolan.
Xia Ruolan laughed. "My son - in - law is really sharp - eyed. There is indeed a great thing today," after saying that, the smile on her face grew even wider.
"Mother, just tell us quickly!"
Mei Qingxue was impatient. She could already guess most of it and wasn't going to solve the riddle. If her mother wanted to keep them in suspense, she'd let her.
"Yes, mother," Mei Haoxuan looked at his mother and then at his father. "Mother is getting better at keeping us in suspense."
"Brother, if you don't ask, mother will not be able to hold back and tell us soon," as Mei Qingxue spoke, she stole a glance at her sister - in - law's face. Seeing her face turn even redder, she was even more certain of her guess. She was also very happy in her heart.
Du Gu Qing knew his little wife had already guessed what his mother - in - law was going to say. He held back his laughter and watched his mother - in - law and wife having fun with each other.
Mei Zhenguo looked at his beloved wife and couldn't help but feel curious. "Lan'er, I've been listening for a long time. What's the good thing? Just tell us quickly."
He had never seen his old wife keep them in suspense like this. It must be something very important.
Seeing Xia Ruolan so happy, even though he didn't know what it was, he felt happy in his heart.
"Let me tell you. Our Mei family is going to have a descendant," Xia Ruolan's eyes were red. Not long after Mei Haoxuan went to the battlefield, Luo Jiao had good news. But they had kept it a secret after he came back. She didn't know about it herself. It was Xia Ruolan who noticed and invited a doctor to confirm the pregnancy.
"Really!" Mei Qingxue was the first to stand up, more surprised than Mei Haoxuan. Mei Haoxuan looked at his wife in shock. He couldn't believe he was the last one to know such a big thing.
"Of course it's true. Would your mother lie to you? Didn't you always want a little nephew? Get ready to prepare gifts,"
"Sure, sure!" Mei Qingxue nodded repeatedly. "Mother, is it really true?" Mei Haoxuan saw his wife looking shy. He really wanted to pull her into his arms, but it wasn't appropriate in front of everyone. Seeing his sister looking at him half - smiling, Mei Haoxuan couldn't hold back anymore.
He pulled Luo Jiao over and whispered, "Such a big good thing, why didn't you tell me?"
Luo Jiao was extremely shy. "Mother wouldn't allow it!" Her mother said she wanted to give everyone a surprise, and she didn't dare to disobey. Mei Zhenguo was so happy that his beard twitched. "Good thing, good thing. We'll drink to celebrate tonight!"
"It's a great thing! You've worked hard!" Mei Haoxuan couldn't say such sweet words in public. Mei Qingxue saw the two of them being so coy. "Ahem, brother, you should be more reserved. Father, mother, sister and brother - in - law are still watching."
"Oops!" Luo Jiao's face turned red to the back of her ears when she became the focus of everyone.
"Alright, alright. Don't make things difficult for your daughter - in - law," Xia Ruolan saw her daughter - in - law looking embarrassed and quickly came to her rescue. "Yes, brother. If you want to say something sweet, you should pay attention to the occasion. We're all watching."
"Ahem," Mei Zhenguo cleared his throat. "We haven't been together like this for a long time. Just as our daughter - in - law is pregnant and Xuan'er has returned victorious, and our daughter and son - in - law are also back. It's a great joy. Take out my Huadiao wine and drink it tonight."
"Why are you so generous today?" Xia Ruolan laughed.
He used to cherish that wine the most. He wouldn't even give it to his daughter when she asked for it several times. She never thought he would be willing to take it out now. "I'm happy today, really happy. Hahaha, I haven't been this happy for a long time."
Mei Zhenguo laughed heartily. He had been looking forward to having a grandson so that he could enjoy his old age with his grandchildren. He also wanted to retire from his official position.
"Dad, only you are happy. You've always been so stingy with me. I can see it clearly," Mei Qingxue looked at her father discontentedly. She could never get any good things from him. He only took them out when he was happy.
"You're a girl. How can you always think about my Huadiao wine?" Mei Zhenguo didn't understand. What he didn't know was that Mei Qingxue not only coveted his Huadiao wine but also the few jars of aged cellar - stored wine in his cellar.
"I've never seen it before." Mei Qingxue had seen in TV shows that those wines were said to be extremely good. She just wanted to have a taste.
"There are many things you haven't seen."
Mei Zhenguo knew his daughter's thoughts well. In his daughter's mind, his things were hers, and her things were still hers. Mei Qingxue had always fooled him like this since she was a child.
"You little imp. You're trying the same old trick again. Your father won't be fooled by you anymore," Mei Zhenguo's beard twitched. Mei Qingxue smiled sheepishly. "This time I really didn't say anything. Mother can testify! It's father who is being paranoid." Mei Qingxue looked at Xia Ruolan innocently and then at her father.
"Mother, does father have something else that I'm curious about?"
"Well, you have to ask your father!" Xia Ruolan didn't answer directly. Mei Qingxue understood immediately. Anyway, she was going to stay for a few days. Whatever good things her father had would eventually be hers and her brother's.
"Brother, is your work hard?"
"Not at all!" Mei Haoxuan shook his head. His subordinates were very obedient and trusted him. They worked together very well, so it wasn't hard at all.
Seeing his sister caring about him, Mei Haoxuan smiled happily. On one side was his wife who was going to have their child, and on the other side was his blood - related sister. Such a harmonious family couldn't be more satisfying.
"Dad, aren't you happy to see your daughter and son - in - law?"
"Happy!" As soon as his daughter came back, she would rummage through his collections. She would soon put away a few of his new treasures. Mei Zhenguo was still calculating in his mind when he saw his precious daughter looking at him half - smiling. He knew his little tricks couldn't fool his clever daughter.
"Xue'er, come on. Ignore your father. He's getting more and more stingy. He hides his treasures very tightly," Xia Ruolan winked at her daughter.
"I'm saving them for my grandson and grandson - in - law. What's wrong with that?" Mei Zhenguo argued plausibly.
Mei Qingxue's eyes welled up with tears. She quickly lowered her head and tried hard to hold back the tears. Then she quickly raised her head and pretended nothing had happened. "Dad, what are you talking about? We already have a grandson, but don't even think about a grandson - in - law. Your daughter is still young."
Her father was really good at making plans.
He had even planned for a grandson - in - law that didn't exist yet. Thinking of her father's wish, she felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She had been married for a year, but there was still no sign of a child.
"Alright, let's have dinner together," Xia Ruolan interrupted them.
Seeing the whole family together, Xia Ruolan was extremely happy. "Mother, what delicious food do we have today?"
"They're all your favorite dishes," Luo Jiao mustered up the courage and said to her sister with a smile. She always felt left out when they were chatting. Mei Haoxuan saw his wife take the initiative to speak and squeezed her hand encouragingly. "We're all family. Look, there are no outsiders."
Luo Jiao nodded. "I'll get used to it slowly." She had heard many stories from her mother - in - law about how to get along with her mother - in - law, but she had never encountered this kind of situation. Maybe even her mother - in - law had never met such a good mother - in - law and sister - in - law. She, Luo Jiao, must have accumulated a lot of good fortune in previous lives to marry such a good husband and have such a kind mother - in - law and sister - in - law.
"Yes. A family should be like a family."
During dinner, Luo Jiao wanted to serve food to her mother - in - law as her mother had taught her. It made Xia Ruolan feel uncomfortable. "Daughter - in - law, sit back in your seat. There's no need to follow such rules."
"Yes, mother!"
Mei Qingxue knew Luo Jiao wasn't used to it yet, so she smiled and came to her rescue. "Sister - in - law, if you stand up to serve food to mother, we'll all be looking at your belly. How can we have dinner? I'm already starving."
"Sister, I'm just doing my duty!"
"Sister - in - law, you don't have to be so restrained. Later, you can ask brother how to be a daughter - in - law of our Mei family. If you're so restrained, we'll feel uncomfortable having this meal." Mei Qingxue smiled and pulled Luo Jiao to sit in the empty seat beside her. "We all serve ourselves. Father and mother don't need to be served. You're the daughter - in - law. You'll have opportunities to show your filial piety in the future. Since your sister is married out, you'll take on this responsibility at home."