Upon learning that the Marquise of Ding'an intended to take Song Yihuan and her younger brother back, the Princess of Ning furrowed her brows.
Previously, she did want Song Nanxin to send Song Yihuan and her brother back to the Marquis Mansion. However, after the visit to the Guanyin Temple, she had a new impression of the siblings. Just thinking of the child who sweetly called her the "Goddess of Mercy" made her reluctant to part with them.
It had been a long time since she had seen such well - behaved, clever, and adorable children.
Before the Princess of Ning could say anything, Song Nanxin spoke up, "Mother, how can you be a guest like this? As soon as you come, you want to take someone away. You don't know that since Yihuan and Xuan'er came to the Prince's Mansion, it has become much livelier, and the Princess Dowager has been in a better mood. In my opinion, it would be better to let Yihuan and Xuan'er stay in the Prince's Mansion for a while longer to keep the Princess Dowager company and relieve her loneliness."
The Princess of Ning raised her eyebrows slightly and gave Song Nanxin an approving look.
This daughter - in - law really knew how to handle things. She had actually guessed her thoughts.
So she also said, "These two children are fated to be with me. It would be better for them to stay in the mansion for a while longer. The Prince's Mansion can surely afford to feed two more people."
The Marquise of Ding'an's face stiffened. She secretly glanced at Song Nanxin, not understanding why Song Nanxin was stopping her.
The Wu family was waiting to take that girl as a concubine for the second master of the Wu family. If this marriage was arranged, it would only be beneficial to the Meng family. No matter what, she had to send that girl into the hands of the second master of the Wu family.
She was determined to find out what tricks this girl was up to.
Suppressing her surprise, suspicion, and anxiety, the Marquise of Ding'an smiled and echoed, "Yes, yes, yes. Since the Princess of Ning likes them, let them stay for a while longer. Xin'er will also have someone to keep her company in the mansion."
In Tinglan Courtyard, Song Yihuan was sitting on a small bamboo chair in the yard, mending a piece of clothing for Song Yixuan.
Seeing that Fuling was not by Song Yihuan's side, Chunxing leaned over to Song Yihuan and whispered, "Fourth Miss, I heard another piece of news in the outhouse today."
Song Yihuan's hand paused while mending. Remembering the terrifying wail last night, she frowned slightly.
Chunxing said, "Guess why the Prince's Mansion of Ning is so lively today? It's because the Princess of Ning invited some guests to the mansion today, including the First Lady and the Sixth Young Master."
The First Lady and the Sixth Young Master Chunxing mentioned were the Marquise Meng of Ding'an and Song Nanzhe, the younger brother of Song Nanxin and the heir of the Marquis Mansion of Ding'an.
The Marquise Meng of Ding'an was Song Nanxin's biological mother and also her legal mother. But Song Yihuan had always been extremely afraid of and resistant to this legal mother since childhood.
Since her biological mother, Concubine Rou, was originally a maid beside the old lady, the Marquise of Ding'an disliked both her and her mother very much. She was extremely stingy with their food, clothing, and daily necessities. In summer, they couldn't get ice for cooling, and in winter, they couldn't use charcoal for heating. Their lives were extremely difficult.
If it weren't for this, her mother wouldn't have suffered so much during her pregnancy with Xuan'er and eventually died in childbirth.
Lowering her eyes to contain the emotions welling up inside, Song Yihuan said, "The Marquis Mansion of Ding'an and the Prince's Mansion of Ning are in - laws. It's not surprising that they would come."
Chunxing wrinkled her face and said, "Do you think the First Lady will propose to take you and the Fifth Young Master back to the mansion?"
Song Yihuan's heart sank.
Right, the Marquise of Ding'an was still waiting to send her to be someone's concubine.
However, she knew that she was still useful to her elder sister. Her elder sister would definitely not let the Marquise of Ding'an take them back.
But in this case, the matter of her elder sister using her to bear a child might not be hidden from the Marquise of Ding'an.
She didn't expect the Marquise of Ding'an to rescue her from this cage. These two mother and daughter were in cahoots. After learning the reason, they would only join hands with her elder sister to control her.
Maybe they would even try every means to take Xuan'er away from her!
Only when Xuan'er was by her side could his life be guaranteed!
Song Yihuan came back to her senses, looked at the clothes in her hand, and said, "Go and call Xuan'er. Let him try on this clothes to see if it fits."
Chunxing answered and got up to look for him. A moment later, Chunxing ran back in a panic, "N - No, Fourth Miss. The Fifth Young Master is missing!"
Missing?! Song Yihuan stood up abruptly, and the clothes in her hand fell to the ground.
Could Xuan'er have already been taken by the legal mother...
"Have you searched all the rooms? Could he be hiding and playing hide - and - seek with us?" Song Yihuan asked anxiously.
Chunxing shook her head, "No!"
Song Yihuan dug her nails deep into her palm to force herself to calm down.
The Marquise of Ding'an should still be with the Princess of Ning at this time. She had seen Xuan'er just a quarter of an hour ago. It was likely that he had run out to play by himself.
She had to find Xuan'er before the Marquise of Ding'an. No matter what, she couldn't let Xuan'er fall into the hands of the Marquise of Ding'an today!
She asked Chunxing to call Fuling, who was washing clothes in the back yard, and told her about Song Yixuan running away. Then the three of them went their separate ways and searched carefully in the three directions of Tinglan Courtyard.
In the garden.
Ji Lingchuan was sparring bare - handed with Fuzhou on the open ground. He had a lithe figure, and his palms contained great strength. With a solemn expression, he forced Fuzhou to retreat step by step.
Not far from them, a group of kids of different heights and builds were watching intently, their eyes full of admiration for Ji Lingchuan.
"Ouch!" Fuzhou was hit on the left shoulder by Ji Lingchuan and fell backward on the ground.
The kids were extremely excited. They cheered and jumped up, "He won! He won! General Weiyuan won again!"
Song Nanzhe waved his arms and shouted arrogantly, "See? This is my brother - in - law! My brother - in - law is the God of War of the Yu State. He is invincible in the world!"
Ji Lingchuan pulled Fuzhou up from the ground. The master and servant looked at each other and saw a bit of helplessness in each other's eyes.
The heir of the Prince of Ning and the General Weiyuan had now become a juggler to amuse the children. If this got out, the soldiers of the Xuanjia Army would surely laugh at them.
Ji Lingchuan had extremely sharp senses. He sensed another pair of peeping eyes and looked in that direction. He said in a deep voice, "Who's there peeping? Come out!"
Ji Lingchuan's gaze was extremely sharp, and his deep and solemn voice frightened the kids. They all turned around and looked in the direction he was looking at.
Only to see a cluster of low shrubs beside the rockery sway slightly. Then a thin little figure walked out with his head down. It was Song Yixuan.
When Song Nanzhe saw who it was, he was surprised, "Song Yixuan, it's you!"
Song Yixuan nodded very obediently at Song Nanzhe, "Sixth Brother, long time no see."
Song Nanzhe was much taller than Song Yixuan, but one called the other "brother" and the other called the name directly. This intriguing relationship made Ji Lingchuan squint his eyes.
"Why were you hiding there?" he asked.