Chapter 232: Grandparents and Grandchildren

"Ting'er has grown up and become sensible," the Queen Mother said with relief. "I'm thinking now, if Qi Niang's place really can transform people, then all those dandy boys should be sent there for reform."

"That won't do. I'll be annoyed to death by then. Besides, what's the point of being the same? It just happens to suit me." Yun Ting said, "I don't have a mother, so I don't know what life is like with a mother. Now I have a rough idea."

"Also, I also know how to repay those who love me."

"Repay? Why are you thinking of repaying?" the Queen Mother laughed.

"Because Zhaozhao and Zhuozhuo have different personalities, the only thing they have in common is their love for their abandoned mother. For their abandoned mother, they would even give up their own lives. So—" Yun Ting looked up at the Queen Mother, "Grandmother, take good care of yourself. My mother will definitely bless you in the underworld. You treat her as the apple of your eye, and you are the most important person to her. She wouldn't want to see you crying for her and worrying about her. I will help my mother and be filial to you. You also have to forgive my mother. If she could choose again, she would choose not to give birth to me and to be filial to you."

The Queen Mother's tears fell like beads from a broken string.

Changle, Mother's Changle, are you really still thinking about Mother?

"Look, after all my ups and downs, haven't I learned to be a good person?" Yun Ting's eyes were red, and he was trying hard to smile. "You are in good health, and I have turned over a new leaf. This is all because of my mother watching over us. Grandmother, we all need to be well. After a hundred years, we will be reunited one day."

This is what Qi Niang said.

He didn't know whether it was true or not, but he would rather believe it was true.

Thanks to this experience, he knew what motherly love is.

If his mother were still alive, she would love him just as attentively.

Although he has never felt it, he knows that he will be loved.

The Queen Mother then asked about Lu Qiniang's three daughters.

"Zhao Zhao is engaged to Jiang Xuan, the commander of the Black Armor Army, who was once Xiao Yan's subordinate. Grandmother, I'm only telling you these things, and I won't tell anyone else—"

"You say." The Queen Mother suddenly became a little nervous.

Could it be that Yun Ting likes Zhao Zhao?

"Actually, I think Jiang Xuan is not worthy of Zhao Zhao."

The Queen Mother's heart tightened, something bad happened.

Doesn't this imply that he is the one who deserves it?

"Really?" The Queen Mother said calmly, "Then who do you think is a suitable match for her?"

"I haven't thought about it yet," Yun Ting said. "If she were a man, she would definitely have achieved something. It's such a pity that she's trapped in the inner chamber. Xiao Yan and Qi Niang don't want her to marry off so early, but, alas, my uncle said that she should follow the crown prince. Xiao Yan and Qi Niang are reluctant, probably just like you didn't want to marry your grandfather back then—not all parents want their children to marry into a wealthy family."

"So, Grandmother, when you act as a matchmaker for someone in the future, you must ask them if they are willing. Not to mention Xiao Yan and Qi Niang, even I don't want Zhao Zhao to follow the prince."

The Queen Mother was reluctant to mention the Crown Prince and said calmly, "The Crown Prince's marriage is indeed a matter of great importance and requires careful consideration."

Yun Ting knew the Queen Mother too well and knew she didn't want to continue this topic, so he said, "Zhuozhuo is a hot-tempered little girl, very competitive. Since she can't beat Zhaozhao, she competes with me every day. Moreover, her methods are simply despicable and shameless."

"Why? Tell me about it."

"I resolved to burn out a candle every day, sometimes reciting my lessons, sometimes studying arithmetic. What do you think happened?"

"Are you so ambitious?" the Queen Mother asked with great interest. "Don't strain your eyes."

"Don't interrupt, just listen to me." Yun Ting said.

"Okay, go ahead."

"Then I realized something was wrong. Why was the burning time of the candle getting shorter and shorter?"

"What's going on?" the Queen Mother asked cooperatively.

"She secretly hollowed out a piece of my candle! Then, when she saw it was dark in my room, she blew out her candle too. Then she waited for a while, and when she thought I was asleep, she got up and started reading again. And then, one day, I found out because I had to pee! I was like, how come she learns faster than me?"

The Queen Mother found it amusing to think of the two children's battle of wits and courage.

"It's a bit unkind," said the Queen Mother. "So what are you going to do? How about I bring you a box of candles? And you can study hard in secret."

"I think it's okay!" Yun Ting said, "I didn't expose her. I just followed her example and secretly took away her candle. Hahahaha——"

The Queen Mother was amused and laughed.

This Zhuozhuo is quite good. He competes with Yunting in this way, which allows Yunting to learn something as well.

"Then Qi Niang, didn't you arrange a marriage for Zhuo Zhuo? Twelve years old is not young in common people's eyes." The Queen Mother said calmly.

Yun Ting felt a tightness in his heart.

He actually heard the temptation from his grandmother.

He said calmly, "I have been looking for her, but she has a hot temper like a little pepper and is unforgiving. Who can stand her? I guess if they abandon her, they will keep her at home to find a son-in-law. I don't know which unlucky guy will be bullied by her for the rest of his life."

The Queen Mother seemed relieved. "Everyone has their own destiny. What about the other one?"

"Jiaojiao is a tomboy. She only knows how to fight and kill every day and wants to be a female general. But she has one special thing: she is very good at learning words."

"Learn to speak?"

"Yes. The docks are bustling with people from all over the country. You know, some southerners speak in a way we can't understand, but Jiaojiao is very good at learning. Zhuozhuo laughs at her for being a parrot that can only mimic words, and she bites Zhuozhuo."

"Qi Niang has suffered a lot, but I envy her for having these three loving daughters." The Queen Mother sighed deeply, "Others envy me because my son has become emperor. But they don't know that I have lost my most beloved daughters..."

For the rest of my life, I can only rely on memories.

How great it would be if her Changle were here.

People in the world are ignorant and only know that sons are the ones who support the family, but they don’t know how caring daughters are.

The Queen Mother wanted Yun Ting to stay overnight in the palace.

Yun Ting waved his hands repeatedly: "Grandma, I didn't know better before, so I stayed. But now I'm older, and I'm afraid of what others will say if I stay. If you miss me, I'll come to see you often. Next time I'll bring you duck eggs. I feed the ducks and clean up their poop every day. I raise them!"

The Queen Mother asked him if he wanted anything. "If I give you a reward, you might not like it. So if you need anything, just tell me."

Yun Ting rolled his eyes, "How can I be so embarrassed to take your things, hehe——"