The two ate their hotpot slowly, and by the time they finished, it was already dark. The night market in Beijing was even more lively during the Lantern Festival.
There are vendors selling all kinds of snacks and pastries, acrobats, and a street full of lantern riddles and lanterns.
Xie Zhichen is resting in the palace tonight. Xiao Yunwei and Jiang Ganren have already arrived in Jiangnan, and Xiao Lingchuan has returned to the Xiao residence.
He was playing chess with Xiao Chongwen when, with a snap, a black piece fell, and black won decisively.
Xiao Chongwen looked at Xiao Lingchuan, who was sitting slouchingly with no manners, and said, "Tonight is truly a strange night. Instead of staying at your Drunken Moon Pavilion, we're listening to beauties sing?"
Xiao Lingchuan said with a grin, "Father, you don't know this, there's no place like home. I came back to see if my doghouse is covered in dust."
Xiao Chongwen narrowed his eyes, his cunning eyes fixed on Xiao Lingchuan.
The more I look at him, the more satisfied I become. He truly is his son; there are no cowards in the Xiao family.
Xiao Lingchuan felt a chill run down his spine from the stare and unconsciously touched his buttocks. "Father, don't look at me like that, it's creepy."
If Xiao Chongwen had shown this expression when he was a child, he would have been guaranteed a spanking.
They've been fighting since they were kids, so Xiao Lingchuan has developed a conditioned reflex to it.
"Bring her over another day, so I can meet her!"
Xiao Chongwen's seemingly random remark made Xiao Lingchuan feel a little uneasy.
Seeing that he hadn't reacted yet, Xiao Chongwen got angry and snorted coldly, "You brat, you dare to hide my good grandson from your father."
Xiao Lingchuan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. So that's what it was about. He had thought his father wanted to see the beautiful young woman singing for him.
It startled him, but he quickly recovered.
His eyes widened and he blurted out, "How did Father know?"
"Don't make a fuss over nothing." Xiao Chongwen glanced at him. "Your sister came by and told me everything."
Xiao Lingchuan murmured, "Sister? My Luo Luo sister?"
Two days ago, Xie Qiyu fell seriously ill, and Xie Yizhi was in the palace, so Jiang Luoluo took Dingdang and made a trip to the Xiao residence.
Xiao Chongwen preferred daughters who were dignified, elegant, gentle, and virtuous, and his eldest daughter was just like that.
His second daughter was different; all she could think about was business and making money. Her mind was filled with nothing but money, money, money.
His youngest son infuriated him so much that he even wanted to become the chief eunuch in the palace.
I heard that Jiang Luoluo, the Princess Consort of Yi, is Xiao Yunwei and Xiao Lingchuan's adopted younger sister.
Mr. and Mrs. Xiao Chongwen looked at the young girl. Despite her young age, she acted with great poise and spoke with grace and propriety.
She was also very knowledgeable, with expertise in astronomy and geography, and could recite poems and songs off the top of her head.
The Yellow River's waters come from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return.
What a sorrowful sight it is to see white hair reflected in the bright mirror of a high hall, when black hair turns to snow by evening.
What an old man, suddenly seized by youthful exuberance, leading a yellow dog on the left and holding a falcon on the right.
What a magnificent roc! It rises with the wind and soars ninety thousand miles high.
Every word and every sentence is stirring, wild yet structured and rhythmic; these are the kinds of good poems and lyrics he likes.
Since the last time Mr. and Mrs. Xiao Chongwen met Jiang Luoluo, they have begun to prepare for the ceremony to officially recognize their daughter.
However, the world is not at peace right now, so we dare not make a big fuss and will wait until everything is settled.
Once he's settled in the capital, he's determined to bring his daughter back in a grand and glorious way.
Right now, the couple is thinking that if Jiang Luoluo has some free time, they should invite her to visit the Xiao residence.
Xiao Chongwen should learn a lot from Jiang Luoluo about these fine poems.
He has devoted his entire life to books and is now the head of the Hanlin Academy.
Why don't you yet have the ability to speak eloquently and fluently, or even to speak in a way that makes every word a classic?
Xiao Lingchuan did one truly remarkable thing in his life: he took Jiang Luoluo as his adopted sister.
Xiao Lingchuan said that after he returned today, his father had become somewhat strange, and the way he looked at him was different from before.
Xiao Lingchuan and Xiao Chongwen finally had a calm conversation, and this was the first time the father and son had met.
They not only played several games of chess, but also had a long chat, and things were no longer as chaotic as before.
Madam Xiao couldn't stop smiling. See? Daughters are always the most considerate. Whether they are biological daughters or goddaughters, they are all like warm cotton-padded jackets.
This child is truly pitiful; she lost her parents at such a young age. From now on, the Xiao family will be Jiang Luoluo's maternal home.
If she suffers any injustice at the Prince Yi's residence, her godmother will not let the people of the Prince Yi's residence off the hook.
*
After eating and drinking their fill, Jiang Luoluo suggested going to the night market for a stroll. "Let's live for today and worry about tomorrow later."
Xie Yizhi now wished he could be with Jiang Luoluo every moment. He held her hand, and the two of them strolled slowly down the street with the crowd.
Jiang Luoluo pointed to a lantern shaped like Sun Wukong and said sweetly, "Husband, I want this one."
Xie Yizhi smiled indulgently, "Buy it!"
With his slender fingers, he picked up the Wukong lantern and then took a fairy lantern from the side. "Supreme Treasure and Fairy Zixia, a perfect pair!"
As he spoke, he took out some loose silver and handed it to the shopkeeper, who praised him with great insight, "Young master, you have excellent taste."
These two lanterns are our best-selling items. The young man and woman are a perfect match, a match made in heaven.
Xie Yizhi smiled. He had finally waited for the Fairy Zixia who came to pick him up on auspicious seven-colored clouds.
Xie Yizhi handed the Sun Wukong figurine to Jiang Luoluo, "Madam, this is your Supreme Treasure!"
He waved the fairy lantern in his hand, "This is my Zixia Fairy!"
Jiang Luoluo smiled sweetly, took the lantern, and gently stroked the warm surface of the lantern with her slender fingers, feeling a wave of tenderness in her heart.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
