Chapter 88 Born with the Fate of a Phoenix
Finally, Xie Mianmian sobbed slightly and was comforted in Xie Mingyi's arms. The child held a walnut pastry in one hand and a wooden carving in the other.
It was carved by He Chuan in front of the child to distract Xie Mianmian. It is a wooden carving of a little girl with double buns on her head.
Xie Mingyi freed one hand and gently wiped the tear stains from the child's fair face with a handkerchief.
"Tell Second Sister, who bullied Mianmian?"
Xie Mianmian just pouted and didn't say anything. She thought that as long as she was a good child from now on, no one would bully her!
Thinking this, Xie Mianmian visibly became happy, took a big bite of the walnut pastry in her hand, and squinted her eyes happily. So delicious!
Seeing that Xie Mianmian had stopped crying, Xie Mingyi smiled helplessly. Children's expressions can change in an instant.
If Xie Mingyi hadn't seen it clearly and knew that the child was genuinely sad, she would have thought Xie Mianmian was just being naughty and faking her tears to get food, play games, and be coaxed.
However, her younger sister was still so preoccupied, keeping everything to herself. Xie Mingyi frowned, recalling the afternoon a few months ago when the child cried so hard he almost fainted.
She sighed, bid farewell to He Chuan, and took Xie Mianmian to enjoy the beautiful scenery, hoping that the bright summer day could dispel the gloom hidden in the child.
He Chuan wanted to go with her, since it was not easy to see Xie Mingyi, but a voice called out to him.
"He Chuan, come quick and take a look. There seems to be a problem here." It was Old Zhao.
He Chuan had no choice but to resign himself to returning to his tent, where there were many people, including Governor Xie.
As He Chuan was drawing blueprints, he overheard an official say, "Governor Xie's children are all exceptional talents. Ah, I wonder if Miss Xie has been betrothed yet?"
He Chuan paused, his charcoal pencil still in his hand. He appeared serious on the surface, but secretly he was practically burying his ear in their mouths to listen.
Father Xie was taken aback. He silently calculated the years. Mingyi was almost seventeen this year, which was indeed the age for her to get married.
Father Xie rubbed his temples and realized that in recent years he had been so busy with the affairs of the canal transport that he had really neglected his children's affairs. Ah, even his eldest son's marriage was decided by himself.
He has truly failed in his duty as a father.
"I am not yet betrothed, but this matter really needs to be put on the agenda."
He Chuan tightened his grip, and the charcoal pencil snapped in two.
Upon hearing Xie's father's words, various voices immediately chimed in, "Governor Xie, I have a nephew..."
"Your nephew is as short as a gourd, nowhere near as imposing as my second son..."
"Ha, yeah, as strong as an ox. Didn't I knock your old bones flying last time?"
Father Xie raised his hand to stop them, saying, "Let's talk about official business first. I have my own considerations for this matter."
He Chuan, who was about to sit up, sat down again. He thought of recommending himself to Governor Xie, but what could he say?
Could it be that although he is still a poor boy now, one should not underestimate a young man's potential, and He Chuan will one day make a name for himself?
These words were so offensive that even Governor Xie couldn't stand them, let alone himself. If he were to become a father in the future and a brat dared to say such things to him, he would definitely kick that person two miles away.
Thinking of this, He Chuan picked up a charcoal pencil again and began to draw carefully. He needed to be faster, even faster. Miss Xie, please wait for him a little longer.
As the sun gradually set in the west, the three members of the Xie family sat in the carriage returning home.
Mr. Xie hesitated, coughing occasionally, but remained silent for a long time.
Xie Mingyi noticed this and asked, "Does Father have something to say?"
Looking at his beloved daughter, Xie's father asked, "Mingyi, you attend so many poetry and literature gatherings, but has any young man caught your eye?"
Xie Mingyi remained silent for a moment.
Xie Mianmian, who was sitting in the middle, raised her hand and began to say, "Yes, that toy stall..." All the items on it caught her second sister's eye.
But before she could finish speaking, Xie Mingyi covered her mouth.
Xie Mingyi lowered her eyes slightly and said in a relaxed tone, "Does Father think that Mingyi is just eating and drinking for free at home?"
"Of course not! But men should marry when they come of age, and women should marry when they come of age. Even though I'm reluctant to part with you, there's nothing I can do," Xie's father sighed.
"My daughter wants to stay with her family for a few more years, is that okay?"
After a long pause, Xie's father said, "I couldn't ask for it."
At least for the next few years, you can be by our side, not as someone's wife or mother, but just a happy and carefree little girl.
Xie Mianmian giggled and hugged her father's arm, "That's great! Mianmian can stay with you, for many, many years!"
Father Xie smiled, gently stroking the child's head. His gaze seemed to see his beloved Xie Mianmian through her. He had always been hesitant to see Xie Mianmian, because this child resembled her the most.
A month later, Xie Mianmian was playing a game of tag with the wolf cub at home when she was almost caught by the little wolf cub. Suddenly, her waist tightened, and she was lifted into the air.
Xie Mianmian looked down and saw a giant python. "Oh dear, what's wrong?"
The black wolf's ears twitched, and its muscles suddenly tensed. It raised its head and let out a loud, long howl.
The next moment, the tip of the tail wrapped around her waist trembled. Xie Mianmian looked up in confusion and found that the servants in the mansion had all run to this open space.
The old woman exclaimed in horror, "The earth is shaking! The earth dragon has turned over!"
Xie Mianmian was a little scared. She held the wolf cub in her arms, hugged the black wolf with her left hand, and wrapped her right hand around the giant python. They were all tightly huddled together.
After half an incense stick's time, the vibrations finally stopped.
Because of the early precautions taken against this earthquake, the casualties from such a major natural disaster were only a few dozen. Moreover, the most important section of the Grand Canal's sluice gate was built in time, preventing serious flooding.
The people were amazed by this, and Xie Mianmian could hear people praising her from time to time on her way to school by carriage.
"Thanks to that child prodigy's prophecy, otherwise my bedridden father might not have been able to avoid the disaster in time."
"Yes, it saved tens of thousands of people. It's truly a great deed."
Xie Mianmian covered her mouth, secretly laughing to herself. She thought, "So, Mianmian is the good child everyone talks about, then no one will say she's a scourge to the country."
In a great mood, Xie Mianmian skipped and hopped her way to the Wenhua Hall.
She had just sat down when the Grand Tutor hadn't arrived yet, and groups of people were chatting together.
Xie Mianmian shook her head as she ground the ink. She was a good child and had already learned how to grind a good batch of ink without having to ask anyone else to do it.
"Have you heard? Everyone says that child is destined for greatness and will be extremely noble in the future."
Upon hearing this unexpectedly, Xie Mianmian paused, her hand holding the ink stick still.
Oh, does everyone say that about Mianmian? The kid scratches his head, feeling embarrassed to praise himself like that in front of her. Hehe.
"Yes, an official has already predicted that the child in the Third Imperial Concubine's womb is born with the destiny of a phoenix, an auspicious sign of good fortune."
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