Luo Yuning narrowed her clear, autumn-water-like eyes slightly, keenly catching the fleeting struggle in her father Luo Qi'an's eyes, and a complex emotion flashed across her gaze.
With a mixture of worry and helplessness, she subconsciously turned her head to look in the direction of her younger siblings.
The younger brother and sister were standing not far away, looking somewhat timid. Their hands were unconsciously clasped together, as if they were drawing strength from each other.
Their faces were full of helplessness and confusion, like two frightened fawns lost in the wind and rain, their eyes filled with fear of the unknown.
She doted on her younger siblings from a young age, and the years they spent together were filled with countless warm memories.
I remember when we were little, my younger brother was being naughty. He climbed a tree to steal birds' nests and fell down.
She anxiously carried her younger brother back to the room, carefully treated his wounds, and gently coaxed him to sleep.
On her younger sister's birthday, she embroidered a sachet by hand, which her sister treasured and carried with her all day long.
Every smile and every cry of theirs deeply touched her heart.
Those warm memories from the past flooded my mind like a tide.
Once upon a time, my mother treated me with utmost affection. The whole family would sit together, the table laden with delicious food, and laughter would echo throughout the courtyard.
The younger siblings always call their elder sister sweetly, and her soft, sweet voice still seems to echo in my ears, each sound filled with dependence and trust.
But what happened later was like a cold and heavy wall, standing firmly between them and casting a shadow over their once pure family affection.
The intimacy of the past has gradually faded with the passage of time, making the relationship between them increasingly distant.
Now, even though we are so close, it feels like we are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.
Thinking of this, Luo Yuning felt a pang of sadness welling up in her heart, as if she were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and her eyes reddened slightly.
She couldn't help but sigh softly, a sigh filled with helplessness and melancholy, as if she wanted to release all the sorrow that had been building up in her heart over the years.
Her gaze was gentle yet tinged with helplessness as she quietly looked at Luo Qi'an and slowly shook her head.
It seemed as if she wanted to shake off those unspeakable sorrows and past events, but the melancholy between her brows just wouldn't go away.
A warm breeze of late spring swept through the Shangshu Ling Mansion, causing petals to flutter down from the branches. Luo Qi'an stood in the courtyard, looked up, and his gaze met that of his eldest daughter, Luo Yuning.
His gaze held complex emotions, including past trust and reliance, as well as insight and expectation after experiencing twists and turns.
Like a key, it gently pried open the long-closed door deep in his heart.
Luo Qi'an's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if he had swallowed the thousands of words that had been accumulating over the years, and finally he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
The sigh carried with it the forbearance, helplessness, and struggle of the past. Then, he lowered his voice and, with unwavering certainty, softly called out, "Wen Ruo."
Luo Yuning tilted her head back and looked at her father's profile.
That familiar outline is now etched with the vicissitudes of time and the traces of power struggles.
Memories flooded back: when she was little, her father would always lift her high up, his hearty laughter echoing in the courtyard.
Wen Ruo and Luo Qi'an walked side by side toward the room, their steps steady yet hurried.
Upon entering the house, Luo Qi'an turned around, raised his hand, and gently closed the door, shutting out the noise from the outside world.
Their conversation was also tightly locked inside the room. Outside the carved window, the sunlight moved inch by inch, and the light and shadow changed shapes on the ground.
Inside the room, low voices could be heard intermittently, followed by long silences.
Several hours later, they emerged from the room. The Minister's residence appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging beneath.
The pavilions and towers were scattered about, and servants hurried to and fro; everything seemed no different from usual. But with a little attention, one could detect subtle changes in the air.
The matriarch of the household changed her name without warning. When the news spread, the entire mansion was in an uproar, with everyone whispering and speculating about the reasons behind it.
Overnight, an additional memorial tablet appeared in the ancestral hall of the Minister's residence. Before the brand-new tablet, incense and candles emitted wisps of smoke, as if telling a story of an unknown past.
The current matriarch looks the same, but her aura has undergone a complete transformation.
In the past, she always had a perfectly gentle smile on her lips, but the sinister look hidden deep in her eyes sent chills down one's spine.
Looking into her eyes, it felt as if every move she made was being seen through, leaving no secrets whatsoever.
Now, she is enveloped in the warm spring sunshine, radiating a gentle warmth.
When talking to people, their eyes are full of sincerity and kindness, and every smile and frown can dispel the gloom in other people's hearts, making people unable to help but feel close to them.
The once eccentric young lady is also quietly transforming.
She no longer ran around the mansion disheveled and rambling incoherently.
In the early morning, you can see her getting ready in the courtyard. Her eyes and brows are full of confidence and composure. She has returned to her dignified, intelligent, and well-mannered self.
When she's with her family, her eyes light up with a smile, and her once dim eyes shine brightly again.
The master no longer spends all his time busy with official duties and often stays at home.
He accompanied the children to fly kites in the back garden, watching them laugh and run around, and he laughed heartily himself.
Sitting with the mistress at the stone table in the courtyard, brewing a pot of fragrant tea, chatting about everyday matters, and reminiscing about the past.
In the courtyard, the sounds of children playing and family members chatting mingled together.
The Minister's residence was once again filled with laughter and joy, exuding a warm and harmonious atmosphere, as if the gloom of the past had never existed, and everything was slowly moving in a positive direction.
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