Chapter 522 An adopted son is, after all, an adopted son.
Three days later, there was a huge procession of carriages and horses in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
The autumn sky is particularly high and the golden sunlight shines into the courtyard, giving the bluestone road a layer of warm light.
Amidst all the laughter and cheers, the most excited one was Xiao Qingchen, who had just learned to walk.
She was wearing a festive red jacket, looking like a chubby lucky doll. She was being supported by her wet nurse and maid on either side, and she was exploring the yard unsteadily on her short legs.
Every step she took made her laugh uncontrollably, and her clear laughter sounded like silver bells.
On the other side, Brother Xuan was having a great time.
He had already changed into a neat short riding and archery outfit. Although he was young, he looked quite heroic in it.
He ran around the spacious yard like a pony that had broken free from its reins, chasing a flying fallen leaf.
He was still shouting, as if he was already a young general galloping on the battlefield.
"Brother Xuan, go slower and be careful not to fall!" Chu Ruohan stood in the corridor and warned with a smile.
"I know, Mom!" Xuan Ge'er responded from a distance, but his feet did not stop at all. He was as happy as a bird that wanted to fly.
The whole courtyard is full of vitality and children's joy.
There was only one person standing quietly under the shade of the pillars, completely out of tune with the bustling scene.
Mei Zi lowered her eyes, her gaze fixed on Xuan Ge'er who was very excited not far away, her expression gloomy.
Wang Shuo's vicious words "bastard without father or mother" at the Gu family banquet were like a poisoned thorn that pierced her heart.
I've been having pain for the past two days.
She could never forget the tearful eyes of Aunt Li when she entrusted the young master to her.
The advice: "Meizi, I can't rely on you in this life, you must watch him grow up."
She once thought that once she entered the Duke's Mansion and was protected by the Duke and his wife, the young master would be able to live a safe life.
But now it seems that this stability is so fragile.
The Duke's wife treated the young master like her own son and doted on him, and everyone in the mansion saw this. But... what if?
What if the Duke's wife gave birth to her own legitimate son? How would Brother Xuan cope with it then?
Will he still have a real foothold in this Duke Zhenguo's Mansion?
An adopted son is, after all, an adopted son.
Will this love be discounted with the arrival of one's own flesh and blood?
By then, will the young master's identity become even more embarrassing?
These thoughts were like poisonous snakes, entwining her heart and making her breathless.
"plum?"
Chu Ruohan's voice came from behind her, startling Mei Zi.
She snapped back to her senses, turned around hastily, and bowed, "Madam."
Chu Ruohan looked at her and saw that her face was a little pale, so she asked gently, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? If you are not feeling well, you can stay and rest. You don't have to go with us."
"No, no." Mei Zi quickly shook her head and lowered her head even lower. "I just saw that the young master was having fun and I was happy for him."
She didn't dare let her wife see the outrageous speculations in her heart.
Chu Ruohan didn't think much of it, just thinking that she felt sorry for Xuan Ge'er, so she smiled and said, "It's rare for this child to get out for some fresh air, so we should let him have some fun. You should go and keep an eye on him too, don't let him get too far away."
"Yes, I obey your command."
Mei Zi agreed and walked quickly towards Xuan Ge'er, but there was always a lingering heaviness in her back.
The carriage slowly stopped, and the slight bumps of the wheels passing over the grass disappeared.
Outside the carriage, a clamor could be heard faintly through the thick walls: the neighing of horses, the shouts of soldiers, the clinking of metal armor...
The curtain of the car was opened by a large hand with distinct joints, and Gu Junze's deep voice sounded: "We're here."
Chu Ruohan helped him get off the carriage. A gust of autumn wind with the fragrance of grass and trees blew towards her, blowing up the loose hair on her temples.
Suddenly, the view became clear.
The vast royal enclosure stretched as far as the eye could see, with rolling hills in the distance and hundreds of tents dotted around nearby, their flags fluttering.
In the very center, the huge bright yellow imperial tent sparkled in the sun, demonstrating the supreme imperial power.
"Wow!"
Xuan Ge'er jumped out of another carriage, tilted his little face up, and his eyes were wide open.
"Mom! There are so many people! So many tents! They're bigger than our house!"
He excitedly pulled Chu Ruohan's sleeve, and pointed with his little hand at the neat rows of military tents in the distance, as well as the majestic imperial guards riding tall horses.
Lu Ge'er seemed much calmer and his eyes quickly swept across the entire camp.
What he saw was not bustle, but strict hierarchy and invisible order.
The location of each tent and the route of each patrolling team exudes an unquestionable majesty.
This is what power looks like.
His clenched hands tightened unconsciously.
The camp of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion was located in a prominent position not far from the imperial tent, and the servants had already set up several large tents with swift hands and feet.
Chu Ruohan ordered methodically, "Light up the heater in the children's tent first. The wind is strong in the mountains, be careful not to catch a cold."
"Yes, ma'am." The housekeeper bowed in response.
Little Qingchen was held in the arms of his wet nurse. He was full of curiosity about everything around him. His big eyes like black grapes kept looking around, his little hands were waving, and he was making "ah ah" sounds with his mouth.
As soon as the family settled down, women from other mansions came to pay their respects.
"Madam Guogong is well."
The visitor was the wife of the Duke of England, accompanied by her legitimate son who was about seven or eight years old.
Chu Ruohan smiled and nodded: "Mrs. Ying is well."
The two ladies' greetings were polite and distant, but their eyes couldn't help but fall on each other's children.
Mrs. Ying glanced at Xuan Ge'er, who was looking at her son curiously, with a proper smile on her face.
"Is this the young master of the mansion? He looks so smart and cute."
This may sound ordinary, but to those who pay close attention, it always feels like something is missing.
She did not call him "eldest son", but only vaguely said "little prince".
The smile on Chu Ruohan's face remained unchanged. She reached out and pulled Xuan Ge'er in front of her, her movements natural and intimate.
"Yes, this is my son Jingxuan."
Her voice was clear and gentle, yet it carried an undeniable power.
"Brother Xuan, I'm honored to meet Madam Ying and Brother Ying."
Xuan Ge'er bowed obediently and said, "Xuan Ge'er greets Madam Ying and greets brother."
Mrs. Ying's son raised his chin with a bit of arrogance typical of a child from a wealthy family, and nodded slightly as a return of the greeting.
Mei Zi, who was standing not far away, took in the entire scene.
She looked at the riding and archery suit embroidered with qilin patterns in gold thread on the young master of the Ying family.
Looking at his young master again, the string of uneasiness in his heart was plucked again.
Madam is protecting the young master, but can this protection withstand all such overt or covert scrutiny and comparisons?
A young eunuch dressed in eunuch's clothes walked quickly, followed by several guards.
"Your servant greets the Duke of Zhenguo and his wife." The young eunuch bowed and said in a shrill voice, "Your Majesty is hosting a banquet in the imperial tent and summoned the Duke to discuss matters."
Upon hearing this, Gu Junze nodded to Chu Ruohan.
"I'll go over there." He reached out and brushed a strand of his wife's hair that was messed up by the wind behind her ear, and lowered his voice.
"You are here with the children. There are many people in the camp, so have the guards keep an eye on them. If anything happens, send someone to find me immediately."
Chu Ruohan looked up at him, her eyes full of trust: "Go ahead, I'm here."
Gu Junze then turned around and followed the young eunuch towards the imperial tent.
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