The carriage journey took most of the day before I finally picked up Su Ling and Xi Zhi. They looked so adorable while they were sleeping.
The main vehicle was quite large; the only thing missing for our family of four was Yu'er causing trouble. Inside, there was some small furniture, a low table, and a place to put candles, so even if we were walking at night, we wouldn't be afraid of the dark.
After they woke up, Xizhi came to lean against me. Xie Yuancheng said we were like sisters, one big and one small, and Xizhi's expression changed when she looked at his small body.
“Yuancheng~ He’s the youngest son, how can they be sisters?” I carried Xizhi over, and Suling, who was originally leaning against Xie Yuancheng, followed behind.
She touched Xizhi's face and then giggled. The two siblings really don't look alike at all now. Suling doesn't look like us; she's probably still young. When she grows up, she'll look like us.
Xie Yuancheng spent his days playing with the two little ones. I was initially quite sad, but after receiving some strange talismans from Yu'er in the manor, I finally smiled.
"Mommy~" Xizhi came over and wanted me to hug him. He's the most attached to me. Xie Yuancheng looked at him and wanted to punch him. I hugged my youngest son and deliberately teased him.
"Su Ling, Mommy doesn't want us anymore, we're so pitiful~" This cunning girl actually sent her daughter to fawn over me. As soon as Su Ling came over, the two of them rolled inside to play.
Now Su Ling is very cheerful and likes to play with her older and younger brothers. Her mother said she would take Su Ling to meet some daughters of officials, but Su Ling became shy instead, which worried her to death.
Fortunately, Xie Yuancheng learned some useful things in 2020, which made his adorable daughter smile again. I wanted to go and make a fuss with them, but the carriage stopped as soon as I got up.
I lost my balance and fell into Xie Yuancheng's arms. He smiled so hard his fake peach blossom eyes were sparkling: "Ying'er, you've finally missed me these past few days."
“The kids are here~” I slapped his outstretched hand. Xi Zhi and Su Ling saw that I had fallen and quickly ran over to check on me.
"Mommy~" The two little ones snuggled against me, and I pulled them up to sit inside.
Xie Yuancheng went down to check. They would arrive in Linyang in three days. Su Ling and Xi Zhi were happy along the way, but they would ask about their brother from time to time and were always looking for Yu'er.
I told them the story I had seen, and the two little ones looked at me with wide eyes and smiled, occasionally covering their faces and eyes with their little hands, but then they were all smiles again.
I heard a noise outside and called a soldier over. "What happened?"
"Madam, there are several women blocking the carriage ahead, and they have children with them."
"How could this happen? Do they know anything about them?"
The soldier shook his head. I told him to go and see for himself, and to come back quickly if he had any news. The soldier grabbed his knife and rode off to see. I carried Xi Zhi and Su Ling closer, and they nervously tugged at my sleeve.
"Mother~" Xi Zhi called out in a soft voice. Su Ling made a shushing gesture to him, but he actually covered his mouth.
I was almost amused by their antics, but what was going on outside? Xie Yuancheng had been gone for an incense stick's time. We heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching, and a soldier said the people ahead wanted to come with us to Linyang.
"These people are so shameless. If they want to go, they should go by themselves. Why do they have to come with us?"
“Madam, you don’t know this, but Linyang is now the richest city within a hundred miles. They probably timed it perfectly, knowing that the Marquis would be passing through, so they came.”
“My dear Marquis is the worst at handling this kind of thing, I have to go and help him.”
I told Su Ling to hold Xi Zhi's hand tightly: "You two absolutely must not go out, understand? Mother has sent the nanny to watch over you."
"Mother~" They were nodding just now, but when they saw me getting off the carriage, they quickly crawled over and wanted me to hug them.
Xie Yuancheng has been gone for quite a while; I guess he's been scammed. I need to go check on him. I've seen too many people; I really can't let my guard down. I carried them down, wearing little cloaks. Su Ling and Xi Zhi were well-behaved this time, holding my hands and following me. Before we even reached the front, we heard their heart-wrenching cries.
"My lord, we are truly poor people. Look, my little girl is skin and bones from hunger. Please take her in."
"I told you, I'd give you some silver so you could make a living on your own, but you refused. That means you have ulterior motives. If you don't leave now, I'll have someone kick you out."
The soldiers around us made way for us, and I shouted, "Yuancheng, let's go quickly. Since they don't want money, it means they just want to talk and kneel. Maybe they're even actors rehearsing a scene."
Xie Yuancheng smiled and came over to pick up Xizhi, saying, "Ying'er, why did you come down?"
The soldiers standing nearby, holding flags, laughed along, occasionally urging them to hurry up. Just as I picked up Su Ling, the girl named Niu Niu started her performance.
Her face was covered in dirt, and her clothes were clearly torn on purpose. Before she could even get close to us, she was blocked by the soldiers in front of her with their weapons.
"Madam, my younger sister and brother must be very beautiful. I take care of my three younger siblings at home. They have vegetables to eat in winter and fish soup to drink in summer."
"Please let me work as a maid in your household. I'll take care of them. I'm very lucky; I'll help look after my younger siblings."
I despise this kind of excuse the most. Su Ling was about to lift her cloak when I quickly grabbed her hand: "First of all, they are not younger brothers and sisters, but a young princess and a young prince. How can you, a commoner, recognize them as your younger brothers and sisters?"
Also, your clothes must have been cut up, right? It's rare to see them so neatly torn.
Finally, give each of them ten taels of silver. Take it or leave it, or give them ten lashes. The youngest is only twelve or thirteen, yet she's so good at lying. Does her greed in her eyes mean we're blind? Slap her ten times to teach her a lesson.
"Yes!" The soldiers on the side all came down, first slapped Niu Niu's mouth, and then came out with sticks.
"Waaah~" Niu Niu started pretending to cry, glancing at us every now and then. Su Ling tugged at my clothes, and I told the soldier in front to slap her again before she stopped crying.
"Please, Your Excellency, have mercy!" The kneeling women began to kowtow. At this moment, a softer voice rang out.
"Mommy~ My tummy is so hungry, can we eat now?" A four or five-year-old child smiled at us as soon as he arrived. "My lord~ We really are poor, look, I barely have any flesh on me~"
She's a complete liar. She's very fat, with sagging skin on her face, her belly bulging out of her clothes, and her hands and feet are very fat. She can run fast even in worn-out shoes.
"My lord, they're after you. Take the children and go back first. I'll handle this."
"Madam, I have always been heartless." Xie Yuancheng waved his hand, and those people were lifted up. Niu Niu and the little fat boy rolled on the ground, kicking their worn-out shoes away.
"Give them all ten strokes of the military rod, then send them to the side." Xie Yuancheng said expressionlessly, though he was on the verge of anger.
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