Chapter 110 Call Daddy
Xie Jinglan couldn't resist her pitiful insistence, so he had to follow her, slowed down his pace, and almost half-supported and half-hugged her, slowly moving step by step to the old lady's Yi Fu Hall.
When they reached the stone steps in front of the courtyard gate, Wen Ning gently pushed the man who was standing next to her away a little, and insisted on not allowing him to extend his hand to support her again, for fear that such an intimate gesture would be seen by the old lady and be impolite.
The old lady was holding Xibao and playing on the Luohan bed. She looked up and saw them come in. She was smiling, but her eyes fell on Wen Ning's obviously stiff steps and her legs were unable to move, and she couldn't help revealing a hint of doubt.
She had originally only called Wen Ning to talk, but she had not expected that the Marquis would follow closely.
When the two of them came closer, the old lady put Xibao down and asked with concern: "What's wrong with Ning'er? Are you feeling unwell?"
Wen Ning's face flushed, and she shook her head hurriedly, "Madam, Ning'er is fine. Maybe... maybe she didn't get enough rest last night..."
Nanny Zhou, who was standing by, couldn't help laughing. She smiled and leaned close to the old lady's ear and whispered a few words.
After hearing this, the old lady glared at Xie Jinglan in disapproval and scolded him with a smile, "You! How can you be so unrestrained? You are definitely not someone who would show any concern for others!"
After saying that, without caring about her grandson anymore, she immediately turned around and ordered Aunt Zhou: "Quick, go get a soft chair and put two more layers of thick cushions on it!"
Wen Ning's ears were so red as to seem to bleed, and she wished she could turn into a wisp of smoke and disappear immediately.
Xie Jinglan, on the other hand, had a calm expression on his face, and even a barely perceptible smile of satisfaction flashed across his eyes. He didn't care at all about the old lady's scolding.
But he couldn't help thinking in his heart: He felt it was really unfair for him to receive this scolding from the old lady.
Since he met Ning'er, he was forced to restrain himself far more often than he indulged himself, and the times when he was able to "eat his fill" were very few.
Last night... I was just trying to get back some interest.
Xibao, who was originally concentrating on playing with the dove carriage on the couch, immediately smiled when he looked up and saw his mother and the marquis.
He climbed down from the couch using his hands and feet and rushed straight towards his mother.
Seeing this, Wen Ning subconsciously wanted to bend down to catch it, but as soon as she moved her body, the soreness in that place made her hiss softly, and her movements froze instantly.
At the moment when the little ball was about to hit him, Xie Jinglan on the side didn't even lower his head. He just reached out and grabbed Xibao's collar with incredible precision, and the excited little guy was hanging in the air.
"Hehehe..." The little dumpling was not afraid at all. Instead, he laughed even more happily while shaking his two chubby legs.
Xie Jinglan then lowered his eyes and glanced at the little thing in his hand. His tone was calm but unquestionable, "Your mother is tired today and can't stand your disturbance. Be quiet."
Nanny Zhou quickly arranged a chair with a soft and thick cushion and gently placed it behind the girl.
Wen Ning knelt before the old lady before sitting down, "Thank you for your consideration, old lady."
The old lady turned to Xie Jinglan and said, "Ning'er and I have something to say. My Lord, please take Xibao to the warm room to play for a while."
Upon hearing this, Xie Jinglan frowned slightly, but without moving, he said, "Is there anything that my grandson can't listen to? I'll stay here with you."
The old lady was choked by his words and scolded with a bad laugh, "What? Are you afraid that Grandmother will eat her? I just have something important to ask Ning'er for help. Why should you be worried, Lord?"
Wen Ning hurriedly tugged at his sleeve and gave him a pleading look, asking him to leave quickly.
Xie Jinglan then responded, "Yes."
He picked up Xibao nimbly, held him in his arms, and strode out.
When the old lady saw Wen Ning sitting down and breathing calmly, she spoke slowly.
"My birthday is coming soon. If it were up to me, I'd just have a simple meal with my family behind closed doors."
She sighed and said helplessly, "But ultimately, I have no choice. I can't neglect any of my relatives, my interactions in the capital, or my status in the palace. In previous years, Wan'er helped with most of these matters. But she is the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Zhenguo, so it's not convenient for her to come here all the time."
The old lady said, looking at Wen Ning expectantly, "I was thinking of asking you to help with this year's birthday. What do you think?"
Wen Ning's heart tightened upon hearing this. She quickly stood up from her chair and said, "The old lady's trust is a blessing for Ning'er. But... but Ning'er is young and inexperienced. She has never experienced such a grand occasion. I'm afraid... I'm afraid that if I make a mistake, it will bring disgrace to the Marquisate."
Upon hearing this, the old lady smiled and said, "Silly child, who is born with the ability? You don't have to worry too much. There are established rules for all the old practices. The old stewards in the mansion are all experienced people. Nanny Zhou will also be able to give you some advice.
You are a thoughtful and patient person, so even if there are some small omissions, it doesn't matter, I, an old woman, will cover it for you."
After the old lady said this, the words of rejection that were on the tip of her tongue could no longer come out.
She could only take a deep breath and solemnly agreed, "Since the old lady said so, Ning'er... Ning'er will definitely do her best."
…
Xie Jinglan took the little person in his arms out of the main house, but did not go into the warm room.
He thought to himself that although this kid was the apple of his eye, he was still a little man of the Xie family. If he stayed in the greenhouse all day and was protected by the old lady, he would probably be raised like a delicate flower.
He simply placed the little guy on the wide railing under the corridor, bent one knee slightly, and stood at eye level with his son, with his big hands firmly protecting both sides to prevent him from falling.
Looking at the delicate little thing in front of him, whose eyes and eyebrows resembled his own shadow, Xie Jinglan felt as if his heart was filled with something, soft and swollen, with an indescribable satisfaction and pride.
But his face remained tense, maintaining his usual serious expression.
He cleared his throat and said, "Xibao can talk a lot now, right?"
Xibao was standing on the high railing, finding it interesting. He nodded his head vigorously and replied in a baby voice, "Yeah! You can say a lot~"
"How about I test Xibao?" The man pointed to the branches of an old plum tree outside the corridor, which was covered with a light layer of snow but still looked strong. "What is that?"
Xibao looked in the direction of his slender fingers, tilted his head, and uttered four words word by word: "Snow, middle, cold, plum."
"Yes," Xie Jinglan nodded, with a hint of encouragement in his tone.
He then changed the question, "Then Xibao, do you know what dishes mother likes to eat? Just tell me one."
Xibao immediately straightened her little body, and her baby voice suddenly became louder, "Mommy... loves to eat crab roe... and tofu."
The man confirmed it again, and then he pretended to be nonchalant and said:
"Then... can Xibao call... Daddy - Daddy?"
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