Chapter 159 Returning Home (Second Update)
Since she had already said that, Yao could not insist any further.
The next day, Yao arrived early at Bishui Hutong to pick up Gu Jiao and Gu Yan.
Xiao Jingkong also wants to go.
I mainly wanted to be with Jiaojiao; it's rare for me to have a day off.
Yao had long regarded Xiao Jingkong as her own child and gladly took him along.
The family sat in the Marquis's carriage, the horses' hooves clattering loudly.
Xiao Jingkong was very excited, sitting next to Gu Jiao, shaking his head and swaying his body.
"So happy?" Gu Jiao asked him.
Little Jingkong swung his short legs and tilted his head, saying, "This is my first time visiting relatives!"
These words stunned the people in the carriage.
The young monk had always lived in the temple and had never visited any relatives. Although he had a family after coming down the mountain with Gu Jiao, he still didn't have any relatives to visit.
Xiao Jingkong is very smart and organized, which is why Gu Jiao and others rarely treat him like an ordinary child.
It was at this moment that Gu Jiao realized that Xiao Jingkong had always longed to integrate into the lives of normal people, just like the ordinary children in the village.
Gu Jiao looked at the little guy's expectant eyes and moved his bald head.
"But I have no hair, will my grandmother not like me?"
Xiao Jingkong generally followed Gu Jiao's way of addressing his family members; he used whatever Gu Jiao acknowledged.
Although Gu Jiao never called Yao Shi "mother," she was willing to be close to her in her heart. Xiao Jingkong could feel this, so he was also very close to Yao Shi.
Yao said that when she went to visit her maternal grandmother today, Xiao Jingkong specifically observed Gu Jiao's expression. She didn't seem to have any taboos about how Gu Jiao addressed her maternal grandmother, so Xiao Jingkong guessed that he could call her that too.
Madam Yao said gently, "No, Xiao Jingkong is just as cute without hair."
Little Jingkong said proudly, "I think I'm cute too!"
Gu Yan's lips twitched, and she took the tiger-head hat and covered his little head with it: "Put on the hat, aren't you afraid of getting cold!"
Little Jingkong snaps: "You're just jealous that I'm younger and cuter than you!"
Gu Yan chuckled: "You're cute? I think you're just pitiful and nobody loves you."
Little Jingkong, hands on hips and stamping her feet, exclaimed: "No way! I'm Coco and Ai'ai!"
The two bickered for a while, and soon arrived at the Yao residence.
This was the first time Gu Yan had ever visited his maternal grandparents' home. Although Yao Shi had some disagreements with her maternal family, she had never revealed them to Gu Yan. Therefore, Gu Yan did not have a bad impression of the Yao family.
Even encouraged by Xiao Jingkong, he vaguely looked forward to this trip to visit relatives.
Last night, Yao sent someone to deliver a message to her family. Early this morning, Yao Yuan and his wife, He, were waiting at the door.
It was freezing cold, and the two of them shivered as they clutched hot water bottles.
Finally seeing the carriage approaching, they hurried forward before it even stopped.
Yao Yuan exclaimed excitedly, "Sister!"
After the carriage came to a stop, Granny Fang got off first, and then helped Madam Yao down.
Yao greeted her brother and sister-in-law, then looked toward the carriage.
Inside the carriage, a little boy jumped down first, startling Yao Yuan and Madam He. Then, Gu Jiao and Gu Yan followed suit.
Everyone present could guess that Gu Jiao and Gu Yan were Yao's twins, a boy and a girl, but that adorable little bean sprout...
Could it be Yao's second child?
Yao Yuan glanced at his younger sister.
Madam Yao called over Xiao Jingkong: "Jingkong, greet your eldest uncle and eldest aunt."
Little Jingkong called out in a clear, sweet voice, "Uncle! Aunt!"
Mrs. He was a little confused. Was this her sister-in-law's second child?
Yao Yuan had spoken with Yao Shi yesterday and learned that this should be the child Jiao Jiao adopted from the mountain, named Jing Kong.
"Little Jingkong is such a good boy," Yao Yuan praised.
He was only three years older than Yao. Both of them were once beautiful and graceful women. More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Yao still retains her charm and shows few signs of aging, but wrinkles have already appeared on He's face.
Xiao Jingkong ran ahead to look at the stone lions at the entrance, while Madam He's gaze fell on Gu Yan and Gu Jiao.
Gu Yan inherited the good looks of Lord Gu, possessing a refined and elegant appearance. As for Gu Jiao…
Looking at the birthmark on her face, Madam He opened her mouth awkwardly and asked, "Is this... Jinyu?"
Madam Yao said, "It's Jiaojiao."
Yesterday, Yao Yuan went to the Marquis's residence and learned that the two children had been switched at birth. He also learned that Gu Jiao had not returned to the residence yet, but was living in a small house in Bishui Hutong.
A barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed across Madam He's eyes as she glanced towards the carriage: "Jinyu didn't come?"
Yao frowned slightly.
Jin Yu, Jin Yu, standing in front of her is Jiao Jiao, can't she at least greet Jiao Jiao first?
Gu Jiao remained calm. She didn't greet He Shi and simply walked past her, catching up with Xiao Jingkong, who was admiring the stone lions ahead.
Yao Yuan glared at Madam He.
Madam He pouted. She was just asking what was wrong. He hadn't come, and she wasn't even allowed to ask?
Madam He then looked at Gu Yan and said with a smile, "Is this Yan'er?"
Gu Yan: Hehe.
He ignored her sister, and he ignored her too!
Gu Yan didn't even glance at Madam He, and strode forward to find Gu Jiao and Xiao Jingkong.
Yao Yuan and Madam He were extremely embarrassed.
Yao Yuan didn't think he was being treated differently, but he didn't expect his wife to react this way.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and said to Madam Yao, "Mother is inside. Sister, please go in and see her."
Yao stepped into the mansion.
As Madam He walked beside her, she asked with a smile, "Sister, why didn't Jinyu come over?"
Madam Yao paused in her steps: "She's entered the palace!"
"Ah..." Madam He was dumbfounded, "Jinyu is really amazing...she can even enter the palace..."
Yao no longer wanted to talk to her sister-in-law.
However, she was not originally there to visit her sister-in-law today.
The group went to Madam Yao's courtyard.
Madam Yao sat on the kang in the east wing. Contrary to what Yao Yuan had said, her face was indeed sickly pale, but she did not look like she was about to die.
Madam Yao frowned again and turned to look at Yao Yuan.
Yao Yuan lowered his head.
Madam Yao said in a deep voice, "Don't look at him. I asked him to call you here. If I hadn't said this, would you have come back? When you married into the Marquis's mansion, you cut off all ties with the Yao family without a word. I let you have your way. What? More than ten years have passed and you still haven't calmed your resentment? I'm so old, I don't know how many days I have left to live. What's wrong with me wanting to see my two precious grandsons? Are you not allowed to?"
This was something that made people uncomfortable, but when Yao heard that it was to see the twins, she wasn't so angry anymore.
Mrs. Yao called the three children in.
Gu Yan was the first to enter.
As soon as Madam Yao saw Gu Yan, her cloudy old eyes lit up. She reached out her hand to Gu Yan: "Yan'er? Is that Yan'er? Come quickly! Come to your grandmother! Let your grandmother take a look!"
Seeing that she genuinely liked him, Gu Yan hesitated for a moment before walking over.
Grandma Yao was so excited that her hands were trembling. She took Gu Yan's hand with one hand and touched his face with the other: "Grandma is so glad to see you... You look just like your father!"
Gu Yan was not well-liked by the old lady Gu in the Marquis's mansion. In contrast, the affection shown by the old lady Yao was particularly heartwarming.
“Call me ‘Grandmother’!” said Madam Yao.
Gu Yan hesitated for a moment, and was about to call out to his maternal grandmother when Gu Jiao led Xiao Jingkong in.
Little Jingkong tilted his head and looked at the old woman on the daybed, asking cutely, "Is she my maternal grandmother?"
Madam Yao was taken aback.
Yao Yuan leaned down and explained in her ear, "The little monk that Jiao Jiao adopted on the mountain is named Jingkong. I mentioned him to you yesterday."
Madam Yao had heard about the two children's backgrounds and Gu Jiao's situation from her son. Since the little guy was Jingkong, then the one holding his hand must be Gu Jiao.
After all, she was Yao's biological daughter, so Old Madam Yao didn't dislike her. However, like Madam He, she looked behind the two of them and asked, "Where's Jinyu? Why didn't I see her come over?"
"Jinyu has entered the palace!" Madam He walked in with a smile, saying with pride.
Madam Yao said, "She will come over after she has finished paying her respects to Consort Shu."
Gu Jiao noticed the disappointment in Madam Yao's eyes, but Madam Yao did not immediately ignore Gu Jiao and Xiao Jingkong. She looked at Gu Jiao and Xiao Jingkong kindly and said, "You are both good children, come here quickly!"
Little Jingkong led Jiaojiao over in a clattering gait!
Little Jingkong called out to his maternal grandmother and even stuck out his little head, allowing his grandmother to touch his little bald head.
Gu Jiao didn't call anyone.
Yao Yuan explained in a low voice, "Jiaojiao just reunited with her younger sister and is rather introverted."
"It's alright," said Madam Yao with a gentle smile.
Looking at her mother, who treated everyone equally, Yao finally believed what her brother had told her the day before.
The mother has truly repented. She will no longer treat her son as her precious treasure and her daughter as something that can be sacrificed for the family at any time, just like before.
Little did Yao know that she was celebrating too soon.
Madam Yao treated everyone equally, but that was just for show.
Once the others left, leaving only Gu Yan in the room, Old Madam Yao had a maid bring over a large box. After opening it, she took out a large, red persimmon and handed it to Gu Yan, saying, "This is the King of Persimmons that your eldest uncle bought from someone at a high price. Your maternal grandmother specially saved it for you. Try it."
"Is there only one?" Gu Yan asked.
Madam Yao was taken aback.
Gu Yan said, "Then I'll save it for my sister and Xiao Jingkong."
“They have some, but these are yours!” Old Madam Yao called over the maid in the room and handed her the box. “These are the persimmons that the master brought over yesterday. Pick out the two biggest ones for Jiaojiao and that child.”
Gu Yan frowned involuntarily when she heard that her maternal grandmother did not call Xiao Jingkong by his name.
"I'm going to find my mother," he said, making up an excuse to leave.
Instead of looking for Yao, he walked towards the small garden where Xiao Jingkong was playing.
Xiao Jingkong was happily building a snowman on the ground, while Gu Jiao watched him from the side.
The maid from Madam Yao's courtyard brought over two persimmons, giving one to Gu Jiao and the other to Xiao Jingkong.
Little Jingkong is a sensible and content child: "Wow! Such a big, red persimmon! Jiaojiao, can I eat it?"
Gu Jiao nodded.
Xiao Jingkong began to sit in the snow and peel persimmons.
Gu Yan glanced at the persimmon in his hand, then at the persimmons of Xiao Jingkong and Gu Jiao, and his eyes immediately turned cold.
He had actually seen it earlier; there was a large persimmon in the box. He thought the maid would give it to Xiao Jingkong and Gu Jiao, but unexpectedly, she secretly put the box away and replaced it with two small persimmons for them.
It goes without saying who instructed them to do this.
That persimmon must have been reserved for Gu Jinyu.
The maternal grandmother did not truly love Yao's children.
It's understandable that the people in the Marquis's mansion favor Gu Jinyu, after all, they've raised her for so many years and have developed feelings for her.
But the grandmother had never seen the three of them before, so she left the biggest persimmon for him and Gu Jinyu, who hadn't even come to the mansion today.
Gu Yan was furious!
He walked over, took the persimmon that Xiao Jingkong had been peeling for a long time, and handed him the king of persimmons from his own hand.
Little Jingkong paused for a moment, then said "Oh," and began peeling the giant persimmon with difficulty, holding it in his two little hands.
He peeled it and handed it to Gu Yan with both hands: "Here you go."
Gu Yan was stunned: "What are you doing?"
Xiao Jingkong tilted his head and said, "Didn't you want me to peel the persimmon for you?"
I'm giving you the big persimmon to eat!
Gu Yan felt as if something was blocking his chest.
Xiao Jingkong stuffed the peeled persimmon into his hand, then took his own small, half-peeled persimmon and continued peeling it.
He peeled it very carefully.
Gu Yan felt a pain in his chest.
He crouched down to be at eye level with the little one: "This one is the big one, can't you tell? Don't you want to eat the big one?"
Xiao Jingkong said seriously, "I can't finish it all."
Xiao Jingkong thinks it's perfectly reasonable to give the big ones to adults and the small ones to children!
"Ayan." Gu Jiao smiled at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan swallowed the words that exposed Old Madam Yao.
He actually understood what Old Madam Yao was planning. He was his father's most beloved son, Gu Jinyu was his father's most beloved daughter, and Jiao Jiao hadn't even moved into the Marquis's mansion, so it seemed she wasn't very favored.
Madam Yao didn't value Jiao Jiao and the adopted little monk, but she didn't want to offend Madam Yao, who had finally returned to her maternal home. So she said one thing to her face and another behind her back.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
