Chapter 324 Meng Xingjiang Returns to Beijing
After seeing Xiao Lin off, Meng Shilan felt as if the chill brought by the musket still lingered on her fingertips.
Zhou Congxian had already disappeared; he must have taken Fu'er to the study.
He went to fulfill his promise to "practice calligraphy".
But his angry back view, even his steps, revealed an awkwardness of reluctance.
The worry between her brows dissipated, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on Meng Shilan's lips.
...
Two weeks later.
The weather is getting colder and colder.
The house was warm from the underfloor heating; before winter, my maternal grandfather specially commissioned a craftsman to build a heated kang (a traditional heated bed) for the children.
The two children were having a great time playing on the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed).
Chunxing rushed in like a gust of wind, her face beaming with barely suppressed joy.
"Miss! Miss!"
Meng Shilan looked up. "What's wrong? Why are you so impatient?"
Chunxing was out of breath from running. She leaned against the door frame, panting heavily, and pointed in the direction of the mansion gate.
"Your Highness... Your Highness has returned!"
"Your Highness?"
Meng Shilan didn't react for a moment.
When did Chunxing ever call Zhou Congxian the Crown Prince?
"It seems the young master isn't leaving again this time; he's brought two cartloads of luggage with him!"
You mean...my brother is back?
Meng Shilan jumped up from her chair, her voice trembling with disbelief.
It's not time to close the government office yet.
She thought it would be more than two months before she could come back.
Chunxing nodded vigorously, "Yes! The city gate guard came to inform me personally!"
"We should be there soon!"
Before she could finish speaking, Meng Shilan had already lifted her skirt and rushed out.
She practically ran, and Chunxing chased after her, clutching her cloak.
"Miss, it's snowing heavily right now, here's your cloak!"
Meng Xingjiang was dressed in an indigo blue casual suit. He looked thinner and more composed than when he left Beijing.
He was directing the servants to unload the luggage when he turned around and saw his sister running towards him.
"Yao'er!"
Meng Xingjiang dropped his riding whip and strode forward to meet him.
Even though the brother and sister have already acknowledged their ancestors and changed their names.
He still called her Yao'er, just like when they were children.
"elder brother!"
Meng Shilan stopped five steps away, her eyes welling up with tears.
This is her brother who has protected her since childhood. In her previous life, she was unable to leave behind a single word, leaving her brother to face loneliness.
In this life, neither of them spoke, yet they were swept along by the torrent of life, with no time to think or even to say anything more.
The brother and sister hadn't seen each other for two years, and she couldn't say anything.
Meng Xingjiang pursed his lips. His sister's face looked much fuller, and she didn't seem to be working as hard as before.
He slowly took two steps forward and gently put his arm around his sister's shoulder.
"Alright, alright, you're such a grown-up, why are you still crying?"
His voice was hoarse and choked with emotion.
The brother and sister embraced and wept, and Shuang'er and He Ran, who were standing nearby, also had tears in their eyes.
He Ran returned in Meng Xingjiang's carriage. Looking at the brother and sister who had been separated for so long, she felt both bittersweet and joyful.
It took Meng Shilan a while to calm down.
She looked him over carefully, feeling both heartache and resentment.
"How did you lose so much weight?"
Meng Xingjiang chuckled, raised his hand, and habitually ruffled her hair.
"Nonsense, I'm just muscular and strong."
He paused, his gaze falling on his sister's bright and beautiful face, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
"Your complexion is much better than before."
"By the way, brother, why did you suddenly come back? You didn't even send a message beforehand."
Meng Shilan pulled him inside, wanting to ask him so many questions.
"Isn't the magistrate of Ding County still serving a year?"
Meng Xingjiang paused, and He Ran, who was standing beside him, spoke up at the opportune moment.
“Your brother is coming back and he’s not leaving. The position of county magistrate has been taken over by this year’s newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) Wang… Wang something, anyway, someone has taken over.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Shilan nodded.
"It's good that you're back. You and He Ran have been engaged for two years, it's time to get married."
He Ran blushed instantly.
"Little sister, what are you saying..."
Meng Shilan seemed to remember something else and turned to look at Shuang'er again.
"And you! How many times have you refused! Not to mention Wei Xun, I won't agree to it either!"
He Ran and Shuang'er both avoided her, suggesting she might as well go and become a matchmaker at the Ice Man's Pavilion.
After joking around with them for a while, Meng Shilan asked her brother where he would be transferred to next.
"But please don't go too far."
Meng Xingjiang smiled and reassured him.
"Rest assured, His Majesty has transferred me back to the capital to serve as the supervisor of the Divine Machine Battalion."
The position of supervisor of the Shenji Camp was not a high-ranking official, belonging to the sixth rank.
But the Shenji Battalion of today is no longer the insignificant government office it once was.
It is the sharpest knife in His Majesty's hand, and the key to determining the future battlefield situation.
This position may seem insignificant, but it grants access to the most core secrets of the Shenji Battalion.
Everyone was overjoyed when Meng Xingjiang returned.
It seemed that having one more person made things more lively, filling the entire Duke Zhenguo's mansion with laughter and joy.
When Meng Yushan saw his grandson, he was so happy he couldn't stop smiling.
Fu'er and Xiao Pangxi also gained a loving uncle.
Meng Xingjiang brought them many novel gadgets, which quickly won over the two little ones.
Since Meng Xingjiang returned, He Ran has been visiting the Meng family even more frequently.
The girl's affection was almost overflowing from her eyes.
Everyone was happy for Meng Xingjiang's return.
Except for one person.
Night had fallen, and the sky was filled with cold stars.
"Prince Zhou".
Zhou Congxian was preparing to go back to his room to enjoy some warm time with his family of four.
Unexpectedly, just as they reached the courtyard gate, they were stopped by Meng Xingjiang, who had returned.
"It's late. The guest room has been prepared for you. Please come in."
Meng Xingjiang stood with his hands behind his back, his posture straight and his expression serious, looking just like a stern door god.
Zhou Congxian's brow twitched violently.
"Guesthouse?"
He almost thought he had misheard.
Why did he choose to stay at the guesthouse?
There was no hint of a joke on Meng Xingjiang's face.
He slightly raised his chin, gesturing towards the bedroom behind him.
"It is improper for the young master to marry my sister. You should go and rest in the guest quarters."
Zhou Congxian laughed in exasperation.
"Brother-in-law, have you been staying in Ding County for too long and made your brain muddled?"
He pointed inside the house, his voice laced with a hint of gritted teeth.
"My child with Shi Lan is old enough to run errands!"
"Moreover, I am the son-in-law of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!"
Meng Xingjiang's expression remained completely unmoved.
"So what?"
He asked indifferently.
"Children are children, and rules are rules."
“If the three letters and six rites are not performed for a day, then Yao’er is not your wife for a day.”
“As her older brother, I naturally have to take responsibility for her.”
These words were spoken flawlessly and with righteous indignation.
Zhou Congxian, “…”
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