"Second Brother—"
"Second Brother~"
Qingyun and Changjun called out to each other, their steps undiminished. After queuing out of the examination hall, they quickly broke free from the crowd and came to their second brother's side.
Qingyun showed no favoritism, patting both of them on the shoulder equally, and then joked:
"Hey lads, look at those dark circles under your eyes. You've been suffering these past few days, haven't you?"
"Second brother, you're right. I'm alright, but Qingyun is the one who's in a terrible state."
Changjun looked distressed. His cell was alright; it was a dozen or so cells away from the latrine. But Qingyun...
"How bad was it? Tell me about it~"
Qingsong put his arms around his two younger brothers' shoulders, looking like the three brothers were very close.
The slight upturn of his lips and the smile he revealed looked anything but malicious.
Ge Qingzhou, who was standing nearby, also pricked up his ears, wanting to hear just how tragic it was.
"It's nothing, it's just that the cells are next to the outhouse, and the smell is awful."
Rather than letting Changjun recount his embarrassing and miserable experiences, it's better for him to speak openly and honestly about them himself.
"Forehead."
Qingsong sniffed carefully, then released his third brother's shoulder.
No wonder he said there was a foul smell when he was near his third brother.
Qingyun stared at his second brother with a death stare, then patted him on the shoulder and asked in return:
"Second brother, is this really okay?"
"Oh dear, my poor third brother, why is he so unlucky?"
Qingsong looked around, gesturing for his brother-in-law to follow. "Let's go, let's slip away!"
"The results are out!"
"What's going on? Why are the results being released so quickly this year?"
"It's the honor roll! Quick, check the rankings!"
"My son is blessed with good fortune; he will surely rank first in the imperial examination!"
"My brother is number one!"
"Don't push, it's my shoe!"
......
Just as the brothers were arguing, the crowd surged in another direction...
Once the crowd left, the area became much emptier.
Ye He, carrying the young lady, came over and bowed to the Third Young Master.
Then the little girl in my arms opened her arms and called out sweetly:
"Third Uncle~ Uncle~"
"Ugh~"
"It stinks!"
Wenwan quickly hugged He'er's neck; she almost fell into her third uncle's arms.
Ignoring her second uncle's dark expression, she was fearless, even towards her third uncle:
"Third Uncle, did you fall into the latrine?"
"Ahem, Wan'er, don't talk nonsense."
Changjun was overjoyed to see his niece. Wan'er was so young, she couldn't have come alone. Her sister and brother-in-law must have come too!
"Oh, I know I was wrong, Uncle, hug me~"
Wen Wan stuck out her tongue, then sniffed her uncle beforehand. Thankfully, he didn't smell like a latrine anymore...
"......."
Qingyun was speechless. Was he really that smelly?
Okay, I was just deceiving myself and blocking out my senses before.
Now, he accepts reality...
Suddenly, Qingyun felt a pat on the back, and a sleazy voice rang out—
"Wait for me, Qingyun! Changjun, you guys are so disloyal!"
He didn't need to turn around; he knew it was Liu Yunfei, Brother Liu.
Liu Yunfei lost his composure, suddenly took a few steps back, pinched his nose, and said disdainfully:
"Hey, Brother Qingyun, what's that smell on you?"
"snort."
Qingyun is angry, and you can't appease her.
My niece said he smelled bad, fine, but Brother Liu, you're such a grown man, don't you have any brains at all?
Changjun noticed Qingyun's displeasure and quickly tried to reconcile them.
Then, looking around, he asked:
"Shh, don't mention it. By the way, where is your wife?"
“My wife is a real tigress. I told her before I entered the examination hall not to come over. Just stay home and take care of Kun’er. Besides, there are too many people in the examination hall. Don’t crowd the baby girl in your belly.”
Although Liu Yunfei said his wife was a "tiger mom," he actually had a happy, silly smile on his face.
As everyone watched, they all thought in unison, "If this guy had a tail, it would be wagging its tail by now, wouldn't it?"
"My lord~"
You really shouldn't talk about people behind their backs, because you'll always find the truth!
Lu Yingying, with her large pregnant belly, smiled gently. She looked every bit the young mistress of a wealthy family, gentle and virtuous, not at all like a tigress.
Liu Yunfei's smile froze. He slowly turned around and, sure enough, saw his wife, whose smile concealed a dagger...
My knees buckled instantly; I almost embarrassed myself in front of everyone!
"Mother, my lady, how did you get here?"
Didn't we agree that we wouldn't come?
"Shaokun misses you. That's why I instructed Laifu to bring us here to take you home."
Lu Yingying's tone remained gentle, but her fingers clenched tightly under her sleeves.
Knowing the young mistress's temperament well, Xiao Lü quickly gave Lai Fu a meaningful look—
Please bring the young master out!
Laifu immediately understood and quickly slipped away to fetch the young master!
“Pretty auntie, you have a baby now, just like my mom.”
Wenwan broke free from her uncle's embrace and trotted over to the unfamiliar aunt, curiously gazing at the woman's belly.
"Whose daughter are you? You have such a sweet tongue."
Lu Yingying smiled upon hearing this, finding it rare to see such a bright and beautiful little girl.
Wen Wan tilted her head and blurted out without thinking:
"I'm my grandma's precious baby~"
Haha~
This made everyone present laugh, and the atmosphere eased a bit.
"Father~"
At the same time, a boy with an extraordinary air about him jogged over, stopping a few steps away from the group. As if remembering something, his expression turned serious. He approached, first bowing to his mother, then greeting his father.
"Your son greets his father and wishes him good health."
Forehead.
Liu Yunfei was overwhelmed.
What a fine son, raised and disciplined by his father. Look at his demeanor and tone of voice, just like his father's!
No need for formalities.
Since his elderly father wasn't around, what did he have to worry about?
She scooped up her precious son, kissed him several times, spun him around a few times, and then put him down, proudly introducing him:
"These are all my closest friends. Kun'er, come here and call them Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Little Uncle~"
"Second Uncle~"
"Third Uncle~"
"Uncle~"
Liu Shaokun's ears turned bright red as he greeted everyone politely. His father's kiss had been too forceful, an insult to his refined manners...
Qingsong patted his pockets and realized he hadn't brought anything good with him, so he said awkwardly:
"Oh, my dear child, your second uncle was in a rush today. I'll make it up to you with a gift another day~"
"We just finished the exam and weren't prepared, so we'll take it another day."
Qingyun and Changjun exchanged a smile, and then gave the same answer.
"It's alright."
Liu Shaokun shook his head, not taking it to heart.
It was just a whim of his that he wanted to bring his father home, so how could he blame his uncles?
"My name is Wan'er, what's your name, big brother?"
Wenwan is never shy around strangers, and she is very happy and curious when she sees handsome young men.
"My name is Hao'er, what's your name, big brother?"
The tagalong was the same; whatever his sister asked, he would ask the same question.
Liu Shaokun turned around and saw the little girl and boy who were slightly shorter than him, and asked in a friendly manner:
"My name is Liu Shaokun. Are you siblings?"
No~
Yes~
The answer was different; the latter pouted pitifully, looking at her sister as if she was about to cry.
"We are cousins."
In Wenwan's mind, her elders all said that she and her two younger brothers were cousins, so she remembered that they were cousins, not siblings.
Um?
Liu Shaokun was puzzled. What's the difference between cousins and siblings?
Wenwan: One more word.
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