"Have you two had lunch yet? Would you like to sit down and have something to eat together?" Seeing that Hua was continuing to eat, leaving the two travel-worn people standing aside, Hong Xiaoduo couldn't help but ask.
Through their interactions over this period, Hong Xiaoduo knew that Madam Hua was a kind-hearted person. It wasn't that she was indifferent to the hardships faced by the people who came to the mansion; rather, Madam Hua's heart was probably in turmoil at this moment!
Although Hua herself wasn't sure if Kaiyang was her biological son Tong'er, she was just going by instinct and had already decided to follow Kaiyang from now on.
As a result, someone from her family came and said they had found her Tong'er!
"Thank you, but no need. We already ate while we were resting up ahead." The leading man glanced at his wife, who showed no intention of inviting him to sit down and eat with them, and quickly thanked him and declined.
The other person beside him glanced at him with a hint of resentment. The food on the long table looked simple, but judging from the people sitting around it eating, it must taste good.
Why lie to refuse someone's kindness? There's still plenty of food; it's not like there isn't enough.
Hearing him say that, Hong Xiaoduo didn't say anything more.
It wasn't that she was particularly hospitable or generous. If the Hua family had paid for the meal, she definitely wouldn't have said a word, because they were their people.
I bought and prepared this lunch myself. Even though the Hua family and their servants were guests, I should have asked them for the food.
Guard Yan quickly shoveled the food in his bowl into his stomach, then got up and led the two newcomers away to talk.
At this distance, we couldn't hear what they were saying, but judging from their body language, it seemed that Guard Yan was asking about what happened in the capital and explaining to the other two how he ended up with Hong Xiaoduo and who they were.
"Madam, please eat." Kaiyang picked up a piece of pork rib and placed it in Hua's bowl.
I just heard what that person said: the lady's biological son has been found.
Kaiyang was happy for the lady, but for some reason, he felt a little lost. Watching the lady sitting opposite him quietly continuing to eat, he felt a pang of heartache.
"Yes, Kaiyang, you should eat too." Hua noticed the extra piece of pork rib in her bowl, paused for a moment, then picked up another piece from her bowl and placed it in Kaiyang's bowl with a smile.
Sitting by Kaiyang, Yaoguang blinked and looked back and forth between the two, puzzled. The ribs were all stewed in the same pot, tasted the same, and were cut into uniform sizes, so why did they need to eat different ones?
Not far away, the two people who had just arrived from the Wei residence also learned what had happened from the guard Yan.
"How could it be such a coincidence? The head of the family met them outside the capital, and now the madam has run into them again outside the capital? Yan Qian, you really have a big heart. How dare you?" One of them glanced at his madam and said unhappily.
"Chang Yuanlu, come on, you think you're so smart and everyone else is stupid. It's true that you have to be more careful when working in the master's mansion, but you should at least use your brain, okay?"
"Who is our master? He's the Minister of Personnel, a second-rank official. He can tell a man from a woman at a glance. I heard Yin Qingyun mention that the young lady Hong he met on that trip with the master was very much to his liking." Another immediately warned in a low voice.
“That’s right, Dongzhi is right. We’ve been with this young lady Hong for about ten days now, and everyone in her group, regardless of rank, is upright, kind, and straightforward. Don’t assume everything could be a conspiracy,” Guard Yan chimed in from the side.
"Alright, alright, I was being petty. I was wrong, okay?" Chang Yuanlu, who had been criticized by the two people in succession, wisely admitted his mistake.
"However, Yan Qian, you just said that those people offered to escort Madam back to the capital themselves. But now that we're here, will they continue to come to the capital with us?" Chang Yuanlu asked, thinking to himself.
Yan Qian thought for a moment and said, "You're asking me? How would I know? But I should have an answer soon."
This is something you don't need to ask others about, and it's not appropriate to ask anyway.
By this time, Hong Xiaoduo and the others had finished eating, while Tian Shu and the others were busy packing things up, loading them onto the carts, and feeding the horses.
"Xiao Duo, you need to be prepared for trouble on this trip to the capital," Quan Jinghuai asked after much hesitation.
She confirmed that Kaiyang was indeed Hua's son and Wei Junpei's grandson.
However, before we even reached the capital, someone from there arrived, saying that they had found the young master, who is Hua's son.
Based on Quan Jinghuai's understanding of Hong Xiaoduo's personality, he knew that she absolutely had to go to the capital, especially since she had used her secret arts to calculate that Kaiyang was the son of the Hua family, and she was determined to see this matter through to the end.
"Brother Quan, don't worry. Although I don't like trouble, I'm not afraid of it either. Also, I plan to only take Kaiyang with them to the capital. You and Feiyan can take the other children and find a place to wait for me to return." Hong Xiaoduo understood Quan Jinghuai's meaning and stated her decision directly.
This is not a discussion with Quan Jinghuai, nor is it a disrespectful act towards him.
If Kaiyang is merely his disciple, then Hong Xiaoduo would certainly need to discuss any decisions she makes with him before making a decision.
However, Kaiyang is the son of the Hua family, so he must return to his family. Moreover, Kaiyang's grandfather and mother are both upright and reliable people, so there is no other option in this matter.
Upon hearing Hong Xiaoduo's words, Quan Jinghuai was surprised, but after a moment's thought, he realized that this was not a casual decision, but rather one that had been carefully considered.
The capital is different from other places; it is under the emperor's nose. Going there might lead to getting involved in trouble. If things really escalate, she and he can easily escape from the capital, but what about the other six children and Feiyan?
She made this decision for the safety of the six children and Feiyan.
Quan Jinghuai wanted to object. He was not afraid of trouble or danger, but he did not dare to gamble with the safety of his other six disciples and Feiyan.
Therefore, apart from her decision just now, I really can't think of a second safer option for the time being.
Quan Jinghuai clenched his fists so tightly that the veins stood out, before nodding and saying, "Okay."
Seeing that he nodded, Hong Xiaoduo waved to Tian Shu and the others, signaling them to come over.
The seven children, along with Feiyan, immediately surrounded them.
"There's a reason for this. Our itinerary has changed. Kaiyang and I will escort that lady back to Beijing. You two find a suitable place to stay nearby and wait."
Hearing her words, Tian Shu and the others were very surprised. They looked at their master and saw his expression, realizing that what Hong Xiaoduo had just said was true.
“The capital is different from other places. Our travel permits are all forged. If we all go, there will be too many people and we'll attract too much attention. If something goes wrong, it might even implicate your Uncle Dong.” Hong Xiaoduo gave another reason that she felt was more convincing…
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