Outside Yun Yichen's study, Xiao Anzi paced back and forth in the corridor anxiously. He still didn't understand what happened to the prince today. After sending General Xiao back, he locked himself in the study. It has been almost two hours! Seeing that lunch time was almost over, there was still no sound inside. It was really frustrating.
"Xiao Anzi, why doesn't the prince go to have lunch?" Upon hearing that his son did not go to have lunch, Yin Qianhua came over to ask in person.
"I don't know what happened to the Young Master today. Ever since he sent General Xiao back from the city gate, he went into the study and hasn't come out yet." Xiao Anzi said with a sad face.
"Did you have a fight with someone?" Yin Qianhua asked.
"No!" Xiao Anzi recalled what happened in the morning. Everything was normal and there was nothing wrong. He scratched his head and tried hard to recall, but in the end, he found nothing.
"Achen, this is your mother. What happened? Can you open the door so that your mother can see you?" Yin Qianhua gently knocked on the study door.
"Don't worry, mother. Nothing happened to my son. He was just engrossed in reading. He will be out soon. You little Anzi, who deserves a beating, didn't even bother to call the master to eat when it's time for dinner."
"I deserve to be beaten. I forgot to ask the prince to have dinner." You clearly didn't want anyone to disturb me, but now, in order to reassure the princess, you actually put the blame on me. I will be scolded a few times, but the master will definitely compensate me later. What should I order this time?
"I'm glad you're okay. Mother, ask the kitchen to prepare some more food. No matter how busy you are, you must take care of your health. You absolutely cannot skip meals." Yin Qianhua said with concern through the door.
The door creaked open and Yun Yichen wanted to help Yin Qianhua go in to sit down. Seeing that his son was fine and no different from before, Yin Qianhua stopped and returned to the backyard with peace of mind.
Yun Yichen watched his mother leave. After everything around him calmed down, he quickly knocked on Xiao Anzi's head with his backhand.
"Idiot, what's the use of you." You can't even comfort people. If you continue to be so tongue-tied, I will sell you out.
"I didn't expect the princess to come. I didn't react at the moment and told the truth. I won't do that again next time."
"Do you want to have a next time? I think you want to change places, right?" He just went to sit in the study, there was nothing to be surprised about.
"There won't be a next time, absolutely not a next time." Xiao Anzi smiled flatteringly.
"Go to my storehouse and get some gemstones and brocade. Remember to get brightly colored ones."
"Yes." Not asking the reason and not talking too much are the duties that a follower needs to abide by.
Yin Qianhua had just returned to Jinhua Garden and finished playing a game of chess with her daughter when she saw her son walk in with a few servants carrying boxes.
"Achen, what are you doing..."
"Madam Xiao is staying at home, claiming illness, to ensure General Xiao can legitimately go to the northwest. My son feels bad for her, so he prepared some gifts and would like to ask you, mother, to send them to him under the pretext of visiting him."
It took Yin Qianhua a long time to react. Her son wanted to thank the Xiao family, General Xiao, and Mrs. Xiao. Since when did her son learn to care about others? It seems that he is getting more sensible as he grows older. He is no longer the person who is cold and indifferent to everything, right?
"I'm very happy that you thought of these. I will prepare gifts for you. You can keep them for yourself." Yin Qianhua did not open the box, although she was very curious about what her son chose as gifts.
But one thing is certain, that is, the things in this box must be good things, because how could there be ordinary items coming from Queen Mother Han, the Emperor and the palace!
Yun Yichen didn't expect his mother to reject his kindness as soon as she opened her mouth. He felt a little anxious for no reason. What would his mother give Madam Xiao? It would be nothing more than some medicinal herbs, supplements, and clothes suitable for older women. Then would the bright brocade and novel gems that he prepared be unable to be given away?
Don't ask Yun Yichen why he prepared all these things. Even he couldn't explain it clearly. Maybe he had too many of them. Or maybe he thought that even if Madam Xiao didn't need them, she could give them to someone else. Who could he give them to? For example, a little girl from a relative's family, or a little girl of the same age at home.
Maybe it’s because the Xiao family has a little cousin. Yes, the cousin should like these. She can give them to others at will and divide them however she wants.
"I don't need these things, so you can keep them. You can prepare some more medicinal herbs and supplements. I have something to do, so I'll take my leave now." After a hasty bow, Yun Yichen quickly left the room, as if he would be stopped if he was any slower. He didn't know what he should do if his mother refused the box of things again!
"What's wrong with brother today?" Even someone like Yun Ruonan, who was not good at observing people's expressions, could see that Yun Yichen was abnormal. How could Yin Qianhua not see it? According to Xiao Anzi, it was impossible to find anything abnormal. The truth was probably only known to his son himself, but would he tell it?
Yin Qianhua shook her head to reject this possibility. Even though her son had changed a lot in recent years, how could his inherent coldness and indifference change completely overnight?
"Let's see what gifts your brother has prepared." Yin Qianhua walked to the boxes personally and opened them one by one. There were brightly colored brocades, various gems, and even some rare and intricately carved small objects.
"This, Achen." Yin Qianhua was amused by her son. Could these things be given to elderly people? Fortunately, she opened and checked them herself, otherwise the person who gave them to them would have made a fool of himself.
"Yun Ruonan squatted beside one of the boxes, playing with a kaleidoscope imported from the West. Some lifelike miniature carvings also attracted her attention.
"Does Ruonan like these?" Yin Qianhua asked softly.
"Yeah." Yun Ruonan responded concisely.
"If you like these little things, keep them."
"This is a gift from my brother to Mrs. Xiao." Yun Ruonan was reluctant to put down the kaleidoscope in her hand, but also didn't want to covet the gift her brother gave to others, so she looked at Yin Qianhua with great conflict.
"Ruonan can keep whatever she likes. These things are not suitable for Madam Xiao. Mother will prepare another gift. Also, in the future, just tell your brother what you want. A brother should take care of his sister."
Who said this? Yin Qianhua felt very familiar with it, but she couldn't remember it for a moment. She decided to let her son buy her daughter some new and interesting gadgets. Perhaps this gift-giving activity would strengthen their relationship. Otherwise, how could they ever become close?
"Okay." Yun Ruonan agreed in a very good mood. She didn't know how things would develop in the future, but the small object in her hand really pleased her.
"My cousin and Miss Xiao will also like these." Yun Ruonan took the kaleidoscope, picked out a few small ornaments, and said casually.
Could it be that his son prepared these things for Ruyi? How could it be possible? He might not even know what his own sister likes, so how could he remember his cousin's preferences?
"Then let's keep a few of them. It is said that General Xiao loves his granddaughters the most. Ping'an and Ruyi must be very sad to know that he is going on a long journey." Yin Qianhua murmured.
Yun Ruonan slowly rubbed the kaleidoscope in her hand. She couldn't imagine what such a bright and warm little girl would look like when she was sad. And would her little cousin who always had a smiling face cry if she was sad?
"Would you like your mother to take you to see Ping'an and Ruyi tomorrow?" Yin Qianhua asked tentatively.
Yun Ruonan's eyes narrowed and she shook her head instinctively. If she was just meeting the two little girls from the Xiao family, perhaps she would not refuse, but when she thought about meeting so many outsiders, Yun Ruonan backed off.
"Then how about inviting them to be our guests some other day?"
This time Yun Ruonan nodded happily. She could accept meeting two little girls in her home.
Although Yin Qianhua wished that her daughter would immediately become cheerful and kind to others, she also knew that her daughter, who was changing little by little, had already made great progress.
Everything can only be done slowly and naturally. Being impatient may backfire. Yin Qianhua believes that her daughter, Ping An and Ruyi will become good friends in the near future.
The next day, Yin Qianhua submitted a letter to the Xiao family, and a day later she came to the Xiao family accompanied by her son.
"Mother, your son will send you here. When you want to go back to the palace, please ask someone to go back and tell me in advance. Your son will come to pick you up immediately." Yun Yichen said when they were almost at the Xiao family.
"Aren't you going in?" He was already at the door, why didn't he go in and say hello. That's right, the son of the Xiao family was only familiar with General Xiao, and now that General Xiao had gone to the northwest, how could he be willing to go in!
"Okay then!" Yin Qianhua watched her son turn around and leave.
Yun Yichen glanced back at the Xiao family's gate. He was a little afraid to get close to there. When he thought that the little girl ignored him and that she might still be angry with him, he didn't have the courage to go in.
"Your humble servant greets Princess Jing." Tong Mingyu had already ordered people to open the main door. She and Li Jiaoying stood at the door respectfully waiting to welcome the distinguished guest.
"Please get up quickly, Madam Xiao. I should have visited Madam Xiao a long time ago, but there are always things that I have to deal with every day, so I have delayed it until now. I must apologize to the old lady later, and ask her not to blame me for being rude."
"It is a great honor for our Xiao family that the princess can visit us. Please don't blame us or not. We can't bear the responsibility." Tong Mingyu stepped aside and asked Yin Qianhua to go first.
When Qin learned that Princess Jing had come to visit her specially, she was so excited that she was at a loss. She asked the maid to prepare tea and snacks, and then wanted her to clean the room again. Even after Yin Qianhua entered the upper room, the maids were still busy running around.
"All of you go down." Tong Mingyu couldn't stand the chaos in Ninghe Hall anymore, so she waved her hand and sent the maids and old women away.
My mother-in-law is good in every way except that she can't meet important people. When she sees an important person, she gets so nervous that she doesn't know what to say or do.
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