As spring deepened and the sun shone brightly, Xiao Yao couldn't help but sigh at the joy of being born in a season that was neither too cold nor too hot. Grandma often visited, hugging one and kissing the other. Xiao Yao clearly felt that Grandma favored Fifth Brother more. She always hugged him first and petted him repeatedly before leaving. Daddy, Brother, and Second Aunt doted on him more, a ratio of one to four. Perhaps Grandpa should also be included. Fifth Brother, my heart instantly felt balanced.
Every time Xiao Jingkang entered the room, he no longer had tea or changed into his official uniform. Instead, he kissed and teased his daughter first, not forgetting to ask, "Xiao Ping'an, do you miss Daddy?" before turning to his son. What could the infant, less than a month old, say? All he could offer was a toothless smile in return for his father's affection. Xiao Yi and Xiao Yang often told their younger siblings interesting stories from the outside world and bought them fun gadgets to show them, never tiring of it.
What puzzled Xiao Yao the most was the extremely excited little boy.
"Aunt, my mother has a lot of beautiful clothes and jewelry. I'd like to give them all to you in exchange for Xiao Ping'an, okay?"
"Xiaowu, you have fallen out of favor. I am better than you. I fell out of favor when I was five years old, haha."
"Uncle, I want to sleep with Xiao Ping'an tonight, please!"
…… ……
General Xiao, unable to come over to see the children, stipulated that everyone must eat dinner together every day and listen to Xiaowu and Xiaoping'an's stories. So the two most active people at the table: Xiao Rui, dancing and recounting the stories over and over again; and General Xiao, twirling his beard and squinting his eyes, listening over and over again.
On this day, Tong Mingyu was changing her son's diaper when Aunt Zhang came in to report: "Old Madam Tong is here to see you, the young master, and the young lady. She is chatting with the old lady in the upper room and will be here later."
"Father and mother have returned to Kyoto. How come I didn't get the news before? They have been gone for more than half a year. I don't know how the two old people are doing. Qiaoyue, go and guard outside the gate." After saying this, she left her son to the care of the wet nurse and told the maid to prepare tea and snacks.
Seven months ago, Tong Mingyu's great-grandfather passed away in his hometown of Suzhou, and Minister Tong decided to return home to pay his respects. His family couldn't bear to let him go alone, so Mrs. Tong had no choice but to leave her pregnant daughter behind to stay with her husband, while her young daughter-in-law accompanied him to take care of the two elderly people.
My sister and brother-in-law also returned to Anyang, the ancestral home of the Wen family, to repair the family school.
So when the twins, a boy and a girl, had their third bath, none of Tong Mingyu's family members were there.
In less than half an hour, the door curtain was lifted, and a lady with graceful posture and kind eyes walked in.
"Mother..." With a soft call, Tong Mingyu's eyes turned red and tears appeared in them.
"Child, what are you doing? You are still in confinement. Be careful of your eyes." Mrs. Tong felt sorry for her daughter and hurriedly advised her.
"Little sister, are you so sad because you saw my second sister-in-law coming? At least give me some face in front of my nephew and niece. If they don't let me hold them, it's all your fault."
A graceful and beautiful woman, wearing a honey-colored brocade shirt embroidered with roses, a white silk skirt with fine stripes, and a jade butterfly hairpin on her head, came towards her with a gentle smile.
"I haven't seen you for a long time. I'm so happy." Tong Mingyu felt a little embarrassed when he was teased.
"Let me see my lovely grandson and granddaughter." Mrs. Tong had no time to pay attention to them. The two swaddling clothes on the bed attracted her more.
The wet nurse put the neatly dressed children side by side and made way. Mrs. Tong looked at her grandson and granddaughter with a smile on her face, unable to take her eyes off them.
"I couldn't make it for the third day bath. Come on, bring me my gift." Two pairs of silver bracelets, silver anklets, and two necklaces inlaid with gemstones and jade respectively.
My second sister-in-law gave me a pair of jade locks.
"Twins, a boy and a girl, are a good omen. We can tell at a glance that two children are blessed. Let's all wait to benefit from their good fortune!" Tong Mingyu's second sister-in-law, Zhang, is very good at socializing and speaking.
"I really want to take the child home and let your father see him."
"If it were Xiaowu, I would dare to make the decision. But I don't think you can take Ping'an away. My father-in-law will block the door with a military stick." Thinking of that scene, Tong Mingyu couldn't help laughing.
"Forget it. I don't want to lose that person. Wait until the full moon and let your father come and see for himself. I won't care how they fight then."
Mrs. Tong gave some detailed instructions, kissed the two children separately, and then went back reluctantly.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day when the twins, a boy and a girl, were one month old.
The biggest changes over the past month have undoubtedly been in the two children. Xiao Jun has grown taller and fatter, with long, raven hair, dark eyes, and a round, chubby face. He looks strong and energetic. Except when sleeping, he's constantly moving around. No matter how tightly the quilt is wrapped, it's bound to fall apart after a while, his tiny feet scraping against the bed boards, making a clanging sound.
Xiao Yao has grown up a lot. Her hair is not as black as her brother's, but her eyes are big and bright, like dazzling black gems. Her eyelashes are long and curved, like two small fans. She has a small face as white as jade and a pointed chin. She will definitely be a beauty when she grows up.
Dozens of banquet tables were set up in the front yard and garden of the Xiao Mansion. The male guests clinked glasses and chatted happily, while the female guests, dressed in silk and jade, were in great joy. As soon as the twins appeared, they immediately became the focus of the whole room and received countless praises.
When it came to the men's side, Minister Tong saw his two grandsons for the first time. Amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, he took one of the swaddling clothes, slightly tipsy and extremely proud. "Look, this is my grandson," he said, "old relative, does he look a bit like me?"
General Xiao glared at him with immense disdain. "How dare you say my granddaughter looks like you? Look at your face, full of wrinkles, and then look at Ping'an's face, which is softer than a hard-boiled egg. How can they be similar? How can they be similar? If it weren't for the fact that you're a relative, I would have taken out my military club to greet you long ago."
"Old Tong, my Ping'an is still little. Do you know how to hold him? Please be careful."
General Xiao wanted to trade his grandson for his in-laws' granddaughter, but his in-laws had been a little drunk today, and their grandson had fallen. He was heartbroken, his hands were full of flesh, and he was extremely conflicted. Old Tong was usually quite good at reading people's expressions, but why was he so slow to react today? General Xiao thought to himself, could he be mentally retarded?
At this moment, Minister Tong was completely captivated by Xiao Yao's large, black grape-like eyes and thick, curved eyelashes. He didn't react at all. How could her eyes be so large, and her eyelashes so long? As she blinked, Minister Tong's heart melted.
"I haven't held my granddaughter in my arms for a month." General Xiao deliberately complained to his in-laws. "Old Tong, give my granddaughter back to me. You clearly heard what I said, so why didn't you respond at all?"
"This is my first time holding someone's hand. When I get home, you can hold me as long as you want." Minister Tong had no intention of letting go.
Seeing this, Li Yuan couldn't help but worry about his daughter. The Xiao family loved little girls so much, what if his daughter gave birth to a son? The second branch only had Xiao Lang as their child, which was a dilemma.
Less than a month after Xiao Jingkang's wedding, he received military orders to return north to defend against the enemy. He didn't return until two years later. By then, Xiao Jingtai had been married for six months, so Xiao Lang was four months older than Xiao Yi. Not long after, his son-in-law was ordered to leave the country. After giving birth to Xiao Lang, his daughter insisted on going to find her husband, leaving the child behind and setting off alone. Perhaps due to poor health or perhaps catching a cold on the road, she never conceived again. It wasn't until she returned to Beijing three years ago and sought medical treatment that she finally managed to conceive again.
If I give birth to a granddaughter, my in-laws will be happy, but Xiao Lang, the second wife's son, is too lonely. If I give birth to a grandson, the disparity in treatment between the first wife's two children is starkly obvious. I'll just leave it to fate! If only I could give birth to twins, a boy and a girl, it would be great. Difficult! Too difficult! Very difficult!
After the full moon banquet, Tong Mingyu began to manage the household affairs. No matter how busy she was, she tried her best to make time to accompany her children. Eleven-year-old Xiao Yi was studying at Songshan Academy, and eight-year-old Xiao Yang was receiving enlightenment at Wen Family School. On weekdays, only the two little children stayed by her side.
Everyone is busy with their own things during the day, but they must take their children to the upper room for dinner, play with them, and chat about family matters. Life in the Xiao family is peaceful and warm.
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