Chapter 256: Chapter 238: Mother and Daughter Reunite, Sworn Family Ties (Part 1)
For the first twenty years of Wen Wan’s life, although there were small setbacks in between, overall, it was relatively simple, which destined her to be pure-hearted. Many things, unless she had a premonition, she wouldn’t look at with a very complex perspective.
For instance, in the matter of going to see the Eldest Princess, even though she already knew that her appearance was very similar to the other’s, she was simply curious, with no additional thoughts beyond that.
Hearing her husband say he wanted to bring Jinbao along, Wen Wan put away the calligraphy copybook, set the brush in the ink wash, and quickly went to the main room.
Her mother-in-law was watching Jinbao play on the kang (a heated brick bed).
The little guy turned his back towards her in a huff upon seeing her.
Wen Wan couldn’t help but laugh and said to him, "It’s been so many days, you don’t hold grudges against your own mother like this!"
According to Granny Song, on the day of the "Zhuazhou" (a traditional first birthday ritual), his parents were not present. The little guy sat on the ground, clutching his feet, pouting and ignoring anyone’s calls. He wouldn’t grab the items on the ground when asked. In the end, Xu Shu, that rascal, plucked a bright red flower from the courtyard and placed it with the seals, abacus, brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the ground.
The little guy’s gaze was completely captivated by the flower, and he crawled over while shouting "flower flower"...
The end result was the little guy grabbed the flower during the "Zhuazhou," and Xu Shu got chased by Song Fang.
Recalling this, the superstitious Granny Song was worried and looked at Wen Wan, "Do you think this kid is destined to be a philanderer in the future?"
Wen Wan: "..."
She knew her mother-in-law was superstitious but hadn’t expected her to be superstitious to this extent.
Taking advantage of the little guy’s distraction, Wen Wan swiftly picked him up into her arms, sat down on the edge of the kang, and laughed, "Mother, you’re overthinking. The ’Zhuazhou’ is just a formality. No child is born good or bad; how they turn out depends on how adults teach them over time."
"That’s true, but I’m still worried."
Granny Song said this while glancing at Jinbao in Wen Wan’s arms.
The little guy had his head down, his chubby hand clutching the tassel at his mother’s waist.
Thinking that her husband was still waiting, Wen Wan gently removed the little guy’s hand and picked him up, telling her mother-in-law that they were going outside to handle some business.
Granny Song didn’t ask further questions, just told them to come back early for dinner once they were done.
Wen Wan walked out the main gate to find Song Wei talking with the cart driver Uncle Lin. Today, Song Wei was wearing a light azure long robe. Stripped of the Imperial Envoy title and the official robe, he had shed the almost severe sternness from his truth-seeking days, leaving behind a gentle warmth as a husband and father.
Seeing Wen Wan approaching, Song Wei naturally extended his hand, the long sleeve sliding slightly downwards, revealing his wrist bone.
His wrist and fingers were alike, without excess flesh, very lean, not pampered like a young master from a noble family, but full of the strength of a mature man.
Almost drawn to those hands, Wen Wan unconsciously started to hand the child over but stopped midway, pulling back, "I better hold him myself!"
Song Wei laughed, "Aren’t you afraid your arms will ache?"
A child who was already a year old was fine for a short hold, but holding him continuously was exhausting even for an adult, especially since Jinbao was chubby and heavier than most kids his age.
Wen Wan glanced in the direction of Uncle Lin, "Isn’t there a carriage to sit in?"
Song Wei didn’t argue much on this point, walking over to the carriage to personally lift the curtain for her.
Wen Wan, holding the little guy tightly, quickly stepped onto the footstool and climbed into the carriage.
After Song Wei got in, Wen Wan placed Jinbao between them to sit.
The little guy turned to look at his dad, then turned to look at his mom, spitting out two words, "Food food..."
Wen Wan asked him, "Is Jinbao hungry?"
The little guy seemed to understand, letting out an "uh" sound, his short legs rubbing against the seat.
The carriage set off, and Wen Wan looked at the man next to her, belatedly asking, "Is it really appropriate to bring Jinbao along?"
"Jinbao is only a year old; he won’t understand adult conversations, nor will he take up much space."
Wen Wan was a bit surprised by her husband’s response, as if he was venting some emotion.
He seldom expressed negative emotions verbally.
Across from Jinbao, Wen Wan reached over to cover his hand with hers, "Have you been too tired lately?"
The soft warm touch on the back of his hand gave Song Wei’s restless heart a sense of peace. He nodded slightly and pinched his brow with the other hand.
Wen Wan said, "The case is over now. How about taking a few days off to rest at home? Get some respite before returning to the government office."
Not wanting her to worry, Song Wei held her hand back gently, "I just haven’t completely moved on from the case yet; it won’t affect my work at the office."
Jinbao leaned against the carriage wall, his two outstretched legs reaching the edge of the seat. As Wen Wan and Song Wei held hands, their arms brushed against the little guy’s legs. He was slightly displeased and shifted his legs over his mom’s arm, then, as if it were nothing, leaned against the backrest for a nap.
Wen Wan: "..."
By the time they reached the teahouse, it wasn’t from holding the child that Wen Wan’s arm went numb but from the little guy’s legs pressing on it.
Seeing her continually kneading her arm, Song Wei took the initiative to carry Jinbao down the carriage, then turned back and asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Wen Wan glanced at the little guy on Song Wei’s shoulder, now awake and incessantly shouting "Food food," feeling both exasperated and helpless, "It’s okay, it’s much better now."
Song Wei asked the shopkeeper for the location of her parents-in-law’s room, and the couple walked upstairs one after the other.
At the doorway, Song Wei was holding Jinbao in one hand while knocking on the door with the other.
Wen Wan noticed he paused noticeably, as if hesitating, and after a while, he finally knocked on the door.
Soon, faint footsteps came from inside.
The door opened, revealing Lu Xingzhou. Wen Wan remembered their first meeting in the courtyard alley, feeling inexplicably uneasy, unsure of how to address him, she turned her head to look at Song Wei.
Before Song Wei could speak, Lu Xingzhou already smiled at the young couple warmly, "Come in and have a seat, refreshments have been prepared for you."
This remark eased Wen Wan’s awkwardness of not knowing how to address people. She tugged at the corners of her mouth, gave Lu Xingzhou a polite smile, and followed Song Wei inside.
They were seated in a private room, divided into inner and outer sections, somewhat spacious.
Through a curtain of beads, Wen Wan saw a simply dressed woman inside, her features obscured, yet there was something familiar about her eyes.
"Wanwan, come in and sit down!"
Song Wei’s eyes were exceptionally warm, perhaps worried she might not adapt to the unfamiliar place.
Wen Wan regained her composure and parted the bead curtain.
The moment she saw Fanghua, she halted her steps.
Even though her husband had mentioned she resembled the Eldest Princess before coming, and Lu Yanqing’s reaction at the Hanlin Academy indicated everything, the reality was still shockingly overwhelming.
If it weren’t for the noble and elegant air of her royal lineage, Wen Wan would almost suspect the person inside was her, ten or twenty years from now.
No wonder Lu Yanqing had such a strong reaction upon seeing her; not just in appearance, but some expressions were uncannily similar.
Seeing her surprise, Song Wei chuckled softly and looked at Fanghua, "Isn’t she very much like you, Madam?"
After abandoning her for seventeen years, this was Fanghua’s first official meeting with her daughter. Her heart wasn’t as calm as her appearance; if Song Wei hadn’t spoken timely, she would have nearly lost her composure. She expressed her astonishment, "I didn’t expect there to be someone in the world who looks so much like me, it’s fate."
These words made Wen Wan a little embarrassed, how could she possess the capability to resemble the Eldest Princess?
"Girl, come sit!" Fanghua called them over, "We are no longer princes and princesses, there’s no need to be so constrained."
Wen Wan glanced at Song Wei, and with his nodding approval, she slowly took a seat.
Lu Xingzhou personally brewed tea for them, making a few small mistakes along the way, perhaps owing to his unsettled state.
Song Wei silently observed but said nothing.
Jinbao tilted his head, staring at his grandmother for quite a while, suddenly calling out, "Pig pig... food food..."
Wen Wan was momentarily stunned and asked him, "What are you babbling about?"
Fanghua was startled by him, silently grateful the little guy couldn’t speak in longer sentences; otherwise, today’s situation would have been hard to manage.
Song Wei was equally surprised; Jinbao actually remembered coming here before.
Looking at the little guy again, he was now holding a piece of soft mung bean cake, eating it without paying attention to anyone else.
Wen Wan reached out to pat the cake crumbs off his bib while hearing their conversation.
Although Wen Wan felt indifferent towards Lu Yanqing, it was clear from the couple’s words that they were reasonable people. Moreover, their willingness to demote themselves to commoners to guard their son’s spirit in Ningzhou for life showed they weren’t the heartless parents she had imagined.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Fanghua’s cheerful voice across from her, "Seeing Miss Song is like seeing myself in my youth, it’s wonderful."
Song Wei spoke, "It’s indeed rare to have such a connection. If Madam doesn’t mind, I’d like Wanwan to recognize you as her godparents. What do you two think?"
Fanghua and Lu Xingzhou exchanged a glance, the couple genuinely wanted it but...
"For such matters, it’s perhaps best to seek your wife’s consent first."
Fanghua cast a tense gaze towards Wen Wan.
Wen Wan didn’t know why her husband suddenly suggested recognizing them as godparents, but she subconsciously did not dislike the couple, thinking recognizing them wouldn’t be bad, after all, she grew up motherless and having a godmother who looks like her wouldn’t hurt.
Thinking of this, she smiled and stood up, kneeling to offer tea to Fanghua and Lu Xingzhou, sweetly saying, "Godfather, please have tea. Godmother, please have tea."
Fanghua held the teacup, suppressing the emotion in her eyes, and asked her, "Your name is Wen Wan?"
"Yes."
"Then, shall we call you Wanwan in the future?"
Wen Wan laughed, "You are elders, it’s up to you."
Lu Xingzhou looked at her, his eyes filled with the joy of "regaining what was lost."
Even if they couldn’t formally acknowledge her as their daughter, having a new familial connection was immense satisfaction for him.
After the tea ceremony, Wen Wan turned to Song Wei, "Husband, they are my godfather and godmother, so should you follow suit and address them as such?"
Song Wei smiled and replied, "Shouldn’t I call them father-in-law and mother-in-law?"