Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was somewhat delicate.
Song Qingxi had practically curled herself into a ball.
An’an nestled in Gu Yi’s arms, looking at the slap mark on Song Qingxi’s face, and leaned closer.
“Hoo—hoo—” Sister, blow on it! Blow and it won’t hurt anymore!
Song Qingxi looked up and met a pair of eyes as dark as black grapes.
Such simple, genuine concern moved Song Qingxi to tears. It felt almost like an illusion, but the fiery pain on her face seemed to lessen considerably.
Xu Tinglan looked at Song Qingxi, who clearly had been bullied badly, and found herself unable to get angry. “What’s your name?”
Song Qingxi raised her head, pointed to her mouth, and shook her head.
“They actually…!” Xu Tinglan thought the Song family had deliberately poisoned Song Qingxi to make her mute as part of their scheme.
An’an looked at the dark aura around Song Qingxi’s throat and reached out her hand.
“Ah!” Sister, hug!
Seeing this, Xu Tinglan felt somewhat reassured: No matter what, if little An’an liked her, she probably wasn’t a bad person.
Song Qingxi looked at the soft, tiny bundle and managed a faint smile, though she shook her head.
She also wanted to hug this adorable little baby.
But Song Qingxi extended her hands—all ten fingers were swollen like radish heads, red and purple, looking utterly unsightly.
She had been accused by Madam Song of seducing the eldest young master, and naturally, she had suffered a severe beating.
Xu Tinglan and Gu Yi looked at the girl’s outstretched hands and couldn’t help but feel heartache for her.
“Ruhua, apply medicine to Miss Song,” Gu Yi instructed.
“Hoo—hoo—”
Little An’an started blowing again.
Song Qingxi looked at the Gu family and at the little bun blowing on her wound: Such a good family must not be framed by those people from the Song family!
Upon arriving at the Gu residence, Gu Chen explained the whole story.
He had gone to change clothes after a servant spilled wine on him, as Song Shang had repeatedly insisted. Unexpectedly, he encountered Song Qingxi in the backyard, disheveled and unconscious.
Just as he was about to leave, he was cornered by the furious Song Shang and Madam Song, falling right into their trap.
Gu Mingshan looked at Song Qingxi, who had been brought back, with some confusion. Gu Yi explained, “An’an likes Song Qingxi, so we brought her back as a guest.”
If that was the case, then there was no problem. Gu Mingshan waved his hand grandly. “Since An’an likes her, she must be a good child. As for this matter, Chen’er, what’s your opinion?”
Facing everyone’s gaze, Gu Chen was completely composed. He bowed to Song Qingxi and said, “Miss Song, I was abrupt with you. Rest assured, I will take responsibility. Our Gu family has no tradition of taking concubines. I, Gu Chen, will treat you well!”
Song Qingxi had never encountered such a situation before and blushed.
This only strengthened her resolve not to harm this kind-hearted family.
Suddenly, Song Qingxi stood up, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed heavily. Unable to speak, she gestured for Gu Mingshan to dismiss all the servants.
Gu Mingshan, having navigated the world for many years, immediately sensed that Song Qingxi had something important to say and ordered the servants to leave.
“Tingzhou, bring paper, ink, and a brush,” Gu Mingshan instructed.
Looking at her swollen fingers, Song Qingxi shook her head. She bit her finger, and bright red blood flowed out.
Trembling, she wrote two characters on the ground: “Chen” and “Song.”
No one in the Song family had realized that she had long been aware of their secret dealings.
Instantly, everyone’s expressions changed drastically.
The former Crown Prince’s surname was Chen.
“Hmm?” An’an couldn’t read, and seeing the adults suddenly in low spirits, she voiced her confusion.
Gu Mingshan snapped back to attention: “Take Miss Song to rest. Tingzhou, Tingjun, and Chen’er, come with me to the study.”
Watching everyone understand his meaning, Song Qingxi didn’t forget to wipe the bloodstains off the floor.
“Ouch—ouch—” Watching Ruhua apply medicine to Song Qingxi’s wounds, she still couldn’t help but whimper.
Xu Tinglan and Gu Yi found it both amusing and exasperating.
The few hours spent at the Gu residence were the most peaceful hours for Song Qingxi.
When it was time to leave, Xu Tinglan held Song Qingxi’s hand: “Don’t worry, now that you’re engaged to Chen’er, they won’t dare do anything to you again.”
Song Qingxi nodded, her face filled with gratitude.
Time flew by, and An’an was already eight months old, crawling with great ease.
One day, as An’an was happily crawling on the carpet with Gu Yi watching nearby, she suddenly heard Xihua’s slightly teasing report.
“Madam, Lord Yang is outside requesting an audience, saying he misses you!”
“Go on!” Gu Yi laughed and scolded, then picked up An’an. “An’an, let’s go see Daddy!”
“Dada?” An’an had already learned to say some repeated words. She usually clung to Gu Chen all day, calling “gege, gege” most enthusiastically.
Come to think of it, this was indeed An’an’s first real meeting with Yang Yan.
Shortly after she was brought back, her father fell seriously ill, so she stayed at the Gu residence with An’an for a long time.
Yang Yan had also sent word, telling her to stay at ease and not worry about him.
Looking at her tall and handsome husband, before Gu Yi could speak, the little bundle in her arms suddenly became restless.
“No want!” An’an’s little face puffed up as she turned and buried it in Gu Yi’s chest.
Gu Yi was somewhat puzzled, gently supporting An’an’s bottom. “What’s wrong, An’an? This is Daddy.”
An’an turned her head and stared at Yang Yan. “Dada?”
“That’s right!”
Yang Yan had just reached out to take An’an when his hand froze mid-air.
“Pfft!” An’an buried her face in Gu Yi’s chest again.
Gu Yi looked at Yang Yan’s embarrassed expression and was about to speak when she saw him smile and wave his hand. “It’s fine. Perhaps An’an just isn’t familiar with me yet.”
“Maybe I…” Gu Yi began, thinking she hadn’t spent proper time with her husband in a while, and was about to suggest returning home for a period.
But then she saw Yang Yan looking at her tenderly. “Madam, stay home and spend more time with your father. Over these years, you’ve been with me and haven’t had much time with your family.”
Gu Yi was moved to tears.
“Pfft!” An’an, who had turned to stare at Yang Yan again at some point, made another sound.
Yang Yan: …
Gu Yi: …
“Bad, bad man, go, go.” An’an tugged at Gu Yi, pointing toward the Gu residence, signaling to go back.
Yang Yan could no longer keep up the sentimental mood and immediately found an excuse to leave.
Back at the Gu residence, Gu Yi stared seriously at An’an.
“Gu Nian’an.”
An’an’s little body trembled: Uh-oh, not good.
“Tell Mother, why did you treat Daddy like that?”
An’an twisted her little bottom, turning her back to Gu Yi, her whole body radiating “not happy” energy.
“Oh dear, what’s wrong with Grandpa’s little An’an?” Gu Mingshan’s hearty voice rang out.
“Gwandpa~” An’an immediately struggled to turn back, stretching her little hands toward Gu Mingshan.
Gu Mingshan picked up An’an and kissed her little cheek, only to be pushed away disdainfully by An’an.
Yay yay’s nonsense!
Gu Yi looked helplessly at her father and recounted what had happened earlier.
“An’an, you must not be rude,” Gu Yi said sternly.
An’an turned her head and buried herself in Gu Mingshan’s arms.
“Haha, truly my good granddaughter!” Gu Mingshan laughed heartily after hearing the story. “See, even An’an doesn’t like that fellow, right, An’an?”
“Yes! Bad, bad man!” An’an nodded vigorously.
That “cheap daddy” opened his mouth and black flowers started spewing out, and he even directed them at Mother!
This was unbearable!
Little Koi had studied half a storybook and kept chattering beside her leaves, saying some people were really, really bad—they said one thing but did another, and you had to be extra careful.
Every time those fairy sisters touched her leaves, they would chatter about reading storybooks, saying there wasn’t a single reliable man in them!
Who would have thought her “cheap daddy” was exactly that kind of man!
“Father…” Gu Yi had no choice. It had been seven years, and her father still didn’t like Yanlang.
Gu Mingshan waved his hand, indicating he didn’t want to hear any more. “See, even An’an doesn’t like him. Come on! Grandpa will take An’an to play!”
An’an giggled on Gu Mingshan’s shoulder.
Gu Yi felt a bit puzzled too: Could it be that Yanlang really had a problem?
“Xihua, find someone to secretly follow Yanlang from now on,” Gu Yi instructed.
Xihua was shocked but still accepted the order and left.
Despite giving the order, Gu Yi still believed in her husband. No one could pretend for seven years, right?