Chapter 367: Reunion
Chapter 367: Reunion
"Wuyou, Changle, were these names given to you by your mother?"
"How do you know?" the boy asked.
Meng Qianqian spoke softly, "Because these are Second Aunt's expectations for you, and only Second Aunt would have such hopes for you."
How could those from Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion have given them such auspiciously meaningful names?
They didn't seek to excel or revive their family and country, let alone get entangled in the vortex of revenge. They only wished for a life of peace and joy for them.
Meng Qianqian looked at her brother and sister with adoration, as if seeing every member of the Shang family who could never return. If the spirits of her family were watching, they would surely have the same hopes as Second Aunt.
Fine, let them grow up safely, and leave the matter of revenge to her.
"It's cold outside, come inside," Meng Qianqian said to the two.
The boy turned to look at his sister, who was almost frozen. Though reluctant, he still went inside.
Wan Mumu and the others, who had been eavesdropping at the front gate, quickly drew the curtain and went to serve them.
They had learned about the return of the Dragon and Phoenix Twins before Meng Qianqian and already knew their identities.
Celestial Dragon was the sworn brother of the young miss, and they were his younger siblings, so they were also the young miss's younger siblings.
Bansheng quickly took off the girl's cloak and squeezed her sleeve, saying with a smile, "The snow has soaked your clothes. Let me take Second Young Miss to change into a new set of clothes."
The girl looked at the boy.
The boy remained vigilant.
Bansheng quickly explained, "It's just in the inner room."
The boy nodded.
Bansheng led the girl into the inner room, opened the wardrobe, and smiled at the girl, "Second Young Miss, the wardrobe is full of clothes prepared by the young miss for you. Which one would you like to wear?"
The girl looked at the wardrobe filled with exquisite clothes and jewelry in surprise, asking, "All of these... are they for me?"
"Yes!"
Bansheng nodded with a smile, "Some were made by the young miss herself, and some were bought from the Rain Pavilion. The young miss said that she didn't know your height or your preferred style, so she prepared a set of the most fashionable clothes in the capital for you. Second Young Miss, see if there's anything you like. If not, just wear one for now, and later the young miss will take you to the Rain Pavilion to choose personally."
The girl politely said, "You can help me choose, anything is fine."
Bansheng picked up a pink rabbit fur short jacket with a round collar and asked, "Second Young Miss, do you like this one?"
The girl nodded.
Bansheng helped the girl change her clothes, "The size is just right too."
After changing into the short jacket, the girl came out, and the ginseng soup prepared by Du Niangzi was also ready.
There were four bowls: one for Meng Qianqian, one for the Majestic King, and one each for the Dragon and Phoenix Twins.
The Majestic King drank his bowl in big gulps.
The boy didn't move.
The Majestic King glared at him, "What? Do you want me to feed you?"
The boy, feeling wronged, drank the ginseng soup.
The Majestic King pointed at his bowl and said sternly, "There's still one mouthful left, don't leave any."
The boy angrily said, "I'm not a dog, do I have to lick the bowl too?"
Meng Qianqian tried to ease the tension, "Grandfather, maybe the soup at the bottom of the bowl is cold."
The Majestic King said, "Fine, since you say so, I'll let this rascal off."
The boy muttered, "Don't play the good cop, bad cop routine."
"You're quite smart, aren't you?" The Majestic King slapped the boy's head, not too hard but still humiliating, "How dare you talk to my granddaughter-in-law like that?"
"Grandfather," Meng Qianqian held the Majestic King's hand.
The Majestic King said, "Spoiled brats can't be tolerated!"
Meng Qianqian said, "I spoil my husband the same way."
Thinking of her own son, who had been spoiled beyond control, the Majestic King felt a bit guilty.
Meng Qianqian saw the girl after she had changed her clothes, and her eyes lit up, "You look so pretty, come and drink a bowl of ginger soup to warm up."
The girl sat down next to her brother.
Meng Qianqian sat across from them.
The Majestic King sat next to the boy, right beside him, so he could "educate" him whenever he wanted.
The boy squeezed his sister's hand and found that it was finally warm. His furrowed brows relaxed a little.
Meng Qianqian smiled slightly, a responsible older brother.
Their second uncle had taken care of their second aunt like this. Although he hadn't been able to see the children grow up, it was comforting that they had inherited his courage.
Meng Qianqian's eyes softened as she looked at the two of them, "Wuyou, Changle, I know it might be hard for you to believe, but you really are the children of the Shang family."
The Majestic King spoke with conviction, "Did you hear that? I didn't lie to you, you are Shang Wuyou and Shang Changle, not Gongsun Wuyou and Gongsun Changle!"
The boy spoke seriously, "What proof is this? Who is she, and why should we believe her?"
Meng Qianqian didn't get angry at the boy's skepticism.
To be fair, it wasn't their fault for not believing.
When their second aunt passed away, Wuyou and Changle were not yet three years old and didn't remember much.
Their second aunt would never have let the children recognize a thief as their father, but after she was gone, things were out of her control.
The Pavilion Master of Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion, Gongsun Yanming, might have considered killing the two to eliminate future troubles.
But in the end, he didn't do it. Instead, he brought them to his side to raise them as his own, changing their surname and making them believe he was their biological father.
"Did Gongsun Yanming treat you well?" Meng Qianqian asked.
The boy said, "Of course Father treats us well."
The Majestic King slapped him again, "You rascal, your father's surname is Shang! How many times have I told you, Gongsun thief and Xun old rogue only want to use you to control the Shang family's old troops and get their hands on the Shang family's military manual!"
Meng Qianqian heard the boy speaking up for Gongsun Yanming and felt relieved.
The Majestic King was startled and asked, "Granddaughter-in-law, what are you laughing about? Don't tell me you've been driven mad by this kid? Wait, I'll teach him a lesson for you."
Meng Qianqian smiled and shook her head, "Knowing that they haven't suffered all these years is enough to put my mind at ease."
Regardless of Gongsun Yanming's intentions, as long as the children weren't tormented in his hands, it was better than anything.
If they had grown up enduring humiliation and carrying a heavy burden like Lu Yuan in the Chancellor's Mansion, that would truly break her heart.
The courtyard Meng Qianqian arranged for the two was next door, originally used by Lu Yuan for handling official duties. To better care for the Dragon and Phoenix Twins, Lu Yuan gave up the courtyard.
Wuyou still didn't fully trust the Duke's Mansion and was reluctant to accept the servants arranged by Meng Qianqian. However, Banxia got along well with Shang Changle, and Wuyou reluctantly agreed to let Banxia stay by her sister's side.
Meng Qianqian could tell that Wuyou's weakness was her sister.
She didn't dare speak of men, but she was an expert when it came to her sister.
Tan'er, Bai Yuwei, Zhou Yanran, Ruoer, and Xiao Ru... Who didn't she manage to win over?
After settling the Dragon and Phoenix Twins, Meng Qianqian escorted the Majestic King back to the courtyard.
The Majestic King waved his hand, "I can go back by myself. It's cold, don't just think about taking care of others. Take care of yourself, I heard from that stinker that you also suffered from Cold Syndrome. You're not allowed to get cold again."
Meng Qianqian's heart warmed, "I'll be careful."
"Hmm."
The Majestic King sighed heavily, "Don't take the children's attitudes to heart. After all, they've been deceived by Gongsun Yanming for over a decade. Asking them to accept the fact that they've 'mistaken a thief for their father' all of a sudden is probably no different from the sky falling."
"I've observed them carefully on the way here. The children have good natures and are reasonable. They just need some time. Don't worry."
The Majestic King had his own selfish motives.
If the two were as stubborn and unyielding as the adopted sons of Chancellor Xun, he wouldn't have brought them back.
"The little girl is carefree and only listens to her brother. Just figuring out a way to make that kid see Gongsun Yanming's true face is enough. That kid has his own ideas and hasn't been turned into a useless person by the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion. If he was too easily trusting of others, he'd be a fool. Thinking about it this way, that kid is indeed worthy of being a descendant of the Shang Clan, possessing some of their clan's pride and wisdom."
Speaking of this, the Majestic King paused, "In fact, as long as they're alive, it's the greatest blessing."
Meng Qianqian looked at the Majestic King steadily, "Grandfather..."
The Majestic King sighed, "When I heard the news about that stinker, I wanted to recognize him as soon as possible more than once. But for years, he refused to forgive us. I've been angry, annoyed, and regretful. I wanted to rush to the capital and teach him a lesson, to tell him that it's fine if he doesn't recognize me. But he always wanted to recognize his mother, recognize his maternal grandmother... I secretly came to the capital... and watched him from afar outside the Duke's Mansion..."
"With just one look, my thoughts changed. His survival is already a blessing from the heavens."
This was the first time the Majestic King mentioned his feelings to Meng Qianqian. The usually carefree Majestic King was, after all, just an ordinary person.
He lost his own grandson, his own daughter went insane, and his inner pain was no less than that of a common person.
Ordinary people could show weakness, indulge in sorrow, but he couldn't.
He was not only a father, a grandfather, but also the King of Miaojiang.
Meng Qianqian: "Grandfather..."
The Majestic King patted her shoulder, "Little girl, I can tell that your relationship with the Shang Clan isn't as simple as it seems. You and the two children, compared to Celestial Dragon and his siblings, have a deeper connection. I'm telling you this as someone who's been through it all, there's no need to force it, and no need to rush."
"Who their true family is, they will understand one day."
Meng Qianqian was stunned.
That night, Lu Yuan returned from the Ministry of Rites and learned that the Majestic King and the Dragon and Phoenix Twins had safely returned to the mansion. He raised his eyebrows, "The old man does have some skills, no wonder my maternal grandmother took a liking to him."
Meng Qianqian stood up for her grandfather, "What do you mean by 'some skills'? It's a huge skill, my grandfather is amazing!"
Lu Yuan could tell she was very happy, so he didn't bother arguing with her about her praise for another man, even if that man was his own grandfather.
"How is it? Do they recognize you as their sister?"
He asked.
"Not yet."
Meng Qianqian recounted the details of their upbringing in the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion, "You see, is Gongsun Yanming in cahoots with Chancellor Xun? One adopts sons, the other steals children."
Lu Yuan said, "The Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion is smarter than my adoptive father. Tricking people into marrying and raising children, if it wasn't discovered early, I fear that the first sword the two children wield after leaving the Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion would be to kill you, their sister."
Meng Qianqian shuddered at the thought of her brother and sister nearly killing each other, "The Thousand-Mechanisms Pavilion is truly cunning! Wait, what sister?"
Lu Yuan glanced at her, "You've sworn brotherhood with Celestial Dragon, so Celestial Dragon's younger brother and sister are your younger brother and sister. You're their sister."
Meng Qianqian calmly replied, "Yes, that's right."
Lu Yuan stood up, "I'll be back in a moment."
Meng Qianqian asked in confusion, "Where are you going at this late hour?"
Lu Yuan said, "To find the old man. His wedding is approaching, I'll ask him where his Dragon Subduing Tiger is. We can't really have a rooster and a hen stand in for them during the wedding ceremony."
Meng Qianqian imagined the scene of court ladies pressing down two chickens for the princess and her consort to bow, and her mouth twitched involuntarily.
Finding the princess and Ji Li was indeed more urgent than having Wuyou and Changle recognize her as their sister.
(End of Chapter)
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