Chapter 624: Tan'er's Lineage
Chapter 624: Tan'er’s Lineage
"Sister, sister! Treasure Piggy is so heavy!"
Tan'er pouted and carried the chubby little girl into the room.
Lu Yuan sat up straight, expressionless, and said to Meng Qianqian, "I'll go see Grandfather and Grandmother."
Meng Qianqian's eyes sparkled like clear springs: "Can you also check on my brother?"
Before Lu Yuan could refuse, she added, "If you go, I won't have to. I know you care for me the most."
"Hmph."
The person let out a cold snort and walked away without a change in expression.
Tan'er tilted her head: "Commander!"
Lu Yuan nodded solemnly.
Tan'er turned to look at Lu Yuan as he passed by her: "I was about to say—"
Bang!
Lu Yuan bumped his head on a pillar.
Tan'er hesitantly finished her sentence: "...Watch your step, be careful of the pillar."
Meng Qianqian suppressed a smile.
Tan'er shook her head, placed the little piggy beside Meng Qianqian, and plopped down, wiping the sweat from her forehead with an exaggerated sigh: "I’m so tired! So tired!"
Meng Qianqian glanced at the little one with closed eyes: "Asleep?"
Tan'er said with a hint of resentment: "Yes, she was playing, then suddenly fell asleep! I had to carry her all the way back from so far away!"
They had been playing in Lady Chenfei's Chamber, but the little one insisted on going to the Imperial Garden. After a couple of rounds, she just gave up.
Meng Qianqian’s lips curved slightly, pretending not to notice the little one slowly inching toward her.
Tan'er turned her head, eyes wide: "Huh? Moving? Wasn’t she just over there?"
Treasure Piggy stopped moving.
Tan'er turned back.
She moved again.
Tan'er turned back, and Treasure Piggy pretended to be asleep.
But who was Tan'er?
Tan'er placed her hands on her hips, staring seriously at the little one: "Treasure Piggy! If you keep pretending to sleep, I’ll throw you out!"
Treasure Piggy: "No throwing."
Tan'er bristled: "You were definitely pretending to sleep!"
Treasure Piggy, realizing she had been caught, quickly got up and crawled to the other side of Meng Qianqian, looking at Tan'er with a smug expression.
Tan'er placed her hands on her hips firmly: "Treasure Piggy!"
"I heard you shouting from the kitchen. Could you be a bit quieter? This is the palace, not the Crown Prince's Mansion."
Ban Xia entered with a food box.
Tan'er crossed her arms and looked up at the ceiling: "Lady Chenfei said to treat her chamber like my home! In my home, I can shout however I want!"
Ban Xia said, "Lady Chenfei was just being polite."
Tan'er pouted: "Hmph."
Meng Qianqian smiled.
Tan'er was straightforward, and both Lady Chenfei and Jiang Huiyi adored her.
Besides, the palace was often quiet, and the two ladies enjoyed the occasional liveliness.
"Miss!"
Ban Xia, unable to argue with Tan'er, turned to Meng Qianqian for help.
Meng Qianqian smiled: "Lady Chenfei has never let anyone else into her kitchen. You are the first."
Ban Xia blushed.
Tan'er said, "See? Lady Chenfei cares for me too."
Ban Xia secretly rejoiced but maintained a serious expression, clearly learning a thing or two from Lu Yuan.
"Miss, this is the red date porridge I made. Please try it."
She served two bowls, one for Meng Qianqian and one for Tan'er.
This time, Treasure Piggy sprawled out and fell asleep.
"Go ahead and eat, and then go back to your room so Miss can rest."
Ban Xia said to Tan'er.
Lady Chenfei had prepared rooms for the two of them next to Meng Qianqian’s, making it convenient to take care of her without disturbing her rest.
Tan'er said, "No! I want to sleep with Sister!"
Ban Xia said, "Miss is pregnant. What if you accidentally bump into her? You’re strong and don’t know your own strength."
Tan'er shook her short legs: "I sleep very well!"
Meng Qianqian smiled softly: "Ban Xia, you go rest first. Come back to take over from Tan'er later tonight."
Ban Xia couldn't help but sigh and agree.
If only Aunt Li were still here.
After finishing the red date porridge, Ban Xia packed up the food box.
As soon as she left, Tan'er rolled into Meng Qianqian's arms. "Sister, Ban Xia is becoming more and more like Aunt Li!"
Meng Qianqian chuckled. "We need someone cautious around us."
Tan'er thought for a moment. "Alright."
She buried her head in Meng Qianqian's chest. "Sister, I miss you."
Meng Qianqian gently stroked her head.
She whispered, "I miss Mother too."
Meng Qianqian knew this.
She wouldn't have lingered in her room for no reason.
"Sister, ever since I saw Mother in the Miasma Forest, I've been dreaming about her a lot. I dream about her coming back."
She clutched the jade pendant around her neck, her voice tinged with unspoken grievance and loneliness.
Meng Qianqian didn't know how to comfort her.
She didn't understand Tan'er's past, but she sensed that any words of comfort would be hollow.
In the past, she might not have picked up on Tan'er's emotions.
But today, she seemed to understand immediately.
"Whether or not I have a child, my feelings for you will never change."
"I'll always be by your side, and I won't leave."
Tan'er buried her head even deeper. "You won't suddenly leave like Mother, will you?"
Meng Qianqian hugged her. "No, I promise."
Tan'er closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep in Meng Qianqian's arms.
---
Lu Yuan returned to the Crown Prince's Mansion and proudly announced his impending fatherhood to Chen Long, taunting him about not being able to beat Gongsun Yanming and still claiming to be the best of the Twelve Guards.
He danced on the edge of getting a beating for most of the night before finally heading to the palace, still feeling satisfied.
When he met Meng Qianqian, he brought a letter with him.
"Someone gave this to me on the way. They said it's from you. You'll understand once you read it."
He handed the letter to Meng Qianqian. "I checked it, no poison, no traps."
Meng Qianqian said, "There's no need to be so cautious."
Lu Yuan replied coolly, "This Duke always acts with caution."
Meng Qianqian didn't argue. She heard "This Duke cares about you."
She opened the letter and recognized Duan Mingyue's handwriting from the script.
Duan Mingyue invited her to meet at the tea house, without specifying a time, indicating that he would be available whenever she chose.
Meng Qianqian put the letter away. "There's no point in waiting. I'll go at dawn."
"Do you need more rest?"
Lu Yuan asked.
"No", Meng Qianqian said, "I'm fine."
Lu Yuan thought for a moment. "I'll go with you."
Meng Qianqian smiled. "Alright."
The next morning, the two of them set off in a carriage to Duan Mingyue's tea house.
They entered the same private room as before.
Duan Mingyue sat in his wheelchair, while Duan Wenliang brewed tea nearby.
It was rare to see him so refined, and Meng Qianqian was somewhat surprised.
Duan Mingyue noticed Lu Yuan and smiled knowingly. "Brother Three, we meet again."
Lu Yuan ignored him and sat down opposite Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian asked, "Have you found the whereabouts of the other Twelve Guards so quickly?"
Duan Mingyue smiled faintly. "While I haven't gathered all twelve, I have another piece of news that I can trade for the ingredients for Xun Wu's medicine. You'll find it interesting."
"Oh?"
Meng Qianqian looked at him skeptically. "What news could be more important than the Twelve Guards?"
Duan Mingyue smiled. "Tan'er's lineage."
(End of Chapter)
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