Chapter 240: Dad, Such a Good Boy
Once Mei Wanying had finished getting ready, she carefully dressed her daughter as well.
The little one inherited her parents’ good looks. With her hair in double buns, adorned with a small beaded flower, she was like a perfect little doll, beautiful and adorable.
While Mei Wanying was busy, Pei Yan stayed by the side of the mother-daughter pair.
He wanted to braid his daughter’s hair too, but Mei Wanying wouldn’t let him, saying he was clumsy.
He could only watch with longing.
When the mother and daughter were ready, Pei Yan went to get their cloaks.
One large and one small.
The same color as the clothes they were wearing.
He handed Ling’s cloak to Ding Xiang, who bent down to fasten it for her.
Ling looked up, watching her daddy put the cloak on her mommy, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.
"Daddy, you’re so good."
She commented.
Pei Yan’s lips curved. He stroked the little one’s head. "You be a little better-behaved too. Don’t cause trouble."
’This little handful... she’d better not stop me from kissing Ah Yin again.’
Fortunately, she fell asleep quickly at night and was a heavy sleeper, so they could secretly move her to the next room.
Otherwise, he and Ah Yin would never find an opportunity to do anything.
Ling huffed, "I don’t wanna be good!"
Pei Yan was taken aback.
"This girl, so rebellious at such a young age. I wonder who she takes after?"
Mei Wanying said calmly, "She takes after you."
Ling mimicked her mother, "Takes after you! Takes after you!"
Ganged up on by the two of them, Pei Yan couldn’t win the argument.
He took Mei Wanying’s hand on his left and Ling’s on his right, saying dryly, "Let’s go. The sooner we go, the sooner we’ll be back."
「In the palace.」
Empress Dowager Gu had been waiting with bated breath, eager to see Ling as soon as possible.
"Quick, send someone to see where they are!"
Mrs. Feng smiled and replied, "They’ve already passed the palace gates. Your Majesty, please be patient. The young princess will be here soon."
Having been immersed in the Harem for decades, what great storms hadn’t Empress Dowager Gu weathered?
Yet at this moment, she felt nervous.
Afraid that she was too grandly dressed and would make Ling uncomfortable or unwilling to get close, she had even changed into simple, plain clothes.
She let out a heavy breath to steady her nerves. "Go and see if the food is ready. We can’t let Ling go hungry."
Mrs. Feng acknowledged the order and went to see to it personally.
Empress Dowager Gu stood outside the hall, gazing into the distance. From afar, she could faintly hear a child’s laughter, like the tinkling of silver bells.
’That’s Ling! She’s here!’
Her expression grew excited, and she hurried eagerly in the direction of the sound.
Two adults and a child appeared in her line of sight, with Palace Attendants following at a distance.
Pei Yan and Mei Wanying held Ling’s hands on either side as the little one skipped along.
She wore a festive jacket, a beaded flower pinned in her hair buns. The small pendants on the flower swayed as she hopped about.
What a lively and adorable little girl!
Empress Dowager Gu finally saw her granddaughter.
Ling was just as she had been in her dreams—clever and mischievous, and very well-grown.
The skipping little girl suddenly stopped, her boisterous energy fading.
Ling tugged on Mei Wanying’s hand. "Mommy, is that Grandmother?"
"Yes, that’s Grandmother."
Mei Wanying tightened her grip on her daughter’s hand. "Grandmother has sent you many gifts. She’s very good to you. Besides, Daddy and Mommy are right here, so don’t be afraid."
Ling was a little nervous about seeing a stranger, but with her mommy and daddy by her side, she didn’t feel scared at all.
’Mommy even spoke well of Grandmother, which proves she’s someone I can trust!’
Tilting her little head up, Ling said with a touch of pride, "It’s not like Grandmother eats children. I’m not afraid."
Mei Wanying smiled faintly. "Let’s hurry, don’t keep Grandmother waiting."
Mei Wanying knew full well what kind of temper Empress Dowager Gu had.
The fact that she would come out of the hall to greet them was proof enough that Empress Dowager Gu cared about Ling.
The clever little one, who was very good at making people happy, broke free from Pei Yan’s and Mei Wanying’s hands and ran towards the Empress Dowager.
With her short arms outstretched, she called out, "Grandmother..."
Like a cheerful little butterfly, she flew over and plunged right into her arms.
Empress Dowager Gu froze.
She had thought Ling disliked her, which was why she had stopped walking just now.
In the blink of an eye, the little one was in her arms, carrying that sweet, milky scent unique to children.
Empress Dowager Gu was a bit flustered, instinctively hugging the small child tight.
Ling wasn’t pushed away, which confirmed that her grandmother didn’t dislike her.
She said with a beaming smile, "Grandmother, Mommy and Daddy brought me to see you!"
Truly hearing Ling’s voice, Empress Dowager Gu’s eyes suddenly stung.
A glint of tears flashed in her aged eyes.
Taking an unnoticeable breath, Empress Dowager Gu held Ling’s small body tighter.
"It’s enough you’re back..."
She had so much she wanted to say, but in the end, only those four words came out.
With Ah Yan protecting them, she could no longer use her Imperial Power to coerce Mei Wanying.
That Mei Wanying was willing to bring Ling back to the capital and pay her respects at the palace was already a good thing.
She couldn’t complain.
She couldn’t give Mei Wanying a cold shoulder anymore.
Otherwise, Mei Wanying would take Ling away without a second thought and never let her see her granddaughter again.
Before seeing Ling, Empress Dowager Gu could still restrain herself. But now that they had met, how could she possibly go back to the way things were?
Even if she couldn’t see Ling every day, seeing her occasionally or exchanging letters would be good enough.
It was far better than before, when there was no news at all.
Ah Yan protected the mother and daughter too closely. She had sent people to inquire, but they couldn’t find out a single thing.
’Those days were truly terrible.’
Gently patting the little one’s back, Empress Dowager Gu said softly, "Grandmother missed you very much."
Ling hugged her back, saying with a grin, "I’ve been eating well and sleeping well. Daddy even calls me a little lazy pig."
Like a little adult, she patted the Empress Dowager. "Grandmother, you don’t have to worry about me."
For such a little tot to be so eloquent, Empress Dowager Gu had never seen a child more clever and bright than Ling.
She was fair and pretty, had a mischievous and clever personality, was exceptionally bright, and had a sweet way of speaking.
Who could possibly dislike a child like this?
Empress Dowager Gu started to laugh.
’No matter Mei Wanying’s thousands of faults, she gave Ah Yan such a wonderful child. For that alone, she has rendered a tremendous service.’
’This contribution was enough to overshadow all her shortcomings.’
Empress Dowager Gu straightened up, glanced at Mei Wanying, and said in a gentle tone, "It’s cold outside. Let’s go in and have breakfast."
With that, she took Ling’s hand and led the way.
Ling looked back at her mommy.
Seeing her mommy nod, she let her grandmother lead her through the vermilion palace doors.
As she walked, she asked curiously, "What’s this..."
Empress Dowager Gu patiently answered her questions.
Looking at them now, they were no different from a grandmother and granddaughter from an ordinary family.
After so many interactions, this was the first time Empress Dowager Gu had treated Mei Wanying with such a gentle attitude.
Mei Wanying was still not quite used to it.
Seeing her with her eyes downcast, looking as if her mind was a million miles away, Pei Yan gently put his arm around Mei Wanying’s waist.
"I’m here."
The deep male voice entered her ears, and Mei Wanying finally looked up, a hint of playful reproach in her eyes.
In a voice only the two of them could hear, she said, "It’s not like I was scared."
Pei Yan: "Mm, you’re not scared."
’He would never let Ah Yin be wronged again.’
’She had suffered that pain once. It was his fault for failing in his duty as a husband.’
’He would change.’
’He would protect Ah Yin with all his might.’
’Even his own mother would not be allowed to hurt Ah Yin in the slightest ever again!’