Chapter 247: You Should Give Up Hope
In the garden, Ling was holding a tortoiseshell cat, stroking it gently.
She was having a good time, but then a thought struck her, and Ling put the little kitten down.
She asked Mei Wanying, "Mommy, will Little Mei Hua be upset?"
She herself would get upset if her mother held another child.
If she held someone else’s Little Raccoon, Little Mei Hua might also be upset.
Ling grew a little nervous.
Before Mei Wanying could answer, she hid her small hands behind her back. "I won’t hold it anymore!"
The little kitten liked Ling. It wobbled over and rubbed against her small, embroidered shoes.
Ling didn’t know whether to stay or go.
Like a little adult, she held her head and said, "This little thing is such a headache..."
Mei Wanying: "..."
’Where on earth did this little one learn to say such things?’
Ling said, "My Little Mei Hua will get angry. Don’t lean on me."
She took a small step back, but the kitten meowed and snuggled up to her again.
It really liked Ling!
Ling was tickled into giggles. The more she laughed, the clingier the kitten became.
After laughing for a moment, she thought of Little Mei Hua at home and didn’t dare to laugh anymore.
Unable to refuse the kitten herself, she reached out to Mei Wanying for help. "Mommy, hurry and carry me away..."
Mei Wanying didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "It’s fine to pet it. Little Mei Hua isn’t that petty."
Ling was still worried. She tugged on her own sleeve. "It... It will smell it..."
’Little Mei Hua likes to sleep in my arms. If it smells another Raccoon on me, it will definitely get angry.’
This was what Ling thought.
Mei Wanying complied with her daughter’s wishes, bending down to pick her up.
Mrs. Gu watched Ling with a beaming smile.
’No wonder the Empress Dowager and the Emperor treat her like the apple of their eye. The Little Prince is truly a clever little Spirit Monster!’
She said, "This tortoiseshell cat seems fated to be with the Prince. Why not take it home? Little Mei Hua would have a companion."
Ling shook her head like a rattle drum. "I’m too small. I can’t hold two of them."
"If I only hold one, the other will definitely get angry," Ling explained.
’To think like that at such a young age, Ling is very clever.’
’If she were a boy, the Emperor would surely have made her the Crown Prince.’
She didn’t press Ling. "Little Prince, you can at least look at the Little Raccoon a bit more. There’s no harm in looking."
"..."
Gu Xun stood behind the pavilion, the voices carrying clearly to his ears.
The corners of his mouth turned up uncontrollably.
When he left, Ling had been just a baby, not even old enough to recognize faces.
In the blink of an eye, she had grown so big and developed so many peculiar ideas.
She was just like her mother.
Gu Xun summoned his courage, wanting to go before Mei Wanying. Even just exchanging a few pleasantries would be enough to satisfy him.
’We’re not enemies. Even if we couldn’t be together, there’s no need to deliberately avoid each other.’
But then he saw a tall figure striding over, his form blurred by the plants and trees.
Gu Xun’s eyes narrowed.
The figure drew closer, and a man’s sharp features came into view.
The man glanced at him before heading straight for Mei Wanying without hesitation.
Gu Xun pressed his lips together tightly.
He suddenly felt ridiculous.
’What was I hesitating for?’
’What was I agonizing over?’
’I haven’t done anything to wrong Pei Yan, so why should I be the one hiding!’
A surge of frustration welled up inside him, and he too walked toward the center of the gathering.
Seeing Pei Yan, Mei Wanying was surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I was free, so I came."
Mei Wanying didn’t believe him for a second. Even if there wasn’t a matter of utmost urgency, he always had other state affairs to handle.
She gave Pei Yan a look that said she saw right through him.
She knew exactly what he was up to!
Ling was in Mei Wanying’s arms, and Pei Yan naturally took her.
He bounced the "little piglet" in his arms. "You’re a big girl now. Don’t always make your mother carry you."
Ling looked at her own thin arms and legs. "I want Mommy to carry me!"
Pei Yan: "Your mother is a young lady. She’s not that strong and will get tired."
’A young lady...’ Mrs. Gu’s lips twitched when she heard that. ’Mei Wanying has already had a child, how is she still a "young lady"?’
’They say motherhood makes you strong. Mei Wanying is clearly very strong; she can carry the Little Prince without even breaking a sweat.’
Catching sight of her son out of the corner of her eye, Mrs. Gu’s eyelid twitched.
He could have come earlier, he could have come later, but he just had to show up when the Emperor was here.
’This boy isn’t doing this on purpose, is he?’
She wanted to signal for her son to leave, but it was too late.
Mrs. Gu quickly interjected, "Miss Lin will be arriving soon. You should go to the city gate to welcome her. Don’t be rude."
Gu Xun stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowed.
He desperately wanted to say that whoever invited the guest should be the one to greet them, but he was afraid of losing his composure in front of Mei Wanying.
He didn’t want to leave a sharp-tongued and unkind impression.
For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
Pei Yan raised an eyebrow. "Cousin, did you rush back to the manor for Miss Lin? It looks like the Gu Family will be celebrating a happy occasion soon."
Gu Xun’s eyelid twitched violently.
’What nonsense is this man spouting?’
He forced a smile. "Your Majesty is occupied with countless state affairs; there is no need to trouble yourself with such trivial matters."
Pei Yan: "You are my cousin. It is only right that I concern myself with you. I promised our uncle that as long as you give the word, I will grant you a marriage. Cousin, are you sure you want the one from the Lin Family?"
Gu Xun was about to go mad with anger.
’When did I ever say I wanted her?’
’He’s deliberately pushing me toward another woman just to extinguish any hope I have. The man is truly insidious and cunning.’
’Shameless bastard!’
But the other party was the King, and he didn’t even have the right to curse him out loud.
Gu Xun gritted his teeth. "Your subject was not aware that the Emperor had a penchant for matchmaking."
Mrs. Gu shot Gu Xun an imperceptible glare. ’Has this boy lost his mind?’
’Not only did he not express his gratitude, but he also had to talk back to the Emperor with that sarcastic tone.’
’Is the little brat tired of living?’
Mei Wanying poked Pei Yan in the small of his back, signaling him to shut up.
Pei Yan accurately caught Mei Wanying’s slender wrist, a smirk playing on his lips. "My life is good. I have a wife and a daughter, so I naturally want my cousin to also have a blissful marriage and for everything to go smoothly for him."
’He still has the gall to bring this up?’
Gu Xun ground his back teeth. ’If some shameless person hadn’t stolen his bride, he would have a wife and daughter too!’
The atmosphere grew strange. Mei Wanying had no desire to indulge Pei Yan’s madness.
This man was fixated on tormenting Gu Xun. If he wanted to act crazy, he could do it by himself.
She couldn’t be bothered to smooth things over anymore.
She had Ling get down from Pei Yan’s arms. "Come with Mommy to check on the shops. Mommy will buy you a sugar figure."
A child can’t refuse sweets. Ling’s eyes lit up.
She obediently started to leave with Mei Wanying.
Pei Yan held his daughter tighter. "Let’s go together."
Mei Wanying shot him a sidelong glance. "The Emperor is occupied with countless state affairs. We wouldn’t want to disturb you."
’This man has to handle state affairs and also be busy playing matchmaker for others.’
’Is there anyone busier in the whole world?’
Mei Wanying nodded at Gu Xun. "Mr. Gu, it’s been a long time."
Her tone was gentle, just as it had always been.
Gu Xun was stunned for a few seconds before stiffly replying, "It’s been a long time."
Mei Wanying then gave Mrs. Gu a junior’s curtsy. "Ma’am, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave."
With that, she turned and left.
Pei Yan’s intuition told him that Ah Yin was angry. He quickly followed after her, still holding their daughter.
Pei Yan had arrived suddenly and left just as abruptly. Mrs. Gu didn’t even have a chance to speak.
She could only watch as the high and mighty Emperor lowered his head, eagerly trailing after Mei Wanying like a lost puppy.
Mrs. Gu clicked her tongue. "Are my old eyes deceiving me?"
Then she smacked her son’s arm. "She has nothing to say to you. You should give up now, shouldn’t you?"