usatvline Chapter 106: Awakening
Chapter 106: Awakening
Chapter 106 106 Awakening
Chunyu Yang was taken aback, forgetting to correct Chunyu Jingxuan's inappropriate form of address. Ever since the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Chunyu Shan had been extremely interested in Ye Pianran, even jokingly saying several times that he wanted to marry her. However, his younger brother had always been unrestrained and carefree, and he didn't know how sincere he truly was.
Seeing that his father remained silent, Chunyu Jingxuan immediately realized that there was a chance for things to turn around. He gently grasped Chunyu Yang's large hand with his chubby little hand and said:
“Father, Xuan’er does not want Sixth Uncle to marry Sister, nor does he want Sister to become Xuan’er’s aunt.”
Chunyu Yang finally came to his senses. He looked deeply at the exquisitely beautiful little child in front of him and said, "This is not up to you to decide."
“But Father can make the decision,” Chunyu Jingxuan said innocently. “If Father marries my elder sister, then Sixth Uncle will have to find someone else.”
Chunyu Yang asked in a deep voice, "Why does it have to be her?"
“Because…” Chunyu Jingxuan’s bright eyes were veiled with tears, “When I sleep next to my elder sister, I can dream of my mother.”
His hand trembled almost imperceptibly, and Chunyu Yang's lips tightened.
"Father, when Mother was alive, she and Sister were like this...like this..." Chunyu Jingxuan was racking his brains for the right words when he heard Chunyu Yang speak:
"The two women are completely different, from their appearance to their personalities."
Chunyu Jingxuan's eyes lit up, and he looked at Chunyu Yang quietly and expectantly. The father and son rarely spent time alone, let alone talk about his mother like this. Moreover, servants and concubines in the royal palace were never allowed to discuss the former queen in private. Therefore, he knew very little about his mother growing up.
“Your mother grew up in the camp with your maternal grandfather from a young age. She was cheerful and unrestrained, and her words and actions were not bound by worldly etiquette. She could truly be called a ‘heroine among women.’ If she were still alive, she would surely be a famous and extraordinary woman,” Chunyu Yang said.
Chunyu Jingxuan was overjoyed. His mother was indeed the best woman in the world!
Gently stroking his little head, Chunyu Yang's voice deepened: "She sacrificed a lot and endured a lot of pain for you, which is why your father has always been very strict with you, so as not to disappoint her."
"Xuan'er understands. Xuan'er will definitely be strict with himself, study diligently, and become independent as soon as possible!" Chunyu Jingxuan sat up straight and said solemnly. He paused, then asked in a low voice:
"Father, why have you not taken any concubines? Is it because of Mother?"
"It's for you," Chunyu Yang said.
“Then…” A small flame flickered in Chunyu Jingxuan’s eyes, “What if Xuan’er wants his elder sister to be by his side every day? Father, could you grant Xuan’er this wish and give Xuan’er a mother?”
The choice was laid out clearly before him. Looking at the child he had once sworn to protect for a lifetime and give him everything he could, Chunyu Yang remained silent for a long time with a cold and stern face. So long that the carriage arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, so long that even Chunyu Jingxuan himself had given up on hearing his answer, he finally spoke.
"Since it is your wish, your father will certainly grant it."
——※※※——
After seeing off the carriage from the Northern Martial Prince's residence, Ye Pianran curtsied to Marquis Anshi, then turned and returned to Lanxin Courtyard with Gongsun Yuan. Marquis Anshi watched the mother and daughter leave, his expression gradually becoming meaningful.
Back at Lanxin Courtyard, Ye Pianran was about to return to her room when Gongsun Yuan called out to her from behind:
"Ran'er, come to your mother's room, I have something to tell you."
Ye Pianran lowered her eyes and said, "Yes, Mother."
Upon entering the main house, Gongsun Yuan immediately dismissed the maids and had Granny Chen take Ye Yankang outside to play. After confirming that there were no other spies in the house, she turned around, frowned, and said to Ye Pianran, "Ran'er, tell your mother the truth: why did you replace the dead rat that the Third Prince buried in the ground with the toy that Xun'er gave to Kang'er?"
Ye Pianran thought that Gongsun Yuan would ask her about the Northern Martial King and his heir, and she had already prepared her explanation. However, she was surprised when Gongsun Yuan asked about the cat curse that Aunt Song had caused the day before. She was stunned for a moment.
“Your maternal grandfather was here the day before, so it wasn’t convenient for your mother to ask you. You went to the clinic early this morning, so your mother didn’t have a chance to ask you either. Now it’s just the two of us here. Ran’er, what are you thinking about? Can you tell your mother everything?”
Ye Pianran looked at Gongsun Yuan, whose face was full of worry, and sighed deeply.
While Chunyu Yang was making arrangements at Aunt Song's place, she replaced the dead rat that had been buried in the ground with the toys that Ye Yanxun had made for Ye Yankang. Firstly, she was being cautious to prevent Aunt Song from suddenly changing her mind after discovering that the dead cat was missing. Secondly, she was afraid that Ye Yanxun might tamper with the toys and harm Kang'er. Thirdly, she could also warn Ye Yanxun not to play any more tricks.
She did all this because she knew clearly what Ye Yanxun and Ye Yingrou were plotting. However, she forgot that her mother was unaware of it. In front of her mother, Ye Yanxun was always that polite, humble, and sensible child. Although he was not her biological son, she had never treated him differently.
Kneeling down beside Gongsun Yuan, Ye Pianran rested her face on the back of her hand and asked, "Mother, do you trust Brother Xun more, or do you trust Ran'er more?"
Gongsun Yuan paused for a moment, then said, "In my eyes, there is no difference between the two of you."
Yes, this was the answer her mother had given from beginning to end, and it was also the reason why she still hadn't torn off Ye Yanxun's disguise in front of Gongsun Yuan.
"Actually, Ran'er has already told Mother that in this not-too-big-to-small Marquis's mansion, only Ran'er truly hopes that Mother is doing well," Ye Pianran said. "As for the others, whether Mother chooses to believe or chooses to distance herself, Ran'er will not interfere with Mother's decision. Ran'er only hopes that Mother can be free and unrestrained for the rest of her life, no longer troubled by worldly affairs."
Those dirty tricks, those undercurrents of intrigue hidden beneath the glamorous surface, can all be left to her to worry about and deal with.
Upon hearing her words, Gongsun Yuan realized that there must have been some discord between the siblings.
Over the years, she had tried her best to maintain a balance between her two children, hoping that they could be as close as they were when they were children. But one day, things quietly changed.
With a soft sigh, Gongsun Yuan's fingertips stroked her daughter's soft, long hair, and said, "But, Mother doesn't want to see you suffer either."
"Ran'er is not wronged. Ran'er thinks things are fine as they are now." Compared to what she experienced in her previous life, what are these things now?
"The autumn imperial examinations will begin in a few days. This examination is very important for Xun'er. No matter what unpleasant things you two had before, I hope that during this time you can put aside your grudges and prepare well for the examinations," Gongsun Yuan said. "Is that alright?"
Ye Pianran paused for a moment, then said softly, "Okay."