Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Teasing Even a Child
Mei Wanying managed the family business, so she was very busy. From time to time, she also had to go out and socialize, drinking tea and admiring flowers with noblewomen and their daughters.
The summer lotuses were in full bloom. Thinking that Ling hadn’t been out in a long time, Mrs. Mei suggested, "You should take Ling out for a boat trip on the lake."
There was a lotus pond in their own residence, but the square, enclosed manor couldn’t compare to the vast world outside.
Ling was Princess Zhao Chen, a title bestowed by the Emperor himself. She was destined to see the great world one day.
She couldn’t be confined to the rear courtyards.
Even if she weren’t a princess, Ling was still the Mei family’s heir, destined to be different from other girls.
Taking her out would broaden her horizons and build her courage.
Most importantly, Mrs. Mei wanted to make her granddaughter happy. The little one was quite mischievous and always wanted to run outside.
Indulging her just once wouldn’t hurt.
Mei Wanying asked her mother to go with them. "The scenery outside is lovely. You should go relax as well, Mother."
Mrs. Mei shook her head. "You all go. I’m old and too lazy to move."
Mrs. Mei had suffered too many hardships in her younger years, and her health had never been good.
If not for the Mei family’s great wealth and business, which provided no shortage of fine things to nourish her health, Mrs. Mei’s condition would have been even worse.
Ling rested her head on her grandmother’s lap, her bright, clear eyes looking around assessingly.
When she saw the white hair at her grandmother’s temples and the wrinkles on her forehead, her big eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
Her lip quivered, and she repeated over and over, "Don’t get old, don’t get old~"
As she spoke, big, fat tears began to fall.
Her eyes were red, her little nose was red, and she looked utterly pitiful.
Mrs. Mei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "This clever little imp, she already knows how to care for people!"
She pulled her granddaughter into her arms. "Growing old without illness or disaster is a good thing. Don’t cry, Ling."
Ling didn’t quite understand, but she could sense the adults’ emotions.
’Mommy and Grandmother aren’t smiling...’
The fat tears became uncontrollable, and she buried her face in her grandmother’s embrace, bawling her eyes out.
She couldn’t be consoled.
Mei Wanying asked, "Are we still going on the boat trip?"
Ling shook her head. "No~"
She stammered that she wanted to stay home and keep her grandmother company. Grandmother was old and couldn’t even walk anymore...
Mrs. Mei was deeply moved.
’Our Ling takes after Ah Yin,’ she thought. ’She’s such a soft-hearted and considerate child.’
Patting the little one’s back, she said, torn between laughter and tears, "Grandmother isn’t that old yet. See? I can still hold Ling."
Ling frowned and thought about it. It seemed to be true, and she cheered up again.
She smiled, blowing a snot bubble.
Someone let out a PFFT of laughter. Ling felt she had lost face and burst into tears again.
Mrs. Mei thought, ’Her mood changes so quickly. She must get that from Pei Yan!’
She used a handkerchief to wipe Ling’s face clean, not mentioning the snot bubble.
Mrs. Mei tried to distract her. "If you don’t want to go on a boat trip, what does Ling want to play?"
Ling said between sobs, "Fly... a kite..."
The kite had been bought at a night market. Mei Wanying had taken Ling to fly it once during a spring outing outside the city.
After that, it had been put away.
She hadn’t expected the little one to remember.
Mrs. Mei quickly told Ding Xiang to fetch the kite. As long as her granddaughter was happy, she’d let her tear the house down!
Ling crying one moment and laughing the next—all these small matters were reported back to Pei Yan.
Pei Yan stood in a cold, lonely courtyard. Over the wall and across an alley was the Mei Family’s old house.
The estate was too large; he couldn’t hear his daughter’s laughter and tears.
He closed his eyes, imagining the scene of his child making a fuss.
Pei Yan couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
’Our daughter... she’s really just like Ah Yin.’
’Not only does she look like Ah Yin, but her adorable temperament is exactly the same.’
’Ah Yin is amazing. She gave me a daughter like Ling, so full of life and so lovable.’
If he were there too, Pei Yan couldn’t imagine how happy he would be.
The man stood with his hands behind his back, his deep eyes fixed in the direction of the Mei family’s estate.
His mind endlessly pictured scenes of the three of them together as a family.
The urge to see them grew stronger and stronger.
Suddenly, a kite with a broken string appeared in his field of vision. It was shaped like a plump, lifelike swallow.
The plump swallow wobbled and drifted toward his courtyard.
Pei Yan froze for a moment.
He instantly realized it belonged to Ling.
He shifted a few steps to the side, waiting for the kite to fall, his expression tense, afraid that his daughter’s kite would be torn.
Seeing this normally composed and calm man now chasing after a kite, Wei Jue felt it was too embarrassing to watch and quietly looked away.
He thought to himself: ’A man in love becomes a fool. A man with a child becomes an even bigger fool. I must never go down that path!’
On the other side, Ling was on the verge of tears with anxiety. She pointed her little finger at the plump swallow drifting away. "Kite... flew away..."
Mei Wanying comforted her, "If it flew away, it flew away. Tomorrow, Mommy will take you to buy a new one."
But Ling only wanted this plump swallow.
She ran in the direction the kite had flown, her little legs carrying her as fast as they could.
Mei Wanying quickly followed.
They left the old house through a side gate.
Ling wanted to go into the house across the way to find her kite. She didn’t dare enter a stranger’s house by herself, so she pulled on Mei Wanying’s hand, wanting her to go too.
"Mommy, come with me..."
The house across the way had been bought by Pei Yan long ago. It was his territory, and Mei Wanying felt awkward about it.
She had Ding Xiang take Ling. "Mommy will wait for you at the gate."
But Ling insisted on Mei Wanying, wheedling in her milky voice, "Mommy, together... go..."
Mei Wanying coaxed her, "Mommy will stand guard here. If the kite flies out, Mommy can catch it. We’ll split up."
Ling scratched her head. She thought her mommy had a point and agreed to the plan.
Mei Wanying instructed Ding Xiang, "Stay close to her."
This was Pei Yan’s residence. No one would dare harm Ling, and Wei Jue was also there, so Mei Wanying felt at ease.
Ling was very polite. She asked the gatekeeper for permission before entering the residence.
Hearing that the Little Prince had come looking for a kite, Wei Jue came to greet her personally.
Ling recognized Wei Jue. The little doll, who had been shy and afraid to run around, instantly turned into a cheerful little butterfly.
She trotted over and threw herself at Wei Jue.
She stammered out her purpose and asked Wei Jue to take her to find the kite.
The Little Prince blinked her big eyes at him, and Wei Jue’s heart melted into a puddle.
’No wonder the Emperor has become so childish,’ he thought. ’If I had a daughter this cute, I’d probably become weird, too!’
Wei Jue took Ling to find the kite, telling Ding Xiang to wait where she was.
"There are many traps in this residence. Don’t wander around. If you lose your life, I won’t be responsible."
Ding Xiang wanted to say something more, but Wei Jue had already led Ling far away.
This was Pei Yan’s territory. When he said there were traps, Ding Xiang believed him.
She stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move an inch.
Ling’s kite was caught in a tree. The little one tilted her head back to look, thinking it was very, very high.
Wei Jue’s expression was strange. ’How did the kite get back up in the tree?’
’The Emperor even plays tricks on a child. No wonder Miss Mei is always scolding him...’
Deciding not to get involved in their family affairs any further, Wei Jue quietly slipped away.
Ling was so focused on getting her kite that she didn’t notice Wei Jue’s departure. She stretched out her little arms and hopped, but she couldn’t reach it.
She then thought about climbing the tree.
But she lost her footing. Her small body swayed and bumped into a pair of long legs.
Ling turned her head to look, then tilted it back. The person before her was very, very tall.
So tall that she couldn’t see his face clearly.
She tilted her head back so far that she lost her balance and almost fell again.
Pei Yan’s reflexes were quick. He scooped up his daughter and asked nonchalantly, "Whose child is this?"
