He, too, wanted to see Xiao Hua, but the rules of the Imperial Palace were strict, so in the end, he could only let his wife visit first, and he would have to wait for a letter.
Lian Wanzhen and Lian Changhe spoke out at the sa ti, "Son-in-law?"
This word made Lian Changhe feel a sense of strangeness, in his mory, his little girl was still so tiny, far from the age of marriage, how could she already have a son-in-law?
Lian Bingcheng thought for a mont and said, "This title is not accurate. It should be said that it is His Majesty."
Like a thunderclap, Lian Changhe imdiately jumped up, "What, His Majesty!"
Such a high-ranking person, how did his daughter beco involved with him!
How had he beco his son-in-law!
What was he going to do in the future?!
If this son-in-law was not satisfied, could he still annul his daughter’s marriage?!!
He suddenly realized in confusion that not acknowledging this son-in-law seed impossible...
On the side, Lian Wanzhen also exclaid, "Father, what do we do, if little sister is bullied in the future, we won’t be able to claim justice for her!"
He surely couldn’t pick a fight with His Majesty, for fear that before the fight was over, the whole family would lose their heads!
Since childhood, his father had told him if his little sister got married and her in-laws bullied her, it would be his responsibility to lead people to stand up for her.
This notion was deeply ingrained in his mind, so his first reaction was this.
While the father and son were fraught and in total disarray, trying to think of a strategy...
Su Ran, on the other hand, was feeling tight-chested.
No matter how prepared, hearing this answer still made her feel indescribable, full of worry and unable to express the taste of it.
In the past, she had strictly taught her youngest daughter, hoping she would beco a refined lady so that her future marriage would not be looked down upon.
Later, seeing her youngest daughter so mischievous, she gave up that plan, only wishing for her little girl to be safe and sound, and when the ti ca, to marry her into a slightly lower family so that her own family could look after her.
But she never expected that her little girl would enter the Emperor’s family, the highest and greatest household under the heavens.
Many years ago, when she was in Marquis of Zhenyuan’s Mansion, during holidays when the Empress entertained the Imperial Court Ladies, she had also followed her mother into the palace and knew how complex the situation inside the palace was; she truly feared her little girl would not be able to cope.
Thinking of that, Su Ran couldn’t help but beco anxious.
Lian Musu was the most composed person there, having already ntally prepared himself.
Sensing sothing, he stepped closer and looked at his mother reassuringly.
Then he turned and saluted Lian Bingcheng, "Clan Uncle, how did Nannan enter the palace, what exactly happened to her, and what is her current situation, can you please tell us everything in detail?"
Lian Changhe and Lian Wanzhen both turned to look at the sa ti.
Right, they didn’t know about these things yet!
Lian Bingcheng knew that the Lian family were not people who sought vain glory; they had never thought of climbing on the dragons or attaching themselves to the phoenixes.
But life is unpredictable, indeed.
He sighed deeply, "Great nephew, no need for such courtesy, I had intended to tell you all this, starting with how well she is doing, also to prevent you from worrying. This is a long story, let’s all sit down, it’s better to listen while seated."
Once everyone was seated, Lian Bingcheng began to recount.
He gazed into the void, slowly sinking into a sea of mories, "Where should I start? Let’s start with seeing Xiao Hua again, seven years ago..."
Seven years ago, on a scorching afternoon, Lian Bingcheng returned from the shop as usual.
Business at the grocery store was bleak during the afternoon; whether it was laborers or small traders, all had gone back to cook and eat lunch, with very few people browsing the store, especially in the sweltering heat.
Upon arriving in the courtyard, he had just scooped up a ladle of cool water from the well and was gulping it down when he heard soone knocking at the gate.
Assuming it was one of his shop assistants, he went to open the door.
After opening the door, however, he saw two people. One was a stout middle-aged man dressed in short casual clothes, looking like an escort master, drenched in sweat and repeatedly glancing behind him, extrely vigilant.
The other was a short and small figure, looking like an undergrown teenager, wearing coarse hemp clothing and a hat, tightly wrapped up despite the hot day, face obscured, head hung low, showing no discernable features.
Seeing him open the door, the man dressed like an escort master hastily asked if this was the Lian Family?
He answered with confusion, yes.
The middle-aged man then inquired if he recognized Lian Changhe.
He responded that he did, his first thought being that his brother Changhe had sent soone to deliver a letter.
The stout man seed to sigh in relief and glanced back again before, without further ado, pulling the young person inside the gate and quickly closing it.
The young person continued to bow their head without any reaction, appearing disengaged from their surroundings, which seed very abnormal.
Startled by the man’s insolence, Lian Bingcheng was about to admonish him loudly when the stout man urgently shushed him, whispering for him to take a closer look to see if he recognized the young person.
Filled with questions, he looked toward the young person.
The stout man called out to the young person a few tis, saying they had found the person they were looking for and asked them to lift their head to see if it was indeed the right person, before proceeding to lift the youngster’s hat.
Lian Bingcheng was taken aback.
The young person in front of him appeared to be around ten years old, with a face sared black and white and dirty, their features hard to discern clearly but their eyes and eyebrows faintly recognizable, and looking eerily familiar.
Just as he was furrowing his brow, trying to recall where he had seen such a small youngster before.
The little youngster lifted their heavy eyelids slowly, looking toward him.
When he saw the youngster’s eyes clearly, they suddenly ca alive; the black pupils shifted, and soon after, tears began rolling down as a hoarse voice called out, "Clan Uncle..."
Throwing themselves at him with all their might.
He was shocked, yet he recognized the youngster; it was indeed his niece Xiao Hua.
By the ti he steadied her in his arms, she had already fainted.
In a panic, he reached out to feel her forehead and discovered it was burning hot; she was in the throes of a high fever, having beco delirious.
Without ti to think further, he hurriedly carried her inside and called Lin Yuejuan to soak a handkerchief to clean the girl’s face; it was truly Xiao Hua, much thinner than before, her face gaunt.
He instructed Lin Yuejuan to tidy her up and imdiately set out to find a doctor.
But just as he was about to leave, the stout man hurriedly stopped him, saying his task was done, and it was ti for him to leave.
Lian Bingcheng was frantic, unable to comprehend why his niece Xiao Hua, who should have been far away living safely under her parents’ care, was suddenly here, looking like this.
Seeing the stout man about to leave, he grew anxious; if he let him go without explanation, he would be clueless about what had happened.
He quickly grabbed the man, demanding to know exactly what had occurred.
The stout man kept looking outside, his face marked by unease, seemingly reluctant to share more, rely advising that he should keep Xiao Hua hidden and not raise any alarm, suggesting that things would improve after a while.
Lian Bingcheng imdiately realized sothing serious had happened. He grasped the stout man’s arm firmly, lowered his voice and fiercely said that he would not let him leave until he had explained everything clearly.
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