Chapter 186: The Successor Wife – 8

For the past few days, the children had insisted on sleeping with them. Ren Xin didn’t mind; she could sleep with her man anytime, but the children weren’t always this clingy. Consequently, their wedding night remained a distant, indefinite prospect.

On the day of the bride’s traditional return to her parental home¹, Feng Qingyue—perhaps out of spite—had actually scheduled her own wedding for the same day.

Ren Xin arrived with her newly appointed husband and her pair of children, intending to make it a quick visit. She had spent the entire carriage ride coaxing Qiao Ce, hoping to convince him to take them out for a stroll afterward.

Faced with the persistent pestering of the three of them, Qiao Ce had no choice but to give in helplessly.

The moment her uncle saw Qiao Ce, he immediately dropped to his knees to pay his respects. Her aunt followed suit. Ren Xin stepped aside to avoid the gesture. Holding the two children, she introduced them to her uncle and aunt before saying, “We’ll pay our respects to Grandmother and then head out. I imagine the house is busy today, so we won’t stay to add to the commotion.”

Her uncle said with some displeasure, “Child, why are you in such a rush? Your cousin is getting married today. How can you not stay for such a grand occasion? The Lord Duke has just arrived; we cannot be seen as lacking in etiquette.”

Ren Xin didn’t indulge him. “So, is today my return visit or my cousin’s wedding? This doesn’t seem like something a family with ‘proper etiquette’ would do!”

The uncle and aunt were momentarily speechless. It was their daughter who had insisted on setting the date for this specific day, claiming it was auspicious.

Ren Xin took the children’s hands and signaled for Qiao Ce to follow. They went to see her grandmother, intending to leave immediately after. In truth, she felt little affection for the old woman, who was merely a grandmotherly figure skilled at smoothing over conflicts with empty words.

Sure enough, as soon as she saw Ren Xin, the old woman’s first and last words were, “You’ve been wronged!”

Ren Xin listened patiently, sat for a short while, and then prepared to take her leave. Her grandmother tried to persuade them to stay. “The front courtyard is a chaotic mess. If you don’t want to go out there, how about I have a table set here in my quarters?”

Ren Xin declined. “No, we’re leaving now. The Lord Duke has matters to attend to.”

Ren Xin glanced at Qiao Ce, her eyes urging him. “Quick, say you have things to do!”

“Yes, I have some official business to handle,” Qiao Ce cooperated. “I shall visit again when I have more time.”

Ren Xin had no intention of seeing Feng Qingyue, let alone giving her a wedding gift. In her dreams!

Ren Xin and the two children chattered away about where they wanted to play and where the crowds were liveliest. Ren Xin even found a moment to check on Qiao Ce. “Did you bring enough silver?”

Qiao Ce raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say your dowry was enough to support yourself and the children? Can’t you count me in too?”

Ren Xin was shocked. This man was truly shameless!

Ultimately, Qiao Ce followed behind the mother and children, watching them pick through various items. They bought a few inexpensive trinkets, but the children were overjoyed.

“Mother, this clay figurine is so beautiful! I love it!”

“Mother, this hair flower is simple, but the design is so unique! Here, Mother, have a bite of my candied hawthorn!”

Ren Xin held a child in each hand, occasionally taking a bite of the candied hawthorn Jiaojiao held up to her mouth, feeling thoroughly content.

Following behind, Qiao Ce felt a twinge of envy. He hadn’t even tasted food fed to him by his daughter yet!

“Qiao Ce, let’s go to the teahouse up ahead. There’s a storyteller there. I want to hear what kind of tall tales they’re spinning.”

Qiao Ce nodded in agreement, treating it as a chance to rest.

They took the best seats in the teahouse, listening to the lively, noisy performance downstairs. The mother and children huddled together, whispering. At first, Qiao Ce was curious about what they were discussing, but after listening in a few times, he gave up.

There wasn’t a single serious word being said. It was either about a pastry being too greasy or wondering where the monkey in the story had gone.

“Young Master, this humble one did not wish to disturb you, but I am truly at my wit’s end. Seeing your extraordinary bearing, I felt compelled to seek your help…”

Ren Xin was instantly drawn in by the repeated use of “this humble one.”

Driven by a desire to “help,” Ren Xin kindly spun a lie. “You’d better not ask him. He’s a live-in son-in-law in my household. He doesn’t have any money; I’m the one who supports him!”

Qiao Ce didn’t refute her. The two little ones also stared intently at the woman standing nearby, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Book Spirit Number One: “When you’re away from home, your identity is whatever you claim it to be.”

Translator’s Notes