Chapter 42: A Request

Xiao Yang hesitated for a moment before pulling out a small booklet from his sleeve and handing it to his mother. His face showed a hint of shyness as he turned his head and said, “This is for Ping’an.”

Tong Mingyu curiously flipped through a few pages. The booklet was not thick, only about twenty pages. It depicted small animals and trees, accompanied by text. Though the writing was somewhat immature, it was a thoughtful creation.

“Did you… draw this yourself?” Tong Mingyu asked, surprised.

“Yes, I just doodled it when I was bored… Let Ping’an play with it,” Xiao Yang replied softly, his head lowered, his tone conflicted.

“Understood. I’ll thank you on Ping’an’s behalf,” Tong Mingyu said warmly. Though the gift was made specifically for his sister, he refused to admit it. Her son was truly endearing.

“N-no need,” Xiao Yang stammered, blushing.

“Ah Yang is much better than me, the second brother. I truly feel ashamed,” Xiao Yi said, reflecting on his younger brother’s thoughtful gesture. He felt guilty about only offering verbal concern while doing nothing practical.

“Well, then you should start showing your care more tangibly. You always say the sweetest things, but when it comes to action, you do nothing,” Xiao Jingkang reprimanded. He had thought Xiao Yi was doing fine, but now that even their second son, who preferred burying himself in books, had personally prepared a gift for his sister, the eldest son’s lack of effort seemed glaring.

“Don’t worry, I will improve,” Xiao Yi replied earnestly. He resolved to take action: finding travel books for his sister to ease her boredom and sourcing a few parrots or mynah birds. As someone often mingling in the city, Xiao Yi felt confident he could handle such tasks effortlessly.

After a few more words, Tong Mingyu urged her sons to return to the front courtyard, reminding them to get enough rest for their studies the next day.

Once the two sons had left, the couple washed up and went to bed. Their conversation naturally revolved around their four children, each with distinct personalities. After a while, sleepiness overcame them. Lying in her husband’s warm embrace, Tong Mingyu peacefully closed her eyes. Xiao Jingkang, holding his wife tenderly, inhaled her post-bath fragrance. Sleep crept in, and in the haze of drowsiness, he heard her mumble, “I’ll visit my family tomorrow. Er Ge’s child, Jiabao, is one month old.”

The full-moon celebration at the Tong household was lively and lavish.

Tong Guanghui, likely aware that this might be his youngest legitimate son, spared no effort to make the banquet grand.

Tong Mingyu finally met the supposedly wrinkly newborn nephew. To her, though his appearance was rather ordinary, he seemed otherwise fine.

“Little sister, why not make Ping’an my son’s future wife? My wife and I would treat her like our own daughter,” Tong Guanghui eagerly proposed.

Zhang’s expression stiffened. She didn’t dislike Ping’an, but the child was pampered in the Xiao household. Would she have to tread carefully around her in the future? Besides, with such an appearance… she couldn’t imagine her son marrying someone like that.

Tong Mingyu noticed her sister-in-law’s reluctance, and it stirred a bit of dissatisfaction in her. Her daughter was adored by everyone. What part of her could fail to satisfy her sister-in-law? Fortunately, her husband had no such intentions. This outcome was even better, sparing her from awkwardness.

This was precisely why she had come alone. Tong Mingyu felt that her daughter understood much, and she genuinely didn’t want Ping’an to attend events where her lifelong matters might be discussed.

“The children are still young. Let them interact more and play together for a few years. We can see if they get along,” said Madam Tong, noticing her daughter’s silence and her daughter-in-law’s lowered head. She had to step in. Both she and her husband hoped for the union, but they understood that the attitudes of the daughter and daughter-in-law were key.

A woman who couldn’t win her mother-in-law’s favor often faced worse consequences than displeasing her husband. After all, in the household, it was the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who spent their days together.

Tong Guanghui had thought that even if things couldn’t be finalized today, at least the two families wouldn’t oppose the idea. To his dismay, neither his wife nor his sister gave any response. What was the problem? Did his sister find his son unattractive, or did his wife dislike Ping’an being a year older? Women could be so troublesome. He decided he’d discuss this directly with his brother-in-law another day.

Tong Mingyu looked at the baby and exchanged a few words with her sister-in-law before returning to the banquet hall with her mother. The two women separated to mingle with familiar officials’ wives. Tong Mingyu had barely started conversing with Madam Ji when she noticed a woman in her fifties approaching her. She immediately rose to greet her.

“You must be Madam Xiao. My family name is Sun. We’ve been imperial physicians for three generations.”

“Madam Sun, it’s an honor. Are you related to Imperial Physician Sun?”

Tong Mingyu guessed her identity and immediately warmed up. She felt immense gratitude for Imperial Physician Sun’s care for her daughter.

“Imperial Physician Sun is indeed my husband. Before I left, he asked me to check on the little girl. He wondered if she was upset that he hadn’t kept his word. You wouldn’t believe it—every time he returned from your residence, he’d talk nonstop about how remarkable the child was. It made me so curious to meet this girl who left such an impression on him.”

“You flatter us. Please, just call me by my name. All these titles are just for appearances,” Tong Mingyu said warmly, linking arms with Madam Sun and helping her to a seat with the affection and respect of a junior.

“That child is sensitive to the cold in winter, so I didn’t bring her along today.”

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony. It’s a pity I can’t meet the clever little girl today!”

“That’s an easy fix. If you don’t mind us disturbing you, I’ll bring her to visit once she feels better.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll be waiting at home for you two.”

“We’ll definitely come.”

“Almost forgot—my husband asked me to bring this. He mentioned it was something your little girl requested.”

Madam Sun handed over a small box emitting a faint medicinal fragrance from her maidservant.

“What is this?” Tong Mingyu had forgotten what her daughter had asked Imperial Physician Sun for.

“They’re medicinal pills. My husband said as long as she sees these, she’ll know what they’re for.”

Tong Mingyu remembered. Her daughter, unwilling to drink herbal medicine, had asked the imperial physician to make pills.

“This child is so thoughtless. Imperial Physician Sun is so busy, yet he remembered this request. We’re truly indebted to him.”

“Actually, if not for other pressing matters, these pills would have been ready long ago. Besides, you paid for the consultation—there’s no need for such gratitude.”

“We will forever be grateful for his kindness and will teach our daughter to remember it too.”

“My husband is a peculiar man. Once someone catches his attention, he’s willing to do anything. If not, no amount of wealth could sway him. So, there’s no need to be so formal. Just consider it fate.”

Tong Mingyu asked about the pills’ usage and precautions, which Madam Sun explained.

“He also said he wanted the little girl to personally make him a gift and asked Master Xiao to bring it along when he next attends court.”

Tong Mingyu agreed without hesitation. At home, she relayed this to her daughter in the presence of the entire family. She expected her daughter to either seek help or brainstorm ideas. To her surprise, her daughter only pondered briefly before running off to her dressing table, signaling for a maid to lift her onto it.

Xiao Jingkang instructed the maids to fulfill her request, curious about what his youngest was up to. Sitting on the dressing table, Xiao Yao asked Xiaofu for a piece of paper and began rummaging through the items on the table. She found a red rouge box, dipped her fingers into it, and smeared it on her lips. To everyone’s astonishment, she pressed her lips firmly onto the paper.

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