Chapter 6: A Mother-Son Greeting

   

Finally, it was the turn of Xie Yunzhi’s three children to kowtow to Xu Qingyi. 

The eldest son, Lin, was already twelve years old. 

He knelt down solemnly, performed the ceremonial kowtow, and called out, “Mother.” After that, he lowered his gaze and remained silent. 

Only recently had he been informed that the bride originally intended for his second uncle had become his father’s wife instead. 

Overnight, the woman who was to be his aunt had become his mother. 

Lin wasn’t pleased. He found the arrangement hasty and felt it showed a lack of respect toward their father. 

But since the elders had decided, he had no room to resist and could only obey. 

Xu Qingyi glanced at the boy, who would one day become a powerful figure. His rosy lips and pearly white teeth gave him a clean and refined appearance, though he was a bit on the frail side. 

She smiled and said, “Lin, you truly look handsome.” 

She then presented him with a meeting gift—a set of ‘Wenfang Sibao’, the Four Treasures of the Study (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone), used for scholarly pursuits. 

Lin accepted the gift politely. “Thank you, Mother.” 

He then rose to his feet and stepped aside. 

Next came the second son, Zhen, whose full name was Xie Zhen. At eight years old, he was also remarkably bright and spirited.  

Compared to his older brother, his frame was sturdier—though more accurately, he was fair-skinned and chubby. 

“Mother!” he knelt down and, with a loud and confident voice, said, “I am Zhen. My full name is Xie Zhen, and I am eight years old this year.” 

Xu Qingyi let out a warm “Ah” and smiled as she patted his head. “Zhen is so solidly built.” 

Zhen gave a shy smile, looking a bit bashful. Others often called him fat, but only his mother described him as “solid.” 

The youngest, Heng, whose full name was Xie Heng, was just four years old. He was on the darker and skinnier side. 

Perhaps thanks to the nursemaid’s coaching beforehand, he mimicked his brothers and came forward to kneel. In his soft, childish voice, he said, “Mother, I’m Heng, and I’m four years old.” 

Xu Qingyi couldn’t contain her laughter. She bent down, scooped up the tiny, skinny Heng, and placed him on her lap. “Heng is such a good boy.” 

She then personally fastened a Changming Lock (a traditional longevity lock) around his neck. “This lock is a gift from Mother. It will keep all of Heng’s blessings safely with him.” 

Heng didn’t seem wary of strangers and obediently leaned into Xu Qingyi’s embrace. 

Despite his calm exterior, his little heart was filled with unease. He didn’t know if this woman, who had suddenly married his father, would like him. Would she be like Madam Qin, who always treated him with disdain? 

Thankfully, Heng didn’t sense any dislike from Xu Qingyi. Instead, there was a faint gentleness in her demeanor. 

She had even pulled him into her arms… 

This warm and harmonious scene moved the Old Madam deeply, stirring both joy and sorrow. She dabbed her tears several times, thinking how perfect everything would be if only her eldest grandson could wake up. 

Holding Heng in her arms, Xu Qingyi lowered her gaze slightly and subtly observed the surroundings. 

This child wasn’t afraid of strangers but lacked confidence, unlike Young Masters raised in truly prestigious families. 

Yes, Heng’s pair of uneasy eyes revealed his fear of being rejected by his mother. 

Xu Qingyi gently patted Heng’s back and raised her head to ask, “So, where were the children raised before?” 

The room collectively turned their gaze toward Madam Qin, making it clear that she had been in charge of their upbringing. 

It was only natural. After all, the Old Madam, given her age and declining energy, could no longer manage the children’s studies or daily lives. 

Madam Qin smiled and said, “All three boys have been living in my courtyard.” 

“I see,” Xu Qingyi replied, nodding slowly. She then lowered her head, gently poking the little boy’s cheek, and asked, “Heng, would you like to come live in Mother’s courtyard?” 

Heng’s big, round eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded eagerly. 

But in the next moment, he grew timid again, lowering his head and leaning against Xu Qingyi’s chest without saying another word. 

This reaction… 

Well, it wasn’t surprising. 

Madam Qin didn’t like her stepson, Xie Yunzhi. 

If Xie Yunzhi never woke up, this household would inevitably fall into Xie Huaian’s hands in the future. 

Madam Qin had no reason to curry favor with anyone, so how much care could she really spare for the three adopted sons left behind by Xie Yunzhi? 

It was already a relief that she didn’t mistreat them outright. 

“It seems Heng is very fond of his mother,” Xu Qingyi said with a gentle smile. 

Xu Qingyi’s playful remark predictably earned a bashful smile from Heng, which made his thin, dark little face look unexpectedly endearing. 

The poor child. Xu Qingyi, who usually felt indifferent toward children, found a bit of affection stirring in her heart. 

She looked at the Old Madam and said, “Grandmother, since I am now the wife of Eldest Young Master, I should help my husband care for his three children. How about having them move into my courtyard? What do you think?” 

Madam Qin was immediately displeased. As the one responsible for the children, Xu Qingyi’s decision to bypass her and address the Old Madam instead was a blatant sign of disrespect. 

“That’s how it should be,” the Old Madam agreed, nodding. “You are their mother now, so it’s only right for you to take care of them. Let’s have someone arrange the move right away.” 

“Mother, won’t this disturb Yunzhi’s recovery?” the Marquis asked, concerned. 

“The more lively it is, the better,” the Old Madam replied. “Perhaps the bustling atmosphere will bring him good fortune and help him wake up.” 

The Marquis thought this over and found the reasoning convincing, so he did not object. 

“Yulan, you’re in charge of organizing this,” the Old Madam instructed. 

“Yes, Old Madam,” Mama Yulan replied promptly. 

Madam Qin realized she had been completely sidelined, which only deepened her frustration. 

Still, she let it go. She had long grown tired of looking after Xie Yunzhi’s adopted sons. 

They weren’t her biological grandchildren, and caring for them was a thankless task. 

If Xu Qingyi wanted to show off, so be it. Let her take the spotlight. Being a stepmother wasn’t easy—it wouldn’t be long before Xu Qingyi tasted the bitterness of it herself. 

Heng, upon hearing that he could move into his mother’s courtyard, was all smiles. 

Zhen was equally happy. Madam Qin didn’t like him and was always criticizing him for being chubby. 

At the back, Lin remained indifferent. With their father in his current condition, no one was there to support them. 

Wherever they lived, they were still at the mercy of others. 

All he wanted was to grow up quickly and become strong on his own. 

Once the meeting dispersed, Xu Qingyi carried Heng directly back to her courtyard. 

The chubby Zhen and the composed Lin returned to their rooms to pack their belongings. 

Though they didn’t need to do the packing themselves, they still had to oversee it. 

Lin, with his peculiar personality, especially disliked others touching his belongings. 

The Danhuai Courtyard was spacious. After returning, Xu Qingyi made some plans and decided to assign the still-vacant eastern rooms to Lin. 

The western rooms were allocated to Zhen and Heng, along with their respective nursemaids and maids. The once-quiet courtyard quickly became lively. 

Xu Qingyi’s dowry was extensive, and the remaining empty rooms had to be used for storing it. Once everything was laid out, the courtyard felt entirely occupied. 

Leaving the logistics to the servants, Xu Qingyi instructed her maid, Liu, “Go to the small kitchen and have them send up a light meal for Heng. From now on, since all three boys will be living here, tell them to stock up on more ingredients. If anything is lacking, have them purchase it immediately.” 

“Yes, Young Madam,” Liu responded promptly. 

The entire courtyard was bustling. Some were running errands, others were tidying the rooms—it was a scene of organized chaos. 

Xu Qingyi set Heng down on the couch and stretched her arms. Though the child was small and thin, carrying him all the way had been somewhat tiring. 

Seeing this, Heng’s face grew anxious again, as if worried he had done something wrong. 

Xu Qingyi chuckled and said, “Heng is still too light. Mother’s arms are only a little bit sore. How about we eat more later, alright?” 

Heng blinked his wide eyes, then smiled happily again. Puckering his little mouth, he said softly, “Okay.” 

“Does Heng want to go see your father?” Xu Qingyi asked. 

After all, the food wouldn’t be ready for a while. 

“I do…” Heng replied timidly. 

He rarely got to see his father, though he missed him deeply. 

The nursemaid never took them to visit their father, and Heng could no longer even remember the last time he saw him. 

“Then let’s go see him,” Xu Qingyi said with a smile. 

Her face warmed slightly. Despite her efforts to ignore it, the memories of last night lingered vividly in her mind, surfacing now and then. 

Xie Yunzhi’s room was just next door. Today, the servants attending to him had been replaced by Guan Qi and Mo Yan. 

The two had already heard about the sudden arrival of the Young Madam from Ming Yu and Zi Xiao earlier in the morning. 

It was hard for them to believe, but it seemed to be a joyful occasion. 

Rumor had it that the Young Madam was gentle and kind, and her devotion to their Young Master appeared sincere. 

Both of them waited nervously, ready to formally greet the new Young Madam. 

After waiting all morning, Guan Qi and Mo Yan had initially assumed the Young Madam would first visit the Eldest Young Master to check on him. Instead, she had gone directly to the tea ceremony. 

They could understand, though. 

Now, the Young Madam had finally arrived, with little Heng holding her hand. 

“Guan Qi and Mo Yan greet the Young Madam and Young Master Heng,” they said in unison, bowing respectfully. 

Xu Qingyi nodded with a gentle smile. “I brought Heng to see his father. How is the Eldest Young Master? Has he eaten this morning?” 

Even someone in a vegetative state needed to eat, consuming mostly liquid food. 

“Replying to the Young Madam, he ate this morning. However, the Young Master needs to have smaller, more frequent meals, so…” 

Guan Qi led the way inside, where some freshly prepared food had just been delivered. 

“Alright,” Xu Qingyi said. “You may feed him. I’ll observe and learn.” 

“Yes…” The two attendants were momentarily stunned. Was the Young Madam planning to feed the Eldest Young Master herself? 

Feeding the Eldest Young Master, who was unconscious, was not a graceful sight. They were worried the Young Madam might find it unpleasant. 

No matter how illustrious the Eldest Young Master had been in the past, his current state as an invalid was undeniable. People were practical, after all. 

The young ladies and madams who once fawned over the Eldest Young Master would likely flee faster than rabbits if they saw him like this now. 

Yet, the Young Madam remained composed. She even comforted Heng, saying, “Your father is unwell, but don’t be scared. It’s like he’s just sleeping. One day, he’ll wake up.” 

Heng was seeing his unconscious father for the first time, and at first, he seemed frightened. 

Xu Qingyi immediately soothed him, treating him like the delicate child he was. 

Heng held his mother’s hand tightly and nodded obediently. 

Since Mother liked him to behave well, he would do so—as long as she treated him kindly. 

“Go on, touch your father’s face and call out to him,” Xu Qingyi encouraged. 

“Okay.” 

Heng approached the bed cautiously, gently touching his father’s sleeping face. Leaning close to his ear, he said in his soft, childish voice, “Father, I’m Heng. Are you sick? Does it hurt?” 

In Heng’s little mind, being sick meant feeling pain. 

If only he could find out where his father hurt, he might be able to help. 

He called out to his father softly. 

Listening to his innocent words, Xu Qingyi smiled and then said to Heng, “Alright, come here now. Your father needs to eat. We can just watch from the side.” 

“Mm!” Heng reluctantly shifted his gaze and returned to his mother’s side. 

Xie Yunzhi, in his hazy state, vaguely heard a familiar voice calling him “Father.” Who was it? 

It felt like a dream, his consciousness clouded and unclear. 

The throbbing pain in his head urged him to stop thinking. 

But he couldn’t. Deep inside, a voice told him to wake up, to not remain lost in the haze. 

With his formidable willpower, Xie Yunzhi slowly regained some awareness, only to realize that his senses were still intact, but his body remained motionless. 

What happened? 

It seemed he was badly injured, but at least he was lucky enough to still be alive.