Chapter 1 The Beginning
The next morning, Leng Ruo Li was training in the courtyard when Leng Jin Yu, dressed in a dark silk robe with silver filigree hibiscus embroidery along the collar and a pale blue jade belt, walked towards her.
Upon seeing him, Leng Ruo Li immediately stopped her training and asked with a smile, "Father, when did you return from the military camp?"
"I returned last night. I wanted to see you, but you were already asleep, so I didn't want to disturb you," Leng Jin Yu explained.
"Oh, oh!"
In reality, she never slept very early. Instead, she would hide in her system space to conduct experiments.
Seeing Leng Jin Yu dressed so neatly and impeccably today, she asked with curiosity, "Father, you're dressed so handsomely today, where are you going?"
Hearing his daughter praise his appearance, Leng Jin Yu's old face flushed, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "Li'er, your father is already past forty. How can I still be described as 'handsome'? Don't tease your father."
Immediately, Leng Ruo Li saw Leng Jin Yu's ears turn red and burst into laughter.
"Haha, Father is shy. Li'er won't say it anymore, won't say it anymore."
After speaking, Leng Ruo Li playfully stuck out her tongue.
This made Leng Jin Yu playfully flick her forehead with his finger.
"Heh heh!"
Leng Ruo Li giggled twice.
Leng Jin Yu looked at her and said helplessly, "Today is your maternal grandfather's sixtieth birthday. In a while, you'll need to get ready and accompany me to visit your maternal grandparents."
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Li was slightly stunned. Wasn't the original owner's maternal grandfather the biological father of Xia Wan'er?
She had thought about visiting her maternal grandfather some time ago, but she had heard that her maternal grandfather's family had gone to their old home in Liangzhou and had not yet returned to the capital, so she hadn't gone.
"Li'er, why are you zoning out? Hurry up and wash up, change into clean clothes. We can't be late today," Leng Jin Yu urged.
"Alright, Father, wait for me here," Leng Ruo Li replied cheerfully.
Then, she walked into her room, closed the door, and instantly entered her system space.
She thought to herself, "No wonder Father is dressed so handsomely. It turns out he's going to see his father-in-law."
But if she wanted to visit her maternal grandparents, she would need to prepare a generous gift.
She heard that her maternal grandfather was once a teacher to the current Emperor, possessing vast knowledge and exceptional wisdom. So, what kind of gift should she prepare? She also needed to prepare a gift for her maternal grandmother.
Leng Ruo Li closed her eyes and pondered in her system space. When she opened her eyes, she saw the items on her bookshelf, and her apricot eyes lit up. "Haha—"
She instantly thought of what gifts to give.
So, Leng Ruo Li chose a pale purple, high-waisted skirt with wide sleeves embroidered with silver honeysuckle patterns from her dressing room. She then put on a white fur shawl embroidered with orchids. Her hair was casually styled in various shapes, coiled on top of her head like small snakes. She secured it with a plum blossom jade hairpin. The hairstyle she chose was not complicated like other hairstyles; it lacked excessive decoration, was very simple, but made her look very lively, spirited, and cute.
After she was fully dressed, she returned to her room, applied some ointment to her face, covered it with a veil, and then opened the door and walked out.
Leng Jin Yu, who had been waiting for her in the courtyard, saw his daughter's attire, which reminded him of his deceased wife.
When his wife, Wan'er, was young, she also liked to dress like Li'er. Her hairstyle was also very simple, and she didn't like heavy makeup like other women. Her small face was clean and fresh every day, and she looked very lovable.
But his Wan'er…
"Father, if we don't leave soon, we'll be late again!"
Just as Leng Jin Yu was lost in thought, Leng Ruo Li's call of "Father" instantly brought him back to his senses.
"Yes, yes, let's go, let's hurry and set off."
Leng Jin Yu immediately stepped out of Mingyue Courtyard, with Leng Ruo Li following closely behind him.
Outside the main gate of General Leng's mansion, Steward Qi had already packed the gifts for Grand Tutor Xia's mansion.
After the father and daughter got into the carriage, Xiao Cheng quickly started the carriage, and it drove towards the Xia mansion.
Half an hour later, Leng Jin Yu and Leng Ruo Li's carriage quickly arrived at the entrance of the Xia mansion.
Leng Ruo Li alighted from the carriage behind Leng Jin Yu and walked to the entrance of the Xia mansion. Then, Leng Jin Yu respectfully greeted Xia Ling Xuan, Xia Wan'er's second brother, "Second Brother, Jin Yu has come to wish Father a happy birthday today."
Following this, Xia Ling Xuan let out a cold snort and didn't even look at Leng Jin Yu. If it weren't for the many distinguished guests at the entrance of the Xia mansion today, he would have, as usual, gone inside to get a large broom and chase Leng Jin Yu out.
However, Leng Jin Yu was also thick-skinned enough. Every time he came to visit the Xia mansion, he was driven out by himself and his elder brother with a broom, but it was useless. Afterward, Leng Jin Yu would still come as usual. Xia Ling Xuan truly admired his persistence.
But even so, Xia Ling Xuan still did not intend to let him in. He said impatiently, "Go, go. Our Xia mansion does not welcome you, General Leng."
"Second Brother, today is Father's sixtieth birthday. Please let me go in and celebrate his birthday this once."
Leng Jin Yu said with a fawning smile, completely losing the dignified demeanor he usually had, which greatly surprised Leng Ruo Li.
However, Xia Ling Xuan still refused to pay him any mind. If it weren't for Leng Jin Yu, his sister would not have died. Therefore, he was resolute in not giving him a good look.
Xia Ling Xuan's attitude instantly made Leng Jin Yu appear embarrassed. Although he knew in his heart that even if he, Leng Jin Yu, came to the Xia mansion, the Xia family would not let him in, he was still unwilling to give up because his wife had instructed him before she died to properly honor her parents.
Alas, after so many years, he had only seen his father-in-law and mother-in-law a few times, let alone properly honoring the elderly couple. How would he face his Wan'er in the afterlife?
Seeing the awkward situation from behind, Leng Ruo Li decided to step in and resolve the issue.
Just as Xia Ling Xuan was about to issue another dismissal order, a sweet voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Second Uncle, greetings!"
Hearing this voice, Xia Ling Xuan looked up and saw a girl of sixteen or seventeen walking out from behind Leng Jin Yu. He was stunned for a moment, then asked happily, "Is that you, Li'er?"
"Yes! Second Uncle," Leng Ruo Li replied obediently.
Immediately, Xia Ling Xuan walked down the steps at the entrance and came to Leng Ruo Li's side. He looked her over from left to right, mumbling, "You look so alike, truly so alike… the more I look, the more alike you are…"
"Come, come, come inside with your Second Uncle, let your maternal grandparents see you."
Then, Leng Ruo Li was enthusiastically pulled into the Xia mansion by Xia Ling Xuan, leaving Leng Jin Yu in a bewildered state at the entrance.
"What is going on here?"
"Being a son-in-law is not as popular as being a granddaughter."
"Heh heh, but it doesn't matter. At least I can bask in my daughter's glory and be able to enter and wish my father-in-law a happy birthday today!"
At this moment, the guests who had gathered at the entrance were all whispering among themselves: "Has General Leng lost his mind???"
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