Chapter 471: Xiao Family Ling’er (Part 8)

As soon as Xiao Huai’an walked through the door, a tender yellow figure wrapped in a fragrant scent dashed into his arms, accompanied by a girl’s bell-like crisp voice, “Brother! Brother! Brother!”

The little girl in his arms was as tall as Xiao Huai’an’s waist, her jet-black hair styled into playful twin buns, with red ribbons fluttering wildly in the air as she moved.

She was evidently excited, clinging tightly to her brother, bouncing up and down in her excitement, as if unsure how to express her current emotions, her laughter like silver bells filling the entire courtyard instantly.

Xiao Huai’an looked down at the tiny figure in his arms, his gaze becoming gentler, one hand gently pressing her shoulder to prevent the little girl from going too wild and knocking them both over. With a soft chuckle, he said, “Ling’er, it’s been a year, how come you seem even more mischievous?”

Xiao Yuyue, nicknamed Ling’er, his younger sister, was born seven years ago, and had been eagerly anticipated by the whole family.

Born into such circumstances, Xiao Yuyue was destined from birth to be a cherished little princess. A year ago, when Xiao Huai’an set out on his travels, Xiao Yuyue held her brother and cried until the heavens were turned upside down, almost making Xiao Huai’an too soft-hearted to leave the house.

As Xiao Huai’an finished speaking, the little girl in his arms quickly lifted her head, anxiously protesting, “No way! Ling’er has been very good! This past year, I’ve been obediently learning medicine with Mom and resisted going out to find Brother!”

The little girl was adorably cute, with peach blossom eyes just like her mother’s, her long eyelashes thick and black, her lips soft pink like the tenderest spring petals.

This porcelain doll-like figure had the power to softly pull at the heartstrings at first glance.

Xiao Huai’an looked at her amusedly, raising his hand to affectionately pat her head, “Ling’er actually wants to go out to find Brother. Didn’t Brother say that the outside world is dangerous, and Ling’er can only go when she’s grown up?”

Xiao Yuyue puffed up her cheeks, a little defiant, “See, Ling’er said already that I didn’t go!”

“Listen to this little rascal talking nonsense.”

A soft and pleasant female voice suddenly sounded, making Xiao Huai’an’s heart move slightly. He looked up to see a graceful and charming woman approached, surrounded by several maidservants. Although she was over thirty, her appearance was as if ten years ago, save for the more settled and noble aura about her; time seemed unusually kind to her, leaving few traces.

The woman’s eyes had been focused on Xiao Huai’an, scrutinizing him carefully. Confirming he was well but seemed much mature compared to a year ago, her eyes curved slightly and her smile became tenderer, “This little rascal was shouting to go find Brother every day after you left, even managed to escape several times, thanks to the guards who noticed timely, every time full of fright yet safe in the end.”

Exposed, Xiao Yuyue puffed her cheeks up like a little pufferfish, stamping her foot in displeasure, “Mom!”

“What’s wrong, did Mom say anything incorrect?”

Xu Jing glanced at her daughter with faux annoyance, “Do you know, on the third escape the guards couldn’t find you immediately, worried Dad and Mom terribly, Dad almost went to mobilize troops from the Southern Government Sixteen Guards to search for you.”

Knowing she was in the wrong, Xiao Yuyue pouted and murmured under her breath, “Ling’er knows it was wrong, but… but after that time, Ling’er didn’t escape again!”

“Do you dare?”

Xu Jing was close to laughing from anger, “Your dad issued harsh words, if you run again, you’ll face the family’s discipline.”

Xiao Yuyue cautiously glanced at her mother, knowing it’s best not to talk back when Mom rakes up the past, she couldn’t help but say: “Dad never said that, Dad loves Ling’er the most, he wouldn’t punish Ling’er, that was definitely Mom’s words!”

Xu Jing: “…”

Xiao Yuyue: “That time Mom was so angry she almost smacked Ling’er’s butt, but Dad stopped it!”

As she said this, she proudly raised her little head, any rare moment of guilt from before vanished without a trace.

Xu Jing couldn’t help but grit her teeth internally, silently cursing the man who spoiled the daughter, making her fearless and daring.

If it weren’t for his backing, this little troublemaker wouldn’t dare do such dangerous things!

All the while, watching his sister and mother banter, Xiao Huai’an couldn’t help but chuckle softly, his gaze softened as he said, “How nice, Ling’er and Mom are still the same as always.”

The two seemed to suddenly remember today’s main guest, Xiao Yuyue quickly threw herself into her brother’s arms again, her lips pursed, aggrievedly saying, “Brother, Ling’er missed you so much this year, missed you so much, this time Brother won’t leave again, right?”

Xiao Huai’an chuckled, patting her little head.

He indeed knew she missed him, so much her father almost alerted the Southern Government Sixteen Guards.

Xu Jing watched the two children being sweet together, her gaze softened too, saying gently, “Alright, your brother just returned, don’t cling to him too long, let him go wash up and change into comfortable clothes first. Chang Xiao, dinner won’t be ready for a while, Mom made some flower cakes and your favorite ice cream curd from childhood, will you have some?”

In the past decade, Xu Jing’s biggest change was honing her cooking skills for the children.

Now, she could make simple treats effortlessly.

Hearing that familiar term, Xiao Huai’an’s heart felt even warmer.

As he grew older, only his father and mother would still call him by his childhood nickname.

He couldn’t help but grin, saying, “Alright, I love Mom’s ice cream curd the most.”

He returned to his courtyard, washed up and changed into comfortable home clothes, and went back to the yard.

Xu Jing and Xiao Yuyue were already seated under the gazebo in the yard, laughing and talking, occasionally letting out a few melodious laughs.

On the open space outside the pavilion, two little ones were wobbling as they walked, giggling giddily, playing tag with several attendants.

Both little ones wore red tops with lucky pattern designs, pants matching in color, adorable tiger-head shoes on their feet, their faces filled with an endlessly pure and cute smile, eyes like black grapes moving around, teased by the servants until they laughed constantly, almost squinting from joy.

This was a pair of dragon and phoenix twins Xu Jing had two years ago; the girl named Xiao Yuxing, nicknamed Pengpeng, and the boy named Xiao Huaichen, he was the younger brother, born particularly frail, so Xu Jing and Xiao Yi named him Little Tiger, hoping he’d grow strong like a little tiger.

Of course, after two years of careful nurturing, the once weak boy was now as robust as a little bull, mischievous in nature, often making Xu Jing and Xiao Yi grind their teeth in regret for naming him Little Tiger.

Listening to it was simply worrisome!