They arrived at Ruixiang Pavilion to find Feng Jin'er sitting in Luo Qingyi's lap, eating pastries.
The little fellow was still bothered about seniority. As he gnawed on the rice cake in his hand, he mumbled unclearly, trying to persuade him.
"Granduncle, are you really not considering taking in another nephew?"
Luo Qingyi was nearly ten years younger than Luo Qingyu. Although seniority was there, his age was not that great.
They had bonded through a chance encounter, so it was not unreasonable for Song Qing'an to call him "Brother Luo."
However, Feng Jin'er simply refused.
"Granduncle, I'm absolutely not saying you're old, it's just that Uncle Song and Mother look more like peers when they stand together, don't you think?"
Luo Qingyi raised his hand to brush off the pastry crumbs from his clothes and coldly scoffed at him, "Little rascal, have you been eating too much these past two days? Has your flesh become firmer?"
The little fellow actually dared to call him old!
This expression was a prelude to an approaching storm.
Feng Jin'er's small hands, clutching the pastry, tightened, and he immediately fell silent.
Though he didn't speak, his round, rolling eyes were more eloquent than words!
[It seems Mother was right, Granduncle is indeed sensitive about his age.
Oh well~
Forget it, how can a magnanimous and understanding child like him argue with an old man?
He's already eaten the pastries anyway, so that's enough for today. He'll try again tomorrow.]
Thinking this, he hummed a couple of tunes in good spirits. Then, the small hand that had been holding the pastry unceremoniously grabbed onto Luo Qingyi's clothes, and he turned to rummage through his own candy box.
From behind, Xi Wen and Jian Ye watched his actions, their hearts instantly leaping into their throats.
Had they just seen that correctly?
Was the young master using the Holy Lord... as a rag?
But, heavens, why was the Holy Lord still smiling? And smiling so indulgently!
Could it be...
This was the iron will forged through two years of hardship?
Xi Wen widened his slightly cross-eyed eyes and declared that the Holy Lord was the man in Xuanmen most enthusiastic about taking care of children.
Jian Ye rubbed his ear in response, stating: "I agree."
Just as the two of them finished their private declaration, they heard their Holy Lord speak thoughtfully.
"However, what you said does hold some truth. General Song is so familiar with you and your mother, it is indeed inappropriate for the辈分 to be disrupted further because of this."
These words were in response to his earlier statement.
Feng Jin'er's little face lit up instantly.
"Granduncle, does that mean you've agreed?"
Luo Qingyi glanced at him, offering no commitment.
Xi Wen and Jian Ye behind them:
An urgent new announcement!
Just now! The Holy Lord... personally admitted he was old!
Therefore, upon entering, Feng Yin Wan saw a harmonious yet slightly strange scene, and her brow immediately furrowed slightly.
"Mother~"
Feng Jin'er was still happy and immediately jumped down from Luo Qingyi's lap, rushing towards her with his short legs.
He still held the medicine box, its lid not fully secured, looking as if it had already been opened.
Feng Yin Wan's eyes dimmed slightly, and she immediately hugged him with affection.
"Did Chen'er have his candies?"
Feng Jin'er nodded, his small hands around her neck, instantly transforming into a curious and obedient baby.
"Mother, how did you make these candies? Can you tell Chen'er?"
He had tasted them. Of all the pills in the alchemy room, only the ones his mother gave him were sweet; the others were not tasty!
His mother's candies looked no different from other pills, but that aroma was sweet and soft, making him want to eat them just by smelling them.
When he ate them, the sensation was very peculiar. Besides the sweetness, there seemed to be a hint of medicinal taste mixed in.
But that taste disappeared too quickly, so he had eaten them many times without being able to remember it...
The eyes before her blinked, their gaze bright and clear. With just one look, Feng Yin Wan's heart felt as if it were scalded by warmth, and she quickly averted her gaze.
"It's nothing extraordinary. Chen'er is still young and doesn't understand the art of alchemy yet. When you're older, Mother will teach you, okay?"
As if believing her words, Feng Jin'er's face immediately lit up with joy.
"Okay!"
Seeing that he didn't press further, Feng Yin Wan's eyes narrowed, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Her sigh was very subtle, yet Feng Jin'er, who was leaning on her shoulder, still sensed this anomaly.
His little face subtly drooped, and the doubt in his eyes grew even stronger.
His mother seemed to be hiding something from him.
Luo Qingyi had already instructed the kitchen to prepare wine and dishes earlier. The moment they sat down, the young attendant had brought the food.
Feng Yin Wan hadn't eaten much that morning, and now, smelling the aroma, she felt even hungrier.
Little rascal was considerate. Seeing the crystal shrimp dumplings on the plate, he picked one up and placed it in front of her.
"Mother, you eat."
After raising a child for over two years, he was finally useful.
Feng Yin Wan was deeply touched.
Seeing the small mountain of dumplings growing higher in front of her, she waved her hand, about to say, "That's enough," when, at the moment her lips parted, she heard the sound of bowls and chopsticks falling to the ground beside her.
In the next instant, her expression drastically changed.
"Chen'er!"