Yin Yong was greatly pleased and couldn’t resist hugging Xiao Heng, showering him with repeated praises.
Xiao Heng modestly responded, “I even drew longevity peaches for you!”
The gathering then moved to the hall, where the family unfolded two carefully prepared paintings—one from the family and another with words sent by King Yan. Displaying a piece with the King’s handwriting and a painting by the Emperor’s grandson would undoubtedly bestow great honor and dignity upon Yin Yong in front of the guests.
However, Yin Yong, being mindful of potential sensitivities, declined this public showcasing. He understood that King Yan might not appreciate any form of boasting, and it took his son-in-law four years to acknowledge him. Even with the inclusion of the paintings drawn by his granddaughter and great-grandson, Yin Yong admired them privately without the intention of sharing them with others.
Having highlighted the significance of these three birthday gifts, Yin Yong solemnly placed them in the care of Uncle De, instructing, “Keep them in my study, where no one else can touch them but me.”
With a smile, Uncle De nodded and took the precious items away.
After sitting for a while, Xiao Heng wanted to go outside to play, so Yin Hui said to Wei Luo, “Take Xiao Heng for a stroll.”
He was not used to socializing, and she and her grandfather couldn’t talk either.
Wei Luo nodded.
Yin Yong asked Yin Lang to accompany him.
After the two men and one child left, Yin Hui carried Xiao Xun and talked to her grandfather, and mentioned the birthday gift that Xiao Xun had made on the road, “Do you want it? If you want it, I will get it.”
Yin Yong laughed loudly, with his beard trembling, Xiao Xun stared at the old man curiously, not understanding that his mother was teasing him.
“Come on, give me a hug.”
Yin Yong held Xiao Xun in his arms, looked at him carefully, and whispered to Yin Hui, “Xiao Heng is more like the third master, but Xiao Xun is like you.”
At his one-month full moon celebration, his features, previously indistinguishable, became apparent. His fair face and clear, beautiful eyes were strikingly reminiscent of his granddaughter’s appearance in childhood.
Yin Hui also noticed that Xiao Xun bore a resemblance to herself. The palace had been quiet recently, and the topic of the second household in the Yin family was one Yin Yong preferred to avoid. Instead, he brought up a different matter with a smile, asking Yin Hui, “Do you still remember the Xie family’s cousin, Zhu Yi?”
The relationship between the two families had always been harmonious, and Yin Hui had frequently visited the Xie household in her childhood, so she naturally recalled him.
Mr. Xie had three sons, and Xie Huaian, the first son of the eldest household, had two younger sisters, Lan Yi and Zhu Yi.
Yin Yong informed Yin Hui, “Lan Yi is already married, but Zhu Yi is fifteen this year. She is known for her gentle and amiable nature. Take a good look at her during today’s banquet. If you approve, I will propose marriage to her for Ah Lang.”
With the separation of the second household, the Yin family felt even more desolate. Yin Yong wished for Yin Lang to marry soon, not only to bring new life to the family but also to aid in the education of his great-grandson.
Xie Zhuyi, in Yin Hui’s memory, remained a quiet teenager, and she was surprised to find that she had reached marriageable age so swiftly.
“Alright, I’ll assist Ah Lang in meeting her. By the way, grandfather, is Cousin Huai’an married? I wasn’t aware,” Yin Hui inquired.
In February of the previous year, the court had just designated the Emperor’s grandson as the Crown Prince, and due to the King’s mood, Yin Yong hadn’t written a letter to his granddaughter. Yin Hui sensed this might be the reason.
As the guests began arriving, Yin Hui handed Xiao Xun to the wet nurse and focused on socializing. The attendees were mostly relatives and friends of the Yin family, and Yin Hui recognized most faces, except for newcomers like Xie Huaian’s recently married wife, who required introductions.
Amid the crowd, Yin Hui spotted her cousin Xie Zhuyi, a slender fifteen-year-old girl with demure manners, seemingly an ideal match for Yin Lang. While the elders were more concerned with the family’s standing, Yin Hui felt it wasn’t enough for her and her grandfather to be satisfied with Xie Zhuyi; she needed to know if Yin Lang liked her.
Seizing an opportunity, Yin Hui asked Yin Lang if he had met Xie Zhuyi. Yin Lang, understanding his sister’s intentions, openly admitted, “I have seen her. I’ll leave the decision to my grandfather.”
Yin Hui laughed.
Yin Lang was already taller than her, so he would naturally fall in love with a cute girl, but she always regarded Yin Lang as her younger brother and forgot about it.
“In that case, after marriage, you should take good care of her. Little girls like gentle and considerate husbands.”
“For sure.”
Yin Lang had to go to the front to entertain the male guests, so he left first.
Yin Hui was about to go back, but when she turned around, she saw Wei Luo coming, standing behind a tree a few steps away.
She was taken aback, subconsciously recalled the conversation between her and Yin Lang, and made sure there was nothing inappropriate for him to listen to, so she relaxed and said with a smile, “Why are you here?”
Wei Luo: “I came to find Xiao Heng.”
Yin Hui: “He disappeared?”
Wei Luo: “He ran away with a group of children, and Chang Feng followed.”
Yin Hui said helplessly, “It’s rare for him to go out. When he comes out, he is like a bird out of its cage, so crazy.”
Wei Luo didn’t answer.
The couple looked at each other for a moment, and since they had nothing to say, Yin Hui said that they should go back to the table.
Wei Luo nodded, as she passed by out of the corner of his eye, he also walked towards the front yard.
Yin Lang was talking to Xie Huai’an, when he saw his brother-in-law, and brought Xie Huai’an over to introduce them.
That was the second time that Wei Luo saw Xie Huai’an. He was dressed in a sapphire robe, had a gentle smile, the son of a wealthy family had a good demeanor.
Oddly enough, Yin Hui’s laughing voice sounded in Wei Luo’s ear again, “After marriage, you have to take good care of her. Little girls like gentle and considerate husbands.”
Were those just polite words from her as a sister, or was it a talk from experience?
Who was gentle and considerate in her eyes?
Wei Luo thought he treated her well enough, but he also vaguely felt that the Yin family would not judge him as “gentle and considerate”.