SGSHE136

“Lord Imperial brother-in-law, shall we meet at the teahouse after the court session concludes? Would that be convenient?”

Just before the morning court session began, Qin Yingbo took the initiative to call out to Jing Heguang.

Since the session was about to start, Jing Heguang nodded: “Of course, that works. See you later, uncle Qin.”

After acknowledging Qin Yingbo, Jing Heguang turned to Qin Yuande and greeted him with a smile: “Hello, grandpa Qin.”

Qin Yuande looked at his face, frowned, and replied with a distant, formal air: “Greetings, Lord imperial brother-in-Law.”

Passersby were left bewildered by the way the three men greeted one another.

Everyone knew that the imperial brother-in-law was usually cold and stern-faced, yet today he was beaming.

And those forms of address, calling Qin Yingbo ‘uncle Qin’ and Qin Yuande ‘grandpa Qin?

While the age gap fit, in the imperial court, status took precedence over age.

Some quick-witted onlookers immediately wondered if a marriage alliance was in the works.

However, everyone knew the Qin family had only one young male heir, and that he had gone missing.

They glanced up at the sky. The sun certainly hadn’t risen in the west.

They could only sigh, what a truly bizarre day this was!

Finally, the court session ended.

Jing Heguang accompanied the father and son of the Qin family to the teahouse outside the palace gates.

All the way there, Qin Yuande and Qin Yingbo kept sizing Jing Heguang up.

The father and son had deliberated all through the previous night.

Qin Yingbo had initially proposed separating the two. He refused to let his son become someone else’s male spouse.

However, seeing how Xing Qi insisted on returning on time, even at the cost of skipping a meeting with Qin Yingbo, Qin Yuande realized that his long-lost grandson had likely set his heart on Jing Heguang.

Thus, Qin Yuande dissuaded Qin Yingbo and recounted Xing Qi’s extraordinary experiences to his son.

Furthermore, because Xing Qi had barely mentioned the events concerning the original owner from his past life, the Qin father and son mistakenly believed the two had been a married couple across two lifetimes, leading them to abandon the idea of ​​separating the pair.

Resignation was one thing, but knowing their grandson now belonged to Jing Heguang made their chests tighten whenever they looked at the man.

A teahouse.

Jing Heguang took out the jade pendant Xing Qi had given him and asked, “Uncle Qin, this is the pendant Xing Qi was carrying. Would you take a look at it?”

Qin Yingbo and Qin Yuande exchanged a glance, confusion flashing in their eyes.

It had been odd enough yesterday that the young couple had split up, with each approaching a different member of the Qin family.

And today, Jing Heguang was asking Qin Yingbo to verify the pendant, implying that he wasn’t sure if it was genuine and didn’t know that Xing Qi had already sought out Qin Yuande.

He might not even know about Xing Qi’s past experiences!

They were the family members Xingguan was closest to and trusted the most!

The two shrewd men exchanged another look.

Qin Yingbo looked at his father and said with pleasant surprise, “Father, this is Xingguan pendant!”

Qin Yuande’s hands trembled as he took the pendant, tears welled up in his eyes as he caressed it. “It…it is Xingguan. I wrote this character myself and had Master Zhang carve it!”

Seeing the two elders so moved, Jing Heguang imagined how excited Xing Qi would be when he learned his family had been found.

Xing Qi would surely be overjoyed to know he still had family!

After the initial excitement settled, the three of them finished their tea and agreed to go to the imperial brother-in-law manor for a meal.

Since the identity was confirmed, they wanted to reunite with their kin as soon as possible.

Qin Yingbo was particularly eager, he longed to see what Xing Qi looked like now.

***

By the time the three of them returned to the estate, Xing Qi had just woken up.

After he finished washing up, an attendant asked, “Master Qi, would you like some porridge? Master ordered pumpkin and red date porridge, the sweet kind you like.”

At first, the servants had addressed Xing Qi as ‘Madam’, but seeing him frown at the title, Jing Heguang had ordered them to change it.

Xing Qi nodded. “I’ll have a little, just a small portion.”

It was neither early nor late in the day.

If he ate too much now, it would spoil his appetite for lunch. He needed to show some restraint.

At his instruction, the red date and pumpkin porridge was quickly served.

Xing Qi was in the middle of eating when a servant came to report.

“Young Master Qi, the Master has returned! And he’s brought guests with him.”

Xing Qi, still chewing on a red date, suddenly felt nervous: “What kind of guests?”

“It appears to be the two from the Qin family.”

Oh, no!

Xing Qi hurriedly finished his porridge in a few gulps and told the servant to clear the table.

His mind was in a whirl.

He had secretly met his grandfather yesterday, but he hadn’t told him that he had snuck out.

In Jing Heguang’s eyes, he was still just an innocent, naive little shadow guard.

If that secret slipped out, it would be incredibly awkward!

Anxious, Xing Qi decided to go out and greet them himself.

As he stepped out of the courtyard, he ran straight into Jing Heguang, who was returning with the guests.

Jing Heguang stepped forward and took Xing Qi’s hand before saying, “Lord Qin has examined your jade pendant, it is genuine.”

As if it could be anything else, Xing Qi thought to himself.

Panic flashed in his eyes as he gazed imploringly at his grandfather, then at his father.

Please, don’t let anything slip!

It was all Jing Heguang’s fault for being so efficient, bringing them home the moment they met.

Jing Heguang was completely oblivious to this, thinking happily: Xing Qi will surely be pleased today. I can ask for a reward later. Modern novels and comics are great, but ancient erotic albums have their own unique charm, the only thing missing is putting it into practice.

Seeing his grandson’s guilty look, Qin Yuande played along: “My dear grandson, we’ve finally found you!”

This was Qin Yingbo’s first formal meeting with Xing Qi, and his emotions spilled over: “Xingguan! I am your father. You look just like…like your mother. There is no mistaking it!”

As he called himself ‘father’, tears streamed down Qin Yingbo’s face.

Xing Qi had been holding up well enough, but upon seeing his father looking much younger than in his memories, and being moved by the sight of Qin Yingbo shedding tears, he couldn’t help but weep as well.

“Father…”

“Grandfather!”

As the family reunited, the household servants were left with their jaws on the floor in sheer astonishment.

Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard, those who had stayed behind were equally stirred with excitement.

“To think our Madam is actually the Qin family’s long-lost only son! The Qin family holds immense influence!”

Chi Xiu felt a surge of emotion too, but he offered a reminder: “What ‘Madam’? Call him Seventh Master.”

“Oh, Master Chi, it seems Heaven truly favors our Master, marrying a male spouse who turns out to be the Qin family’s only son. With the Qin family’s backing, wouldn’t we be like a tiger gaining wings?!”

The courtyard was much quieter now, but those remaining were the absolute core of the inner circle. The more capable one was, the greater one’s ambitions tended to be.

Chi Xiu pondered for a moment.

“Master is a benevolent man. He doesn’t want to see the common people suffer through further turmoil. I fear he has set those ambitions aside.”

The group of honest men, who prided themselves on being gentlemen, sighed repeatedly.

Their master was a good man, kind-hearted and capable, but perhaps too kind. Yet, could they say kindness was a bad thing? Of course not!

Still, some were unwilling to give up. “With an opportunity this good…should we ask Master again?”

***

In the main courtyard.

Qin Yingbo dragged Jing Heguang away, leaving space for Xing Qi and Qin Yuande to talk.

Under the covered walkway.

Xing Qi let out a quiet, relieved breath.

Qin Yuande glanced around before asking in a low voice, “What are you nervous about? What exactly is going on between you and Jing Heguang? Are you keeping secrets from the person sharing your bed?”

Qin Yuande looked at his grandson with a peculiar expression, wondering if he had guessed wrong.

Perhaps he and Jing Heguang weren’t a couple spanning two lifetimes after all. Maybe…his grandson had simply snatched the man away in ‘this’ lifetime?

That was certainly possible.

Jing Heguang’s face was a veritable ‘femme fatale’, a face that could cause all manner of trouble.

Xing Qi rubbed his nose and hastily came up with an excuse: “I was afraid of scaring him. He’s actually quite timid at times, he’s even afraid of ghosts. Grandfather, please don’t let it slip.”

Qin Yuande’s expression turned even stranger. “He’s afraid of ghosts? I never would have guessed.”

Qin Yuande glanced at his grandson, pretending to believe him.

He switched to a different question: “Neither you nor Jing Heguang can conceive, how was the issue of an heir resolved in your past life?”

Xing Qi: “???”

The issue of an heir in the past life?

In that past life, the other person had died young and left no offspring. He himself hadn’t lived long either, he hadn’t burdened anyone else with a sickly body, let alone produced any heirs.

Wait. Grandfather seemed to be under the impression that he had been with Jing Heguang in his past life too!

Xing Qi didn’t know how the heir issue had been handled in the past life, but Jing Heguang had mentioned it regarding ‘this’ life.

Jing Heguang had said it was best not to have children, though if Xing Qi really wanted one, adopting an orphan would be an option.

Thinking of Jing Heguang, a smile spread across Xing Qi’s face: “We didn’t have children in the past life either. Kids are noisy, and neither of us liked them.”

Seeing that smile, Qin Yuande chuckled softly, his aged face softening.

His grandson had been lost for years, let alone himself, even Qin Yingbo, the boy’s biological father, didn’t really have the standing to interfere in his grandson’s life.

If the child was happy, that was all that mattered. Qin Yuande understood this clearly.

Of course, if things didn’t work out, he was confident that both he and his son had the means to set Jing Heguang straight. That was the confidence of the Qin family.

***

The family reunion was conducted openly, with plans for a grand celebration, so the news inevitably leaked out and reached others’ ears.

The Empress learned of the matter two days later.

Upon learning that Xing Qi had the backing of the Qin family, Jing Ya’an felt a mix of happiness and concern for her older brother.

She was happy because no one would ever mock her brother again for marrying a male spouse. She was worried, however, that the Qin family might tempt her brother into harboring ambitions for the throne once more.

Clutching her son, the little Crown Prince, and glancing at the red coral ornament in the hall, she finally felt a measure of relief.

The fact that the coral had been gifted away showed that her brother had truly abandoned those ambitions.

Moreover, her brother possessed such an ethereal, otherworldly beauty that his husband would naturally be captivated by him.

Now that his husband had gained status, surely he wouldn’t let her brother have children with another woman.

Thank goodness for her brother-in-law!

Having thought it through, Jing Ya’an felt reassured and arranged for the palace staff to prepare dinner for their family of three.

The evening meal was exquisite, yet the Emperor’s spirits remained low.

Beneath the glow of red palace lanterns…

The Emperor gave the little Crown Prince’s cheek a playful pinch, then gazed at Jing Ya’an’s picturesque face.

Jing Ya’an blushed deeply. “Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that?”

The Emperor smiled. “I was thinking that you look like a painting, and your brother possesses the bearing of an immortal. Your parents must have been truly magnificent to produce such children.” He then glanced at his son. “It is fortunate that the Crown Prince takes after you so much.”

Jing Ya’an’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she looked at her son, then turned a gaze filled with adoration toward the Emperor. “He mustn’t take after me when it comes to brains though. He should be just like Your Majesty!”

The Emperor chuckled softly, masking a complex look in his eyes. “Your brother is brilliant, and you are no fool yourself.”

Though he offered praise, the Emperor was seething with suppressed anger inside.

The Jing family was indeed clever. Had it not been for the incident involving the Qin family, which prompted him to launch an investigation on a sudden whim, his affection for the Empress might have blinded him to the point where he never would have discovered the irregularities surrounding the Jing family.

T/N: the emperor want to get a good scolding from his brother-in-law and learn to coax his wife well before he was satisfied (≖ᴗ≖✿)