Xie Huan wanted to break free from Mu Chongyan, but Mu Chongyan's two arms were like cast iron, firmly restraining him around the waist, making him unable to move.
Xie Huan's expression gradually turned cold. He reached out to grab the pot of delicate ornamental greens from the flower stand in front of the couch, but at that moment, Mu Chongyan beneath him uttered words like a dreamy murmur: "...I won't give up on you, never, even if I die. You are mine, you are my child's father. Even if I die in the future, I want to be buried with you, buried together, buried together..."
His voice gradually faded until it disappeared. Xie Huan's outstretched hand, reaching for the pot, halted mid-air. After a long moment, he withdrew his hand, pulled away Mu Chongyan's arms which had gone limp in sleep, and straightened up.
Looking down at Mu Chongyan's sleeping face on the couch, Xie Huan's lips moved silently, forming three words—"I know..."
After leaving the residence of the Prince of Chuxiang, Jiang Chenghan's family and Xiao Yanchu shared the same path for a while before they were supposed to part ways. However, Xiao Yanchu indicated that he had something to discuss with Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu, so he accompanied them to the Jiang family.
Jiajia had the habit of taking afternoon naps, so upon arriving home, Jiang Chenghan carried him back to his room to rest. Yan Jingshu took Xiao Yanchu to the main hall to talk.
After Jiang Chenghan had settled Jiajia and returned to the main hall, Xiao Yanchu rose to his feet. He approached Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu, then offered them a deep, formal bow. Meeting their surprised gazes, he said with solemn sincerity: "Uncle Jiang, Uncle Yan, I have an impertinent request that I hope you both will agree to. I would like Jiajia to become my study companion. You can rest assured, I will take good care of Jiajia and will not let him suffer any grievance."
Not expecting Xiao Yanchu to make such a request, Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu looked at each other, unsure how to respond to Xiao Yanchu.
If they weren't clear about Xiao Yanchu's character, they might have thought that he made this request because of the time before he regained his status when he was Jiajia's playmate in Ningcheng.
Even so, Jiajia was only six years old. Even if he were under their watchful eyes every day, Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu would not be entirely at ease, let alone if he were to leave home alone for another place. Moreover, Jiajia was a shuang'er. When he was younger, it didn't matter, but now that he was growing up day by day, some concerns had to be considered.
Without needing to say anything, just a single glance between them was all it took for Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu to reach a mutual understanding. However, before they could politely decline Xiao Yanchu's request, Jiajia—who was supposed to be asleep in his room—suddenly ran into the hall clutching something.
"Brother Moyan, you haven't left yet? That's great." Jiajia, still dressed in his sleeping robes, burst into the room. The moment he saw Xiao Yanchu, his face brightened and he darted directly toward him.
He thrust the object in his hand toward Xiao Yanchu and announced, "Brother Moyan, this is the portrait I promised you. I almost forgot to give it to you."
"You finished it so quickly? Jiajia, you're amazing." Xiao Yanchu praised as he took the scroll and opened it. On the paper was a portrait of himself. Although the brushstrokes were still somewhat unrefined, the portrait was undeniably a recognizable likeness of him.
"Jiajia, come here and put on some proper clothes," Yan Jingshu called out, his tone a mixture of fondness and gentle admonishment.
Jiajia had remembered his promise just as he was drifting off to sleep. Fearing that Xiao Yanchu had already left, so he got up in a hurry, didn't even bother to dress properly, found the finished painting and dashing from his room.
Yan Jingshu frowned inwardly at his son's impulsiveness, but he refrained from any outward scolding in front of their guest. Instead, he simply took the outer robes from the flustered maid who had followed Jiajia into the hall and helped him put them on.
Jiang Chenghan watched as Jiajia, even while Yan Jingshu was helping him get dressed, still looked up with a smiling face towards Xiao Yanchu. After thinking for a moment, he asked Jiajia: "Jiajia, would you like to be able to study with your Brother Moyan every day?"
Jiajia turned his head to look at Jiang Chenghan, tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then asked: "Like when Brother Moyan was still at our house before?"
Jiang Chenghan shook his head and said: "It's different. It wouldn't be at our house, but at Brother Moyan's house. Would you be willing?"
Jiajia’s small mouth fell open. He blinked, his gaze shifting uncertainly between Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu before turning to Xiao Yanchu, who watched him with hopeful anticipation. He wrestled with the dilemma internally, his small brow furrowing in thought before he finally asked: "I want to study and play with Brother Moyan, but I also want to stay with Dad, Father, and my little brother. Can’t we all just be together?"
Hearing this answer, Jiang Chenghan was not surprised. Although he didn't want to disappoint Jiajia, he couldn't say the word 'yes'.
Just as Jiang Chenghan was about to say something else, Xiao Yanchu suddenly spoke up: "Of course, we can!"
Jiang Chenghan, Yan Jingshu, and Jiajia immediately looked at him.
Xiao Yanchu stepped closer and knelt down so his eyes were level with Jiajia’s. A warm, reassuring smile softened his features as he said: "From now on, I will come to pick you up at half-past Chenshi (7:30 AM) every day to go to the commandery prince's residence. We can read, paint, and play together. Then, in the afternoon at Shenshi (3:00 PM), I will bring you back home. That way, you can spend your days with me, Uncle Jiang, Uncle Yan, and Kangkang every day. How does that sound?"
"Okay!" Jiajia, hearing that he could be with everyone every day, immediately agreed happily.
"Uncle Jiang, Uncle Yan..." Xiao Yanchu then looked towards Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu. Even though Jiajia was willing, his two fathers still needed to agree.
Yan Jingshu's heart had already softened upon hearing that Xiao Yanchu was willing to trouble himself to pick up and drop off Jiajia every day, meaning Jiajia wouldn't need to stay overnight at the commandery prince's residence. Seeing Jiajia looking at him expectantly, he found it hard to refuse.
He thought about how Xie Huan was also at the Commandery Prince of Rui's residence, plus the Prince of Chuxiang who showed up uninvited every day by scaling the wall. With them keeping an eye on things, it wouldn't be much different from himself and Jiang Chenghan.
Thinking this, Yan Jingshu turned to look at Jiang Chenghan. Without needing to say anything, a single exchanged glance was enough for them to understand each other.
Knowing that Jiang Chenghan felt the same way, Yan Jingshu smiled and, under the expectant gazes of Jiajia and Xiao Yanchu, finally nodded.
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