Chapter 347: My Child is Protecting Me
The vision stopped abruptly. When Yu An came back to her senses, Meng Fanxin’s face was already streaked with tears.
"He was protecting me... My child was protecting me..."
Meng Fanxin was sobbing uncontrollably. "My child was protecting me all along, and I never even knew. I... I even resented him..."
She had wished she’d never given birth to Tian Fu, but who could have imagined that the things that hurt her weren’t done by her child at all?
Yu An patted her shoulder. "Mrs. Meng, this isn’t the time to be heartbroken. Your child can still be saved."
She placed both hands on Meng Fanxin’s shoulders and said earnestly, "Your child’s soul is still here. Once we defeat Tian Fu and take that body back, you might be able to see each other again."
"R-Really?"
"Of course," Yu An nodded emphatically. "He has a body and a soul, so why wouldn’t it work?"
Meng Fanxin slowly stemmed her tears. She lovingly stroked the painting, her gaze gradually hardening with resolve.
"Okay, Miss Yu. I understand."
Yu An nodded. "That’s the spirit. Oh, why don’t you give your son a new name? I have a bad feeling about the name ’Fu.’ How did you end up giving him a name like that?"
Meng Fanxin faltered. "I dreamed it. When I was pregnant, I dreamed of my baby murmuring that name. The memory was still vivid after I woke up."
"It’s strange, but for several generations in the Tian Family, there has been a ’Tian Fu’ in every one. None of them lived long. The one who lived the longest only made it to forty."
"I thought it was an unlucky name to begin with, and I didn’t want to use it since it would be repeating an ancestor’s name."
Meng Fanxin sighed. "But I kept dreaming of that name for days on end. My husband said the baby must like it, and since the Tian Family has no taboo against reusing names, we went with it."
Yu An understood. ’So the ’Tian Fu’s from each generation of the Tian Family are probably all connected to this one,’ she mused.
After a moment of thought, Meng Fanxin decided to use the name she had chosen while pregnant and rename her son "Tian Jing."
The name "Jing" means peace.
Having learned so much, Meng Fanxin decided not to leave. She would stay in Tianhuan City and watch Tian Fu face his retribution with her own eyes!
This reminded Meng Fanxin of what Guo Min had said earlier.
Guo Min had said that after her death, Tian Pingyue was inconsolable, even considering suicide to follow her into the afterlife.
"Miss Yu," Meng Fanxin said, her gaze burning with intensity, "I can’t just wait here. I want to go to the Tian Family."
"I don’t know how much of Tian Pingyue’s affection for me remains, but I know my younger sister. If she hadn’t been willing, the Meng Family couldn’t have forced her to marry into the Tian Family."
"She must have gone there for a reason. I’ll go find them. If they know something, or if there’s any way they can help..."
"I haven’t had a chance to tell you," Yu An said. "I came to Tianhuan City hoping to meet with Master Tian."
Yu An laid out her plan. She had originally intended to take Fuzai to visit Tian Pingyue. After hearing this, Meng Fanxin volunteered to arrange a meeting with Tian Pingyue herself.
After so many years as husband and wife, they shared a few little secrets unknown to outsiders.
"Alright," Yu An agreed. "We’ll do it your way. Just rest up for now. We’ll put the plan into action in a few days."
After settling Meng Fanxin in, Yu An finally remembered Ao Wu was waiting outside. She hurried out to find him sulking. He didn’t even speak when she appeared.
Yu An stifled a laugh and walked over to poke him. "Is somebody’s little dragon angry? Here, let me make it better."
"Hmph," Ao Wu turned his face away. "You just ran off and left me without a word. I’m inconsolable!"
Yu An leaned closer. "Inconsolable no matter what?"
Ao Wu nodded firmly. "That’s right!"
’Unless...’
"Then I won’t bother," Yu An said, pulling back slightly and shaking her head. "I’ll just go find someone else. Lan Yin, for example. He’s much easier to console."
Ao Wu was instantly alarmed. "Who? Who are you going to find? I forbid it!"
He spun around in a huff, about to lecture Yu An, only to be caught by her gaze.
"Weren’t you just leaving?"
Ao Wu snorted softly. "Why are you still here then."
"I was just playing with you. Did you really think I was going to leave?"
Yu An stepped forward and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I’m not going, I’m not going. I’ll properly console my little dragon."
Only then was Ao Wu satisfied. He ventured, "An’an, you really scared me just now. I thought you didn’t want me anymore. So, tonight..."
"Don’t even think about it," Yu An rejected him flatly. "Tonight is Lan Yin’s turn."
The two of them took turns, one night each. Sometimes, if she wasn’t in the mood, she would just postpone it.
’Once everyone’s here,’ Yu An mused, ’I can’t stick to the current schedule. Otherwise, out of seven days a week, I’d only get one day off. Even when I had a job, I never took one with only a single day off!’
’Consoling him is one thing, but I can’t break the rules. Otherwise, he won’t be the only one I’ll have to console.’
"Alright," Ao Wu conceded; he had only been testing the waters. "Then give me a kiss. My poor little heart was scared to death."
A certain dragon was becoming utterly shameless. Still, it was a simple request, so Yu An complied.
Then, she casually sent him into her space and brought Lan Yin out.
"An’an, you finally let me out."
Lan Yin started by complaining, mostly about Ao Wu. "He hogged you for so long. I missed you so much I couldn’t even sleep."
"Then maybe you should get some sleep?"
Yu An said deliberately, "If you don’t have any energy tonight, I might just have to swap you out."
"No way!"
Lan Yin huffed. "I can handle it. I’m *very* capable. Last time, I even made you..."
"Shut up," Yu An said, clapping a hand over his mouth. "Alright, alright, I get it! You’re the best!"
Lan Yin preened. "Of course I am."
And so, that night, a certain fish demonstrated with his own body just how capable he was. The lights in the small courtyard stayed on all night long.
She had planned to get a good night’s rest and inquire about the Tian Family the next morning, but after all that commotion... ’Well,’ she thought, ’so much for waking up early.’
It wasn’t until noon that Yu An lazily got up. Lan Yin was doting on her, feeding her breakfast and receiving his assignment at the same time.
"Okay, An’an, don’t worry. I’ll head out in a bit."
Lan Yin kissed her cheek tenderly. "You just rest, or go play with Zaizai in the space. I’ll take care of all this."
Yu An waved a dismissive hand. "I’ll leave it to you, then. Be thorough, and focus on Tian Pingyue and Meng Fanxuan."
Lan Yin nodded in agreement. "Okay."
When she entered the space again, He’er was awake.
Meng Fanxin had retained the appearance she had when she first entered the space, and so had He’er. The girl still had the face and mind of a five-year-old.
"He’er, come here."
He’er was a little shy, but with the encouragement of the Zaizai, she was soon playing alongside them.
Hearing Meng Fanxin call for her, He’er came right over. "Mother, what is it?"
He’er’s biological mother was a Maid who had served Meng Fanxin but had since passed away. A short while ago, Meng Fanxin had asked for He’er’s opinion and formally adopted her as her daughter.
"Come," Meng Fanxin said gently, "and kowtow to Miss Yu. She is our savior."
The girl was very obedient and immediately knelt, giving Yu An no chance to react.