Chapter 474 - 261: Lu Yuan: I’m Done For, I’m Done For, I’m Completely in My Aunts’ Grasp!
Su Liyan, her mother, and Gu Ziye got out of the carriage one by one, but before they could even step forward to greet everyone...
Zhao Qiao’Er, supporting Song Meiqin, stood in place and waved. A smile touched her lips as she called out, "My sweet darling, come, over here!"
Song Meiqin was also beaming with joy. She said tenderly, "Our dear nephew, you’re finally back. Your aunt missed you to death!"
Oh, my! When Lu Yuan saw his two "aunts," he realized how much he’d missed them too. Of course, he especially missed how delicious their feet were.
Lu Yuan spread his arms to hug his two aunts, but before he could even see who it was, a black shadow darted out from between the legs of the people in the crowd.
The shadow leaped over a meter into the air and plunged straight into Lu Yuan’s arms. Lu Yuan stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance.
Lu Yuan lifted it for a look and saw it was the honey badger with the granny-gray fur on its head—Xiaotian!
Lu Yuan said with dissatisfaction, "You really know how to spoil the mood! What are you doing jumping into my arms? I don’t want you!"
With that, Lu Yuan casually tossed Xiaotian, sending him flying in a perfect arc.
"HEHEHE..." Xiaotian shrieked, its paws flailing.
Xiaotian couldn’t speak in front of everyone, otherwise it really would have let loose a string of curses.
Xiaotian cursed inwardly, ’I’ve suffered endlessly in this family! I wait and wait for you to finally come home, and you tell me you don’t want me!’
These past few days, no matter where Xiaotian hid in the mansion, he would be found and dragged out by Lu Yuan’s daughter, Bengbeng.
Though Bengbeng was little, she possessed surprising brute force. A honey badger that could take on a snake was somehow no match for her!lodge
All he could do was suffer Bengbeng’s merciless torment. You couldn’t imagine a more pitiful sight.
Just before Xiaotian hit the ground, he was caught safely by the Floating Skill. Lu Yuan wouldn’t actually hurt Xiaotian; he was just teasing him.
Xiaotian was placed on the ground, still grumbling, "HEHEHE."
Lu Yuan wrapped an arm around Zhao Qiao’Er and pulled Song Meiqin closer with his other hand, planting a kiss on each of them. He grinned. "My two dear aunts, the thought of you truly makes my heart ache with longing!"
Zhao Qiao’Er placed a hand on Lu Yuan’s chest and playfully tugged at his clothes. "Then don’t leave tonight," she purred. "Come to Auntie’s room, and I’ll give my sweet darling something delicious to eat."
Lu Yuan didn’t refuse, nodding readily. "Oh, yes. I’m eager to see what delicious treats Aunt Zhao has for me."
Lu Yuan gave Zhao Qiao’Er’s rear a firm pinch, then turned his gaze to Song Meiqin’s belly. "Aunt Song, you’re due after the New Year, right?"
Song Meiqin pursed her lips. "That’s right. Counting the days, it’ll be right after the New Year. Since your aunt is in this condition, I won’t be able to let my dear nephew ’snack’ on my feet, alright?"
Aunt Song was always the one who understood Lu Yuan’s little quirks; she knew exactly what he had a taste for.
Lu Yuan roared with laughter. "No matter. The most important thing for you these days is to rest, Aunt Song. Tomorrow, I’ll personally prepare some restorative tonics for you to help you properly nourish your body."
Lu Yuan never skimped on the ingredients for his pregnancy-stabilizing remedies. Once ingested, a woman could probably jump rope with a huge belly and have no issues.
After hearing this, Song Meiqin looked at Zhao Qiao’Er and said, "See? Our nephew is so good to us!"
Zhao Qiao’Er wasn’t about to concede the point. She tossed her head, a smug look on her face. "Yes, yes, of course he is. But for the next little while, he’s all mine!"
Lu Yuan could only shake his head. His two aunts still loved to bicker.
A childish voice piped up from the crowd. "Hmph! Daddy doesn’t care about me at all. He’s only talking to Second Mom and Third Mom."
"Ooh-ooh-ooh, and whose little darling is this? Are you getting jealous?" Lu Yuan took his and Su Liyan’s daughter from a maid’s arms, cradling her.
Lu Yuan cooed at Bengbeng as he walked toward Su Liyan, who was now approaching. "Come on, let’s go see where Mommy is, shall we?"
Bengbeng tugged at the stubble on Lu Yuan’s chin. "Daddy, why do you have hair growing here?"
After several days on the road, Lu Yuan hadn’t paid much attention to his grooming, and his stubble had grown out.
"This is a beard. It’s the sign of a man."
Lu Yuan rubbed his chin against his daughter’s soft cheek. The little girl giggled, pushing at his chin with her tiny hands. "Daddy, your beard is prickly! Stop..."
Su Liyan took Bengbeng from Lu Yuan’s arms...
After greeting everyone, Su Liyan’s mother came to her daughter’s side and began to coo at her granddaughter.
Bengbeng shouted happily, "Grandma! Grandma!"
"Aww, my good granddaughter! Come and see what wonderful thing Grandma brought for you." Su Liyan’s mother, carrying a cloth bundle, took out a small trinket and handed it to her granddaughter.
After getting out of the carriage, Gu Ziye walked with measured, elegant steps over to Zhao Qiao’Er and Song Meiqin. She bowed with her hands clasped. "Greetings, Aunts."
Zhao Qiao’Er and Song Meiqin exchanged a look. It had been some time, and Gu Ziye seemed much more dignified, but also a bit more distant.
Zhao Qiao’Er quickly helped Gu Ziye up. "You mustn’t, you mustn’t! Yue’Er, you’re the Princess of the Current Dynasty. How can you bow to the likes of us?"
Gu Ziye smiled. "You’re joking, Aunt Zhao. From now on, we’ll all be serving Lu Yuan together. We’re a family. There’s no princess here!"
Zhao Qiao’Er’s eyes went wide. "What happened? Did His Majesty the Emperor disown you as a princess?"
Song Meiqin clicked her tongue, a subtle reminder to her dear sister to engage her brain before opening her mouth.
Gu Ziye just chuckled. "You’re the one who’s good at joking, Aunt Zhao!"
"Look at me, my concern made me say something foolish. I should be punished, really. I’ll punish myself with two cups of wine later!" Zhao Qiao’Er said, tapping her own lips.
Ever since he’d gotten out of the carriage, Lu Yuan had noticed that the plaque above the Zhao Mansion Gate was covered with a red cloth, but he hadn’t had a chance to ask about it.
Lu Yuan picked up Huanhuan, his daughter with Aunt Zhao, and asked, "Aunt Zhao, what’s going on with the plaque? Why is it covered with red cloth?"
Zhao Qiao’Er slapped her forehead and waved two servants over to pull the red cloth off the plaque.
The two servants pulled the red cloth away, revealing the plaque underneath. Inscribed upon it were the words: "Lu Mansion."