An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

After Sanlang settled Ling Xiao and her sisters' wedding procession into the inn he had booked in advance, he was instructing the waiter to carefully pack their luggage when he heard familiar laughter and conversation coming from outside the door.

Jing Changning and Madam Si also arrived, accompanied by several maids and servants. They looked travel-worn but had beaming smiles.

“Jing…San…” Ling Xiao stood up, at a loss for words, and froze on the spot. Her lips parted slightly, but she didn’t know how to address him properly. She felt her ears burning and her face flushed red. She even unconsciously clenched her handkerchief tightly in front of her.

“You’ve already paid your respects at the Jing family ancestral hall, so what? Don’t you recognize your third uncle and third aunt?” Jing Changning laughed loudly, his laughter so loud that it stirred up the dust on the beams.

Today he was wearing an indigo robe. Compared to the past few years, he was still as thin as ever, but his former fair-skinned scholar appearance had become more weathered. The scholarly air between his brows was still there, but his temperament was obviously much more cheerful, and he had matured a lot. The smile lines at the corners of his eyes had also deepened.

"She's already my niece-in-law, and you don't call her Third Uncle or Third Aunt? Do you really want to call her Lord Jing?" Surrounded by a large group of children, Madam Si took a liking to the shy new daughter-in-law at first sight.

She smiled and took a sandalwood box from the maid. The box was carved with lotus scrolls and inlaid with mother-of-pearl on the edges, clearly indicating its high value. "Take this, it's a gift from your third aunt." She then stuffed it into Ling Xiao's hand.

"Third Aunt, how can I? Ling Xiao hasn't served tea yet." Ling Xiao tried to push away, her fingertips touching the slightly cool wooden box, but was gently pressed down by Madam Si's warm palm. Madam Si was wearing a crimson jacket with a wide pattern today, the style of which was no different from that of the noblewomen in Lingnan.

“There will be more tea tomorrow after the ceremony,” Si said, her smile deepening. “Speaking of which, it’s still Third Aunt’s manners that are lacking. If this were in the capital, one shouldn’t be empty-handed at a first meeting or an engagement banquet.” As she spoke, her gaze remained tenderly fixed on Ling Xiao’s face, as if she were examining a precious piece of porcelain. The more she looked at it, the more she liked it, and she felt that Third Brother was somewhat unworthy of her.

After handing the wooden box to Ling Xiao's dowry maid, Madam Si pulled her to sit on the edge of the carved canopy bed, which was covered with new pillows and mattresses.

She gently patted Ling Xiao's hand and said softly, "I originally wanted to leave you in Zhaoqing Prefecture after we got married, so you wouldn't have to suffer in Leizhou with Sanlang. That place is hot, humid, and full of miasma. But this stubborn mule just wouldn't listen."

As she spoke, she glanced at Sanlang standing to the side and said, "If he dares to bully you, you can come back and live with your third aunt. The small courtyard for your wedding will always be reserved for you."

"Third Aunt, you're not even married yet, why are you trying to steal my man?" Sanlang immediately protested, stamping his feet in frustration. He plopped down next to Ling Xiao, causing the bed to sink. Today, he was dressed in a royal blue straight-legged dress with a silver belt around his waist, which made him look exceptionally tall and straight, though his skin was undeniably dark and shiny.

"Look, look, Third Brother is getting anxious!" the sisters teased, and the room burst into laughter. Several unmarried girls covered their mouths, their eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.

"Then you should treat Xiao'er well, and don't let me find out that you have mistreated her." Madam Si warned, deliberately putting on a stern face, but the smile in her eyes was hard to hide.

"How could I...?" Sanlang scratched his head anxiously. "She decides everything." Before he could finish speaking, Ling Xiao gave him a hard push. He lost his balance and slid off the bed, his clothes billowing up. This caused another burst of laughter, and even the maid standing by the door couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright, your third uncle and I have to go back first. Sixth sister will cry if she doesn't see her third aunt at home." Madam Si stood up with a smile and straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes. "The princess and I will go back first. You all stay with the bride. Otherwise, don't even think about getting the red envelopes from the bride's sisters tomorrow." As she spoke, she winked at the girls.

"You're not allowed to go anywhere tonight. Just stay with your third aunt, or don't blame me for not taking you out to play in a couple of days." Jing Chunxi was also worried that they would be running around since they were new to the place, so she gave them a few words of warning.

"Oh dear, I've said it hundreds of times already, my ears are tired of hearing it." Jin-jie immediately covered her ears, but a smile remained on her face.

Jing Chunxi followed behind Si Shi, and Qiaoqiao, having received permission, also followed, saying she was going to take care of her younger siblings.

Mingzhu wanted to move but dared not. She was there to escort her sister-in-law to her wedding, and since she was there, she had to do her duty; otherwise, the trip would be in vain and she would be lacking in manners.

"Seventh Young Master, your sister has come to see you!" Qiaoqiao had just gotten off the carriage when she saw a little figure peering out of the gate of the Prefect's Mansion. She couldn't wait to stick her head out and shout towards the vermilion gate.

"Do you still remember your sister?" As soon as she got off the carriage, Qiaoqiao lifted her skirt and ran up, her embroidered shoes making a light sound on the bluestone.

Jing Chunxi slowly got out of the car, and didn't forget to turn around and help her third aunt.

"What good food did Xi'er eat? She's grown so tall in less than two years." Si Shi had given birth to Nan Nan less than half a year ago, and her body had not fully recovered. She was slightly plump and a little out of breath when she got out of the car.

She supported Jing Chunxi with one hand, while Jing Changning held her other hand firmly. She didn't forget to gesture the height difference between Jing Chunxi and her, her fingertips moving back and forth between the tops of their heads.

"Don't you even know who she's associated with?" Gently telling her to slow down, Jing Changning straightened his back with pride, patted his slender waist, and didn't forget to praise himself. Today he was dressed in a dark blue straight-legged outfit, and although thin, he looked energetic.

"Yes, yes, yes, Xi'er is Uncle Xiao, otherwise how could she be so slender and beautiful?" Jing Chunxi accepted it without any politeness, a bright smile on her lips, her eyes sparkling with a charming air.

"Who are you! Don't you know that men and women shouldn't touch each other?" Qi Lang's voice came down from the steps. His deliberately mature tone combined with his childish voice made them all laugh.

Looking up, the chubby Qilang, though only four years old, spoke to Qiaoqiao with a stern face and the tone of a little adult. He wore a royal blue robe with a silver belt around his waist, and his chubby little hands were behind his back, preventing Qiaoqiao from touching them.

Qiaoqiao stood there awkwardly, nervously rubbing her clothes with both hands, caught in a dilemma.

Beside them, the wet nurse held a beautifully sculpted little girl. The girl wore a peach-colored jacket with a snow-white fox fur trim around the collar. When she saw them approaching, she seemed to recognize her mother, making "ah ah ah" sounds. Her delicate little face was still glistening with drool, like morning dew clinging to the corners of her mouth.