Time Travel and Love

"What are you looking at me for?" Mo Liujin frowned and looked at them.

"Father? You...uh..." Mo Jiangqing didn't dare to ask. From what his father said, he seemed to think that his great aunt had done something bad to his mother. But as a son, his father couldn't do anything to his great aunt. But his grandfather found out about this?

"What? Are you planning to meddle in the affairs of our elders?" Mo Liujin looked at Mo Jiangqing with a look that said, "Just ask!" Mo Jiangqing choked and stopped talking.

"Alright, there's no need to act like an elder. Auntie has been in the Buddhist temple for so many years, and you're a grandfather now. What else can she do? There's no need to bother Father. You guys eat. I'm full." He put down the handkerchief he had been using to wipe his mouth, gave a wry smile, and said nothing more. He gestured for Chunhe to help her up.

Helping Chu Qingmeng to her feet, Chunhe's face wasn't looking too good. Every word of the aunt's insults was still ringing in his ears, not to mention the slap he'd delivered with such force that the swelling hadn't subsided all day and night. The girl was frail at the time, and all the servants had been dismissed. Fortunately, the secret guards were constantly watching over her, otherwise, she'd fainted and died in the corridor without anyone noticing. Thinking of this, he helped Chu Qingmeng sit down to the side, his face growing even uglier.

Seeing Chunhe's expression, the four younger generations realized that Aunt Kong had done something truly awful. Otherwise, Aunt Chunhe, who was always so kind, wouldn't have looked so sullen. She had raised the two brothers since they were young, and had helped care for their children before their mother returned. Li and Xu knew her well. Seeing Aunt Chunhe's expression, it must have been because of their mother's dislike of concubines and maids.

As if sensing the oppressive atmosphere in the hall, Chu Qingmeng smiled and changed the subject, "Qingyun, is Mingwei awake? If so, have someone bring her here. I haven't held her in a long time. I wanted to go check on her this morning, but I was afraid she might still be asleep, so I put it off until now."

Li smiled and agreed, then had someone bring Xiao Mingwei over. The child was quite obedient. Even though she was being held by Chu Qingmeng, she didn't cry or make a fuss. Perhaps she wasn't afraid yet, she reached out and tugged at Chu Qingmeng's hair, giggling. Since she didn't hurt, Chu Qingmeng let her play. The chubby little thing felt like a child's, and it was soft and fragrant. Holding Xiao Mingwei, Chu Qingmeng took a deep breath and smiled, "Is it my imagination? Why do I always feel like she smells so milky? It smells like a piece of sweet cake. I always want to take a bite."

The two sisters-in-law covered their lips and chuckled, "Yes, mother, all children have this smell, but it disappears when they grow up."

Looking at Chu Qingmeng holding Xiao Mingwei, Mo Liujin felt a little strange in his heart. If she had not been taken away by the thunder back then, how great it would have been. She would probably have held the two brothers like this with love and a smile on her face.

After finishing their meal, they accompanied Chu Qingmeng and teased Xiao Mingwei for a while before they all excused themselves and returned to their own courtyards. Mo Liujin helped her to the palace. Not long after they walked, Chu Qingmeng stopped and turned to Mo Liujin, "Ah Jin, can you climb over the wall? I don't want to walk anymore..."

Mo Liujin felt powerless. "Qingmeng, I was young then, so I climbed over the wall. Now, if I climb over the wall again, my father will break my legs, at least that's the least he can do."

"..." That's true. At my age, climbing over the wall isn't the right move. Resigned to their fate, they continued walking towards the palace. They were in the last of seven courtyards. They had to first walk out of the seven courtyards to their own front door, then walk through the fourteenth courtyard to Mo Chenfeng's courtyard. Chu Qingmeng felt as if he were running a marathon.

Mo Liujin walked with her for a few steps before taking a break, chuckling, "When Zexun and the others grow up, I'm afraid we'll have to move to the Princess's or the Duke's mansion. After all, your yard is too small, and they won't be able to live there when they grow up."

"..." Originally, since she was considering living alone, she naturally didn't think about size. She twitched her lips and asked, "How big is the Princess's or Duke's Mansion?"

"Fourteen courtyards. It's just a little smaller than the prince's palace. Now the sign at the door has been changed back to the words 'Chu's Residence'."

Chu Qingmeng was just wondering when Mo Liujin explained, "This house is your private property. You originally had a Princess's Mansion, but your father didn't want you to be too far away, so he declined the Emperor's offer of a mansion and only took this house. The Princess's Mansion and the Duke's Mansion are right next to each other, separated by a wall. We can just open that wall up when the time comes."

"Your general's mansion? Actually, you've never lived in it, right?" Speaking of the house, Chu Qingmeng suddenly thought of the general's mansion.

"Well, it's just a face-saving thing. Since I'm a general, I can't live without a mansion, so I bought one for face. But everyone knows that I always live in the princess's mansion when I return to Beijing, so I only leave a few servants to look after the house." The two talked as they walked, feeling a little more relaxed.

"Is the general's mansion very big?" Chu Qingmeng was curious.

"Well, it's not bad. According to the rules, the General's Mansion can have up to twelve entrances. I bought the house because it's next to my second brother's, thinking that if you come back, you might also want to live next to my second sister-in-law. But since you came back, I've been so busy with trivial matters that I put it on hold. If you're interested, I'll take you to see it when you're better."

After chatting all the way, the two finally arrived at Mo Chenfeng's yard.