CH 129

Tan Qingchen didn't really believe in the so-called ‘relatives’ the County Magistrate mentioned, but now he believed it. Otherwise he couldn't explain the sense of familiarity he felt when he saw this woman; the two seemed to have known each other for a long time. Seeing her crying so miserably, he also couldn't help feeling sad.

Tang Tianyuan watched from the sidelines in awe. Ji Heng gently said a few words of comfort to Ji Zhao, but to no avail. The latter cried out ‘A Chen[1]’ while sobbing. That was her long lost brother, whose name was Ji Chen.

Tang Tianyuan suggested, "Gongzi, why don't we go out first and leave these siblings to catch up."

Ji Heng nodded. However, he was still not at ease. When he walked to the door, he turned to Tan Qingchen and said, "She really is your biological sister."

Tan Qingchen nodded.

After the two went out, Tan Qingchen wanted to persuade Ji Zhao not to cry, but he was worried that she couldn't understand sign language. So he went to the table and wrote on a blank piece of paper: I can't speak, but I can listen.

When Ji Zhao saw this sentence, she felt extremely uncomfortable in her heart, and wept out bitterly.

Tan Qingchen's eyes were also red. He gave her a comforting look and wrote: It's truly a blessing for us to meet again today. Can you tell me something about the past? I want to listen.

Ji Zhao nodded. After she wiped away her tears, she began to tell him their past while still hiccuping. Probably because of this distraction, Ji Zhao stopped crying after talking for a while.

It turned out that these two siblings were descendants of philanthropists. However misfortune soon befell on their family of four as they were on the run from being hunted. Their parents died tragically near Tian Village in Liaodong peninsula, and the two siblings were separated. Later, Ji Zhao avenged her family, got married, and her life went smoothly. However, she was always concerned about the whereabouts of her younger brother. Because her younger brother was seriously injured when they were separated, she knew not to wish for too much. But because she never saw his body, she always had a faint hope in her heart. Seeing her brother again, Ji Zhao felt it was unreal.

Although this was about himself, Tan Qingchen felt as if he was listening to someone else's story. He really didn’t remember anything about the past, he only has a vague impression of the night when he was hunted down. However it was only the feelings, such as cold, pain, fear; there are no images or fragments he could recollect. He frowned and thought about it for a while, then finally shook his head.

Ji Zhao said, "If you can't remember it, don't force it. It's not necessarily a bad thing to forget the past. It's Heaven's blessing that you are alive. Now I just want you to be safe and happy."

Tan Qingchen nodded and smiled at her.

Ji Zhao was taken aback, and sighed, "Qingchen, you look so much like our father," she pulled his arm affectionately, "Father was a famous handsome man back then. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Daddy took us out to watch the fireworks together. Everywhere we went, people turned heards to look at him. Someone went out with their own daughter, and when they saw Daddy and you, they said they would promise their daughter to you, haha..."

Tan Qingchen smiled and listened to her talk about their childhood. He listened very carefully. As he listened, his nose gradually became sore. Before, his past was blank. He was like a dandelion, like duckweed, without any roots. Without anywhere to settle, and floated everywhere it was pushed. When he met someone who treated him well, he would hold onto them tightly; it seemed instinctual. It's like dandelion seeds falling to the ground, unwilling to be blown by the wind again; or like duckweed taking root, unwilling to be pushed into the sea.

Now he suddenly discovered… Ah, so his past was like this. He viewed this new found discovery with an extremely heartfelt mood. Although it was unfamiliar, it made him feel at ease in his heart. It was as if he had finally picked up his lost puzzle piece, and now he put it together, he was a complete self.

He pestered Ji Zhao about many things. They talked and talked until Tang Tianyuan knocked on the door and asked them to eat first.

After lunch, Tang Tianyuan told Tan Lingyin about the matter. Tan Lingyin was shocked when she heard it. There really are such adventures in the world! she thought they would only appear in fictional novels.

Anyway, Tan Lingyin was very happy for Qingchen. It is too difficult for orphans to live in this world. As soon as others found out one was an orphan, the chances of getting married was slim to none. When Qingchen first came to the Tan Family, her father was nice to him, but that was because her father didn't have a son. After Xiaobao was born, her stepmother was afraid that her father would leave Qingchen with a little bit of property, so she strictly guarded Qingchen. A child with a relative who loved and cared for him would never suffer this type of grievance...

Sigh... These were old grudges, so there was no need to mention it now. Anyway, it was a great thing that Qingchen found his biological relative.

Qingchen was dragged to talk by his biological sister and brother-in-law again, and Tan Lingyin couldn't find him for a while, so she could only celebrate herself.

Seeing her so happy, Tang Tianyuan asked for credit. "How do you plan to reward me?"

Tan Lingyin cupped his face with her hands. She stood on tiptoes and kissed him hard on the lips.

Tang Tianyuan smiled and said in a low voice, "One more."

Tan Lingyin let loose and kissed Tang Tianyuan several times in succession. This made Tang Tianyuan feel a little giddy. He felt extremely hot, which was incompatible with the cold winter.

He pressed her shoulder and was about to kiss her back when he suddenly found the door wide open. There was even a small figure standing outside.

Ruyi stood at the door, he was followed by Tang Tang. Seeing Tang Tianyuan looking at him, Ruyi was a little embarrassed. "I was going to knock on the door, but Tang Tang suddenly pushed the door open."

Tang Tang raised his proud little head without showing any guilt.

Ruyi continued, "You..." He didn't know what to say, he just felt these two people were acting quite weird. It was just kissing, he often kissed his imperial father, imperial mother, and imperial grandmother. Why did they look like they had been caught doing something bad?

"We’re just playing," Tan Lingyin replied first. She walked over and said, "It's like when we played before. Come on, give me a kiss." As she said, she cupped Ruyi's little face and kissed his left and right cheek.

Ruyi smiled and replied, "I know," but he was still a little confused, "But did you kiss his mouth and not mine?"

Tan Lingyin's face turned red.

Tang Tianyuan explained lightly, "Because your teeth have not grown out yet."

"..." Ruyi lowered his head in disappointment.

Tan Lingyin glared at Tang Tianyuan, and took Ruyi out to play.

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Footnote:

A Chen [1] - pet name for Qingchen