Chapter 575: Family
Editor: Atlas Studios
Qi Haoran had a lot of fresh handkerchiefs thrown at his head and body, making his countenance a little dark. The surrounding young ladies, however, cried out in surprise, thinking that he had become even more handsome.
Qi Haoranâs expression darkened even more. He quietly got the horse to speed up and only heaved a sigh of relief when they entered the Imperial City.
When Qi Haoran brought the assistant commanders into the palace, Qi Xiuyuan received them warmly and expressed his condolences. Then, they exchanged opinions about the situation in the country. It was not until the end of the meeting that Zhang Cheng tentatively asked about the Cui family that Qi Xiuyuan looked at Qi Haoran.
Qi Haoran waved his hand nonchalantly and said, âAlthough the Cui familyâs rebellion is partially verified and we have physical evidence to support that, because of the entanglement of the influences, itâs very difficult to confirm if the verification is correct. In addition, the Cui family head was cooperative, so I plan to give them a chance. Weâll continue to observe the situation. If they really have the intention to rebel, weâll send troops to surround them then.â
Qi Haoran paused for a moment before continuing, âBig Brother, Great Zhouâs Emperor Shizong once said that the act of hiding more than 50 hidden households is equivalent to rebelling. I think we should follow this law.â
Qi Xiuyuan said with a smile, âSince we havenât decided upon the state title nor confirmed the new laws, weâll refer to the âGreat Zhou Codeâ for the time being.â
The ministers below felt a chill in their hearts. Just as they were about to suggest something, Qi Xiuyuan stood up and said, âMy brother is back today, so we wonât deal with political matters. All the ministers, go back and reunite with your families. Weâll discuss other matters tomorrow.â
Qi Xiuyuan brought Qi Haoran back to their residence.
Qi Haoran paused at the second door and turned to ask, âBig Brother, arenât we going to the East Manor?â Qi Haoran was asking if he should pay his respects to Madam Wu. After all, that person was their mother in name.
Qi Xiuyuan glared at him and said, âIâve never seen you so filial before. Now that youâre in a high position, you care about these things?â
Qi Haoran chuckled and said, âI just donât want to cause trouble.â
âYou donât have to think about me.â Qi Xiuyuanâs eyes were a little cold. âIâve never heard of a legitimate son who has to greet his concubine mother when he comes home. Letâs go back to Zhaode Hall.â
Stunned, Qi Haoran immediately shouted, âBig Brother, I havenât seen Ah Ling and the child yet. Iâll go back to Zhaohua Courtyard to see them first. Weâll talk tonight.â
With that, he ran away.
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Qi Xiuyuan gritted his teeth in annoyance and returned to Zhaode Hall.
Mu Yangling was spinning a windmill for her son to see. Her gaze would drift to the door from time to time. When her ears caught the sound of hurried but steady footsteps, Mu Yangling threw away the windmill in her hand and ran to the door like the wind. She lifted the curtain with a whoosh.
Qi Haoran had already raised his hand and was about to lift the curtain. Unexpectedly, the curtain suddenly opened with a swoosh and almost hit his eyes. Lowering his head, he met Mu Yanglingâs eyes. He swallowed the words of beratement that were about to come out of his mouth.
He grinned foolishly and held Mu Yanglingâs hand. âAh Ling, Iâm back.â
Mu Yangling also beamed as she threw herself into Qi Haoranâs arms.
Qi Haoran also hugged his wife tightly and looked around. Seeing that there was no one around, he tightened his arms around her and couldnât help but kiss her bun.
Still holding a windmill in his small hand, Little Bear was completely stunned. He looked down at the windmill that his mother had thrown away, then turned to look at his parents who were hugging each other. Then, he was decisively angry.
He threw away the things in his hand and got off the bed. Then, he ran over and kicked Qi Haoran. With his tiny fists clenched, he punched him angrily as he made babyish noises.
Qi Haoran only felt a pain in his knee and could not help but bend it. Frowning slightly, he pushed his wife away to look down at his son. Then, he picked his son up and looked at him. With his head tilted, he asked, âWhy is this kid so strong? Iâm surprised his punch actually hurts.â
Mu Yanglingâs eyebrows twitched. âThatâs impossible. Our son wasnât very energetic when he was playing with me.â
Seeing that she didnât believe him, Qi Haoran placed his son on the couch and rolled up his pants angrily. He pointed at the bruise on it and said, âLook, your son caused this just a moment ago.â
Being of the size of a small fist, the bruise did look like it had been caused by his sonâs punch.
Mu Yangling looked down at her son, who was still fuming, and then at her own hands. She then picked up her sonâs wooden horse and broke it in front of her son.
Little Bear stared blankly for two seconds before bursting into tears. Qi Haoran immediately hugged him and complained, âWhy did you break his wooden horse for no reason?â
Then, he went to coax him. âMy good son, donât cry. Iâll buy you a new one. A bigger one, okay?â
Little Bear closed its eyes and howled, but Mu Yangling picked up another wooden horse and placed it in his hand. âSon, try breaking this, too.â
Feeling the wooden horse in his hand, Little Bear stopped crying. He opened his eyes to look at his mother.
Mu Yangling encouraged him. âSon, try and see if you can break it.â
Little Bear looked at the wooden horse in his hand and then at the broken pieces in his motherâs hand. Using all his strength, he attempted to break the wooden horse. The first time, the wooden horse did not move at all. Little Bear was stunned for a moment before he clasped his hands and tried to break the wooden horse again.
Qi Haoran was dumbfounded. âOur son inherited your tremendous strength. Why havenât we realized it before?â
Mu Yangling also frowned. âWhen I was young, I couldnât control my strength. My mother said that when I was a few months old, I could already shatter a table with a stretch of my hand. It wasnât until I was six years old that I gradually mastered my strength. Could it be that Little Bear is the opposite of me and has to subconsciously use his strength to exert such great strength?â
Qi Haoran pondered for a moment before laughing out loud. âAs expected of my son. Heâs already so powerful since he was born. HahahaâŠâ
Mu Yanglingâs face darkened. âOur son inherited this from me, okay?â
âThatâs because I gave birth to him with you.â Qi Haoran hugged his son and was about to kiss him. However, Little Bear didnât recognize this smelly and dirty person with stubble all over his face, so he pushed his face away in disdain and made âAh, ahâ noises at his mother.
Qi Haoran received a huge blow. âKid, you actually donât recognize your father.
I gave you so many thingsâŠâ
Mu Yangling also hurriedly coaxed Little Bear to call Qi Haoran âDaddyâ. Little Bear was stunned for a while before he realized that the person in front of him was âDaddyâ.
Little Bear didnât know how to speak yet, but his attitude softened significantly this time. Although he was still unwilling to stay in Qi Haoranâs arms, he was now willing to share his toys with him.
Little Bear stuffed several of his toys to him in a row before he had time to complain to his mother. Holding the windmill in his hand, he pointed at the windmill that had been thrown to the side, all the while loudly making âAh, ahâ noises at Mu Yangling.
Mu Yangling nodded in apology as she picked up the windmill and promised, âMother knows her mistake. I wonât throw things around again.â
After repeatedly apologizing sincerely, she finally obtained Little Bearâs forgiveness. Little Bear snorted softly and continued to sit on the couch and play with his toys.
Frowning, Qi Haoran said, âIsnât the child almost oneyear old? Why canât he speak yet?â
âBoys start talking late.â
âBut Little Treasure could already speak at eight months old.â
âBut our son could stand up and walk when he was seven months old.â Mu Yangling said gently, âYou canât compare children. Itâs fine as long as theyâre happy. Anyway, our son is still young, and boys talk late. Itâs no big deal even if he learns to talk after turning one year old. Besides, heâs called me âMotherâ beforeâŠâ Though, it was a one-off occurrence and she hadnât been able to make him do it again after that.