Chapter 147: Welcome Back Home
Chapter 147: Welcome Back Home
Despite the dark clouds that covered the sky the previous night, only a light rain graced the earth. As morning arrived, the sky was once again clear, signaling a sunny day ahead.
The air was filled with a buzz as the entire Chen Manor anticipated the arrival of the First Young Master and his family. Everyone woke up early and got dressed nicely. After an early breakfast, the entire manor was thoroughly cleaned by the servants before everyone arrived at the entrance to welcome the First Young Master of the family along with his wife and daughter.
"Lingling, stop pacing. Don’t think too much. I’m sure they will be here soon." Zhe Yuan told his very anxious-looking wife who was pacing back and forth in front of the main entrance while constantly looking out to see whether her brother had arrived yet or not.
But it seemed like his words did little to nothing to comfort her. She completely ignored him and continued to pace. It was not until she was passing by Dao Ming, that he took the chance to pull her next to him.
Xiang Ling was pulled out of her thoughts when an arm suddenly took hold of her waist and her body was pulled to a sudden stop. Her head turned to glance at the man who was looking back at her with his eyebrows arched high in question.
"What?" She asked, not sure what he was trying to ask through those dazzling gray eyes of his which were looking brighter under the morning sunlight.
"Zhe Yuan asked you to stop pacing and yet you ignored him." He told her and Xiang Ling’s confused gaze immediately moved toward the Mer Crown Prince who was looking at her from the other side of the entrance. "Did he?" She couldn’t recall at all about hearing anything that anyone said to her ever since they arrived at the entrance.
Dao Ming didn’t look surprised to find out that she had been too lost to even hear anyone. He could almost smell her anxiety and knew better than anyone else that she had been too tense this entire morning. Tightening his hold around her waist to pull her closer, he whispered for only her ears to hear. "Even though he’s running late, he will be here soon. Stop worrying."
The confidence in his tone made Xiang Ling feel like he already knew for sure that Hao Ran was about to arrive there. She was about to ask why he was so sure when the sound of a carriage’s arrival at the manor’s main entrance pulled her attention toward the road.
Barely a few seconds later, a carriage stopped right outside the entrance of Chen Manor. The moment Fu Xiao noticed the emblem of the Chen family on the carriage, she announced the arrival of the First Young Master and his family.
Xiang Ling pulled away from Dao Ming and quickly stepped outside the gates as her brother climbed down the carriage before he turned to help his wife and daughter.
"First Brother, First Sister-in-law." Xiang Ling greeted the two with a polite bow along with her husbands, surprising Zuan Hu who wasn’t expecting to receive such a welcome. Even Hao Ran was a little taken aback.
"Welcome - First Young Master, First Young Madam." The servants greeted the duo right after Xiang Ling and the Masters finished their greetings.
Hao Ran and Zuan Hu quickly exchanged a surprised look before they both turned their attention toward Xiang Ling. "Xiang’er, have you been waiting here for our arrival?" Hao Ran asked his sister who was ready to shake her head in denial when Wei Guang spoke up. "First Brother Hao, you might not believe it but she has been stuck to this door ever since morning."
While Hao Ran and Zuan Hu looked surprised, almost everyone else was amused. Xiang Ling, on the other hand, gave Wei Guang a signal to not spill all the beans.
Xiang Ling noticed the little girl who had been hiding behind Zuan Hu and quickly moved forward to meet her niece only for the girl to immediately hide behind her mother even more. The realization of the situation of their relationship dawned on her very quickly. Considering the personality of the previous owner of her body, the little girl might be scared of her. The good thing was, she had made some preparations in advance.
Crouching down, she pulled out a white jade pendant from her sleeve and showed it to Chen Yujin, her three-year-old niece. It was a pendant in the shape of a bunny, little Yujin’s favorite animal. The girl’s little doe-like eyes became wider as she saw the pendant, her small mouth opening wide in surprise.
"Xiao Yu, look what I have got for you as a welcome present. Do you like it?" Xiang Ling asked the girl in the softest tone possible. The little girl still looked hesitant and turned her confused gaze toward her mother. Zuan Hu gave an encouraging nod to her daughter and only then did little Yujin turn her attention back to Xiang Ling and slowly give a nod of her head.
Smiling warmly at the kid, Xiang Ling slowly reached out and safely tucked the pendant on Little Yujin’s waist belt. "Here you go then."
"Xiao Yu, thank your Aunt for the gift." Zuan Hu advised her daughter who quickly followed her mother’s guidance. "Thank you, Aunt Xiang."
Standing up, Xiang Ling spoke to Uncle Sun first. "Uncle Sun, move all their belongings to their courtyard." Then she returned her attention to her brother and sister-in-law before speaking, "Let’s head inside."
All of them stepped inside the manor and headed in the direction of Hao Ran’s courtyard. If the husband-wife duo was surprised to see the number of servants working under Xiang Ling, their level of surprise only increased when they noticed how good and prosperous Chen Manor looked compared to the past. The manor didn’t use to look this beautiful even when they all were living there. The same could also be said about their courtyard which looked almost as if it was recently rebuilt.
"First Brother, First sister-in-law - welcome back home."