Chapter 286: County Magistrate Chen & His Wives
Chapter 286: County Magistrate Chen & His Wives
"So, this is the Shelter house." County Magistrate Chen stated as he entered the front yard of the house and took a look around the area. Right behind him were Madam Sheng and Concubine Yu.
Xiang Ling stood behind Zhe Yuan and Zhang Xuan while staring at the unexpected guests in shock. This wasn’t how she expected to meet the County Magistrate and his wives.
"What are you all waiting for? Help these people wash up and give them the new clothes so that they can change." Magistrate Chen ordered the servants and the guards who immediately moved to the other side of the yard to help the beggars to clean up.
All this time, Xiang Ling remained completely silent while staring at the parents of Chen Xiang Ling who still haven’t noticed her since she was completely hidden behind the big frames of her two husbands.
It was Madam Sheng who noticed Zhe Yuan first and her eyes immediately lit up. "Yuan, is Xiang’er not here?"
As soon as she asked the question, Magistrate Chen and Concubine Yu’s attention also shifted to Zhe Yuan. Unfortunately, the Mer Crown Prince was also taken aback to suddenly see his in-laws. It was not until he felt Zhang Xuan nudging him that he was able to pull himself together.
"Uh... Mother, father, Concubine Yu." He quickly greeted the three elders and Zhang Xuan followed his lead, bowing to greet his in-laws. Straightening up, he noticed the expectation-filled eyes of Madam Sheng and finally responded to her question. "Lingling... she’s right here."
Xiang Ling watched with her crazily beating heart as Zhe Yuan stepped to the side, allowing her to become visible to the eyes of the three people who were searching for her even though only one among them voiced it out.
It was not until the cold droplet landed on her collarbone that she realized that tears were streaming down her cheeks. Something was crushing her heart in the most painful way possible and she felt like she was experiencing the worst kind of pain that was possible to be felt by a person. It didn’t take her long to understand that the sadness, the tears, the feeling of regret, and pain, they all belonged to Chen Xiang Ling.
"Xiang’er."
Madam Sheng was the first one who broke the silence, and her voice carried just as much pain as Xiang Ling was currently experiencing. The woman wasted no more time as she rushed toward her, or maybe she was the one who ran toward Madam Sheng, but the next thing she knew, she was wrapped up in Madam Sheng’s arms who pulled her into a tight hug and started crying her heart out.
"Mother..."
The word left Xiang Ling’s lips as she buried her face in her mother’s embrace and cried her heart out, letting out all the pain that the previous owner of her body had kept bundled up inside.
"It’s alright, my child. Everything is alright. Mother is here. I will never leave you ever again. No matter what, Mother loves Xiang’er." Madam Sheng kept whispering as she rubbed her daughter’s back, trying her best to soothe her crying daughter.
The duo stayed like that for a while, both crying at the reunion. When they finally pulled away, they both looked like a mess. Madam Sheng quickly took out her handkerchief and wiped away her daughter’s tears. "Don’t cry, Xiang’er. Don’t cry."
"I’m sorry, Mother. I’m sorry for being the worst daughter possible... I’m s-sorry for always disappointing you. I’m sorry for-"
"It’s alright." Madam Sheng was quick to stop Xiang Ling from apologizing while more tears streamed down her cheeks. "Everything is in the past. Besides, you were not the only one at fault. I also failed you as your mother. Stop apologizing child."
The two hugged again, and when they again pulled apart after a couple of moments, they looked much better. Xiang Ling’s watched as Madam Sheng patted her cheek softly and gave her a warm smile before she stepped aside. Standing right behind her, was County Magistrate Chen whose eyes were brimming with unshed tears.
"Father?"
"You..." County Magistrate Chen pointed his hand toward Xiang Ling and it almost appeared as if he was angry at her. "You really know how to create a scene, don’t you." Despite his harsh words and rigid expression, it was quite clear that he was not the least bit angry at his daughter.
More tears rushed down Xiang Ling’s cheek and she was sure that this time, she was the one who ran toward her father and threw herself in his arms that immediately opened to welcome her.
"I’m sorry, father. I’m really sorry. I will never let you down again." Xiang Ling spoke through her cries while Magistrate Chen patted her head all the while nodding his head. He didn’t dare to open his mouth because he was afraid that he would start crying loudly.
It was Zhang Xuan who pulled Xiang Ling back and helped her wipe her face. Magistrate Chen also took the chance to tidy up his appearance before someone from the Magistrate’s office could have noticed his crying face. He didn’t want to become the hot topic of news in the County.
"Wait! Who’s this?" Concubine Yu suddenly asked when she noticed Zhang Xuan standing so close to Xiang Ling. The question pulled Madam Sheng and Magistrate Chen’s attention toward Zhang Xuan and it was only now did they notice that there was a stranger among them.
Before Xiang Ling could have spoke, Zhang Xuan was once again greeting his in-laws with deep bows. "Mother, Father, Concubine Yu, I’m Zhang Xuan, Ah Ling’s sixth husband. Please accept my apology for not coming to greet you before."
Xiang Ling held her breath as she watched County Magistrate stepping closer to Zhang Xuan with a serious look on his face. He remained silent for a moment or two before he turned at Xiang Ling and spoke, "Another one who impressed you with his looks?"