Chapter 52

"Of course, the Grand Patriarch said so, but still…."

Dang Mochien's status as the Grand Patriarch within the family was evidence that everyone was delighted by the fact that the young Dang Moxing would soon become the family head.

Once Dang Mochien became the Grand Patriarch, he did not want to be called the family head again, even after losing his son.

Who could lack the talent that Dang Moxing possessed, and if there was a lack, where could one find the missing talent?

To embellish what one does not possess, one can only strip oneself bare.

Dang Moxing's actions in his past life were precisely that. Lian was glad that he no longer had to see that sight.

"Rather, Uncle."

"Hmm?"

"We decided to go see the herb shop outside. When are we going?"

"I planned to go earlier, but it was postponed because you were bedridden after fighting Jin Zhongxia."

"But I said I'm all better now."

"Let's see if you're really all better."

Dang Xianwu said this and then lifted Lian up with both arms to gauge his weight.

The white cat in Lian's arms meowed and leaped up.

"Hmm. Have you become a bit heavier?"

"Ugh…."

Seeing Lian trying to put strength into his limbs to add weight, Dang Xianwu laughed heartily.

"Let's go, let's go! We should quickly get the permission from the Inner Hall Master and go."

When Dang Xianwu spoke so boldly to Lian, he appeared very tense and stiff when facing the Inner Hall Master Wei Zhiqing.

"Ah, you're taking Lian out?"

"Yes, just… just that."

Although they were family in private and of the same rank as Inner Hall Master and Deputy Inner Hall Master in public, Dang Xianwu rarely showed a confident attitude in front of her.

No one blamed him, and it wasn't even his fault, but Dang Xianwu still harbored the incident when Lian was just born.

Even though the scars from Lian's injuries at that time had long since healed, Dang Xianwu still had a scar in his heart.

"Bring enough guards, and keep the route secret from the outside…"

"I'll do my best."

Wei Zhiqing, seeing Dang Xianwu's flustered state, smiled gently.

"Since Cheng is also there, why don't you take him along? Lian might feel left out if you only take him."

"Even Lian said the same thing!"

Dang Xianwu's face brightened as he chattered about Lian's considerate heart and how fairly he loved his nephew.

Lian's speed in learning to read was truly remarkable, and recently he had even composed a beautiful poem. He had taken the name Huailun from the poem, and his skill in playing the flute was exceptional. It seemed there was nothing he couldn't do…

"If this continues, they'll say Lian is the reincarnation of the Nine Heavens Fairy."

"Heck. It might be true…"

Seeing Dang Xianwu about to respond seriously, Wei Zhiqing quickly waved her hand and pushed him out.

"Today, I will be discussing with the Outer Hall Master all day about how to accept new disciples, so please take good care of our family's future."

Dang Xianwu smiled broadly. He was about to say, "Trust me!" but couldn't bring himself to say it and instead mumbled that he would be careful.

Wei Zhiqing looked at Dang Xianwu's back with a sigh.

When Dang Xianwu mentioned that he would take Lian and Cheng out, Dang Xianyao didn't pay much attention and simply said to go ahead.

But as soon as he saw Dang Cheng and Dang Lian standing side by side in the inner courtyard, he narrowed his eyes and alternately glared at Wei Zhiqing and Dang Xianwu.

Then he sighed deeply, bit his lip, and furrowed his brow.

"…Won't Lian feel a bit cold? Frost has settled in the early mornings these past few days."

"The weather isn't that cold today, and I've dressed him warmly enough. Cheng is more…"

"No, no, no!"

Dang Xianyao, almost shouting, hastily cut off Wei Zhiqing. Then he said in a voice full of restraint.

"I have a new fur coat I brought from Henan. Cheng has many clothes, so I haven't even opened them, but I think it will fit Lian perfectly."

Although Lian and Cheng had a significant height difference and the clothes wouldn't fit, Dang Xianyao insisted.

"Can we accept such a gift…?"

"Of course! Lian, follow Auntie."

Dang Xianyao, seeing Wei Zhiqing act as if she would refuse, almost dragged Lian to her quarters.

In her quarters, Lian changed into almost all the clothes he was originally wearing.

The last thing he put on was a fur coat embroidered with silver-threaded patterns, which Dang Xianyao adjusted with strings to fit Lian, even though it was a bit large.

Lian looked at himself in the mirror and was somewhat surprised. His simple and plain appearance had transformed into that of a complete noble lady.

Meanwhile, Dang Xianyao was whispering to her younger brother.

"You were going to send Lian out dressed like that? If I hadn't come out, what would have happened!"

Dang Xianwu, embarrassed, scratched his head.

"Why go to such lengths…"

"What will others say? They'll say I only dressed my daughter well and neglected the others while I was in Henan!"

"Who would say that? And Lian is dressed neatly and beautifully. Cheng is just… dressed more…"

"That's the problem, the difference!"

It wouldn't matter much if they were inside the family compound, but if the two girls went out together, with one in high-quality embroidered silk and the other in plain, neat clothes, wouldn't everyone on the street gossip?

"And when Lian goes out alone, it's the same. Wearing… such neat clothes and going out is absolutely, absolutely, out of the question."

'Such neat' was the last of Dang Xianyao's patience.

"The Inner Hall Master won't accept everything you give, so I'll leave it to you to take care of Lian's clothes…"

Dang Xianyao, noticing her younger brother's attire only then, let out a silent scream and dragged him to choose a fitting outfit from her husband's clothes before letting them go.

She sighed, pressing her forehead, as she watched the three of them walk away.

"What a troublesome household."

Dang Cheng wasn't in a bad mood. In fact, living in Henan wasn't that interesting.

Her parents were always busy, and there was no one for her to play with.

'Hmph. I can't play with such childish kids.'

What could she do with those young children who always held hands and walked around?

When she saw them wearing matching clothes and playing, Dang Cheng would secretly turn her head away.

Forcing the same patterns on mismatched colors!

So when she returned to Hangzhou, Dang Cheng was as worried about the possibility that the awakened cousin might insist on matching clothes as she was about the burden of fighting the successor of the Golden Family to protect her.

Although they were the same age, she was born a month later and had been sick, so technically she was a year younger.

Thinking of her as a one-year-old, she might like childish things.

But when she saw Dang Lian wearing her clothes, it wasn't bad.

Even though they didn't look alike, the pretty face and the bright clothes suited her well.

'Still, if Dang Lian wants to match accessories, I could buy one for her…'

"I want to go to the herb shop at Hoxian Pavilion first."

So when Dang Lian mentioned the herb shop, Dang Cheng had to suppress a sigh.

She had heard that Lian was interested in the herb shop and wanted to see it, but she didn't think it was true, assuming it was an excuse to go out with Dang Xianwu.

'What if the smell of the herbs is too strong?'

Dang Cheng glanced down at her clothes but didn't reject Lian's request.

"Hmm, the herb shop at Hoxian Pavilion?"

"Yes. They said our family gets herbs from there."

Dang Cheng noticed that Lian spoke differently depending on the person.

When talking to her, Lian spoke slowly. When talking to Dang Xianwu, his voice was a bit lower and faster.

When dealing with her younger brother Dang Bi, Lian's voice was high and he had a smiling face, and when talking to the servant Huailun…

"Is it okay for Cheng to stop by there for a moment?"

Dang Cheng thought it wouldn't be very interesting but nodded.

This cousin, who had a weak body and had never been outside the family compound since waking up, would find everything outside new and interesting, unlike herself, who could go to the market whenever she wanted in Henan.

"Sure… it's fine."

Dang Cheng said this and glanced sideways.

Her cousin, with a face as white as if she had never seen the sun, blinked her big eyes at her and smiled.

'I can't leave her alone.'

Dang Cheng, looking at that clean face, thought seriously.

Just as a ball of white fluff would disappear in a market, Dang Lian seemed like she would be carried away by the wind or taken by someone if left alone.