Upon returning to the royal temple, Li Yue Shu's mood was markedly different.
Seeing her excitement throughout the journey, Shen Ting Wen's initial nervousness immediately eased.
He now had a mother who cared for him and siblings who looked out for him. Why should he care about a woman who was utterly insignificant?
With this thought, Shen Ting Wen tightened his grip on Li Yue Shu's hand, his small face radiating a child's affection for his mother.
Meeting his gaze, Li Yue Shu's heart softened further, while Qin Mo Yuan, standing beside them, seemed like an outsider.
This time, they weren't visiting the royal temple at Qin Yi Jia's invitation. So, upon hearing that Qin Mo Yuan had brought the children, Qin Yi Jia, who was chanting sutras, suddenly paused.
"The children are here too?" Her voice was filled with joy and excitement, her hand, which was tapping the wooden fish, trembling slightly.
The servant who answered her stiffened, hesitating before replying, "Only a young master has arrived. This servant noticed his eyebrows bear a strong resemblance to the驸马 (imperial son-in-law)."
Qin Yi Jia felt a moment of disappointment but quickly, with great joy, put down the *jian zhi* (the stick used to strike the wooden fish) and, with the servant's help, stood up. "Quick, escort me to see the child!"
She strode out, not forgetting to adjust her attire before leaving.
However, the scene that greeted her upon emerging caused her smile to falter for an instant.
Beneath a tree with falling leaves, a woman of peerless beauty was dotingly pinching the cheek of a boy, who was as fair and delicate as carved jade. The boy gazed up at her with utter reliance, and behind them stood a man watching the scene with a gentle gaze.
A gentle breeze blew, and the scene of this family of three was indescribably harmonious.
Qin Yi Jia’s heart leaped.
Was the man with the gentle smile truly the Qin Mo Yuan she knew?
He had actually brought a woman to the royal temple?
Qin Yi Jia curiously observed the stunningly beautiful woman. The latter seemed to sense her gaze, turning her head to meet Qin Yi Jia's complicated look.
The smile on Li Yue Shu's face softened slightly, but she still appeared warm.
Qin Yi Jia regained her composure, her initial excitement subsiding considerably.
Only then did her attention fall upon Shen Ting Wen.
With just one glance, she knew this child was her Wen'er.
Qin Yi Jia's recently calmed emotions surged once more, her eyes welling up with tears.
Shen Ting Wen, naturally, noticed the person who had emerged. The smile that had been on his face instantly collapsed, replaced by a look of cold indifference.
Qin Yi Jia, oblivious to his expression, instinctively began, "Wen..."
"This commoner, Shen Ting Wen, greets Her Highness Princess Yong He."
Shen Ting Wen clasped his hands and bowed respectfully, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over Qin Yi Jia’s head.
Not only she, but even Li Yue Shu and Qin Mo Yuan were shocked by this sudden turn of events, yet neither of them intervened.
"Wen'er, you..."
Qin Yi Jia’s voice held a hint of hurt, her face pale.
Shen Ting Wen remained in his bowed posture, as if he were truly a commoner awaiting orders.
Li Yue Shu shot a look at the person beside her, and Qin Mo Yuan instantly understood.
"Ah Wen, you are a person brought by this King. You need not adhere to such formalities."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ting Wen immediately stood up and smiled at Qin Mo Yuan. "I'll listen to Father."
The single word "Father" caused Qin Yi Jia's brow to furrow instantly.
By seniority, Wen'er should have called him Uncle. How could he...?
Right, back then, Wen'er and Yi'er had disappeared with Qin Mo Yuan. They must have adopted new identities.
Qin Yi Jia comforted herself this way, then turned to Shen Ting Wen with a gentle smile. "Wen'er, it's cold outside. Come inside with Mother."
Shen Ting Wen didn't even look up, simply holding Li Yue Shu's hand and remaining where he was.
Qin Yi Jia's expression froze, her gaze falling on Li Yue Shu again.
Seeing Shen Ting Wen's dependence on her, Qin Yi Jia's eyes flickered with hostility. She scrutinized Li Yue Shu without any pretense. "Who is this young lady...?"
Li Yue Shu met her gaze directly, neither subservient nor overbearing. "Your Highness need not mind me. I was merely concerned that Ah Wen might be scared outside, so I came along to accompany him."
Qin Yi Jia looked at the woman before her, her gaze fixed on Ah Wen’s hand holding hers. Her expression grew colder.
"The servants attending Wen'er and Yi'er were all carefully chosen by me. Even those who empty the chamber pots are taught proper etiquette." She openly appraised Li Yue Shu. "You have met me without bowing. Who taught you your manners?"
In just two sentences, she not only lectured Li Yue Shu on her lack of manners but also implicitly suggested she was worse than a servant who emptied chamber pots.
Li Yue Shu, not foolish, understood her meaning, but the smile on her face didn't change even a fraction.
Just as she was about to retort, someone beat her to it. "Since when has my person been subject to your lectures?"
Qin Mo Yuan stepped sideways, shielding half of Li Yue Shu’s body, his posture protective.
Though standing below the steps, his imposing aura made Qin Yi Jia’s heart palpitate.
Before she could recover from the shock of Qin Mo Yuan so openly defending a woman, she saw her beloved son also stepping in front of that woman.
Shen Ting Wen glared fiercely at her, his eyes filled with hostility. "She is my mother, not a servant. If your eyesight is poor, go find a doctor to fix your eyes, don't flap your mouth and spout nonsense!"
Watching the backs of the man and the boy who stood before her, Li Yue Shu felt an indescribable sweetness welling up in her heart, as if a spoonful of honey had been poured into it.
In contrast, Qin Yi Jia's face turned pale.
More than Qin Mo Yuan's intimidating presence, the blow of her own son calling another woman "Mother" in front of her and then getting angry at her for defending that woman struck her harder.
She trembled as she spoke, "Wen'er, I am your biological mother. Have you forgotten?"
Shen Ting Wen was about to speak, but then he seemed to reconsider, and the words that came out changed. "Your child died long ago. I am only here today to retrieve what Father left behind."
He looked up at Qin Yi Jia with cold eyes, his expression firm. "If you intend to use those things to force my sister and me to return, I believe Father would not blame us for being unfilial."
Qin Yi Jia's face was filled with disbelief. "Wen'er, you... you are threatening your mother?"
Shen Ting Wen looked at her deeply for a long moment, then suddenly lowered his head. "You gave me life, how would I dare threaten you? But it was you who abandoned us back then, and I cannot forget..."
Li Yue Shu felt a pang of heartache, and the hand holding Shen Ting Wen's involuntarily tightened.
But the next moment, she felt a tickling sensation in her palm. The playful fingers showed no trace of sadness.
Li Yue Shu blinked, instantly realizing. She couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.
This child's acting skills had always been superb; he had almost fooled her too!
Li Yue Shu gently flicked the little fellow's fingers, silently conveying her support.
The subtle interaction between mother and son was hidden beneath their sleeves, unnoticed by anyone.
Indeed, because of Shen Ting Wen's suddenly subdued tone, Qin Yi Jia felt a rare flicker of regret.
But in that situation back then, abandoning the two children had been the best choice.
Qin Yi Jia's eyes turned red. "Wen'er, it is Mother’s fault. Can you forgive Mother?"