Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 204 - 203: Language and Smiles Abound

Chapter 204: Chapter 203: Language and Smiles Abound

Chu Lingxuan seemed to snap out of the resentment, glanced at Chen Afu, and continued, "The child had lost so much weight that she was skin and bones, curled up on the ground. She sat there, just staring blankly at the swallow’s nest under the eaves. If it were not for her dirty little face, I could tell straight away how much she looked like me, and how much she bore a resemblance to my mother... All of her misfortune might perhaps be due to her looks... In that moment, I truly felt, this child was my daughter, my flesh and blood... The fledgling swallows in the nest chirped a few times, and the child broke into a small smile."

The maids and attendants nearby scoffed and said the little fool even knew how to laugh. One of them approached her, saying, "Little fool, it’s time to drink." She then brought the child to her mouth a tea bowl that she had drunk from. The child seemed to be dying of thirst, and she emptied the bowl in just a few sips... I was livid, stormed over to the woman, kicked her away, and carried the child out of the Princess Mansion."

That woman later sent someone over to the Marquis’ Mansion to take back the child, but my grandfather took the child and wailed in front of His Majesty. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager reprimanded that woman, even grounding her for three months, and only then was the child finally freed from the Princess Mansion. But there was never a moment of peace back at the Marquis’ Mansion, so I had to take the child with me to Dingzhou..."

Chen Afu had already been crying incessantly, feeling sorry for Yan’er.

She blurted out, "What about your father? You weren’t home and your grandfather could not see, but your father was right there in the Princess Mansion. Did he not care about his own granddaughter? "

Chu Lingxuan let out a cold laugh. "My father? He seems to be affectionate, but in reality, he could not be more heartless. The child bears the blood of the Ma family, my father would never like her, he probably had never even given her a glance before. It’s likely that he unintentionally saw or heard that the child looks like my mother, and so that woman tormented her so much that she eventually sent me that letter."

"Lady Ma is the mother of the princess, and the Ma family are her kin. Uh... does your wife have a blood relationship with the princess?" Chen Afu asked curiously.

Chu Lingxuan nodded, "Yes, they are kin."

If that’s the case, Marquis Chu must detest the Ma family, and he probably should despise the princess as well, yet incredibly, the two of them have been living under the same roof for nearly a decade and even occasionally sharing intimate moments. That day in the Lingyin Temple, the princess seemed to care a lot about him, and he behaved like a gentle husband...

Chen Afu felt a bit puzzled. What on earth was going on?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Chu Lingxuan’s voice, "Yan’er didn’t have a name until she was three, so I gave her the name Chu Hanyan, hoping that someday she would be as cheerful and approachable as her name suggests. At that time, both my grandfather and I thought this hope was nothing more than a pipe dream. But Yan’er is lucky, she met you. She is now truly cheerful and approachable, no different from other children. No, she is even smarter and prettier than other kids. So tell me, how can I not be happy?"

His gaze slid towards Chen Afu’s face. His smile made the dimples on his cheeks appear deeper, looking exactly like Chu Hanyan’s. At that moment, he had a warm voice and a radiant smile; the cool and elegant appearance he previously displayed could not be found. Chen Afu couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter.

Chen Afu quickly looked down and subconsciously pressed her hand against her chest, responding, "Mr. Chu, you flatter me. Yan’er wasn’t foolish, she just got terrified by those people when she was little. In order to protect herself, she withdrew into her own world and did not want to venture out. Now, she sees the beauty in the outside world, people who love her, friends who like her, and the delightful animals. She now feels safe enough to come out."

Chu Lingxuan nodded and smiled, "Yes, that’s what happened. However, if it wasn’t for your guidance, showing her that no one could hurt her anymore, enlightening her about how vibrant and interesting the outside world is, she would not have dared to come out or integrate with everyone else. Miss Chen, there is no need for modesty, Yan’er and I both know that in this world, besides me, my grandfather, and my mother, the one who loves Yan’er the most is you. It’s just that we are all too busy, with few opportunities to keep Yan’er company. Most of the time, it’s you who’s with her. Great kindness goes unsaid, your kindness is always in my mind. I ..."

Suddenly, he saw a swallow standing on a branch in front of him, looking at him with a beaming smile, the most incomprehensible thing was its tiny beak half opened, it’s wingtips stuck in its mouth.

He himself was left with his mouth hanging open, speechlessly staring at the terrifying scene.

Following his gaze, Chen Afu saw Jin Yanzi gazing foolishly at Chu Lingxuan, seemingly waiting for him to continue speaking.

Seeing that Chu Lingxuan had stopped speaking and was just staring blankly at her, Jin Yanzi, bored, removed her wing tips from her mouth, chirped curiously, "Huh, why did Daddy Chu stop declaring his feelings? I was still waiting to hear what he had to say." Seeing that Chu Lingxuan was still looking at her with wide eyes, Jin Yanzi rolled her eyes, squawked, "What a dolt," then, spreading her wings, took off to the sky.

Only after Jin Yanzi had flown away did Chu Lingxuan come to his senses. He stuttered, "That swallow, it, it can actually smile, put its wings in its mouth, and, and even roll its eyes!" He paused in realization, "No wonder Yan’er is always thinking about it, it’s really unbelievable."

Chen Afu thought to herself, there are more unbelievable things about you. But she said aloud, "Yes, I only discovered Jin Bao’s uniqueness later myself. However, Mr. Chu, try not to disclose its uniqueness, if any potential foes were to find out, it could be in danger."

Chu Lingxuan said, "Of course, I won’t tell anyone." He then asked, "Where was I in my story?" Once he asked it, he found it funny and couldn’t help but laugh.

What a dolt! Jin Yanzi was absolutely right.

Chen Afu chuckled to herself.

They continued their walk towards the children’s playground. The children and animals were still playing joyfully, and the swallow was hopping and chirping in the midst of it all.

It seemed like Chu Lingxuan remembered what he wanted to say, he whispered, "I will find a way to clear all obstacles, I won’t let you and the children get hurt by love. Rest assured, I can do it."

"Huh?" Chen Afu looked at him, puzzled.

Chu Lingxuan laughed again, "What I mean is, I will make this place as impregnable as a fortress, and let it be filled with laughter forever."

Forever?

Even if she herself decided not to marry, Ms. Chu would still get married, wouldn’t she?

Dabao and Yan’er spotted them and came running over.

Chen Afu and Chu Lingxuan both opened their arms, but both children rushed into Chen Afu’s embrace.

Chu Lingxuan awkwardly withdrew his arms and stood up straight, watching how the three of them interacted. He thought to himself, his daughter really did not give him any face.

At that moment, Shan Zi came over to invite them back to Lu Garden for dinner.

On the way home, Dabao and Yan’er were holding hands. Dabao was also holding Chen Afu’s hand, and Yan’er was holding onto Chu Lingxuan’s. The two kids were in the middle, with an adult on each side. It was Chu Lingxuan who had fought for this arrangement, seeing her wounded father, Yan’er finally let go of auntie’s hand and ran over to hold his.

The setting sun bathed the earth in a layer of red light, coloring all four of them. They left behind a trail of laughter and a chorus of dogs barking and birds singing.