"Hehe." Yangyang smiled shyly.
"Alright, itās getting late, you should get some rest now. I wonāt disturb you anymore," said Dongyang as she noticed how late it had become, and then added, "Speaking of which, look at yourself. Youāve surely not rested well along the way ā your eye sockets look like theyāve been smeared with muleās daub."
"Okay, weāll talk more tomorrow."
Yang Chuxia escorted Commandery Princess Dongyang to the courtyard where her maids were still waiting with lanterns.
After sending Dongyang off, Yang Chuxia returned to the room where Yang Qingtong was already hugging Yangyang.
"Come tell Uncle, how did you end up becoming someoneās future son-in-law?"
"Aunt Dongyang wants to make her daughter my wife. I thought, since Uncle Shaoling is so handsome, his daughter wonāt be bad either. Besides, why not take the offer?"
Yangyang slightly wriggled free and then asked, "Is Uncle here to see my beautiful dad?"
"Yes," Yang Chuxia called out as she came in, "Sis!"
"You should go to rest early too. Just stay in the west wing room, donāt go to any other courtyard."
"Okay, if thereās anything, Sis, just call me."
After Yang Qingtong also left, only the family remained.
It was only then that Yang Chuxia knelt in front of Ye Ziāan and looked at him carefully.
"You look at yourself ā so ugly," said Yang Chuxia with a light laugh. "Itās as if Iāve seen what youād look like in the grave in advance."
"Mother, beautiful dad is not ugly," Yangyang immediately defended Ye Ziāan. "Beautiful dad is still beautiful dad; even if thereās something on his face, heās still the most beautiful."
"Are you really not scared of your dad looking like this?" Yang Chuxia just realized this. When Brother An was well, he used to say not to let Yangyang see him like this.
"Mom, during the days you werenāt here, Little Brother fed dad his meals. Little Brother isnāt scared at all. We even sleep together with dad."
"Iāve been sleeping with dad alongside brother," said Yangyang. "Uncle Shaoling would also stay in the outer room before."
"Thatās wonderful, Lele and Yangyang are such good boys," said Yang Chuxia, genuinely feeling relieved. They are so sensible. "Brother An, do you hear that? Arenāt our sons great? You must be proud of them, right?"
"Mother, letās stay with dad together tonight?"
"Yes, letās all stay with dad," said Yang Chuxia as she helped Ye Ziāan into the inner room and helped him lie down.
Seeing him motionless, letting others guide his actions, tears fell from Yang Chuxiaās eyes, which she hastily wiped away, not wanting her sons to see.
After tucking him in with the blanket, Yang Chuxia said to her two sons, "You two watch over dad. Iām going to check on your sister and the others."
"Okay," replied Yangyang crisply.
But it was Lele who followed her out to the outer room. "Mom, I sent away the two nannies who were looking after sister. Iāve asked Sister Mingcui to help take care of sister and little brother."
"Was there some kind of problem?" Otherwise, why would her son send people away for no reason?
"Earlier, sister wet herself and began to cry, but those two nannies were cracking melon seeds in the room and let sister cry. So I sent them away."
"Sent them away, then sent them away. You did the right thing," Yang Chuxia patted his little head. "Lele is really great, youāre already taking care of the family. Mom saw you managing household matters when the gatekeeper came to report to you. Itās just like what your dad would have done. Iām so happy for you."
Hearing her words, Lele felt a bit shy and touched his own cheek.