Anzhi Hall.
Jin Shanyao summoned Lu Chi to the study, "The kidnappers are after you."
Lu Chi felt guilty. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect them to attack you."
The Wei Household, having lost the lucrative position of purchasing goods for the palace, must have harbored resentment.
Lu Chi had long been prepared for retaliation, but he never expected that they would bypass him and instead target Anzhi Hall.
Jin Shanyao tapped her finger on the table. "The matter of the purchasing rights arose because of you. Before you return to the capital, this hidden danger must be completely eliminated. Anzhi Hall and the two children must not be involved in your dispute."
Lu Chi quickly assured him, "Don't worry, I've already sent people to handle this matter. The Crown Prince is just worried about not being able to find any fault with the Third Prince, and this time..."
Jin Shanyao her hand, not wanting to hear about their political struggles. She was just giving a reminder; if it weren't for the divine retribution for murder, she would have taken action herself long ago.
After leaving Shiyan, Jin Shanyao noticed that Meng Anci was in low spirits, and she assumed that the kidnapping incident had frightened him.
She tenderly pulled the little cub into her arms, "Are you scared?"
"Auntie, you are my real auntie, I don't want anyone else to call you that." Meng Anci deceived himself into believing that Jin Shanyao and his mother were biological sisters.
She was just his own aunt; there was no such thing as entrusting her with his children on his deathbed.
Jin Shanyao a long sigh of relief, "Alright, no one is allowed to call out."
Meng Anzhi silently processed the herbs without saying a word.
Meng Anci turned her small body and hugged Jin Shanyao's neck, her watery eyes just right.
"Auntie, will you have your own children in the future?"
Meng Anzhi paused for a moment while grinding the medicine.
Jin Shanyao and said, "Aren't you two little ones my children?"
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci couldn't help but smile. They had lost so much, and all they had left was their aunt. No matter what it took, they had to keep her by their side.
I won't let anyone take it away.
Meng Anci held back her tears, which were about to fall, and climbed onto the Jin Shanyao her neck.
"Auntie," she said in a childish voice, "Whether you have your own children or not, I will take care of you in your old age."
Um... is it possible that you won't outlive me?
Jin Shanyao, fearing it would hurt his young heart, suppressed the truth.
He smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll rely on Anci for my retirement."
Meng Anzhi glanced at her brother, who was putting on an act, and smiled slightly. "Auntie, I've heard that the most difficult relationship in a family is that of a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. You're getting old, so why don't you live with me? There won't be any mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conflicts then."
"With me..." Meng Anci suddenly exploded, abandoning her feigned pitifulness, and stared menacingly at Meng Anzhi, "I will not get married in the future, I will stay with my aunt."
You still have to get married, and it won't be convenient to bring your aunt along, since your relationship with your mother-in-law isn't good."
Meng Anzhi put down the medicine grinder, a forced smile on her face, and said, "I just won't get married."
Meng Anci retorted, "Then I won't get married either."
Oh dear... my little darlings, if one of you doesn't get married and the other doesn't take a wife, then my divine position is going to be ruined.
Jin Shanyao, her face fierce, scolded, "Nonsense! Do you think it's up to you who decides who I rely on for my old age?"
"It's my word. Starting today, whoever studies well and makes the most progress, I'll go live with them in my old age."
Meng Anci protested, "Auntie, you don't need to go to anyone else's house. We'll just stay at the Anzhi Hall."
Meng Anzhi chimed in, "Yes, I'll find someone to marry into the family, and we'll live in the Anzhi Hall."
She glared at Meng Anci, thinking, "We're all from the same mother, how could I not know what you're thinking..."
You little green tea b*tch, you dare try to play tricks on me? No way!
Seeing the siblings on the verge of conflict, Jin Shanyao cried out in alarm, realizing that her path to repaying their kindness must not be ruined by them. So she spent the entire night patiently trying to persuade them.
They were asked to strive for self-improvement and live the life they wanted, but their hopes were dashed the very next day.
Early morning, in the courtyard.
Meng Anci and Shiyan stared at each other, while the red bumps on Shiyan's face disappeared without a trace after a nap, without even needing to take any medicine.
He specially wore a red brocade robe today, carried an exquisite little handbag, and held a small whip in his hand as he came to acknowledge his mother.
Shiyan tried to bypass Meng Anci and go inside, but Meng Anci reacted too quickly, and no matter how he tried to break through, he was blocked.
Shiyan had no choice but to shout at the top of his lungs, "Mother, Mother, your son has come to see you! Come out quickly..."
Jin Shanyao hid in the room, feeling uneasy. "Go back and tell your mother that the child isn't mine."
"Mom, what are you saying... You saved my life, so you're like my second parents. Regardless of whether Dad agrees or not, I agree."
Meng Anci's face turned ashen. " Shiyan, don't force me to beat you up."
"You dare? I'm your cousin..." Shiyan said, hands on his hips, glaring, ready to fight if he dared to challenge her.
He couldn't stop talking about Jin Shanyao today; she was too amazing, practically a goddess in his eyes!
"Mother... I also bought a new whip..."
He paused halfway through his sentence, his eyes involuntarily turning towards the kitchen, where he saw Meng Anzhi dressed in red, carrying out a plate of steamed buns.
Shiyan's feet swerved uncontrollably. Meng Anci realized something was wrong, raised her hand to cover his eyes, and snapped, "What are you looking at?"
Shiyan's ears turned slightly red. "I didn't eat breakfast this morning, I'm craving steamed buns."
"Pah... You still want to eat steamed buns? If you dare look at my sister again, I'll gouge your eyes out."
Shiyan, having his little scheme exposed, felt a bit embarrassed but stubbornly insisted, "I wasn't looking at your sister, I was looking at Baozi."
Meng Anci scoffed, "You look like a steamed bun to me."
Jin Shanyao thought that hiding in the house all the time wasn't a good idea. Although she didn't want to acknowledge her son, she still had to make things clear. So she mustered up her courage and came out.
Shiyan
"Mother..."
Shiyan's eyes lit up, and he darted in front of Jin Shanyao. After standing still, he wondered why Meng Anci hadn't stopped him.
Never mind, let's ignore him.
Jin Shanyao her hand to pat Shiyan's little head, only to see Meng Anci looking downcast, like a child caught in the rain, with his watery eyes looking at her with a pitiful expression.
Jin Shanyao, feeling guilty, put her hands behind her back and coughed dryly at Shiyan, "Um... I'm not your mother."
Shiyan Huanxi said, "I know, you are my godmother."
Uh... Jin Shanyao wooden head and got stuck. She had experienced people directly hitting her, yelling at her, and making sarcastic remarks.
This is the first time I've encountered this... How should I put it, they were a bit too enthusiastic.
Jin Shanyao was momentarily at a loss as to where to begin and deal with this brat!
Shiyan's eyes shone with an astonishing light as he looked up at her expectantly.
Their eyes met, and they remained silent for a long time. Just as Shiyan's smile was about to freeze, Jin Shanyao finally spoke.
" Shiyan, you're still young and don't understand the love your parents have for you. That love is irreplaceable. Don't try to find other mothers for you in the future, or you'll hurt your parents' feelings."
Shiyan wanted to say that her mother wouldn't be sad; her mother would just take a feather duster and chase after him to beat him.
But it didn't matter; Shiyan, settling for second best, asked, "Can I call you Auntie?"
Jin Shanyao stole a glance at Meng Anci, who was crying pitifully. She said cruelly, "No, I'm not your aunt."
A bolt from the blue... Shiyan stared in astonishment at Jin Shanyao. She just refused? How could she bear to refuse such a lovely child?
Shiyan persisted, "Then can I call you master?"
Jin Shanyao, "Call Aunt Yao."
Shiyan thought, "Aunt Yao Let's just Aunt Yao... it sounds more friendly than 'Shopkeeper Jin '."