The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 621 - 586: The Child Is Gone, Why Didn’t You Tell Me? (Part 1)
Wen Wan followed Lin Xiaoyue into the room.
Amuer was hiding behind a large crackled glaze floor vase. When he heard footsteps, he cautiously peeked out, only to meet Lin Xiaoyue’s gaze, and quickly pulled back, standing still.
As a descendant of the Jiuli Clan, the two-year-old little guy was highly vigilant. When faced with a group of strangers whose language he didn’t understand, he was well aware of the power disparity, so he chose to hide immediately.
Even the loud crying outside earlier was a way for him to protect himself.
Seeing that he refused to come out, Lin Xiaoyue asked Jin Zhi to bring sticky rice balls and milk from the kitchen.
The milk was served in a wide-mouthed, double-handled clay pot. Lin Xiaoyue used iron tongs to stir the fiery coals in the wind stove and placed the pot on top. Soon, the fragrance of milk spread everywhere.
The little guy hiding behind the floor vase swallowed his saliva greedily, but was still unwilling to come out.
Holding a wooden spoon, Lin Xiaoyue filled a small porcelain-white bowl with milk and deliberately said, "Anyone who keeps playing hide-and-seek and refuses to show up will get nothing to drink soon."
Amuer didn’t understand Lin Xiaoyue’s words, and while he was hesitating whether to come out for a bite, someone gently tugged at his sleeve.
Amuer turned around and saw a young girl dressed in pink with two small ponytails. She looked just as delicate as her outfit.
Amuer remembered that on the day he arrived, curious, he had tugged at her ponytails, making her eyes turn red with pain, and now he felt a bit embarrassed and took two steps back.
Ah Nuan, holding a small bowl of freshly warmed milk, with her cheeks blushed red by the coal brazier, stepped forward to offer it to him, "Look, it’s for you."
Amuer refused to take it, so she moved it forward a little more.
Amuer simply turned his face to the side.
Ever since coming to this house, he hadn’t spoken a single word.
Ah Nuan could only guess that he was afraid of getting burned, so she took a sip first, then smiled, "It’s not hot, quick, drink it, or it’ll get cold soon."
Amuer was finally conquered by the aromatic milk. He reached out for the bowl, drank it all in one go, and then smacked his lips.
Ah Nuan asked him, "I added sugar, is it good?"
Amuer said nothing, wiping off the milk stain from the corner of his mouth with his hand.
Ah Nuan took back the empty bowl and pointed outside, "There’s also the sticky rice balls you like, shall I bring them to you?"
Knowing he wouldn’t answer, Ah Nuan put back the empty bowl and went to fetch him a sticky rice ball.
Milk and sticky rice balls were Amuer’s favorite foods. He wasn’t hungry, but as soon as he smelled the aroma, his little tummy began to rumble.
So, when Ah Nuan offered the sticky rice ball, he didn’t refuse it.
However, he still didn’t want to come out and squatted behind the tall vase to eat.
When Ah Nuan went back, Lin Xiaoyue asked her, "Did he finally eat?"
Ah Nuan nodded, then sighed, "He just doesn’t want to talk."
"Take it slow," Wen Wan said. "He just arrived at your house and doesn’t understand what you’re saying. It’s only natural for him to be wary. With time, he’ll come around."
Ah Nuan sat down beside Wen Wan, who handed her a sticky rice ball.
Ah Nuan asked, "Aunt Wan, why didn’t Jinbao come?"
"Jinbao has classes and couldn’t come." Wen Wan smiled at the little girl, "If Ah Nuan has free time, you can come play at our house."
"Sure, sure." Ah Nuan smiled happily but then shook her head, "I can’t go now. Dad wants me to take care of my little brother, and he won’t leave the house."
Yesterday, when Lin Xiaoyue took him out, he was so scared he curled up in a ball.
"No worries, there’ll be opportunities later." Wen Wan said, "I’ll make sure he shares all the delicious snacks with you next time."
Ah Nuan smiled sheepishly.
In truth, Wen Wan was a bit uneasy saying that.
Every time Ah Nuan visited their house, Jinbao would act as if a thief had come, hurriedly hiding all the good snacks and toys.
Fortunately, Ah Nuan’s temperament is good; she never minds about these things with Jinbao. When Jinbao gives her something, she accepts it with a smile. When he doesn’t, she isn’t upset.
"Oh, stop it." Lin Xiaoyue retorted mercilessly, "I’ve never seen a boy as stingy as your Jinbao. Our Ah Nuan is so beautiful, and he hides so many delicious and fun things, always clutching them tightly and refusing to share. Who wants to visit your house? I’m puzzled, Wen Wan, is this how you usually teach him?"
Wen Wan coughed lightly, a bit embarrassed, and said, "It’s not like that. Jinbao is still young and doesn’t quite understand sharing with others, which is normal."
"Still young?" Lin Xiaoyue raised her eyelids, "He’ll be five after the new year, yet our Ah Nuan learned to take care of her younger brother at only four. How can he be so stingy? If you ask me, Jinbao has been spoiled by your family elders."
Wen Wan was at a loss for words and quickly changed the topic, "Have you told Mr. Qi about your miscarriage? How did he react?"
"Not yet." Lin Xiaoyue shook her head, "I don’t know how to tell him. I feel quite sorry for him; Mr. Qi is risking his life at the borders, and I couldn’t even save our child. I think he would be sad if he knew. I’m still considering when and how to confess to him."
Wen Wan said, "It’s up to you to weigh it up, but it’s true that you can’t hide it for long. Even if you don’t tell him, there are many servants around, and one day the word will slip out. Don’t wait until he hears it from someone else first, or your conflict will become much bigger."
Lin Xiaoyue nodded, "I know, I’ll find a chance to tell him soon."
Wen Wan left after having lunch at the Governor Mansion.
When she was leaving, she specifically glanced behind the floor vase and saw Amuer curled up on the ground, sound asleep.
The sight was truly heartbreaking.
Lin Xiaoyue carefully picked him up and carried him to his room, then personally escorted Wen Wan out of the mansion.
Su Qing returned at dusk.
The man had a tall and robust form, dressed in Qilin Official Uniform, a fox fur draped over his shoulders. After more than two years of military service, the harsh border wind had carved his face into sharp features, with imposing sword-like brows under which his long dark eyes grew increasingly profound.
A truly majestic military general’s aura.
"Mr. Qi, you’re back?" Lin Xiaoyue stood up, personally helped him take off the fox fur and hung it on the floor stand, then asked, "Was the government office busy today?"
Su Qing turned his head, pressing his thin lips together, and looked at her for a good while without speaking.
Lin Xiaoyue quickly handed him the warm hand stove she had just prepared, ready to make tea, when Su Qing suddenly grasped her slender wrist.
After marching and fighting outside for two years, calluses had formed in his palm; it was rough yet not lacking warmth.
Although he had already been back for a while, having been apart for so long, this sudden intimate gesture made Lin Xiaoyue’s face blush. She lowered her lashes, "Mrs. Song was here today, and she mentioned the government office’s food isn’t great, especially in winter when there aren’t fresh vegetables. If Mr. Qi doesn’t find it to his liking, perhaps starting tomorrow, I can prepare lunch for you to heat up there. It’s sure to be tastier than the canteen’s food."
After she spoke, she heard nothing from him for a long time. Puzzled, she lifted her eyes, finding he maintained the previous stance, his gaze focused on the top of her head, unwavering.
Lin Xiaoyue’s heart began to race, "Mr. Qi?"
"The child is gone, why didn’t you tell me?" Su Qing spoke up, his voice deep and somewhat heavy.
Lin Xiaoyue inwardly cursed; it seemed that some chatty servant had told him prematurely.
Thinking of what Wen Wan said, that this day would come sooner or later, inevitably, Lin Xiaoyue took a deep breath and met the man’s profound gaze, "It’s my fault, I couldn’t keep the child. I was afraid you’d be too upset, so..."
"Did it leave any lasting damage?" Su Qing interrupted her.
Previously, hearing the housekeeper mention her miscarriage after the child had already formed, he could imagine how painful it was without even being there.
Perhaps since he never witnessed the child’s existence firsthand, he was more concerned about her in this matter.
"There aren’t any lasting damages," Lin Xiaoyue stated truthfully, "Originally, I was quite sad after the miscarriage; it was Wen Wan who didn’t mind the trouble to visit me daily until after confinement, the doctor said I recovered quite well during that period."
"Really?" Su Qing squinted slightly, seemingly skeptical of her words.
"If Mr. Qi doesn’t believe, I can have someone summon the household doctor."
Su Qing nodded, immediately calling for the household doctor. When it was confirmed that Lin Xiaoyue’s health was indeed fine, the dark color in his eyes reluctantly faded some.
Holding his wife in his arms, recalling the report that she had taken Amuer out yesterday, Su Qing spoke in a low voice, "Yue Niang, from now on, let Amuer stay inside the mansion, try not to let him go out."
Lin Xiaoyue was puzzled, "He’s already shy; if he doesn’t go out and socialize with people, wouldn’t that be less than ideal later on?"
Su Qing said, "When I find the Divine Doctor to cover his eye color, then you can take him out to play."
Lin Xiaoyue was even more confused, "Is there something wrong with his eyes?"
