Chapter 346
Seeing Nan Gong Qiu leave joyfully, Feng Jiu Yuan raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why is he so happy?”
Nan Gong Yi said, “It’s quite normal.”
He didn’t say more than those three words.
However, even without further explanation, some understood why Nan Gong Qiu was so pleased.
In the Nan Gong family, Nan Gong Yi was the current head, the old family head was the most authoritative, and as for the old family head’s son—Nan Gong Yi’s father—he had little status.
Nan Gong Yi and Nan Gong Qiu wanted to reclaim Huang Quan but were powerless since Huang Quan herself refused to return. This time was different.
The old family head was Ah Qi’s grandfather and Huang Quan’s great-grandfather. In the eyes of Nan Gong Yi and Nan Gong Qiu, he was the only person who could possibly retain Huang Quan, so their joy was understandable.
Nan Gong Yi gestured for them to follow, and they complied, heading to the main hall of the Nan Gong residence.
Once the servants had prepared tea and pastries, Nan Gong Yi instructed them to leave.
In the hall, they hadn’t been seated for long when a middle-aged man entered. Accompanied by Nan Gong Qiu, it was easy to deduce that this man was Nan Gong Qian, the previous head of the Nan Gong family.
Upon entering the hall, Nan Gong Qian immediately noticed Nan Gong Yan and Huang Quan seated together.
Seeing their appearances, Nan Gong Qian narrowed his eyes slightly and turned to Nan Gong Yi, who was sitting in the head of the family’s position. He was about to ask about the situation when he noticed Emperor Qin sitting on the other side of the head of the family’s seat.
Seeing Emperor Qin, Nan Gong Qian said, “Greetings, Crown Prince Qin.”
“No need for formalities,” Emperor Qin responded.
“Understood,” Nan Gong Qian said.
After greeting Emperor Qin, Nan Gong Qian continued to observe Huang Quan and Nan Gong Yan.
Their appearances made it hard to believe they had no connection to Nan Gong Qi and Ling Ran.
However…
Wasn’t Ah Qi’s daughter Nan Gong Qing Le?
Who was this woman?
As Nan Gong Qian examined Huang Quan and Nan Gong Yan, Emperor Qin addressed Huang Quan, “Quan Quan, the Su Rong pastries from the Nan Gong family are quite good. Please, try some.”
Huang Quan smiled and asked, “Are they really that good?”
“Mm,” Emperor Qin nodded, smiling. “You’ll know once you try.”
“Then I’ll give it a try.” Huang Quan said, and indeed took a small bite of the Su Rong pastry.
It was a seemingly ordinary conversation, but Nan Gong Qian was stunned as if struck by lightning!
“Quan Quan,” such an affectionate address, and the Crown Prince’s attitude, made Nan Gong Qian think of one person.
Huang Quan!
The rumored future Crown Princess!
The entire Tian Qi Empire was saying that the Nan Gong family’s young ladies had no hope, and the future Crown Princess would be Huang Quan.
When Nan Gong Qian first heard this, he scolded the messenger, thinking someone from a small country like her didn’t deserve the Crown Prince.
After the news spread, Nan Gong Qian had tried several times to petition the Emperor for a marriage decree, but the Emperor had always refused, citing the Crown Prince’s disapproval.
It was clearly well-prepared before!
Why the sudden change of heart?
Nan Gong Qian seemed to forget that this matter had always been between him and the Emperor. The Crown Prince had never agreed, and once the Emperor knew that the Crown Prince had someone he liked, he naturally wouldn’t force him.
The Emperor’s delay in issuing a marriage decree was proof that the alliance between the Nan Gong family and the royal family was unlikely.
He had thought so until today, but now…
Looking at Huang Quan and then at Nan Gong Yan, Nan Gong Qian smiled.
It was evident that this was Ah Qi’s child.
Moreover, the Crown Prince seemed to care about this child. With this child around, the marriage between the Nan Gong family and the royal family was bound to succeed.
Chapter 347
Nan Gong Yi cast a dark and unreadable glance at his father but said nothing.
Nan Gong Qiu’s mood was also not great. It was clear that their displeasure was due to Nan Gong Qian.
Huang Quan didn’t look at Nan Gong Qian but could feel his gaze on her.
That gaze…
It was impossible to ignore.
What should have been a straightforward situation had become uncomfortable because of Nan Gong Qian’s presence. However, he had to be there since the jade pendant was with him.
Fortunately, the old family head of the Nan Gong family soon arrived.
Upon seeing the old family head, Nan Gong Yi and Nan Gong Qiu quickly stood up and greeted, “Grandfather.”
The old family head waved his hand and then turned to Emperor Qin, nodding in acknowledgment.
Emperor Qin also nodded in response.
As a special courtesy from the royal family to the heads of noble families, the old family head was not required to perform the kneeling ceremony, out of respect.
“Grandfather.” Nan Gong Yi rose from his seat to make room for the old family head.
After the old family head sat down, he looked at Huang Quan and Nan Gong Yan.
“They are Ah Qi’s children.” The old family head gazed at them with a gentle expression. “Time flies. It’s been over twenty years since Ah Qi left, and now the children have grown up.”
Huang Quan and Nan Gong Yan showed respect to the elder and called out, “Great-grandfather.”
The old family head nodded and then asked Nan Gong Yan, “Child, what is your birth order?”
Nan Gong Yan replied, “I am the second.”
“Second.” The old family head smiled. “One of the twins.”
Nan Gong Yan was a bit surprised, “Great-grandfather knows?”
“Of course I knew,” the old family head said with a smile. “After you were born, your father was so overjoyed that he kept contacting me. I was in seclusion at the time and he actually interrupted my retreat.”
“He told me that Ling Ran had given birth to a pair of twins and asked me to name the children,” the old family head continued. “I thought, with just two children, I’d name one and leave the other’s name for him as the father.”
“Yun is the name for the elder brother,” Nan Gong Yan remarked, sharing a look of surprise with Huang Quan. They both saw astonishment in each other’s eyes.
Their parents had never mentioned the Nan Gong family or its members in front of them. They had assumed their father and the Nan Gong family had a very poor relationship, not realizing that their father and great-grandfather had been in contact all along.
Even their elder brother’s name was given by the great-grandfather…
Not only Huang Quan and Nan Gong Yan were surprised, but Nan Gong Yi, Nan Gong Qiu, and Nan Gong Qian were also astonished.
Grandfather had never told them he had been in touch with Ah Qi.
But thinking about it, Grandfather had been very fond of Ah Qi, and Ah Qi had a good relationship with him, so it was not surprising that they would keep in touch. It was they who had overestimated the distance between Ah Qi and Grandfather…
The conflict back then was with their father; how could Ah Qi not care about Grandfather?
The old family head continued, “After the two children were born, Ah Qi said that now that he had two sons, he wanted a daughter.”
“When those two children were two years old, Ling Ran gave birth to another child, a boy.” The old family head’s smile widened as he spoke. “At that time, that rascal even complained to me, saying he wanted a daughter, but unexpectedly, it was another boy.”
“Fortunately, later that rascal got his wish and had a daughter. However, the daughter’s health was poor, and the alchemists couldn’t find the cause. I was worried about that child and sent an elder from the clan to check, but the elder also couldn’t determine the cause and said they could only use spiritual medicine to nurture her.”
End of chapter!
