TRBDM -Chapter 173 Lan Courtyard Will Always Be Your Home

“Mother, you eat first.”

Xie Yu picked up a piece of fish and held it to Zhao Lingchen’s lips.

Zhao Lingchen lowered her gaze, smiling as she opened her mouth and ate it.

“Well? Is it good?” Xie Yu asked expectantly.

“It’s delicious. Yu’er, you should eat too.”

“Mm.”

After being separated for thirteen years, this was the first time Zhao Lingchen and Xie Yu had ever shared a meal together. Both of them ate with great appetite.

The best meal they had ever eaten in their lives was tonight’s.

Wei Zhaorong did not disturb the mother and son. When it was time for dinner, the wet nurse arranged for her to dine in the side hall.

After finishing, she continued waiting.

The Eldest Princess and Xie Yu could not formally acknowledge each other yet. Xie Yu still had to return to the Marquis’s residence with Wei Zhaorong tonight.

After dinner, Zhao Lingchen brought Xie Yu into a room.

“Yu’er, for certain reasons, you and I cannot acknowledge each other for now. So during this period, would you continue staying at the Mingde Marquis Residence?”

Xie Yu nodded without hesitation. “I’ll listen to Mother in everything.”

No matter what his mother did, Xie Yu trusted her completely and unconditionally.

“What a good child.”

Zhao Lingchen felt both comforted and heartbroken. The more obedient he was, the more it made her ache for him.

She took out a heart-protecting mirror from the drawer and handed it to him.

“Take this with you. Remember—no matter what, you must protect it well.”

The mirror looked old, and there was even a dent on it. It seemed it had once saved its owner’s life.

Xie Yu did not ask why. He carefully put it away. “Mother, rest assured. I will definitely protect the heart mirror.”

Zhao Lingchen smiled and nodded.

This heart-protecting mirror had been worn frequently by Fu Wei before his death. Zhao Lingchen had kept it safe for thirteen years.

If not for this mirror, there were many times she might not have endured.

Now that it had been given to Xie Yu, it felt as though it had returned to Fu Wei’s side.

Zhao Lingchen was reluctant to let Xie Yu leave and held him back to talk for quite a while longer.

From beginning to end, Xie Yu never once asked who his father was.

He had guessed there were hidden circumstances.

It didn’t matter. He was willing to wait—wait for the day his mother would tell him the truth.

After the hour of Xu, Wei Zhaorong left the Eldest Princess’s residence with Xie Yu.

When she had come earlier, she had kept a low profile, arriving by carriage through the side gate, so their departure also drew no attention.

Inside the carriage, Wei Zhaorong said, “Yu’er, the Eldest Princess said she will continue going to Qin’s Sweet Soup Shop starting tomorrow. After school, remember to go there.”

“Mm.”

Upon learning that Qin’s Sweet Soup Shop had been opened by his mother especially for him, Xie Yu was beyond delighted.

No wonder every variety of sweet soup there was his favorite—each one had been tailored just for him.

Even now, his heart had not yet calmed.

The unreal feeling of having found his mother made him feel as though he was drifting between dream and wakefulness, unable to distinguish what was real.

Even after returning to Lan Courtyard, his heart was still pounding.

“Third Brother! Third Brother!”

Xie Yu rushed into Xie Lan’s room, eager to share the good news.

“Fourth Brother, you’re back.”

Xie Lan had been distracted while reading tonight, his ears constantly tuned to the sounds outside.

After waiting a long while, he had finally been waiting for Xie Yu to return.

“Third Brother, I’ve found my biological mother!”

Xie Yu’s eyes sparkled, his face glowing with excitement.

The weight that had been hanging over Xie Lan’s heart finally lifted.

That afternoon, their mother had taken Xie Yu away without a word. No one knew where they had gone. So she had taken him to the Eldest Princess’s residence.

“That’s wonderful, Fourth Brother. You’ve finally found your mother.”

Xie Lan was just as happy as Xie Yu. Although he had long known Xie Yu’s true identity, seeing him reunite with the Eldest Princess made him even happier.

“Yes, Third Brother, I feel like I’m dreaming. No, not even in my dreams would I dare imagine this. My mother is actually the Eldest Princess of the Dachong Dynasty. This… it’s unbelievable.”

Xie Yu felt as though his feet were stepping on cotton, unsteady and floating, as if he might fall at any moment.

“Don’t doubt it. The Eldest Princess is your mother, Young Heir—”

The unfamiliar form of address, tinged with teasing, made Xie Yu freeze.

“Third Brother, what did you call me?”

“Young Heir, of course. From now on, when I see you, I’ll have to bow in greeting.”

“No need. We’re brothers—why bother with that?”

Xie Lan only smiled without answering. He knew Xie Yu had not yet realized what earth-shaking changes would come from acknowledging the Eldest Princess as his mother.

Xie Yu sat down beside Xie Lan. Suddenly, a question occurred to him.

“Third Brother, if I return to the Eldest Princess’s residence… does that mean we’ll have to separate?”

It was a serious question.

Xie Yu and Xie Lan had spent many years together. They had witnessed each other’s most difficult and destitute days. Together they had entered Lan Courtyard and studied at the Dong residence.

They ate together, lived together, studied together, came and went together. Whatever they did, they did it side by side.

Xie Yu couldn’t imagine what he would do after leaving Xie Lan.

If he encountered difficulties in his studies, he wouldn’t be able to ask Xie Lan anytime. If he wanted sweet soup, and Xie Lan couldn’t accompany him, how would it even taste the same?

Smiling, Xie Lan reached out and ruffled Xie Yu’s hair. “With the Eldest Princess there, you’ll adjust quickly.”

His smile carried a bitterness that was hard to detect.

People always grow up. And growing up means parting. Sooner or later, it must be faced.

Ever since Xie Lan learned of Xie Yu’s background, he had known this day would come.

“No. I don’t want to leave,” Xie Yu said unwillingly.

“Don’t speak out of emotion. That is your home.”

Xie Yu pouted. “But I’ve always treated Lan Courtyard as my home.”

He didn’t say the Mingde Marquis Residence. He said Lan Courtyard.

“Silly Fourth Brother, the Eldest Princess’s residence is five times the size of the Mingde Marquis Residence. You don’t want such a big home?” Xie Lan joked.

But Xie Yu was in too poor a mood to appreciate the joke.

Xie Lan saw straight through his thoughts. He sighed softly and said, “As long as you’re willing to come back, Lan Courtyard will always be your home.”

Xie Yu nodded gloomily.

That night, lying in bed, his emotions rose and fell in turns, battling within him.

The next morning, Xie Lan had already washed and dressed when Xie Yu finally emerged from his room, dark circles under his eyes.

“Fourth Brother, didn’t you sleep last night?”

Xie Yu rubbed his eyes and yawned widely. “I did. I kept dreaming, so I didn’t sleep well.”

“How about asking Master Dong for leave today? You can sleep a bit more.”

“Can I?” Xie Yu was truly exhausted; he could barely keep his eyes open.

“Yes. Once you wake up, I’ll take you to climb Xiang Mountain.”

“Really? That’s great! I’ll go back to sleep now. Third Brother, remember to wake me up.”

“Mm.”

Before entering Lan Courtyard, Xie Lan and Xie Yu had never dared to hope for outings. After entering Lan Courtyard, they devoted all their thoughts to studying. Apart from the Flower Festival, they had never deliberately gone out to have fun.

For some reason, Xie Lan suddenly wanted to take Xie Yu out and enjoy themselves wholeheartedly, just once.