Mrs. Han shook her head slightly, "It’s not that I’m in a hurry to go back, but your father will be able to return for the Dragon Boat Festival!"
Yun Jinnian was puzzled.
"Jinnian, Auntie Rou is pregnant, four months!" Mrs. Han said, her voice cool and indifferent, revealing no joy or anger.
"Then, Mother, what do you wish for me to do? Should the child be kept or not?" Yun Jinnian asked in a calm tone.
Knowing that the dream was not just a dream, but her past life, she realized she wasn’t the righteous person she once thought she was.
Mrs. Han chuckled, "In such matters, why would there be any need for you to do something? Mother won’t do anything either. If she can give birth, then so be it—it doesn’t cost Mother any silver, and there’s no need to bring the child close to raise. What does it matter to us!"
Whether the child can be raised well, and whether he could achieve anything in the future, was not her concern anymore.
Yun Jinnian was still puzzled.
Mrs. Han continued, "Do you think your mother would bother with Auntie Rou over anything?"
Yun Jinnian nodded slightly.
"Silly child, just as your mother told you, a precious porcelain jar shouldn’t clash with a terracotta pot. Even if the porcelain wins, it’ll be left with flaws, so there’s really no need!" Mrs. Han grasped Yun Jinnian’s hand firmly, "Listen to your mother, don’t concern yourself with it. Just focus on your own affairs, and Mother will manage the household!"
Not to mention whether the child in Auntie Rou’s belly is a boy or a girl is yet to be determined, but so what if a son is born? As an illegitimate child, without substantial wealth to nurture him, without people to make connections, emerging with distinction is like finding a phoenix feather or a unicorn horn.
Yun Jinnian looked at Mrs. Han, "Mother, are you happy?"
Mrs. Han’s eyes reddened slightly, "With you, your maternal grandfather, and your brother, I am happy!"
Yun Jinnian was immensely surprised.
"Yes, your brother, in Sanzhou, he’s 7 years old now. Mother had intended to tell you sooner!"
Yun Jinnian abruptly stood up and asked anxiously, "His name is Han Tianci, right? His name is Han Tianci, right?"
As she spoke, her face was already streaming with tears.
"Jinnian, what’s wrong?"
She wasn’t someone without relatives after all. In the year she was sent to the cold palace, a young man led others to break in to take her away, claiming to be her brother.
Unwilling to leave Momo behind at the time, she refused to go. He left disappointed, and he came to the cold palace several times afterward, only to be discovered by Chu Liange, who set a trap, leading to his death by a thousand arrows. As he died, he held her hand, apologizing for not being able to take her away, urging her to live well and that someday someone would come to take her away!
She had always thought he was deceiving her; how could she have a brother?
He didn’t deceive her; he truly was her brother.
In her past life, she had caused his death without a place for burial. In this life, she was determined to protect him, to ensure his wellbeing and longevity.
"Jinnian!" Mrs. Han saw Yun Jinnian crying and was flustered.
Yun Jinnian shook her head, "I’m fine, just, just too happy. I am not alone; I still have a brother!"
Yun Jinnian said, laughing as she did so, tears still hanging at the corner of her eyes.
That brother, who had grown up handsome and extraordinary, always with a bright smile for her, kind and warm to her.
Mrs. Han breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, they were children of the Han family, deeply cherishing familial bonds.
"He’ll be coming to the Capital City soon!" Mrs. Han said, wiping away Yun Jinnian’s tears, "Your maternal grandfather has gone to fetch him!"
"Brother is coming to the Capital City, and he won’t leave again, will he?"
"He won’t leave. Your maternal grandfather and I have discussed it; we want you to grow up together, to deepen your bond, so you can rely on each other in the future!"
Yun Jinnian was overjoyed in her heart and promised, "As his sister, I will take care of my brother!"