Han Xuzi finished speaking and burst into tears.
He was the sinner of the Han Family.
But he would rather be a sinner than let thousands of innocent lives in the Han Family be tragically lost.
Yun Jinnian and Han Tianci stood to one side, silent.
For the first time, Han Tianci understood that besides protecting his sister, he also had to protect the Han Family.
Only if the Han Family stood firm could he protect those he wished to protect.
The grandfather, son, and grandson stayed in the secret room for a while before returning to the study.
Knelt in front of Han Xuzi, Han Tianci said, "Grandfather, I want to study in Songshan Academy next year and participate in the imperial examination afterwards!"
Entering government service was a good thing.
Han Xuzi agreed and helped Han Tianci to his feet.
Mrs. Han had intended to make some pastries, but upon learning that Yun Jinnian had purchased many, she packed them and personally delivered them to the study.
After chatting for a while, she happily went to the kitchen to get busy.
As Han Xuzi watched, he sighed and said, "Your mother was without her own mother from a young age, and I raised her playing the roles of both father and mother. She was inevitably spoiled. She was so wilful as a child, yet she married Yun Qi. Yun Qi is good, I’ve never denied that, but he has a mother who doesn’t know her place!"
"Many things were that old lady’s doing, Jinnian, Tianci..."
Han Xuzi looked at the two children in front of him, "You are both good children. Your mother may have some quirks, but she truly loves you. In the future, no matter what she does, could you for my sake, not hold it against her, or perhaps give her another chance?"
Han Tianci remained silent.
Yun Jinnian took a deep breath, "Grandfather, rest assured, she is our mother, forever and always!"
"And you, Tianci?" asked Han Xuzi.
Han Tianci looked towards Yun Jinnian and earnestly said, "I feel the same as my sister!"
If his sister forgave, he would forgive.
Even if he didn’t forgive, he wouldn’t show it, so as not to make things difficult for his sister.
Perhaps it was a fellow feeling, but he felt especially close to his sister.
The moment he first saw her, he decided he would be close to his sister for a lifetime, and nothing and no one could change that.
For dinner, Mrs. Han prepared a full table of dishes.
"Wow, it looks so delicious!" Han Tianci said with a delightful laugh as he pulled Mrs. Han to sit down.
The family of four ate happily together.
Mrs. Han looked at the two children with eyes full of tenderness and care.
She served this dish to one, that dish to another, and also served her elderly father, bustling about merrily.
"Eat slowly, don’t choke!" Mrs. Han said gently.
She felt that days like these were truly wonderful.
The children were well-behaved and thoughtful, always remembering to visit her when they came back from outside and bringing her one or two things.
They kept her in their hearts.
She was the one who had been wrong in the past, but she would change!
After dinner, the family played a game of cards, with Han Tianci having good luck and winning continuously.
Yun Jinnian didn’t lose much, while Han Xuzi lost miserably.
Mrs. Han also won a bit but it was far too little compared to Han Tianci’s winnings.
"Grandfather, silver!"
The warm hall was lively.
Han Zhong stood to the side watching, the corners of his usually cold lips slowly forming a smile.
Hemei and Henuan bustled about, serving tea, pouring water, preparing snacks and fruits.
In such cold weather, there were still pomelos and tangerines.
Tianci liked to eat them, so Hemei and Henuan peeled them clean, leaving only the core, which was how Han Tianci liked to eat them best.
Hemei and Henuan, being older than Tianci, treated him like a younger brother despite the distinction between servant and master.
Compared to Zhengwen and Zhengwu, the two pageboys who stood to one side and hadn’t spoken a word from beginning to end, Hemei and Henuan talked a lot more.