Chapter 9 A Family Meal
Only when we sat down to eat did I notice how the three of us looked exactly like a family.
My aunt was still whispering to Uncle-in-Law. "Look, look. The way he eats with red eyes is so cute."
Uncle-in-Law smiled softly, his face full of indulgence as he agreed.
Damn it. It was not as if I wanted to cry!
I kept stuffing rice into my mouth in anger.
At this age I got hungry easily, yet in the palace no one had cared whether I ate my fill. After years of comfort in my previous life, I had almost forgotten what hunger felt like. If not for this rebirth, I might never have remembered.
I ate quickly until my bowl was empty. A maid took it to refill. Only then did my aunt have a chance to speak.
"I remember your name is Song Lin?"
After all, I was the Imperial Eldest Grandson. Though not born of the principal wife, my name had been recorded in the imperial genealogy.
"Yes, Princess," I answered while swallowing. "But I have a courtesy name. Yan Hui."
Uncle-in-Law gave it to me!
"Oh? How fitting." She looked surprised. "Your courtesy name is the same one I chose for our future child."
"Hm?" I looked at her, then at the man serving her food. "What a coincidence."
"Yes. My name is Song Jinshu, and your uncle-in-law is Mu Yunzhong."
"'Who sends brocade letters through the clouds? When the wild geese return, the moon fills the western tower.' I named our future child Yan Hui."
When she recited the line, she truly seemed to be looking forward to having a clever, lovely child with Uncle-in-Law.
I froze. Only then did I understand why Uncle-in-Law had given me that name in my previous life.
"Who gave you the courtesy name when you came of age?" she continued.
"It was Uncle-in-Law—" I started, but the man cut me off.
"Song Yan Hui?" He called the name and placed a piece of fish belly into my bowl with a smile. "A fine name."
I suddenly understood. I glanced at Uncle-in-Law, then at the fish, frowned, and obediently ate it.
Damn it. Uncle-in-Law knew perfectly well I did not like fish!
After swallowing, I looked at my aunt seriously. "I chose the name myself because I liked the two characters."
Originally I had liked them only because of my previous life. Now the liking came from the heart.
I liked the characters and everything they meant.
So in both lives, they had once wished for a child, had they not?
Yet that simple wish had become impossible after my aunt died in my previous life.
What had Uncle-in-Law been thinking when he gave me this name?
Had he truly seen me as his own child?
While I ate, I secretly watched him pick bones from a piece of fish.
"You are quite good at naming," my aunt said, watching our interaction. "Yan Hui likes Uncle-in-Law a lot?"
"Huh?" I stared at her, unsure how to answer.
Uncle-in-Law calmly placed the deboned fish into my bowl.
My mouth twitched. I gave up resisting and ate it.
"Yes. I like Uncle-in-Law."
"Good. Uncle-in-Law likes obedient children too." He patted my head with a smile.
This scene was truly "a loving father and filial son."
"Uncle-in-Law, could you stop giving me fish? I do not like it."
"Ah, sorry. Uncle-in-Law did not know. Have some blanched vegetables instead."
You did not know? How could you not know!
"...Thank you, Uncle-in-Law. I do not like vegetables either."
"Children can be picky. That will not do. What do you like? Uncle-in-Law will serve you." He was playing the elder now.
"Uncle-in-Law... there is really no need..." I knew he was pretending not to know me, but did he have to torment me like this?
"Do not listen to your uncle-in-law. Children should eat more meat." My aunt interrupted and placed a piece of spare ribs in my bowl. "It is fine to be picky. Eat whatever you want."
"Thank you, Princess." I glanced at her gratefully. She was truly the woman Uncle-in-Law loved. She did not force a child to eat vegetables!
"Oh, calling me Princess is too distant. Since you already call Mu Yunzhong uncle-in-law, just call me aunt!"
"Yes. Thank you, Aunt."
"Pingping, I want some too." Uncle-in-Law actually started acting jealous. "I am still a patient. Why do you not ask what I want to eat?"
I had never seen Uncle-in-Law like this. My eyes widened.
Recalling the cold, ruthless Regent Prince from my previous life, I could not connect him to the man coquettishly asking for food now.
He was actually acting spoiled in front of Aunt.
"All right, all right." My aunt treated him like a child and quickly filled his bowl with several pieces of spare ribs.
"And soup." Uncle-in-Law pushed further, coughing twice as if he were terribly weak. "Pingping, I want soup too."
"All right." Her eyes filled with concern. She took the spoon from the maid and served him a bowl.
Watching the delicate beauty sip the soup in small mouthfuls, she sighed in satisfaction.
I could not bear to watch.
"Aunt, is Uncle-in-Law always like this?"
"Ah, there is nothing to be done." She sighed helplessly, giving me a look that said I was too young to understand. "Your uncle-in-law is too delicate to take care of himself."
I: "..."
Too delicate to take care of himself indeed!