chapter 15

Chapter 15: Don't Push Everyone

During his time at the Duke Shen Mansion, Shen He made many new acquaintances.

Like his maternal grandparents, whom he hadn't met yet.

Shen He was exceptionally excited when he heard of the visit from Sir Liu of the Minister's household.

His grandparents and lousy father were just as they are in the present day.

Perhaps his maternal grandparents are the same!

However, when Shen He was brought into the drawing room and saw Sir Liu and Lady Liu, he looked somewhat lost.

It was only when his grandmother placed him into the arms of these strangers that he realized these were his maternal grandparents in this world.

Sir Liu, in his fifties with a beard, exuded an aura of scholarship.

Holding Shen He, he and Lady Liu had warm, smiling eyes, trying to soothe the child.

Unlike the overt affection shown by the old Duke and Duchess, they didn't smother Shen He with endearments.

The old Duchess pinched Shen He's cheek and said with a beaming smile, "Little He, these are your maternal grandfather and grandmother."

Such titles seemed a bit of a mouthful for a child. Sir Liu laughed, "He's so young, he won't be able to call us that yet."

The old Duke proudly retorted, "My dear in-law! You're underestimating Little He. He can already call out 'grandpa' and 'grandma', and even names of the two little maidservants by his side."

He said with a bragging tone, showing off how clever his grandson was.

The old Duchess discreetly pinched him and, smiling at the Liu couple, said, "Little He is indeed clever. He'll learn in a few days. After all, this is his first time meeting them. He has been raised in the eastern palace and hasn't been out much. When we celebrated his first birthday, the Liu family couldn't make it due to other commitments. It's great now that he can visit often, and it would be lovely if you could also visit regularly."

The Duke, still lost in his pride, came back to his senses after being pinched and cleared his throat.

What was he thinking, saying the boy can call the maids but not his maternal grandparents?

Nestled in the arms of his new grandparents, Shen He was quiet for a bit, then his spirits lifted.

Well, if they're different, so be it. Just having the same grandpa and grandma was cause enough for joy.

Shen He began to giggle again, the roughness of the goatee tickling his head.

Tilting his head up, he saw the thick, neat beard on his new grandfather's chin.

The well-trimmed beard intrigued Shen He.

The child, with his chubby little hand, tried once and missed, but on the second try, he successfully grabbed hold of the beard.

Sir Liu: "…?"

The always composed and elegant Lady Liu couldn't help but let out a giggled.

Sir Liu, following the child's pull, looked down into the bright eyes of the little one, focused and curious about his beard, and he too couldn't help but laugh.

Lady Liu remarked, "Of all the children in the Liu family, Little He is the first to dare tug at the master's beard."

Sir Liu, gently pinching the child's chubby arm, remarked sentimentally, "He's just like his mother was at this age."

When the topic turned to those who had passed, a silence fell among the adults.

Shen He puckered his lips and gave his new grandfather's beard a tug, signaling them to shake off their sadness.

He sat up in his grandfather's lap, daringly stood on Sir Liu's thighs, wrapped his arms around his neck and giggled, saying, "Grand-Grand."

Calling them "maternal grandfather" might be too much of a mouthful and might surprise you.

But if he can call his grandfather just "grandfather", why can't he do the same for his maternal grandfather?

Holding onto his new grandfather's neck, after a brief moment of contemplation, he planted a kiss on his forehead.

Consider it consolation and their first-meeting gift!

The child's kiss was loud and left a glistening mark of drool on Sir Liu's forehead.

Instead of being taken aback, Sir Liu, after a brief pause, broke into a delighted smile, hugged the child close, and with an underlying joy in his gentle voice said, "Good boy, let Grand-Grand get a good look at you."

Lady Liu chimed in happily, "Such an intelligent child! Let Grand-Grandmother hold you too."

Having kissed his maternal grandfather, Shen He naturally had to do the same for his maternal grandmother.

So, he gave her a kiss too.

As the soft child nestled in her arms, his eyes filled with trust and affection, Lady Liu, despite meeting him for the first time, felt a profound fondness for the little fellow.

Across the room, the old Duke and Duchess, seeing this, felt a twinge of jealousy.

Did he grow close to them so quickly?

Shen He, clever as he was, quickly noticed the tinge of envy in his grandparents. He found it amusing while acting coquettishly in his maternal grandmother's arms.

Then he wriggled free and jumped down.

Just yesterday, he was allowed to walk again. The small scabs on his knees had fallen off, revealing soft pink scars. In a month or two, these scars would fade, leaving no trace of the injury.

The little one scampered over to the old Duchess, perched himself on her lap, and with a playful wave of his chubby hand, beckoned her to come closer.

The old Duchess leaned down with a gleeful smile and was rewarded with another drool-covered smooch from the child.

After that, Shen He turned and did the same with his grandfather, giving him a drooly kiss too.

The entire room paused for a moment and then erupted into hearty laughter.

"Little He truly doesn't play favorites!"

After doling out kisses and soothing the elders, the restless boy could no longer sit still.

He fidgeted by his grandfather's side for a while, unable to find his brother Shen Yan.

At this time, Madam Zheng was taking care of the child. With guests around, she hadn't brought him out.

However, Shen He spotted a new little figure.

Referring to him as a "bun" might not be apt.

The boy, seemingly around five or six years old, had his hair styled into a neat topknot, adorned with a proper hairpin.

Dressed in lake-blue attire, he sat respectfully by his mother's side.

His mother was the current head lady of the Liu household, the wife of the eldest son of the Liu family.

And, he was Shen He's younger cousin.

Lady Liu, appearing both capable and composed, noticed Shen He's curious gaze upon her young son. She gently tapped her son's arm, "Zheng'er, this is your little cousin. Why don't you play with him? It seems Little He is quite taken with you."

Liu Zheng immediately slid off his chair to take Shen He's hand.

The Liu family was abundant in children, being a centennial family lineage, contrasting the Shen's, a newly prominent noble family.

Just among Sir Liu's generation, there were four primary branch siblings.

Sir Liu himself had three sons and two daughters. The second daughter is the current Princess Liu Xuan, and the youngest daughter is Shen He's mother.

Most of the children had already started their own families, with the eldest grandchild now in his teens, even older than the young prince.

Following him, there are two younger ones.

Given this sprawling family tree, young Liu Zheng had already garnered some experience in looking after even younger children.

He wore a serious expression on his soft, cherubic face, intriguing Shen He immensely.

It wasn't a deep-rooted maturity like the young prince, but rather a child's playful attempt at seeming grown-up.

A delighted Shen He, hand in hand with the "young adult" Liu Zheng, ventured out of the main hall, followed by Lianqiao and others.

Lady Liu instinctively wished to follow, but noticing the old Duke and Duchess were content letting the young Shen He roam freely, she felt a tad perplexed.

The old Duchess, with her keen insights, chuckled, "Children are naturally active. With so many attendants following, it's best to let him enjoy his youthful whims."

Reassured, Lady Liu settled back down.

Shen He leading Liu Zheng looked like a small bean guiding a sprout.

With familiar steps, Shen He soon approached the vicinity of Madam Zheng's courtyard.

He didn't enter but instead called out loudly from the nearby pathway, "Brother! Brother!"

Come on out, little one, and let's play!

Lianqiao covered her mouth with a handkerchief to suppress her laughter and nudged Heling, "Go with your nursemaid and ask if Lady Zheng would allow the eldest young master to come out and play with the younger one."

Before Heling could respond, the elder lady's maid, who was assigned to care for Shen He, chuckled, "Why even ask, Miss? The elder young master might just be waiting for the younger one right now."

Saying that, she headed to Lady Zheng's courtyard.

In just a short while, they brought out Shen Yan.

The moment little Shen Tuanzi saw Shen He, his eyes lit up. He trotted over, the soft flesh on his cheeks seemingly quivering.

Shen He also giggled and reached out to hold Shen Yan's hand.

"Come on, come on! Big brother will take you both for some fun!"

Little Baozi held one by his left hand and the other by his right.

Truly a master of balance.

Three little friends, whose combined ages didn't exceed ten, squeezed side by side on the narrow path and proceeded forward.

The scene was hilariously heartwarming.