24 Family Dinner - 7.4

After all the formalities, dinner finally commenced as servants were summoned and food was served while both Wei Rou Xiang and Ning Yan Mei took their seats at the table with Wei Rou Xiang sitting beside her husband; Fan Hui Liang and Ning Yan Mei sitting across Fan Li Jie since she was led by Wei Rou Xiang to sit beside her.

The Fan family dinner was a quiet affair. Due to the unexpected arrival of Ning Yan Mei and to Fan Zhu Xia's absence, almost all of the men remained silent and only Wei Rou Xiang talked to keep Ning Yan Mei from feeling aggrieved due to Fan Li Jie's continued ignorance of her presence.

Seeing his mother's miserable eyes as she looked at the pouting princess who kept shooting glances at his indifferent brother, Fan Xian Liang sighed and finally took pity on his mother and spoke, receiving a look filled with relief and gratitude from her.

"Mother, I've heard from the crown prince that you've been spending a lot of time at the palace with the empress helping her with organizing some event?"

"Oh yes, the empress had asked for my assistance in preparing for her nephew's arrival."

Hearing her reply, Ning Yan Mei stiffened for a fraction before relaxing. It was a good thing that no one was paying attention to her and all were instead staring at Wei Rou Xiang in surprise.

"Nephew? The crown prince never mentioned any cousin..." Fan Xian Liang asked before trailing off, looking a tad bit confused.

Grinning at her son's puzzled expression, Wei Rou Xiang started explaining to everyone.

Meanwhile at the Imperial Palace, in a private dining hall that is lavishly decorated with lush amber rugs on the pale white and gold marbled floors that went along with the white jade wall interiors that had gold trimmings and various paintings hung up on them that is complemented by the jade and silk furnishings in the room which is where the royal family was also currently having their dinner and contrary to the awkward atmosphere back at the Fan family, they were all conversing happily as they ate.

Even the usually calm and stoic emperor; Jin Fa Chung was laughing boisterously when he heard his son's; Jin Meng Yao complaining that his childhood friend; Fan Xian Liang, despite being younger than him by two years, acted like he was older and kept stopping him from having fun, making him sound like he was a child who got told off.

To see his son loosen up while he was away brought Jin Fa Chung relief. He knew that Jin Meng Yao always worried about the little things despite the cheerful air he exudes but sending him off to study cultivation at Zenith Crescendo Academy with his sworn brother; Fan Hui Zhong's nephew; Fan Xian Liang seemed to do him good.

Grinning, Jin Fa Chung asked good-naturedly, "What were you trying to do then to make Xian'er stop you?"

"It doesn't really matter what I was trying to do, it was just a small thing..." Jin Meng Yao dismissively replied as he averted his gaze and hastily drunk a cup of wine which made both Jin Fa Chung and his wife and empress; Wu Li Hua look at each other in bemusement.

Seeing that his parents weren't going to pursue the topic, Meng Yao coughes then turned to his side and gave his sister; Jin Mei Rong a gentle smile as he asked, "Little Mei'er how have you been while I was away? Did father steal any of your sweets again?"

Hearing his question, Jin Mei Rong tried to suppress her giggles and held a hand to her mouth but her twinkling eyes were filled with amusement as both of them glanced at their father who had an indignant expression.

"It was one time, Meng Yao! One time!" Jin Fa Chung exclaimed in defense, blushing crimson as his two children and wife started laughing at his embarassment.

"Haha... No need to worry about it Father, I don't mind sharing." Mei Rong said in between giggles which prompted another round of laughter while Fa Chung could only sigh and shake his head in exasperation.

Finally taking pity on their father, Meng Yao turned to his sister again and asked in a more serious tone, "Nevermind Father then, how have you been Mei'er? Did you still get attacks?"

The laughter slowly died down when they heard the question and the previously joyful air was slowly replaced by a somber mood.

This made Jin Mei Rong sigh sadly. She knew that her sickly constitution is a constant source of worry and sadness for her family. It wasn't like she wanted to be so weak and sickly but due to an incident when she was still young, she sustained injuries that didn't seem as serious at the time but gradually worsened to the point that it became too late to treat it fully.

Mei Rong didn't blame anyone for her health's current state. At the time, her parents had done everything to make sure she survived her injuries and the fact that it wasn't only her who got hurt grievously at that time made it all the more harder for them.

The imperial physicians at that time practically made a miracle happen just to keep her alive and she was wholeheartedly thankful for all their efforts even if she gets the occasional attacks where her previous injuries would act up and render her bedridden for a time.

Apparently, aside from her injuries where the perpetrator had aimed to cripple her by damaging her dantian core, she was also poisoned by the weapon used on her. The physicians were able to remove most of it and stop it from spreading but since the main focus of the attack was her dantian, it was inevitable that poison would seep in there as well and this was something that not anyone can remove.

Understanding her situation, Jin Mei Rong had already accepted it and learned to leave with it but her family and their trusted vassals still found it hard to swallow and made them feel incredibly guilty.

Looking at the three most important people to her, sitting around the table and looking at her with worry and guilt-ridden eyes, Jin Mei Rong gave them a gentle, reassuring smile and said, "Please everyone, no need to worry... I am fine and alive, that's all that matters."

"But Mei'er..."

"No buts! I am fine brother! No need to worry anymore, besides my health shouldn't be the dinner topic... Mother, I heard from some of the servants that you are preparing a welcoming banquet? Is it for that visiting princess?"

Seeing her daughter was putting forth effort to change the topic of conversation, Wu Li Hua decided to go along with and nodded as she answered, "Originally it was not but now that she's here, I thought it would be better to also announce her as one of the esteemed guests and one of the main reasons for the banquet."

"When did this princess arrive?" Jin Meng Yao asked curiously.

Before Wu Li Hua could answer, Jin Mei Rong quickly replied with a voice filled with annoyance that made both the emperor and empress hide their amused smiles while their son stared at his sister in surprise.

"She arrived a couple of days ago... Oh, and brother, you should really avoid her, she isn't very nice."

"Really? Did she do anything to you?" Meng Yao asked with a frown on his face. The thought of someone bullying his sister while he was gone bothered him deeply.

"Not really but I have a feeling that she's up to no good."

Sensing that her son's expression darkening by the second, Wu Li Hua decided to intervene and spoke out, "It doesn't matter what her true agendas are, your father already had people set up precautions, isn't that right dear?"

"Of course. I already have people keeping an eye on her and they will tell me as soon as something out of the ordinary happens... Now both of you two, keep eating." Jin Fa Chung said in reply while giving a pointed look to his children before returning back to his food.

Picking up their chopsticks, both Meng Yao and Mei Rong resumed eating before Meng Yao suddenly stopped in the middle of chewing before he quickly swallowed his food and grabbed a drink then turned to his mother and asked, "If the banquet wasn't for the princess, then who is it for? Is the original reason for the banquet the reason why you had me rushing to come back?"

"Ah yes... The banquet is actually to welcome back your older cousin. Your father gave me permission to throw a welcoming feast for him."

Looking extremely surprised, both Jin Meng Yao and Jin Mei Rong had only one thought in mind which they both simultaneously blurted out.

"We have a cousin?!"