Chapter 10 Are you the father of this child?

Chapter 10 Are you the father of this child?

Immediately, his eyes lit up. Not far away, Xie Yan stood upright, dressed in riding and archery attire, adjusting his cuffs with his head down, and swayed as he walked into the riding and archery field.

He's here to teach Cheng'er how to ride!

Her heart, which had been shrouded in gloom, suddenly brightened. She must have come to a realization later; it seemed he wasn't as heartless as she had thought.

Ultimately, she still cared about Cheng'er. Shen Nanzi decided to forget all his faults, only because he had come for Cheng'er at this moment.

Her joy was evident on her face as she stood up, intending to greet him.

When she and Xie Yan appear together in front of Cheng'er, the child will be overjoyed.

She wanted to witness this blissful moment with her own eyes.

Just as she stood up, a boy appeared behind her. The boy looked to be about the same age as Cheng'er and was also wearing riding and archery attire.

He followed Xie Yan closely, as if the child were his own son.

Shen Nanzi felt that she was extremely jealous, even the appearance of a child in her life caused her endless anxiety.

Impossible. Xie Yan must have come to the archery range for Cheng'er's sake.

Last night she solemnly told him that he wouldn't do something so absurd just to spite her.

Besides, he always ignores her and wouldn't bother to deliberately provoke her.

Just as Shen Nanzi was struggling with her inner turmoil, Xie Yan picked up the child under her gaze.

Yes, he picked up the child very naturally!

Shen Nanzi thought she was seeing things, that Xie Yan could hold a child?

Every time she wanted him to hold Cheng'er, he would either ignore her or say he didn't know how.

Isn't this quite a good way to hold someone? He even let the child sit on his wrists, with both hands wrapped around his neck.

His practiced movements didn't seem like it was his first time holding a baby.

Shen Nanzi's legs seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move, as she watched Xie Yan carry the child to a chestnut-red horse.

He put the child down, half-squatted down, and looked the child in the eye, carefully and meticulously explaining the essentials of riding.

His expression was so gentle and patient; it was a rare side of him that he showed to her and the children.

Shen Nanzi could hardly believe it. Xie Yan hadn't come for Cheng'er, but for this child?

Even knowing that she and Cheng'er would be coming!

Her first reaction was not to let Cheng'er see it. She couldn't imagine how disappointed and painful it would be for her child to see his father teaching other children to ride horses.

Shen Nanzi quickly looked towards the riding arena. There were many members of the royal family practicing riding today, and the arena was vast. For a moment, she couldn't see Lie Feng and Cheng'er.

Her heart was pounding; all she wanted was to get her child away from here.

She hurried along the fence, searching for half of the horse farm, and finally spotted Liefeng and Cheng'er.

It turned out that Liefeng was teaching him the most basic horseback riding and walking.

The two, one big and one small, basked in the warm sun. Cheng'er gripped the reins, his expression a mix of tension and confidence, showing he was learning exceptionally well.

This place is far from the main gate and in a secluded location, making it less likely to be startled by other people or horses. It must have been deliberately chosen by Liefeng.

Seeing that the child was studying diligently, she instructed, "Study here for a while, don't go too far."

Study for another half hour, then find an excuse to take the child away.

The warm sunshine, mixed with the winter wind, blew against my face, causing my clothes and hair to flutter.

Seeing that the time had come, Shen Nanzi had already thought of an excuse. She was pretending to be sick while clutching her stomach when she heard a horse running in the distance.

The color of the horse made her heart skip a beat, and the two people, one big and one small, on it made her even more uneasy.

She hurriedly called out, "Cheng'er, let's stop practicing here for today. My stomach hurts, so let's go back to the manor first."

Seeing her like this, Lie Feng immediately dismounted, picked up the child, and ran quickly to her side.

"Miss? What happened?"

Seeing Lie Feng's concerned gaze, she blinked twice.

Lie Feng immediately understood and said to Xie Chengze, "Your Highness, you have learned very well. Let's stop here for today. Shall we do it again next time?"

Xie Chengze looked at Shen Nanzi, his small brows furrowed, his eyes full of concern.

“Mother, it’s windy in the horse farm. You must have caught a chill. Let’s hurry back to the manor. I’ll have Auntie make you some brown sugar ginger tea.”

"good!"

As Shen Nanzi nodded, her eyes were also on the horse farm. The chestnut horse that was running towards them could only be Xie Yan.

Without thinking twice, she took the child, held him in her arms, pressed his little head down to prevent him from looking at the horse farm, and thought she should leave as soon as possible.

Lie Feng seemed to sense something. He turned his head and met Xie Yan's gaze.

He instantly understood, his fingers clenched, and he quickly walked to Shen Nanzi's side to block Xie Chengze's view.

"Mother, you're not feeling well, I can walk by myself."

"It's alright, Mom is alright!" Hearing her child's concern, Shen Nanzi felt extremely distressed.

"Mother!" Xie Chengze's voice was listless, his little head resting on her shoulder.

Shen Nanzi felt a sudden panic.

"Is it because my son's grades are bad that his father doesn't like me?"

Her heart skipped a beat, and she hugged Cheng'er even tighter. "No, Cheng'er is very good. He is smart and sensible. He is the best child."

"But why does Father teach other children to ride horses, but not me?"

"It must be something I did wrong to anger Father." His voice was filled with endless grievances, as well as sobs and sadness.

Shen Nanzi stopped in her tracks, her heart clenching as if it had been squeezed. Cheng'er saw Xie Yan, saw his father with another child, doing what he had always longed for, and he was heartbroken.

She put him down, squatted down, looked into Xie Chengze's hurt eyes, and solemnly said to him:

"You're fine, it's not your fault, it's Mother's fault, Mother..."

Shen Nanzi didn't know how to explain the fact that his father disliked his mother, and by extension, disliked him as well.

"Therefore, you don't need to blame yourself or look for faults in yourself."

Xie Chengze's eyes were full of tears. He had too many things he couldn't understand, and could only sob in grievance, "But I'm still very sad."

Children can't hide their feelings; with their heads down, tears streamed down their faces, and sadness enveloped their small bodies.

Shen Nanzi kept comforting the child, but hatred welled up in her heart. "Liefeng, take Cheng'er and leave first."

Lie Feng was worried, "Miss!"

"Take Cheng'er away! I'm coming right away."

Lie Feng had no choice but to carry Cheng'er away first.

Shen Nanzi stood up and looked up at the horse farm.

Xie Yan sat on his horse with his back to her, as if he had never seen them before.

Shen Nanzi walked to the railing, climbed over it, and headed straight for Xie Yan.

"Don't tighten the reins too much, or the horse will be uncomfortable."

"Yes, watch out for your surroundings, and make sure the horse isn't startled."

"Excellent, very good!"

The wind carried Xie Yan's voice, so gentle, its tone full of praise.

All of this was the fatherly love that her son could only dream of but never attain.

He so generously devoted his time to other children, yet he was incredibly stingy with it when it came to Cheng'er.

"Xie Yan, are you the father of this child?"