Ye Qingluan's gentleness when talking to Zhao Shuning was beyond Zhao Shuning's expectation.
As far as she knew, although Ye Qingluan was from a noble family, she had a bold and unrestrained personality. She thought that the Ye Qingluan she would meet today would surely be a straightforward and heroic beauty.
However, it turned out differently.
The Ye Qingluan who came to pick up Luo Feiyan was dressed appropriately and accompanied by a grand entourage.
"Greetings, Lady Luo."
"Who are you?"
"Mother, this is Xia Qingyan, the young prince of the Sea Spirit Kingdom. Can I invite him to our home as a guest?"
Ye Qingluan glanced back at Zhao Shuning and said, "Of course you can."
"Thank you, Lady Luo."
"However, I have something to talk to Feiyan later. It might be inconvenient for the young prince to follow us. Would you mind taking the second carriage?"
"Of course not. I'm sorry for the trouble, Lady Luo."
"It's no trouble. Since you are Feiyan's friend, you are our honored guest at the Luo Mansion."
Zhao Shuning got into the carriage, and Xia Qingyan got into the one behind. But Ye Qingluan didn't get in.
"Mother, aren't you coming in?"
"Feiyan, I still have a few words to say. You put down the curtain first. You've always been in poor health. Don't catch a cold."
Zhao Shuning responded with a soft "um" and put down the curtain.
Immediately afterwards, Zhao Shuning heard a booming voice outside. The smile on her face hadn't faded when it was replaced by seven or eight more points of shock.
"Today, in front of so many people, I'll make myself clear." The voice was so loud that there was not a trace of the previous gentleness.
Zhao Shuning was stunned. She turned to look at the maid who was heating the brazier for her. The maid seemed to be used to this kind of thing.
"This—"
"Reply to the young lady, it's the lady's voice."
Zhao Shuning clicked her tongue. Before she could ask the maid what was going on, a new voice came from outside.
"My Feiyan has been in poor health since childhood and can't bear any grievances. She is kind and tolerant, but I'm different from her. Remember this clearly. If I, Ye Qingluan, am not far from the Sky Academy. It only takes two or three days to get here. If I find out that anyone bullies my daughter, even if you are a royal noble, don't blame me for being rude to you."
Zhao Shuning whispered, "Is Mother always like this?"
The little maid nodded.
"The lady has always been like this."
"My husband told me a lot about the rules of the Sky Academy. I know that in this academy, it's normal for those without strength to be bullied. But my Feiyan is different. My views are different from those of the elders and your parents. As long as my Feiyan is bullied by you, I will step in personally. Don't say I'm bullying the weak. When I was teaching others a lesson, you were still crawling on the ground."
It seemed that the history books were right. Ye Qingluan was really short - tempered. She was especially good at protecting her own.
The people in the Sky Academy didn't expect that the smiling Lady Luo a moment ago would turn into a tigress in the next instant, making them dare not resist.
Among the onlookers, three people silently lowered their heads, not daring to meet Ye Qingluan's eyes.
Perhaps, in the eyes of many, Ye Qingluan was a bit annoying at this moment and even lacked the grace of a noble. But in Zhao Shuning's eyes, such Ye Qingluan was the best mother. She was willing to sacrifice her face for her daughter.
Although she didn't know if such a threat would work on those proud sons of heaven, at least Zhao Shuning felt warm inside.
If she and Luo Qiu hadn't been switched at birth, would Ye Qingluan have treated her this well? The answer was beyond doubt. Ye Qingluan was the biological mother of her current body. Zhao Shuning could enjoy her mother's love without any guilt.
After a while, Ye Qingluan got into the carriage. At the coachman's cry of "Gee - up!", the carriage started moving.
"Feiyan, have you suffered a lot in the academy?"
Zhao Shuning shook her head.
Ye Qingluan patted the dew off her body and took off her cloak. It was much warmer inside the carriage than outside.
"Xiaocui, isn't the brazier ready yet?"
"Reply to the lady, it's ready."
The maid handed the brazier to Ye Qingluan, who immediately pulled Zhao Shuning's hands and placed them on it.
"Feiyan, hold it. Your body has always been cold. Eh—"
Zhao Shuning's hands were just the right temperature, even a bit warmer than Ye Qingluan's.
"Mother, why didn't Father come?"
"Er—oh, right. Your father just returned from the Cangwu Kingdom. He was a bit tired from the journey, so I didn't let him come. I told him to have a good rest at home. Otherwise, he might say something unpleasant."
Zhao Shuning smiled and didn't mind.
"What did Father go to the Cangwu Kingdom for?"
"The eldest prince of the royal family died unexpectedly in the Sky Academy. His name was Gu Xingran. I heard that the king of the Cangwu Kingdom originally designated Gu Xingran as the heir. Now that the heir is gone, they have to choose a new prince to train."
"Was Gu Xingran very outstanding?"
Ye Qingluan shook her head.
"The second prince of the royal family is a real dragon among men. But he doesn't like to manage state affairs, so he has been traveling around."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
"Mother, how is Aunt Liu?"
The storm of the baby - switch was caused by Liu Yuan. Zhao Shuning didn't believe that the woman had been idle all these years.
"She's fine. Why do you suddenly mention her? You've never had a good impression of her, right?"
"I still don't have a good impression of her now."
"Ah?"
Zhao Shuning came to her senses, covered her mouth, and whispered, "Did I say something wrong?"
Ye Qingluan shook her head.
"I'm just a bit surprised. Although you didn't like Aunt Liu before, you never said it so openly."
"Ah—"
Zhao Shuning tucked her legs in, not knowing how to make up for it. But Ye Qingluan explained for her, "I understand. You must have been bored in the academy for these three months. Your personality has changed a lot under the influence of the people around you."
Zhao Shuning lowered her eyes.
"Mother."
"Yes, go ahead."
"What kind of daughter do you like?"
Gentle? Generous? Well - educated? Like the previous Luo Feiyan?
But Ye Qingluan stroked Zhao Shuning's hair and said earnestly, "As long as she is my daughter, I like her no matter what."
"Feiyan, your father is just like that. When you get home, don't pay attention to him or care about his expression. Your father is a bit hot - tempered, but he is still good to you."
"I know."
Luo Hao was the marquis of Ruoqiang. It was normal for him to have pressure.
Ye Qingluan stood up and tidied the hair in front of Zhao Shuning's forehead.
"I thought Feiyan would be bullied in the academy. But looking at you up close, your life in the academy must have been quite comfortable, right?"
"Why do you say so?"
"Look at my Feiyan. You've become even more beautiful."
Ye Qingluan pulled Zhao Shuning and looked at her from left to right.
"Good. There are no injuries on this body."
Ye Qingluan was really a good mother.
"I was just being unnecessarily anxious."