Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’ Chapter 727: One more time wont hurt

The Li estate, many years in the past.

Clutching a tray of breakfast, Gu Xueqin stepped into the backyard as the morning sun dappled the ground. The residence was so hushed that her own light footsteps were the only sound to reach her ears.

Upon reaching the guest quarters, she paused to peer inside rather than entering. On the bed lay the young girl, the solitary survivor of the Ying family’s massacre, curled into a small ball.

"Is Little Bing'er still asleep?"

"Madam, the girl didn't close her eyes once last night. I attempted to comfort her and suggest some rest, but she merely stared at me in silence. It was quite unsettling," the maid whispered, her voice trembling with lingering fear.

"So she only managed to drift off this morning..."

"Madam, out of everyone at the Ying estate... only she remains, and her skin is so frigid. Do you suppose she might have been... cursed by some inauspicious entity, and that is why..."

The maid’s head snapped down before she could finish, cowed by the sharp, stern look that suddenly crossed her mistress’s usually kind face.

"I will not tolerate such rumors in this household again."

After sending the maid away, Gu Xueqin entered to check on little Ying Bing’s health. She let out a breath of relief when she found no signs of fever or illness.

As she turned to leave, however, a freezing sensation gripped her hand.

The small girl’s face was drained of color, her lips pressed into a thin line. Despite the unnatural chill radiating from her, beads of sweat rolled down her tensed forehead.

"Mother... please don't leave me..."

"I am right here. Go back to sleep."

From that day on, Ying Bing would frequently find herself clutching a source of warmth in her dreams.

Years passed by.

That once-pitiful child’s face matured before her. The shadows of anxiety and dread had long since faded, replaced by a gaze that was slightly distant yet brilliant and striking under the sun’s rays.

Gu Xueqin found herself momentarily dazed by the sight.

The fragile little thing from years ago had blossomed into a stunning young woman who was nearly ready for her wedding.

"Did you rest well last night?"

"Yes. Why have you come?"

"I’ve brought some supplies and I’m here to escort you to our home in Ziyang Prefecture."

Sitting on the edge of the mattress, Gu Xueqin tenderly brushed stray hairs behind Ying Bing's ear while she began unwrapping various bundles.

"To the residence in Ziyang Prefecture?"

Ying Bing tilted her head in confusion.

"So that rascal can properly fetch you from your maternal home. How could he not come to our door for the betrothal? It would be improper for a bride to simply walk into the groom's house; people would laugh at us," Madam Gu explained with a look of gravity.

Ying Bing cast her eyes downward. "But I have no maternal family..."

Taking her hand, Gu Xueqin hummed softly, "Who would dare claim my Little Bing'er has no mother? I won't allow it. Old Li, isn't that so?"

"Yes, yes, exactly," Comrade Old Li, who usually held his head high with dignity, now nodded frantically like a devoted servant to his wife.

Ying Bing froze. The feeling of Gu Xueqin’s hand in hers felt overwhelmingly familiar.

She had never understood the source of this recognition before, but hearing that specific word caused the sensation to suddenly take solid form.

"Mother..."

As the soft, dazed word left her lips, the room fell into a silence so profound that a falling needle would have sounded like thunder.

Despite four people being in the room, even the sound of breathing seemed to vanish.

Gu Xueqin looked on in disbelief, her mouth hanging open. "Little Bing'er, what did you just call me?"

Ying Bing looked up, her gaze fixed seriously on Gu Xueqin for a long moment before she repeated softly, "Mother."

"Good, good, my dear daughter. Let mother comb your hair for you."

Filled with joy, Gu Xueqin was so shaken by emotion that she dropped the comb several times before she could hold it properly.

Comrade Old Li was in a state of frantic excitement, rising and sitting repeatedly, muttering about how he would invite every colleague he knew for a feast until they were all under the table. Even though this was merely the betrothal banquet, he could not contain his zeal.

In the past, at the weddings of his colleagues' children or the celebrations for their grandchildren, he was always teased:

"When will your family finally grow?"

"How is the progress between those two youngsters? I expected the Li family's wedding wine to be served first."

Faced with such inquiries, what could Old Li do? He could only take a drink and offer a silent, knowing smile.

He had tried to look like a man who had everything under control, even if it wasn't the time to share the news.

"..."

Shang Qinqing remained unexpectedly composed.

She exited the room without a word, acting as if nothing significant had occurred.

"Eh? Qinqing, why did you come down?"

A bewildered Qin Yuzhi was grabbed and dragged to a secluded corner of the Qiushui Pavilion.

"Hah..." Shang Qinqing collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest and gasping for air as if she were in the middle of a medical crisis, taking one deep breath after another.

"What's happening? Tell me!"

"Huff... huff, just give me a second."

Seeing that no one was watching, Shang Qinqing began to roll around on the floor in a frenzy.

"Don't scare me like this. What is going on?"

"Little Bing'er called Madam Gu 'Mother'."

"Hiss..."

Qin Yuzhi recoiled as if struck by a bolt of lightning.

And then...

The number of people rolling on the ground increased from one to two.

"...What is wrong with those two?" Shang Li asked, looking up.

Shang Wu let out a yawn. "They're having a fit. It's called... oh, hyperglycemia. Don't eat too much sugar, or you'll end up just like them."

"I understand, sister," Shang Li replied with a frightened nod.

Li Mo had been searching for Shang Qinqing and finally spotted her by the banyan tree. Before he could approach, he overheard her hushed conversation with Qin Yuzhi.

"When Madam Gu heard Little Bing'er call her mother, she was moved to tears."

"It's a tragedy I wasn't there to see it."

Li Mo was stunned!

The ice block actually changed how she addressed his mother?

Young Li crossed his arms, looking thoughtful. If she had changed how she spoke to his mom, she would surely have to change how she addressed him too. She couldn't keep calling him 'childish ghost' anymore; she should call him...

"Madam Gu was combing Little Bing'er's hair, so overcome with emotion she started crying."

"Isn't that a joyous occasion?"

"She said a mother's heart is a mess of complicated feelings when her daughter is about to get married..."

"???"

A string of question marks appeared in Li Mo's mind.

If he recalled correctly, the Li family had only one child, a son named Li.

Utterly confused, Li Mo headed upstairs but found Comrade Old Li blocking the doorway like a sentinel.

"If you have something to say, speak from the doorway."

"...Father, do you think it's possible... that you've been keeping a secret from me?"

"What secret?"

"That you swapped me with the Ying family's baby at birth, and the ice block is actually your real daughter."

"?"

Watching his father freeze and then instinctively reach for his belt, Li Mo cleared his throat and shifted to more pressing matters.

Li Mo didn't want to spoil the mood, but he was certain this betrothal banquet would not go smoothly.

Even though the Qingyuan Sect had prepared thorough backup plans, there was no way to ensure that no surprises would occur.

With a grave expression, Li Mo said:

"Father, when it begins, make sure you and mother don't use the excuse of going to the latrine to sneak past the bridal chamber."

"Just which son of a bitch thinks they can ruin the Old Li family's good luck?"

Li Dalong exploded in a fury at the suggestion of someone causing a disturbance.

Li Mo sighed. "The Summoning Demon Cult and the Lingxi Sect. My estimate is at least two Seventh Realm cultivators. I haven't even counted those in the Sixth Realm, but there are likely ten or more."

"......"

After his initial outburst, Li Dalong went quiet for a moment before grumbling in a low voice, "Hmph, I understand. When the time comes, I'll move your mother and the others to safety. If those snakes ever fall into my hands..."

"Father, let’s go inside to talk," Li Mo whispered, gesturing for him to be quiet.

"No, can't you see I'm guarding the door? Your mother is in there helping Ying Bing try on her engagement outfits."

"Hiss..."

Li Mo, who had intended to go in anyway, now felt it was absolutely mandatory that he enter.