Old Lady Ning laughed heartily, patting her arm affectionately, “Even if you get married and have children, as long as I’m alive, I’ll give you New Year’s money every year. To me, you’ll always be my precious child who never grows up.”
Ning Wanwan felt a lump in her throat, recalling how her willfulness had made her grandmother ill in her previous life. Shortly after entering the Eastern Palace, her grandmother had quietly passed away, and she hadn’t had a chance to see her one last time.
In this life, she hoped to stay by her grandmother’s side, wishing her a peaceful life and hoping she could live to be a hundred years old.
Leaning on Old Lady Ning, with a slightly nasal tone, she said, “Grandmother must promise not to cheat. You must give me New Year’s money even if you live to be a hundred.”
“You greedy little girl, how could I live that long?”
“There are many people who live to be a hundred. You can too.”
Old Lady Ning pulled Ning Wanwan into her embrace, sensing that the girl had become even more clingy. As she got older, her only concern was this granddaughter.
“Okay, grandmother promises to live to a hundred and see you surrounded by children.”
Ning Wanwan’s nose felt sore. She nodded and rubbed her nose against her grandmother, saying, “Mm.”
After chatting for a while, Ning Wanwan sat up straight and said seriously, “Father is preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner in the Ke Hall. Aren’t you going?”
Old Lady Ning’s eyes flickered before darkening. “No, I’m old. My appetite isn’t what it used to be. I can’t eat greasy food. I’ll stay here in Suyu Hall and have some dumplings. It’ll be peaceful.”
Ning Wanwan knew her grandmother had long-standing issues with her father, especially since her mother, Ning Jing, was still alive. Their relationship was now completely frozen, so her grandmother and father tried to avoid each other.
“Then I’ll stay and keep you company.”
Old Lady Ning looked surprised. “You’re not going to accompany your father?” Although Lin Zhengyang favored his concubine-born daughter, Lin Yutong, she knew Wanwan still cared about her father.
