Chapter 17: Agreeing on a Secret Signal

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However, considering that his mother was already quite a good mother-in-law—never nagging his wife or imposing rules—since they all lived quietly within their own courtyard, Meng Wenxuan wisely chose to say nothing.

After Madam Meng left, Meng Wenxuan sent Zhang Ma and Qing Guo away, leaving only himself and his daughter in the main hall.

He then spoke to the child in his arms, “Yueya, Daddy knows you can understand words. If I say something right, you say ‘ah’; if I’m wrong, you say ‘oh,’ okay?”

Jiaoyue immediately responded with an “ah.”

Daddy is not only handsome but also smart, noticing such fine details and knowing I can understand him—Jiaoyue’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

Hearing his daughter’s “ah,” Meng Wenxuan cautiously asked a simple question to confirm she truly understood him.

“Yueya, have you eaten enough?”

Jiaoyue knew he wanted to confirm if she really understood and promptly said “ah.”

Meng Wenxuan continued, “Do you want to eat a bit more?”

Jiaoyue was speechless—couldn’t he ask something more meaningful? Yet she cooperated and replied with an “oh.”

“Grandma sent over a nanny goat. Would you like to drink goat’s milk from now on?” Meng Wenxuan asked again.

“Ah.” Jiaoyue’s “ah” came with a smile, clearly showing she liked goat’s milk.

“Goat’s milk is good for your health. Can we give some to your mother too?” Meng Wenxuan teased her.

Jiaoyue’s eyes lit up, of course! She immediately said “ah, ah, ah” several times.

Meng Wenxuan laughed. “Yueya, you want to tell Daddy that you’re happy to share it with your mother, right?”

Jiaoyue responded with another “ah.”

This time, Meng Wenxuan truly believed his daughter could understand him. He pinched her little cheek gently and said, “Yueya, you’re so smart. Now Daddy is going to ask you some serious questions.”

Jiaoyue gave a resigned “ah,” silently thinking, Hurry up and ask something serious!

“Yueya, do you dislike Nurse Liu?” Meng Wenxuan kept the question simple.

Jiaoyue answered with an “ah” followed by an “oh.” She didn’t dislike her—Nurse Liu wanted to take her life.

Meng Wenxuan’s eyes narrowed. What did this “ah” then “oh” mean?

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Could “no” be inaccurate?

He asked again, “Yueya, it’s not that you dislike Nurse Liu, but you feel she wants to harm you?”

Jiaoyue immediately smiled. “Ah, Daddy, you’re so smart to figure it out.”

Meng Wenxuan’s heart sank. He thought to himself: Nurse Liu came with his mother when she married into the Meng family. His mother trusted her deeply. All seven brothers were raised under Nurse Liu’s watchful eyes. Now it seemed Nurse Liu was likely a pawn planted early on by that person who arranged the marriage.

The Meng family, despite all their precautions, had such a glaring oversight. Were there more like this?

Jiaoyue seemed to understand her father’s thoughts. Indeed, Nurse Liu was a maid brought as part of Grandma’s dowry—she might be difficult to handle.

Meng Wenxuan looked at his daughter and asked, “Yueya, were you born with some special ability to distinguish good people from bad?”

Jiaoyue responded with another “ah.”

She could see people’s fortunes and hear their thoughts—both considered special abilities.

Meng Wenxuan, hearing her “ah,” was certain his daughter was extraordinary.

Though she was just born and couldn’t speak properly to convey her thoughts, he could establish a secret code with her.

Even if she couldn’t express herself clearly, at least this way he could know if someone harbored ill intent toward the Meng family or his daughter, giving them an advantage.

So he said to her, “Yueya, how about we agree on a secret signal?”

Jiaoyue happily said “ah,” pleased that although she couldn’t do much, Daddy would handle things—and she felt much relieved.

Meng Wenxuan smiled and kissed her tender little cheek. “Yueya, you really are our little lucky star.”

Jiaoyue blushed and smiled shyly. This was the first time in two lifetimes someone had kissed her. Having parents who cherished and loved her was such happiness.

Her big eyes curved into crescent moons, truly deserving the name Yueya.

“So here’s the agreement: when you see someone who means harm to you or our Meng family, point at them and say ‘ah.’ Daddy, if he misunderstands, you say ‘oh,’ okay?”

Jiaoyue happily said “ah.”

Father and daughter joyfully agreed on their secret code. This would be invaluable until Jiaoyue could speak.

Meng Wenxuan then asked, “Yueya, can Daddy tell your mother and grandfather about this secret code?”

Jiaoyue enthusiastically raised both hands and feet and added an “ah” to show her approval.

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This way, it would be much easier. If something happened and she was too flustered to tell them, the code would save the day.

Meng Wenxuan affectionately patted his daughter. “As for others, we’ll decide later.”

He made this decision because he couldn’t always be by her side. Given the current situation, his wife spent the most time with their daughter. Given a father’s love, he would see her often as she grew.

As for his mother, it wasn’t that he didn’t trust her, but there were spies already near her. It was unknown if there were others, so for safety’s sake, he wouldn’t tell her for now.

Besides, all seven brothers were married, and their wives had brought many people into the Meng household. Although the family had checked carefully at the time, oversights like Nurse Liu’s were inevitable.

They needed a solution.

After finishing the serious talk, Meng Wenxuan played with his daughter for a while. Seeing her really yawn, he soothed her to sleep and sent her back to his wife’s inner chamber. Then he went to see his own father again.

Since moving from the inner courtyard to this one at age seven, this was the first time he had seen his father so many times in one day.

“The family head, Seventh Young Master is here,” the gatekeeper respectfully reported.

Hearing that the seventh son had come, the Meng family head glanced at the darkened sky outside and frowned. What was he here for? Had he not felt satisfied until he came to seek revenge personally? This brat was different from his brothers—he couldn’t be confronted with force; he had to be coaxed.

“Let him in,” the family head said, putting down his book.

Before entering, Meng Wenxuan told the gatekeeper to wait outside the courtyard gate.

Seeing this, the family head understood—this young man had something to say that couldn’t be overheard.

After giving his instructions, Meng Wenxuan watched the gatekeeper leave, then approached his father’s desk. “Father, I have two things to discuss with you.”

The family head took a deep breath. Two serious matters?

“Sit down and talk,” he said, pointing to the chair closest to the desk.

Meng Wenxuan didn’t sit but leaned close to his father’s ear and whispered, “This is something the secret guards can’t hear.”

Hearing this, the family head raised his eyebrows and snapped his fingers. Meng Wenxuan then heard several presences withdraw from the shadows.

“Now it’s just you and me. You may speak,” the family head said with curiosity, wondering what had made his unruly seventh son so cautious, careful, and secretive.