Chapter 595: Qin Ruan's Complaint, Third Young Master's Hurt Ego

Staring at Hou Yunjiao's handsome sleeping face, Qin Ruan suddenly said with determination, "If you wake up and don't explain, I won't forgive you."

Hou Yunjiao was in a deep sleep, his cold and beautiful face calm and relaxed, unable to respond to her.

Qin Ru lightly poked his nose with her fingertip.

She whispered in complaint, "I'm not joking, I'm serious. I will leave home with the child. I'm really angry this time."

If Hou Yunjiao were awake, she would never make such complaints.

They seemed close on the surface, but there was an invisible gap between them.

Qin Ruan couldn't find the right words to describe it; she just felt that something was missing in their daily interactions.

But it didn't affect their daily life together, and that was enough.

"Knock, knock—"

A faint knocking sound came from the door.

Qin Ruan got up and pulled the blanket for Third Master.

Her hand, which had been placed outside the thin blanket, tucked back under the covers.

It was this casual action that made her touch something she shouldn't have touched.

She thought Hou Yunjiao was lying flat, but unexpectedly, he was slightly tilted under the thin blanket.

And so, she had another close encounter with the culprit responsible for her ten-month pregnancy, whom she had briefly met at the Emperial palace Hotel.

Her face flushed red.

She quickly withdrew her hand, and images of that embarrassing moment flooded her mind.

The memory of her fingertip's touch lingered.

She could even imagine what the culprit looked like.

Qin Ruan's eyes widened in panic as she stared at Hou Yunjiao's delicate features.

This gentle and elegant face seemed completely harmless.

She couldn't connect the memory of her fingertip with the refined face of Hou Yunjiao at all.

It just didn't match up.

This was way beyond imagination.

"Knock, knock—"

The knocking sound came again.

Qin Ruan subconsciously licked her lips and rubbed her face with her hand.

She didn't feel too hot, so she adjusted her emotions and walked calmly to the door.

Outside the door stood Hou Chuan.

He spoke to Qin Ruan in a low voice, "Madam, Second Young Master is here, downstairs."

Qin Ruan looked thoughtful and asked, "Why didn't brother Rong come up?"

She guessed that Hou Yirong must be here to see Hou Yunjiao.

Hou Chuan replied, "Second Young Master said he didn't want to disturb Master's rest, so he came to find you."

Qin Ruan nodded in response, and she walked out of the bedroom, gently closing the door.

Leaving behind the awkwardness in the room.

Qin Ruan and Hou Chuan walked down the stairs one after another.

Inside the bedroom.

The moment the door was closed, Hou Yunjiao slowly opened his eyes.

He woke up before Qin Ruan entered the room.

The memory of what happened before he fainted rushed back to his mind.

Before losing consciousness, he seemed to have seen a blurry figure.

The figure was enveloped in dense black mist and dressed in an ancient black robe.

Before he could see the person's face clearly, his body couldn't bear it and collapsed.

The only thing he remembered vividly was a tiny red mole on the person's nose, clearly visible.

Hou Yunjiao lay on the bed with his hand curled up under the blanket.

His hand still carried the warmth from Qin Ruan's touch.

He couldn't help but feel a flutter of emotions when he recalled the touch of that embarrassing place.

That girl was indeed careless, and she was really trying to kill him.

Hou Yunjiao sighed lightly, his already pale face showing a touch of frustration.

He was in a very bad mood, with an indescribable sense of distress.

This was something he, as a man, couldn't do anything about.

Maintaining the relationship between husband and wife was most important in fulfilling physical needs.

Now lying in bed like this, he was hurt and frustrated by what happened just now.

Qin Ru had no idea that Hou Yunjiao's ego had been hurt.

She saw Hou Yirong looking solemn downstairs.

The first thing he said to her was, "Younger Sister, Nangong Chang is dead."

Qin Ruan didn't show any surprise; she had already predicted that Nangong Chang wouldn't make it.

Seeing Hou Yirong's serious expression, she knew that it wasn't just because of Nangong Chang's death.

Sure enough, what he said next surprised her.

Hou Yirong's face was gloomy, and he spoke in a low voice, "Before Su Jingshu gave birth to Nangong Chang's child, the child passed away today, and the child will be buried with Nangong Chang."

Qin Ruan blurted out, "Did Su Jingshu kill the child?!"

She couldn't believe that Su Jing Shu could be so heartless.

Hou Yirong shook his head, uncertain, and said, "It shouldn't be her doing."

Qin Ruan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and she asked, "Then was the child buried alive?"

"No, the child was already dead," Hou Yirong said with a trace of regret on his face.

Before Qin Ruan could speak, he explained everything he knew, "Su Jingshu broke off the engagement with Hou Family because of this child. At that time, the child was only three or four months old.

The child was taken out of Su Jing Shu's belly, and surviving was already a miracle. He was raised in Su's medical institution with the most sophisticated equipment. Now he's full-term, and as long as he grows a little more, he can be taken out of the incubator.

But last night, he stopped breathing at the same time as Nangong Chang passed away."

Qin Ruan's face was full of sorrow, and she rubbed her fingertips, analyzing, "Then it's not Su Jing Shu's fault."

Hou Yirong looked skeptical, "Are you sure?"

He couldn't tolerate having the blood of an innocent child on his hands.

Qin Ruan's lips curved up, and her gentle voice carried convincing power, "The Nangong family's fate has come to an end. The child wasn't supposed to be in this world. He survived for a few more months in this world thanks to Su Jingshu's blessings."

Hou Yirong, hearing her words, finally believed her.

His tense body relaxed, and he leaned back on the sofa.

He murmured, "The child is innocent."

He could torture traitors to death without blinking an eye and harvest the lives of those who posed a threat to the Huo family without hesitation.

But he couldn't stand the idea of taking an innocent life.

The words of Qin Ruan lifted the heavy stone from his heart.

Hou Yirong, who had survived a disaster, felt more relaxed in his demeanor.

His voice returned to calm as he asked Qin Ru, who was sitting beside him, "How is Third Brother? Is he getting any better?"

***Guess I am sorry for not updating for couple of days, I truly needs your patience as am facing troubles right now. I promise to make up for those chapters that I failed for published

Chapter 594: Third Young Master before Qin Ruan, Concealing Coldness with Gentleness

Lin Hao saw Hou Chuan, Hou Qiang, and the others heading downstairs.

He whispered to Qin Ruan, "Qin Ruan, calm down, anger can harm your body."

Qin Ruan was furious, and her eyes were reddening at the corners, endangering the child in her belly due to her emotional outburst.

Hou Chuan approached and also advised, "Madam, take care of your health. Master is fine now."

Qin Ruan completely ignored him. Of course, she knew that Hou Yunjiao was fine.

Before Hou Yunjiao went upstairs, she had transferred most of her dark energy to him, causing her lifeline to shorten once again.

Only after absorbing Xiao Guang's dark energy did her condition stabilize.

What angered her now was Lin Hao, Hou Chuan, Hou Qiang, and even Hou Yunjiao for keeping things from her.

Why did they all hide it from her?

Especially Lin Hao's deception, which made her more unbearable.

Qin Ruan tightened her grip on Lin Hao's collar, and her eyes reddened as the anger inside her surged. She also felt a danger to the child in her belly.

Hou Qiang stepped forward and knelt in front of Qin Ruan, "Madam, calm down!"

Seeing him kneeling before Qin Ruan, Hou Chuan's expression showed surprise.

Hou Chuan was an old member of the Hou family, serving three generations of family heads, and he was also the chief of the three chief guards.

Now, his kneeling before Qin Ruan indicated his recognition of her as the mistress of the Huo family.

Huo Chuan quickly followed suit, kneeling beside Hou Qiang.

"Madam, calm down."

Qin Ruan stared at them with a cold and sarcastic tone, "Trying to make me calm down now? Where were you all when Third Master's condition worsened? You all treated me like an outsider. Why bother staying here and suffering? It's better to leave early!"

Her words stabbed at both Hou Chuan and Hou Qiang.

Lin Hao knew that Qin Ruan's anger was mainly directed at him.

He shouldn't have kept things from her, like Hou Chuan and Hou Qiang did.

While others' deception might be understandable, he shouldn't have done it.

Lin Hao stood beside Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan and asked casually, "Is Third Young Master really fine?"

Hou Qiang's expression turned serious, and he replied, "The situation is not good. Master is very weak, and the doctor is unable to do anything. He can only rest and recuperate."

Lin Hao's lips twitched, and he looked at the two of them with admiration, "Are you deceiving her again?"

Hou Qiang shook his head, denying it, "Madam is from the Xuan Realm, and she is well aware of Third Young Master's condition. Even if we wanted to hide it, we couldn't."

With Third Master's condition being so serious, they couldn't possibly keep it from her.

Seeing his confused expression, they couldn't help but explain.

Lin Hao couldn't understand their way of thinking at the moment.

He was genuinely afraid of Qin Ruan now.

Just a moment ago, when he stared at Qin Ruan's reddened eyes, filled with grievances, bitterness, and sadness, he thought she might burst into tears.

But she didn't. She just stared at him accusingly.

Honestly, Lin Hao felt a sense of guilt.

Third Master falling ill and recuperating was something he shouldn't have hidden from Qin Ruan.

He regretted it, but there was no remedy for regret.

Qin Ruan was blaming him, and he could only accept it.

...

Upstairs, in the bedroom.

Qin Ruan sat by the bed, looking at Third Young Master lying there with his eyes closed, his face calm.

Even in his sleep, he exuded an extremely stable aura.

He had always been gentle, elegant, and composed, knowing when to advance and when to retreat.

His outstanding appearance and imposing presence were particularly remarkable, and he handled everything with ease.

He seemed gentle and tender in front of her, concealing his aloofness.

But in front of others, he showed the coldness and ruthlessness inherent in his nature, exuding a commanding and intimidating aura. She had been fortunate enough to witness it a few times.

The thoughts hidden in this man's heart were so deep that it was impossible for anyone to fathom.

Regardless of the gentle or cold Hou Yunjiao at this moment, he could only lie quietly on the bed.

His breathing became weak, and his face turned pale.

Seeing him like this, Qin Ruan felt as if a stone was stuck in her heart, making her feel suffocated, unable to breathe.

She reached out to touch the sleeping man. His skin was cool, unlike that of a normal person.

Hou Yunjiao's body temperature was cold, like that of someone weakened by excessive loss of yang energy.

Her delicate jade finger traced along Third Master's face, reaching his eyes and eyebrows.

Qin Ruan's movements were gentle, just barely touching him, using her fingertips to outline his facial features.

Chapter 126: Unforgettable Night

Bai Lu placed the tray on the table and just sat down when a slender hand reached around her waist.

A tall figure leaned in, staring at the four cups of water on the tray with a drunken and puzzled expression, "Is this strong tea?"

Looking at him, it seemed like his gaze reverted to that of a three-year-old child.

Bai Lu suddenly wanted to tease him like a child. She picked up a cup and placed it in front of him, saying softly, "This is a soup I specially made with bitter gourd in the kitchen. It's very effective for curing hangovers. After drinking it, you won't feel dizzy anymore. Give it a try."

"I'm not dizzy." The child stubbornly denied being drunk, with a serious expression.

After saying that, he picked up the bitter gourd soup, took a sip, and subconsciously frowned, "It's sweet."

The child was deceived and immediately turned to look at the culprit, with a hint of resentment in his blurry eyes.

Bai Lu suppressed a laugh, raised her hand, and gently touched his head, "Good, bitter gourd is sweet. I just wanted to see if you would refuse the bitter gourd soup I worked hard to make. I didn't expect you to really accept it. You're amazing!"

Xiao Cheng couldn't remember how many years it had been since someone touched his head, the last time being on this day.

That person touched his head and left, never to return.

Today... it was her.

Bai Lu's hand was suddenly held, pulled down, and Xiao Cheng looked at her steadily. In his hazy eyes, there was a hint of awakening, clarity, and surging emotions.

Thinking he might be angry, Bai Lu was about to apologize, but he gently pulled her hand over.

Closer to him.

He slowly lowered his head.

And kissed the back of her hand devoutly.

The slightly cool and soft touch penetrated through her hand, leaving Bai Lu stunned. Her heartbeat clearly accelerated.

"Hey hey hey~ Can you two stop it!"

"We're performing a show, at least give us some applause. Always showing affection all day long, do you want people to live... Sing a mountain song, sister, you sit at the bow of the ship..."

"Brother, I'll walk on the shore, affectionately~"

"..."

Just when they were making fun of others for showing affection, they started singing an affectionate song themselves. Luo Shiliu wanted to beat up Xiao Dazhuang and Wang Hao.

But in the end, they were dragged into a livelier dance.

Three left legs moved, three right legs moved, shaking heads, swaying brains, and shoulders shaking.

"I dance the best in the world~"

Bai Lu held back her laughter for a long time but couldn't resist it, laughing uncontrollably with her hand covering her mouth.

However, Xiao Cheng took her hand away.

The other hand reached up, and he held it, preventing her from hiding her not-so-standard smile.

"What are you doing..." Bai Lu laughed weakly and glared at him, "Let go of my hand quickly."

She couldn't burst into laughter at all.

In her later years, Bai Lu had cultivated the habit of a reserved and elegant smile.

It was the internationally standard smile: three millimeters and eight teeth. Smiling with either eight or six teeth showing, visible to others from three meters away. Smiling to show courtesy and please others, creating a pleasant mood.

Because sometimes, Bai Lu would attend banquets with her father, participate in official occasions, and there could be flash photography anytime. So, she had to smile appropriately, with a dignified demeanor.

She couldn't disgrace her parents, couldn't lose face for the official family, and couldn't show any lack of diplomatic demeanor at state banquets.

Bursting into laughter for Bai Lu was a luxury.

It was a standard etiquette to control laughter, whether in public or at private gatherings. Even if she saw something extremely funny, she had to resist the urge to laugh and follow the standard etiquette.

But the dance of Luo Shiliu, Xiao Dazhuang, and Wang Hao in front of her was just too funny.

Bai Lu couldn't help but want to burst into laughter. She could only instinctively cover her mouth, but her hand was continuously held by Xiao Cheng, not allowing her to cover it or pull it back.

"Let go of my hand quickly..."

Xiao Cheng not only didn't let go but also put her hand in his pocket. He held it firmly, like a stubborn three-year-old child.

Being drunk was indeed like being a three-year-old child!

Bai Lu finally realized that reasoning with a child was impossible. Her hand was pressed into the pocket, and the three men dancing in front of her were too amusing...

"Sister, you sit at the bow of the ship!"

"Brother, I'll walk on the shore~"

"Singing affectionate songs..."

"Xiao Dazhuang! You messed up the lyrics!!!!"

The honest man changed the lyrics immediately after being kicked. "Affectionately like a beautiful jasmine flower..."

Bai Lu hold back her laughter, her face buried in Xiao Cheng's shoulder. If she didn't cover her mouth, she couldn't hide it.

Unbearable.

How could his brothers be so funny?

Singing songs with changed lyrics was one thing, but dancing with swaying moves, occasional spins, and dragging the kid who was eating snails into the dance was another.

Poor Xiaowei, with a big snail in his mouth, puffing his cheeks, being lifted by Luo Shiliu and Wang Hao, each holding one shoulder, spinning in circles without touching the ground.

Bai Lu finally couldn't resist and burst into laughter on Xiao Cheng's shoulder, laughing and laughing until she had to bury her face again.

No!

Her image was going to be ruined!

Xiao Cheng noticed the trembling face on his shoulder, chuckled softly, mercifully let go of the little hand in his pocket, turned it around, and brought the face on his shoulder into his arms.

"It's spacious here, it can be hidden."

Bai Lu: "..."

She twisted his arm forcefully and continued to laugh.

Happiness is actually simple. Laugh when you want to, cry when you want to, unrestrained, ordinary is happiness.

There were no tall buildings, no dazzling lights, no nightlife, and no luxury cars or mansions here. Just a border town, a blue-brick tiled house, a deep friendship, and a night filled with laughter.

Simple and beautiful, unforgettable tonight.

Meetings and partings are inevitable. There's no endless feast in the world, and farewells are for a better reunion.

"Will they get lost?"

Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng stood at the door, watching the three staggering people leave. Bai Lu felt a bit uneasy.

Being this drunk, even honey water wouldn't work after drinking. Falling into a ditch would be a big problem.

"It's okay, they do this every year."

Xiao Cheng turned around and went home. Not hearing the footsteps following, he frowned slightly, turned back, directly grabbed White dew, closed the door, and pulled her along to his room.

He didn't even stop at the untidy dining table.

Seeing Xiao Wei still cleaning up, Xiao Cheng stunned him. After a

moment, he continued to quietly collect bowls and chopsticks.

Big brother was very happy today, he wouldn't hit Bai Lu.

He must have gone back to talk privately.

Bai Lu had never seen what private talk meant. It was closing the door, saying nothing, and pressing someone against the wall.

Arms propped against the wall, firmly enclosing the space, not allowing any escape.

"The bowls and chopsticks haven't been collected yet. Xiao Wei can't handle so many alone; I'll go help."

Bai Lu lowered her body, preparing to escape from under the man's arm, but was directly lifted by him.

In the blink of an eye, they were on the bed.

Xiao Cheng supported himself with both hands on either side of the pillow, lowered his head, lightly kissed her forehead, and his deep gaze fell with the sound.

"Wait for me."

Next Chapter ▶▶

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 11: You Call This Exile?

Chen Xue, accompanied by her maid and her mother, got on the carriage. As for her father, he remained outside, driving the carriage.

Except for another servant who knew how to drive, everyone else followed the carriage to guard it.

Once inside the carriage, Chen Xue collapsed onto the seat. "Riding in a carriage is so comfortable!"

"You..."

Chen Xue's mother shook her head, wanting to say something but sighed instead. She remembered that her daughter had never experienced hardship since childhood. Whenever they went out, they always traveled by carriage. Even she, after just two hours of travel, felt sore and tired.

"Alright, now that no one can see, don't be sneaky anymore."

Chen Xue suddenly sat up and opened the small table in the middle of the carriage, pretending to get something from it.

In no time,

A small stove, a teapot, and several teacups were brought out by her.

In addition, there were fruits and pastries. In the blink of an eye, the empty table was filled with snacks.

Madam Chen and the maid were dumbfounded.

"Xiao Xue, what's this..."

"Oh, it's just a trick my master taught me."

"So that's it!"

Madam Chen suddenly realized. No wonder Xiao Xue could easily produce so many things.

She not only quickly accepted this explanation but also felt happy about it. Originally, Chen Xue had suffered hardships with them, but by chance, she encountered an immortal master, which could be considered turning misfortune into blessing.

"Call your father in too!"

At Madam Chen's words, she opened the curtain and called her husband in. Chen Yuan quickly entered.

As soon as he entered, he saw the table in the middle of the carriage filled with food, and each person holding a cup of tea, which stunned him.

He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating.

"You..."

He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say, and looked down at the shackles on his body. He was still in exile; it wasn't a dream!

How come he felt like he was the only one being exiled while everyone else was on a vacation?

Damn it!

Hot tea, pastries, carriage!

To see these things on the road of exile was like a dream. When he was still a clerk of the Ministry of Revenue, he would experience such scenes when he went out for a picnic with his classmates.

Now, on the road of exile, there was a strange feeling of going on an outing.

Seeing him dumbfounded, Madam Chen pinched his arm, pulled him back, and explained what Chen Xue had just said.

"This must be kept secret!"

Chen Yuan said solemnly, "Except when no one is around, try to be as discreet as possible at other times."

If people found out that his daughter could perform magic, the entire Great Kingdom would go crazy, and the Emperor would definitely have them brought back to the capital.

Not to mention, if others knew, they would definitely use any means to obtain such abilities.

"Right." Madam Chen nodded, then looked at the maid beside Xiaoxue. "Most importantly, Xiao Die, if I find out that you've leaked any information, you know the consequences..."

Although Madam Chen seemed kind, when she got angry, she was terrifying. Everyone in the Chen family feared her.

The reason she didn't stop Chen Xue from bringing the maid was that Chen Xue had no one her age to interact with in the exiled group. So, she allowed Chen Xue to bring the maid along. However, letting her bring the maid didn't mean she could do anything she wanted. So, she had to discipline the maid.

Hearing this, Xiao Die hurriedly knelt down to show her loyalty. "I understand. Even if I die, I won't leak any information about Miss."

"Alright, Mother, don't worry."

In fact, Chen Xue's space could exchange for various items, so there was no need to worry about exposure.

For example, the simplest method, hypnosis. Even if everyone saw her conjure things out of thin air, with just a bit of hypnosis, they would think it was an illusion and wouldn't pay attention to it.

This was the simplest method. There were other means, but they didn't need to be listed one by one.

The few of them chatted and drank inside the carriage, contrasting sharply with the miserable prisoners outside.

"Damn it, why do they have a carriage while we only have a donkey cart?"

Next to them, a family sat on a donkey cart, looking at the carriage not far away, filled with envy.

They had asked Xu Tian for help, but Xu Tian ignored them, so they had to ask other Yamen officials for help.

But it cost them over a hundred taels, and they ended up with a dilapidated donkey cart.

Not to mention the bumpy ride, there was also a foul smell on it, whether it was from hauling donkey or cow dung, they didn't know.

Anyway, as long as they sat on it, they could occasionally smell a foul odor. Even after getting off the cart, there was still a faint smell lingering on them. This made them, who had never experienced such a thing before, vomit up last night's meal.

Thinking about how their donkey cart was both smelly and uncomfortable, and also draughty, while the Chen family's carriage, although old, was much more high-end, they couldn't help but feel jealous.

"It's all your fault, look at you, just a clerk of the Ministry of Revenue, although others are poor, their face is still intact, but what about you, what use do you have?"

The woman beside him cursed loudly. In fact, their relationship with the Chen family was quite good before. After all, their husbands were both offcials of the Ministry of Revenue, so these women often visited each other.

In fact, she had been to the Chen family several times, and at that time, she couldn't tell that the Chen family was poor at all. But when she heard these rumors, she felt that the Chen family deliberately showed her their poor side when she went there before. In fact, the Chen family was not poor at all.

Because of this, she was even more angry. Normally, she would compare herself to them. After all, although they were both officials of the Ministry of Revenue, Chen Yuan's official position was higher than her husband's, so she felt resentful.

Now, everyone was exiled, and there was no longer any difference in status between them.

But who knew that although the Chen family was poor, they had a lot of face, easily getting a carriage.

And their family only had a donkey cart.

"Zhang Yiquan, Zhang Yiquan, I really blinded myself, looking at you such a person. I worked so hard to give birth to a son for you, and haven't enjoyed any good fortune yet. In the end, I have to suffer this kind of torment!"

The more the woman thought about it, the more she felt heartbroken, and couldn't help but cry out loudly. Beside her, Zhang Yiquan, who had been overwhelmed by the smell on the donkey cart, suddenly became angry.

"Enough, what's the point of crying like this, isn't it even more embarrassing?"

"Embarrassing?" The woman raised her head mockingly. "We've all been exiled, what's there to be embarrassed about?"

Zhang Yiquan was speechless. Indeed, now was not like before when they were officials, full of prestige and dignity.

"Mother, look at him. Even if he doesn't care about himself, he should think about our Wei'er. He's so young and has to suffer this kind of torment. He's our Zhang family's only hope!"

The woman turned to look at an old woman beside her, couldn't help but cry out, and pinched a chubby child next to her.

The chubby child couldn't help but cry out loud, and when the old woman saw this, she felt heartache and looked at Zhang Yiquan.

"Quan, now that our family has reached this point, it's all because of you. Wei'er had a bright future ahead of him, but now he has to suffer because of you..."

Although the old woman didn't scold him, the nagging words made Zhang Yiquan's scalp tingle.

"Go and talk to the Chen family. They don't have money, right? Our family has money. We can give them money to buy their carriage."

"Why would they sell it!" Zhang Yiquan shook his head. He knew Chen Yuan's character very well. How could he bear to let his wife and child suffer?

"Why wouldn't they sell it? They don't have money, right? We can give them the donkey cart. They get a carriage for nothing and make some money. They'd be stupid not to agree."

"You won't know until you try, or do you want to exhaust me to death? From now on, no one will care about you... oh, I didn't expect that I would give birth to such an ungrateful son..."

Seeing that his mother was about to explode, Zhang Yiquan's scalp tingled.

"Alright, alright, I'll go try!"

Next Chapter▶▶

Chapter 125: Chaotic Dance of Demons

Heartbeat inexplicably quickens.

Bai Lu recalls the last time, when that guy behind her was drunk, holding her... behaving recklessly...

The redness on her ears instantly spreads to her face.

Then she thinks again, he was just drunk, not fully conscious, like now.

Yes, that's right, a drunk three-year-old.

Why bother arguing with a drunk three-year-old? Just cut the cake!

The fruit knife reaches towards the cake, and Bai Lu realizes she forgot to let Xiao Cheng blow out the candles.

"Um, you need to blow out the candles first, remove them, and then we can cut the cake."

Xiao Cheng holds Bai Lu gently.

A fragrance of white wine surrounds her as it blows past her ear, brushes her cheek, and descends onto the birthday cake.

The candle flames swaying on the cake extinguish.

Xiao Wei takes away the candles.

Bai Lu's hand is held by Xiao Cheng, the fruit knife in her hand guided by his force, slowly cutting into the cake.

The cake has three layers, each filled with various fresh fruits of the season, covered with sweet yam paste. The aroma spreads across the entire table, filling each bowl.

Among them, three bowls closest to the cake have half a bowl of wine.

Soaking the cake in alcohol, they truly know how to enjoy.

There's also a small bowl with about half a bowl of stir-fried snails. Snails paired with cake, Xiao Wei has a unique taste.

The first piece of cake, after cutting, is served to Xiao Cheng. It's his birthday, and the birthday person goes first.

After that, the rest of the cake can be distributed freely.

The last piece goes to Bai Lu's bowl... but her bowl is still filled with a mountain of meat, no room for cake!

Bai Lu watches helplessly as the fruit knife scoops a piece of cake, reaching the full bowl of meat, unable to fit. Xiao Cheng's large hand driven by her own hand turns in a different direction, placing the cake back in its original place.

Heartache to the extreme.

She wants to eat the cake she made!

Xiao Cheng glances at the girl with a reluctant expression, asking softly, "Want to eat?"

Bai Lu nods vigorously.

Immediately released, her back pressed against his chest, and she is gently placed back in her seat.

While lamenting, reluctantly, she picks up the chopsticks and takes a big piece of pork trotter.

Suddenly, a large bowl is handed to her.

In the bowl, there's an exquisite cake adorned with fruits.

Bailu's eyes light up. At the same time, she recognizes it as Xiao Cheng's new bowl because his eating bowl still has half a bowl of wine. So, when serving the cake, she deliberately puts it in the last remaining new bowl on the table.

"Is this for me?"

Bai Lu turns to the big guy sitting beside her, eyes revealing excitement and anticipation.

Xiao Cheng's arm stretches across the back of her chair, nodding slightly, lips lightly parting, "Go ahead."

This is the birthday boy's first piece of cake!

How can Bai Lu eat alone? Immediately, she uses the fruit knife to cut half and presents it with chopsticks to the birthday boy.

While offering her wishes, "Happy birthday to you today, may all your wishes come true."

Xiao Cheng's bowl has wine, and there's no space for the cake. Bai Lu can only turn the chopsticks towards him.

But Xiao Cheng just looks at it, doesn't take the chopsticks, takes a bite of the cake directly from her hand, and then... pairs it with a sip of white wine.

This magical devilish combo leaves Bai Lu stunned. Is cake really better with white wine?

Seeing her staring at his wine bowl, Xiao Cheng, with a somewhat wolfish look, takes up the bowl and finishes the white wine in three sips.

"Have your cake."

Bai Lu's curious gaze is swallowed up. She stops thinking about trying the devilish combo and silently eats the cake, also placing half a piece in Xiao Cheng's now empty bowl.

Xiao Cheng looks at the cake in the bowl, frowning almost imperceptibly, pinching his brow.

Bai Lu thought he was yearning for the emptied white wine: "Is cake with white wine really that good?"

The trio on the other side, after watching the play for a while, finally has a chance to chime in: "Delicious! Delicious!"

"Cake with white wine is especially delicious!"

"So fragrant and sweet, it's so delicious~"

As they finish speaking, three pairs of chopsticks simultaneously reach into the wine bowl, picking up cake soaked in white wine and taking big bites.

Three intoxicated faces squint their eyes, full of enjoyment.

Luo Shiliu: "Indeed delicious!"

Wang Hao: "The cake is incredibly delicious!"

Xiao Zhuang's: "It's the first time I've had cake growing up, and the first time I've had such a delicious cake!"

Xiao Wei also picks up the stir-fried snail cake, tasting it slowly from small bites to big mouthfuls.

"It's sweet, very delicious."

Skills recognized, Bai Lu is happy, "Sweet is the right flavor; Ah Cheng likes sweet."

Xiao Cheng is currently struggling with the cake in his bowl, just picking up a piece to put it in his mouth. Upon hearing Bai Lu's words, he chokes a little.

Coughing, the cake barely slides down his throat. He seems unbothered, picking up the second piece that has been separated.

The trio on the opposite side, plus Xiao Wei, watch the show with great interest, enjoying the cake and the play.

Maybe cake soaked in white wine is indeed very delicious.

The three gentlemen are floating in bliss after eating.

In the moonlit yard, hand in hand, swaying left and right, singing mountain songs, and dancing grass skirt dances.

"Singing mountain songs, hey... hey~ hey hey~"

"This side~ Sing to that side and... hey to that side and..."

"Mountain songs are like spring river water~"

"Not afraid of dangerous bends and turns~ bends and turns~"

Bai Lu comes out with a tray holding four cups of honey to sober them up. In the yard, the trio of chaotic dancers has already started loudly singing mountain songs, waving their hands and legs.

One person hugs another, dancing with surprisingly synchronized moves, as if they've danced countless times.

Xiao Wei drinks orange juice while watching with relish.

Xiao Cheng remains composed as if already accustomed, giving her a faint smile.

"Come watch the performance."

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Chapter 19: Not Enough Money to Spend

The towering city walls, about six zhang tall, were imposing. From afar, the words "Chu Capital" on the city gate were clearly visible. The thick walls, solemn colors, and grandeur conveyed an aura of invincibility.

After involuntarily looking up for a while, Mo Yan felt her neck becoming sore and quickly withdrew her gaze. She noticed that even the youngest Zhen'er was awestruck by the imposing city walls.

"We've finally arrived!" exclaimed Mo Qingze, coming back to his senses.

"It's really great! If we kept walking, Zhen'er's feet would have worn out!" commented Zhen'er, looking at the bustling crowds with unusual excitement. His childish words made people laugh and cry.

"Hmph, always saying silly things. Wasn't Daddy carrying you all the way?" retorted Xin'er, who loved to tease her little brother. Seeing him being silly again, she couldn't help but make fun of him.

Zhen'er wanted to retort but didn't know what to say. His face turned red, and he pouted, muttering, "Sister is mean, Sister is the meanest."

The family couldn't help but laugh at the siblings' banter.

As it was getting late, and they still needed to find a place to rest after entering the city, Mo Yan didn't delay. She took out the travel permit given by Xiao Shiyi from her bag and handed it to Mo Qingze.

The drought and chaos in the south had affected the north, and many people had fled from the south to seek refuge in the north, with many arriving in the capital. To avoid chaos within the city, the court strictly managed the entry and exit of refugees into the capital. Each of the four city gates was guarded by hundreds of soldiers who checked the identities of passersby. Unless they were taken in by relatives or friends or had a travel permit, they would have to stay at the refugee camp near the north gate.

Grandpa Li, also known as Li Zhong, had been worrying about how to enter the city when he saw soldiers guarding the gate. Now, he saw Mo Yan take out a travel permit, although he was very curious, he cleverly didn't ask.

With the travel permit, the group passed the inspection smoothly and entered the capital.

The capital lived up to its name, with clean and tidy streets lined with rows of houses and shops. The crowds flowed like rivers, and the carriages and horses were like dragons. Everything was orderly and prosperous, with hardly any signs of chaos. Even the clothes worn by ordinary people didn't show many patches, indicating the level of prosperity. While the Li family and Mo Yan's family were fine, Mo Yan's family's clothes were patched up, and combined with the dust from their journey, they looked out of place, attracting the attention of many passersby.

Mo Yan didn't mind, and Mo Qingze, with the dignity of an educated man, didn't feel embarrassed. Zhen'er was too young to understand those gazes, while Xin'er felt a bit embarrassed and instinctively lowered her head, hiding behind Mo Yan.

Having entered the city earlier, they hadn't had lunch yet, so Mo Yan strongly suggested finding a clean noodle stall to fill their stomachs.

Prices in the capital were high. While a bowl of shredded pork noodles elsewhere cost only three wen, here it was doubled to six wen. Mo Yan ordered six bowls of shredded pork noodles, spending more than thirty wen in one go. She felt a bit heartbroken, especially since she didn't have much silver coins on her. Just arriving in the capital, there were so many places to spend money!

Grandpa Li and his granddaughter felt embarrassed. They had relied on the Mo family for food and drink all the way. Otherwise, without money or provisions, they wouldn't have been able to make it to the capital.

Li Zhong had always remembered the Mo family's kindness. Thinking that they would soon part ways and might never see each other again, unable to repay their kindness, he couldn't help but say:

"Mr. Mo, it's not easy to find a place to stay in the capital. If you don't mind, follow me to my son-in-law's house and stay there for a while. It will be a mutual care."

Li Yan's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly. During this period, she had already regarded the Mo family as the closest people to her after her grandfather.

Mo Qingze, upon hearing this, shook his head repeatedly. "Uncle Li's kindness is appreciated, but I'm afraid I can't agree to this!"

Mo Yan saw that Li Zhong wanted to repay their kindness and knew he would try to persuade them again. She couldn't help but say, "Grandpa Li, when we helped you, we didn't expect you to repay us. We are outsiders after all. How can we trouble you? Besides, we have hands and feet. Once we enter the city, we'll find a place to stay on our own."

Li Zhong saw their firm attitude and felt hesitant. His son-in-law was good, and he and his granddaughter could live with him without any idle talk, but bringing the Mo family would probably upset his daughter, who was quite formidable. His daughter and son-in-law would be caught in the middle. Moreover, he owed them a favor, so he felt embarrassed to let his son-in-law's family repay it. He was afraid that if the favor remained unpaid, the benefactor would suffer, turning his good intentions into bad ones.

Mo Yan and her father had also considered this point, so they firmly refused to avoid causing trouble for the Li family, especially since it wasn't easy for them to stay as guests.

At this moment, the noodles were ready and served by the boss's wife, interrupting their conversation.

After finishing their noodles, the two families were about to part ways. Li Zhong tried to persuade them again, but Mo Qingze still didn't agree.

Helpless, Li Zhong said, "I once lived in the capital for a while and am somewhat familiar with it. If you're looking for a place to stay, it's best to go to the West Market. People who live there are from slightly better-off families, making it easier to get along with them. There are also patrols by constables at night, making it safer to live there."

Mo Yan and her father were grateful for this information, as finding a suitable place to stay in such a big city was challenging without knowing where to look.

Finally, Li Zhong told Mo Qingze where his son-in-law lived, saying that once they found a place to stay, they could inform him, hoping the two families could stay in touch. Mo Qingze smiled and noted it down, and after bidding a reluctant farewell, the two families parted ways, heading in opposite directions.

...

By the time Mo Yan and her family arrived at the West Market and found a place to stay, the sun had already set.

After bidding farewell to the elderly couple who rented them the house, Mo Yan happily surveyed their new home. The location was a bit remote, at the end of the street, with a long alley outside the courtyard gate. It might be a bit scary to come out at night.

The house was made of blue bricks and tiles, somewhat old-fashioned, and not very spacious, with only three small rooms: a main hall and two bedrooms. One of the rooms was divided into a bedroom and a kitchen.

What pleased Mo Yan was that the house also had a courtyard, albeit small, with an area of only about twenty square meters. There was a vegetable patch against the wall, a chicken coop in the corner, perfect for raising chickens. In addition, there was a well in the corner, making it convenient to fetch water.

Although the rent was not cheap, costing one or two silver coins a month, finding such a small courtyard in the coveted city was already satisfying enough for Mo Yan.

The family spent an hour cleaning the house inside and out, and Mo Yan realized that they needed to buy many things. Although the old furniture left by the landlord could be used, they still needed to buy quilts, pots, bowls, and other necessities.

Calculating the things they needed to buy, Mo Yan was distressed to find that the few taels of silver coins left on her body were simply not enough to spend...

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