Qi Wangfei looked at the little girl's adorable, slightly furrowed brows and couldn't help but smile. 

She sighed inwardly: Children are so cute when they don't understand anything!

But it's hard to say once they grow up.

Look at Feng Xuanbin, then at Little Six...

Unable to watch the little girl struggle, Qi Wangfei gently said, "Suisui, if you can't finish it, just take a few sips to taste it. If you like it, we can have more tomorrow."

Feng Xuanrui had already been salivating when the almond cream was brought out.

Being away from home for more than a month, he missed these treats dearly!

So, now that the food was served, he couldn't wait to enjoy it.

In his eagerness to eat, he temporarily forgot about his sister.

Hearing his mother’s voice, Feng Xuanrui turned and said with a smile, “Yes, if you can’t finish it, just taste it. If you like it, we can have more tomorrow. And we have not just almond cream, but also osmanthus soup, jasmine tea, and in summer, we’ll have lactose snow, ginger honey water—sweet and delicious!”

Feng Xuanbin had already drunk two big mouthfuls.

Hearing Little Six’s words, fearing he might be left out, he hurriedly swallowed and said, “Yes, yes, summer is the best! We have so many treats, but my favorite is still the kumquat balls. They’re especially sweet, one bite and they’ll make your teeth ache!”

Feng Xuanbo had been quietly listening and occasionally glancing at Suisui.

Upon hearing Feng Xuanbin brag about kumquat balls, Feng Xuanbo thought for a moment and said softly, “Sister, don’t listen to him. Even if they’re sweet, we need to eat in moderation. You’re still using milk teeth. If they’re damaged, you can replace them, but once you grow up and if your teeth get damaged, you won’t be able to replace them!”

Mentioning teeth, Feng Xuanbin, who had just finished replacing his milk teeth, hurriedly covered his mouth.

He remembered how his milk teeth had turned black from excessive eating and was still scared!

Fortunately, he had new teeth.

But kumquat balls are really delicious!

If Qi Wangfei had heard this, she might have sighed: Can they not be delicious? One pound of oranges, half a pound of honey.

The brothers all encouraged her to try, and Suisui was indeed a bit tempted.

Here, no one would mind if she ate a lot, and no one would think that wanting to eat was a shameful thing.

Suisui obediently took a spoon and had a tiny sip.

As soon as it touched her lips, her eyes lit up.

Those bright and sparkling eyes warmed people’s hearts.

Qi Wangfei watched, unable to look away.

She thought, at first, she only pitied this child’s fate.

Now, the more she looked, the more she felt...

Heavens, this is her long-lost daughter!

This is her daughter!

So cute and obedient, who can resist touching her?

Qi Wangfei struggled to restrain herself but couldn’t help it. Gently extending her hand, she lightly wiped the side of Suisui’s face with a handkerchief.

In reality, there was nothing on her face.

But Qi Wangfei was just finding an excuse for her actions.

Suisui, feeling her mother’s tender touch, tilted her head obediently, letting Qi Wangfei do as she wished.

Qi Wangfei: …!

It’s over, she’s fallen!

Heavens, who took her daughter all those years ago?

Upon reflection…

Oh, sorry.

She never had a daughter.

Thinking of this, Qi Wangfei’s heart ached.

But it’s okay, not having given birth doesn’t matter.

No one says that you can’t raise a child just because you didn’t give birth.

Seeing Qi Wangfei’s eyes, as clear and clean as a little deer, looking at her, Qi Wangfei gently touched the little girl’s cheek with the back of her hand, her expression affectionate, her tone gentle, “If you can’t drink any more, we’ll stop. Tomorrow, I’ll have them make tea for you.”

Qi Wangfei had consulted Dr. Liu.

Qi Wangfei had not had a good past, her body was weak, and her constitution was cold.

Normally, she shouldn’t drink tea.

But if it’s warming red tea, a small amount is okay.

Qi Wangfei thought, there are plenty of people in the manor who can make tea.

The tea leaves are just a decoration; the main thing is the ingredients added when making the tea.

Let me think, what can replenish qi and blood?

Longan and red dates are a must, right?

What about bird’s nest?

Qi Wangfei felt she still didn’t know enough. After she got the children to sleep, she needed to ask Dr. Liu.

Suisui obediently drank two sips, her little belly already swollen, so she couldn’t drink more.

She put down the spoon and sat there waiting for her three brothers.

Feng Xuanrui and Suisui had been traveling for most of the day, and now they were both very sleepy.

Feng Xuanbin was still active, but he also felt sorry for Little Six and his sister.

So, when Qi Wangfei tentatively asked, “Shall we go to sleep now?”

The children all nodded obediently.

Feng Xuanbo, as the temporary eldest brother, was responsible for taking the younger brothers back.

Aunt Qiu, not at ease, brought people to escort the children back to the South Courtyard.

Feng Xuanrui didn’t want to leave and kept looking back at Qi Wangfei, “Sister, do you really not need your brother to coax you?”

Upon hearing this, Qi Wangfei gently pressed her lips together, feeling a bit reluctant but...

Not too much.

Mother said that as a girl, even if she needed to sleep, she should sleep with her mother.

Now she was still young, so it was okay.

But when she grew up, it would definitely be different.

They had to go through an adjustment period.

Mother also said that her brothers were still children and couldn’t take care of her properly.

So, it was better for Mother to take care of her.

Mother...

Qi Wangfei no longer had any memory of her mother.

Her impression of her mother came from other village children or her aunt.

Although her aunt often scolded her, she was very good to her cousins.

Qi Wangfei wanted her brothers’ company but also couldn’t help but yearn for having a mother.

She thought, she must be a greedy, bad child!

Qi Wangfei didn’t want to refuse her brother but had to.

In the end, she looked at Feng Xuanrui with a guilty glance and said softly, “Brother, good night.”

Hearing his sister say this, Feng Xuanrui’s worried heart finally settled.

He still looked back several times before following Aunt Qiu to the South Courtyard.

On the way, Feng Xuanbin happily said, “Hehe, my sister said good night to me. Oh, I’m such an idiot, I forgot to say good night to her. No, I have to go back and say it!”

Feng Xuanrui, already feeling uneasy, gave him a look, “Enough, she called you Seventh Brother, so when she says ‘good night’, it’s clearly meant for you.”

Feng Xuanbin’s mouth drooped, looking like he might cry.

Feng Xuanbo, watching from the side, sighed, “If I had known, I should have chased after you to Qingzhou. I could have met sister sooner. If that had been the case, who knows who sister would have called ‘brother’.”

Next Chapter▶▶

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 1070: The Collapse of the Courtyard Wall

The decision was made, and Shu Yu hoped that the rain would stop soon. If it continued tomorrow, they would have to delay their journey again.

Fortunately, by evening, the rain gradually lessened, and by nightfall, it finally stopped.

However, in the middle of the night, the sound of pouring rain echoed once more, hitting against the windows.

Shu Yu sighed and turned over, trying to sleep.

The next day, when she woke up, the sun was shining brightly, and she felt relieved.

When she opened the window, the street was already bustling with activity.

Ying Xi packed up and said, "Miss, you rest for a while, I'll go buy breakfast and some dry rations for the journey."

"Alright, go ahead."

After Ying Xi left, Shu Yu started to freshen up and prepare their belongings.

Ying Xi returned quickly, and they had breakfast together before preparing to check out and set off.

However, just as they were about to leave, a loud crash came from outside, accompanied by screams and the neighing of horses and mules, startling both of them.

"It seems to be... from the back yard," Ying Xi raised her head, widening her eyes. "I'll go take a look."

"Let's go together." Their carriage was still tied to the stable in the backyard.

Could it be that something happened to the horses and mules?

They grabbed their belongings and rushed out the door.

Their room was quite far from the backyard, and it took them a while to get there.

By the time they arrived, a large crowd had gathered in the backyard, pointing and discussing something.

As they got closer, Shu Yu overheard their conversation.

"...The courtyard wall collapsed, along with the stable on the right side."

"This courtyard hasn't been repaired for a long time. A few days ago, I warned the innkeeper that the courtyard wall seemed to be leaning, but he didn't take it seriously. Yesterday, with such heavy rain, the courtyard wall collapsed, damaging a lot of things. The innkeeper will have to compensate."

"Other things are okay. After all, the valuable and fragile items were taken back to the guests' rooms. The most important issue is the livestock. I just checked, and it seems that one donkey, one mule, and two horses were injured. The compensation for this won't be small."

Shuyu frowned and exchanged a glance with Ying Xi, quickly squeezing into the crowd and making her way to the front.

The scene was a mess and quite distressing.

Several livestock were being dragged out. The two horses were closest to the collapsed courtyard wall, one severely injured, and the other lifeless.

The mule was small and seemed to have hidden in a corner, so it was injured but not in mortal danger. Its owner was currently leading it and trying to comfort it, but it was still screaming in distress.

The mule's leg had been hit, and it lay on the ground, its owner anxiously running around, inquiring about a reliable veterinarian.

The remaining unaffected horses were tied to the left side, and the stable boys inside the stable were trying to calm them down.

Among them was Shuyu's white horse. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Ying Xi whispered, "We arrived at the inn just after noon yesterday, and there weren't many guests. There were no horses in the stable at that time, so Dabai (the white horse) was tied in the leftmost stall, quite far from the collapsed wall. It should be fine."

However, they might be frightened; she didn't know how significant the problem was.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 311: Private Jet to Switzerland

"If that's the case, you need to comfort him more. His hair has turned white."

It wouldn't happen unless he was excessively sad.

Si Yechen knew the pain of losing a loved one. He patted Ou Yan's head and said, "You are his pillar now."

"Yeah, I will take care of him."

...

After the funeral feast, the next day, Ou Yan went to her grandmother's former residence.

The garden, neglected for too long, had most of its flowers and plants withered. Fallen leaves and wilted flowers covered the cobblestone pathway, and with Grandma's departure, everything seemed lifeless.

Ou Yan had the entire villa cleaned inside and out, while she herself went to her grandmother's bedroom. She twisted the wall lamps and the entire wardrobe automatically moved aside, revealing a small hidden room.

Inside the hidden room were all the treasures her grandmother had collected, some precious items Ou Yan had gifted her, some property deeds, bank books, and other belongings under her grandmother's name, as well as collections from her lifetime.

All of it was Ou Yan's dowry.

In the corner, there was also a safe. Ou Yan entered the password, successfully unlocked it, and retrieved what was inside.

It was the jade thumb ring her grandmother had intended to give to Si Yechen, but now... things had changed.

Ou Yan reminisced for a while before opening her backpack and packing everything inside. These were items her Grandma Bai had guarded with her life, and she couldn't let Bai Zhenhai and the others have them.

In the hidden room, Ou Yan also found a large box containing doodles she had drawn since childhood, along with letters written to her grandmother.

In the letters, she expressed her desire to travel the world with her grandmother and provide her with a better life when she grew up...

Seeing these contents, Ou Yan felt a surge of emotion. She hadn't expected that such childish promises would be stored alongside treasures in the hidden room.

In her grandmother's heart, she must have been more precious than any treasure, right?

Thinking like this, Ou Yan remembered the kind Grandma Bai and reminisced about their past life together...

Finally, she put on her backpack, carried the box, restored the wardrobe to its original position, and descended the stairs, handing the box to her subordinate.

"Take it to the Lin residence, to my bedroom."

"Boss, did Grandma Bai leave you such a box of treasures?" The subordinate widened his eyes in disbelief, receiving the box with one hand while sneakily lifting the lid to take a peek with the other. "What... what is this? Drawings made by kindergarten kids?"

The box contained many things, including handicrafts she had given her grandmother as a child, handmade gifts, and more, all well-preserved inside the box.

"Yeah." Ou Yan didn't say much. Instead, she looked reluctantly at everything in the villa. "Remember to change the locks after cleaning."

She couldn't let Bai Muyao have a chance to enter.

"Inform the property management to pay attention to Bai Muyao."

She couldn't let her take advantage!

"That idiot Bai Zhenhai must have come here before. There are traces of rummaging everywhere..." The subordinate was speechless, never expecting such people to exist.

Ou Yan's brows furrowed. Bai Zhenhai didn't even know that there was a secret room behind Grandma's wardrobe...

That was why they couldn't find any treasures when they came here before!

"Boss, did the old lady leave this villa to you too?"

"Yeah."

But if she could, Ou Yan didn't want her grandmother's belongings. She just wanted her grandmother to be alive and well...

After leaving the villa, Ou Yan got into the car and handed the jade thumb ring to Si Yechen. "This is the gift Grandma prepared for the future son-in-law."

Si Yechen hadn't expected Grandma to prepare a gift for him before she passed away, feeling somewhat melancholic.

"Take it." Ou Yan leaned back in her seat, remembering various things from the past, her nose even more sour...

This long summer vacation was coming to an end.

About a week before school started, Ou Yan suddenly received a call.

"Miss Ou Yan, you, you need to come quickly. Mr. Yan is about to do something foolish!! No matter how we persuade him, he won't listen!!!"

After finishing the call with the worried voice on the other end, Si Yechen, who was accompanying her, asked softly, "What happened?"

"I need to go to Switzerland." Ou Yan got up and walked out anxiously. "Grandpa Yan is in trouble."

"I'll go with you."

Si Yechen arranged for a private jet and landed at Yan Bingsong's private estate in the fastest possible time.

The butler, Paul, hurried forward. "Miss Ou Yan, something's wrong with Mr. Yan!"

"Si Yechen, my fiancé." Ou Yan explained concisely and hurried inside. "What happened to Grandpa Yan?"

The butler nodded at Si Yechen and followed Ou Yan's pace, reporting, "Mr. Yan has been refusing to eat, drink, or sleep since he returned from the funeral. He just stares at Madam's photo..."

As Ou Yan entered the hall, many servants immediately bowed and greeted her. It was evident that she had been here before, and the servants respected her greatly.

Ou Yan nodded in acknowledgment. Her long legs stepped into the elevator. "What else?"

The butler pressed the button for the second floor and continued, "Every time you called to check on him, Mr. Yan pretended to be fine, but he was not. He didn't want us to tell you. He just kept insisting that he didn't want to live anymore, that life was meaningless..."

How could this happen??

Ou Yan called him every day, sometimes even on video calls...

"Oh, yes." The butler added, "Every time he video-called, he made sure someone did his makeup to make him look better. He pretended to be cheerful, showed you the flowers and plants in the garden, or let you see the scenery in the estate. With his deliberate hearty laughter, you didn't notice anything unusual!"

Because they were separated by a phone screen, and Mr. Yan deliberately kept his distance from the camera, either pretending to be gardening or showing her the scenery in the estate. Coupled with his deliberately hearty laughter, Ou Yan didn't notice anything strange!

It had been over ten days since Grandma's funeral. Ou Yan only knew that after the funeral, Yan Bingsong had gone to the bureau and beaten up Bai Zhenhai.

Since he wasn't Grandma's direct descendant, beating him up was fine. Ou Yan didn't mind...

Now she realized that Grandpa Yan had not only punished Bai Zhenhai but also made Xu Aiqin suffer. He cared about her every day in their phone calls, instructing her like he was indirectly making his last will and testament...

Before, when she knew that Grandpa Yan was going to live in Switzerland, Ou Yan didn't care much because he had properties in many places, sometimes in France, sometimes in Italy...

But Ou Yan never expected that there was a specific reason for Grandpa Yan to come to Switzerland!

The butler added, "Mr. Yan doesn't eat, drink, and has finally applied for euthanasia..."

In most places, euthanasia was not allowed for housekeepers! ! But in Switzerland, applying for euthanasia was legal, but it had to be personally operated by the individual. If someone else helped, it would be considered murder...

Next Chapter▶▶

Chapter 297: Shameless and Violent Solution (5)

"Yan'er, you've worked hard!"

Mo Qingze got on the carriage and couldn't help but pat her head when he saw the corner of the carriage filled with barrels of wine.

"What are you talking about, Dad? It's just brewing a few barrels of rice wine. Where's the hard work?" Mo Yan hugged her father's arm, smiling.

Mo Qingze smiled and didn't say anything more. Every time he returned or Yan'er visited, she would bring him some rice wine or fruit wine. He couldn't finish it all by himself, and he had told her several times not to bring any more, but she would still bring it next time.

In the end, it was Zhiyuan's reminder that made him distribute some to his classmates at the academy. Over time, those classmates who were not close to him became much friendlier. Whenever they had questions they didn't understand, they would ask them patiently.

Even the teachers who taught him, he also gave each of them some. On the surface, there didn't seem to be much change, but he could feel that several teachers paid a bit more attention to his studies.

In terms of social interaction, he was too dull. If it weren't for Zhiyuan's timely reminder, he would never have appreciated Yan'er's intentions.

---

Early in the morning, there weren't many pedestrians on the street, but Xiao Hei moved quickly and arrived at the shop door in no time. Mo Yan and Li Yan got off the carriage, while Li Zhong continued to drive the carriage to take Mo Qingze to the academy.

Mo Yan took out the keys and opened the door, then she and Li Yan wiped everything with a cloth. Then they washed and soaked the rice in the wooden vat. After Li Zhong returned, they all worked together to move the large stove to the door and started steaming the rice.

The sun rose slowly in the east, and the number of people on the street gradually increased. Every passerby couldn't help but be attracted by the fragrance of the Mo family's fragrant rice. Those who weren't in a hurry even came over to ask a few questions. When they saw the full grains of rice in the barrel, they were tempted and said they would buy grains here in the future.

Whether it was because the rice was fragrant or because the customers who bought rice back yesterday had done some free advertising, business was very good in the morning, even better than yesterday morning. This made Mo Yan very happy.

In the afternoon, there were fewer people on the street, but business was still better than yesterday afternoon, especially with many eggs being sold. Seeing that the rice and eggs in the shop were almost sold out after two days, Li Zhong hurriedly drove the cart to the warehouse to bring some more over to replenish.

Seeing their luxurious carriage, which was used for both transporting people and goods, Mo Yan felt a bit heartache. She immediately decided to buy another horse and a flatbed cart specifically for transporting goods.

So, while there were fewer customers, with Li Yan looking after the shop, Mo Yan and Li Zhong went to the southern market. In the end, they only spent five taels and five qian of silver to buy a horse for pulling and a sturdy flatbed cart.

The horse was chestnut in color, also used for pulling, but it was slightly taller than the original Xiao Hei. Because it was old and no longer capable of pulling, it was sold by its previous owner.

Mo Yan's first glance at it was attracted by the shocking scars on its body. She was truly moved by the sad and hopeless look in its eyes, which made her decide to buy this dying old horse for five taels of silver.

When the two returned, Li Zhong, sitting outside, saw a crowd gathered at the shop door from afar. His heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly urged Xiao Hei to move faster.

Xiao Hei's ears twitched, and it quickly avoided the pedestrians, accelerating its pace.

"You lot, get lost, or I'll chase you out with a broom!"

Hearing Li Yan's angry voice, Mo Yan in the carriage hurriedly opened the door. When she saw the situation at the shop door, she also felt nervous.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 123: Truth-Testing Pill

Chen Yuan did not immediately agree. Who knew if Zhao Guang was genuinely willing to defect? What if he had ulterior motives and would betray them later?

The current situation was acceptable. There were no conflicts of interest between them. Even if Zhao Guang submitted to them reluctantly now, even if he betrayed them later, they wouldn't suffer much loss.

However, once they accepted Zhao Guang, many tasks would be assigned to him, and he would also discover the secrets of the Chen Xue Space. If he betrayed them then, the secrets would be exposed.

But Zhao Guang knelt down and tearfully pleaded, claiming he was forced. His family members were caught by Guo Qiang, and he was threatened into compliance.

"What about the hundreds of taels you received from Guo Qiang?" Chen Xue sneered, not believing his words.

"I, I didn't take it. Guo Qiang said he would give it to me after the job was done, but..." Zhao Guang looked extremely aggrieved.

Wasn't he always unsuccessful?

"Alright!" Chen Xue suddenly took out a pill. "This is a truth-testing pill. Once you take it, if you lie, you will die instantly."

Zhao Guang's face changed drastically upon hearing this. He had never heard of such a pill. Did such a pill truly exist?

"What?" Chen Xue raised an eyebrow. "If you're not lying, why hesitate to take it?"

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Guang said, "Fine, I'll take it. I'm willing to submit to you, Lord Chen, I just hope you can help me rescue my mother..."

"Wait!" Chen Xue interrupted. "It seems we don't gain anything from this. You're defecting to us but asking us to help rescue someone, and we get nothing in return, only deepening the hatred with Guo Qiang!"

"I..."

Zhao Guang was speechless. No one would agree to such terms. It was like accepting a big trouble.

"What evidence does Guo Qiang have against us? You should know!" Chen Xue reminded when she saw him silent.

If others show her kindness, she reciprocates with greater kindness.

But if others want to harm her, she won't let it go easily.

Moreover, Guo Qiang had a deep vendetta against her.

If it weren't for Guo Qiang, her family wouldn't have gone from wealth and prosperity to becoming exiled criminals.

And Guo Qiang had no intention of letting them go. He even sent Zhao Guang to attack them, and he bribed bandits. No one could swallow this insult.

Moreover, it was a matter of life and death now.

If Guo Qiang didn't die, they would die.

Before, they couldn't deal with Guo Qiang because they were exiled. But after the bandit attack, they captured a few prisoners who provided some clues, but they couldn't bring down Guo Qiang.

If Zhao Guang could expose more evidence against Guo Qiang, they could send it to Xie Yunshang. Even if they couldn't bring down Guo Qiang, they could at least hinder his actions temporarily.

"I..." Zhao Guang hesitated for a long time, then gritted his teeth. "I don't know much, but the last time Guo Qiang sent someone to find bandits to attack you, I know that person. If you find him, it can prove that Guo Qiang instigated the bandits."

"It's useless," Lord Chen interjected. "That person has probably been silenced long ago."

"I have other evidence!" Zhao Guang hastily said. "That person came to me before finding the bandits. He anticipated that Guo Qiang would kill him to silence him, so he told me some things. He hid some evidence to deal with Guo Qiang. If he died, he asked me to use it to exchange for his family's safety."

"Oh?" Chen Xue raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you say so earlier? It seems you're not entirely honest!"

"I, I didn't want to die, did I?" Zhao Guang smiled wryly.

"Take this pill first."

Chen Xue flipped her hand and handed over the "truth-testing pill" from earlier. "Don't even think about tricking us with this."

This time, Zhao Guang didn't hesitate. He took the pill and swallowed it.

"After taking this pill, if you're not afraid of death, then go ahead and lie."

Upon hearing Chen Xue's words, Zhao Guang's hand trembled for a moment before returning to normal.

"Continue with the topic from earlier," Lord Chen said. "What evidence did that person give you to give to Guo Qiang?"

Zhao Guang honestly revealed it, and Chen Xue immediately wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to Xiao Qing, instructing her to deliver it to Xie Yunshang.

Although Xie Yunshang might already be in the capital, with Xiao Qing's speed, she could definitely make it in half a day.

"After we verify this matter, we'll consider it further," Chen Yuan said as he saw Chen Xue sending Xiao Qing to deliver the message. "I'll inform General Pingwei about your situation. I can't guarantee whether he can rescue your family."

"Thank you, Lord Chen! Thank you so much!" Zhao Guang was excited and knelt down, but Chen Yuan stopped him. "Don't thank me too soon. Who knows if Guo Qiang... If he's ruthless, there's nothing we can do..."

Chen Yuan's words were gentle, but Zhao Guang understood his meaning. Thinking of Guo Qiang's character, he might have already killed his family long ago, which made Zhao Guang feel despair.

He didn't hear what Chen Yuan said afterwards and left stumbling.

Chen Xue and Chen Yuan looked at each other and then ignored it.

They only hoped that the clues provided by Zhao Guang would be useful. Even if they couldn't overthrow Guo Qiang, they could hinder him and buy themselves some time.

Zhao Guang's matter was just an episode and didn't affect the team. They continued on their journey.

But as time passed, the snowfall became heavier, making their journey more difficult.

"This winter feels unusual. It's earlier than before, and the snow is much heavier than usual," Chen Yuan said worriedly. If the snow fell even heavier, their carriage wouldn't be able to move.

Sure enough.

What you worry about tends to happen.

A few days later, Chen Xue's family had to get off the carriage.

"The snow is too deep. The carriage can't move anymore."

Seeing the wheels completely stuck in the snow, Chen Yuan felt helpless. "It seems we can only walk this stretch of the journey."

"What about the carriage?" Chen Xue frowned. "We can't just leave it here!"

Of course not. If they abandoned the carriage, how would they continue the journey later? But now the carriage was completely stuck in the snow. Even if they got off, the carriage still couldn't move.

"Unless I take the carriage back and release it when the snow is shallower," Chen Xue whispered.

"What about explaining where the carriage came from then?"

Hearing her father's words, Chen Xue shrugged. "Do we still need to explain? Who dares to talk!"

Although many prisoners were not on the same side as them, Xu Tian was now Chen Yuan's disciple, and Zhao Guang had also expressed allegiance to them. The entire exile team's bailiffs were under their control.

These prisoners couldn't rebel, couldn't talk nonsense, and couldn't spread any news.

Even if news did spread, no one would believe it.

And if they did spread, they would just have the bailiffs block the news, and those prisoners wouldn't know what they had done.

Next Chapter▶▶

Qi Wangfei was heartbroken when she heard that the child was not picky about food. She gently shook her head and said, "Suisui, if you like something, you should be brave and say it out loud. You have your mother and your brother, so you don't need to be afraid. There’s plenty of food and supplies here. As a child, you only need to eat and drink."

Be brave and say it out loud! Lele encouraged Suisui in the same way.

However, the food Suisui had eaten in the past was indeed quite limited. The only things she could remember were those they had during their journey, with some good dishes that she couldn’t even name.

Now, she only vaguely remembered a soup noodle that she enjoyed.

Under Qi Wangfei’s hopeful gaze, Suisui carefully said, "...I want to eat noodles."

Upon hearing this, Qi Wangfei smiled and gently patted the child's soft face. "Alright, we'll have noodles then."

At this time, Feng Xuanbin had already run in. The little chubby boy had struggled to keep up and cried the entire way. Now that he was inside, he gasped for air and wiped his tears. Eventually, he could no longer hold back and sat down, sobbing loudly.

Aunt Qiu quickly went over to comfort him. The little boy was easy to calm down with a couple of candies, which made him smile and stop crying.

Feng Xuanbo, who had come in last, was pale and exhausted. His physical condition was not the best, and among the young masters in the residence, he was the most slender. The short run had nearly taken all his strength. Seeing Feng Xuanbo’s pale face, Qi Wangfei couldn’t help but feel both helpless and distressed. "Why did you run so fast? Wipe off your sweat."

At this point, she was afraid to give them too much water directly, worried that the children might drink too much and end up making themselves ill. Aunt Qiu had the maids bring tea cups, helping the young masters sip small amounts of water while calming their breaths.

With the children being cared for, Qi Wangfei felt reassured and took care of Suisui herself.

After much effort, the children were finally calmed down. Although they were a bit messy, it was fine since they were just children and at their own residence. There was no need to worry too much.

As evening approached, it was time for dinner. Feng Xuanbo and the others gathered around Suisui.

They examined her hair and her little face. Children’s skin was naturally soft and tender. Suisui’s skin, once rough due to lack of care, had become smooth and soft with a little attention. 

Who wouldn’t like that?

As soon as Qi Wangfei let go, the children surrounded Suisui. Feng Xuanrui, feeling somewhat unappreciated, repeatedly emphasized, "This is my sister!"

Feng Xuanbo waved his hand dismissively, "We’re siblings. Your sister is also my sister."

Feng Xuanrui, frustrated and angry, eventually gave in and joined the others in touching his sister’s face.

Children’s touches were different from adults. They were more curious and often pinched and poked rather than just touching.

Feng Xuanbo knew how to be gentle, lightly pinching and quickly releasing when he realized it might hurt Suisui. Sometimes, he even gently rubbed her face if he thought he was being too rough.

Feng Xuanbin, younger and unaware of the proper force, mimicked Feng Xuanbo but ended up pinching and kneading too hard, making Suisui’s face turn red and her eyes well up with tears.

Seeing this, Feng Xuanbin felt guilty and stood quietly, his little hands at his sides, not daring to move.

Feng Xuanrui noticed his sister’s red face and shot Feng Xuanbin a stern look. Feng Xuanbo also helplessly helped Suisui by gently rubbing her face. "If you don’t know how to control your strength, don’t pinch so hard. It hurts Suisui."

Feng Xuanbin, now too afraid to try again, could only watch anxiously.

After some time, Feng Xuanbin quietly asked Suisui, "Sister, can I touch your head?"

He thought, a small head with a bit of stubble must be fun to touch.

Would it hurt to touch it?

Suisui had just been pinched and was still recovering. However, since her brother said Feng Xuanbin was foolish but kind-hearted, she felt she could tolerate it.

So, she obediently leaned her head forward. "Seventh Brother, you can touch."

At that moment, Feng Xuanbin felt a surge of emotion. He thought, what kind of angelic sister was this? Always giving him what he wanted?

He was so moved his eyes were red. This time, he carefully extended his hand and gently tapped Suisui’s head.

He tapped once, and... it didn’t turn red!

He tapped again.

Still no redness!

I’ll tap more!

I’ll tap tap!

Feng Xuanbin had a lot of fun.

However, he got carried away and accidentally pushed Suisui several steps away.

Feng Xuanrui, who had been discussing with Feng Xuanbo where to take Suisui the next day, noticed Suisui move and turned to look. Feng Xuanbo, being older and quicker to react, caught Suisui’s hand to steady her before turning his gaze to Feng Xuanbin.

Feng Xuanrui had already given Feng Xuanbin a death stare.

Under the intense gaze from both brothers, Feng Xuanbin was so frightened that he became obedient and did not dare to move.

Qi Wangfei observed from a distance and did not intervene. She believed that as long as the children didn’t make a big fuss, they should resolve their own conflicts. Over-interfering might make the children feel uncomfortable with each other.

Feng Xuanbin admitted his mistake, and after receiving some reprimands from his brothers, the children finally sat down for dinner.

The kitchen had prepared chicken noodle soup, minced meat steamed egg, and other dishes for the children.

Among these, the braised lamb was the children’s favorite. Even Feng Xuanbo, who usually preferred lighter foods, couldn’t resist eating several pieces.

Suisui had only one piece of lamb.

She liked meat, but compared to it, she preferred the chicken noodle soup. The soup, simmered slowly for an entire day, was aromatic and flavorful. After removing the floating oil, only the tender and fragrant taste remained. 

With chewy noodle pieces and tender cabbage hearts, the soup was refreshingly delicious. The cabbage, soaked in the broth, was sweet and tender, and the noodles were smooth and satisfying.

Suisui enjoyed the soup so much that her eyes squinted with pleasure. 

This noodle soup was the best she had ever tasted, better than any she had eaten on their journey. Suisui loved it so much that even the lamb seemed less appealing.

Her three brothers kept offering her pieces of lamb, but she only ate the one Feng Xuanrui served her. The rest of the time, she savored the bowl of delicious noodle soup.

The portion of noodle soup was not large, as children couldn’t handle too much. There were other dishes on the table as well, so it would be a pity to eat only the noodle soup. However, Suisui’s appetite was not big, and after the noodle soup and a piece of lamb, she couldn’t eat much more.

After dinner, there was also a sweet and smooth almond custard for dessert.

Suisui patted her round little belly and looked at the sweet almond custard, feeling conflicted. 

She really couldn’t eat any more!

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 Chapter 1069: Meng Yunzheng's Hometown

Shu Yu turned her head to look at the map on the table, "Huajiang Prefecture?"

"Miss, you may not know, but Huajiang Prefecture is my hometown." Ying Xi smiled bitterly. "Since I was sold, I haven't returned to Huajiang Prefecture."

Shu Yu was momentarily taken aback, but then she remembered.

No wonder she felt a little familiar when she heard about Huajiang Prefecture.

She gestured for Ying Xi to sit across from her, "Is the Ying family's escort agency located in Huajiang Prefecture?"

When Shu Yu bought Ying Xi and her brother before, the broker mentioned where they originally came from. However, at that time, Shu Yu had bought many people, and although she listened, she didn't remember everything.

Later, when Meng Yunzheng and Ying Dong met, Shu Yu learned that Ying Xi and her brother originally had the surname Lin, and their father used to be a guard in Meng Pei's escort agency.

Before the Meng family had any trouble, the escort agency was located in a place called Tianning County under Huajiang Prefecture.

Shu Yu suddenly looked down at the map on the table, "When we go to Huajiang Prefecture, will we pass through Tianning County?"

Ying Xi shook her head, "No."

But...

"But it's very close."

Shu Yu also saw it. Going to the capital of Huajiang Prefecture indeed would not pass through Tianning County, but it was nearby. According to the map, it was about forty li (around 20 kilometers) away, really close.

Shu Yu was considering whether or not to visit Tianning County when she looked up and gazed at Ying Xi.

She noticed a glimmer of longing in Ying Xi's eyes.

"Ying Xi, do you really want to go to Tianning County?"

Ying Xi hesitated and lowered her head slightly, "My father is buried on a hill outside Tianning County."

Although Lin's father went to Huajiang Prefecture and joined the Ying family's escort agency after Meng Pei's escort agency disbanded, his hometown was still in Tianning County. After going to the capital for two years, he passed away and was still sent back to the county for burial.

"When my father passed away, I was only five years old." Ying Xi said softly, "Although I was young at the time, I remember that he loved me very much. Later, my mother remarried, and my brother and I had awkward identities. We changed our surname and it wasn't easy to leave the house. As a result, we only had a chance to go back about once every two years. After being sold, we had only gone to see him twice."

Not to mention after being sold, in the four years after being sold, they hadn't even returned to Huajiang Prefecture, let alone Tianning County.

Both she and her brother felt that it might be difficult to return to their hometown in the future, and they might never have the chance to visit their parents again.

Who would have thought that after following Miss for just over a month, she would accompany her to such a faraway place and even be so close to her hometown.

Because of this, Ying Xi couldn't control her emotions.

However, she knew that Miss was in a hurry to get to the capital and didn't have time to linger in these places.

"Miss, although I want to visit my father, our journey is more important. If we pass by Huajiang Prefecture on our way back, I'd like to beg you to let me go back to pay respects to my parents."

Shu Yu tapped her fingers lightly on the table, pondering for a moment before saying, "Alright, we'll see how the situation is when the time comes. After all, taking a boat to Huajiang Prefecture also depends on whether the timing is right. If there's no boat at that time, we may have to wait a day or two. In that case, we can go to Tianning County. If we happen to catch a boat to the capital, then we can go back when we return."

She thought that by the time they returned from the capital, the matter of the Gong Qiu would also be resolved.

Tianning County was the place where Meng Yunzheng lived for ten years. He should also want to go back and see it.

Upon hearing this, Ying Xi nodded repeatedly, "Okay."

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Chapter 139: Celebration Together

Not long after they departed, the sound of ceremonial cannons echoed outside Changchun Tower.

The entire street was filled with cheers from the crowd, marking the official beginning of the Lantern Festival night in the Eastern Capital.

Feng Jinxu held Madam Wen in her arms near the window and whispered, "Feeling cold?"

Madam Wen shook her head. "Not cold, my lord. Don't worry."

She had never witnessed such a scene before. Perhaps it was the warmth of her husband's embrace or the infectious happiness of the common people below. As she looked up at the brilliant fireworks in the night sky, tears welled up in her eyes, but her lips and brows were all smiles.

Inside Zhengde Tower, already adorned with lanterns and lit up, the scene was magnificent and splendid.

Rows of lanterns hung in order, resembling a colorful dragon climbing the tower. The lanterns depicted numerous paintings, mostly related to immortal and demon stories associated with the Lantern Festival or local folklore.

In the higher Baiyue Pavilion, the seats were filled with members of the royal family and court ministers. This was also a custom of Da Jin—celebrating the Lantern Festival night with the people.

On both sides of the Baiyue Pavilion, musicians from the Xuanle Department sang and played melodious tunes of universal celebration.

In the center, Emperor Qi sat high on his throne. His normally stern face was considerably relaxed today, despite wearing imperial court attire, his expression was softened.

Watching the brilliant lights below, he felt deeply moved.

Since ascending the throne more than ten years ago, Da Jin had only achieved this peace and prosperity. A sense of pride surged within him.

Everyone appeared particularly pleasing to the eye.

On either side sat the Empress and Consort Wei. The Empress wore a reddish-gold imperial court attire, exuding elegance and magnificence. Consort Wei wore a beautiful crimson court attire, striking and charming.

Although there were fierce struggles behind the scenes, on the surface, harmony prevailed.

Both the Emperor and Empress raised their glasses to celebrate the arrival of the twelfth year of Tianqi.

"Well said, Empress. Today, on Lantern Festival, I offer a cup of wine to congratulate the enduring prosperity of Da Jin. I wish Your Majesty longevity and happiness." the Emperor spoke first.

"To prosperity!"

With his command, everyone raised their glasses in celebration, their faces filled with smiles.

After the Emperor and Empress finished their drinks, Consort Wei added, "Your Majesty, the Empress is the mother of the people of the world. Naturally, her concerns are for all. I, as a humble consort, am not as broad-minded as the Empress. I only wish Your Majesty good health and hope to accompany you more in the future."

"Well said, I appreciate your sentiment. In the days to come, I will spend more time with you." the Emperor replied.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Looking up at Consort Wei, who still had a bright smile on her face, waves surged in her eyes and she glanced at the Empress without speaking.

One was the long-standing lawful wife, dignified and generous; the other was the cherished consort, affectionate and dependent. Emperor Qi enjoyed the blessings of both, arousing envy in many.

Prince Yu stared at Consort Wei's neck for a long time, feeling a surge of desire, but he knew he couldn't be presumptuous. He could only divert his attention to the wine cup in front of him and drink one cup after another.

Prince Fu sitting beside him was not curious either. This elder brother of Prince Yu's always loved beautiful women and fine wine above all else. Indulging in a few cups of the palace's secret elixir was harmless.

"Brother Yu, this wine packs a punch. You should drink less,"

"Ah, even if I get drunk, it doesn't matter. This occasion isn't just between you and me. Whether I'm drunk or not doesn't affect it."

After saying this, he glanced at the Prince Kang in front of him and pretended to be drunk, "See that? That's the uncle the Emperor relies on. We're just extras here."

After that, he emptied his cup of fine wine in one gulp.

The mentioned Prince Kang was sitting closest to Emperor Qi at the moment. He was Emperor Qi's prince uncle, born of the same mother as the late Emperor. He had dutifully fulfilled his responsibilities for many years, never exceeding his bounds. His descendants were also mostly loyal and sincere, posing no threat.

Therefore, Emperor Qi held great respect for this close uncle of his.

He lifted the golden cup from the table and filled it to the brim, then addressed Prince Kang directly, "Uncle Kang, you are the steadfast anchor of our Da Jin. With you here, I am at peace every day. On this occasion, I wish you a long and healthy life, growing stronger with each passing day."

Upon hearing this, Prince Kang immediately rose with his consort and heir, as well as his son's consort, and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty's praise is excessive. The flourishing of the Da Jin Dynasty today relies entirely on Your Majesty's diligent governance. This old minister does not deserve the title of steadfast anchor. The enduring prosperity of the Da Jin Dynasty depends on Your Majesty alone."

These words touched Emperor Qi deeply. He raised his head and finished the wine in his cup. Prince Kang and his company also drank a cup before sitting down.

On the other side, among Emperor Qi's peers, Princess Fulin was respected.

She wore a navy blue princess court attire that fit her well. Her face, well maintained, showed no signs of aging, with strands of silver mixed in her hair, but it did not appear old, rather adding a touch of benevolence.

Smiling as she watched the lively scene below, she suddenly heard Xiao Tingyi cough a few times on her left. Immediately, she ordered, "Bring a few more braziers over. Tingyi can't tolerate the cold. Otherwise, he'll have to endure those bitter medicines again."

The attending palace servants immediately fetched more braziers. Xiao Tingyi appeared rather cold, saying, "Sister, there's no need."

Her distant attitude made Princess Fulin and several other peers on her side somewhat displeased.

But the more Princess Fulin looked, the more worried she became. "All those tonics delivered to your mansion like flowing water—why do you still cough like this? Wasn't the loquat jade dew effective?"

The loquat jade dew was something Princess Fulin had specially bought at a high price from a physician in the southwest. It had been promptly sent to the Prince Ding's mansion, but for some reason, it hadn't been effective.

Taking a sip of warm water from his nearby cup, Xiao Tingyi remained silent. Although he was deeply moved by Princess Fulin's genuine concern, he maintained a cold and proud demeanor.

Having ties with the Prince Ding's mansion was not a good thing.

Emperor Qi's gaze quickly noticed this. Seeing the palace servants bringing braziers over, the already rich aroma of wine became even warmer.

"But Seventeenth Brother isn't feeling well again?"

Showing such concern, who wouldn't say a word of grace from the imperial family. Unfortunately, it didn't enter Xiao Tingyi's eyes.

"Brother Emperor needn't worry. I feel unwell. I want to leave first."

"Okay, it's cool at night. Be careful on your way back." After saying this, he ordered the deputy commander of the imperial family's army, "Meng Da, take good care of Prince Ding and send him back to his mansion. There must be no mishaps on the way."

"Yes."

This general Meng was Emperor Qi's confidant and had been eyeing the Prince Ding's army for many years. With eyes fixed on Xiao Tingyi, he remained motionless like a hungry wolf watching its prey.

"Prince Ding, please!"

Yang Zhao helped him up. General Meng followed behind, keeping a close eye on him. After he left the table, Princess Fulin's worry became even more evident in her eyes.

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Chapter 571: Undeniable

He enjoyed watching her, that much was undeniable.

More than that, he couldn't be bothered to think. He just understood that he liked the woman in his arms and that was enough.

Seeing him breathing steadily, Ye Muyu didn't disturb him. She noticed tiny beads of sweat on his cheek and reached out with difficulty to gently wipe them away with a handkerchief.

Chu Heng couldn't help but chuckle softly when he smelled the unique fragrance of gardenia flowers on the handkerchief, and at the same time, he released her.

Taking the handkerchief, he sniffed it. "It smells quite nice."

"Gardenia flowers naturally smell good, but they don't last long. Once they dry, they lose their fragrance, so they can't be used to make sachets. However, they can be used to make gardenia essential oil." Ye Muyu quite liked this pure floral scent, especially in the summer when it was hot and easy to sweat. Having the floral scent made her feel much more comfortable.

"Why did you only soak the handkerchief?" Chu Heng wasn't interested in these fragrances that women liked, but seeing her rare enthusiasm, he asked out of curiosity.

"In fact, my clothes are also infused with some scent, but it's very light. I didn't want to be a walking sachet." Ye Muyu smiled.

"As long as you like it, you don't have to think too much about it." Although Chu Heng felt that the scent on Ye Muyu was already very pleasant, he went along with her wishes, considering that she rarely expressed her preferences.

"I like a light scent like this." Ye Muyu took back the handkerchief and placed it at her waist.

Seeing the two children beside her already asleep, unaffected by the jolting of the carriage, she picked up a fan and gently fanned them.

Chu Heng took the fan when he saw it. "Let me do it."

"You rest, your wrists will get tired from fanning for too long." Ye Muyu tried to take it back.

But Chu Heng insisted and slowly fanned the two children while holding Ye Muyu's hand that reached out to take the fan. "Don't move, you rest, I'm not tired. I'll let you know when I am."

Seeing Chu Heng's determination, Ye Muyu could only agree. "Alright, but remember to give it back to me when you're tired."

"Okay." He rubbed her face.

With nothing else to do, Ye Muyu leaned against his shoulder and closed her eyes to sleep.

Actually, she had just woken up and wasn't really sleepy but the swaying of the carriage always made people drowsy, especially in the hot summer that made people feel sleepy.

Half an hour later.

"Sigh..."

Outside the carriage, Luchuan stopped the carriage, jumped down first, knocked on the courtyard gate, and Hu Shi quickly came out to greet them.

"Master, Madam, we've arrived home." Luchuan's voice came from outside the carriage.

Only then did Chu Heng wake up Ye Muyu.

Ye Muyu rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep.

Looking at her just waking up, Chu Heng couldn't help but bend down and kiss her cheek.

Ye Muyu, still not fully awake, reached out to touch her face and pouted, "It's all slobber."

"Ah..." Chu Heng sighed, looking at Ye Muyu who didn't seem to feel his affection at all. He reached out and rubbed her face.

Soon, Ye Muyu's face turned red.

She instantly woke up.

"Oh, we're here. Get off quickly." Ye Muyu leaned back and got out of Chu Heng's clutches, quickly crawling to the door of the carriage.

Chu Heng helplessly reached out and lightly patted her small buttocks. "Looks like you're still not awake. Sit properly, I'll go down first."

Blushing, Ye Muyu knelt and sat in the carriage, looking back at him accusingly. "You should have just said it next time, don't touch me."

"Hmm?" Chu Heng raised an eyebrow and reached out to pinch her cheek again. Startled, Ye Muyu instinctively leaned back but her head hit the door frame.

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