"Let the past be the past."
Yang Ruxin directly interrupted Lin Lang. "Master Lin is a wise man. He knows what’s right to do and what’s wrong. Being a brother-in-law is a unique position. A good brother-in-law can be a great help, while a bad one could spell disaster, much like Dai Zhigao here."
"Madam, though young, sees things very clearly," Lin Lang sighed, stroking his beard. Normally, a teenage village girl would be too intimidated to speak to him. He never imagined that one day he, a third-rank official of the Imperial Court, would sit and dine with such a village girl. But it happened, and he couldn’t help but feel admiration and respect.
"You’re too kind, sir," Yang Ruxin smiled. "I won’t hide it from you; the incident with the Wei Family was indeed my doing. But they had it coming. Even after Wei Yao refused the marriage, Master Zhao didn’t take it out on the second branch of the Wei Family, and even severed relations with them, showing he understood the situation clearly."
"Ah," Lin Lang sighed, "He was helpless, indeed. If the girl from the Wei Family had been sincere in living with him, that would have been one thing. But she had ulterior motives. What he couldn’t do openly, he had to ask of . But he knew I couldn’t do anything illegal, so in the end, he gave the girl so money and a letter of divorce."
Yang Ruxin nodded, realizing there had been such complications involved.
"Can’t we stop talking about this? I’m hungry," Dao Xuzi grumbled. "Sir Lin wouldn’t be stingy enough to skip a al, would he?"
"Exactly, I’m hungry too. Let’s eat," Yang Ruxin quickly changed the topic.
"Alright, serve the dishes," Lin Lang laughed and called out. "Today, the al’s on , so don’t worry about saving money." He realized that he found this girl worth befriending.
"You’re such a nagging old man, hurry up with the food. I’m starving," Dao Xuzi rolled his eyes. "Faster, faster!"
"Don’t mind him, Lord Lin," Yang Ruxin said, massaging her forehead. She thought, Master, were you reincarnated from a starving ghost? It’s so embarrassing.
Lin Lang personally went out to hasten the service, frightening the restaurant owner to personally deliver the dishes.
Dao Xuzi imdiately grabbed a lion’s head atball and started eating, calming down as he ate.
Lin Lang exhaled deeply, realizing that all the talented and eccentric individuals in the martial world had bad tempers. The greater their skill, the stranger their temper, so he didn’t mind.
"If Master Lin ever needs anything in the future, feel free to co to Dapu East Village to find ," Yang Ruxin said, wanting to befriend soone like Lin Lang—perhaps even a connection to the Crown Prince.
"Alright," Lin Lang didn’t refuse; who could guarantee they’d never fall ill?
After eating and drinking their fill, Yang Ruxin and the other two finally made their way out of the city gates.
Yang Ruxin watched as Zhui Yun galloped towards them, letting out a long sigh of relief. "Finally, we can go ho."
This ti, they didn’t delay further, and by the ti the last rays of sunlight vanished, they arrived at Lianhua Town. They sped up and, in just a quarter of an hour, saw the familiar small building.
"I’m back..." Yang Ruxin called out before even dismounting.
The gate, already closed, was suddenly opened as soone rushed out, looked, and then turned back to shout, "Madam is back."
"Big sister..."
At the door, just as Yang Ruxin dismounted, a bunch of little ones burst out of the house like cannonballs, charging towards her.
"Slow down," Yang Ruxin caught the first, Sini, then hugged each of the others as they ca. "Seems you’ve all grown taller."
"You’re hardly ever ho, and they say girls change a lot as they grow up. Next ti you’re gone for so long, you might not even recognize us," Sanni pouted.
"Don’t worry," Yang Ruxin said, leading the bunch of little ones inside, pinching Sanni’s cheek. "No matter how you change, I will always recognize you."
"It’s like Sun Wukong can never escape the palm of Buddha," Sini suddenly chid in.
"I’m not Sun Wukong," Sanni retorted, rubbing her little sister’s cheek. "So no one can catch ."
"You just can’t escape Brother Dabao’s palm," Sini teased.
"I just don’t want to escape," Sanni blushed but continued to banter with her sister. "Otherwise, no one could catch ."
"Liar," Sini made a face at Sanni.
"I can’t escape from ngng’s palm," Zhou Xiao eagerly joined in, not forgetting to greet Yang Ruxin.
"Who told you to butt in?" Sanni rolled her eyes at Zhou Xiao. "Annoying." Then she ran off.
Zhou Xiao quickly chased after her.
Yang Ruxin couldn’t stop laughing, and the little ones around her laughed along.
Looking at everyone’s happy smiles, Yang Ruxin felt deeply at peace. This was her life. Compared to these smiles, the riches and glories of the outside world ant nothing.
"Xinxin," Dong Wenxiu and Feng Zilan ca out upon hearing the news, followed by Erni.
"Mom," Yang Ruxin quickly walked the last few steps to stand in front of them, sizing them up as they did the sa to her.
"You’ve lost weight," Feng Zilan touched Yang Ruxin’s face. "You mustn’t have been eating or drinking well outside."
"Yes, it’s ti for a good rest now?" Dong Wenxiu nodded. "Unfortunately, Qingheng isn’t here."
The ntion made everyone silent.
With the war in the north just ended, now the south was stirring. When would such days end?
"He’s defending the country; we must support him," Yang Ruxin quickly changed the topic. "I won’t leave now that I’m back. With the New Year coming, we have to get busy, and we have three happy occasions to celebrate. We must make them lively... By the way, where are Master and Madam?"
"They’ve gone to the county, back tomorrow," Dong Wenxiu smiled. "Shangguan Fei sent word that they’re already on their way back, but because Manman is pregnant, they might be slower. But they’ll be back by the end of the month..."
"Mom, big sister has traveled all night to get back. She must be tired and hungry. Let them rest and eat first. We can discuss everything tomorrow," Erni quickly reminded.
"Look at , I was too happy to think," Dong Wenxiu tapped her forehead, "quickly, let everyone wash up first. I’ll check on the food."
"I’ll join you," Feng Zilan said, standing up. "We need to make a few things Xinxin likes to eat."
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