Chapter 153: Between Tears and Laughter

Yi Jiang, immersed in joyful emotions, did not notice her little companion's small mood.

Suddenly, a "gurgle gurgle" sound came.

Yi Jiang covered her stomach and laughed sheepishly.

"Is there anything to eat at home? I've only had two pieces of pastry from when I got up early this morning until now."

Yu'an, still immersed in the gloomy mood of not being able to go find Daddy, nodded listlessly.

"Perfect, I was just about to eat too. Let's go together."

The two little companions sat side by side. Yi Jiang swung her little feet under the table, sitting obediently and neatly on the chair to eat.

A few adults looked at this scene and exchanged knowing smiles.

Cheng Chengxuan walked over to Chen Delin.

"Did Chen Old Master come here regarding the matter of the Zhou Family?"

The smile on Chen Delin's face vanished, and he nodded with a solemn expression.

Cheng Chengxuan pointed in a direction.

"This way, please."

The Cheng Family members and Chen Delin discussed for a long time.

After coming out of the Study, Cheng Chengxuan took Cheng Sen and Cheng Yao, mounted their Horses, and left.

Chen Delin, meanwhile, slowly walked to Yu'an's room. Just as he reached the door, he heard two childish but full-of-energy voices reading aloud from inside.

Hearing this sound, Chen Delin smiled, stroked his beard, and nodded in satisfaction.

He knew that sending Yi Jiang to the Cheng Family was a good idea.

A guard from the Chen Family walked over.

"Old Master."

Chen Delin raised his index finger with a "shh."

"Shh!"

Then he led the guard a little farther away.

"Feiying, stay here to look after Yi Jiang. If there's any situation, report it at any time."

Feiying lowered her head and answered in the affirmative.

"Yes."

After giving the instructions, Chen Delin glanced once more at the room from which the clear sound of reading aloud came, smiled, turned around, and walked outside.

In the room, the two little ones had finished reading and had already started practicing calligraphy.

As soon as An Luo clicked in, she saw the scene of two Small Dumplings sitting perfectly upright, pens in hand, writing seriously.

"What's going on?"

Did the Live Stream Room suddenly turn into a little classroom?

Hearing her voice, Yu'an's eyes lit up.

"Fairy..."

Fortunately, he caught himself in time and stopped the words.

"Hmm?"

Yi Jiang looked at him in confusion.

"Yu'an, what were you saying just now?"

"N-nothing."

Yu'an quickly shook his head, his gaze a little evasive. It fell on the paper in front of him, and the little light bulb in his head lit up with a "biu."

"I mean, you keep writing slowly, I'll go get a few more sheets of paper."

"Okay."

Yi Jiang didn't think much of it, lowered her head, and continued writing.

Yu'an let out a sigh of relief and ran out of the room with a pitter-patter of footsteps.

【Fairy Sister, Yi Jiang will be staying at home for a short while, so Yu'an can't go find Fairy Sister and Daddy.】

Speaking of this, the little fellow lowered his little head, his face full of disappointment.

An Luo reached out and rubbed the top of the little fellow's head, comforting him softly.

"It's okay. If Yu'an has anything he wants to say to your Daddy, just tell me. Elder Sister can help pass the message along."

【Then Fairy Sister must remember to tell Daddy that Yu'an will miss him very, very much.】

An Luo smiled and nodded in response.

"Okay."

She reached out her finger, swiped around the screen, and asked in confusion.

"Yu'an, why don't I see your little uncle?"

Hasn't he been the one helping Yu'an with his lessons these days?

Hearing her mention little uncle, a sense of crisis immediately welled up in the little fellow's heart. Pouting his little mouth, he reluctantly and unwillingly revealed little uncle's whereabouts.

【Little uncle has things to do, seems like he'll be gone for several days.】

"So that's how it is."

Cheng Chengxuan seemed to have mentioned going to rescue someone.

【Does Fairy Sister like Yu'an?】

Hearing this, An Luo smiled and poked the little fellow's tender, squishy cheek, her tone full of doting affection.

"Of course I like you."

The little fellow gazed at her again with eager, pleading eyes.

【What about that little uncle? Does Elder Sister like him?】

Hearing these words, An Luo's expression began to turn unnatural.

"Why? Why are you suddenly asking this?"

【Fairy Sister, Yu'an will definitely grow up quickly!】

Suddenly hearing a firm little milky voice, An Luo couldn't help but feel a little strange.

"Our Yu'an wants to grow up so quickly?"

The little fellow nodded heavily, shouting loudly in his heart.

【Because once I'm grown up, I can marry Fairy Sister!】

Hearing these words, An Luo was first stunned, then burst out with a "puchi" laugh.

"You little thing, do you even know what 'marry' means?"

The little fellow's big bright eyes sparkled.

【Of course I know! It means getting married, it means being able to stay together forever!】

Daddy said that once you're married, you can stay together forever.

He wanted to stay by Fairy Sister's side forever.

The little fellow began to analyze it for An Luo with great seriousness.

【Fairy Sister, by the time Yu'an grows up, little uncle will already be old.】

This logic left An Luo not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Zaituan, ah, have you never thought that the flow of time on both sides is basically the same? By the day you grow up, I'll be old too.

Who knows, before you grow up, we might not even be able to see each other anymore.

Looking at the little dumpling in the live stream screen, An Luo's expression became a little dazed.

That's right, this magical Live Stream Room might disappear at any moment without warning.

Zaituan aside, she herself should still have less entanglement with people from ancient times.

……

Several li away, Cheng Chengxuan, who was galloping along the road, suddenly sneezed.

He tightened the reins, brought the Horse to a stop, and rubbed his nose.

Cheng Sen beside him looked at him with concern.

"Young General, are you alright? Shall we rest for a while?"

Cheng Chengxuan shook his head.

"No harm, continue on our way."

At this moment, how could he know that a casual remark from his dear little nephew had dug a great big pit for him.

After Cheng Chengxuan's master and two servants reunited with the people sent by Chu Yuan, the party of ten continued toward An Cheng.

……

Several hundred li away, in Xiyue, at the Xiyue Crown Prince's Residence.

In the Study, after the Xiyue Crown Prince read the intelligence presented by his trusted subordinate, he casually handed those few sheets of paper to a man in a white robe beside him.

"Regarding this matter, what is Master Qingchen's esteemed opinion?"

"Mm, Imperial Prince, this is indeed a good opportunity for Xiyue. If the Xiyue Emperor were to know, he should be very pleased."

The Xiyue Crown Prince rose and walked to the window, standing with his hands behind his back, a look of worry appearing on his face.

"This is also the point I worry about."

"Actually, over these past ten-plus years, although on the surface our Xiyue has not troubled Da Yin's waters, I know Father Emperor is unwilling to accept it and has always been holding back a breath of anger."

Saying so, he let out a long sigh.

"But although the Cheng Family is gone, the Cheng Family Army, this fierce and formidable force, still remains. What's more, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse; the foundations the Cheng Family built can absolutely not be dismantled in just a few short months."

The Xiyue Prince, immersed in his own thoughts, did not notice that after hearing his words just now, the white-robed man behind him suddenly clenched his fists tightly, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes.

"Now that Da Yin has suddenly suffered a snow disaster, it is indeed a good opportunity, but clashing with them at this time would likely result in both sides being badly hurt. What's more, there are still Dongxun and Nanjiang watching like tigers eyeing their prey."

The white-robed man asked.

"Does Crown Prince worry that the Xiyue Emperor will act without regard for consequences and send troops directly?"

The Xiyue Prince nodded slowly, saying with deep worry.

"If we cannot take Da Yin in one decisive strike, I'm afraid we will have to face a pincer attack from Dongxun and Nanjiang."

Yuan Qingchen curved his lips slightly.

"So the Imperial Prince feels that Da Yin is still not chaotic enough?"

"That's easy to handle."

The Xiyue Prince turned to look at him.

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Yuan Qingchen revealed a meaningfully deep smile.

"Does the Imperial Prince still remember Da Yin's Prince Kang and Prince Jing?"