Chapter 220: What Are You Showing Off For?

The Imperial Study.

The moment the Shunhe Emperor stepped inside, his face darkened. He waved off the other palace attendants, keeping only Shi Gui behind.

Suddenly, he clamped a hand over his chest and with a "pfft" spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Xiyue Emperor!"

Seeing the Emperor about to collapse, Shi Gui turned pale with fright, his horsetail whisk slipping from his hand. He lunged forward in a single stride to catch him.

"Are you all right?"

"This servant will send for the imperial physician at once."

"Someone, quick—fetch the imperial physician!"

By now the Shunhe Emperor was barely conscious, mumbling something under his breath.

Shi Gui leaned in to listen, his expression shifting again and again.

He heard the Shunhe Emperor's unconscious muttering.

"Retribution... is this what retribution looks like?"

Hearing those words, Shi Gui's heart gave a jolt. He hurriedly helped the Emperor onto the daybed, not daring to listen any further.

The Shunhe Emperor's sudden collapse made the atmosphere in the palace even more tense.

……

A hundred li away, the mood at the Cheng Family Army Camp was the complete opposite.

Cheng Chengxuan had returned from a hunt outside with his men and went straight to An Luo's tent.

"Miss An."

Hearing the soft patter of footsteps coming out, he looked down to straighten his clothes, then raised his head with a smile toward the person approaching.

"An—"

The next instant, the smile on his lips slowly flattened.

"Why is it you? Where is Miss An?"

"Hmph!!!"

Cheng Qiuluo crossed her arms and curled her lip.

"Your face sure changes fast."

"What's with that look? Are you really that disappointed?"

"Brother, did you forget? This is my tent too."

Cheng Chengxuan glanced inside.

"Fine, fine, fine, it's your tent."

"Where is Miss An? If she finds it dull and wants to go out for a stroll, send a few more people to keep her company. After all, this is the wilds—wild beasts are often about…"

Qiuluo waved a hand in front of his eyes.

"All right, all right, stop looking. She's not here."

"Where did she go?"

Cheng Qiuluo's eyes rolled in a quick circle. She sized him up with a knowing look, her face alight with gossipy delight.

"Brother, you like Miss An so much—when are you going to marry her and bring her home to be my second sister-in-law?"

In a flash, Cheng Chengxuan's face turned beet red; he even stumbled over his words.

"Wh-why are you suddenly saying things like that?"

"Don't say it like that!"

"Pfft!"

"Hahahaha!"

Qiuluo stood with one hand on her hip, laughing so hard she was nearly out of breath.

"Brother, are you shy?"

Seeing his color gradually return to normal—and even show signs of darkening—Qiuluo didn't dare laugh anymore. She pressed her lips down with great effort.

"Ahem!"

"Miss An went to the Farm to find Yu'an."

Cheng Chengxuan nodded expressionlessly, turned, and walked off.

Back in his own tent, Cheng Chengxuan touched the mark on his wrist and likewise flashed into the Farm.

After the Farm had been upgraded to level three, friends could enter in person directly.

"Fairy Sister, will it really work this time?"

The moment he came in, he heard Yu'an's soft, milky little voice.

Following the sound, he saw a big one and a small one gathered around a suspended stove.

The stove had a flat-bottomed pot in the middle, a fire set beneath it, and a flat lid on top piled with red-hot charcoal.

Yu'an was hugging a bottle of milk in his arms and had just taken a sip, a ring of white foam clinging to his upper lip.

An Luo beside him gave a little sniff. Catching the familiar scent, her eyes lit up and she nodded firmly.

"Don't worry, it'll definitely work this time!"

She curled a finger and gave the Small Dumpling's chubby cheek a little scratch.

"Let's bake some little cakes first. Later Elder Sister will make some egg tart shells, and tomorrow we'll bake egg tarts, all right?"

At the thought of egg tarts with a crisp, crumbly crust and a soft, tender filling, Yu'an's big eyes instantly sparkled.

"Okay!"

Although Daddy had previously told him to pack plenty of things into the Treasure Chest, snacks were never many to begin with, and after Fairy Sister came here there was even less supply.

And on top of that, Zengwaizufù...

Sigh!

Now we're really just sitting around eating through the Mountain — soon there won't be any grain left, ah no, soon the little snacks will be gone!

Her pert little nose twitched twice. Yu'an squatted to the side, watching the stove with eager eyes.

"Fairy Sister, Yu'an can already smell the fragrance — sweet and sweet-smelling. Is it done baking?"

An Luo glanced at the time.

"It's about ready."

She was about to use the fire tongs to pick out the glowing red charcoal pieces on top, but a hand reached in and picked up the fire tongs first.

"Be careful — let me do it."

Seeing it was him, An Luo smiled.

"You're here?"

The back of her hand was brushed lightly by his fingertips, and Cheng Chengxuan's hand paused for a moment.

Yu'an also looked at him with delighted surprise.

"Little Uncle!"

Hearing the voice, he came back to himself.

"Alright, you two stand back a bit — careful of the sparks flying out."

An Luo led the little one back a few steps, then crouched behind Yu'an and gathered the child into her arms.

The big one and the small one watched him slowly lift the pot lid.

A rich, sweet fragrance billowed out with the steam.

"Wow!"

"Smells so good!"

Yu'an grinned and clapped his little hands.

"It worked!"

An Luo walked over, used chopsticks to pick out a dozen or so little cakes onto two plates, and carried them to a table nearby.

"Come try them quick!"

Yu'an held his own little dish, gently blew it cool, picked one up, and took a bite.

"Delicious!"

The cakes were made very small — only about half the size of Modern Era cupcake cakes — so the little one could finish one in three or four bites.

"You eat too."

An Luo also picked one up and glanced at Cheng Chengxuan beside her.

Cheng Chengxuan lowered his head to look at his own hands.

"I haven't washed my hands yet..."

The next moment, a warm cake was pressed against his lips. He froze at once, staring at her in a daze.

"What is it? Eat it quick."

So saying, An Luo popped the other half into her own mouth.

Cheng Chengxuan opened his mouth in a daze and chewed.

An Luo watched him with a beaming smile.

"How does it taste?"

Cheng Chengxuan just kept staring at her.

"Sweet. Very sweet."

Very sweet?

But she hadn't put in that much sugar.

And it tasted fine to her too.

Could it be because ancient people's tastes were different?

Then next time she'd put in a little less sugar.

An Luo wrapped up the untouched plate of cakes in oiled paper.

"Take these back with you to eat."

It's not good for children to eat things too sweet.

The paper package in his hands rustled and crinkled. Cheng Chengxuan felt a little embarrassed under her gaze.

"Why do you keep looking at me?"

An Luo glanced at the time.

"Aren't you busy?"

"Ah right, I still have things to do — I'll head back first."

Yu'an munched on his cake, little cheeks puffing in and out, watching his retreating back. His delicate little brows knit slightly as he muttered in a small, muffled voice.

"Strange."

"Little Uncle is really strange."

Meanwhile, back at the Tent, Cheng Chengxuan looked at the paper package in his hands, and the smile at the corner of his mouth grew deeper and deeper.

"Cheng Cheng, Second Aunt made a pair of shoes for you — try them on."

Cheng Sitao walked in carrying two pairs of shoes.

Looking at the other pair in his hands, Cheng Chengxuan asked.

"Didn't you say one pair? Then where's the other pair?"

Speaking of this, Cheng Sitao touched them with great care.

"Your Eldest Sister-in-law made these for me. Nice, right? Don't they suit my temperament perfectly?"

Cheng Chengxuan: "..."

Aren't they just a pair of shoes?

Aren't both pairs black?

What makes that one pair so especially suited to you?

What are you showing off for!

His gaze fell on the cake in his hand. After a moment's thought, he handed one over, clearly pained by the loss.

"Try this little cake. An Luo just baked it."

Cheng Chengxuan took a bite and nodded.

"Not bad."

He stuffed the rest of it into his mouth in one go.

"This was baked by Miss An for Yu'an, wasn't it?"

Cheng Chengxuan: "..."

If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all!

He snatched the boots away and irritably began shooing him out.

"I'm going to try on the shoes now. You should go out first."

Pushed outside, Cheng Sitao rubbed his nose.

He'd only said it offhand — had he really guessed right?

But speaking of which—

He looked at the Tent and smiled.

That cake was Miss An baking for my son — what are you showing it off for?