Chapter 3: Exposed Without Warning

So Zaituan is a boy!

An Luo kept scrolling down to read the character introductions.

So Yu'an is in a country called Da Yin.

The Cheng Old Grand Master, the Former Pingnan Marquis, had supported the Late Emperor in ascending the throne. Twenty years ago, after a great battle, he fell gravely ill on the road back to the capital and died beyond cure.

Afterwards, the Cheng Family's Eldest Branch inherited the title and became the new Pingnan Marquis.

The Cheng Family had fought on the battlefields for Da Yin for decades, but a month ago they suffered a defeat on the battlefield. The Cheng Family's Two Sons and Two Grandsons all died in battle—their bodies couldn't even be recovered.

The Hundred Thousand Army was completely annihilated. The Emperor of Da Yin was furious, and it so happened that at this moment, the National Preceptor searched beneath the Cheng Family Ancestral Hall and found an object whose fate clashed with the Emperor of Da Yin's birth characters.

In his towering rage, the Emperor directly ordered that in the Pingnan Marquis Residence, whether of the main line or the branch lines, all males be beheaded without exception, and all female relatives be exiled.

An Luo felt something was off.

"That Witchcraft Gu Art is just too convenient…"

Suddenly, a notification popped up on her phone.

Buzz! Task Panel loaded successfully!

Main Quest One unlocked: Please help Zaituan safely reach Beihuang City.

A progress bar suddenly appeared on the interface, and soon the background screen changed.

Above, there were now added a Quest column, Inventory, Sign-In, Shop, and also a small door marked with the character 'Xian'.

It displayed:

You've used up all your chances for today. Come try again tomorrow~

This door is probably related to Zaituan crossing over to the Modern Era.

In the Live Stream Room, Meng Shi held Yu'an and ran together with Cheng Qiuluo to Cheng Old Madam's side.

"Pomo!"

"Great-Grandmother (Grandmother)!"

Seeing that Great-Grandmother was still unconscious, Yu'an hurriedly took out the little bundle hidden under his clothes.

Meng Shi quickly pulled Second Madam Wang Shi, along with the other younger generations, to shield this old one and young one.

Even Cheng Qiuluo, who had just witnessed with her own eyes Yu'an take out the Little Green Bottle that subdued the wild boar, as well as that Divine Weapon, now slightly widened her eyes.

Yu'an took out the Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, fed Cheng Old Madam two bottles, then took out that bottle of ice water wreathed in mist, about to place it on Cheng Old Madam's forehead.

"Wait a moment!"

Cheng Qiuluo reached out and stopped him. She forcefully tore off a piece of her garment's hem, wrapped the bottle with it, and only then pressed it to Cheng Old Madam's forehead.

"This way it won't stand out."

Perhaps it was the bitterness of the Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, or perhaps the ice had worked to bring down her temperature.

With her eyes tightly shut, the unconscious Cheng Old Madam slowly opened her eyes.

At the sight, the Cheng Family's female relatives all wept with joy.

"Pomo, you're finally awake!"

"Grandmother, how do you feel?"

Cheng Old Madam laboriously tugged at the corner of her mouth and gave them a smile.

"It's nothing, I can still hold on."

Sensing the coolness on her forehead, as well as the bitter, nose-prickling taste in her mouth, a flicker of deep thought crossed Cheng Old Madam's eyes.

Yu'an fished out a candy from the little bundle, imitated the way the immortal elder sister had peeled off the candy wrapper, then tucked it into Cheng Old Madam's mouth.

"Great-Grandmother! Here's something sweet for your mouth, no more bitterness."

The sweetness, thick with the fragrance of milk, melted in her mouth, and the thoughtfulness in Cheng Old Madam's eyes deepened.

During the years when the Late Emperor reigned and the Pingnan Marquis Residence was in favor, they had also been bestowed quite a few Imperial Tribute Candy. Even the maltose specially supplied by the imperial household was not this delicious.

Where had Yu'an gotten it from?

But little Xiao Yu'an had no idea what she was thinking. He gave each of the Ancestor a candy.

Then he looked at the last candy in the little bundle and swallowed hard.

Earlier he had eaten one at the immortal elder sister's place, so he would save this one.

This scene made An Luo feel both heartache and heartache.

She had only grabbed two small handfuls of candy in total, fewer than ten pieces.

How could Zaituan give them all away?

Looking at the candy wrapper painted with a rabbit's head, the Cheng Family's female relatives exchanged glances.

Cheng Qiuruo carefully licked a little, and her eyes instantly lit up.

So fragrant!

So sweet!

She bit off a small piece, then rewrapped it and carefully kept it close to her body like a treasure.

Meng Shi and her daughter-in-law Tian Shi—that is, Yu'an's mother—as well as Second Branch's Madam Wang Shi, all did not eat theirs, but put them away and kept them safe.

As for Cheng Qiuluo, she directly stuffed the candy into her mouth and chewed it in big bites.

Of course good things should be eaten up quickly!

Only once it's in your belly is it truly yours!

Suddenly, a little girl of seven or eight ran over and looked at them with an air of entitlement.

"Hey! When you went out earlier, did you pick up any wild fruits or anything? Give me a few!"

Suddenly, her nose twitched, and she widened her eyes and pointed at the group, shouting.

"You secretly ate..."

Cheng Qiuluo stepped forward quickly and clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Shut your mouth!"

The moment she opened her mouth, the little girl caught the milky scent on her breath and the sweet taste of candy.

Her heart was suddenly both anxious and annoyed.

They had candy and didn't even tell her!

"I want some too, or I'll go tell the Jiedai that you're colluding with someone and trying to escape!"

Hearing this, Yu'an instinctively looked nervously toward his great-grandmother.

Cheng Old Madam just smiled faintly, rubbed his little head, said nothing, and didn't even look at that girl.

Cheng Qiuruo reluctantly took out the large half-piece of Milk Candy she'd been hiding in her clothes.

"Jiuyue, here, you can have it."

Cheng Jiuyue snatched it, tore it open, stuffed it in her mouth, smacked it twice, then said in a muffled voice.

"This one's obviously been bitten by you—who do you look down on? I want more!"

Cheng Qiuluo rolled her eyes.

If you look down on it because it's been bitten, then don't eat it!

Yu'an took out the last piece of Milk Candy.

Just as Cheng Jiuyue reached for it, someone grabbed her wrist.

She looked up and met Cheng Qiuluo's threatening eyes.

"You've heard the saying 'a soft mouth from eating someone's food,' right? If you dare tell anyone, I'll break your legs!"

Cheng Jiuyue's little face went pale, and she shrank back a few steps in fear.

But then she thought of the words her mother had been repeating lately, and her courage suddenly swelled.

"The Pingnan Marquis Residence owes my family a life! What's wrong with me eating a few pieces of your candy? It's all what you owe my family!"

Saying that, she snatched the Milk Candy from Yu'an's hand and ran off.

"That Yao Tou is being taught more and more out of line!"

Cheng Qiuluo said as she lifted her foot, wanting to chase after her.

"Enough!"

Cheng Old Madam spoke up to stop her, then said to the others.

"You all go attend to your duties; I have something to say to Yu'an."

Looking at her great-grandson, who was clutching his clothes with a nervous face, Cheng Old Madam smiled faintly and spoke.

"Where's the Small Wooden Token?"

Yu'an quickly took it off.

"Here it is."

Looking at the specks of bloodstains on it, Cheng Old Madam's face showed an expression of sudden understanding.

Yu'an lowered his little head in frustration, rubbing his hands together uneasily.

"Great-grandmother, Yu'an didn't mean to dirty the wooden token."

Cheng Old Madam hung it back around his neck and asked softly:

"Did the Immortal leave any other instructions?"

Yu'an: "???"

An Luo, off-screen: "!!!"

Not a single word was mentioned, and it's already exposed?!