Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty-Five: Late-Night Visitor

The newcomer was none other than Chen Ying.

After stepping over the threshold, he had just taken one step forward.

The Cheng family members had already risen and quietly gathered around Cheng Old Madam the moment they saw him, shielding her firmly behind them, and now stared fixedly at Chen Ying.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

Cheng Qiuluo even snatched up the sword leaning against the table, holding it across her body to block his way.

"Beat up your little lackeys during the day, and now the master himself comes running? Haven't you caused us enough trouble in broad daylight?!"

"Qiuluo."

Cheng Old Madam shook her head at her.

Since Grandmother had spoken, Cheng Qiuluo had no choice but to lower the sword, but the wariness and vigilance in her eyes didn't diminish one bit.

Her left thumb rested on the sword guard, her right hand gripped the hilt, ready to draw at any moment.

Seeing this, Chen Ying sighed helplessly to himself and simply stopped walking forward, facing Cheng Old Madam like this, and bowed deeply in greeting.

"This junior pays his respects to Cheng Old Madam."

Apart from Cheng Old Madam, the rest of the Cheng family members exchanged uncertain glances.

What... kind of situation is this?

But the next sentence made them even more surprised.

After rising, Chen Ying turned in another direction and bowed to Meng Shi.

"Greetings, Master's Wife."

Hearing this form of address, every member of the Cheng family except Cheng Old Madam turned to look at Meng Shi.

Even Meng Shi herself hadn't caught on yet.

"You..."

After a moment of stunned confusion, Meng Shi vaguely recalled something.

Over the years, the Marquis had always received a gift during holidays, only saying it was from a disciple, but never mentioning that person's name.

The Marquis had taken on many disciples, so she hadn't thought much of it.

"Today my people below offended Old Madam and all of you, which was truly not my wish, but now there are too many eyes and ears of others in Beihuang City, so during the day I could only act that way."

Saying this, Chen Ying cupped his hands in apology.

"I ask that none of you take it to heart."

Cheng Old Madam told the younger generation to disperse, then looked at Chen Ying and asked.

"How is your father?"

At the mention of this, worry flickered across Chen Ying's face.

"When he heard of the Cheng family's plight earlier, Father was so furious he fainted, and has been bedridden ever since."

"Otherwise, Father would certainly have come to pay his respects to you in person."

Hearing this, Cheng Old Madam sighed softly.

"Is it serious? What did the Imperial Physician say?"

Chen Ying lowered his head slightly and answered in a quiet voice.

"The Imperial Physician said it's liver yang hyperactivity, and he needs to rest in bed."

After saying this, he shifted the topic.

"These past days, many people have secretly slipped into Beihuang City — they must be coming for the Cheng family. Old Madam should make plans as soon as possible."

Cheng Old Madam gripped her cane in one hand and rested the other on the table, eyes lowered in thought for a long while.

"Let's set it for tomorrow."

"Good, then this junior will go back and prepare now. I'll take my leave first."

Having said that, Chen Ying bowed to her once more, pulled the hood of his cloak back up, wrapped himself up tightly, and turned to leave.

The Cheng family women exchanged glances, and in the end it was Meng Shi who spoke up.

"Pomo, what did you mean just now?"

Watching Chen Ying's figure disappear into the night, a look of reminiscence crossed Cheng Old Madam's face.

"Five years ago, the case of the Chen family's embezzlement of military funds was indeed suspicious. Back then, the Chen family was framed."

"You should all know that the Chen family was the Pingnan Marquis Residence's right-hand man. The person behind the scenes aimed from start to finish to drag the Cheng family down with them."

Speaking of this past event, Cheng Old Madam's expression grew heavy.

"By the time we realized it, the Chen family could no longer extricate themselves. With no other choice, the Cheng family could only expose them one step ahead."

"After the entire Chen family was arrested, Cheng He took the Immunity Gold Medal bestowed by the Late Emperor and entered the palace overnight, begging the Emperor to spare Chen Ying's life. Later, just before the execution ground, he secretly swapped the Chen family out with condemned prisoners."

Hearing this, Meng Shi and Wang Shi, the sisters-in-law, exchanged a glance.

Chen Ying was actually saved by the Marquis using the Immunity Gold Medal?

Yet that incompetent ruler claimed it was out of regard for the Chen family's battlefield merits that he spared Chen Ying's life!

What a shameless man!

Later, the Emperor even lavishly praised the Pingnan Marquis Residence for discerning right from wrong, being wise and just, and proactively exposing their subordinate's crimes — truly a model for all officials.

If the Chen family had truly been wiped out, one could imagine how much Chen Ying would have hated the Cheng family.

Perhaps even if the Marquis hadn't produced the Immunity Gold Medal, the Emperor would have spared Chen Ying's life.

After all, hatred is the sharpest blade!

Soon, Cheng Old Madam pulled herself back from the past and looked toward her eldest granddaughter beside her.

"Tomorrow, Qiuyun will take Cheng Feng and the others out of the city."

Cheng Qiuyun instinctively wanted to refuse.

"But…"

Cheng Old Madam patted her hand.

"Go on. With you there, those people will still have some scruples after all."

Looking at her grandmother's composure and calm, Cheng Qiuyun's uneasy heart was gradually soothed, and she slowly nodded.

"Yes, this granddaughter understands."

……

Early the next morning, just as the sky was growing light, Cheng Qiuyun took Cheng Feng and the others out through the City Gate.

Wu Meng and Feng Shan followed behind as well.

A few li away from Beihuang City, after confirming no scouts were tailing them, the group finally stopped.

Wu Meng and Feng Shan expressed their sincere thanks to Cheng Qiuyun.

"Many thanks to the eldest young miss for helping us send word to our families. Once we've picked up our dependents, we'll return to serve the Cheng Family!"

After the two of them left, Cheng Qiuyun looked toward Cheng Feng and the others.

"I'll take Cheng Xin and Cheng Sen toward the border. The three of you stay here, and once the matter is done, continue guarding by Grandmother's side."

……

In Beihuang City, Yu'an woke up, and in a daze had his face smacked with a warm cloth by his own mother, instantly snapping awake.

The little fellow sat obediently on the stool, holding a small bowl and drinking milk.

As he drank, he tilted his little head up, a ring of little fuzz at the corner of his mouth, his big eyes blinking as he looked around, and finally spotted something off.

"Where's Elder Aunt?"

Cheng Old Madam wiped the corner of his mouth for him.

"Your Elder Aunt went off to handle some matters."

The little fellow nodded sensibly, no longer pressing the question, and continued drinking from his small bowl.

In the Modern Era, An Luo was woken by the ring of an incoming call.

"Xiaoxiao? What's wrong?"

A sentence came from the other side.

"Boss, something's happened to a relative back in my hometown. I need to take two days off."

Hearing the urgency in her tone, An Luo quickly sat up.

"Is it serious? Is there anything I can help with?"

There was a pause on the other end, then she said.

"Thanks for your concern, boss, but I can handle it myself. I don't need anything for now."

An Luo nodded.

"Don't bother with two days—I'm giving you a week off. Take care of your family's matters first."

"Okay, thank you, boss."

After hanging up, An Luo couldn't fall back asleep, so she simply opened Zaituan's Live Stream Room.

The moment she entered, she was utterly slain by the cuteness of the little cub drinking milk.

In her excitement, she bought several more cans of formula.

Ding!

You have unclaimed rewards.

An Luo tapped into the backend main page.

Main Quest One: Please help Zaituan safely reach Beihuang City (Completed). Reward: one gift pack for the player.

Ding!

Congratulations, player, on obtaining Space Fragment x1, Feeding Times x5, Fertile Black Soil (Excellent Quality) x2.

Note: Excellent-quality soil can shorten crop growth time, at 30 times the normal growth speed.

Hmm???

It's really turned into a game?

A farming section added?

Does it want Zaituan to farm too?

Ding!

Zaituan has been detected as having reached Beihuang City. The Reputation System has been activated.

Ding!

The Reputation Mall is now online.

Reputation Mall?

Sounds pretty impressive.

An Luo tapped in to take a look, and it displayed:

Current Reputation Points: 0. The Shop cannot be unlocked.

An Luo: "……"

Oh my!

What a waste of feelings!