Chapter 64: The Late-Night Returnee

Cheng Old Madam led Yu'an into the courtyard with an expressionless face.

The people behind exchanged glances, pressing their lips hard to hold back laughter.

It seemed that even someone as worldly and experienced as Pomo (Old Madam), when faced with such a miraculous scene, couldn't stay calm either.

After putting all the corn into the Kufang, the few of them had only managed to plant half a plot before dark.

Very tired, but very excited.

Especially when they saw the freshly boiled corn—golden, plump, and glistening.

Actually, the crops harvested by the system's one-click harvest all came already processed.

Like this corn and the stalks—no need for sun-drying at all, they were already dry.

These dozen or so boiled ones were picked out from those Cheng Family members had broken off by hand, all relatively tender ones.

"There's a special, fragrant scent."

Tian Qin took a deep breath.

Cheng Old Madam picked one up first, bit off a few kernels, chewed carefully, then nodded.

"Not bad, soft, glutinous, sweet—it's just that the core inside can't be eaten."

A little pity.

But given her appetite, one of these was enough to fill her up, so it was already very good.

Yu'an waved two chopsticks, each skewered with half a corn cob, took a big chomp with an "Ow-wooh," with a few crumbs of corn kernels still at the corner of his mouth, and repeated Fairy Sister's words in a mumble.

"Sun-dry them and use them as firewood!"

"Exactly!"

Meng Shi's eyes lit up at the words, and she immediately nodded in agreement.

"Strip all the kernels off the corn, and these can still be used as firewood in winter. And I see those stalk leaves wouldn't be bad for feeding the horses and sheep either!"

Suddenly, Cheng Yu, who was standing at the doorway gnawing on corn, paused, turned to look outside the courtyard, and his body instinctively tensed.

"It's the sound of horse hooves!"

The expressions of the people in the main room turned serious.

Who could it be, this late at night?

But the next moment, a familiar voice came in.

"Grandmother, Mother, Aunt!"

"We're back!"

Cheng Old Madam and Wang Shi sprang to their feet, the corn in their hands dropping onto the table, clattering against the bowls and plates with a clatter and bang.

"Chengxuan?"

"It's Qiuyun and Chengxuan who are back!"

"Grandmother!"

Hearing the familiar voice, Cheng Old Madam was overcome with emotion. Perhaps too overcome, her vision suddenly went black, her body swayed to the side, and she nearly couldn't stay steady on her feet.

Meng Shi hurried to support her.

In the courtyard, knowing it was the Young General and the Eldest Miss who had returned, Cheng Yu rushed out to open the gate without waiting for orders.

Outside the courtyard, before his horse had even come to a stop, Cheng Chengxuan flipped himself down from the saddle in one motion.

Cheng Chengxuan and Cheng Qiuyun hurried inside.

"Grandmother, Chengxuan is back!"

Seeing his family in the room, especially Grandmother with her head full of silver threads, and his mother who had aged so many years in such a short time, a dull ache pierced Cheng Chengxuan's heart.

The moment he stepped inside, he dropped to his knees with a thud, crawled on his knees to Cheng Old Madam's side, threw his arms around her legs, and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Grandmother."

Wang Shi and Meng Shi beside him, seeing him, were instantly reduced to floods of tears.

"Chengxuan!"

Cheng Chengxuan gripped both their hands tightly.

"Mother, Aunt."

Although Cheng Old Madam kept her eyes tightly shut, her eye sockets were an unmistakable red, and the corners of her eyes were wet.

She took a deep breath, struggling to steady her emotions, and said in a low voice.

"What are you crying about? The men of our Cheng Family may shed blood and sweat, but they cannot shed tears!"

"Yes!"

Cheng Chengxuan raised his sleeve and roughly wiped his eyes.

Cheng Old Madam looked at her two daughters-in-law.

"And you two as well—Chengxuan's safe return is a good thing. No crying!"

The sisters-in-law wiped their tears while nodding in agreement.

"Yes."

Yu'an jumped down from the stool, ran to the doorway, his face full of expectation, gazing eagerly toward the courtyard gate.

After waiting a long while without seeing the person he wanted to see, the little fellow pressed his lips together, lowered his head, his eye sockets reddening.

Everyone naturally knew what he was looking for, and the eye sockets that had just dried of tears were instantly moist again.

【Fairy Sister, Yu'an misses Grandfather and Father so much.】

He didn't dare say these things in front of the Ancestors, because every time Grandfather and Father and Uncle-Grandfather were mentioned, Great-Grandmother and the others would all become very sad.

He didn't want to see the Ancestors upset.

Seeing Zaituan's teary little face, An Luo's heart ached unbearably.

Zaituan is really so well-behaved, so sensible.

"Don't be sad, Yu'an."

The little fellow gave a sniff.

【Mm, Yu'an knows. Grandfather and Father must have just been too busy to get away, so they didn't come back together with Little Uncle.】

【When Yu'an grows up, I'll go with Little Uncle to the battlefield to find them!】

He absolutely didn't believe those rumors!

Everyone said Grandfather and the others died on the battlefield, but didn't Little Uncle come back perfectly fine?

So Father and Grandfather must be fine too!

Hearing these words, An Luo opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing, only reaching out to gently ruffle the top of his hair.

Cheng Chengxuan was helped up by Meng Shi and Wang Shi. Looking at the little fellow clinging to the doorframe, he walked over and crouched down to look at Yu'an.

"Come here, Yu'an, let Little Uncle hold you."

"Little Uncle."

Yu'an stretched out his little arms and looped them around his neck, calling out in a milky voice.

Lifting the soft, squishy little fellow, Cheng Chengxuan looked at the features that resembled Big Brother's, and felt his eyes sting, his nose stuffy too.

Yu'an reached out with his small hand to wipe his tears.

"Don't cry, Little Uncle. Are you hurt? Does it hurt a lot?"

Cheng Chengxuan shook his head.

"Little Uncle just got some sand in his eyes."

"Then Yu'an will blow on them for you."

As he said this, the little fellow very seriously cupped his face in both hands and blew on his eyes.

Cheng Chengxuan raised a hand and rubbed Yu'an's head.

"Yu'an is so amazing, Little Uncle feels much better."

This is the only hope of the Cheng Family.

Cheng Chengxuan gently pressed his forehead against Yu'an's little brow, secretly making a vow in his heart.

He must protect Grandmother and Yu'an well, carrying the share of his uncle, elder brothers, and father, and guard the Cheng Family!

Cheng Old Madam glanced at Tian Qin.

Tian Qin understood and nodded, stepping forward to take Yu'an from Cheng Chengxuan's arms.

"Has Yu'an eaten? Mother will take you back to your room to wash up and sleep, alright?"

After Tian Qin left carrying Yu'an, several people looked at Cheng Chengxuan together, all waiting for him to tell them in person exactly what had happened on the battlefield that day.

Cheng Chengxuan wiped his eyes, clenched his fists tightly, and began to speak of that day's events.

"... Uncle and Father had suspected the military dispatch messenger, and even suspected that a traitor had appeared within the Cheng Family Army!"

"Until finally..."

He took a deep breath, gritting his teeth.

"The Nanjiang generals admitted with their own mouths that it was the Shunhe Emperor and the Nanjiang Emperor secretly plotting, wanting to destroy our Pingnan Marquis Residence!"

The sisters-in-law Meng Shi and Wang Shi tightly gripped each other's hands, weeping silently.

Especially when they heard Cheng Chengxuan say how Cheng Sitao had taken the Cheng Song and Cheng He brothers and leapt off Xuan Ya, they burst into outright wailing.

And Tian Qin, who had just coaxed Yu'an to sleep and walked to the main hall doorway, went limp and collapsed right at the door, tears flowing uncontrollably.

Cheng Chengxuan's eyes were blood-red, his gaze filled with killing intent.

"Grandmother, we must avenge Uncle, Father, and elder brother!"

Cheng Old Madam said in a deep voice.

"Of course. One day, the Cheng Family will demand justice for itself!"