Chapter 84: Didn't We Also Not Believe Him?

Early the next morning, Yu'an and Yi Jiang were taking turns pedaling a tricycle in the courtyard.

"So fun! I want to ask Grandfather to have someone make one for me too."

After riding two laps around the courtyard, Yi Jiang sighed in admiration, then climbed down from the seat and gave the spot to Yu'an.

Yu'an grinned, a little proud look on his face, as if he shared in the glory.

"That's nothing. There are even little carts that don't need pedaling and still run really fast."

Hearing this, Yi Jiang scratched the back of his head in confusion.

"If you don't pedal, does someone have to push it, or pull it with an ox or horse?"

Yu'an shook his head while pedaling.

"Nope."

"It uses… it uses oil, and electricity."

Yi Jiang frowned, racking his brains.

"Oil?"

Suddenly, a man's voice came from outside the courtyard:

"Could it be the thunder and lightning on a rainy day?"

"This is truly unheard of."

The sudden voice startled the two little ones.

"Who are you?!"

Yi Jiang stood in front of Yu'an, watching the people outside warily, eyes wide, face fierce.

The visitor suddenly lowered his head and chuckled softly; a flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes, and he shook his head.

What had come over him just now?

He had actually taken a child's words seriously and even blurted out a question without thinking.

How could anyone in this world possibly control thunder and lightning?

Unless they were an immortal…

Hearing the voice, Cheng Feng and the others arrived first, and the sisters Cheng Qiuyun and Cheng Qiuruo ran to the gate shortly after.

The visitor smiled faintly at the two sisters, waving the folding fan in his hand.

"Ladies, we meet again."

Cheng Qiuruo frowned slightly, her expression serious.

"It's you?"

Shang Xiaomin—what has he come for?

"Honored guests have come from afar. Please come inside and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourselves."

Cheng Old Madam stood at the door leaning on her cane, gesturing an invitation to the visitor.

Since her own grandmother had spoken, Cheng Qiuyun had no choice but to step forward and open the courtyard gate.

"Please come in."

"Many thanks."

Shang Xiaomin closed his fan, stepped into the courtyard, and walked toward Cheng Old Madam.

"I've come uninvited today; I hope Old Madam will not take offense."

After having Xu Shi take the two children away, Cheng Old Madam led the Cheng Family members in a bow.

"Greetings to the Fifth Prince. Our humble home is modest and simple, and our hospitality is lacking; please forgive us, Fifth Prince."

Only Meng Shi and Wang Shi, the sisters-in-law, along with Cheng Cheng, stayed by Cheng Old Madam's side and entered the main hall with Shang Xiaomin.

Inside the room, the two little ones stood by the window watching Cheng Feng and the others bustling about outside, moving the greeting gifts Shang Xiaomin had brought.

"That man just now was really strange—fanning himself with a fan in the middle of winter."

"Yu'an, do you know why?"

Yu'an shook his little head too.

"I don't know."

An Luo, outside the screen, pursed her lips.

"Such a poser!"

Yu'an blinked his big, puzzled eyes.

【Fairy Sister, what does 'poser' mean?】

An Luo covered her mouth in frustration.

How had she let her inner thoughts slip out again?

"It means, um, thinking that doing this makes them look really good and elegant, and wanting to grab everyone's attention."

As she spoke, An Luo looked disgusted.

"If at that moment some girl gazed at him adoringly and shouted beside him, 'Wow, this Prince's Son is so handsome, truly dashing and elegant!' he'd be even happier."

"Where we're from, we usually call this kind of person a 'poser bro' or 'poser sis'."

Yu'an nodded his little head half-understandingly.

【So that's what it means.】

【Yu'an seems to understand now.】

So, he's not an ordinary Prince's Son—he's a poser Prince's Son.

……

In the main hall, thinking of the two children's toy from earlier, Shang Xiaomin probed tentatively.

"The two children playing in the yard just now — the smaller one, is she Old Madam's great-granddaughter?"

Cheng Old Madam smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Yu'an is still young. If there was any offense, I hope Fifth Prince Imperial Prince won't take it to heart."

"Not at all?"

Shang Xiaomin smiled casually, not minding in the slightest.

"Quite innocent and adorable, in fact."

His eyes flickered, and his next question was the one he most wanted to ask.

"The toy she was playing with — this Imperial Prince found it rather interesting."

Cheng Old Madam wore an indifferent expression.

"Oh, that? Just a little trinket Qiu Ruo that Yao Tou came up with on a whim, made to amuse the child."

Shang Xiaomin lowered his gaze, his fingers lightly tracing the outer wall of his teacup.

"I see."

Cheng Old Madam set down her teacup and asked.

"May I ask what brings Fifth Prince here today?"

Shang Xiaomin took a sip of tea.

"Previously Miss Qiu Ruo provided the method for refining Refined Salt, and the returns have been quite good over this period. Today this Imperial Prince has prepared a gift of thanks, and came especially to thank you all."

Cheng Old Madam gave a faint smile.

"Fifth Prince is too kind. Didn't you also give us Sheep?"

Shang Xiao lowered his eyelids, staring at his teacup, a flicker passing through his eyes.

"Cheng Old Madam was once a heroine who swept through the Enemy Army on the battlefield — are you truly willing to spend the rest of your years rusting away in this little Mountain hollow?"

Cheng Old Madam sighed softly, a faint sorrow on her face.

"We suffered constant assassinations along the way. Now that we've finally escaped, this old woman only asks that the children all be safe and sound. In the days to come, farming, hunting, running a little trade, just enough to support the family is enough."

Shang Xiaomin's fingers tapped lightly on the table. He said nothing.

Not even the thought of revenge anymore?

Though in his heart he looked down on Cheng Old Madam for becoming so lacking in fighting spirit, he felt oddly more at ease.

"And what about Young General Cheng?"

Shang Xiaomin turned his head to look at Cheng Chengxuan beside him.

"Young General Cheng is both civil and military, brave and shrewd — is he truly willing to sink into obscurity from here, living out an ordinary life?"

The hand Cheng Chengxuan had behind his back suddenly tightened.

The chance had come.

Should he go along with it and agree?

He first glanced at his Grandmother.

"This…"

Cheng Old Madam picked up her teacup and took a sip.

Seeing this, Cheng Chengxuan's hand behind his back relaxed slightly.

Seeing his hesitation, Shang Xiaomin pressed on.

"If Young General Cheng is willing to serve as this Imperial Prince's strategist, this Imperial Prince will surely welcome you with open arms."

Cheng Chengxuan cupped his fist in salute.

"Then many thanks to Fifth Imperial Prince."

"Ha ha, good!"

Shang Xiaomin laughed heartily, then looked back at Cheng Old Madam.

"Winter has already set in, and winters in the mountains are very cold. Hasn't the Cheng Family purchased a residence in Muyuan Capital? Why not go there together?"

Cheng Chengxuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

It seemed Jiuling selling Milk Tea in Muyuan Kingdom's capital — he knew about that too.

Cheng Old Madam tugged at the corner of her mouth, a wry smile curving up, and shook her head.

"We few old, weak, women and children won't follow along to burden Chengxuan. Fifth Prince Imperial Prince may rest assured — now Chengxuan's choice is the Cheng Family's choice."

"In that case, this Imperial Prince will take his leave first."

His objective achieved, it wouldn't do to linger.

After rising, Shang Xiaomin patted Cheng Chengxuan's shoulder.

"Then I'll be waiting for you in Ducheng."

Saying so, he strode away with his attendants.

Watching his retreating figure, Meng Shi's face grew solemn.

"Pomo, were his words just now meant to keep us under surveillance, so he could control Chengxuan for his own use?"

Cheng Old Madam turned and walked back into the house, giving a light snort.

"That's normal — don't we also not trust him?"

Suddenly, a voice came from the side.

"Gu Shang, I've been looking for you forever — where did you just go?"

Hearing this voice, Cheng Chengxuan's brows knit slightly as he covertly sized up that person.

On the other side, seeing the fake-dead Prince's Son gone, Yu'an rode her little cart back out to play, with Yi Jiang trotting along behind her.

Thinking of those people over there, Gu Shang's hand inside his sleeve clenched tight as he explained in a low voice.

"Earlier this Subordinate stepped outside to relieve himself. What instructions does the Young Master have for me?"

Yi Jiang helped Yu'an down from the carriage on one side, too occupied to even lift his head.

"It's nothing major. I just want you to head back for me and have Grandfather find a craftsman to make me a little cart too."

Gu Shang didn't move, only said.

"Then you can tell Lord Chen yourself in a bit."

With that, he stepped aside and busied himself with packing the luggage.

Yi Jiang blinked, the realization only just dawning on him.

What did that mean?

"My father's coming?"