Chapter 85: Is the Little One's Birthday Coming Up?

Yi Jiang pouted his little lips.

"Why did you come back so soon? I haven't had enough fun yet."

The moment those words slipped out, he instinctively covered his mouth, his big eyes darting around in a circle, and upon meeting Yu'an's puzzled little gaze, he gave an awkward smile.

"Hehe."

"Ahem!"

"I mean, I haven't calmed down yet."

Yu'an gave a small wave of his hand, his tone carrying deep helplessness.

"Fine, whatever you say goes."

A few li away from Cheng Jia Xiaoyuan.

"Imperial Prince, that old lady of the Cheng Family truly doesn't know what's good for her. In this Subordinate's opinion, we might as well simply seize them all and imprison them. That way, whether it's Cheng Chengxuan or that stinky Yao Tou with the new bow-and-arrow blueprints in her hands, they won't dare disobey your orders!"

Shang Xiaomin shot him a cold, fierce glare.

"Brainless fool!"

"What do you take the Cheng Family for? That they would be so easily manipulated?!"

"If it weren't for those four words 'Righteousness of Family and Country,' I'm afraid even the Emperor of Da Yin couldn't have commanded the Cheng Family for so many years!"

"What's more, being able to refine Refined Salt, make sugar, and come up with a popular fragrant drink like Milk Tea — in just one short month, they've made a fortune. Who knows whether Cheng Qiuruo has other ingenious ideas and recipes?"

Shang Xiaomin narrowed his eyes, his face thoughtful.

And that little cart — it didn't look simple either.

"If we push them too far, the loss will outweigh the gain."

Suddenly, the guard who had been scouting ahead rode back on Horse, hurriedly reporting.

"Master, there's a group of about twenty people heading this way. From their attire, they seem to be officials from Beihuang City."

"It's the Chen Family!"

The guard beside him said urgently.

"Master, perhaps we should avoid them. After all, this is foreign territory."

Shang Xiaomin revealed a meaningful smile.

"Avoid? Why should we?"

……

Inside the Horse Carriage, Chen Ying held one hand to his forehead, leaning back against the seat with his eyes closed, resting.

The steward beside him handed over a cup of hot tea and began to advise.

"Sir, you absolutely must not quarrel with the Young Master again today. This time, it's all the fault of those gossip-mongering Servants in the residence."

"The Young Master may be a bit willful and mischievous on ordinary days, but he is definitely not the kind of child who goes berserk without distinguishing right from wrong."

"If you reason with him properly and discuss things calmly and peacefully, he will understand."

Chen Ying took the teacup, drank a sip, then let out a heavy breath.

"I understand."

Suddenly, the guard driving the carriage outside let out a "Whoa—", and the Horse Carriage came to a stop.

"Who's there?!"

Chen Ying's brow furrowed slightly. He opened the carriage window and glanced outside.

"What is it?"

"Sir, someone is blocking the road."

Chen Ying cast a glance — there were three people on Horse ahead. The one in the middle wore a fox-fur cloak and held a Folding Fan.

Seeing Chen Ying look over, that person gave a faint smile and pointed his Folding Fan toward Snow Mountain.

"This Prince's Son has come from the north and has long heard of Sir Chen's great name. I didn't expect to meet you by chance here today. Meeting is fate — might I trouble you for a chat?"

The north?

Snow Mountain — isn't that…

A dark glint flashed through Chen Ying's eyes, and he sneered inwardly.

"Fine, this official would very much like to see what you have to say!"

The two came to a secluded corner.

Chen Ying sized up the person before him.

"What do you want to say?"

Shang Xiaomin shook his Folding Fan.

"I am Shang Xiaomin."

Chen Ying's tone grew even colder.

"The Fifth Prince of Muyuan Kingdom."

"Sir Chen may be seeing me for the first time, but I have heard Sir Chen's name quite often these past days."

Hearing this, Chen Ying's brows knit slightly.

"I heard about the Chen Family's wrongful case back then, and I was indignant for a long time. Now that Pingnan Marquis Residence is no more, doesn't Sir Chen want to seek justice for the Chen Family and for himself?"

Chen Ying's hands inside his sleeves clenched into fists, but he did not respond.

"What exactly do you want to say?"

Shang Xiaomin revealed a rather confident smile.

"Now that the Cheng Family's women and children are all in Sir's hands, it means those three hundred thousand-plus Cheng Family Army soldiers are under Sir Chen's control. If Sir Chen wishes to seek justice, this Imperial Prince can also lend Sir Chen a hand."

"Hold your tongue!"

Chen Ying roared sharply, cutting him off with righteous indignation.

"This official will absolutely not collude with scheming men of another nation!"

Then he flung his sleeves heavily and turned, casting a sidelong glance at the person behind him.

"Leave this place at once, or don't blame this official for having you arrested!"

With that, Chen Ying's face went cold as he strode away.

"Lord Chen, we shall meet again. Perhaps next time, you'll be the one seeking me out."

Hearing this, Chen Ying's steps faltered, but he did not look back.

After he had gone far, Shang Xiaomin's guard stepped out from a corner.

"Imperial Prince, this Chen Ying truly doesn't know what's good for him. He wouldn't really come to arrest us, would he? Your subordinate thinks it best to escort you back to Muyuan as soon as possible."

Shang Xiaomin gave a soft laugh.

"If he truly had no ulterior motives, why would he have stepped out of his carriage? If he truly meant to arrest me, he wouldn't have said so out loud."

Then he murmured softly to himself.

"Still short a spark."

Meanwhile, Chen Ying, back in his horse carriage, was distracted by what had just happened and nearly shattered his teacup several times.

"Pass it down — no one is to speak a word of what just happened!"

The steward nodded in assent.

The group soon arrived at the Cheng Family's courtyard.

The moment he saw his father, Yi Jiang abandoned his bicycle, crossed his arms over his chest, turned his head away, and stood to the side in a huff.

Chen Ying walked over and crouched before him.

"Yi Jiang, Father has already sent Miss Qingye away. She won't bother you again. Come home with Father."

Hearing this, Yi Jiang turned his head back just a tiny bit.

"Really?"

As he asked, he glanced at Steward Zhao beside him.

Steward Zhao nodded rapidly.

"Yes, yes! The Master has already sent Miss Qingye away — chased her out!"

"Little Young Master, please come home. During the day you've been away, the Old Master and the Master could neither eat well nor sleep well. In just this single day, look how much they've worn!"

Hearing this, Yi Jiang's worried little eyes kept darting toward his father, yet he insisted on putting on a tsundere front of not caring at all.

"W-well then, I'll go home with Father. But you have to make me a little cart like Yu'an's too!"

Chen Ying smiled and ruffled his hair, his tone doting.

"Alright."

Then he stood up.

"Yi Jiang, go with Steward Zhao back to the horse carriage first. Father has a few words to say to Cheng Old Madam; he'll be right along."

Yi Jiang nodded.

"Okay then."

After that, the little fellow began bidding his playmates farewell.

"Yu'an, I'm going home."

Yu'an pressed his little lips together. Though reluctant to part with his friend, he still ran off to Chu Fang, and when he came back, he was clutching a large paper bundle in his arms.

"Since you like to eat these, take this popcorn home with you."

Thinking of the fragrant, crispy, sweet, crunch-in-one-bite popcorn, Yi Jiang swallowed his saliva and took it happily.

"Yu'an, you're so nice."

Yu'an's home had so many delicious things to eat and fun things to play with, and he hadn't had enough time playing with Little Sister yet — he didn't want to go home at all.

But if he wasn't home, Grandfather and Father wouldn't obediently eat their meals.

Yi Jiang frowned in troubled little-boy fashion.

Sigh, what a dilemma.

At this moment, he felt his small shoulders weighed down with responsibility.

"Once I get back and make sure Father and Grandfather eat properly and sleep well, and once they're healthy again, I'll come play with you again."

"But don't worry — in three days, I'll definitely come celebrate your birthday!"

Then he looked at Gu Shang nearby.

"Uncle Gu, help me pack my things."

Meanwhile, off-screen, An Luo suddenly slapped her forehead.

Right — how could she have forgotten Zaituan's birthday?

She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

Let me think — how should I celebrate Zaituan's birthday?

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a call from Lin Lin.

After she picked up, Lin Lin's hesitant voice came through in broken fragments on the other end.

"Boss? Did you…"

"Have a kid?"

An Luo was completely baffled.

"What?!"

"The hot search! Haven't you seen it?!"