Chapter 94: How Could It Be a Boy?

Half a shichen later, Cheng Chengxuan closed the notebook, gazed at the flickering candlelight, and let out a long breath.

His heart was surging with excitement.

So Big Brother isn't dead!

And he even met Yu'an.

He even had Yu'an bring back these miraculous recipes!

Smooth, hard cement roads, gunpowder that blasts through mountains and shatters rocks, and glassware worth a fortune…

This little notebook must be carefully preserved and absolutely must not fall into outsiders' hands.

After hiding the notebook away, he finally thought of the Jade Pendant on the table, glanced at the night outside, and smiled as he shook his head.

"How foolish of me — at this hour, she's probably already gone to rest, isn't she?"

Never mind, he'll just have to wait until tomorrow.

In another room in the courtyard, Yu'an slept soundly on the warm kang, snoring softly, his little mouth slightly upturned — clearly having a sweet dream.

……

Early the next morning.

"Yi Jiang came to find me yesterday?"

Hearing his great-great-grandmother's words, Yu'an blankly lifted his little head from his rice bowl, a single grain of rice still stuck to the corner of his mouth.

Right — Yi Jiang had said he'd come celebrate his birthday, but he had broken his promise.

He didn't keep his word; Yi Jiang must be very angry.

Noticing the little fellow's mood had dipped, Cheng Old Madam picked up a fried egg and placed it in his bowl.

"Didn't Yu'an bring back two birthday cakes? We only touched one last night; the other is still intact. Yu'an can bring the cake to Yi Jiang to apologize."

Hearing this, Yu'an's big eyes lit up.

"That's right!"

Yi Jiang loves sweets the most — he should also bring a big bucket of popcorn.

And the Bicycle he bought yesterday — he had originally wanted to give it to Yi Jiang anyway — bring that along too!

Yi Jiang likes little carts so much, he'll definitely forgive him.

Thinking this, the little fellow ate much faster.

Over at the City Lord's Manor.

Looking at the nearly untouched food on the Tray in the servant's hands, Steward Zhao gazed worriedly toward the room door.

Barely ate last night, and barely ate this morning either.

What on earth is this little ancestor upset about now?

"Young Master, are you feeling unwell? Shall this old servant go fetch an Imperial Physician to examine you?"

An indignant voice came from inside the room.

"No need!"

Steward Zhao shook his head with a troubled frown, and finally, helpless, went to the front courtyard to find Chen Ying.

Not long after he left, a guard came to report.

"Young Master, someone is here to see you."

Meanwhile, at the main gate of the City Lord's Manor, Cheng Chengxuan dismounted from his Horse with Yu'an in his arms, then took the things down.

Gu Shang stepped forward and took them.

The two exchanged a glance.

"Yu'an, Uncle has something to discuss with Chen Old Gentleman. You go with Uncle Gu to find Yi Jiang, alright?"

"Okay."

Yu'an obediently nodded.

Cheng Chengxuan said softly.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Gu Shang, thinking the words were meant for him, nodded.

"Don't worry."

But in truth, he had been speaking to An Luo.

Yu'an carried the food box holding the cake and walked inside, followed by Gu Shang hauling a big crate.

Looking at the tightly shut door, Yu'an raised his hand and knocked twice.

"Yi Jiang, I didn't mean to stand you up yesterday. I've come to apologize, and I brought you a delicious cake and popcorn, and the little cart you like to play with."

No sound came from the room for a long while.

Gu Shang explained from the side.

"The Young Master was especially angry yesterday — so angry he couldn't eat for two meals."

The moment his words fell, a sudden crash came from inside the room — porcelain hitting the floor.

"You little liar, go away! I don't want to see you!"

Hearing this, Yu'an lowered his head and apologized softly.

"I'm sorry."

The little fellow set the cake down by the door.

"I heard an Elder Sister say that when you're in a bad mood, eating something sweet makes you feel much better. The cake is really good — make sure you try it."

"I'll head back now."

Yu'an had just stepped down off the stairs when the door was flung open.

"You're just leaving like that?"

Hearing the voice, Yu'an turned back. Yi Jiang was standing with arms crossed, looking proud and haughty, head tilted to one side, but his eyes kept sneaking peeks in his direction.

He also swallowed his saliva several times on the sly.

Popcorn, huh? And what's cake?

Yu'an's little face was full of guilt.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stand you up."

"Hmph!"

Yi Jiang glared at him huffily.

"I'm not angry because of that!"

"Then why?"

Yu'an looked at him in bewilderment.

If it wasn't because he'd stood him up, what else could it be?

"I'm angry because, because…"

Yi Jiang glanced at Gu Shang, and at the maids and servants nearby.

If the secret got out, would Yu'an be in danger?

"Uncle Gu, go to Chu Fang and have them make me a bowl of noodles."

"Yes."

Then he gave orders to the maids and servants beside him.

"You two, go get me some fruit!"

"Yes."

When only the two of them were left in the courtyard, Yi Jiang stepped aside, clearing the doorway, and gestured for Yu'an to come inside and talk.

"What else could I be angry about?!"

What made him angry was that Yu'an had actually managed to hide it from him — he clearly wasn't treating him as a true friend at all!

But, but…

He'd heard Grandfather and his father say before that all the Cheng Family's males had been beheaded. If Yu'an hadn't disguised himself as a girl, he would have died too, wouldn't he?

Yu'an had his own difficulties.

If that was the case, then he, Yi Jiang the Great Hero, would reluctantly and magnanimously forgive him.

He said stiffly.

"Fine, for the little cart's sake, I won't be angry anymore."

Yu'an was completely baffled.

So, what on earth was he angry about?

An Luo: "???"

So, he'd been angry for ages, and in the end coaxed himself out of it?

"Don't worry, I'll definitely keep your secret safe for you."

Outside the courtyard, Chen Ying hurried over.

These past few days he'd been busy with the coal and the sweaters, and had to spend time dealing with Muyuan's side too — he truly had no time to spare for the household.

Even the fact that Yi Jiang hadn't eaten properly since last night, he'd only just learned from the steward.

What was this child up to now?

Entering the courtyard, he frowned slightly — why wasn't there a single maid or servant around?

How were those people serving?

Just as he was about to lose his temper, he heard a soft, muffled voice coming from inside.

That little child from the Cheng Family had come?

"What secret?"

Then came his son's deliberately lowered voice.

"The secret that you're a boy, just like me."

At those words, not to mention Yu'an himself, even An Luo was shocked.

How did he find out?!

Chen Ying outside the door felt his heart jolt, his eyes widening in disbelief.

How, how could that be?!

He turned and walked out of the courtyard in a daze.

And Gu Shang, returning from Chu Fang, saw him in such a state and asked in confusion.

"Sir, are you alright?"

Chen Ying suddenly came back to himself.

"No, I'm fine."

By the time he returned to the Study, Chen Delin had already grown impatient waiting.

"Why have you only just come back? Shengxuan left quite a while ago."

"Why does it look like you're not feeling well? Have you been overworking yourself lately?"

Chen Delin gazed at his son with concern.

"Let your father tell you, as long as a person is alive, there's always more work to be done. You have to know how to balance work and rest."

"Father! Do you know? Cheng Yu'an is actually a boy!"

"What?!"

Chen Delin sprang up from his chair.

He was first stunned, then delight spread across his face. He nodded repeatedly, pacing back and forth in the Study, muttering softly under his breath without pause.

"A boy is wonderful, a boy is wonderful — the Old Marquis can still leave behind a thread of bloodline. What a fine thing!"

"I never expected the Old Madam to have noticed so early."

Unlike his genuine happiness for the Cheng Family, Chen Ying, on the contrary, had her brows tightly knit, her expression somehow a little complicated.

How could it be a boy?

How could it possibly be a boy?

"That's not right — how did you find out?"

Hearing this, Chen Ying quickly reined in the strangeness on her face.

"Oh, it was Yi Jiang who discovered it."

"Yi Jiang? No good, I must go see — that child has no filter on his mouth, he absolutely mustn't let it slip."

Chen Delin hurried out.

Neither father nor son noticed that, just now, at the corner of the corridor outside the door, a shadow flashed past…