"I am your father!!"
Hearing Lord Lu's booming voice, Lu Yuanyi trembled—there was no mistaking that voice. It was indeed his father.
Had his father been released to fetch his belongings?
Judging by his father's appearance, he must have endured quite the ordeal.
Yet even after such hardship, he remained as fierce as ever.
The household quickly sprang into action—some offered warm towels to wipe his hands, others brought tea, bustling about in a flurry.
Lord Lu's face was covered in a scruffy beard, like unkempt straw by the roadside. The fur coat draped over him was clearly made of coarse, patchy pelts—short and bristly, clumped in uneven tuples when seen up close. To keep warm, he had layered several garments underneath, leaving him looking bloated and disheveled.
The once-elegant nobleman now resembled a bandit who had just descended from some remote mountain.
The brazier in the room burned with silver-veined charcoal, sending waves of heat through the air.
Lord Lu's frozen limbs finally began to thaw. The crude fur coat emitted a faint, gamey odor, and he wrinkled his nose before calmly removing it.
"Ahem. When I entered earlier, I saw you and the children discussing something. What was it?"
Lady Lu, recalling the scene, shook her head with a smile. "After receiving your letter, I asked Yuanzhao to consult with Nanny Liu about packing your belongings. I thought it would be good for the younger ones to learn as well, so they’d know how to handle such matters in the future."
Lord Lu nodded. "You did well. Uncle Zhong has been to Yuxi and knows what’s lacking there. If you’re unsure about anything, consult him."
Since Lord Lu had just returned, he needed time to freshen up. The children tactfully excused themselves.
Lu Yuanyi, still bewildered, wanted to ask more questions but was promptly dragged away by Lu Chao.
After washing up, Lord Lu sipped his tea and exhaled deeply.
This was the life a man ought to live.
Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror earlier, Lord Lu found it in his heart to forgive his son.
"Though Yuanyi and Chao’s judgment may be lacking, the affection in their eyes was unmistakable. It seems my worries over their studies in Yuxi weren’t in vain."
His second son had seemed eager to speak with him earlier, his eyes brimming with admiration—genuinely touching.
Lady Lu’s lips twitched.
What a lovely misunderstanding.
Lu Yuanzhao hauled his two younger brothers by their collars toward his courtyard, feeling as though he had aged another decade.
Once in the study, Lu Yuanzhao pushed Lu Yuanyi into a chair and explained the whole situation. Watching his brother’s expression shift from confusion to shock and then to utter dismay, he barely stifled a laugh.
"So… Father wasn’t in trouble??!"
"Nope."
"So when I was crouching under the window… you and Mother already knew??!"
Silence was answer enough.
Ugh!! The humiliation was unbearable!
"Ahem! You two idiots, didn’t you see Uncle Zhong behind you? How could you mistake your own father for a thief?"
He shuddered to think what might have happened if they’d activated the hidden mechanisms in their wrist guards.
Lu Chao pouted. Who’d have guessed a refined gentleman could turn into a rugged mountain man in just a month?
Seeing their defiant expressions, Lu Yuanzhao felt a headache coming on.
"And don’t think I didn’t notice your silent exchanges! 'Young Hero Song,' was it? Feng, go fetch all the storybooks from their rooms!"
Lu Chao: !!!
Outrageous!
Among his collection was Records of the Supernatural, filled with tales of demons and spirits—his favorite bedtime reading! And worst of all, he hadn’t even finished it yet!
"If you two have time for storybooks, it means your studies aren’t demanding enough. From now on, I’ll assign extra lessons daily. Fail to complete them, and don’t expect leniency. Since Father just returned, you’ll start by copying Admonitions to My Son—ten times."
Waaah!
"Pleeease, Big Brother~"
"Be nice~"
A vein throbbed in Lu Yuanzhao’s temple. He gritted his teeth.
"Fifteen copies if you keep up that simpering!"
Lu Yuanyi fell silent.
Nooo! His dreams of martial heroism! His tales of chivalry!
Since Lord Lu had been away for a month, the family held an impromptu feast that evening, though it was no special occasion.
Aunt Zhou wore a brocade coat embroidered with gold clouds, its collar and cuffs studded with pearls and gemstones. Her two daughters, their hair styled in elegant updos, stood gracefully like figures from a classical painting.
Aunt Li, younger and livelier, donned a crimson robe embroidered with butterflies, its hem adorned with golden tassels that accentuated her playful charm.
Lu Chao noted the absence of any rumored new concubine—apparently, his father hadn’t expanded the household further.
After three rounds of drinks, Lord Lu raised his cup and announced his reassignment.
Though Lu Chao had already heard about it from Yuanzhao, the practical concerns loomed large. Would the entire family move? What about their estates? What of Yuanzhao’s studies? And Lady Lu—could she really travel to Yuxi in her condition?
Maybe Lord Lu should go alone?
Aunt Zhou was so startled she tipped her wine unnoticed, her brows furrowed. Aunt Li, however, happily downed several more cups.
With the lady of the house pregnant and unfit for travel, she’d surely stay behind. Aunt Zhou’s eldest daughter was of marriageable age—what decent prospects awaited her in Yuxi?
That meant Lord Lu would have to take her along! This time, she would bear him a son!
As Lord Lu surveyed the lavish spread, his thoughts turned to Yuxi’s impoverished villagers. He shared his experiences there in detail, then had servants bring in the items he’d brought back, displaying them in the center of the dining hall.
"Guess how much these cost."
Lu Chao peered into the crates—wooden swords, dried mushrooms, cured snake meat, fox fur coats… and a potted chili plant (though it looked half-dead).
"Fifty taels?" Yuanzhao ventured.
Lord Lu shook his head. "Less than twenty."
That cheap?!
"Here, try this."
Lord Lu produced the dried flatbread from Yuxi.
"For the villagers, this is considered good food."
Lu Chao took a bite, managing only to gnaw off a corner. The coarse texture scraped his throat, the bran harsh against his palate.
"Though the Lu family doesn’t demand austerity, you must never forget: were it not for our ancestors’ toil and the legacy they built, you wouldn’t enjoy this life today. Our fates are intertwined—prosperity or ruin rests on your shoulders. If you grow idle or stir trouble, the Lu name will fall, and future generations will know only hardship like this."
"We heed your words, Father!"
The children were visibly moved, especially Yuanzhao. As the eldest, he bore the weight of the family’s future. Though the bread was vile, he forced himself to finish every crumb.
Satisfied, Lord Lu distributed the items from the crates to everyone present.
The woven grass mantises and dragonflies were so lifelike that the two stepsisters immediately took a liking to them, each picking a few while the rest were distributed among Lu Chao and the others. Additionally, there were several bracelets made of polished and braided wood—though somewhat rough, they carried a rustic charm, and every woman in the household received one.
Though these gifts weren’t valuable, what made them special was the thought behind them. When had they ever received presents brought home by Lord Lu?
After Aunt Zhou and Aunt Li took their leave, Lord Lu finally brought out the gifts for his sons.
No one could blame him for favoring them—it was just that Yuxi County had little to offer that would appeal to young girls.
Lu Yuanzhao received a stone brush holder shaped like a rolling mountain range, its black-and-white hues blending naturally. Though not made of precious material, its unpretentious, artistic charm was undeniable. Yuanzhao, who had always admired such things, was delighted and accepted it with satisfaction.
Lu Yuanyi was given a finely crafted wooden sword, complete with a sheath. The sandalwood had been polished to a smooth finish, and the blade was engraved with intricate patterns along with three characters in seal script: "Gentleman’s Sword." Yuanyi, who had always harbored dreams of being a wandering hero, grinned from ear to ear upon receiving it.
A plain gray cloth pouch was then pressed into Lu Chao’s hands.
Puzzled, he opened it—only to find a packet of seeds!
"Your mother mentioned you enjoy these odd little things," Lord Lu explained. "By chance, a farming family had no rice to cook and was trading these for food, so I bought all their seeds. See if any of them can be planted. And this potted plant—it’s quite pretty, bearing fruit even in winter, though I’ve heard the berries are poisonous! Don’t you dare eat them!"
At the sight of the chili peppers, Lu Chao nearly threw his arms around Lord Lu and planted a kiss on his cheeks. Ahhh! His hotpot dreams were coming true!
"Thank you, Father!"
Lord Lu, watching Lu Chao clutch the seeds and the plant as if they were priceless treasures, finally relaxed. Stroking his beard with pride, he thought to himself:
He’d always known his youngest son loved these things. That Commander Xie had doubted him—even accused him of mistreating his illegitimate son! As if Lord Lu would ever do such a thing!
If only Commander Xie could see Lu Chao now, cradling those seeds and grinning like a fool.
