Yu Fan had thought there would be endless conversation between his father, his mother, and himself. He had even worried that his parents might neglect Gu Mingliu and had prepared himself mentally in advance.
He must steer the topic to Mingliu in time.
But...
Yu Fan looked at the two people before him, one holding Tuan and the other playing with Tuan, feeling somewhat bewildered.
This was not the scenario he had envisioned.
"What a lovely little girl, so fair and tender, she looks just like her mother. She's clearly blessed with good fortune."
"Little Tuan wants to talk to me, don't you, little Tuan?"
The couple exchanged a glance. Well then, both of them were thoroughly ignored.
Gu Mingliu was slightly better off than Yu Fan; Aunt Yu gave Gu Mingliu the bracelet passed down through the generations of the Yu family.
As for Yu Fan... he only received a few kind words.
Indeed, the saying about grandparents doting on their grandchildren holds true.
Gu Mingliu tugged at Yu Fan's sleeve, signaling him to look outside.
Many villagers were gathered outside the courtyard, their eyes fixed intently on Yu Fan. He had left as a youth and returned a general with illustrious military achievements.
Seeing this, Yu Fan composed himself and led Gu Mingliu out of the courtyard.
"Uncles and aunts, it was you who helped me leave the Northern Frontier back then. Today, Yu Fan returns with his wife and daughter, never forgetting your kindness. Please accept our bow."
With that, Yu Fan and Gu Mingliu bowed together.
In those days, the Yu family was poor. It was the entire village who pooled together the silver and grain for Yu Fan to leave the Northern Frontier.
"Now that the Northern Di have been vanquished, everyone can sleep soundly from now on."
"Well done, Fan!"
"We always knew that boy Yu Fan would make something of himself."
All the villagers were both crying and laughing.
At Gu Mingliu's signal, Yu Fan took out a heavy bag from his pack, filled with gold ingots.
It was enough for the people of the Northern Frontier to live in prosperity for decades.
"You gathered silver for me back then. Now that I have military honors and rewards from the Emperor, I've come to repay the debt!"
Yu Fan's voice was full of emotion:
"At the village entrance, cooking smoke once wrapped scant silver; I now return to the villagers ten thousand taels of gold."
"Every year from now on, I will come to bring you gold ingots. Please, uncles and aunts, you must accept them."
The village fell silent for a moment. Everyone took a few steps back, shaking their heads.
This was too valuable; they could not accept it.
"This is Yu Fan's sincere wish. Please accept it, so your children can eat well, dress well, go to study, and build careers."
Gu Mingliu's voice also rang out, "If you ever come to the capital in the future, remember to look for us. A drop of kindness deserves a fountain of repayment. You are all the benefactors of the Gu and Yu families."
That night.
Not a single household in the entire village could sleep.
They all stared wide-eyed at the gold ingots on their tables, afraid they might vanish the next second.
"Husband, our village... seems to be about to prosper..."
...
The Northern Frontier was immersed in the joy of victory. When the news of the triumph reached the capital, Emperor Yuanyou was overjoyed.
"With the Northern Frontier pacified, only Miaojiang remains."
"Miaojiang is a peculiar place. It's better left alone," Master Qingshan said with a smile. "Let it follow its own course. It might even prove useful at critical times."
For instance, if there were some hard-to-cure illness, perhaps Miaojiang could use poison to attack poison and cure it.
"Reasonable."
Emperor Yuanyou was already very satisfied. Now, almost all under heaven belonged to Great Qi. The Qingyun Realm was governed by the Qingyun Sect, all familiar faces, so naturally there would be no conflicts.
Thus, Emperor Yuanyou sighed with feeling, "The world is finally about to settle into peace."
"We should credit Ah Huan with another merit."
Master Qingshan quietly fought and bargained for Song Shihuan.
"Ah Huan... I have nothing left to bestow upon her," Emperor Yuanyou fretted. "I have no rare treasures left in my hands."
"Well, there might be something."
Emperor Yuanyou was taken aback. Had this old man secretly peeked into his private treasury?
Seeing his expression, Master Qingshan's gaze turned inscrutable. "In the future, if you or the Crown Prince wish to grant Ah Huan anything, you should first ask if Ah Huan wants it."
What Ah Huan wants is what is best.
"Naturally."
The Shen Residence.
As soon as Shen Mingwen entered the manor, he asked the servant beside him, "Where is your Third Master?"
"In the courtyard practicing boxing."
"What?"
Shen Mingwen couldn't believe his ears. His son, who had never practiced martial arts, was now practicing boxing?
This joke was not funny at all.
When Shen Mingwen arrived at Shen Qingping's courtyard, he found Lady Shen had already been secretly watching from the courtyard gate for quite some time.
A few moments later, two heads peeked out together.
They saw the usually aloof and noble Young Master Shen moving as if his limbs were uncoordinated, while Baoxia beside him frowned so hard her face scrunched up like a bun.
"Young Master Shen, you're moving the same hand and foot together again."
"Young Master Shen, your hands shouldn't be so stiff."
Shen Qingping had only completed half a set of the boxing routine and was already sweating profusely.
Who would believe that the ever-intelligent and wise Young Master Shen had been practicing for nearly a month and still hadn't managed to learn this set of boxing.
Young Master Shen was troubled.
Baoxia was also troubled.
The Princess had forgotten to take her to the Northern Frontier, so she ended up being tasked with teaching Young Master Shen boxing.
"Miss Baoxia, please demonstrate it once more for me to see."
Shen Qingping spoke stiffly.
Baoxia nodded upon hearing this and executed a complete set of the boxing routine cleanly and efficiently, taking only the time it takes for one incense stick to burn.
When it was Shen Qingping's turn.
Right from the start, he moved the same hand and foot together again.
Baoxia facepalmed.
The two heads outside the room couldn't help but laugh out loud.
A few moments later, the two were caught and stood before their son, whose face was livid with anger.
"Boxing is good. Learn slowly, no rush."
Shen Mingwen was beside himself with glee; he had finally caught his son being bad at something.
"The boxing manual Master Qingshan gave is a good thing. Son, you must learn it."
Lady Shen's eyes, however, were full of concern.
"Father, have you finished handling all your court affairs?"
"Mother, isn't it time to collect the earnings from your shops?"
In other words, you both have too much free time.
The two were successfully shooed away. Only then did Shen Qingping let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. Embarrassing, so embarrassing.
When had he, the esteemed Young Master Shen, ever been so embarrassed?
"Again!"
Shen Qingping's fighting spirit remained undimmed.
But after nine more attempts, Shen Qingping's eyes grew vacant, and he began contemplating the possibility of going to the Qingshan Sect to have that strange doctor prescribe him some medicine.
In the end.
Early the next morning.
Shen Mingwen received a letter left by his son:
Going to the Northern Frontier. Back soon. Don't worry.
It was almost exactly the same as the one Emperor Yuanyou had once received.
Clearly, Young Master Shen had slipped away.
Just as Shen Mingwen and Lady Shen were at a loss, Baoxia patted her head. "I'll use a carrier pigeon to send a message to the Princess explaining the situation. The Princess will also supervise Young Master Shen's boxing practice."
What's the use of slipping away?
It just means a different person will be teaching the boxing.
