The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

The Commandery Princess Dongyang was already laughing so hard at the children’s words that she might have choked if it hadn’t been for Uncle Shaoling patting her on the back.

After dinner, Mu Shaoling and Dongyang sat for a brief while before taking their leave.

Yang Chuxia and Ye Zi’an saw them out.

"Lele already knows," Mu Shaoling said to Ye Zi’an as they walked ahead. "He probably won’t help you hide it from Xiaxia."

"How did he find out?"

"You should ask yourself that," Mu Shaoling replied irritably. "The place you chose was hardly discreet; anyone could have overheard."

"Ah!" Ye Zi’an sighed at that comment.

Once Mu Shaoling had left, Ye Zi’an found a moment to call Lele to the study.

"You know everything?"

"Mm-hmm!" Lele nodded and called out, "Dad!" before plunging headlong into Ye Zi’an’s arms, his voice choked with sobs, a far cry from the calm he had shown in front of Mu Shaoling.

"There, there, what’s a man crying for?" Ye Zi’an pulled him away, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Death and life are predestined."

"But Dad, what will Mom do if you’re gone, and what about brother and sister?"

Seeing his son’s red-nosed face, Ye Zi’an felt a bitter taste in his heart, the sourness stinging his eyes.

"Lele, you’re my eldest son," Ye Zi’an stroked his head. "You’re now also the Prince An of Great Zhou, and you’re more mature and intelligent than most people your age. Dad believes you can take care of your siblings in the future. As for your mother, she’s no ordinary woman. Of course, she’ll be heartbroken if I’m gone, but with you children by her side, she’ll manage to protect and raise you all. Dad isn’t worried about that"—he just would be very tired.

It was a pity in his heart that he might not accompany her until the end of their days.

"A good man bleeds but doesn’t cry. My son won’t weep," Ye Zi’an, seeing his tears flowing ceaselessly, hugged him tightly, "Promise Dad, for now, don’t tell your mother about this. She wouldn’t be happy. If Dad only has a few months left to live, I want to see more of your mother’s smiles. If she knew, she wouldn’t smile anymore. Can you promise Dad that?"

After a long while, Lele finally stopped crying, but his voice was still hoarse, "Dad, I promise you. Don’t worry; I will definitely take good care of my brother, sister, and mother. I’m your eldest son; I will carry on the Ye Family."

"Good, Dad believes you."

Ye Zi’an thought to himself that if in a few days Mu Shaoling still couldn’t find a way to treat the disease, he would have to visit the palace and tell him all his worries were for naught. Should that day indeed come, he would have to make sure to remove his son’s crisis in advance.

"Wipe your eyes dry, and when you get back, have the maids apply a cool towel so Yangyang won’t notice."

"Mm, I know, brother is also very clever."

"Nothing is certain until the end; having a few months left makes Dad luckier than those who’ve already passed away. Maybe Uncle Shaoling will find a way in these months." In fact, Ye Zi’an had always harbored such a thought, which made him relatively indifferent to the situation.

"Uncle Shaoling is a divine doctor; he must have a way," Lele nodded vigorously.

"Let’s go, you should get some rest early."

Ye Zi’an then took him back to his courtyard before returning himself.

"What did Lele tell you?"

"Oh, he’s taken a fancy to that white jade pen you once gave me and coaxed it from me, afraid I might not let him have it."

"That child, it’s just a pen," Yang Chuxia shook her head helplessly but then noticed some dampness on Ye Zi’an’s chest. "What happened here?"