Chapter 198 – Harvest and Return, The Long-Delayed Curtain Falls - Part 3
Back at Hundred Lotus Manor, after confirming he was back home did Li Yuan breathe a sigh of relief. He summoned a layer of shadow blood to wash away the Yin makeup clinging to him.
Outside the courtyard gate, Xiao Zhu was busy teaching a few newly arrived servant girls. After all, the Hundred Lotus Manor had its share of hidden secrets. Li Yuan didn’t disturb her. Instead, he headed into the inner residence, stashing the sixth rank beast meat in the cellar before calling for Xiao Lan and Xiao Mei.
Both women lit up the moment they saw him. They bustled around at once, one heating water for his bath and clean clothes, the other arranging a delicious meal. Not that they had to do any of the cooking themselves, since the front courtyard held a dedicated kitchen complete with its own chef.
Having been gone over half a month, Li Yuan roamed around to check on everything.
Outside Tang Nian’s courtyard, a sign read, Do Not Disturb!
In another wing, his daughter Sheng'er was quietly playing a little crow family game. Leaning closer to eavesdrop, Li Yuan heard her chattering.
“Papa Crow and Mama Crow took the baby crows out shopping. They met lots of new friends. Everyone had a wonderful time today...”
The number hovering around Sheng'er’s crows was now 48~49. Impressive for ordinary folk, but from Li Yuan’s perspective, still child’s play. He was starting to see a pattern. Each month, Sheng'er gained one more crow, and her combat power climbed just a small fraction, hardly a meteoric rise. Heart aching at her slow progress, he went over to join her game for a while.
Afterward, Li Yuan left to see Ping’an, who was sparring with Xiao Ju using a wooden sword. The boy’s eyes gleamed with energy. Spotting him, Xiao Ju paused to bow. Ping’an ran up to him, calling, “Pops, did you bring me anything yummy? Anything fun?”
That earned him a light tap on the head from Li Yuan, who shook his own in exasperation. This time the boy didn’t wail immediately; he held it in for a few seconds before the tears finally burst out, and Xiao Ju led him away, soothing him.
Toward evening, a carriage rolled up to the manor. Xue Ning stepped down. She greeted him formally with a bow. “Dearest, you’re back.”
But once they were alone, she threw her arms around his sturdy waist, her face filled with concern.