Tan Yulou really wanted to object, but he couldn't find a better reason. Although his identity was already known to the others, he had to pretend to be clueless.
With a cloth in his mouth, the dull pain from the pulling of his skin and flesh made it difficult for him to speak.
Cheng Duo handled the largest wound on Tan Yulou's waist, demonstrated how to apply medicine and bandage it, and then found an excuse to take Yong Ge with him and left.
Seeing the two of them being "irresponsible," Wei Ling felt a bit embarrassed at first. However, when he saw the suffering expression on Tan Yulou's face, his embarrassment quickly disappeared—saving people was the priority!
After Cheng Duo came out, he went to the backyard of a blacksmith's shop to wash himself. He had only washed his hands after helping Tan Yulou with his wounds, and now his body was covered in blood and dust, so he needed to clean up. He wasn't afraid of the cold; he simply poured a bucket of cold water over himself and then took off his wet clothes to wipe them dry.
Yong Ge couldn't help but stare at Cheng Duo's well-built shoulders and the water droplets disappearing into his pants along his abdominal muscles.
How could there be such a maddening man like his Cheng Duo! Not only could he fight on the battlefield and have an illustrious reputation, but he could also do the laundry, cook, and dote on his husband. Yong Ge couldn't help but feel jealous of himself!
When Cheng Duo turned around and noticed Yong Ge's greedy expression, he found it a bit amusing. "You've seen every part of me, haven't you? Why can't you get enough?"
Yong Ge blushed and replied, "…"
Didn't he get to see him only at night, in the dark? It wasn't like now, where everything was clear, even the tiny body hair on Cheng Ge's body and the steam rising from his body due to the heat…
"Come here." Cheng Duo smirked and motioned for Yong Ge to come over. Seeing the adorable little guy with a fluctuating gaze walking over, he couldn't help but lower his head and kiss him on the lips.
"C-Cheng, Cheng Duo, someone's here." Yong Ge stammered, looking around, suddenly wanting to hide his Cheng Ge.
Cheng Duo chuckled, shook his head, wrung out his wet clothes, and then used a piece of sleeve to carefully wipe the dried bloodstains off Yong Ge's face. Due to the horseback riding, there was also quite a bit of dirt on his face. Until a clean little face appeared, Cheng Duo then wiped his hands as well.
Yong Ge obediently let Cheng Duo take care of him. After a while, he raised his head and sneakily glanced at his serious eyebrows and eyes, saying with a touch of aggrievement, "Actually, when I saw the fake person that Du Boyan brought, hugging and kissing another guy, I almost got angry to death."
Thinking back to that scene, his nose still felt sore, and his chest felt uncomfortable.
"Then how did you recognize it later?" Cheng Duo could tell that his little guy was acting cute, so he cooperated and asked.
"His shadow, the shadow on the ground didn't match."
Cheng Duo deliberately teased him, "Luckily there was still a flaw in the shadow, otherwise, wouldn't I be wrongly accused?"
Yong Ge nodded and playfully argued, "Yes, you're lucky. Otherwise, I would have locked you up, and you wouldn't be able to see anyone but me."
Cheng Duo almost choked: "Locking up people? It's incredible that you thought of that, Yong Ge!"
"So heartless? You won't even listen to my explanation?"
"I won't, so you better be careful not to let me catch you getting close to someone else." Yong Ge playfully pointed at Cheng Duo's chest, finding the touch just as good as always, and took the opportunity to touch it a couple of times.
Cheng Duo was momentarily stunned, then he burst into laughter, finding Yong Ge's talent admirable. Even at this moment, Yong Ge didn't forget to tease him. Moreover, the scope he defined was quite comprehensive. He didn't mention other guys or other girls, only "others"… Did that include men as well?
As Cheng Duo laughed, Yong Ge joined in too, snuggling in Cheng Duo's arms and feeling content.
After tidying up, although there were clean clothes in the space, it wasn't suitable to take them out at the moment. Cheng Duo wrung out his wet clothes and put them back on.
In this battle, many of Wei Ling's men died. Cheng Duo made decisions on what to collect and what to bury. As for the members of the Black Cloth Organization, they caught two live captives.
Tan Shoubei was extremely angry and, after confirming that Tan Yulou was safe, he found a place and personally interrogated them.
"Big brother, is Young Master Tan alright?" Yong Ge asked with concern, poking his head out.
Wei Ling looked at his curious big eyes and inexplicably felt his face getting warm. "He's fine. He's sleeping."
Yong Ge stared at him for a while. "So, are you and Young Master Tan…?"
"Adult matters, don't pry as a child!" Wei Ling quickly interrupted him.
Yong Ge rolled his eyes. He had been married for three years, but his big brother might still be a virgin. Yet he had the nerve to call him a child? Whatever.
He wanted to ask a few more questions, but Cheng Duo stopped him. "Let it be. Your big brother knows what's going on, and we shouldn't meddle."
"But, big brother already saw Young Master Tan naked. Isn't that irresponsible?" Yong Ge argued.
Wei Ling hurriedly explained, "I didn't see him… naked. I just helped bandage his wounds."
He stuttered, finding it difficult to continue toward the end.
Yong Ge said, "Isn't that the same thing?"
Wei Ling: "…"
He wiped his face and quickly changed the subject, "I just heard from the soldiers around Cheng Duo that Du Boyan found someone to impersonate him, and that person even… got intimate with other guys?"
He didn't mention the part about "letting other guys give him children" in front of Yong Ge. Wei Ling wrinkled his brow unconsciously. It seemed that Cheng Duo and Yong Ge not having children was indeed becoming an issue. Even Jiangdong County had started making it a topic, and it might not end anytime soon…
Now Yong Ge was the one getting nervous, "Yes, big brother, you mustn't believe it. I already had someone capture the imposter before leaving the city. We'll see him when we go back."
Wei Ling smiled, "Why are you so nervous? Cheng Duo has been with me all day. How could I mistake him for someone else?"
"Oh, right, I forgot…" Yong Ge scratched his face, feeling like he had acted too anxiously.
Wei Ling shook his head. What else could he say? His little cousin had been stubborn for a long time.
Thinking about it, he had to thank Yong Ge today. Luckily, he didn't lose his mind in the incident with Cheng Duo; otherwise, both he and Young Master Tan would have been in danger.
Tan Shoubei was an old hand at dealing with situations like this. They caught two of the black-clothed men who were initially eager to die, but he only dislocated the jaw of one, using the torture in front of the other. The waiting process for torture was already a torment, and seeing their companion's tragic fate frightened the other one, causing him to confess everything before Tan Shoubei even used any torture methods.
Tan Shoubei learned about the black-clothed men's hideout and immediately set out to capture them. Those black-clothed men dared to cause trouble on his territory, thinking he was easy to deal with!
Moreover, he heard that Du Boyan had found someone to impersonate Cheng Duo, using Yong Ge as a bait. Yong Ge was the only son of General Wei. Only a lunatic would dare to deceive him!
Furthermore, if Wei Ling died on his territory. General Wei would never let him go.
The Du family was quite audacious. They did so many things behind his back, which explained why Du Main House hadn't shown up for so long. Presumably, they had already fled? But they could run, yet they couldn't hide! The Du family still had numerous shops and houses. Since they hadn't shown any signs of disposing of those assets earlier, Tan Shoubei intended to take them back. He would keep half and present the other half to Little Master Wei as an apology and an alliance gesture.
However, before setting off, Tan Shoubei was somewhat concerned about Tan Yulou. In the end, Wei Ling stepped forward and said, "Tan Shoubei, rest assured, I'll take care of Young Master Tan."
"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Young General." Tan Shoubei nodded and then waved his hand, saying, "Let's go!"
Wei Ling keenly noticed that Tan Shoubei changed his address toward him. He exchanged a glance with Cheng Duo, and they both understood what it meant.
Cheng Duo thought of Du Boyan who stayed in the city and Yong Ge's men going to capture the imposter. He was ready to return to the city with Yong Ge.
Upon hearing this, Wei Ling's face looked somewhat troubled. "Young Master Tan hasn't completely gotten out of danger yet. How about you leave the medicine and Yong Ge here?"
The medicine was to prevent him from getting a fever at night, and as for Yong Ge… it wasn't convenient, right?
"Cheng Duo…" Yong Ge was someone who valued principles. Though he liked Tan Yulou and wanted him to be together with his eldest cousin, they hadn't even made it obvious yet. Leaving him with Big Brother at this moment felt like taking advantage of his vulnerable state.
Cheng Duo hesitated for a moment and said, "Alright, you take care of yourself. I'll be back soon."
Wei Ling had already informed the main forces at the relay station, so he believed they would arrive soon, and Yong Ge would be safe here.
Cheng Duo left at dusk and returned only at midnight, looking rather grim.
He met the servant who was said to look a lot like him and learned the entire conversation from him. Before today, he had never thought that not having children with Yong Ge could be a problem.
At home, Wei's grandfather and the others cherished Yong Ge. They took every subtle approach to make sure he took good care of himself, but they didn't mention anything else. In ancient society, the majority of people believed that not having children was the responsibility of the girl or ger, so only lunatics would remind Cheng Duo that Yong Ge couldn't conceive.
Cheng Duo recalled how Yong Ge had been pestering him recently, not allowing him to clean up afterward, and even secretly raising his hips. At that time, he hadn't paid much attention, but now, thinking back, weren't all these actions signs of Yong Ge's eagerness to have a child?
"Cheng Duo, you're back," Yong Ge came out of Tan Yulou's room, rubbing his eyes and letting out a big yawn.
He had just fallen asleep inside, and it was Young Master Tan who woke him up, telling him that Cheng Duo was back.
"Cheng Duo, are you hungry? Shall I cook something for you?" Cheng Duo hesitated for a moment before nodding. He had something to discuss with Yong Ge.
Inside the temporary kitchen, Yong Ge was busy frying the soup base and cutting the noodles. Cheng Duo didn't interrupt him. His mind was actually in disarray. After returning, he tried to recall the entire journey, and then he realized that it seemed that the high-level ability users in the post-apocalyptic world didn't have children?
It wasn't Cheng Duo's fault for being slow to realize; in the post-apocalyptic world, survival was uncertain, resources were scarce, and people didn't have the energy to focus on procreation. Most were busy practicing, killing zombies, and fighting for territory, not even knowing if they'd live to see tomorrow. Few had the energy to devote to procreating.
It was hard enough to survive on their own, who would want to raise a crying baby that could attract zombies? Even if ordinary people raised children within the city, it was easy to conflict with neighbors. Everyone was exhausted during the day, and with poor sleep at night, it wasn't surprising for tempers to flare up.
Unless one's family had power and influence and owned a separate building… But Cheng Duo, as a low-level strength ability user, had no access to such information, so he wasn't aware of it.
"Yong Ge, if… I mean, if…" amidst the steaming hot air, Cheng Duo pondered his tone, "if we never have children, do you want to have your own?"
Yong Ge's expression changed. What did Cheng Duo mean by that? Could it be that those with ulterior motives guessed right, and Cheng Duo wanted someone else to bear a child for him?
Cheng Duo also felt that something was wrong after asking the question and closed his mouth with an unpleasant expression. In ancient times, there was no artificial insemination technology. By asking this, was he suggesting that Yong Ge should separate from him or give up his rights?
It was the first time Cheng Duo felt so troubled. If he told the truth, knowing how much Yong Ge cared about him, Yong Ge would undoubtedly be willing to "break off all descendants" with him. However, in doing so, he would also cut off Yong Ge's hope, and their future days would be filled with suffering together without achieving anything. But if he didn't say anything, it wouldn't be fair to Yong Ge either…
Yong Ge gazed at the bubbling white noodle soup in the large pot. The finely cut noodles had turned semi-transparent, rising and falling with the soup's motion. His lips trembled; he wanted to clarify, but he feared hearing a definite answer. Cheng Duo's silence seemed to confirm his fears, and a wordless silence flowed between them. In the simple kitchen, only the crackling sound of firewood in the stove remained.
Yong Ge understood. He was not young when he got married, and now, more than three years had passed. He was already twenty-two, while Cheng Duo was nearing thirty. In their village, boys married at fifteen or sixteen and became fathers at seventeen or eighteen; there were countless examples.
Cheng Duo gave him time, but after waiting for so many years, it seemed that Cheng Duo had fulfilled his duty to the fullest. Yong Ge had no grievances. On the contrary, these past few years of marriage had been the happiest days of his life. Cheng Duo cherished him deeply, but he had selfishly turned a blind eye to Cheng Duo's kindness. If others hadn't exposed the truth, how much longer would he have pretended to be oblivious?
"Cheng Duo," Yong Ge felt his voice tremble a bit and quickly steadied his emotions by pinching his palm. He spoke hesitatingly, "What kind of child do you like? Or… do you prefer a girl? My father and the others, you don't need to worry about them. You've done enough for the Wei family, and I will find an opportunity to convince them."
Cheng Duo was taken aback, "What child, boy, or girl? Wait, Yong Ge, do you think I want to take a concubine?"
Yong Ge blinked and forced a smile, looking even more unsightly than crying, "Cheng Duo, I won't blame you. It's my own fault."
Cheng Duo looked at the redness at the corners of Yong Ge's eyes and the uncontrollable tears welling up, unable to resist wiping his face, "Yong Ge, listen to me, it's not your fault that we can't have children…"
"I know, having children cannot be forced. I've tried already," Yong Ge tried to console himself at this moment and sniffled. The tears he had held back for a long time finally rolled down.
Cheng Duo couldn't bear to watch and opened his arms, pulling Yong Ge into his lap. The two clung tightly together, and Cheng Duo whispered into his ear, "Yong Ge, you've really misunderstood. I didn't mean to take a concubine. Do you remember my abilities? The price of gaining abilities might be…"
He had also devoured Cheng Zhao's crystal core, possessing two abilities. Although both were low-level abilities not exceeding level three, being an ability user itself was already defying fate.
Yong Ge was already stunned, and he even forgot to cry, "Your, your meaning is that if you have abilities, you can't have children anymore?"
Cheng Duo's eyes flickered, "Probably. From the ability users I've seen, the higher the ability, the lower the probability of offspring, but it's not entirely impossible…"
Yong Ge nodded blankly, seeming to understand after a while, and then asked, "So when you asked me just now if I wanted to have my own child, what did you mean by that?"
Since they both find it difficult to have children, how can he have them himself?
"Uh…" Now it was Cheng Duo's turn to be at a loss for words. "What I meant is… in case you want to have your own child, we can wait a bit longer. Who knows, maybe a miracle might happen, right?"
Yong Ge suddenly gritted his teeth and sneered, "Back then, I almost died, but someone was heartless enough to push me away. If I hadn't risked my life to jump off the cliff with him, who knows what situation we would be in now!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became. Yong Ge hammered Cheng Duo's arm and struggled to get off his lap, saying, "You're not thinking of pulling the same trick again, asking me to have a child with someone else? We're already married, who do you want me to be with?!"
"No, that's not what I meant." Exposed by Yong Ge, Cheng Duo felt a bit guilty. After all, he couldn't completely deny that he hadn't thought about it at all.
Though it was just a fleeting thought, he quickly brushed it away. But from the moment he asked that question, he knew he couldn't hide it.
However…
Cheng Duo tightened his grip on Yong Ge's arm. "Yong Ge, be fair to me. Weren't you just thinking about taking a concubine for me?"
In his hurry to explain earlier, he didn't feel it, but now, thinking back, Cheng Duo found it quite distasteful. "You little trickster, you said before that you'd lock me up if I even touched someone else. But now you're so generous? If I agree, would you just watch me sleep with someone else and let them carry my child in their belly?"
As Yong Ge followed Cheng Duo's words, he felt like a knife had been stabbed into his chest, almost making him spit out blood. If such a day came, he would lose control and become murderous!
Yong Ge turned his head to look at Cheng Duo, his eyes red, full of grievances. "You know I'm doing this for your own good…"
Cheng Ge still deliberately provoked him.
Cheng Duo's heart softened, quickly pulling Yong Ge into his arms. "I'm sorry, I spoke without thinking just now… We're both doing this for each other, let's not bring it up again, okay?"
Yong Ge sniffed and rested his head on Cheng Duo's shoulder. "Okay."
Cheng Duo sighed inwardly. He had wanted to keep it a secret, but now… it might be better to clarify things. He didn't want to let go of Yong Ge, and Yong Ge didn't want to leave him. If it came to it, he would try to live a little longer than Yong Ge and take care of him until old age.
Speaking of which, the lifespan of ability users was indeed about twenty years longer than that of ordinary people. He was seven or eight years older than Yong Ge, which was just about right…
The two embraced in silence for a while. Suddenly, they smelled the scent of something burning in the pot. Yong Ge jumped up, "Oh no, I forgot about the noodles in the pot!"
In the end, the noodles had turned into a lump, and they shared the big bowl, looking at each other and still feeling quite happy.
》》》
Tan Yulou was awakened by a sharp pain in his waist. He struggled to open his heavy eyes and realized that he was lying on the bed, with a head resting at his side.
Perhaps, worried that he might move in his sleep and hurt his injured arm, the owner of the head held his hand tightly and slept soundly.
"General Wei…"
Tan Yulou blushed and was about to pull his hand back and sit up. However, he realized that every time he moved, Wei Ling became more alert and tightened his grip on his hand.
Helplessly, Tan Yulou could only continue lying down. But his gaze slipped to the blood-stained clothes hanging on the bamboo chair behind Wei Ling. That was his outer robe, right? And the hint of white exposed underneath seemed to be his inner garment?
Then, what was he currently wearing?
Tan Yulou subconsciously lowered his head and found that his clothes seemed to have been changed. Now, he was only wearing an inner garment, which lightly touched his skin.
No, it couldn't be…
Tan Yulou widened his eyes in embarrassment and suddenly knelt up from the bed, "Ah!"
Due to the sudden movement, he accidentally pulled at the wound around his waist, causing a piercing pain.
"What's wrong?" Wei Ling was also woken up by his abrupt action. Seeing him holding onto the wound with his hand, he asked with concern, "Did you hurt the wound when you got up? Let me take a look."
Before Tan Yulou could object, Wei Ling had already lifted his inner garment.
Tan Yulou gritted his teeth, watching Wei Ling's skilled movements, and asked with a muffled voice, "When was my clothes… changed?"
He didn't mind the clothes, but there were even pants! Fortunately, his undergarments were his own; otherwise, he would have been too embarrassed to show his face!
Wei Ling sensed that there was more to Tan Yulou's words and quickly explained, "Yong Ge helped you change them last night. Your clothes were too dirty, covered in blood. Don't worry, this inner garment on you is the one I had someone rush to buy in the city. No one has worn it before."
Originally, he had thought about having someone fetch the clothes from the Tan family, but later he worried that Tan Yulou's family would be concerned, so he gave up the idea.
Tan Yulou was relieved, "Oh, thank you, Little Master Wei. Also, thank you, General…"
"Tan Yulou, no need to be polite." Wei Ling finished checking and adjusted his clothing. "There was some blood on the cloth, but the wound shouldn't have reopened. Do you need to use the outhouse? Shall I assist you?"
Tan Yulou hurriedly declined, "I can go by myself. No need to trouble you, General."
If General Wei hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have realized it, but now that he brought it up, Tan Yulou felt a bit urgent.
Wei Ling reasoned with him, "If the wound accidentally reopens, you'll suffer again. Besides Cheng Duo, I'm the only one here who can help you mend the wound."
Tan Yulou didn't want to trouble Yong Ge to attend to him, so he reluctantly agreed, "Okay."
This rural outhouse was undoubtedly quite primitive. Tan Yulou stood inside, and when he looked up, he could see Wei Ling waiting outside through the cracks, making it difficult for him to proceed.
Wei Ling was concerned and stood there for a long time without hearing any call for assistance. Unable to bear it, he raised his voice, "Tan Yulou, are you alright?"
Maybe he had finished his business but felt embarrassed to call for him?
After coming out of the outhouse, Tan Yulou's face was already red, and Wei Ling also felt a bit awkward. Especially from his angle, he could see Tan Yulou's ears and cheeks turning red. Tan Yulou's skin was not fair, but rather a light wheat color, and he had delicate ears, cheeks, and the back of his neck even had a layer of fine fuzz that seemed to move with his breath just now.
Tan Yulou's light-colored pupils widened, "Ge-General Wei…"
"Sorry, I accidentally stepped on an empty space and couldn't stabilize myself." Wei Ling felt embarrassed to admit that he had zoned out before.
He hadn't noticed it before, but upon closer inspection, he found that Tan Yulou resembled a young man in many ways. Why was he so careless before?
Because Tan Yulou insisted on returning, and it was indeed not a good place to recover here, Wei Ling arranged for a carriage from the city. The group returned to the city the next afternoon.
"General Wei, I can go in by myself. Thank you so much this time." Tan Yulou got off the carriage at the entrance of the Tan residence, supported by the servants of the Tan family, and thanked Wei Ling.
Since someone was taking care of him, Wei Ling didn't insist on going in and nodded. Just as he was about to take his leave, unexpectedly, a slim middle-aged woman came out from inside. "Yulou, I heard you got injured. Are you okay?"
She appeared very worried and carefully examined Tan Yulou from head to toe, as if trying to determine the extent of his injury.
Tan Yulou clearly understood her concern and immediately said, "I'm fine, Mother. It's just a minor injury."
They exchanged a silent glance, and Tan's mother felt relieved. Without immediately going to support her son, she saw Wei Ling, who brought him back, and suddenly frowned, "Who is this…"
"He is General Wei, who knows I got injured and kindly sent me back." Out of Tan's mother's sight, Tan Yulou smiled apologetically at Wei Ling, knowing that Wei Ling understood that he was apologizing for not telling the truth earlier.
"So you are General Wei. Thank you for bringing my son back. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" After learning about Wei Ling's identity, Tan's mother's attitude improved, but her smile still appeared somewhat perfunctory.
"Young Master Tan is injured, so it's not convenient. Maybe another time." After Wei Ling finished speaking, he noticed that Tan Yulou's eyes flickered as he lowered his head, and also noticed Tan's mother's strange attitude, and he instantly understood.
Tan's mother simply didn't want Tan Yulou to have too much contact with him or… she didn't want any man to get too close to Tan Yulou.
After seeing off Wei Ling, Tan's mother personally escorted her son back to Qinghui Courtyard and sent away several concubine and illegitimate children who came to inquire about the news along the way.
"These shallow-minded people only hope that something happens to my son. Don't they realize that the Master has only one legitimate son? Those other children will have to get married sooner or later. What use can they be?" Tan's mother lowered her eyebrows, and a hint of mockery appeared at the corner of her mouth.
When she was young, she was also of good appearance, which was why Tan Shoubei, who admired beautiful women, married her and made her the main wife.
However, as time passed, the number of concubines in the Tan residence increased. Instead of continuing the struggle, she made herself look older and her sharpness harder to conceal.
Just like how Tan Shoubei treated his illegitimate children, when he favored a concubine, he would ignore any rules and just do as he pleased.
Most of these concubines had humble backgrounds and shallow knowledge. They would flaunt their power when they were in favor and even challenge the main wife under Tan Shoubei's protection. It was probably because of this that Tan's mother couldn't let go of her grievances after all these years.
Fortunately, Tan Yulou was born later, and Tan Shoubei was willing to make concessions for his legitimate son. Otherwise, with Tan's mother's temperament, she might have been driven to her death long ago.
"Mother!" Tan Yulou felt embarrassed; his mother started again.
Others might not understand, but could his mother not know that he was also a ger!
Tan's mother ignored him and instead asked, "Yulou, where are you injured? Do you need me to ask Qing Mama to apply some medicine for you?"
"No need, I can handle it myself." Tan Yulou pulled the corner of his mouth, and his expression became a little indifferent.
Qing Mama was a dowry given to his mother. Apart from her and his mother, even the midwife who helped deliver him was sent away by his mother from afar.
Apart from his childhood, his mother rarely took care of his daily life these years. It was as if she could deceive herself without seeing it with her own eyes.
In addition to this, his mother also placed many young and pretty maidservants in his courtyard, hoping that he would take in one or two of them, preferably to bear a son.
Tan Yulou had tried to talk to his mother about this before, telling her that he didn't like women. That time, his mother flew into a rage, not only beating him with a whip but also making him kneel in the ancestral hall for a whole day and night.
It was his father who came back and saved him from the ancestral hall.
After that incident, Tan Yulou gave up trying to reason with his mother. The issue of his identity was a deep chasm that neither of them could touch. Every time he mentioned it, his mother would go crazy.
She even wanted to find him a wife. Fortunately, he used some schemes to deceive his father and managed to delay it until now.
After seeing off his mother and dismissing the eager maidservants who wanted to serve him, Tan Yulou lay on the bed and sighed bitterly.
Did his mother even know what she was doing? She didn't want people to know his identity, yet she placed so many maidservants in his courtyard.
Although many of these young maidservants were sold by their parents early on because of poverty and knew nothing, those who tried to seduce him and become concubines were definitely not naive.
His body hair wasn't as dense as that of an average man, and his frame was relatively narrow. Moreover, it was difficult for him to impregnate a woman.
With so many flaws, if they were caught by someone with malicious intentions, given his father's explosive temper, there was a possibility that they, mother and son, could be beaten to death…
》》》
During Tan Yulou's recovery, Wei Ling and Tan Shoubei conducted an extensive search for the black-robed people both inside and outside the city. They also took over a significant portion of Du Family's assets, with Wei Ling's silent approval. Most of these assets ended up in the hands of Yong Ge.
"Cheng Duo, come here quickly. Tan Shoubei just gave me a lot of shops and land deeds. Help me figure out how to handle them." Yong Ge excitedly waved to Cheng Duo when he saw him coming in.
Cheng Duo walked over as instructed. Jianxin City was a crucial passage connecting the northwest and the Jiangdong region. If not, the Jiangdong Prefect wouldn't be so eager to interfere when Tan Shoubei intended to ally with the Wei Family.
These properties were all ready-made, and Du Family had its own business. They could take advantage of the situation and manage them.
The two of them were busy for almost half a month when Yong Ge sent a letter to his father, and finally, Wei Zhenyuan had Meng Ji and a large camp of soldiers bring over some of his men and the newly appointed manager, Liu Shusheng.
Oh no, it shouldn't be called Liu Shusheng anymore; it should be Liu Manager.
"Why are you here, and who is managing the brick and tile workshop?" Yong Ge asked in surprise.
"It's Qian Manager," Liu Shusheng smiled and replied discreetly.
Yong Ge took a moment to react before realizing that he was talking about Yu Ge. Two years ago, Yu Ge married one of his father's personal guards and even gave birth to a child. However, despite getting married and having a son, it didn't affect his work at the brick and tile workshop. Instead, he excelled and could now handle things on his own.
As for Liu Shusheng, he still hadn't married until now…
Due to their previous interactions, Yong Ge no longer disliked Liu Shusheng. He asked with concern, "Liu Manager, you're not young anymore. I wonder when you'll be able to have your wedding celebration?"
As the words came out, he realized it wasn't appropriate. Originally, Aunt Qian wanted to match Yu Ge with Liu Shusheng, but it ended after just one hotpot meal and nothing came of it afterward.
He asked Yu Ge about it and brought it up again now. He didn't know if he would think too much about it…
"Lao Sheng has intentions, but there's no suitable match right now. Let's talk about it when we find someone suitable," Liu Shusheng replied casually, but he definitely regretted it deep down.
(T/N:Lao means old. It is often used as a generic or humorous name for an ordinary, middle-aged or older man. It can also be used as a nickname to indicate familiarity or affection. The term is not specific to any particular person and is commonly used in informal contexts or jokes.)
During the time when Yu Ge was getting married, he kept remembering the words he scolded him with after falling off the cliff. Later, when they managed the brick and tile workshop and adobe warehouse together, there were many instances where he sought his advice for things he didn't understand. He only realized later that when Yu Ge's health improved, he was actually quite good-looking. His eyes were clean and gentle, and he spoke slowly, making him a very gentle person.
Unfortunately, he realized it too late. When the news of his engagement came out, he realized that his eyes had already left an impression on his heart.
After Liu Shusheng left, Yong Ge sighed with an air of seniority, "Back then, when Aunt Qian had Yu Ge invite him to dinner, I thought he must have been willing. But alas, in this world, when you miss the chance, you miss it…"
Now that Yu Ge was no longer available, Liu Shusheng couldn't let go either.
Cheng Duo calmly poured him a cup of tea and heard him continue, "Eldest cousin is the same. It's been so long; will he make it in the end? Don't end up like Liu Shusheng… Ah, no, no, no! I'm just talking nonsense; it's not for real!"
"Don't worry, your eldest cousin is smarter than Liu Shusheng. He definitely won't be as foolish as him," Cheng Duo didn't say it directly, but he knew his eldest cousin had good intentions. However, he was too much of a righteous man.
From what he knew, Mother Tan had the intention of finding a wife for Tan Yulou. Even if he managed to resolve the issue with Tan Shoubei, passing the hurdle of Mother Tan would still be difficult.
Her health wasn't good either. If Tan Yulou's identity was exposed and she couldn't bear the blow, accidentally dying, who would be responsible?
So, even though Cheng Duo had many methods, he couldn't give Wei Ling advice. After all, they hadn't known each other for very long; they could wait a bit longer.
His father-in-law sent Meng Ji with soldiers to build a camp in Jianxin City, and his eldest cousin had already decided to stay. In the future, these two would be together most of the time, so if they had the intention, anything could happen… Of course, if there was no fate, it would be a different story.
Including the round trip, Cheng Duo and Yong Ge spent about three months in Jianxin City. When they returned, it was already summer.
It was extremely hot to sit in a carriage at this time. Despite starting their journey before dawn, it was still unbearably hot due to the rush.
Yong Ge's reaction was especially strong. The first two times he got off the carriage, he only complained of stuffiness and discomfort. Today, he actually vomited!
Cheng Duo was startled and hurried over to pat him gently, "Feeling better? Why do you feel so uncomfortable? Are you sick?"
Thinking back, they stayed in an inn last night. Yong Ge found it too hot and lifted the blanket several times throughout the night.
He used to like sleeping close to Cheng Duo, but these past few days, he hadn't been close to him and kept complaining about the heat.
Yong Ge waved his hand, "Cheng duo, I'm fine…"
"What do you mean fine? You've already vomited like this," Cheng Duo interrupted him, looked around, and decisively said, "There's a village up ahead. Let's stay there tonight and not continue."
"No need. You're in a hurry to go back and see those… potatoes, right? What if the weather is too hot and they go bad?" Cheng Duo had been looking for potatoes and sweet potatoes for several years. This time, with great effort, he finally brought some back from the outskirts. He was so happy that he rushed back.
"It's okay. Potatoes don't go bad that easily. Your health is more important." Cheng Duo comforted Yong Ge while fetching a cup of clear water from the carriage for him. He also took out two pickled plums from his spatial storage and put them in the cup, "Here, drink some water."
The sour taste of the plums moistened Yong Ge's mouth, and he felt a little better after a few sips. He drank two mouthfuls of water and deliberately fished out the two pickled plums to eat.
After finishing the pickled plums, Yong Ge still wasn't satisfied and asked Cheng Duo, "Cheng Duo, do you have more of these pickled plums?"
Cheng Duo didn't doubt him and went back to the "carriage" to get more for him. So, for the next while, while the two soldiers were listening to Cheng Duo arranging tonight's accommodation, they also watched Yong Ge eat one pickled plum after another.
One of the soldiers, seeing how much he enjoyed them, couldn't help but swallow his saliva and asked, "Little Master, could it be that you're pregnant?"
His wife was like this when she was pregnant with their child, always eating sour plums, just like Little Master now.
"Pregnant? What are you…" Cheng Duo asked back but suddenly froze.
Yong Ge also stopped chewing the plum, subconsciously looking at Cheng Duo, his expression a little dazed.
Ever since they had opened their hearts to each other two months ago, they had already accepted the fact that they wouldn't have children. The disappointment they would feel if it turned out to be a mistake was unimaginable.
Cheng Duo's hand trembled slightly, and he decisively said, "We'll ask if there's a doctor in the village later."
"Yes." The soldier responded but couldn't understand why General Cheng and Little Master would react like this upon hearing about a pregnancy.
Soon, the caravan arrived at the village, and the soldiers searched for a rural doctor with some difficulty. He came in cautiously and felt Yong Ge's pulse for a while before hesitantly said, "This old man can't be sure, but the pulse does seem slippery…"
The group of intimidating soldiers frightened him, and he was afraid of saying anything wrong and inviting trouble for himself. So, he didn't dare to say he was certain.
Cheng Duo sent the rural doctor away and hugged Yong Ge, saying, "It's alright. Tomorrow, when we get to the town, we'll find another doctor to check."
"Okay."
Neither of them slept much that night, trying their best to act indifferent in front of each other. The next morning, both of them had dark circles under their eyes.
They rushed to the nearby town as quickly as possible. The first doctor they consulted said, "No mistake, you're definitely pregnant!"
"Judging by the pulse, it's been at least two or three months."
Two or three months meant it happened around the time they arrived… Yong Ge couldn't help but remember how he had seduced Cheng Duo during that time, and his cheeks flushed.
Cheng Duo also recalled those days, and his usually stern expression softened when he met his little wife's bashful eyes.
Yong Ge reached out and grabbed his hand, his eyes shining brightly, "Cheng Duo."
Cheng Duo immediately extended his arms to embrace him, burying his face in Yong Ge's neck for a long time until Yong Ge felt a little embarrassed. He then let out a soft sigh, "Yong Ge, let's go home."
Feeling the dampness on his neck, Yong Ge's eyes also reddened slightly, "Okay, let's go home!"
Mother, look! There's a butterfly!" The little three-and-a-half-year-old little dumpling, leaned on the carriage window, his eyes wide open, and he pointed his tender little finger at the colorful butterfly flying in the air.
His eyes were not pure black like Yong Ge's, but they also didn't have the same blue hue. Instead, there was a deep blue circle around the outer edge of his pupils, not easily noticeable unless you looked closely.
But he had inherited Yong Ge's good looks – deep and expressive eyes, a slightly upturned little nose, and bright red lips. If it weren't for the lack of a red birthmark on his forehead, people would probably consider him a beautiful little ger.
"I see it. Be careful not to fall out of the window," Yong Ge scolded, giving the little one a pat on his bottom.
Throughout the journey, this little guy wanted to play with everything he saw – the big yellow dog on the roadside, the frog on the field's edge, the dandelions, and small insects. But Wei Ling and the others spoiled him, so whenever he pointed at something, they would gallop over to find it for him.
He had even refused to let go of someone else's big yellow dog before. If Yong Ge hadn't thought that it would be challenging to keep a dog in the carriage, he would have tried his best to buy the dog from its owner.
Now, he was starting to attract butterflies.
Watching the colorful butterfly fluttering around, sometimes landing on little Lin'er's head, sometimes stopping on his little nose, his big eyes blinked in amazement, staring fixedly. Yong Ge couldn't help but wonder if they and Cheng Ge were both so gentle, how did they end up with such a troublemaker? Could it be that he would grow up to be the same?
By the way, their little one was named Cheng Jinlin, nicknamed Lin'er, a name given by Old Marquis.
However, the little one didn't see butterflies as beautiful creatures to "cherish and treasure." As soon as the butterfly stopped moving, he reached out his little paw to catch it.
Unfortunately, his chubby little arms were not agile enough, and the butterfly flew out of the window in no time.
The little one became anxious and quickly shouted, "Big Brother Zi, help me catch the butterfly!"
Big brother Zi was Zhao Dashan, also known as Shanzi. He was now an eighteen-year-old young man. Apart from being a little darker from the sun in the northwest, he had good looks and a lively personality. Besides his mother, the little one liked to follow him around.
Upon hearing the little one's call, Shanzi pulled the reins and moved closer. However, the butterfly kept evading, and he couldn't catch it either. Just as he was about to dismount to catch it, Yong Ge stopped him, "Don't go. If he catches the butterfly, he'll probably end up playing with it to death. We still have to hurry on our journey; don't delay our schedule."
Hearing Yong Ge's words, Shanzi hesitated and dared not go any further, looking helplessly at the little one.
The little one also dared not get angry, as mother was not the same as their two great-grandfathers and grandfather; at home, he ruled it over, and mother was the only one who could spank him.
But without those three around, he had no backup and could only pout and climb down from his seat reluctantly.
Yong Ge also didn't help him, watching him struggle to stand up with his small bottom wiggling. He really wanted to pat him a few more times. Well, he thought about it and acted according to his own wishes.
The little one quickly realized and blushed, covering his bottom. "Mother, Lin'er has grown up. You… you can't spank my bottom anymore."
The old Marquis had taught him that boys and girls should not sit together when they turn three, and there were other rules he forgot…
Seeing the little one acting like a grown-up and blushing, Yong Ge couldn't help but tease him, "Oh, now you feel embarrassed. The day before yesterday, when mother was giving you a bath, he touched your little thing. Why didn't you say you've grown up back then?"
The little one became angry, "Hmph, when Lin'er sees Daddy in the capital, I'll let Daddy give me a bath."
"Your Daddy won't give you a bath; he thinks you're stinky." Yong Ge made a gesture of holding his nose and fanning it, enjoying teasing his son.
This little one was so close to his Cheng Duo, always standing between him and Cheng Duo, talking non-stop, depriving him of the chance to talk with Cheng Duo.
Now that they were about to arrive in the capital, the mother-son relationship was in danger. It was strange that although Cheng Duo spent little time at home in the past two years, the little one admired him so much, thinking he was tall and reliable.
Cheng Duo indulged the little one as well. Despite his stern and cold demeanor, he was even more lenient toward his son than Wei Zhenyuan. Thankfully, Yong Ge managed to discipline him strictly; otherwise, this little tyrant would be causing trouble at three years old.
As expected, the little one ran to Cheng Duo to report when they arrived at the Shili Pavilion in the suburbs of the capital. "Daddy, mother said I stink. He's so mean!"
Being embraced in the arms of his tall father, the little one looked aggrieved, his eyes turning red. He grabbed Cheng Duo's clothes and whined, finishing his report, then making a request, "Daddy, wash me tonight and don't wash Mommy."
Yong Ge found it funny at first, but his face turned red upon hearing the request. He couldn't dare look at Cheng Duo. "Cheng Duo, don't mind him. He's just being naughty…"
Cheng Duo patted the little one, helplessly looking at the elder and the younger. "Is this how you two interact when I'm not around?"
"…" Yong Ge felt a bit wronged, but before he could say anything, Cheng Duo opened his arms, beckoning the elder one.
Yong Ge was delighted to see this and ignored the crowd of onlookers. He took a few steps closer to Cheng Duo, breathing in the familiar scent that belonged to his Cheng Duo. He nearly shed tears from the emotions it brought.
He reached out and hugged Cheng Duo tightly around the waist.
The little one wouldn't be left out either, and he pulled at his dad's neck. The mother and son seemed to compete over who loved Cheng Duo more, and they started arguing.
"Daddy likes me more!"
"Haha, I've known your Dad for much longer than you. If you don't believe me, ask him. He definitely likes me more."
Cheng Duo: … Sweet but troublesome!
However, both the elder and the younger were his treasures, and he had no other way but to spoil and indulge them. Despite being treated as a husband and father, he rarely spoke to them with a serious face due to his limited time with them and his growing aura of killing intent, fearing it would frighten them.
Occasionally, his soldiers saw this side of him and were all in disbelief. In fact, several soldiers at this moment had expressions of shock, unable to believe that their stoic and serious war god looked like this when he returned home…
After finally soothing the mother and son, Cheng Duo put them back into the carriage. He didn't ride a horse himself but sat in the carriage with them.
The little one was also hungry now, so Cheng Duo gave him a piece of cake. At this age, the little one liked sweet treats and happily nibbled on the cake, ignoring even his dad.
Yong Ge finally remembered the main topic. "I heard from eldest cousin that my father was injured. Is he okay?"
It's not that he didn't care about his dad, but this news was from over a month ago. If the situation was severe, Wei Ling and the others would have told him.
"He's fine, but he might not be able to use his right hand properly."
His father was injured in the shoulder by one of Xia Chengwang's men while attacking the capital. Although he received timely treatment, his age was catching up with him, and his recovery ability wasn't as good as a young person's. It's uncertain how much he'll be able to recover.
Yong Ge knew how much his dad loved wielding weapons. Now that his right hand, which was often used, was injured, he must be uncomfortable. Fortunately, he brought the little one along to accompany his dad, which should improve his mood.
After talking about his father's injury, Yong Ge updated Cheng Duo on the situation in the northwest.
Marquis Wei was getting older, and after the death of the old lady two years ago, he didn't want to go through all the trouble. Li Wang was the same; he was used to life in the northwest and feared that he wouldn't adapt if he moved to the capital.
However, they couldn't bear to leave their child, Lin'er, whom they had seen grow up. Under Yong Ge's persuasion, they eventually decided to move. They weren't in as much of a hurry as Yong Ge, as they had some businesses to handle. They had the Wei Army and accompanying military doctors, so taking it slow shouldn't be a problem.
Of course, they didn't abandon all of their businesses. For instance, the hotpot restaurant and brick factories that had sprung up throughout the northwest were kept running.
Over the past few years, thanks to Cheng Duo's vigorous promotion, almost every village in the northwest had started cultivating potatoes. Potatoes had high yields and were easy to grow, which improved the situation in the northwest. Thanks to potatoes, cases of starvation became rare.
It was precisely because of the abundance of potatoes and military provisions that they were able to annex Jiangdong Commandery so quickly. Although Xia Chengwang occupied the capital first, he couldn't hold on for long. Now the entire Da Xia Empire was under control of the Wei Army. Even Yong Ge didn't expect that his father would become emperor so soon.
Thinking back seven or eight years ago, he was just a village boy disguising his appearance, struggling to make ends meet… It all seemed to have changed for the better after meeting Cheng Duo. He fulfilled his promise and kept Cheng Duo cherished in his heart.
Now that they had Lin'er, he was already content in this lifetime.
"Cheng Duo." Yong Ge gazed affectionately at his partner, intending to get closer to him. Unexpectedly, the little one sitting in Cheng Duo's arms couldn't stay still. "Daddy, Lin'er doesn't want to sit in the carriage. Can you carry Lin'er down and ride a horse with Lin'er?"
In the past, whenever he wanted to ride a horse, his mother wouldn't allow it and would coax him, saying that he could ride when his father returned. Now, with his tall and reliable father by his side and the unfamiliar city of the capital outside, when else could be a better time to ride a horse?
Yong Ge: "…"
Cheng Duo: "…"
This troublesome kid, it's not easy for your dad and your mother to meet!
"Alright, Dad will take you for a ride later." Cheng Duo agreed and covered the little one's eyes with his hand, then lowered his head to kiss his partner's lips…
In the end, both mother and son were naturally overjoyed. Yong Ge finally got to be close to his Cheng Duo for a moment. The little one sat on the horse in his father's arms, surrounded by a group of imposing knights. He felt so magnificent that even his little bun on his head was shaking with pride.
Currently, the capital has just settled down, and the blood in the market near West Gate hasn't even been washed away yet. Therefore, there aren't many pedestrians on the streets. Whenever people see Cheng Duo and others in armor, riding on tall horses, they all quickly slip away.
The little boy was happy for a while, finally noticing the unusual silence around.
Before he was born, his grandfather, the former Grand General, ordered the construction of an official road from Yang Village to Twenty-Li Slope. He used to go and play at Twenty-Li Slope with his mother. The shopkeeper and staff of the hotpot restaurant were very enthusiastic towards him, and Uncle Xie treated him to lots of delicious food and interesting things.
In his mind, the city was synonymous with liveliness: roadside stalls selling various trinkets and food, street performers with monkeys, and people of various ethnicities dressed in strange clothes. But now, there was nothing…
The little boy turned his head to look at the horse-drawn carriage rattling on the cobblestone road, making sure his mother was still inside, then looked up at his dad. "Daddy, where did all the people on the street go? Why aren't they coming out to play?"
The boy's soft neck made this movement seem natural. Cheng Duo not only saw his big, round eyes but also the row of small white teeth in his mouth.
Cheng Duo reached out a big hand to help the little boy straighten his head and replied, "They will come out later. Daddy will take you to meet your grandfather first."
"Okay." The little boy didn't seem too interested.
He had two grandfathers, one lived in the village and would catch fish and bugs with him, and also make little horses and sheep out of bamboo. The other grandfather he didn't see often, but every time they met, he liked to hug him and even used his big beard to poke him…
The little boy didn't like being held by people, especially being poked by a big beard.
When Cheng Duo heard this, he knew that his cheap father-in-law wasn't well-liked by the little boy. But he had no intention of teaching his son to please his grandfather. He reached out and rubbed the little boy's head, trying to comfort him.
Probably feeling that the chaos in the palace wasn't conducive to healing, Wei Zhenyuan didn't live in the imperial palace but found a nearby mansion.
This mansion used to belong to the Rong Prince, who had countless concubines and led a life of luxury. But after the Rong Prince was executed for numerous crimes, his concubines were also demoted and exiled.
Now, this vast mansion only housed Wei Zhenyuan and his soldiers. However, the soldiers, who were used to the barracks, couldn't appreciate the carved beams and painted pillars, so Wei Zhenyuan decided to lock the back yard, and the group of big-headed soldiers found the front yard spacious enough.
But when he learned that Yong Ge and his little grandson were coming, Wei Zhenyuan had the best courtyard in the back cleaned up in advance, looking forward to their arrival.
"Lin'er, do you miss your grandpa?" When Wei Zhenyuan saw his little grandson, who had been carried off the horse by Cheng Duo, he smiled wide.
Not only that, he even wanted to use his undamaged left hand to hold his little grandson. But Cheng Duo quickly stopped him. "Father, your hand is injured. Lin'er doesn't know his own strength. Be careful not to get kicked by him."
Wei Zhenyuan glared at Cheng Duo, saying, "What's this little injury? I've long recovered! Besides, I can't even avoid Lin'ers' strength. If that's the case, why do I still lead soldiers and fight battles?"
His gaze seemed to blame Cheng Duo as the culprit preventing him from getting close to his little grandson. After glaring at Cheng Duo, he then smiled warmly and looked at the little boy.
The little boy had already hidden behind Cheng Duo's thigh when his grandfather scolded his dad in a loud voice. He looked cautiously at the thick beard.
Wei Zhenyuan said affectionately, "Sweetie, Grandfather isn't scolding you. Don't be afraid~~"
Cheng Duo rolled his eyes at the sky. With the way you're cooing, no wonder our son isn't scared. Otherwise, he would have developed a psychological shadow.
Also, his precious son loved him the most. How could he like Wei Zhenyuan in front of him when Wei Zhenyuan scolded his father, blowing his beard and glaring at him?
After a while, Yong Ge had already left the carriage. He saw his dad, who was trying to please Lin'er, occasionally glaring at Cheng Duo with ferocity…
Yong Ge said impatiently, "Dad, Cheng Duo is doing this for your own good. Can't you stop getting angry at him just because he respects you?"
"Nonsense! Where is his temper any good? You haven't seen him confront me…" As Wei Zhenyuan spoke, he gradually lowered his voice under the watchful eyes of his own son, and there was a faint trace of guilt hidden under the big beard.
Could anyone blame him for disliking Cheng Duo? His son always leaned towards Cheng Duo, and his little grandson preferred him as well.
Wei Zhenyuan stood by the door, with his arm hanging in the air, feeling a bit chilly behind him. If accompanied by some melancholic music, he would look like a trembling, lonely old man in the autumn wind…
Of course, this "lonely old man" was too strong and his big beard was too eye-catching. Behind him were a group of burly soldiers, making it a bit theatrical.
Cheng Duo was already used to it. He held the little boy's hand and asked him to call his grandfather.
"Grandfather," the little boy obediently called, but when Wei Zhenyuan came over to hug him with a grin on his face, he dodged.
Wei Zhenyuan: …His little grandson still didn't like him!
Yong Ge chuckled as he watched his dad looking aggrieved. "Dad, Lin'er doesn't like it when you use your beard to poke him."
Wei Zhenyuan touched his big beard and silently hesitated whether to shave it off or not. He didn't keep the beard for any particular reason; he was just too lazy to groom it, so he let it grow freely.
Cheng Duo was the same, but whenever he came home to see his husband and son, he remembered to shave his beard and tidy himself up.
At first, Wei Zhenyuan had sneered at this. As a man, what did it matter to be so particular about appearance? But now, after being pointed out by his son, Wei Zhenyuan suddenly felt that Cheng Duo was cunning; he didn't even remind him!
Cheng Duo was speechless. Did he not say that he thought the beard looked more majestic, and he insisted on not shaving it? What did it have to do with Wei Zhenyuan?
Under Wei Zhenyuan's envious and jealous gaze, Cheng Duo led his father and son into the mansion. After the rough journey, Yong Ge and the little boy were exhausted. After eating something and playing in the mansion's garden for a while, the mother and son were already dozing off.
Wei Zhenyuan initially wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to carry his little grandson away, but Cheng Duo was worried that he would wake up in an unfamiliar place with only an unfamiliar grandfather beside him, so he didn't allow it.
Although Wei Zhenyuan liked to vent his anger on Cheng Duo, he didn't insist on it this time for the sake of his little grandson. He instructed Cheng Duo to take care of the mother and son and then left.
Cheng Duo lifted the curtain and looked at the two who were sound asleep. The elder one was lying on his side, holding his son with his slender body, and his handsome face was half-buried in the pillow. The younger one had a round belly, one hand clutching a little fist, and his pursed lips sleeping soundly.
Both of them were so adorable.
Cheng Duo also felt a bit tired. He climbed onto the bed and held the father and son in his arms, slowly falling asleep…
The nap lasted for an hour. Worried that they might have slept too much during the day and wouldn't sleep at night, Cheng Duo thought it was about time to wake them up.
While the two were washing the little boy's face, Wei Zhenyuan arrived through the main gate.
"Dad?" Yong Ge was momentarily stunned when he saw his father.
His dad was way too efficient. After taking a nap, his full beard disappeared.
Wei Zhenyuan felt a bit uneasy as he touched his face with his left hand. Since he only had one hand to shave the beard, he accidentally cut himself. "How do I look? Your dad appears younger, right?"
"You don't look old." Yong Ge's voice contained a smile. "Dad, after shaving the beard, you look ten years younger."
"Wei Ling said the same thing…" Feeling affirmed by his son, Wei Zhenyuan became even more pleased. He noticed Cheng Duo washing the little boy's face and brushing his teeth, insisting that he come over.
Cheng Duo glanced at Yong Ge and willingly stepped aside. Although he loved his son, he was more than willing to hand the troublesome little guy over to his father-in-law during bedtime.
Yong Ge felt inexplicably bewildered by Cheng Duo's glance. However, by the evening, after spending the whole afternoon playing with the little boy, his old man coaxed him away. Yong Ge finally understood Cheng Duo's intentions.
Well, he had the same idea from the beginning…
The two husbands shamelessly spent the night together. Due to their long separation, Yong Ge couldn't get up the next morning.
When he woke up, Cheng Duo had already left, having just finished washing up. His father came with Lin'er to find him.
"Mom, look, Grandfather gave me this sword, and he said that when I grow up a bit more, he'll teach me martial arts!" Lin'er couldn't wait to show off the small sword when he saw his amo.
Yong Ge frowned as soon as he saw it. "Dad, Lin'er is not even four years old, and you're giving him something like this? What if he hurts himself?"
Wei Zhenyuan hurriedly explained, "This sword is made of wood, and the edges have been smoothed. Don't believe me? Feel it for yourself."
Yong Ge's expression finally improved a bit. Seeing his son's nervousness, Wei Zhenyuan shook his head in disapproval and said, "He's a boy. How can he be as delicate as our ger? When I was young, I used to fight with other kids, getting a black eye or swollen face was normal."
Yong Ge knew that too. He had grown up in difficult times, but Lin'er was probably going to be his and Cheng Duo's only child, so he couldn't help but be a little overprotective.
Seeing this, Wei Zhenyuan patted Lin'er's shoulder, telling him to go and play with the small sword nearby while he chatted with his mom.
The little one was still fascinated with the small sword and ran off at once upon hearing the words.
The two adults sat in the courtyard, with other guards nearby, ensuring the little one's safety.
"Dad, what do you want to talk to me about?" Yong Ge felt a bit nervous as it was the first time his father spoke to him so seriously, and he deliberately kept Cheng Duo out of the conversation.
"What's going on between you and Cheng Duo?"
"What do you mean?" Yong Ge followed his father's gaze towards Lin'er and instantly understood what he was asking. "Dad, Cheng Duo and I are fine. We already have Lin'er, and I don't want to push for anything else."
Wei Zhenyuan pondered for a moment and cautiously suggested, "Should I call the imperial physician to check on you?"
"Dad, it's not necessary."
"Even if you don't want it, does Cheng Duo also not want it?" Wei Zhenyuan's concern was about the potential for more children. During their busy war days, it was understandable, but now that they were settled, if Cheng Duo wanted to expand the family and Yong Ge couldn't have more children, wouldn't Cheng Duo find someone else to bear them?
Wei Zhenyuan couldn't help but think like a typical ancient person who preferred having many children for prosperity.
"Dad, let me tell you the truth. Back in Jianxin City, Cheng Duo and I were prepared not to have children. Later, unexpectedly, we had Lin'er, and we are both content with that. We don't mind not having more children."
Wei Zhenyuan carefully observed his expression and suddenly asked, "Is it Cheng Duo's issue?"
Yong Ge was startled, "Dad, what are you talking about? Cheng Duo is perfectly healthy!"
"Why are you so nervous? I didn't say he's incapable." Wei Zhenyuan gave Yong Ge a stern look. Didn't he know that he woke up so late in the day? Did he really think there was no reason for it?
Moreover, Cheng Duo's capability was evident from his demeanor.
"Dad…" Yong Ge felt embarrassed under his father's gaze.
Wei Zhenyuan sighed, "Yong Ge, your dad will only fight battles in this lifetime. Now that my right hand is injured, I am not fit for that position. Your eldest cousin has been avoiding the capital to avoid suspicion. Besides, half of this empire is Cheng Duo's doing, the money he contributed, and more than half of the Wei Family's generals obey him…"
Yong Ge's back felt cold as he heard this. "Dad, you… You don't mean to deal with Cheng Duo, do you? He wouldn't, Cheng Duo never had any intention of that position. If it weren't for me, he would have been content being a hunter!"