A life of ups and downs is pure joy

After Lin Qinghuan and the others settled down in the small temple, the rain gradually subsided as everyone rested for several hours.

"My Lord, Madam, the rain has stopped."

Yun Xiang stood at the door, stretched out his thin arms to feel the weather, and then shouted loudly towards the temple.

He Su took the teacup from Lin Mutang and handed it to the maid beside her.

"General, it's getting dark, so why not just spend the night here?"

He Su stood up and walked to the door, looked around, and then his eyes fell on the carriage in the shed on the right side of the yard.

"The rest of you go and invite the Princess Chang in. We'll all have to stay here tonight."

He Su raised her voice and shouted towards the carriage in the yard, then she brushed off the rain that had accidentally fallen on her body and walked towards Lin Mutang.

Lin Qinghuan gestured to Chuxia and Baizhi, and the two maids understood and went to the courtyard with the old woman beside He Su to welcome the eldest princess Tao Baiwan in.

While Lin Qinghuan was playing with her son with He Su, she would occasionally glance at Tao Baiwan who was sitting in the corner flipping through a book. Two maids were kneeling beside her, holding the lamp and yawning from time to time with their hands covering their mouths.

"Grandma, Second Madam's eyes are hurting..."

Xiao Xingjian threw himself into He Su's arms in a coquettish voice and pointed at Tao Baiwan and said coquettishly.

"Second Empress?"

Tao Baiwan looked up at the sound, then looked at the childish baby with a puzzled look.

"Mother said that Second Lady... needs to be called."

Although Xiao Xingjian was only one and a half years old, he started speaking very early, so even if he spoke incoherently, people could still understand him.

Tao Baiwan looked at Xiao Xingjian's eyebrows and eyes, which were very similar to Lin Qinghuan's, but his mouth and nose were exactly the same as his beloved Xiao Yi. His eyes couldn't help but soften, and then he smiled slightly and closed the book.

"Since Jian'er has said so, Second Madam will not read it."

Tao Baiwan handed the scroll in his hand to the maid Fuzi beside him, then waved to Xiao Xingjian, signaling the child to come over.

Xiao Xingjian looked up at his mother Lin Qinghuan, and when she nodded, he stumbled towards Tao Baiwan. The maid Chuxia quickly stood up and followed him to protect him.

Tao Baiwan glanced at Lin Qinghuan, then took out a gold buckle lock inlaid with white jade from his pocket and put it around Xiao Xingjian's neck.

"Princess, this is what Her Royal Highness the Princess left for you..."

Fuzi, the maid beside him, recognized the buckle that Tao Baiwan had been wearing since childhood at a glance and said in surprise.

"Jian'er calling me Second Madam reminds me that I haven't given the child a decent gift since I came to the mansion. Isn't it unworthy of this good child to call me Madam?"

Tao Baiwan looked at Xiao Xingjian and said with a smile in his eyes.

"Even so, Jian'er wants to thank your Second Madam."

He Su took a look at the lock. Although it was very valuable, the Lin family had never seen any treasures like it before, so he didn't think it was rare. He spoke lightly.

Chuxia led Xiao Xingjian to kowtow and express her gratitude, and then she took the child to find a wet nurse to coax him to sleep.

It was late at night and very quiet outside. The women in the inner room gradually fell asleep. However, General Lin Mutang, who was hiding behind the screen, could not sleep. He stood at the wooden door and looked at Jin Han from afar with a frown in deep thought. Now he was old, with old injuries and illness, and his health was not as good as before. Especially when autumn came, coughing up blood was common.

"General, why are you not sleeping late at night? Why are you staying here in this windy place? Keep yourself tight."

He Su walked over with a cloak, gently draped it over Lin Mutang's shoulders, and spoke softly.

"Su'er, my useless body is now rendered useless in the face of civil unrest in this country. I have truly disregarded the deep love that Your Majesty has for me."

Lin Mutang's words were sad and powerless. He Su frowned slightly and looked at her husband who was loyal to Da Sheng. Then she relaxed her brows. She knew in her heart that the concept of loyalty to His Majesty and Da Sheng was engraved in Lin Mutang's bones. No matter how wary His Majesty was of her husband now, this loyal minister would only feel that the fault lay with herself.

"Now that my son Ancai and my second brother are here, it's time for you to unload your heavy burdens and let the younger generation protect our country. If you can take care of them with peace of mind, they will still be able to protect our country in the future."

He Su said while holding Lin Mutang's arm.

Lin Mutang glanced at He Su, then covered his chest tightly and nodded helplessly.

"It's late at night and the dew is heavy. General, please take a rest. We have to travel again tomorrow."

He Su helped Lin Muchang into the house. The servants and guards in the yard who were on night duty were guarding the yard with full energy, and those who were on night shift were already snoring. The slightly cool weather after the rain did not affect everyone's sleep quality at all.