An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

Since their marriage, Dalang has returned home roughly once every two years, with each trip lasting about three months. However, Feng Jiaojiao always discovers she's pregnant as soon as Dalang leaves. Now they have a son and a daughter, and with this one in her belly, it's their third. This pattern has become a sweet and amusing anecdote in the General's mansion.

"If he doesn't come back soon, we won't even know how the child was born or grew up." Feng Jiaojiao subconsciously touched her still flat belly, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible grievance and resentment as she complained somewhat angrily. The long separation had left her feeling lost due to her husband's lack of involvement in their child's upbringing.

"Don't worry! His name has already been included in the post-autumn adjustments." Jing Chunxi put away her joking expression and reassured him with a confident tone, "When Da Lang returns to Pingzhou Prefecture, San Lang should stay for another two or three years." She paused and added, "This was specially arranged by Xu Zize, and he told me long ago to put your mind at ease." These words were like a reassuring pill.

"Really? Then I'd better pack my things. I don't want him to keep traveling between the two places like this anymore." Feng Jiaojiao's eyes lit up instantly, and her face radiated with surprise. "I'll take the child to Jiangnan to be with him." Her tone became light and firm, full of anticipation for the future.

“That’s how it should be.” Jing Chunxi nodded in agreement, taking her arm and analyzing, “Anyway, your aunts are still young, and your uncle has come back. It’s not your turn to be filial yet.” What she said made perfect sense.

After three years of guarding the frontier, the Emperor kept his promise and summoned Jing Changjiang back to the capital. Although the Imperial Guards under his command were dozens of miles from the capital, he could return every ten days, which meant they could finally reunite. This gave the old lady another son to enjoy by her side.

With the borders now stable and all the states subjugated, Jing Chang'an, who was originally supposed to be transferred back, was not reassigned and remained in his original position. Therefore, the old general and his wife had no shortage of people to care for them, and Feng Jiaojiao had fewer worries about accompanying her husband to his new post.

"Your second brother wrote back saying that all the follow-up work on the canal is basically completed, and he might bring someone back this time." Feng Jiaojiao suddenly changed the subject, smiling mysteriously, her eyes sparkling with gossip.

After the canal was opened, there was still a lot of follow-up work to be done. Erlang, who was originally in charge of the Workers Department, did not return. Instead, he was promoted two ranks to the fifth grade and continued to preside over the subsequent work.

"Second sister-in-law?" Jing Chunxi immediately understood and exclaimed happily, her face full of anticipation.

“I didn’t see the letter, but judging from the excitement on your mother-in-law’s and the old lady’s faces, it must be your second brother who said in the letter that he was bringing someone back to get married.” Feng Jiaojiao lowered her voice and shared her observation and guess.

"That's good!" Jing Chunxi covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes crinkling with genuine joy. She said, "Just two days ago, Brother Xiaokang joked with me, saying that if he couldn't find her on his own, he would ask the Emperor to grant him a marriage." She imitated Xu Zize's tone at the time, with a hint of mischief.

"Your Highness, Madam, Miss Mingzhu has arrived." Hongfen's clear and steady voice suddenly came from outside, interrupting the sisters' whispers.

The two quickly suppressed their smiles, straightened their expressions, and sat up straight. Jing Chunxi even subconsciously adjusted the slightly loose hairpin on her head, cleared her throat, and said in her usual dignified tone, "Mingzhu, come in."

Only then did Feng Jiaojiao belatedly mouth a question to Jing Chunxi, her eyes filled with inquiry. She was clearly not yet fully recovered from the casual conversation and didn't understand why Mingzhu's arrival seemed so formal.

Jing Chunxi gave her a very quiet reply, her lips barely moving as she uttered two key words: "Hei Zi, Crown Prince." Her concise words highlighted the core of the home visit.

Feng Jiaojiao was stunned. She stared at Jing Chunxi, her eyes filled with disbelief, her lips slightly parted as if trying to confirm something. After a long while, she slowly blinked, a look of understanding appearing on her face. She nodded gently, indicating that she understood.

He then adjusted his posture, preparing to welcome his younger sister, who might be involved in another family marriage.

"Sister Jin and the others haven't seen Cousin for a long time and wanted to come over to catch up, but Sister Hongfen stopped them and they're not happy about it. They're waiting outside the courtyard gate." Mingzhu's clear, bell-like voice rang out before she even arrived, carrying a hint of coquettishness and eagerness.

Before she finished speaking, she had already run in as lightly as a cheerful little bird. When she saw the two of them, she rushed straight up to them, taking Jing Chunxi's arm with one hand and naturally pulling Feng Jiaojiao's arm with the other. She didn't notice the subtle expressions of scrutiny and inquiry in the two women's eyes when they exchanged glances, which were different from usual.

"Mingzhu is even more beautiful now, let your sister take a look." Jing Chunxi quickly composed herself, a warm smile blooming on her face. She grabbed Mingzhu's warm wrist and gently pulled her closer, subtly scrutinizing her with her eyes.

Having already turned nineteen, she silently calculated in her mind that Mingzhu was less than four years old when she was exiled, still an innocent child. "She should be almost of marriageable age by now," she thought gently, with the concern of an older sister for her younger sister's growth.

“Yes! It’s less than twenty days away,” Mingzhu nodded vigorously, her face beaming with anticipation. She affectionately shook Jing Chunxi’s arm and pleaded in a coquettish tone, “Would you like to come back for the coming-of-age ceremony, sister? It would be best if you could be the officiant.”

As she swayed, the girl's shapely figure moved slightly. Upon closer inspection, apart from her large, bright eyes, inherited from Aunt Zhao and resembling obsidian submerged in mercury, which were particularly striking, her nose and lips were not particularly prominent on their own. However, when combined on her oval face, they appeared very harmonious and pleasing to the eye, making her very pleasant to look at.

Jing Chunxi gazed at her, sighing inwardly: This girl looks even more beautiful than Aunt Zhao when she was young. Her skin is delicate, fair and rosy, and she has inherited some of the heroic spirit and valor of the Jing family daughters. This makes her beauty not appear weak, but rather exudes a fresh and lively vitality. Anyone who sees her will like her.

"Less than twenty days?" Jing Chunxi repeated, thinking about the expected arrival time of the Rouran delegation. She quickly calculated in her mind, and swallowed back the words she had been preparing to ask, feeling that this was not the best time.

Her eyes flickered, then she glanced at Feng Jiaojiao, who was also observing Mingzhu. Their eyes met, and Jing Chunxi immediately had another idea. So she said in a light and cheerful tone, "How could you not come, sister? Brother Heizi is also coming with the envoy delegation. He will definitely be happy to attend my coming-of-age ceremony." She deliberately mentioned "Brother Heizi" and "envoy delegation" together, observing Mingzhu's reaction.

"Brother Heizi? The same Brother Heizi from before?" Mingzhu's eyes widened instantly, sparkling with surprise. She almost jumped up, her voice filled with undisguised excitement, "He's really coming? Mingzhu loves Brother Heizi the most!" Her words came out clearly and loudly.

Jing Chunxi and Feng Jiaojiao both knew that Mingzhu was simple-minded and often spoke without thinking. The "like" she expressed at this moment must have come from her childhood playmate, the kind of pure and unadulterated liking between children.

“Brother Hei Zi has definitely prepared a coming-of-age ceremony for you,” Jing Chunxi said with a smile, following her words with certainty, as if it were a foregone conclusion.

After saying this, she subconsciously glanced at Feng Jiaojiao sitting opposite her. In that glance, they both saw the same message and a hint of expectation in each other's eyes.

Their lips moved in a strange, unspoken agreement, as if they were both thinking: this thing really has a chance. A tacit understanding flowed between them.