Tangli Fried Snow

Before anyone could help him up, Jin Cheng stood up with his head held high. Madam Liu beckoned, and he immediately came to her side. Madam Liu's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, her eyes red-rimmed as she held his hand and looked at him, laughing as she said, "Why didn't you come home first after you got back? I've been waiting for you for so long!" Although it was a reproachful remark, her tone was full of doting and joy.

His biological mother, Lady Liu, was General Jin's second wife. She was no more than forty years old, with an oval face, expressive phoenix eyes, and bright features. In her youth, she was a renowned beauty.

Seeing her beloved son, whom she had been worrying about, filled her with joy. She pulled him aside and talked to him for a long time: "My son, you have suffered so much in the Northwest. You must remember to be careful in the future and never get hurt again. When I heard that you had two arrow wounds and were still leading troops into battle every day, my heart ached as if it were on fire." As she spoke, she touched his strong chest. If there hadn't been guests present, she would have carefully pulled open her son's clothes to examine the wounds.

"Never do anything dangerous again, understand?"

"I understand, Mother," Jin Cheng said, patting his mother's hand reassuringly.

Suddenly, Madam Liu remembered that she hadn't introduced him to the guests yet, so she quickly smiled and pulled him in front of Madam Song, "Come, come and meet Madam Song from Lord Lin's family. She is Pianyue's mother and your cousin's younger sister."

"Greetings, Madam Song." Jin Cheng and Song Weilan opposite him performed the proper courtesies.

Song Weilan looked at her future son-in-law. He had a broad back and a narrow waist, a handsome face and an extraordinary demeanor. He was of noble birth and had made outstanding military achievements. She was glad that she had acted early, otherwise she would not have been able to snag such a good husband.

She couldn't hide the satisfaction in her eyes, and quickly said with a smile, "General Jin, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."

The three sat down. Madam Lin glanced at the two of them a few times, then said with a serious expression, "Your Aunt Song came today and talked with me for a long time. She is truly a virtuous and knowledgeable person." She then went on to say a few more good things about her future mother-in-law and the Lin family girl.

Unexpectedly, she changed the subject and said, "Madam Song didn't come alone today. She brought someone with her. I heard it's an old friend of yours. I've settled the person in with you. Go and see him in your courtyard later."

Jin Cheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, really?"

"I wonder which old friend it is that Madam Song had to bring over personally?"

Song Weilan smiled slightly and said, "She is an old friend of yours from Jiyue City. I heard that you stayed together for a few days and got along well. I heard that she came to the capital and was living in hardship, so I tried to rescue her."

Jin Cheng appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil.

An old friend from Jiyue City? You two seem to have a good relationship?

Could it be the Shirley I've been searching for?

Did she suffer a lot outside?

The thought of her, a delicate young woman, being kidnapped, and how she must have had a difficult time these past few months, perhaps even suffering a lot of humiliation, stirred up a storm of emotions within him that he couldn't calm down for a long time.

Seeing the complex light in his eyes, Song Weilan thought to herself, "As expected, you've been busy leading troops in battle and are unaware of this matter. It seems this move was the right one."

She smiled and stood up, saying to Madam Liu, "It's getting late, and I've been bothering you for too long, so I'll take my leave now."

Madam Liu hurriedly tried to persuade her to stay, saying, "Why are you leaving so soon after Cheng'er's return? We haven't even had a proper chat yet."

Song Weilan gave her a meaningful look and said, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, so I won't disturb you and your son's conversation any longer."

Madam Liu hurriedly escorted her to the door, and then had a respected nanny personally lead the way to the main gate.

As soon as Madam Song left, Jin Cheng saw his mother's face darken. He quickly tried to please her by saying all sorts of nice things and had people present her with the rare treasures he had brought back for her to admire.

Seeing that her expression had finally improved, he cautiously asked her.

"I wonder who Madam Song brought with her?"

Madam Lin put down the string of South Sea pearls in her hand, a reproachful look on her well-maintained face, and sighed, "I don't ask you to bring glory to our ancestors or achieve great things. I only ask that you be safe and sound, and cause less trouble, so that I can have a few days of peace."

"Who knew you were secretly renting a yard outside and keeping prostitutes? Your future mother-in-law found out and even brought the person to justice."

"Today, Madam Song brought that woman here. She said she accidentally learned that she was the one you loved and didn't want her to wander outside, so she spent money to buy her. Knowing that you would be returning to the capital soon to report on your duties, she hurriedly sent her to your residence."

She poked his head with her finger and said resentfully, "You're so useless!"

"That Madam Song told me to treat her well, but what she really meant was that I should get rid of her before her daughter marries into the family!"

"That Lin family girl isn't even married into the family yet, and her mother already came to my house and gave me a hard time! You, you really are a handful!"

Jin Cheng was both surprised and delighted. He was delighted that Xue Li had been found and brought to his home, but he was also surprised that she must now be surrounded by wolves and in grave danger.

He was so eager to fly to her yard that he couldn't resist the urge to go there.

But he couldn't show it on his face. He just said, "I just found that woman to pass the time. I didn't intend to bring her home. Mother, don't worry about it. Do whatever you want with her. Don't be caught in the middle."

"If she is obedient and pleasing, and Mother likes her, then keep her. If Mother doesn't like her, then spend some money to send her away. In any case, Mother will have to take care of her at home. I might have to lead troops into battle in a few days, so I can't care about women or anything like that."

Seeing that he didn't seem to care much about the courtesan, Madam Liu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She turned around and spoke up for the woman, saying, "Since she's already been brought here, it's considered a formality. How can we just send her away like that? If you like her, you can take her in as a concubine. You're not getting any younger, and you should have someone who cares about you and serves you well."

"However, with her background, even if she were to become a concubine, she wouldn't be presentable. I don't know if she could serve you well. In a little while, I'll pick two gentle and virtuous women from respectable families to serve you in your courtyard."

Jin Cheng smiled and said, "Thank you, Mother."

As darkness fell, Jin Cheng had dinner with his mother and talked for a while. She then insisted on seeing the scars on his body, and he had to coax his tearful mother for a long time.

He was preoccupied with Shirley, so he was inevitably a little absent-minded.

Madam Liu gave Jin Cheng a reproachful look, "Have you been wanting to go back to your room to find that girl for a while now? You said you didn't care about her, but you have a sharp eye, you brat. She's really good-looking."

Jin Cheng's secret was exposed by his mother, but he didn't admit it. He just smiled and said, "She has just entered the mansion, and I'm afraid she won't be used to living here. Mother, you should take good care of her."

Madam Liu knew that this child was stubborn. Once he set his sights on something, even if it was just a toy, he would not let anyone take it from him if he was still in the mood. Even if it was a stone or a stick he found, he would play with it to his heart's content before forgetting about it.

She smiled and said, "Go back and take a look. Even if you go out to lead troops into battle, or marry that Lin family girl, I will definitely protect her."

Jin Cheng was overjoyed and used his best skills to coax his mother into smiling. After talking for a while, he finally managed to slip away and return to his own courtyard.

The Jin residence was so large that it took him a full quarter of an hour to walk back to his own courtyard.

The place was spotless, cleaned by the servants, just as it had been before he left.

The difference was that the person he longed for was living in the side room.

He eagerly pushed open the door to the side room.

First, two young maids came out to serve, and then as you walked further in, you saw a beautiful young girl reading a book.

She was young and beautiful, ethereal and graceful, with bright eyes and white teeth, her beauty captivating. She wore a sheer, barely-there dress that accentuated her curves, and her long legs were eye-catching. As soon as Jin Cheng entered, the girl quickly put down her book and stood up to greet him.

Jin Cheng stood there, stunned.

This is a completely unfamiliar face.

He looked her up and down in disbelief, his gaze finally settling on the girl's fair wrist, where she wore a string of white jade beads that he had worn for many years.

In order to redeem Sherry from her servitude, he personally picked the fruit and threw it to the madam of Qingfeng Pavilion.

By the way, Shirley mentioned this girl; she's the top courtesan at Qingfeng Pavilion, and her name is Bai Yun!