Transmigrated into a fat wife, farming, raising children, and picking up husbands

After they had almost finished eating, Nangong Chen put down his teacup, his playful expression vanished, and he took Lin Xiuer's hand, his expression turning serious.

"Xuan'er, when do you plan to take Xiaobao back with Daddy?"

Lin Xiuer was stunned for a moment.

Nangong Chen's eyes were filled with anticipation: "I've made up my mind. When we get back, I'll bestow upon you the title of Princess Zhaoning. What do you say?"

"Zhao means brightness; Ning means peace. May your future life be bright and peaceful."

Lin Xiuer did not answer immediately.

She raised her head and looked in the direction of the west room.

The door to the room was ajar, letting in a dim, yellow light.

Wang was in a bad mood. When Lin Xiuer went in to deliver porridge, she saw Wang sitting on the edge of the bed in a daze, with red eyes.

For over twenty years, she kept that secret and raised her as her own daughter.

Now they suddenly say they want to leave...

Lin Xiuer withdrew her gaze and looked at Nangong Chen.

"Father," she said softly, "it's not that I don't want to go back with you."

Lin Xiuer pointed in the direction of the west room.

"As you can see, it wasn't easy for my mother to raise me all by herself. If I were to leave like this, she would be heartbroken."

Nangong Chen followed her gaze to the west room and remained silent for a while.

Then he nodded.

"Father knows you are a filial and good child." His tone was tinged with emotion.

"Although Wang is not your biological mother, she still raised you. Your father cannot force you to go back immediately because of this."

Lin Xiuer felt relieved.

Nangong Chen continued, "Since you don't want to leave, then Father can take Xiaobao back to the capital, right?"

Lin Xiuer was stunned.

Nangong Chen looked at her intently.

"That child is quite good at studying. I just looked at his handwriting. Although the strokes are immature, they have a certain style."

"Once we get to the capital, Father will find him the best teachers, a hundred times better than the private school in this small town."

Lin Xiuer opened her mouth.

She knew he was telling the truth.

The school in this small town only has one old scholar and one young licentiate, so there's not much they can teach. Xiao Bao is so smart; he shouldn't be wasted here.

"But Dad, Xiaobao is still so young, only four years old. I have to tell him stories every night before bed, and he looks for his mother when he wakes up in the morning."

"If you go to such a far place as the capital, and don't see me for so long..."

A wave of reluctance washed over her, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Nangong Chen noticed the difficulty on her face.

He patted her hand and softened his tone.

"Okay, let Xiaobao sleep with me tonight. Let's see if he likes his grandpa."

"Ask him again tomorrow morning if he's willing to go with his father."

"If he wants to go, then let him go."

"If he doesn't want to, his father won't force him."

Lin Xiuer nodded.

Nangong Chen smiled, his usual smiling face returning, and walked towards the east wing.

Xiao Bao was lying on the bed flipping through a comic book.

The door was open. He knocked on the door and window, and asked with a smile, "Little Bao, would Grandpa like to sleep in your room tonight?"

Xiao Bao blinked, looked at him, then at his own bed, and nodded: "Great! Xiao Bao's bed is big enough for two people!"

Nangong Chen smiled, sat down on the edge of the bed, and reached out to rub his head.

In the courtyard, Lin Xiuer and Pei Zhao were clearing away the dishes.

Xie Huai'an, carrying the remaining half-pot of wine, lightly leaped onto the rooftop with a light touch of his toes, sat on the ridge, and stared blankly at the moon.

While washing the dishes, Lin Xiuer asked Pei Zhao, "How about I share a room with Xiao He tonight, and you can squeeze in with that other person?"

Pei Zhao glanced indifferently at the person basking in the moonlight on the rooftop and shook his head: "Never mind him, he has to keep watch tonight."

Lin Xiuer paused while washing the dishes.

Before, when he had amnesia, she could sleep in the same room with him without feeling guilty. But now…

"But things are different now; you're not really my husband anymore."

She kept her head down and continued washing the dishes, but her ears felt a little hot.

Pei Zhao put down the bowl in his hand, turned around and looked into Lin Xiuer's eyes, taking a step closer.

Lin Xiuer felt a little flustered by his gaze and took a step back, her back pressed against the cupboard.

"What's wrong?" he looked down at her, "Sister, you're already disgusted with me?"

Lin Xiuer's heart skipped a beat.

Pei Zhao leaned closer, his lips almost touching her ear: "Your 'truth-seeker' is still imprisoned in the imperial prison. Should I pass on a message to ensure he gets a proper burial?"

Lin Xiuer suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked up at him.

"What? The imperial prison?" Her voice changed. "Didn't he fall off a cliff and die?"

Pei Zhao smiled, put an arm around her waist, and pulled her closer to him.

"Want to know?" His voice was low and husky, with a seductive undertone. "That depends on how well you behave tonight, sister."

.........

The next morning, Lin Xiuer, supporting her back, got out of bed.

She glared at the refreshed man next to her and gritted her teeth, cursing, "Liar."

That bastard kept her up all night, but didn't say much about anything important.

Every time she asked, he would lean down and kiss her, saying, "What's the rush?"

As dawn approached, he leisurely tossed out the words: "If you want to know the truth, go to the capital soon."

"Otherwise, Xie Huai'an is ruthless when interrogating people. If you arrive late, that pretty boy might not last long before you get there."

Lin Xiuer was so angry she wanted to bite her teeth, but her back ached terribly, and she didn't even have the strength to curse.

In the east wing, Nangong Chen had somehow managed to get Xiao Bao to fold his little clothes neatly and stuff them into his little bundle.

He looked up at me with a serious expression: "Mommy, I'm going out with Grandpa to explore the world and see the sights. Don't miss me too much!"

This heartless little traitor has switched sides so quickly.

Lin Xiuer rolled her eyes, not understanding how a four-year-old child could have such a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, the world of martial arts and chivalry).

"Oh, I almost forgot, Grandpa also said that he has a golden chair at home and would like to invite Xiaobao to sit on it."

Xiao Bao turned around gracefully, leaving Lin Xiuer dumbfounded.

The ship is ready at the dock.

Lin Xiuer bids farewell to Nangong Chen.

Xie Huai'an stood behind Nangong Chen, holding Xiao Bao in his arms.

I wonder if his black and gold mask was specifically for protecting himself from her. Ever since Lin Xiuer exposed his identity, he hasn't worn it at all.

The sunlight was shining on his face, making his features appear more refined and handsome than last night.

Nangong Chen patted her shoulder and said with a smile, "Daughter, hurry up and settle things at home before coming to the capital."

"Otherwise, if you miss the show, don't say your father didn't wait for you."

Lin Xiuer is now incredibly curious about them.

Who exactly is in the capital?

How did her ex-husband, who should have been dead, end up in the imperial prison?

She nodded: "Alright, alright, once I bring my brothers here and teach them how to make braised dishes, I'll come to the capital to find you."

The ship is about to depart.

Little Bao perched on Xie Huai'an's shoulder and waved his little hand at her: "Mommy, hurry up and come! If I don't eat your cooking, I'll get skinny!"

He said that, but there was no trace of lingering affection in his eyes, only longing and excitement for the outside world.

Lin Xiuer looked at that excited little face, feeling both annoyed and amused.

The boat slowly moved away from the shore and drifted away with the current.

Pei Zhao stood beside her, his arm around her shoulder.

"Let's go, Brother Hu and the others are still waiting for us."

Lin Xiuer nodded.

The boat sailed further and further away until it became a dot and disappeared where the sky met the water.

She glanced one last time in that direction on the horizon, then turned and walked back with him.

People come and go at the dock, and boats come and go, but life goes on as usual.

But some things are different now.

(End of the article)