The Prodigal Son

Chapter 429 Lunar New Year 3

On Lunar New Year's Eve, light snow fell again in the capital city.

Around noon, Xu Wan arrived at the Qin family's house covered in snowflakes.

"Why are you so late?"

Luo Qingyi stepped forward to brush the snowflakes off Xu Wan, teasingly saying, "We were just saying that you weren't coming because Thirteenth Young Master didn't personally invite you!"

"What are you saying!"

Xu Wan smiled sheepishly, "I rode all the way from Dieguan at top speed!"

"Overlapping borders?"

Qin Yu was taken aback, then immediately realized, "You went to Dieguan to find your brother?"

"Um."

Xu Wan nodded gently, "It's just my brother and me left in our family. I thought Dieguan wasn't far from the capital, so I went there yesterday. I had a few drinks with him last night and we spent the New Year together. I set off from Dieguan early this morning to head back to the capital..."

"You must have been freezing!"

Qin Yu grabbed Xu Wan's hand, feeling its icy coldness. He immediately pulled her towards his courtyard, saying, "Let's warm up by the fire in my yard!"

"Thirteenth Young Master, my hands are cold too!" Luo Qingyi giggled sweetly, giving him a seductive glance.

"Sigh, they forget their old love once they find a new one."

Nan Que'er sighed, but couldn't hide the smile on her lips.

Hearing the two women teasing her, Xu Wan felt both embarrassed and angry, and glared at them fiercely.

Qin Yu raised his hand, looking at the two women with a wicked grin, "Want to experience my family discipline again?"

"Not a single one is truly capable!"

The two women scolded them and immediately moved away.

Qin Yu laughed heartily, then pulled Xu Wan towards his courtyard, saying with a smile, "With their personalities, if you're not a little more outgoing, they'll embarrass you so much you'll want to crawl into a hole!"

"Yes! I know."

Xu Wan nodded gently, and under the strange gazes of the servants in the Qin family, she let Qin Yu take her hand and lead her to his courtyard.

"How's your brother doing in Dieguan?"

Qin Yu then inquired about Xu Kui's recent situation.

"I'm busy, incredibly busy!"

Xu Wan smiled helplessly, "They only get to rest today. After today, they'll have to get busy again..."

Xu Kui was already training troops at Dieguan, and now the Wudang Flying Cavalry has suddenly expanded to more than 20,000 men, which has created countless new problems.

From the moment Yuan Dingguo and his men arrived at Dieguan, all the generals and officers in Dieguan were busy.

Even Yin Ye and Huo Tianwen, two surrendered generals who had just been appointed as deputy generals, were extremely busy.

It's snowing in Dieguan too, and it's even snowing in a larger area than in the capital.

Hearing Xu Wan's words, Nan Que'er gave Qin Yu a helpless smile, "Well, it seems you can't escape!"

"What do you mean?"

Xu Wan was puzzled, her bright eyes filled with curiosity.

"Let's talk about it later!"

Qin Yu, of course, understood what Nan Que'er meant.

It's snowing in Dieguan too, so I guess I'll have to keep up with the Empress Dowager and the female demon enjoying the snow.

Ugh!

It's the Lunar New Year, and they can't even let people have some peace!

Where can't you enjoy snow?

Why go all the way to Diecui Mountain?

It hurts!

Upon arriving at the courtyard, they led Xu Wan inside and seated her.

Luo Qingyi poured her a cup of hot tea, and Nan Que'er then told Xu Wan about the Empress Dowager's invitation for Qin Yu to go and enjoy the snow.

Hearing Nan Que'er's words, Xu Wan couldn't help but be surprised.

Should I have him accompany me to enjoy the snow?

Should I go to accompany the Empress Dowager or His Majesty?

Could Nan Que'er's words have come true?

Is she really going to steal their man?

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore."

Qin Yu shook his head and then asked Xu Wan about the situation of the Wudang Flying Cavalry.

However, Xu Wan really had nothing to say about the Wudang Flying Cavalry.

Yuan Dingguo and his men had only arrived in Dieguan a few days ago, and they were still busy setting up a temporary camp!

Dieguan simply didn't have enough space to accommodate 24,000 cavalrymen.

Their temporary camp seemed to be located about ten miles north of Dieguan, at the foot of Diecui Mountain.

Just setting up the camp will probably take more than half a month.

"You're still talking about this during the Lunar New Year?"

Nan Que'er glanced at the two of them.

"That's true!"

Qin Yu laughed heartily and pulled Nan Que'er into his arms. "We should talk about something romantic! Come on, let's each give each other a kiss!"

As he spoke, Qin Yu was about to take a bite.

However, Nan Que'er stopped her.

"You'd better tone it down!"

Nan Que'er raised her hand to cover Qin Yu's mouth and said with a coquettish smile, "Don't let His Majesty bump into you again."

"Pfft..."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qingyi couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"What did His Majesty bump into?"

Xu Wan was extremely curious.

How did this get involved with His Majesty again?

Ignoring Qin Yu's threatening gaze, Nan Que'er smiled and told Xu Wan about Qin Yu's public death yesterday.

"Ha ha……"

Upon hearing Nan Que'er's words, Xu Wan couldn't help but burst into laughter, "His Majesty didn't punish him?"

Luo Qingyi smiled coquettishly, "If it weren't for the Empress Dowager stopping him, I reckon he wouldn't have escaped a beating."

"You're really something!"

Xu Wan couldn't help but glance at Qin Yu, "It's a good thing you didn't grab him randomly. If you had grabbed His Majesty on the spot and stretched out your hands towards him, that would have been hilarious!"

"Do you think the people around His Majesty are dead?"

Qin Yu glanced at Xu Wan, but secretly smiled bitterly to himself.

In fact, he had already used his Dragon Claw Hand on Zhao Luan!

Unfortunately, he was a bit dazed at the time and didn't really get a chance to experience that feeling.

Xu Wan bit her thin lips lightly and teased, "You've already used the Monkey Stealing Peaches technique, so it's not surprising that you're using the Dragon Claw Hand as well."

The three women couldn't help but burst into laughter again when this was mentioned.

"How dare you make fun of me?"

Qin Yu was furious and slapped Nan Que'er's shapely buttocks hard.

Seeing that things were going badly, Xu Wan was about to run away when Qin Yu pulled her into his arms...

……

On New Year's Eve, the Qin mansion was brightly lit.

Although Qin Fumeng wasn't home, the chair on the dining table was always reserved for him.

Today, Qin Yu also freed everyone in the mansion from their constraints.

Eat and drink as you please.

Except for the few people on night watch, everyone else can get drunk.

The dozen or so copper pots that Qin Yu had made also came in handy. There was one copper pot on each table, and the table was filled with all kinds of chopped meat, including venison. There were fewer vegetables, on the other hand.

The crowd gathered around the copper pots, eating meat heartily and drinking wine from large bowls.

However, although Qin Yu loosened the bonds for everyone, the guards in the manor still acted with restraint.

Drinking is fine, but don't get drunk.

When the drinking was in full swing, Qi Dachui even used his golden mace to perform some martial arts for everyone to add to the fun, which drew cheers from the crowd.

After a hearty meal, the group gathered in small groups.

Some were chatting, some were playing games like pitch-pot, and others were playing chess.

The entire mansion was filled with lively and joyous celebration.

Qin Yu lay on Luo Qingyi's lap, with a brazier beside him. Looking at the noisy scene before him, an aunt-like smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

Although he has only been in this world for less than a year, he seems to have completely integrated into it.

The man who once seemed repulsive now finds him increasingly endearing.

Xu Wan, who was playing chess with Luo Qingyi, noticed Qin Yu's gaze. When she turned her head, she saw Qin Yu staring at her with a silly grin.

"What are you grinning about?"

Xu Wan gently patted Qin Yu, her face slightly shy, but her heart was full of happiness.

Qin Yu snapped out of her reverie, her doting smile instantly turning into a mischievous grin. "I was thinking, it's so cold today, how about we share a blanket tonight?"

"Pooh!"

Upon hearing Qin Yu's words, the three women simultaneously spat.

Nan Que'er even reached out and gently pinched his waist.

Qin Yu didn't take it seriously, and instead grabbed Nan Que'er's hand.

Just as he was about to kiss Nan Que'er's hand, a sudden twisting pain shot through his lower back.

"Holy crap..."

Qin Yu subconsciously reached for his lower back.

What the hell?

Is it acting up again?

"What's wrong?"

The three women looked at him with suspicion.

"It's nothing, I think I got bitten by a flea."