Chapter 9

Both children were left with numerous bruises by Huo Shiying. The cook was so heartbroken while bathing them that her hands trembled. Chengci winced in pain, while Dongjun cried out loudly. As Dongjun thrashed about, he kicked Chengci under the water, prompting Chengci to retaliate with a kick of his own. Dongjun quickly responded with another kick, and soon the two children were engaged in a silent battle beneath the water, splashing everywhere. The cook, drenched in water, shouted, "Little ancestors, do you still want to be punished?"

What is referred to as reconciliation is, in fact, merely Qin Chuan's unilateral effort. Years ago, Huo Shiying provided him with a sum of money, which he used to purchase a large tract of land upon returning to his hometown, amounting to over a hundred acres. Over the years, he has converted his harvest into silver and brought it to Huo Shiying. In reality, the Huo family sends money to Huo Shiying every year, and she does not lack for funds. However, this may be Qin Chuan's unilateral belief that this is the only way to maintain their relationship, as well as his excuse to visit her year after year, which is why she does not stop him.

Fukang straightened up and sighed: "Hey! Why are we still arguing about this?"

At dinner, two children appeared at the table; one had two scratch marks on his face, while the other had a black eye. Huo Shiying pretended not to see them. After dinner, the cook gave them a bath and sent them off to bed

"Miss." The cook walked out of the kitchen, rubbing her hands and calling to her. She had been helping in the kitchen for three years and had never seen Huo Shiying with such a gloomy expression. She wanted to step forward to intervene but did not dare to.

Huo Shiying stepped into the west room in two strides, just as Chengci was about to throw a quilt outside. Huo Shiying approached and struck his arm with a stick, causing Chengci to let out a loud "ah" as the quilt fell to the ground. Without saying a word, Huo Shiying grabbed him and dragged him into the courtyard. Passing by Dongjun, he did not spare him either, striking his leg with the stick and shouting at him: "Get up!"

Huo Shiying came out dressed, and Dong Jun was sitting on a small stool in the courtyard waiting for her. Upon seeing her come out, the cook suggested pouring hot water into the two basins placed side by side under the eaves.

Huo Shiying pulled him to the incense table and told him: "He is my teacher"

Dong Jun is a child adopted by Huo Shiying in her first year here. That year, there was a mine collapse, and Huo Shiying, along with the able-bodied men from the town, went to rescue people, unearthing fifty bodies, while many more were buried in the mountain and could not be found

In recent years, Huo Shiying has spared no effort in nurturing Dong Jun. The child, who once resembled a thin noodle, has gradually grown taller and is now about the height of her chest, beginning to take on the appearance of a young boy. When Huo Shiying brought him home, she was unsure of his exact age, but now he seems to be around seven or eight years old

Qinchuan looked at her and said, "This child will likely be extraordinary in the future."

Chengsi glanced at him, seemingly understanding, yet still spoke sharply like a hedgehog: "I see, you were adopted by her, and in the future, you will be responsible for taking care of her in her old age."

On the day they first met under the evening snow, that breathtaking encounter still seemed vivid in her memory. Huo Shiying paused her actions and slowly sat down beside.

Chengzi tugged at his father's sleeve and said, "Father Emperor, why are you the one here to pick me up? I want to bring Dongjun and Huo Shiying back with me."

Huo Shiying looked at him and smiled, saying, "It cannot be said to be discipline, but the growth of children indeed cannot do without the constraints and punishments of adults. You are about the same age as my son, so I will treat you the same way I treat him." After speaking, Huo Shiying slightly pushed Dong Jun forward and said, "Come, let me introduce you. This is my son Huo Dongjun. Dongjun, this is Zheng Chengsi."

Huo Shiying paused for a moment, then softly said: "Your Majesty... why must it be this way"

Huo Shiying fell silent for a moment before finally telling him: "He has passed away"

After tidying up, the mother and son went to the main room to have breakfast together. On the dining table were soy milk and fried dough sticks, which looked simple, but in Dongyingkou Town, it was the most luxurious meal. There was only one tofu workshop in Dongyingkou Town, and only the Huo family could go every morning to get a small bucket of soy milk.

Qinchuan is illiterate; the accounts he keeps are only understandable to him. Huo Shiying watches him as he guards the oil lamp, struggling to read word by word from a tattered notebook. She smiles inwardly but maintains a serious expression to listen attentively. Observing his earnest demeanor, she feels that even if he were to die one day, as long as she is still alive, he would ensure that his son continues to carry on this task, unwilling to dampen his steadfastness.

In the west room, Dong Jun let out a sharp scream. In just a moment, Cheng Zi grabbed Dong Jun by the hair and dragged him all the way to the door, cursing, "What are you? Dare to share a bed with me? I feel dirty just being in your presence. Get out of here!"

Half a month later, after the spring sandstorm had passed, the courtyard was also renewed. Only then did he set off on his journey with the horse-drawn carriage. Huo Shiying accompanied Dong Jun all the way to the town's entrance.

The child, with a pair of deep black eyes, looked at her for a while and asked: "If I give you a son, will you give me steamed buns to eat?"

On the fifteenth day of August, the cook prepared everything, and in the afternoon, Huo Shiying returned her home at noon. Later, he checked the time and went to the school to pick up the two children after classes.

Fukang is actually a good person, and Huo Shiying does not want to make things difficult for him, so he asked: "What is this?"

The next day after school, two children entered the door together. This time, both of their clothes were somewhat disheveled, but they were holding hands. The children in this town are quite wild. It turns out that when Dongjun was alone, he was neat and easily isolated. Now with the addition of Chengzi, who is not one to be taken advantage of, Huo Shiying could easily guess that they must have been fighting outside. When the two were doing their homework this time, Huo Shiying went to listen again. There was no fighting in the room; instead, the two were whispering to each other, occasionally Chengzi would chuckle mischievously. Huo Shiying continued to ignore them and let them be. This time, with the addition of Chengzi, who is not one to be taken advantage of, Huo Shiying could easily guess that they must have been fighting outside. When the two were doing their homework this time, Huo Shiying went to listen again. There was no fighting in the room; instead, the two were whispering to each other, occasionally Chengzi would chuckle mischievously. Huo Shiying continued to ignore them and let them be.

When the cook left, she used well water to chill a large watermelon for them. Huo Shiying cut it and let the two children eat. Dongjun ate it and got juice all over his mouth, his belly swelling up. After finishing, he wiped his mouth and burrowed under Huo Shiying's arm. The mother and son lay side by side on the blanket, gazing at the stars. Chengzi also finished eating, wiped his mouth, and turned to look at the two lying down. His expression darkened. Huo Shiying had been watching him all along and waved her hand, saying: "Come here."

In June, a letter from the capital reported that Elder Jiao had passed away. Huo Shiying locked himself in his room for a day, and at night, he set up an incense altar in the courtyard, kneeling towards the south, facing the capital, for an entire night

Qinchuan smiled cheerfully, not responding, threw down the cloth napkin, walked over, and picked up a package from the ground to give to Dongjun: "Kid, this is for you, the best writing supplies from Wenfangzhai in the capital."

On the first day, the two children entered the door one after the other after school, seemingly ignoring each other. Both of them were clean and tidy. After greeting Huo Shiying, they went back to the room together. Before long, Huo Shiying heard Chengzi asking Dongjun to help him with the homework assigned by the teacher. Dongjun refused, and Chengzi threw a tantrum. The two engaged in a small scuffle, and Huo Shiying pretended not to hear and went back to the room.

On the third day, they returned only after the sun had set for two hours. Huo Shiying heard them sneaking into the courtyard from inside the house. The two of them crept into the room along the wall. Huo Shiying laughed to himself, thinking that Dong Jun had been corrupted by Cheng Zi.

Dong Jun also said to him: "Your father is going to find you a stepmother as well"

Dong Jun immediately shouted, "I won't go back with you." Huo Shiying, who was in the kitchen, couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this

Huo Shiying watched as the ice and snow in his eyes melted away, observed how his usually rigid features gradually softened, and saw him raise his hand towards her, his hands trembling slightly. She leaned in, allowing him to caress her cheek.

The emperor slowly said to her with his back turned: "It was not meant to be you, yet fate has led me to encounter you."

After much difficulty, it was finally midnight. The lights in Dongjun's room had long been turned off. Huo Shiying was able to escape, and both of them had been thoroughly tormented by that account book. Neither was willing to say much, and they both washed up and went to bed.

Dong Jun did not fully understand what Huo Shiying had said, but he had not yet reached the age of knowing sorrow, so he went out to school after having breakfast as usual

Dong Jun stood in front of him in a proper manner, allowing Huo Shiying to manipulate him, and replied: "I know, you mentioned it a couple of days ago."

Chengzi looked at Dongjun again, curled his lips, and asked him: "What about your own parents?"

After sending Dong Jun off, Huo Shiying returned to her room to change her clothes and headed to the local garrison. She now held the identity of a criminal and was required to report to the local garrison every five days. Upon her arrival, aside from the annual invitation from the stationed troops in the autumn to conduct military drills, this was the only serious matter she had to attend to.

Huo Shiying brought the two children to the west room, then bent down and said to Chengsi: "Chengsi, I know you have had a hard journey. I will go prepare hot water for you to take a bath. For now, wear Dongjun's clothes. If you are hungry, let Dongjun get you something to eat. From now on, you will live together, is that alright?"

A large silver disc hung in the sky, and a layer of white frost was spread on the ground. The emperor held onto Huo Shiying, reluctant to let go for a long time. Two children were peering through the window of the west room; Chengsi said to Dongjun, "Your mother is looking for a new father for you."

Huo Shiying felt that she and the child should have some kind of fate. There were countless orphans and widows here, but she had never seen a child who did not cry. So, in the middle of the night, she finally walked over, squatted in front of the child, and asked him: "I have buried your parents, would you like to come home with me and be my son"

Huo Shiying observed him for a long time, from noon until evening. The child stood there motionless; others with relatives could not endure the sun and took their loved ones back to bury them. In the end, he was the only one left standing there, seemingly determined to stand until the end of time.

That day, Huo Shiying dug from midnight until noon the next day, exhausted to the point of having cracked lips and bleeding from his hands. As he turned his head, he saw a child standing alone in the crowd of wailing people in the square. The child was dressed in tattered clothes, suffering from long-term malnutrition, with limbs as thin as noodles yet a protruding belly. However, a pair of large, dark eyes stood out on the small face, watching over two corpses without crying or making a sound

There, Chengsi opened the door with a loud "bang," and exclaimed, "Ah!" Strangely, he did not call out upon seeing anyone; instead, he rushed back as if his backside were on fire, shouting at Huo Shiying and Dongjun: "Dongjun, Dongjun, it's over, it's over, my father the emperor is here, he wants to take me back, will you come with me?" He then looked at Huo Shiying and firmly said, "No, I want to take you all back with me." He shouted again at Huo Shiying and Dongjun: "Dongjun, Dongjun, it's over, it's over, my father the emperor is here, he wants to take me back, will you come with me?" He looked at Huo Shiying again and firmly stated, "No, I want to take you all back with me"

Chengzi pushed Dongjun to the ground, leaving a handprint on his face, his hair disheveled. He fell on his back in the courtyard, tears welling in his eyes, looking at Chengzi with a timid expression as if he wanted to cry but couldn't. Chengzi, still not satisfied, approached and kicked him twice, cursing foully, "How dare a lowly thing like you touch me?"

This is a matter of great importance, and Huo Shiying did not dare to be vague with him. She said, "You can bring the person, and I acknowledge the events of the past, but you must clarify that the child inside is not an ordinary person. If you casually send him to my dilapidated courtyard, what will happen if trouble arises? Also, if anything happens to this child, who was it that asked you to send him? You need to let me know. Finally, how long will this child stay with me, and what are your arrangements for the future? You must inform me of that as well."

At dinner, two individuals appeared neatly dressed and clean, although they had changed their clothes. After the two children fell asleep in the middle of the night, Huo Shiying went into their room and discovered two sets of clothes that were dirty from rolling in the mud. She said nothing, threw them into the laundry room, and the next day instructed the cook to wash them clean

On a day in June, the sun hung fiercely in the sky at noon, and the entire Dongyingkou Town was silent and deserted. Suddenly, a pair of carriages boldly burst into Dongyingkou Town. In the center of this procession was a massive horse-drawn carriage, flanked by valiant knights in armor riding tall steeds. As the procession reached the entrance of the town, it abruptly split into two lines, while the carriage in the middle maintained its speed, stirring up a great cloud of dust on the rough dirt street, forcefully making its way toward the courtyard of Huo Shiying.

Huo Shiying owns a house in Dongying Kouzi Town, featuring a square courtyard and three adobe houses. In the courtyard, there is a well, which is the most valuable asset of her property. There are only two wells in the entire Dongying Kouzi Town; one is located at the eastern entrance of the town, and the other is the one in Huo Shiying's courtyard. Three years ago, the people sent by Huo Zhen arrived even earlier than she did, constructing a house and digging a well for her, which instantly elevated her status to the wealthiest household in Dongying Kouzi Town.

Huo Shiying shouted at him: "Who is your mother?"

Chengzi walked straight ahead, not glancing sideways, not even a flicker of his eyes, and swaggered through the door, entering the courtyard

Laughter echoed from the courtyard as Qin Chuan exclaimed: "Kid, don't think that just because I have only one arm left, I can't flip you over with a single finger."

Huo Shiying nodded at him: "Alright!"

Huo Shiying stared into Chengzi's eyes, and the stubborn light in them gradually faded away. Huo Shiying then turned to call over Dong Jun, who looked at Huo Shiying with fear in his eyes. Huo Shiying only asked him: "Whose son are you?"

Qinchuan rode away with a whip in hand, embarking on another year alone with one arm. Huo Shiying watched him depart, a solitary cart gradually receding along a dusty road under a sky filled with yellow earth. In the distance lay a desolate expanse of Gobi, a scene of utter desolation.

In the evening, he got up and everyone had another meal. Dongjun returned to his room to do his homework, while the two adults in the main room lit an oil lamp to settle accounts

"Dongjun's parents have already passed away, and he is now my son." Huo Shiying took the conversation back, her tone carrying a hint of severity, implying a warning.

Huo Shiying smiled, nodded, and said with a hint of sternness: "However, once you become my son, you must be my son. No matter what your surname was before, what your name was, who your parents are, you must completely forget all of that. Can you do it?"

Huo Shiying's smile deepened as she stepped into the courtyard. "Qin Chuan," she called out to him

Dong Jun asked her in confusion, "What happened to him?"

Today is a festival, and school lets out early. At the entrance, Huo Shiying happens to encounter a group of children rushing out of the school. Chengsi and Dongjun are sandwiched in the middle. Upon seeing Huo Shiying, Dongjun excitedly screams and rushes over to her, loudly exclaiming, "Mother, Zheng Chengsi is smearing ink on the teacher!"

Huo Shiying quickly pulled Dong Jun aside and said, "Lord Fu, I am not someone who is overly cautious about everything."

In the distance of the town lies the vast Gobi Desert, where greenery is scarcely seen throughout the year. On a clear morning in March, icicles still hang from the eaves. Huo Shiying lies in bed, listening to the rustling sounds coming from the east room. After a while, the door opens, followed by the sound of footsteps stopping beneath her window. A boy's voice calls out: "Mother, have you gotten up yet? I need to go to school."

Huo Shiying walked over, and Dong Jun followed. The mother and son stood side by side, bending down to wet their faces, soaping them, then bending down again to splash water, and together they stood up, grabbed a cloth to dry off, and finally tossed the cloth into the basin and turned to leave, their movements perfectly synchronized

Chengzi playfully splashed Dongjun's face with flour, laughing as he ran to open the door. Dongjun kicked off the ground, wanting to chase after him and kick him, but was pulled back by Huo Shiying, who held Dongjun tightly against his chest and wiped the sesame filling off his face with a cloth.

Dong Jun looked up and asked Huo Shiying, "Mother, who is that child? Is he going to live with us?"

Dong Jun was not polite, taking it and immediately opening it on the stone table to fiddle with it. Seeing that Qin Chuan did not respond, Huo Shiying did not bring it up again, instead pouring a bowl of tea and handing it to him. Qin Chuan took it and drank it in two big gulps.

The yard was filled with mountain goods and cured meats brought by Qin Chuan, and the cook was laboriously carrying them one by one into the kitchen. Dong Jun saw her running excitedly towards him and exclaimed, "Mother!" Huo Shiying embraced him, turned around with his shoulder, stood firm, and smiled as she asked Qin Chuan, "You’re here? Was the journey easy?"

Qinchuan grabbed a cloth hanging under the eaves and dusted off the dirt from his body with a "puff, puff" sound, saying loudly: "What are you waiting for? We almost encountered bandits near Lancheng, but fortunately, the border troops in that area were reliable and escorted the merchant convoy all the way here"

The carriage, surrounded by several layers, suddenly made a loud "bang" after a while, as the door popped open from the inside, seemingly kicked open by someone within. A foot extended out from inside, and Dong Jun's jaw nearly dropped to the ground; the one making such a commotion while getting out of the carriage was actually a child who was not even as tall as he was.

In the yard, Chengzi stood with his head down under the blazing sun, staring at his toes, lost in thought, his face reflecting deep resentment and bitterness. Huo Shiying walked over with Dongjun, standing in front of him, casting a shadow that completely enveloped the child. Chengzi looked up, his expression defiant and indignant, with remnants of sleep still in the corners of his eyes. Huo Shiying spoke to him gently, "Chengzi, I am a friend of your mother, and you will be staying with me for a while."

The emperor only smiled without speaking, walking to the table to look at the mooncakes they had made. Chengzi was still unwilling to give up, saying, "If it really doesn't work, then let's not bring Huo Shiying, let's take Dongjun back instead"

After finishing with the children, Huo Shiying said no more. She prepared to give them a bath in the yard, and this time, both children sat quietly in the same bathtub, completely naked.

Chengzi awkwardly shifted over, and Huo Shiying pulled him down and tucked him under her other arm. Chengzi's body was very tense, but Huo Shiying slowly stroked his back, and the child finally relaxed, gradually leaning closer to her. In the end, he carefully placed one hand on her chest. Huo Shiying embraced both children, contentedly closing her eyes, knowing in her heart that she had finally won over this child

As August arrives, the sun on the Gobi Desert remains scorching. The two children have been playing together for two months and have both tanned. In the evening, Huo Shiying gave the two children a bath and freshened herself up as well. She dragged a large felt blanket out of the house and spread it in the yard, taking the two children to enjoy the coolness.

Dong Jun shouted indignantly, "Just wait, when I grow up, I will easily overturn you with just one finger."

Huo Shiying looked up at him and spoke slowly, "That year, under the snow of the late autumn, I saw you suddenly walking towards me. But the next day, I saw you sitting on the throne of the supreme ruler, and from that moment on, I could only watch you. For so many years, I have been watching you..." Huo Shiying gazed into his eyes, feeling helpless and despondent, "Later, I finally accepted my fate. I think I will never again experience that heart-stopping sense of destiny until my death."

Huo Shiying nodded slightly, and Dong Jun gathered everything from the table into his arms and returned to his room. He seemed genuinely interested in these items. Huo Shiying continued to watch as he carefully carried a large bundle back inside. Turning back, she noticed Qin Chuan was also looking in Dong Jun's direction, so she asked, "What is it?"

The cook hired by Huo Shiying was a plump woman. Huo Shiying instructed her to heat water in the kitchen while he went to the washroom to fetch the bathtub. Just as she was carrying the bathtub and had just stepped into the courtyard, an incident occurred

The gentleman smiled politely and said to Huo Shiying, "It is no problem; it is normal for children to be mischievous. These two children are exceptionally intelligent and have great potential. You are indeed a fortunate person"

Huo Shiying had been in low spirits for several days, and as June arrived, the hottest season on the Gobi Desert had come.

After having breakfast, Dong Jun went back to his room to get his backpack. Huo Shiying accompanied him to the gate of the courtyard. The weather was still cold, so Huo Shiying dressed him in a maroon fox fur coat and placed a fox fur hat on his head. Huo Shiying adjusted his collar and said, "Today, just tell the teacher that you will attend half a day of classes, as your Uncle Qin might be arriving in the afternoon"

Huo Shiying lit an incense stick and handed it to him, saying, "You should also go and offer an incense stick to the elder."

The cook came out to tidy up, and Dongjun followed Huo Shiying back to the room. Huo Shiying took some ointment from the dressing table and applied it to herself, then turned around to carefully apply it to Dongjun's face. The ointment was purchased from a shop in Lancheng, two hundred miles away. Huo Shiying applied it to Dongjun's face every day, while all the other children in the town had faces that were dark and cracked from the dry weather, yet Dongjun remained the cleanest and fairest of them all

The two exchanged a few polite words at the entrance of the school, and the two children finally realized that fighting at the school gate was rather embarrassing, so they withdrew their stances and huddled together beside Huo Shiying

He cupped her face as if he wanted to kiss her, yet he was unsure where to begin. After gazing at her for a moment, he finally pressed his lips against her forehead and then tightly embraced her head in his arms

Dong Jun stepped out the door, turned back to take a glance, and said, "Mother, I am leaving."

Huo Shiying then bid farewell to the gentleman and took the two children home

Upon returning home, I called the two children to wash their hands thoroughly, planning to take them to the yard to make mooncakes. The ingredients had all been prepared by the cook, and there were molds available; all that was needed was to wrap the filling and press it into the molds. The two children were having a great time, and although not many mooncakes were made, quite a bit of the filling was sneakily eaten, leaving them covered in greasy smudges.

Huo Shiying lifted the quilt and got out of bed, dressed, and replied: "I am up. Dongjun, don't rush; wait for me to have breakfast together before we go."

These soldiers appeared to be well-trained, and in an instant, they withdrew completely, leaving only the mother and child at the entrance in a matter of moments

Chengzi stood there in silence, while Huo Shiying got up again to pat Dongjun on the shoulder, and then turned to leave.

The heir following closely behind jumped up and leaped onto Dongjun's back, grabbing his neck and shouting, "Huo Dongjun, you little tattletale." The two children began to wrestle with each other

A four-horse carriage was arrogantly blocking the alley, surrounded by a large number of guards at both the front and back of the carriage. Amidst the whinnying of horses and the chaos of people, there was a scene of disorder at the entrance of the Huo family, leaving Dong Jun gaping in astonishment.

The hot water is ready, and it is in the clean room. The bathtub is also the one they usually use. The man did not bring even a single attendant, nor did he bring a change of clothes. Fortunately, they are about the same height. Huo Shiying took out her own clothes and asked him if he would wear them. The man truly did not mind and took her clothes to the clean room.

Fukang understood her meaning as an agreement, and he felt more at ease. He said, "You need not worry about these matters. The border troops from Lancheng dispatched 20,000 men last night, and they are now stationed at the Guanyin Mountain military camp. After all, this is his uncle's territory. Without absolute certainty, how could the palace possibly agree to send him here? Moreover, it was the Empress Dowager who insisted on sending the child over; the imperial edict is currently in my possession." At this point, Fukang suddenly lowered his body, his voice dropping to an almost inaudible whisper, "To speak a harsh truth, a child without a mother is truly difficult to manage. Last month, for some unknown reason, he pushed the young son of the Rui Wang family into the lake, and when he was pulled out, he was nearly out of breath. The Empress Dowager is genuinely at her wit's end; she discussed this with the Emperor for an entire night before finally agreeing to send him here for your guidance. The Empress Dowager asked me to tell you that back in the day, his mother took her last breath in your arms. If this child grows up to be wayward and causes a major incident, you will not be able to escape responsibility either.

Huo Shiying gazed intently at him, noticing that he indeed bore a slight air of weariness. Without responding, she stood up to prepare hot water in the kitchen. Chengzi widened his eyes and turned to look at his father, the Emperor, who rubbed the back of his head and remarked, "You've gotten darker, taller, and it seems you've also matured."

Huo Shiying called the two children for dinner, but they could not eat the mooncakes. After tidying up the yard, the man came out and gave the two children a bath. Once he had sent the two children to bed, Huo Shiying came out to see the man sitting in the yard, wearing her long robe and clumsily drying his hair with one of her towels.

Three polite knocks sounded at the gate, and Huo Shiying understood in her heart. She said to Chengzi, "Chengzi, would you mind opening the door?"

Dong Jun obediently inserted incense into the incense burner, then bowed three times with his head down. Turning around, he asked Huo Shiying in a dazed and ignorant manner, "Mother, if Mr. Xue from the school passes away in the future, should I also set up an incense altar to pay my respects to him?"

He silently looked at her and said, "I have never believed that you are heartless towards me, which is why I insisted on pursuing you. Are you willing to return with me?"

Dong Jun's voice was as faint as a mosquito's: "I am my mother's son"

From the alley to the doorstep of Huo Shiying's house, Chengzi walked with his hands behind his back, striding with the demeanor of a dragon and tiger, exuding an imperial aura. Even as he approached, it became clear that there was still sleep in his eyes, with eye crusts clinging to his eyelashes. Huo Shiying was certain that this child must have been awakened only upon reaching here, his face displaying a look of irritation.

Qin Chuan turned back with a hearty laugh. He looked older than last year, with half of his hair turned white and deep wrinkles boldly etched on his face. In the past few years, when Huo Shiying was in the capital, he had never visited her even once. However, in the past three years, since she moved to Dongyingkou Town, he made the journey every year. The round trip from Luocheng to here took him three months, yet he still insisted on making the trip annually

Fukang spoke with a bitter tone: "Please do not jest with me. When the late Empress passed away, you made a promise at her bedside, and there were a room full of witnesses. Look here," Fukang raised his chin slightly towards the inside, "I have brought the person to you."

Dong Jun looked up at Huo Shiying in confusion. Huo Shiying frowned, not expecting the child to be so sharp-tongued. She did not intend to continue on this topic; the child was still young, and she had plenty of ways to bring him back in line. She grabbed one of them and walked into the room.

When Qin Chuan arrived, a cart was filled to the brim, but on his return, only an empty board remained. He said, "Shiying, I will come again next year"

Dong Jun was stunned by the sudden change in circumstances, and he only had a vague understanding of what he was seeing. He only knew that there was now a child in his home who was about the same size as him, and it seemed that this child would be living with them.

Huo Shiying was taken aback by his question, but still replied candidly: "I am not married!"

Cheng Si looked at her sideways and said: "I know you, they say you are my mother's best friend, sent here to discipline me."

Huo Shiying finished with Dong Jun, threw down the stick, and sat on the stone bench. The two children stood in front of her, one on each side. Cheng Si was subdued, while Dong Jun was stunned. Huo Shiying glanced at the two and decided to start with Cheng Si. She waved her hand at Cheng Si, who timidly walked over. Huo Shiying asked him: "Does it hurt?"

Dong Jun was extremely frustrated and worried about the prospect of having an additional stepfather. That night, he was so restless that he couldn't fall asleep. He saw Cheng Zi, who was sleeping beside him, drooling and snoring, and felt an intense resentment in his heart, thinking that he had gained an extra father, which was a significant advantage for him. When Cheng Zi leaned over, still drooling, Dong Jun kicked him against the wall.

Fukang, after speaking in a sneaky manner, straightened his back and said seriously: "As for when you will be staying, you need not worry about that; someone will naturally come to pick you up at the appropriate time." After saying this, he took an imperial edict from his bosom and handed it to Huo Shiying, "After all, this is not done openly, and the child's identity must not be revealed. Just keep the edict safe, and I will not go in."

Because he is the Emperor! Chengsi looked at Dongjun with a gaze that resembled that of an idiot

Huo Shiying did not see them, and came out of the room saying, "Everyone get dressed and go back inside to rest." The two children immediately became obedient, and they both put on their clothes and went back inside to lie down.

Dong Jun, however, seemed to be on a different wavelength as he asked him: "Who is your father, the emperor?"

"Then where did you come from, child?" Chengci pressed on relentlessly

Dong Jun turned and walked out. To exit the door, one must walk a distance through a narrow passage before turning onto the main street. Dong Jun walked neatly in the middle of the road, taking steady steps. Upon seeing a puddle of sewage ahead, he circumvented it from a distance. Huo Shiying furrowed her brow. Dong Jun was the cleanest and most handsome child in the entire town, yet every day he left home dressed in a certain way, and after spending a day at school with a group of boys, he still returned looking immaculate. It seemed he had no friends.

After Huoshiying finished beating Chengci, she pulled Dongjun over and gave him a severe beating as well. She struck him as many times as she had struck Chengci, without holding back at all. Since Dongjun had come to her side, Huoshiying had never been willing to lay a finger on him. Dongjun cried until his voice was hoarse, shouting with all his might: "Mother, it hurts."

Dongying Kouzi Town is located at the far western edge of the entire empire. This town has a single street that runs from east to west, with a population of only five hundred. If one stands on the summit of Guanren Mountain, fifty miles away, and looks down, it appears no larger than a sesame seed or a mung bean. Yet, remarkably, this tiny place occupies a minuscule spot on the empire's map, for there lies a vast gold mine in the Guanren Mountain, fifty miles to the east.

Huo Shiying felt a surge of anger in an instant, but she steadied herself. She ignored Dong Jun, who was lying on the ground, and with a serious expression, surveyed the yard. Then she noticed a large broom leaning against the corner of the wall. She walked over in two steps, picked it up, and with a shake of her hand, the bamboo strips at the bottom of the broom scattered all over the ground. Holding the remaining wooden stick in her hand, she walked over.

Hmm. Huo Shiying stood inside the door with his hands clasped, responding with a sound.

Chengzi seemed to be taken aback as he replied, "My father is indeed my dad."

Chengzi turned around and spread his hands, saying: "You are worse off than I am; at least my father is my biological father"

Two children were sitting across a table, arguing loudly and speaking off-topic. Behind Cheng Si, a tall figure approached. He was dressed in a jade-green long robe and wore black boots. He walked step by step to the light, his eyes as dark as they had been three years ago. He looked at Huo Shiying, who was sitting there, and said: "In order to arrive on the fifteenth day, I have endured three days of wind and sand on the road. I wonder if there is a place here where I can bathe?"

Then why do you call your father "Father Emperor"

Cheng Si stared at her in silence. Huo Shiying said: "It's not just pain; there is also a sense of humiliation, isn't there? When you inflict violence on others, you are not only causing them pain but also psychological insult. Power is not absolute; when others are stronger than you, they can equally impose this humiliation upon you. Remember this today."

Huo Shiying was momentarily taken aback when asked, and after a pause, replied: "Well, it's up to your own heart."

In the early morning, Dong Junqing got up, and the incense was still burning on the incense table. He asked Huo Shiying, "Mother, whom are you worshipping?"

Qinchuan has been living here for half a month. During this time, he has repaired the roof of Huo Shiying's courtyard, patching up leaks, replacing old tiles with new ones, and even extended the courtyard wall by half a section. He has been busy fixing and mending various parts of the courtyard, completing all the tasks that a man in the household should do without a moment's rest. In the end, he even wove more than ten baskets for the cook to use gradually.

Days passed like this, and the two children became increasingly unruly, daring to openly stay out after school. On one occasion, Huo Shiying specifically went out to look for them and saw the two children on a hillside, leading a group of kids in a game of mock battle. Chengzi was the leader, charging into the fray with a group of muddy children, while Dongjun rode on another child's neck, shouting loudly, clearly acting as the strategist. She couldn't help but laugh at the sight, but felt a twinge of concern in her heart. The environment shapes the children, and she worried that if Chengzi continued to hang around here, he would turn into a wild child. She wondered when the person coming to pick him up would arrive.

The gentleman is a very good person, dressed in a long green robe, with a fair face and a long beard, presenting a rather distinguished appearance. Huo Shiying knows that the gentleman is actually very knowledgeable; he originally served as a secretary for someone, but later, due to the entanglements with his employer, he was exiled here. In fact, despite the barren nature of Dongyingkou Town, it truly harbors hidden talents.

The gentleman walked out with a smile, and Huo Shiying approached him with embarrassment, saying: "I apologize on behalf of my mischievous child at home"

Huo Shiying also stared into his eyes and said: "Remember, my son Huo Shiying stands upright before heaven and earth, and no matter how great the difficulties he faces, he will never bow his head to anyone in his heart. Why should you fear him? Go back and think for yourself, why did I strike you today"

After having dinner, Huo Shiying took the two children to school. Chengsi was dressed in Dongjun's clothes, looking like an ordinary child from a slightly wealthy family. Huo Shiying paid a sum of money to the teacher and instructed Dongjun to take Chengsi inside, then left without further concern, heading straight back.

Huo Shiying quickly replied, "Not at all, sir, you flatter me."

The child looked down at the two indistinct corpses on the ground, then raised his head and said, "Alright!"

Huo Shiying walked over, took the cloth from his hand, and gently rubbed his long hair to dry it. He turned to look at her and smiled. It was the first time Huo Shiying had seen him smile like that, and she was a bit taken aback. He said, "I waited three years just to let you get this close to me"

Dong Jun huffed through his nose and said: "It's all your fault. My mother has never hit me, and you come along and start hitting me."

Huo Shiying embraced Dong Jun as they walked over, sitting down on the stone bench in the courtyard. Unable to help himself, he advised him: "You are also a father now; the journey back and forth is quite perilous. It would be better for you to travel less in the future."

Thus, Huo Shiying spent money to buy a piece of land, hired people to properly bury the two corpses, and brought the child back home. She did not care what the child's original name was; from that day on, she called him Huo Dongjun. She held Dongjun in her arms while sleeping for an entire year before finally warming the child up. One day, Dongjun finally called her "mother," and from then on, she continued to live her life with this child.

Huo Shiying prepared several dishes herself and took them to the kitchen to steam, placing the steamer over the pot. She then came out to sit and watch the two children play. It was just the time when the moon was rising, and four lanterns were lit in the courtyard, casting a warm red glow that enveloped the entire yard. The air was filled with the aroma of various families' meals, and the children were running around her, creating a scene of such tranquility. When the sound of carriages and horses stopping at the courtyard gate was heard, Huo Shiying did not even notice when they had arrived.

I was brought back by my mother

On this day, a loud wailing of children echoed in the most respectable courtyard of Dongyingkou Town, attracting the attention of many onlookers.

Two adults watched as the child bent over with his bottom up, playing on the table. For a moment, neither of them spoke. After a while, Dong Jun turned to Huo Shiying and said: "Mother, I am going back to my room"

Huo Shiying went to the courtyard to help the cook tidy up, and soon a voice came from the window of the west room. Chengzi said: "Your mother is quite ruthless; no one has dared to hit me in all my years."

Huo Shiying, fearing that he might find her verbose, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Go ahead."

Dong Jun timidly replied: "It is Huo Shiying"

Huo Shiying immediately recognized the irritable child; he was Chengzi, whom she had not seen for four years. Chengzi had grown taller, but his face had not matured yet, still resembling a chubby bun. The moment she saw him, Huo Shiying knew that the time for debt collection had finally arrived. Therefore, when the frowning Fukang walked towards her, she still wore a smile that appeared quite natural.

Cheng Si screamed at Huo Shiying: "What are you going to do? Do you dare to hit me? I will kill you!" Huo Shiying forcefully shoved him into the courtyard and began to hit him mercilessly. Cheng Si had probably never been hit in his life; at first, he knew to use his hands to block, but soon, under the absolute violence, he was rendered dazed, only able to scream louder and louder. He finally cried, hugging his shoulders, tears and mucus streaming down his face, his previously arrogant demeanor completely stripped away.

The weather was hot, and after being beaten and crying, both children were exhausted and did not wake up until dinner time. Huo Shiying did not call them. When she went to check on them in the evening, the two children, who had originally been sleeping distinctly apart, were now tangled together. Chengci's drool had flowed onto Dongjun's shoulder, and Dongjun was sleeping soundly, completely unaware. Huo Shiying smiled, covered them with a blanket, and gently stepped out.

The cook for lunch had long been prepared, having slaughtered chickens and sheep, and set a large table. Qin Chuan indulged in a feast and then went to sleep in the west room

Huo Shiying lowered her head and smiled at him, without answering, but took his hand and said: "Let's go, I will introduce you."

It was already noon when he returned from the guard station, and from a distance, he saw a carriage parked at the entrance of his home. Huo Shiying smiled and walked towards the house

The next morning, the two children woke up starving. Huo Shiying had already informed the cook in advance and prepared plenty of food. The two children devoured their meals at the dining table, with Chengsi eating particularly ferociously. Huo Shiying could tell at a glance that he was not picky about food, making him a child who was easy to raise

Huo Shiying smiled, neither affirming nor denying, and said: "When I first met him, he was alone by the corpses of his parents, not crying or making a fuss." Qin Chuan shook his head with a smile and said nothing more

Huo Shiying laughed upon hearing this. When two disadvantaged groups encounter the same force of oppression, they are always able to quickly form an alliance and unite together

Huo Shiying looked at his ever-changing expression and found it amusing. She estimated that he must have been tormented quite a bit by that child along the way. No longer wanting to make things difficult for him, she smiled and cupped her hands in greeting, watching him flee in panic with a group of fierce warriors.

Dong Jun looked at Cheng Si with a hint of timidity. Cheng Si's eyes shifted to Dong Jun, and he turned his head fiercely to ask Huo Shi Ying: "Did they not say that you are not married?"

Fukang walked over with a hunched back, resembling the way Dongjun used to look when he finished school and met Huoshiying at the school gate, akin to the pitiful demeanor of mischievous students' parents when they encountered the teacher. He bent slightly towards Huoshiying and said: "All Huhou."

The cook had long heard the commotion and hurriedly opened the door to check. Today, Dongjun's school was on holiday, and he heard the noise and ran out of the room to look for Huo Shiying. Huo Shiying came out of the room and put his arm around Dongjun's shoulder, leading him all the way to the door