Sanlangâs wife had been the one to bring Great Doctor Miao to the Jingâan Estate. It had also been Sanlang and his wife who had travelled thousands of miles, risking their lives in the north, to retrieve the key to her recovery, the Snow Mountain Mists flower. Chu Lian was definitely high in the list of people that Countess Jingâan was thankful for.
âMy husband and I are thrilled that Mother has gotten better. Iâm sure Father will be equally happy once he finds out.â
When Chu Lian mentioned her father-in-law, Madam Liu suddenly remembered some news.
Her lips curved upwards and a warm smile blossomed on her face. He Changdiâs lips were the most similar to his motherâs; thin in shape, but not in feeling.
âLianâer, Iâm afraid you havenât heard this yet. Your father will be returning from Mingzhou soon. If I count the days... he must be on his way already!â
Chu Lianâs eyes sparkled. Her father-in-law was on the way back to the capital?
This was happening half a year earlier than in the original novel!
She had already married into House Jingâan for more than six months, but she hadnât met her father-in-law yet!
Madam Liu seemed to have sensed her daughter-in-lawâs surprise and uncertainty. She reassured with a smile, âThereâs no need to be scared. Dalang is the one who resembles your father the most amongst my three sons. While your father might look a little fierce, heâs a softie inside. He loves doting on the younger generation the most.â
Madam Liuâs description gave Chu Lian a good guess at her father-in-lawâs appearance. She lost a little of her trepidation and started looking forward to meeting her father-in-law instead.
Countess Jingâan didnât stay for long. She soon headed back to her own courtyard with her handmaids in tow.
Chu Lian took a nap in the afternoon. When she woke up, it was to the sight of He Changdi reading a book while leaning against the headboard.
She rubbed her eyes and glared at He Sanlang. He seemed to have noticed her movements from the corner of his eyes. He reached out with one hand to pet her on the head, âHave you slept enough?â
Chu Lian wanted to scold him for getting too greedy last night and going on until she almost fainted over. However, just as she was about to speak, her bashfulness overcame her and she stopped.
In the end, she expressed her feelings by giving him a good pinch on the arm.
He Sanlangâs brow wasnât even ruffled by the attack. When she was done taking out her frustration on him, he turned to look at her. He unexpectedly took her hand into his and reached into his clothes, setting her hand down on the prominent muscles on his abdomen.
âPinch here. Your hand will hurt from pinching my arm.â
Chu Lian was utterly defeated by his shamelessness. She gave him one last ferocious pinch. Unfortunately, his abdomen wasnât soft either and it was taxing on her fingers.
On the other hand, He Changdi stiffened up from her actions. A dangerous glint had seeped into his eyes when their gazes met again.
Chu Lian quickly let go out of fright. She didnât dare to provoke him again.
He was definitely a shameless man through and through! The one who would suffer instead was her!
He Sanlang knew that she had been completely tired out from last night, so he hadnât thought of playing with her again. He secretly doused the rising flames of desire within him before reaching out to draw Chu Lian into his arms.
He stroked her hair tenderly and slowly, giving the impression of soothing an affectionate cat.
A comfortable haze fell over Chu Lian from his warm actions. She leaned against his shoulder amiably and even twirled a lock of his long hair between her fingers.
âOh, right, Mother mentioned some news when she came by to visit in the afternoon. Father will be returning from Mingzhou.â
He Changdiâs eyes hadnât shifted from his book, but he let out a light grunt of acknowledgement. After some time, he said, âItâs due to a secret decree that the Emperor sent out some time back. I just found out two days ago.
âWhat could the Emperorâs intentions be?â
Thoughts flew by in Chu Lianâs head. Her father-in-law, Count Jingâan, had been stationed at the border in Mingzhou for over a decade. While the current political state in court meant that military officials couldnât be compared to the literary officials, it was different for the generals who defended the borders.
House Jingâan was only a countship, but no one in the capital dared to look down upon them because of her father-in-law, Count Jingâan, guarding the border of Mingzhou.
There were at least sixty thousand soldiers under Count Jingâanâs command, twice the number of Liangzhouâs troops!