Chapter 293

It could be said that they had all the luck this time. They had waited for three days but the barbarians hadn’t appeared again. The tents those barbarians had pitched were all burned to ashes and there were many charred corpses on the ground.

Xu Ran was somewhat relieved to this situation. It had been a long time since he and Tangtang had gone home, so Xu Ran asked Lu Qi to supervise the army in the camp while he went home with Tangtang.

Hardly had the two, who were anxious to return, gone out of the camp than they bumped into someone unexpected, Liu Tong.

Xu Ran hid his excitement, walked up to Liu Tong and asked, “Why are you here? Tangtang and I are going home today.”

Seeing Xu Ran, Liu Tong gave a long-lost smile and answered, “I missed you guys, so I came over to see you. Baozi has been nagging every day. He wanted Daddy to take Dad and his brother home.”

Hearing Liu Tong, Xu Ran was flooded over by his yearning for his family welling up from the bottom of his heart. He wished he could take Liu Tong in his arms now and rub him into his skin.

However, they were in the camp. To his disappointment, Xu Ran could only think about it.

The two had talked for a while before Tangtang finally walked over to them. “Daddy.”

Liu Tong took Tangtang’s hand and looked at him very carefully. After a while, he said, “You look tanned.”

Tangtang and Xu Ran cast up their eyes to heaven at the same time. It was so hot, and they had been under the sun every day, so how could they not have got tanned?

However, Tangtang didn’t dare to say that. Instead, he said to Liu Tong, “Daddy, let’s go back first! I miss home, as well as Baozi.”

Liu Tong nodded immediately. “Alright, we’re going back now, right now.” He sounded urgent.

However, neither Xu Ran nor Tangtang was used to this kind of feeling. The father and son exchanged glances. Both of them could see the worry in each other’s eyes: Liu Tong was affected by Guoguo’s accident.

But…

Xu Ran looked back when he mounted his horse. Even if they dug deep, Guoguo was still nowhere to be found.

Even Lu Qi had said that back when he had raided the battalion commander in the barbarians’ camp, he had also asked someone to look for Guoguo, but failed.

It had been almost a month since Guoguo had gone missing. Hope had withered away bit by bit.

Liu Tong and Tangtang walked ahead. Liu Tong had been asking Tangtang and Xu Ran about the military camp, and Tangtang chose and told some stories that wouldn’t make Liu Tong anxious. Tangtang also deliberately left out the part where he had led troops and gone out to battle because he didn’t want to worry Liu Tong, even if he had returned safely.

These children had never lied to their Dad and Daddy, so Liu Tong believed Tangtang’s words without a shadow of doubt. In the end, Liu Tong even added, “If your brother were here, he could have gone to the front too.”

“Daddy…” Tangtang called gently and didn’t know what to answer.

Liu Tong wiped his face and said, “It’s fine. I’m just missing him. I wonder how he’s going and when he will come back.”

Liu Tong’s each word was filled with his yearning for Guoguo, and Tangtang didn’t know how to answer him even more. His eyes shifted to Xu Ran, who was walking behind them, for help.

Although Xu Ran had been absent-minded all the time, he had still been following the conversation between Tangtang and Liu Tong, so he knew roughly what they were talking about.

Xu Ran spurred the horse, raced up to Liu Tong’s side and asked him about the situation at home, “Tongtong, how’s everything going when Tangtang and I haven’t been at home these days?”

Liu Tong stopped thinking about Guoguo anymore and started to tell Xu Ran what had happened in the family, including the mistakes Baozi’s had made these days and what he had learned. Liu Tong spelt it out.

A smile had been hanging on Xu Ran’s lips. How wonderful it felt to ride with someone you loved while listening to him whispering.

Tangtang followed behind them on purpose and stared at them. One was speaking while the other was listening, but Tangtang didn’t know whether they were smiling or not.

…

When arriving at home, Xu Ran and Tangtang were welcomed by Baozi with open arms. After that, they were greeted with blame. Baozi pouted and asked them why it had taken them so long to come home, and why they had left without telling him. Baozi was very unhappy about it.

Xu Ran took Baozi in his arms and coaxed him for a while, and was finally forgiven by Baozi. Then Xu Ran left Baozi with Tangtang and asked him to cheer Baozi up.

Xiao Qingyun and the others had returned to the King’s Mansion three days ago. Since King Yan was not at home, he was in charge of the mansion. The King’s Mansion couldn’t be left alone with no master for a long time.

Therefore, after receiving the news that the barbarians had been beaten off, Xiao Qingyun had taken his two children home.

Fortunately enough, since Yanzhou had quite a unique terrain, the military camp was out of town, so ordinary people would not visit there. Therefore, few in Yanzhou knew about the battle.

Of course, it was also possible that some had already learned of it, but that would not be a problem if no one talked about it.

Because Lu Qi did not send them any more news, neither Xu Ran nor Tangtang visited the camp again. Red Mansion opened as usual. Xu Ran would do the storytelling from time to time, look after the restaurant, or keep company with Liu Tong at home. Life was simple but happy.

The only thing was that, one of their children hadn’t come home yet.

Soon it was September. The autumn imperial examination, which happened every three years, was coming, but Tangtang refused to take the examination at this point, because he didn’t want to go to the exam alone. Instead, he wanted to wait for Guoguo to come back.

Xu Ran had never blown up at Tangtang during his growth, but this time he was really angry. He even ignored the fact that the presence of Liu Tong and the others would embarrass Tangtang.

“What have you learned from what I’ve taught you in so many years? Didn’t I raise you better? If your Dad, I, died some day, would you end your life as well?”

“Ran!” When Xu Ran finished his words and before Tangtang could speak, Liu Tong called out to Xu Ran.

Xu Ran turned and saw Liu Tong staring at him seriously. “Ran, don’t use bad words!”

Seeing Liu Tong’s serious face and his frown, Xu Ran didn’t react for a moment. He just said something ominous in a fit of anger, but why would Tongtong care so much?

However, Xu Ran realized what was going on soon. He pursed his lips and apologized to Liu Tong, “Tongtong, I’m sorry. I won’t say those words again.”

Tangtang did not expect things to turn out like this either. In his opinion, he was still young. He was only 15 years old, and could wait for another three years. He wanted to take the exam with Guoguo when he came back. After all, they had been doing the same thing since they had been in Liu Tong’s womb, so naturally he would take the autumn imperial examination, which was such an important event, together with Guoguo.

However, Tangtang was frightened by Xu Ran’s outburst of anger. He dropped his head immediately. Later, since Liu Tong blamed Xu Ran and the latter apologized, Tangtang dared not look up even more.

Xu Ran also realized that it wouldn’t work if he educated Tangtang in front of everyone, so he simply drove Liu Tong and the others out.

Liu Tong was unwilling to go out because he was worried that Xu Ran would say something bad again. It was when Xu Ran reassured him repeatedly that Liu Tong reluctantly agreed to wait for them at the door.

When only Xu Ran and Tangtang were left in the room, Xu Ran’s face darkened again. “Sit down. Let’s have a good talk. What’s wrong with my education on earth?”

Hearing Xu Ran, Tangtang sat opposite him but still kept his head down without looking at him.

Xu Ran was dissatisfied. “Raise your head. I’ve said that you have to stay upright no matter you’re right or wrong. Look at me.”

Unconsciously, there was some hostility in Xu Ran’s voice. He had not flown into a rage in a long time, but it didn’t occur to him that he would vent his anger on Tangtang.

Hearing Xu Ran, Tangtang puckered his lips and looked up at Xu Ran.

Xu Ran said, “I know I should forgive you because we feel the same. Guoguo is my son, so my love for him is not any weaker than yours. Besides, he also bears my anticipation. I’ve built up all the things I’ve wanted to do but failed to do with you twins. It never occurred to us that such things would happen to you guys. Since Guoguo’s whereabout is a mystery now, his dream, my and your Daddy’s dream, everything has been moved on to your shoulders, but you should have said that. You’ve really failed me.”

Tangtang didn’t answer and remained silent because he didn’t know what to say. He still remembered when Daddy had called “Tangtang and Guoguo” habitually for once and then become disappointed when he had turned around to see Tangtang alone.

Tangtang knew that he shouldn’t let Dad and Daddy down because he was not only Guoguo’s brother, but also Dad and Daddy’s son. Just as Dad said, he was the hope of his family.

Tangtang closed his eyes silently and started to reflect whether his decision was right or not.

Xu Ran also felt that he might have given Tangtang too much pressure, so he changed the strategy and began to guide him with tactful words. He mentioned his own goals, the twins’ hopes, as well as Liu Tong’s expectations. Each word cut deep into Tangtang’s heart.

Before Xu Ran could finish his words, Tangtang stood up suddenly and said to Xu Ran, “Dad, say no more. I’ll take the autumn exam, along with Guoguo’s expectation.”

Xu Ran looked at Tangtang and nodded when he saw that Tangtang seemed not to be joking.

“Tangtang, you’re already 15 now. I’ll just put it straight. If Guoguo could never come back, you would be the hope of this family. Baozi is a Ge’er and has been spoiled by me for years, so I don’t expect him to achieve anything. I just hope that he will be safe and sound. As for your Daddy, I will say no more because you know him. As for me, you don’t have to worry about me. I will pull through no matter how hard or difficult the situation is. If you don’t think politics is suitable for you, then come back. Dad will stay home and wait for you guys to return, no matter what.”

Tangtang didn’t dare to look at his face while Xu Ran was talking, because he was afraid to face Xu Ran. He didn’t even answer Xu Ran but only nodded gently, showing that he knew what Xu Ran meant.

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