Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The sea breeze blew against Fan Xian’s face, waking him from his thoughts. He sat in silence on this precipice and ran through all that had happened since his rebirth in. This was not only because he had thought of Uncle Wu Zhu, it was also because this familiar cliff top stirred his emotions.
Many years ago, it was on this cliff that the very young Fan Xian had, in front of Wu Zhu, sworn his three big wishes.
Have many, many children.
Write many, many books.
Have a very, very good life.
Uncle Wu Zhu summarized this as: Fan Xian needs many, many women, and to find many ghostwriters and many servants. So, he needed a lot of money and power, thus, the two of them went to Jingdou.
…
…
Up until now, Fan Xian had experienced a lot in his second life. Although he had not left much behind, he still did not have children, however, he was not in a rush. He didn’t find a ghostwriter, but he had almost written A Dream of Red Mansions to its conclusion, copying poems in front of the palace and copying poems when meeting beauties. Without question, he had grown to become this world’s greatest copycat.
As for money and power, Fan Xian had also obtained a great deal, but…a very, very good life?
He furrowed his brow and shook his head. People were never satisfied.
His reminiscing and summarizing did not take him very long. After confirming that Uncle Wu Zhu was not on the cliff, he very practically rolled up his pant legs and followed the familiar stone path between the cliffs, sweeping down like a bird.
The reason he did not rush to see the grandma after returning to Danzhou and instead came to the cliff was because Fan Xian had long been worried about Wu Zhu. Although in the past half-year, he had not shown a trace of concern in front of others—of course, not many people knew of Wu Zhu’s existence—but in the depths of his heart, he was very worried.
Someday before he left Jingdou, in front of that pond that had frozen into a mirror in the Overwatch Council, Chen Pingping had told him the news that Wu Zhu had been injured.
The number of people in this world that could injure Wu Zhu could be counted on one hand. Last summer, in the battle between Ku He and Wu Zhu that no one knew about, Uncle Wu Zhu and Ku He each had to recover for months. This time…how long would Uncle Wu Zhu have to recover this time?
Fan Xian was already used to his blind uncle’s appearances and disappearances, but thinking of Wu Zhu’s strange injuries this time, he couldn’t help but worry in his heart and feel that this matter was not that simple. After half a year without news, this made him a bit angry. Once he returned to Danzhou, he tried to find traces of Wu Zhu.
But Uncle Wu Zhu was not here. He also wondered how his injury was doing.
…
…
Under the cover of dusk, Fan Xian walked quietly alone into Danzhou. This was the place he had grown up in. He greedily breathed in the slightly salty and wet air. His mood became joyful and did not become salty and damp.
He walked past the city gates, the market, and wine stores. The day was becoming dark. No one noticed that this young man was the imperial envoy so eagerly anticipated by the people.
He walked along until he reached the outside of a junk shop. Fan Xian closed his eyes and listened, then he turned toward the alley, stepping on the moss that grew on the long unused path. He found a key from beside the dusty door, pushed opened the back door, and flashed inside.
The front and back halls of the junk shop were covered in dust. The goods on the shelves had perhaps long been stolen by thieves. There was only a cutting board left at the back. On it, the thin knife marks seemed to be telling the story of a young man chopping slices of radish.
Fan Xian chuckled. He walked forward and lifted the vegetable knife beside the cutting board and swung it a few times. This knife had been
presented
to him by Wu Zhu. When Uncle Wu Zhu sliced radishes, he never left marks on the cutting board. This was something he only barely managed to do in the future.
The taste of radishes in sorghum really was very good.
…
…
He hadn’t taken that much time. When Fan Xian stood outside his own family’s Count manor, the sun had not yet completely fallen behind the foot of the mountain to the back. The warm light still shone on the outside of the very lively Count manor.
Today was the day that the imperial envoy returned home to visit, so all the servants in the manor were busy, excited, and proud. Everyone’s faces were like the two large red lanterns hanging outside the manor door, ruddy and high-spirited.
All the officials in Danzhou had long been politely sent away. As this moment, the person going through the manor door was the housekeeper.
Fan Xian stood with a smile at the door thinking of something as he looked at the familiar faces. There were a few unfamiliar faces as well. They had probably entered the manor within the last few years.
Young man, don’t stand at the door of the manor.
A manager saw the white-clothed youth and said with furrowed brows, however, his tone was not very aggressive. Under the management of the old master, the manor had always kept strict family traditions and rarely were there cases of bullying the good.
Fan Xian forced a smile but before he could say anything, he heard a sharp cry from a shadow that cut right through the manor.
Ah!
The sharp cry came from a young girl. Her face was bright red. She stared at Fan Xian outside of the door with bright eyes. She ran out quickly and almost tripped over the high threshold, scaring Fan Xian into quickly helping her up.
The girl drew back her hands like she was shocked. Twisting her hands together, she looked at Fan Xian but was so excited she couldn’t speak. The manager outside was very curious. A few of the older people finally saw clearly Fan Xian’s appearance in the dusky light and also let out a cry.
The girl finally woke from her daze. With her face bright red, she turned and yelled into the yard,
The young master is back!
What?
The young master is back! Quick, go tell the old mistress!
Young master!
Following the spread of this news, the Count’s manor that was already filled with a joyful atmosphere immediately exploded. A thunder of footsteps moved outside, and countless people came to welcome Fan Xian home.
Fan Xian was already being led by the girl, under the careful escort of the managers, into the manor. Fan Xian looked at the shocked and fearful men behind him and jokingly scolded,
Do I not know what the path is? You can go back.
The people made a sound of acknowledgement and somewhat unwillingly retreated.
Fan Xian glanced at the girl beside him and felt she looked familiar. No matter what, he couldn’t match her to a name. He couldn’t resist smiling widely and asking,
What is your name? Are Xiao Qing and Xiao Ya still fine?
The girl immediately felt hurt. The young master had left for less than two years, so how could he have forgotten her name? Listening to what her sisters said, the young master was always good master who cared for the serving girls ever since he was little. He was the kindest and politest. She couldn’t resist glancing at Fan Xian gloomily and said,
Young master, sister Xiao Qing has already married, and sister Xiao Ya is still in the manor…I, I am Xiao Hong.
Xiao Hong?
Fan Xian had already been quite impressed by this girl’s gloomy glance. Hearing her name clearly at this moment, he almost tripped in his shock. He stared at the little girl’s delicate appearance and still couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t resist sighing,
It’s only been two years, how could you have already grown so big?
As the saying goes, girls change 18 times between childhood and womanhood. When Fan Xian had left Danzhou, Xiao Hong had only been a 12-year-old tea girl. Now, she had become a big girl. Her figure was clear, and she had grown into her features. No wonder Fan Xian didn’t recognize her at first.
Without waiting for the master and servant to exchange their feelings, they could hear a clamor rising from the west. The sound was like countless birds flying toward them.
Fan Xian’s eyes were sharp. From far away, he saw that his Tiger Guards, Hong Changqing, and others had already landed in the back. From that, it was possible to see how anxious the girls in front of the array were.
A gust of perfumed air blew over. The girls of the manor stopped not far in front of Fan Xian. They looked at him with faces full of happiness and then sincerely bowed,
Greetings to young master!
The girls’ faces were mostly filled with joy and excitement, with the occasional flash of unhappiness at the two-year separation.
The housekeeper and servants of the manor also rushed forward from the back. Kneeling, they greeted Fan Xian.
For a moment, the garden was densely packed with over 20 kneeling people. Xiao Hong stood beside Fan Xian and didn’t know what to do with herself. Finally, she recovered her wits and also knelt down.
Unexpectedly, Fan Xian pulled on her arm and laughingly scolded the serving girls in front of him that he had grown up with,
Everyone, get up! When I was home, I didn’t like all this. How come after I’ve left for two years…you all dare to disobey my order?
The girls all giggled and stood up. Surrounding Fan Xian, some asked solicitously about his well-being, some brought him tea and water, some used fans to fan him, and there were also those who took this opportunity to tidy his clothes and satisfy the emptiness after not being near the most perfect male in the world. Each had their own reasons, and they were numerous.
It was like being hugged in all directions when Fan Xian entered the back garden.
Fan Xian looked at the Tiger Guards and Hong Changqing who stood to the side with strange expressions and glared, thinking, I grew up among women. This kind of life is the most comfortable. What are you old men staring at?
Entering the back garden, who knew he would hear this sentence.
What a scandal!
The girls hanging onto Fan Xian giggled and let go. Fan Xian, drunk on the relaxed life he had been long separated from, quivered. The most sincerest smile rose on his face as he gazed toward the steps.
He saw an old woman full of nobility looking at him coldly while Wan’er was holding on the old woman’s left arm with her face full of smiles. The Third Prince himself was holding the old woman’s right hand, and Sisi was holding a large umbrella while hiding behind the old woman’s back. She looked at Fan Xian with almost a smile as if to tell him…today, you are done for.
For an old woman to have such status, she could only be the Emperor’s wet nurse. She had brought up an Emperor, a king, and a Minister. She had taught the Danzhou ancestors of a Commissioner as well as the grandmother of the Fan family.
Fan Xian looked at the old woman’s benevolent and peaceful appearance. He couldn’t contain the excitement in his heart. He let out a strange cry and was about to leap over.
Who knew that during his travel, the old woman suddenly coldly cried,
Stand still!
Fan Xian was shocked and stood there dumbly. Staring at the grandma, he didn’t know what wrong he had committed now.
The old woman slowly looked up and down at this grandson of hers that had left for two years without returning. Her gaze gradually moved down from Fan Xian’s face. She confirmed that the kid still had all four limbs and had not destroyed his appearance. Only then did she nod her head with approval. However, when her gaze landed on Fan Xian’s leg, her gaze became cold again.
Go wash your feel. You’re already such a grown person, yet you still don’t pay attention to anything.
The old woman scolded severely.
Fan Xian lowered his head and saw his mud covered feet. Only now did he remember that when he climbed the mountain, he had thrown his shoes away. He raised his head and said pitifully,
Grandmother…
Wash first.
As she finished speaking, the serving girls all laughed. Some brought Fan Xian a chair and others went to get hot water. They all helped Fan Xian wash his feet. Another serving girl went into a room and brought out a pair of shoes Fan Xian had worn a few years ago. She tilted her head and laughed, saying,
Young master, I don’t know whether your feet have grown.
Fan Xian wore a put-upon expression and allowed them to tidy him up. Looking at Wan’er beside grandmother’s unrestrained smile, he couldn’t resist glaring. Wan’er stuck out her tongue and smiled cutely. Wan’er was very curious. Her husband was someone who feared neither heaven nor earth, but once he returned to Danzhou and met this old woman, why was he so scared?
After washing his feet and putting on his shoes, Fan Xian began to edge toward the steps with shifty-eyes.
The old woman saw his expression and knew that he was up to no good. She suddenly remembered the crazy action he had done the day he had left Danzhou and jumped in fright. She scolded with a serious face,
…what is this monkey going to do now?
Monkey? To the side, Lin Wan’er and the Third Prince couldn’t help but laugh again.
Normal male servants were not allowed into the back garden, so the housekeepers, servants, as well as the Tiger Guards and Hong Changqing, were all watching the show from outside. The people listening at the side could only think about how Fan Xian used to climb up and down on the roofs and rock gardens in the manor many years ago, while Hong Changqing thought of how the Commissioner bounced around on the white-sail boat and couldn’t help but nod his head, thinking that the old woman’s description was exactly on point.
Fan Xian smiled cheekily and edged closer to the steps. He could tell that the grandma was only being severe on the outside. He pressed closer with every step.
The old woman panicked. She pointed at Fan Xian and said,
Just stand there. Just stand there. Don’t come closer.
As her words fell, Fan Xian had already leaped over. The skill of a ninth-level ace was indeed nothing to laugh at. They saw him pick up the old woman and plant a huge kiss on her cheek. With a smack, he kissed her loudly enough to make a sound.
There was joyful laughter inside and outside the garden.
Grandmother, I’ve missed you so much,
Fan Xian said sincerely. He saw earlier that the lines of his grandmother’s face were deeper than two years ago, and she was also slightly thinner. For some reason, a faint sorrow welled in his heart.
He helped his grandmother into the room and had her sit down properly on a chair, then he knelt on the ground and formally greeted her again, kowtowing a solid three times.
I heard you have another girl in Suzhou?
After the grandmother and grandson had warmly talked for a while, the old woman suddenly changed the topic and caught Fan Xian off-guard.
Fan Xian suddenly raised his head only to see Wan’er’s confusion. She probably also did not understand why the old woman was talking about. As for Sisi, she was even more innocent looking, showing that it was definitely not her who had said anything to the old woman.
