Chapter 128: Returning

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Returning

Xiao Yunjing personally escorted Gu Qingli home.

When Ms. Jiang, Ms. Yang, and Ms. Wang saw Xiao Yunjing himself bring her back, they couldn’t help but weep with joy.

The three women—mother-in-law and daughters-in-law—crowded around Gu Qingli, bombarding her with questions and leaving Xiao Yunjing feeling neglected.

Xiao Yunjing rubbed his nose, then entered the tunnel behind the house to make some arrangements.

Ms. Jiang pulled Gu Qingli down to sit, wiped away her tears, and said, “Qingli, dear, as long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters. Later, go and see your mother. When she heard you’d disappeared, she was so worried she fainted on the spot.”

Gu Qingli felt a little anxious and was about to speak when Ms. Yang interjected, “Third Sister-in-law, why don’t you check Mother’s pulse first? She fainted too when she heard you were missing.”

Ms. Jiang shot Ms. Yang a glare. “You talk too much! Go and cook.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Ms. Yang stuck out her tongue, playfully patted Gu Qingli’s back, and left with a giggle.

“Mother, let me take your pulse.” As Gu Qingli placed her hand on Ms. Jiang’s wrist, a profound warmth spread through her heart, enveloping her entire being.

Being cared for, being cherished in the palm of someone’s hand… this was something the Original Host had never experienced, nor had she, Gu Qingli, in her modern life. Reborn, she had gained a family that doted on her and, moreover, met a man who treated her like a precious jewel. What had she, Gu Qingli, ever done to deserve such blessings?

Ms. Jiang watched Gu Qingli with loving eyes as she carefully took her pulse.

She truly doted on this child from the bottom of her heart. Gu Qingli had a good disposition, an even temper, and was beautiful. More importantly, after she married into the family, not only had the old man fully recovered from his internal injuries, but she’d heard him say his internal energy had also increased. And now, everyone in the family, young and old, was robust and healthy, no longer sallow-faced and malnourished as before. She wasn’t a fool; it had to be this child who had secretly given them all some kind of medicinal pills.

“Mother, there’s nothing seriously wrong with your health,” Gu Qingli said after finishing.

Ms. Jiang was actually in good health; she had fainted the other day simply due to extreme agitation overwhelming her. The Spiritual Spring Water added to the water jug would have taken care of any lingering effects of such agitation.

“See? I told you I was fine! It’s just your Eldest Sister-in-law making a fuss over nothing,” Ms. Jiang’s thoughts were interrupted, and she grumbled towards the kitchen.

They say the older you get, the more like a child you become. Sometimes, Ms. Jiang really did act like one.

Gu Qingli suppressed a smile and said, “Mother, Eldest Sister-in-law was just worried about you.”

“Yes, yes, this mother of yours is fine. You should go check on your own mother too.”

She and Ms. Wu were now as close as sisters; it turned out Ms. Wu truly was from the Capital City. After that incident, the two often chatted, and Ms. Wu had revealed that she knew the true identity of Third Son’s wife. Ms. Jiang recalled her husband mentioning last time that Gu Qingli’s biological father was the current Senior Grand Secretary.

Gu Qingli pursed her lips, nodded, and rose, taking Wuqing with her to see Ms. Wu.

When Ms. Wu saw her return safely, she was so happy she kept wiping away tears. After Gu Qingli took her pulse, she asked, “Mother, where’s Father?”

“Your father went to the fields to bundle rice stalks.”

“Oh.”

“Li’er, you didn’t run into any trouble this time, did you?” Ms. Wu asked cautiously. She had heard that the people who abducted Li’er were no ordinary folk.

She worried that if Li’er, a young woman, suffered some mishap after being kidnapped, wouldn’t Xiao Third then look down on her precious Li’er? SIGH! Ms. Wu sighed inwardly. Such a fine young lady from a noble family, fallen to such a state – it was all due to her own incompetence. If she ever had the chance to see the Madam again, how could she possibly explain herself?

“No, I just ran into some abductors. Wuqing and the others caught up to me on the road.” Gu Qingli didn’t tell her the full truth.

The affairs of the martial arts world were too removed from Ms. Wu’s life. Telling her would only make her worry needlessly and let her imagination run wild.

Ms. Wu: As if I haven’t already been imagining all sorts of things!

“That’s good.” Ms. Wu visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief, though Gu Qingli wasn’t entirely sure what specific worry had been lifted.

When a woman was abducted, once word got out, it didn’t matter if she was still innocent or not; people would gossip, and her reputation would be ruined—she’d be considered sullied regardless. She herself didn’t particularly care; the concept of ’purity’ had become irrelevant to her ever since she transmigrated into this world. But Ms. Wu, a traditional woman of this era, naturally cared a great deal. She was afraid that Gu Qingli had lost her chastity again, just like before.

Gu Qingli waited until the two children returned from their studies. The three of them chatted for a while before she headed back.

“Is everything arranged on your end?” that night, as they lay in bed, Gu Qingli asked Xiao Yunjing.

“Mhm. Eldest Brother and Second Brother are over there, along with Yun No. 1. I sent another fifty men this afternoon.”

Gu Qingli raised an eyebrow. “From the sound of it, you’re not leaving?”

“Mhm, I can manage things just as well from home.”

When he went to make arrangements that afternoon, he’d unexpectedly discovered someone called Yun No. 200 within the Secret Sect—a hidden talent deeply versed in the art of strategy.

Yun No. 200 had said, “Master, it would be best for you to defend Qiyang County. When Qingchen’s army mobilizes, they will undoubtedly target Huayang County—Qiongshan Pass is part of Huayang County—and Beijing County, as well as Qiyang County right here. Only by conquering these three counties can he attack the Capital City without worry. These three counties are, in effect, his crucial rear support.”

Xiao Yunjing had an immediate epiphany and then reformulated their plans with Yun No. 200.

This way, being at home, he could select men from Blue Clouds Mountain and Tiger Head Mountain for training. Most importantly, as long as he was present, Qingchen wouldn’t dare to make another move here. He was also reassured knowing Eldest Brother and Second Brother, two formidable generals, were in Beijiang, not to mention Yun No. 1. Yun No. 1 was both brave and resourceful, truly a man of exceptional talent.

“Really?” Gu Qingli smiled sweetly.

“Really.”

“That’s wonderful!” Gu Qingli snuggled deeper into his embrace, shifting into a more comfortable position with her arms around his sturdy waist, burying her head against his chest.

“HEH HEH…”

Xiao Yunjing chuckled, his fingers gently toying with her hair.

His little wife truly didn’t want him to leave. Fortunately, he’d made that trip to the base in the afternoon; it had all worked out for the best.

“Tomorrow, we’ll go to the County Town,” he said.

“What for?” Gu Qingli looked up and asked.

“To buy a few skilled farmhands. That way, we won’t have to personally tend to the fields. Besides, I’ve also bought some estates in the County Town, so we can go take a look.”

“Oh? How come I didn’t know you bought estates?” Gu Qingli pouted.

This husband of hers always acted first and told her later, though she had to admit, the things he did usually pleased her.

“I bought them last year. They’re all planted with medicinal materials. I originally intended it as a surprise for you,” Xiao Yunjing said with a smile.

He could tell from Li’er’s expression that she loved the idea. This move of catering to her preferences had been a brilliant one. Back when Li’er was still cold, distant, and lukewarm towards him, he had been thinking of ways to please her with things she liked.

Gu Qingli promptly sat up, cupped Xiao Yunjing’s face, and planted a kiss on his lips as a reward.

Xiao Yunjing’s brows shot up as he swiftly took the lead.

「The next day」

A horse-drawn carriage departed from Qinghe Village, heading towards the County Town.

An hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a Pawnshop.

Xiao Yunjing secured the carriage, and Gu Qingli and Wuqing alighted immediately.

The three of them entered the Pawnshop together.

Middleman Huang of the Pawnshop recognized Xiao Yunjing.

He remembered him from the previous year when he had come to buy two estates—a true God of Wealth!

He immediately greeted them with a welcoming smile. Today, Xiao Yunjing was dressed in dark, flowing robes. Tall and imposing, with an extraordinary air about him, and accompanied by two beautiful women, he no longer resembled the simple farmer he once appeared to be.

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