At the doorway, Tian Zhong's excited voice rang out, and Ye Lanyin nervously looked up.

"Chang'an is back?"

"Yes," Tian Zhong said excitedly as he walked to Ye Lanyin's side, "We're almost at the gate of the mansion."

"Okay, go out and meet him."

Chang'an is currently with General Sun at the border and has little time to return. His return this time is probably because of Rui'an.

As soon as I reached the gate, I saw the boy with a face covered in soot not far away.

Compared to the past, the boy's face has lost much of its childishness, replaced by a budding maturity that is almost like that of a young adult.

Ye Lanyin's eyes reddened.

The child is only twelve years old and has already left home to make a living.

The boy grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

Lin Wanwan, held in Lin Rui'an's arms, watched Lin Chang'an dismount and excitedly raised her hand, "Erguo, Erguo~"

Lin Chang'an gave Ye Lanyin a standard cupped-hand salute, "Mother, your son is back."

"Good, it's good to be back. Was your journey safe?"

Lin Chang'an smiled and said, "Thanks to my master for protecting me all the way, I've been safe the whole way."

“My elder brother passed the autumn imperial examination, and I thought he would pass the spring imperial examination as well, so I came back with Master.”

"I never expected my older brother to be the second-highest scorer in the exam. That's wonderful!"

Back when his elder brother was taking the imperial examinations in autumn, he took his younger sister to release lanterns and pray for good fortune.

Now, in the blink of an eye, the eldest brother has already become the second-place winner.

Time really flies.

It seems I need to step up my efforts and help my older brother share the burden.

With this thought in mind, his gaze became even more resolute.

Lin Wanwan took small steps to Lin Chang'an's side and tugged at his sleeve, "Erguo, hug me~"

After being apart for several months, Lin Chang'an's biggest worry was his mischievous younger sister, Lin Wanwan.

Now that I see him, the little guy has actually grown quite a bit taller, but... his tiny, chubby hands haven't gotten any thinner.

He gently knelt down and picked Lin Wanwan up from the ground.

"Oh my, Wanwan, you've gained quite a bit of weight recently."

"Hehe, it's my meal."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Seeing that Lin Chang'an had arrived home safely, General Sun cupped his hands to Ye Lanyin and said, "Madam Ye, congratulations to the eldest son for achieving second place in the imperial examination. The lady at home is waiting for me, so I should go back now."

Ye Lanyin smiled and curtsied to General Sun, "Lanyin thanks General Sun, please take care."

"good."

After seeing General Sun off, Ye Lanyin was about to enter the mansion when she caught a glimpse of the hunched-over Marquis of Zhenbei not far away, and her smile froze on her face.

"Let's go in."

"Yes, Mother," the children replied.

"Lanyin, Lanyin, etc."

When the Marquis of Zhenbei saw that Ye Lanyin was ignoring him, he hurriedly called out to her from a distance. Ye Lanyin paused for a moment, then continued walking towards the door.

Unexpectedly, the Marquis of Zhenbei rushed out and blocked Ye Lanyin's path.

A cold glint flashed in Lin Rui'an's eyes as he prepared to protect his mother. Seeing this, Ye Lanyin said, "Ruian, take your younger brother and sister inside first."

Lin Rui'an hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes, Mother."

As he left, he glanced at the Marquis of Zhenbei with a cold look in his eyes.

Seeing that Ye Lanyin was willing to see him, the Marquis of Zhenbei was overjoyed, which meant that Lanyin still had feelings for him.

"Lanyin, I know I was wrong before. I shouldn't have schemed against you, but it was all Zou Shuang'er's doing."

"When I first met you, I fell in love with you at first sight."

"Considering we've been husband and wife for fifteen years, why don't you come back with me?"

Ye Lanyin lowered her eyes slightly, then raised them again, looking at the old Marquis of Zhenbei, whose face was wrinkled and whose voice was weak. A smile flashed across her eyes.

However, the Marquis of Zhenbei believed that Ye Lanyin was moved by his words.

He continued:

"Lanyin, the royal family isn't so easy to marry into. You have several children whose biological fathers are unknown, and in the end, you will still be abandoned."

“Let’s remarry. I will definitely treat Rui’an and the others well. I know you may not believe me, but I will transfer the Marquis’s mansion to Rui’an, and Rui’an will be in charge of the mansion from now on.”

Ye Lanyin smiled as she watched Zou Shuang'er striding angrily towards her from a distance:

"The Marquis's mansion is now just an empty shell. If you give it to Rui'an, aren't you afraid that Zou Shuang'er will be dissatisfied? Lin Shixuan is a child you like from the bottom of your heart. Have you asked for his opinion?"

Seeing that Ye Lanyin had agreed, the Marquis of Zhenbei exclaimed excitedly:

"Shixuan's opinion is not important, nor is Zou Shuang'er's dissatisfaction."

"Lanyin, you are my first wife, and that will never change in this lifetime. Zou Shuang'er isn't even on the Marquis's family genealogy; she's not a daughter-in-law of the Lin family at all."

"You don't know, Zou Shuang'er gave birth to an idiot. It must be because she has done many evil deeds that this happened."

"Lanyin, if you agree to me..."

Ye Lanyin glanced at Zou Shuang'er and said again:

"Lin Dehong, Zou Shuang'er has been with you for so many years, and you won't even put her in the family genealogy?"

“Lanyin, I know I shouldn’t have kept a mistress, but Zou Shuang’er seduced me first. If it weren’t for her, our marriage would be harmonious, our child would be obedient, and things wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

"Lanyin, come back with me. Let's pretend the past never happened."

Hua Xin stood at the door, craning her neck to listen intently, eager to know how the Marquis of Zhenbei was going to deceive his wife again.

Sure enough, he started putting on his sentimental act again.

Enraged, she stormed out the door and kicked the Marquis of Zhenbei.

"Marquis of Zhenbei, are you trying to deceive my wife again? Let me tell you, my wife will not fall for your tricks again. Forget about it."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!