Chapter 763: Lackey

It was a month later when I set out again to return to Beijing.

"It's almost New Year, right?" Shanshan was wrapped in a coat, her hands red from the cold, and at the moment she was biting on roasted chestnuts, which made a crunching sound.

There was a small stove in the carriage. Lu Chaochao and Shanshan were still growing, so Rong Che had someone keep their food warm every day.

From time to time, the two of them would bake some glutinous rice balls, chestnuts and sweet potatoes, and occasionally have game stew. It is a blessing to drink a bowl of delicious stew in the middle of winter.

"Eat more... These winter bamboo shoots are most delicious when stewed into soup because they haven't been exposed to the sun." Rong Che felt a little guilty.

He dug these bamboos up when he saw them along the way.

Winter bamboo shoots cannot be exposed to light, otherwise they will no longer be fresh and delicious. Buried deep in the mountain forest, the ground is covered with dry bamboo leaves, and only a slightly raised arc can be vaguely seen. It is not astringent and does not require blanching. It is stewed together with the chicken and is very sweet.

Lu Chaochao and Shanshan really liked it and drank several big bowls of it.

Chaochao has been obviously tired and thin these days, and his double chin has disappeared. He is afraid that he will be beaten by Yunniang when he returns.

It snowed on the way back, delaying him for a few days. By the time he arrived in Beijing, he had actually gained some weight.

When he saw the city gate from afar, Rong Che couldn't help but get excited.

He had fought on the battlefield for many years and had never missed home as much as he did at that moment.

Perhaps the only change is that we got married and had expectations.

"Let's go to the City God Temple to pay our respects to Grandfather Rong." Shan Shan pointed at the City God Temple with anticipation in her eyes.

Rong Che immediately led everyone inside, and sure enough, Grandfather Rong had been waiting here early.

After some greetings, everyone hurried into Beijing without staying for long.

As soon as we arrived at the city gate, we saw the emperor's entourage.

His Majesty was actually waiting in front of the city gate.

Following behind him were all the civil and military officials in the court.

And the people watching.

It was already late at night. Emperor Xuanping saw that the people had returned safely and could not help but applaud and laugh.

Rong Che wanted to go home, but he also understood that things had their priorities, so he immediately followed His Majesty into the palace.

Lu Chaochao and Shanshan were young, so they went back with Xie Yuzhou to rest first.

The lights in the Lu Mansion were on. Xu Shiyun's hands and feet were cold, her nose was red, and she paced back and forth anxiously at the door.

"Madam, please wait inside for a while. His Majesty and the entire court are welcoming him, so it will definitely take some time."

"You've been standing guard at the door in the wind and snow all day, be careful of catching a cold." Dengzhi saw the dark circles in her eyes and knew that she might not have slept last night.

Yunniang shook her head and looked forward to it.

"Hurry up and ask the kitchen to check the food on the stove. It's still hot and can be eaten when Chaochao comes home." Yunniang had just finished speaking when she heard the sound of a carriage in the distance.

"I'm back, I'm back, Chaochao!!" Yunniang couldn't wait any longer, so she immediately lifted her skirt and rushed forward in the snow.

The maidservant couldn't stop her.

Before the carriage stopped, Lu Chaochao had just jumped off the carriage when she was hugged by Xu Shiyun, whose face was covered with tears.

Lu Chaochao was stunned for a moment. She had never seen her mother so heartbroken.

Xu Shiyun hurriedly wiped away her tears and whispered, "My hands are still there, my feet are still there, everything is there, everything is there."

Her Chao Chao returned safe and sound.

As Lu Chaochao cried, she felt her body sink and her mother fell backwards.

"Mom!" Lu Chaochao's heart skipped a beat.

The maidservant happened to be behind him and hurriedly supported him.

"Go back to your room quickly and call the imperial physician." Everyone hurried back home. At this moment, heavy snow was falling from the sky.

Dengzhi ordered: "Clear the snow on the ground, it might be slippery when it freezes."

Only after the imperial physician gave her acupuncture needles did Xu Shiyun slowly wake up.

Seeing Lu Chaochao, she couldn't help crying and held Chaochao tightly, refusing to let go.

Shanshan said sourly: "Mom, there's one more, there's one more..." as she squeezed in.

Xu Shiyun was amused by him and immediately hugged both children in her arms.

"Your elder brother and third brother were just summoned to the palace by His Majesty. They were waiting for you at home."

"Thinner, thinner..." She looked at Chaochao and Shanshan and knew that they had suffered this time.

In fact, Lu Chaochao didn't suffer much.

Even though she was locked up in the Cangjiao Palace by Xuan Misheng, it was only for one night. Moreover, the palace had everything she needed, for fear of letting her down.

Just like that, the way of heaven even overturned the house.

If there was any hardship, it was only the stress and energy spent in the army.

But Lu Chaochao didn't explain. There is a kind of suffering that makes your mother feel that you are suffering, and explanation is useless.

Rong Che did not return home until night. When he came back, a ray of morning sun had already appeared in the sky. Yunniang's eyes showed fatigue, and the couple were affectionate again.

When everyone got up, Lu Chaochao was already sitting in the dining hall.

"Today's meal was prepared by General Rong and the princess themselves. Masters, please eat more." Dengzhi smiled and waited for everyone to take their seats.

"Why don't you take a rest?" Yunniang looked at them.

Rong Che sat at the table and felt relieved: "I don't sleep much in the army, so I'm not tired. I specially made some food from the demon world for you to try."

Lu Chaochao was drinking soup from a small bowl.

When Shanshan heard this, her eyes lit up: "Sister's soup is really delicious."

Dengzhi was stunned: "This is... stewed by the general."

Shanshan's excitement faded, she put down the bowl of soup and said calmly, "Oh..."

"My sister's cakes are delicious..."

Rong Che: "I did it."

Shan Shan's eyes rolled around, and she pointed to the dish tentatively: "Did you make this, sister?"

Rong Che smiled and said, "Your father did it."

Shanshan looked at her sister cautiously: "Sister, what did you do?"

Lu Chaochao wiped his mouth and said, "I poured the warm water on the table."

Shanshan immediately picked up the teacup, took a sip, and showed a surprised expression: "I said that this cup of water has the right temperature, like nectar, extremely sweet and endless aftertaste. It turns out that it was my sister who gave life to this cup of water. You made the ordinary warm water become wonderful. Sister, you have worked hard..." Shanshan was moved.

Rong Che had a stiff face and coughed dryly once, and again.

Yunniang winked at Shanshan, who awkwardly praised dryly, "Dad, this soup is a little bland..."

“The cakes are too sweet…”

"The porridge is too watery..."

Rong Che jumped up and said, "I'll beat you to death, you bastard!!"