Tao Wanniang was living a carefree and prosperous life, able to eat and cook whatever she wanted without anyone bothering her; her two sons, on the other hand, were becoming increasingly repressed.

"Lord Qian, please go and tell my mother to rescue us." When he was doing the horse stance that morning, Ling Dahu supported his legs, which were no longer trembling, but still had a bitter expression on his face.

As a homeless bachelor, Qian Feng always spent the Spring Festival at the General's Mansion. This year, with Ling Dahu and the others around, he had a particularly interesting time.

"Hey, young master, look, your legs aren't trembling anymore, and you've raised your hands higher. Aren't you practicing quite well?" Qian Feng teased.

"Why are we practicing this? Is it to make us more stable when serving food?" Ling Dapeng said indignantly. "We're not going to fight a war, we're waiters, we're shop assistants!"

Qian Feng chuckled. "Speaking so confidently, aren't you afraid of disappointing the General? They say a general's son won't be a bad one, but these two seem to aspire to be waiters!"

“Lord Qian, don’t you love my mother’s cooking the most? If she’s worried about us losing our appetite, she might not open the restaurant anymore.” Ling Dahu, ever shrewd, blurted out, “Please go and check on Mother for us. Father is too heartless.”

Upon hearing this, Qian Feng pondered to himself. Any woman would feel uncomfortable if her son, whom she had raised, was taken away like this!

Thinking of Tao Wanniang's culinary skills, Qian Feng was somewhat tempted.

"Alright then, I'll go see your mother this afternoon. If she's really upset, I'll bring her to the General's Mansion to see you."

"Lord Qian, thank you so much!" The two Ling brothers were almost moved to tears, finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for going home.

On a warm winter afternoon, Tao Wanniang and several others sat together and played mahjong.

She stopped playing leaf cards and started playing mahjong, the kind that doesn't make money. She found an antique-style mahjong set in the system and told others it was called "Ma Diao," which she had come up with based on leaf cards.

The things were new, she set the rules, and the others were just there to play along, but it was so much fun!

When Qian Feng arrived, he gently pushed the door open.

"Sister Tao, you're a genius! Playing mahjong is more interesting than playing leaf cards. Even the sound of shuffling the cards has a unique feel to it." Zhang Liang's laughter was a bit rough, which seemed somewhat incongruous with his delicate face, which had recently undergone bone-setting procedures.

What's going on? Qian Feng was taken aback, then stepped forward and called out, "Sister Tao, I'm coming in."

"Come in, come in, the door's unlocked." Tao Wanniang didn't even look up. "I'll argue!"

"Big sister, can you feed me something? I'm about to cry from this hand," Bai Yumei said, looking helpless with her bad luck.

"What are you doing?" Qian Feng stepped forward, pushed open the door to the flower hall, and saw the four people sitting and playing with small blocks. He was a little curious.

"Playing mahjong, what brings you here today, Master Qian?" Tao Wanniang said without looking up. "If it's about my son and daughter-in-law, don't tell me. What could possibly happen with their own father?"

Qian Feng looked Tao Wanniang up and down. She seemed to have gained some weight, and her complexion was rosy and glowing. She seemed to be doing very well!

"Elder sister, your son has been at the General's Mansion for seven days now. What, don't you miss him at all?" Qian Feng asked tentatively.

"What are you thinking? They've been around me for eighteen or nineteen years. I'm tired of seeing them. Aren't I just entertaining myself?" Tao Wanniang said. "Lord Qian, please wait a moment while I finish this game."

Qian Feng was speechless for a moment. It seemed that Ling Dahu and the others were overthinking things. How could Sister Tao be so worried that she couldn't eat or drink?

"Elder sister, I'm just here to deliver a message, so I won't disturb your enjoyment." Qian Feng said with a smile, "The General has high hopes for the two young masters, so practicing horse stance and running in the martial arts field every day is a must. Then in the afternoon, there are tutors teaching the Four Books and Five Classics. It's just that... the two young masters are finding it a bit too much to handle, and their hearts are not in it."

"Oh, this father is so devoted, that's great," Tao Wan's mother joked. "Lord Qian is also thoughtful, he even came all the way here to tell me about this."

Qian Feng was both amused and exasperated. He had only wanted to see if Tao Wan's mother was worried, but it seemed he had overthought things.

"The two young masters were a bit overwhelmed and specially spoke kindly to me, asking me to pass on their message to Sister Tao."

"Tell them what?" Tao Wanniang finally looked up at Qian Feng. "You don't mean for me to go and bring them back, do you?"

Qian Feng smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes, the two young masters asked Sister Tao to save them; they want to come back."

Tao Wanniang frowned and asked, "What, does your general forbid his son and daughter-in-law from going out?"

"No, it's just that there are many teaching duties to attend to, which has kept the two young masters from going out." Qian Feng couldn't let Lingyunzhou be smeared.

“That’s settled then. They have legs, and it’s up to them whether they want to stay or leave,” Tao Wan’s mother said. “They’re not children who cry and beg for their parents.”

Qian Feng could tell from Tao Wanniang's words that she didn't intend to get involved anymore.

"Sister Tao, don't you want to go and take a look?"

“Lord Qian, I have divorced your general. Do you understand the importance of avoiding suspicion?” Tao Wanniang said confidently. “Go back and tell my two sons that adults should have the courage to make their own decisions.”

Qian Feng understood, but he didn't care anymore. Looking at the four people sitting together, they all looked good, which showed how leisurely they had been living these past few days!

"Since Sister Tao is busy, I won't bother you any longer." Qian Feng glanced at the things on the table again, but didn't recognize them.

“Alright, farewell, Master Qian. We won’t see you off.” Tao Wanniang waved her hand and said.

Ling Yunzhou knew about Qian Feng's movements, and it could be said that he was waiting for Qian Feng to return and inform Tao Wanniang of his reaction.

It's been seven days already. Does she really not miss her son?

"General, Lord Qian has returned." The steward immediately reported to Ling Yunzhou upon seeing Qian Feng.

"Let him come over," Ling Yunzhou ordered with a stern face, suppressing his anticipation.

Before long, Qian Feng arrived in front of Ling Yunzhou. Seeing Ling Yunzhou's solemn expression, he chuckled.

"General, you want to ask me what I saw at Sister Tao's house, right? Is Sister Tao thinking about the two young masters?"

"How is she?" Ling Yunzhou asked, nodding.

"I might disappoint the general, but Sister Tao looks rosy and radiant, relaxed and carefree, chatting and laughing with others, and even playing mahjong." With each sentence Qian Feng spoke, Ling Yunzhou's face darkened a little.

Did she ask about the children's situation here?

"No, but I did say that, well, Sister Tao's exact words were something like this: 'They have legs; they can go or stay as they please, it's not up to them.'" Qian Feng said. "After all, the general didn't forbid them from going out, did he?"

"Heh, living a carefree life, huh? Fine, tell Da Hu and Da Peng they can go back now. Their mother misses them!" Ling Yunzhou said through gritted teeth, happy to be carefree. Let her be carefree!