Luo Lan was helped down from the carriage by Ah Cai. She bowed to General Liu and said softly:
"Father, please accept my daughter's greetings. I'm late, but I will be a filial son to you in the future."
Hearing this, Liu Dechang's eyes wrinkled with laughter. He pointed at the Duke's Mansion and said:
"Hurry, go home. I'll go burn some incense for your mother and the ancestors of the Liu family and tell them that I, Liu Dechang, also have a daughter. Hahahaha!"
Looking at his delighted expression, Luo Lan pursed her lips and chuckled, then headed towards the Duke's Mansion surrounded by the crowd.
Although the Duke's Mansion is spacious, the furnishings inside are very ordinary and there does not seem to be many luxurious items.
As soon as they entered the courtyard of the Duke's Mansion, Liu Dechang began to introduce,
"When your mother was alive, she loved these flowers and plants the most. Do you see these flower pots? I've planted the seeds in them now. By summer, this yard will be full of flowers..."
"This pavilion has not been changed in more than ten years, simply because your mother likes to sit here and embroider, and I like to sit here and drink tea."
"And this corridor, the grape vines on both sides were also planted by her own hands."
“And here…”
Liu Dechang kept introducing Luo Lan to her mother's story. Even after entering the main hall, he continued to chatter:
"If only she were alive, she would be very happy to see you become as beautiful as she was in her youth."
When talking about his wife, Liu Dechang's face showed not sadness, but love and relief.
Perhaps, in his heart, his wife has never left!
Luo Lan glanced around and said softly to Liu Dechang:
"Father, the girl is gone. It's better not to keep her in your heart. Otherwise, she will live an uneasy life in the other world."
"Really?"
Liu Dechang suddenly looked at her with confusion and a bit of worry.
"What you just said, is it true?"
Luo Lan nodded solemnly, "Yes, she was supposed to go to another world and be reborn as a human being three years later. But since you're still thinking about her like this, she can't reincarnate with peace of mind, and there's no way she can enter the reincarnation pool."
Hearing her say this, Liu Dechang's face darkened, and then he sighed and said softly:
"After hearing what you said, I feel that I was selfish. I was sorry for her when she was alive and didn't take good care of her. Now that she's dead, I can't let her rest in peace. It's my fault."
Seeing his sad and lonely look, Luo Lan hurriedly comforted him softly:
"Dad, don't be sad. I believe that Mom has been worried about you all these years. Now that Mom sees me back to take care of you, she can rest assured and go to reincarnation. Let's go burn some incense for her and tell her the good news so that she can be at ease."
Luo Lan's words finally made Liu Dechang smile with relief. He nodded and said:
"Okay, go now and let your mother see you, and let the ancestors of the Liu family see you."
After he finished speaking, he took Luo Lan and went to the Liu family's ancestral hall.
The incense-burning ceremony was quite formal. Outside the ancestral hall stood servants from the Duke's Mansion and several generals under Liu Dechang.
Following Liu Dechang's instructions, Luo Lan burned incense to her mother and the ancestors of the Liu family in turn, and then followed him outside.
Looking at the people in the yard, Liu Dechang said loudly and happily:
"Everyone, listen up. This is my daughter, Liu Dechang, named Luo Lan. From now on, she is the eldest daughter of the Duke's Mansion. You must obey her orders. Anyone who dares to contradict her will be kicked out of the Duke's Mansion immediately. Do you understand?"
After hearing the order, the servants bowed and saluted.
"I understand. Good luck to you, Miss."
Liu Dechang turned to Luo Lan and said:
"I ordered people to clean up the west wing. Even if you get married, it will still be your boudoir. I will repay what your father owes you tenfold over the years."
Luo Lan chuckled and said, "Thank you, Dad."
"Come on, I'll take you to see it. I'm having people prepare your dowry. When my daughter, Liu Dechang, gets married, there must be a grand wedding ceremony, no less grand than a princess's wedding. But, I just adopted you, and you're getting married. As a father, I feel... really... really can't bear it!"
At this point, Liu Dechang seemed a little lonely, and his expression turned from sunny to gloomy.
Luo Lan knew that her father didn't know how to compensate her, his lost and found daughter, so he wanted to make everything right.
She walked beside Liu Dechang and replied softly:
"Father, don't worry too much. Although I'm married into Prince Yu's mansion, I will come back often to accompany you. Leng Yu also said that he will be filial to you."
When mentioning Leng Yu, Liu Dechang immediately smiled and praised her.
"My daughter, you don't know. I used to think that if I had a daughter, I would definitely marry her to Leng Yu. He is a man who can accomplish great things. Who would have thought that three years ago, when I was fighting at the border, he was killed and paralyzed for three years. What a pity! Otherwise, Leng Yu would have become the regent second only to the emperor."
Listening to his father's words, Luo Lan replied nonchalantly:
"My daughter doesn't think it's a good thing for Leng Yu to climb to a high position. Even if he sits on the throne of the emperor, what's the use? Life is only a few short decades. Why fight so hard for it?"
"You're not right. Just because you don't fight with others doesn't mean others won't fight with you. As a prince, it's not easy to live a peaceful life!"
Liu Dechang seemed to have seen through everything, and his tone became a little melancholy.
Luo Lan quickly took his arm and consoled him with a smile:
"Dad, let's talk about the future later. Today is my daughter's first day home. Let's not talk about these heavy topics. Why don't you tell me what delicious food you prepared for me tonight?"
When Liu Dechang mentioned this, he smiled and nodded.
"Of course there are plenty of delicious dishes. I specially asked the kitchen to prepare all their specialties. It's a pity that you are not a man, otherwise you could have a few drinks with your father and me."
"What's wrong with not being a boy? I can have a few drinks with Dad too."
"real?"
Liu Dechang looked at her in disbelief, "You can drink?"
Luo Lan raised her eyebrows and said proudly:
"Whether he wants to drink or not, I have to accompany him as long as he's happy."
Hearing this, Liu Dechang instantly smiled. He kept clapping Luo Lan's hands and said with a smile:
"Okay, okay, my daughter, Liu Dechang, is truly extraordinary. Dad is happy today. Come drink a few more glasses with me later."
Looking at Liu Dechang's heartfelt smile, and then looking at this huge Duke's Mansion which didn't even have a hostess, Luo Lan suddenly felt that her father was too lonely. How did he survive all these years alone?
Thinking of this, she asked tentatively:
"Dad, Mom has been gone for so many years, why don't you find a woman?"
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