Misty Rain of the Old Times

That's how it is to be an elder. You can't stand seeing your juniors doing nothing all day and just drifting along, but you also worry that the young people might suddenly have a brain fart and cause some trouble. It's so difficult.

Moreover, given Chen Xuan's cultivation level and strength, if he wants to do something big, it can't be an ordinary thing.

So when the old man heard him say that, he became worried. "You brat, don't mess around. My old bones can't take a scare. Fuyao is still young. Take it easy. Besides, I don't have much time left to live. Who will clean up your mess if you cause trouble?"
Given the long-standing relationship between the father-in-law and son-in-law, the old man naturally wouldn't show such emotions. Instead, he looked at them with disdain, as if to say, "What good things can you possibly come up with?"

"Old Deng, what kind of look is that? Who do you think you are?" Chen Xuan raised his chin and said seriously, "I plan to take Qian Ning around to see the sights next."

Upon hearing this, the old man pursed his lips twice and said disdainfully, "This is what you call a big deal? I think you just want to travel and enjoy yourself. I thought you could come up with some lofty ambitions."

That's what he said, but he was actually relieved. Traveling and sightseeing is great, as long as you don't cause any trouble.

Chen Xuan said seriously, "Father-in-law, what are you saying? How can taking Qian Ning around not be a big deal? She is my wife, and as far as I know, she has never left the capital by more than 300 miles. It's pitiful to think about. If others don't feel sorry for her, how can I not feel sorry for her? The world is so big, wouldn't it be a huge loss if she didn't experience it?"

The old man was speechless. What Chen Xuan said was true. He subconsciously looked at the little princess and felt guilty. Over the years, he had been reluctant to let his daughter leave his side and worried about her safety. He had never really gone on a long trip.

When the two most important men in her life mentioned her, the little princess nonchalantly replied, "I think it's fine."

She had the Emperor's love in the past, and now she has her husband's affection. What more could she ask for?

It was unclear whether she meant that staying in the capital was good, or that traveling around with Chen Xuan would be better. The old woman waved her hand and said, "Go if you want to go, just be careful."

Even knowing that Chen Xuan was protecting her and there was no need to worry about her safety, the old man still looked at Chen Xuan in a warning tone and said, "If Fuyao follows you around and loses even a single hair, I won't let you off the hook."

"You don't need to tell me, my wife is too worried about me to bear seeing her hurt," Chen Xuan retorted immediately.

I wanted to tell them to get carried away and not wander off, but the old man ultimately didn't say it. He just wanted the young couple to be happy and not to spoil their mood. So he waved his hand dismissively and said, "Seeing you, you little rascal, makes me angry. Get out of my sight right now."

No, why are you kicking my father-in-law out?

Looking at the sky, Chen Xuan realized the sun was almost setting and it was getting late. He pouted and stood up, saying, "Fine, let's go home, honey. Let's not argue with Old Deng."

The little princess was both amused and exasperated. "You two must have had a grudge in your past lives, can't you just get along?"

Wherever Chen Xuan went, she naturally followed, since it wouldn't be appropriate for the young couple to share a room in the palace.

Seeing that the little princess was about to reluctantly say goodbye, the old man yelled at Chen Xuan impatiently, "Come back here, eat your meal before you go back!"

"Hehe, I knew it! There's no reason for my father-in-law not to give me a bite to eat," Chen Xuan said with a smug grin as he quickly turned around, sat down, and sat down.

This father-in-law and son-in-law have finally met their match.

The homecoming banquet was naturally filled with delicacies, but the old lady just couldn't stand him. She wouldn't even eat in peace, and the two of them would fight over the food, as if that was the only way to enjoy it. Surprisingly, the old lady ate an extra bowl of rice.

It's worth mentioning that the old man hasn't put down the exercise ball since he received it from Chen Xuan. While it's certainly rare to find such a precious item, being crafted from the most valuable part of a master-level beast's spine, it's not exactly a priceless treasure for the old man. But how could something given by his son-in-law be the same?

It was already dark after the meal, and the young couple were "chased away" by the old man. "You two have your own home, why do you want to stay in the palace and not leave?"

Only after their figures disappeared from sight did the old man turn away with reluctance. As parents, especially as they get older, how could they not want their children to stay by their side? But they were already married and could no longer be tied to each other.

Under the dazzling lights, the old man pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled with emotion and said, "This young man really understands me."

“Although the son-in-law is usually a bit carefree, he is not truly heartless. He is just trying to please His Majesty in various ways. Moreover, he treats His Highness very well. His Majesty can rest assured in entrusting His Highness to him,” said Eunuch Wang, who was standing nearby, after careful consideration.

With a smug smile, the old man paced back and forth, saying, "That's right. How could my judgment be wrong? It's not that he doesn't know that Fuyao's return home should be more grand; it's just that he did it on purpose. Like me, he doesn't like all that superficial stuff. Simple and peaceful, sitting down and chatting happily is what a family should be like."

"I can't see any harmony between you two, father-in-law and son-in-law at all," said Eunuch Wang, who dared not say such a thing. Instead, he helped the old man up and said with concern, "Your Majesty, it's late, you should rest early."

"Yes, Fuyao has found her happiness and home, and I should indeed get some rest," the old man nodded, letting out a soft breath as he spoke. With that exhale, he seemed to have lifted a heavy burden and felt instantly relaxed.

Eunuch Wang dared not accept such a remark. A simple sentence from the emperor could easily conjure up countless terrifying thoughts in one's mind.

Originally heading towards the palace, the old man suddenly changed direction and arrived at the top of a viewing platform, where he could see the lights of the capital city.

The old man stood there in the night breeze, his gaze sweeping across the room as he chuckled, "That brat's words earlier did remind me of something."

Before Eunuch Wang could rack his brains for a reply, the old man continued, "When I was young, in that kind of environment, I worried about this and that, and there was no peaceful day amidst the intrigue and backstabbing. After sitting on this throne, it seemed like I had everything, but in reality, I lost too much. Later, even though I had the experience of conquering all sides, there was never a moment of relaxation. Gradually, I became bound to this vast palace. Now that I think about it, I haven't lived a single day for myself all these years."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Wang roughly guessed the old man's intention and immediately became uneasy. Your Majesty, you can't be willful!

The old man waved his hand, stopping Eunuch Wang from saying what he was about to say. He continued to mutter to himself, "That brat is right. The world is so big, and I haven't even had a proper look at it yet. Now that I'm old, I can't travel too far, but wouldn't it be a huge waste if I didn't go and see this great empire of mine?" "Your Majesty, please don't! Your health is paramount. You really can't withstand the hardship of traveling," Eunuch Wang pleaded, kneeling on the ground in fear.

Turning his gaze away, the old man said calmly, "Let's go back and rest. I'm not a three-year-old child; how could I act recklessly?"

Eunuch Wang couldn't put his mind at ease. After the son-in-law and the prince returned to their parents' home today, his thoughts became even more unfathomable, like a calm but deep pool.

On the other side, Chen Xuan and the others were on their way home. The little princess had red eyes and kept looking back at the direction of the palace. She felt very sad. After the brief reunion, would her father feel lonely?
Chen Xuan held her small hand, a gesture that seemed somewhat unconventional, but he didn't care. He gently comforted her, "Don't be sad, my wife. We'll come back to visit him often from now on. What he wants to see is us living happily, not us just pretending to care for him."

"Yes, I know, thank you, my husband," the little princess nodded.

Chen Xuan was speechless for a moment before asking, "What is my wife thanking me for?"

"Of course I thank my husband for trying so hard to make Father Emperor happy. Otherwise, how could he have been so cheerful before? But I feel a little sorry for my husband. If he hits you, you should dodge. Does it still hurt?" the little princess asked with concern. She was intelligent and understood everything.

Having spent so much time together, the couple knew each other inside and out. The little princess understood Chen Xuan's intentions when he casually went back to his parents' home that afternoon. Otherwise, how could Chen Xuan not know about the big commotion when the family arranged a procession? That's why he quietly stopped Yun Xin and the others from reminding him.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "Wife, you're overthinking it. I'm just a carefree ordinary person, how could I possibly think about so much? Besides, I'm thick-skinned and don't care about feeling wronged. How could my father-in-law possibly hurt me? Just don't tire him out."

As husband and wife are one, how could the little princess not understand Chen Xuan's feelings? His seemingly unreliable behavior was actually a way to amuse the old lady. The old lady understood this, which is why she acted so playfully with Chen Xuan. Otherwise, would the old lady have acted like an ordinary old man, laughing and joking, if it were someone else?

it is more than words.

By the time they strolled home, the little princess had calmed down.

Under the moonlight, the little princess looked towards the palace with some worry and said, "Husband, when I saw Father today, I felt he had changed a lot, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I don't know if it's for the better or for the worse."

“Madam, don’t worry, it’s a good thing. Haven’t you noticed that Father-in-law’s brows have relaxed?” Chen Xuan comforted her.

She turned around and asked, "Really? My husband, do you know why Father has changed like this?"

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Xuan said, "As a relative of the mother-in-law, there are some things I shouldn't say, but my wife and I don't need to be so reserved. The reason my father-in-law has changed like this is because he has been too tired over the years, worrying about the country and its people. Now he has accomplished what he needed to accomplish and has no more worries. It's time for him to rest. If nothing unexpected happens... well, he should be planning something big next."

"Yes, I understand," the little princess nodded, naturally knowing what Chen Xuan was referring to.

Having said that, Chen Xuan glanced at the sky, blinked, and said, "Wife, it's getting late, we should rest."

The little princess nodded shyly, not daring to look at him...

Afterwards, the little princess was limp and groaned, "Is my husband satisfied now? You were like an ox, oh dear, covered in sweat. Let Yunlan and the others help us take a bath; we need to clean up this mess."

Cleaning up after exercise is necessary, but Chen Xuan said somewhat embarrassedly, "Isn't this inappropriate?"

"What's wrong with that? They'll be yours sooner or later. Their status was already set when they came as part of the dowry. Do you want them to grow old alone?" The little princess rolled her eyes at him, giving him a look that said, "You're getting a good deal."

This was indeed a reality they would have to face sooner or later. Before marriage, Chen Xuan didn't want any regrets between husband and wife, but now that his wife had put it this way, he stopped being coy and said, "Alright then."

Now is no longer the time to drift through life alone; I must gradually adapt to life ahead.

Then Chen Xuan called out, and Du Juan and several of her personal maids came in to clean up the mess. The couple also cleaned and bathed, and then went back to bed feeling refreshed.

It was just normal service, and Chen Xuan didn't do anything to them. This was the first time he had been served a bath by girls since he came to this world. It was inevitable that he felt awkward at first, but he gradually relaxed.

The little princess, who was already exhausted, fell into a deep sleep after taking a bath. Before falling asleep, she was thinking that it was fortunate that Brother Xuan was not a pedantic person, otherwise she would not be able to handle it on her own in the future. He had not actually enjoyed himself enough, which was because she had not done a good job as a wife. Moreover, how many children could she give birth to for the Chen family to continue to grow?

"Now I have a home, a wife, and children in the future. With these ties, I truly feel a sense of belonging to this world, no longer like a rootless drifter like before," Chen Xuan murmured, gazing at his wife's sweet face beside him. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, feeling exceptionally at peace.

Chen Xuan wasn't the only one who felt at ease; Du Juan, Su Roujia, Yun Lan, and Yun Xin also felt reassured. Although they hadn't taken any further action while serving Chen Xuan and his wife during their bath, it meant that the master was beginning to accept them, instead of keeping his distance as before, which left them feeling insecure and constantly worried about being abandoned...

The next day after breakfast, the couple snuggled together, and their little princess played with a strand of Chen Xuan's hair, asking curiously, "Brother Xuan, you said you'd take me traveling and sightseeing after we got married. Where are you planning to go?"

Chen Xuan's hand had somehow slipped inside her collar, causing the little princess to let out a soft snort and roll her eyes. He chuckled, "Anywhere is fine, as long as you're happy, my wife. But before that, we've taken care of most of the trivial matters. Let's go back to Yang County first. Qian Ning, you haven't been there yet. Although the capital is bustling, it's quite peaceful there. We might be living there more often in the future. What do you think, Qian Ning?"

"Okay, okay! I'll follow you wherever you go, Brother Xuan. Oh, and I've been wanting to see the peach tree you planted for a long time," the little princess exclaimed excitedly.

Nodding, Chen Xuan said, "Alright, let's see if there's anything we need to tell you. We'll pack up and head back; it'll be easier for us to travel back and forth with me here."

"Hmm..." (End of Chapter)