Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

Chu Jinglan stepped forward, his large hands, once used to holding books and now covered in calluses, reaching out to touch his wife's cheek.

His hand was only halfway out.

"cough."

A soft cough broke the suffocating silence.

Ji Lingxiao slowly rose from his seat. Today he was wearing a purple-gold casual robe, wide and flowing, yet he managed to exude the majesty of an "empress dowager."

He stepped forward and silently stood in front of Jiang Yining, blocking Chu Jinglan's gaze that seemed to want to devour her.

"General Chu's survival is a blessing for the nation and a good fortune for the Chu family."

Ji Lingxiao cupped his hands in greeting: "I heard that today is the birthday of Old Madam Chu. I and General Bai have been entrusted by His Majesty to come and extend our greetings to the descendants of this loyal and virtuous woman."

Chu Jinglan was stunned for a moment, his gaze swept over Ji Lingxiao, and then fell on Bai Ze, who was standing to the side with his hand on the hilt of his sword, his face clearly showing that he was very unhappy.

"snort."

Bai Ze exhaled a blast of cold air from his nose, stood there with an imposing air, and his eyes, sharp as knives, drifted behind Chu Jinglan.

"General Chu has a big, living person hiding behind him, aren't you going to introduce him to everyone?"

Only then did everyone notice that half of Chu Jinglan's light pink skirt was peeking out from behind her large cloak.

Chu Jinglan froze, a hint of embarrassment and guilt flashing across his face.

He turned to the side and pulled out the woman who had been keeping her head down behind him.

The woman was extremely beautiful, possessing the gentle beauty unique to the water towns of Jiangnan. She was like a small white flower swaying in the wind and rain, timidly raising her head to glance at the important figures in the room before quickly lowering it again.

"This is... Miss Liu Xueru."

Chu Jinglan dared not look Jiang Yining in the eye, and lowered his voice, "Back then, I was seriously wounded on the battlefield and wandered in the mountains. If it weren't for Xue Ru's meticulous care, I'm afraid I would have..."

"She is all alone, her parents are dead, I just can't bear it..."

The rest is self-explanatory.

The last vestiges of panic in Jiang Yining's heart miraculously vanished at that moment.

Instead, there was a strange sense of ease.

You brought a woman back? Great! That's wonderful!

"So it was your benefactor."

Jiang Yining immediately adjusted her expression, adopting a virtuous and gentle yet somewhat aggrieved and magnanimous demeanor. She subtly took a step back, avoiding Chu Jinglan's intense gaze.

"My husband is loyal and devoted, and I know that well."

Chu Jinglan felt a pang in his heart as he watched his wife's distant actions.

He thought she was upset that he brought people back, and his guilt intensified.

"Ningning, I only feel gratitude towards Xueru, so don't overthink it."

"I think General Chu has repaid this kindness very well."

As Ji Lingxiao spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Jiang Yining.

"After all, the Chu family has been supported by Madam Chu, a woman, for the past few years, which is really not easy."

"yes."

Bai Ze responded sarcastically, his gaze falling on Liu Xueru.

"While General Chu was away 'repaying his debt of gratitude' for the past three years, Madam Chu was both father and mother in the capital, taking care of the entire family of the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled."

"Now that the general has returned, and with such a handsome 'benefactor,' it's truly... touching."

The tension in those words was so strong it was almost suffocating.

Chu Sikong sat in his wheelchair, his head tilted back, his eyes, though unfocused, were breathtakingly beautiful, filled with tears.

"Big brother."

His voice was soft, like fragile glass.

"My sister-in-law has suffered so much for this family, and you come back with a new woman? Are you trying to fry her heart in oil?"

Chu Jinglan's face turned pale, and he lowered his head in shame: "I'm sorry, Ningning."

He didn't understand what Bai Ze meant by "acting as both father and mother," and thought it was an insult that he neglected his family.

"Alright," Jiang Yining said, trying to smooth things over as she feared these three hotheads would give themselves away if they kept talking.

"My husband has just returned, so let's go and freshen up first."

"Mother, you must be tired. Let Uncle Zhao help you to rest."

Old Madam Chu, already dizzy from crying over her eldest son's supposed resurrection, could only nod and say, "Good, good, it's good that he's alive..."

The birthday banquet ended hastily in an eerie atmosphere.

The guests departed, and night deepened.

Inside the main hall of the Chu residence, all irrelevant people had already left.

Chu Jinglan changed into clean clothes, but it still couldn't hide the exhaustion from the long journey.

He walked into the dining room, looked at the two men, and frowned.

"It's getting late, Your Excellency and General Bai, why aren't you returning to your residence yet?"

This is a way of telling them to leave.

Ji Lingxiao picked up his teacup, elegantly blew away the foam, his movements as practiced as if he were at home: "I still have some official business to discuss with General Chu. There are some details regarding the defense map of the northern barbarians that need to be verified."

"Official business?" Chu Jinglan frowned. "We can discuss it at the Ministry of War tomorrow."

"Speed ​​is of the essence in war."

Bai Ze leaned back in his chair with a nonchalant air, stretched out his long legs, and took over half of the table.

"Besides, I'm hungry. The chefs at the Chu residence cook delicious food. I'll eat before I leave."

Chu Jinglan looked at the two men who were refusing to leave and felt that something was wrong.

He walked towards Jiang Yining.

Almost simultaneously.

With a "smack," the lid of the teacup in Ji Lingxiao's hand slammed heavily against the rim of the cup.

"Ouch!" Bai Ze suddenly stretched out his leg and kicked over the stool next to him.

"Sister-in-law!" Chu Sikong exclaimed, leaning heavily against Jiang Yining. "I'm dizzy!"

Jiang Yining instinctively caught Chu Sikong and skillfully patted his back to help him breathe.

Chu Jinglan was stunned by the three consecutive blows and stood there dumbfounded.

He looked at his wife holding his younger brother, who was giving him a defiant look, with the gloomy-faced prime minister sitting to his left and the murderous-looking general sitting to his right.

They could only sit opposite Jiang Yining.

After dinner, Jiang Yining started using her eyes to shoo people away.

Ji Lingxiao narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Yining's lower abdomen, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

"Since General Chu still needs to settle his new wife and family affairs, I will not disturb him further."

Bai Ze also picked up his broadsword and, as he passed by Chu Jinglan, deliberately bumped his shoulder hard against this "official husband".

"General Chu, you'd better watch yourself."

Bai Ze grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth: "The roads in the capital are slippery, be careful not to break your leg."