After marrying the fierce god, her handsome young husband was pampered to the extreme.

When Ye Qingyu saw her youngest son being carried into the dining room, his ankle wrapped in gauze, she was startled. "What happened?"

"I accidentally twisted my ankle." Lin Nian was too embarrassed to explain in detail, so she quickly covered it up with a cutesy excuse. "Is it autumn crab? It smells so good."

Ye Qingyu said, "Yes, the autumn crabs are especially plump and delicious this year. Your second brother brought them back from out of town; they're incredibly fresh."

Xia Ying smiled faintly: "I remember our little one used to love eating autumn crabs the most, so we should eat more today."

Lin Nian smiled and obediently replied, "Okay."

He then noticed that the whole family had returned today; all his older brothers except for his fourth and fifth brothers had come back.

Even the young scholar from my second brother's family, who had been studying at the academy, returned.

"Zhishan is back too!" Lin Nian exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Zhishan is twelve years old this year. She is the only child in her second brother's family. She passed the imperial examination at the age of ten and is a scholar with excellent knowledge. She is also humble and polite.

Lin Zhishan bowed and said, "Uncle."

"Good girl, come and sit down." Lin Nian looked at Pearl, who was hiding behind the man. "Pearl, don't be afraid, this is Brother Zhishan."

Pearl slowly emerged from behind her father, blinked her large, dark eyes twice, and called out in a clear voice, "Brother Zhishan."

Lin Zhishan liked this younger brother very much, but unfortunately he didn't have any gifts on him, so he could only pat Pearl's head and say, "Pearl, hello."

Pearl shyly hid behind her father, her little face flushed as she clutched the hem of his clothes.

Yin Cheng picked up Pearl and sat her down next to Lin Zhishan. Pearl secretly glanced at Lin Zhishan and thought that this older brother was so gentle.

Because there are many people in the family, they sat at two separate tables.

Once everyone had arrived and they were about to start eating, Ye Qingyu realized that her usually lively grandson wasn't there. She asked, "Where did Siheng go?"

Lin Yunyuan said, "Never mind him, he won't starve if he misses a meal."

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyu knew that his precious grandson had gotten into trouble again. He didn't plead for him, but simply told him, "Be careful."

Lin Yunyuan nodded.

Lan Shu naturally found a seat and sat down, as if she were at home, without feeling uncomfortable at all.

Ye Qingyu initially assumed that the youngest son had brought a beautiful woman in red, assuming she was his friend, and didn't ask any further questions.

But a servant reminded the master that the woman in red was the one who claimed to have the fourth prince's child.

Ye Qingyu gasped, but quickly accepted it. After all, this handsome young man was more than good-looking enough to be a match for her fourth son.

As a martial arts practitioner, Lan Shu naturally heard the servants' whispers. Seeing Ye Qingyu looking at him with a complicated expression, he smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I am carrying Lin Yuntang's child."

Upon hearing this, the previously lively dining room fell silent.

Only Yin Cheng silently rolled his eyes.

It would be a miracle if Lan Shu ever told the truth.

Lin Er laughed awkwardly, "Haha, our fourth brother is a man of few words, but when he does speak, he's astounding!"

Although Lin Yunyuan didn't speak, it was clear from his eyes that he appreciated and affirmed his fourth brother's decisiveness.

While everyone was caught off guard by this news, only Lin San, who had just returned from his duty at Wenyuan Pavilion, still had his head in his head.

"The fourth brother's child?" Lin San stared at him suspiciously. "How many months pregnant?"

Lan Shu recalled the meat buns Lin Yuntang had bought for him a couple of days ago, and said without batting an eye, "It's been two months."

Lin San frowned, but before he could ask anything, Yin Cheng said, "He is the strategist of the Azure Dragon Camp of the Northern Army."

Lin San's brows relaxed instantly, and he said, "Take good care of yourself during pregnancy."

Yin Cheng: "..." Third brother, your stance really changes so quickly.

"Oh, that's all in the past. Now I just want to stay home and be a good wife and mother." Lan Shu took Ye Qingyu's hand and said warmly, "Master Lin, my name is Lan Shu, and my ancestral home is Huzhou. From now on, we are all family. Is it alright for Lan Shu to call you Uncle?"

"Great!" Ye Qingyu's joy was short-lived, but she added with worry, "But Fourth Brother is still in the Southwest..."

Lan Shu exclaimed in surprise, "Yun Tang has already returned to the capital! Uncle, didn't you know?"

"Fourth brother's back?" Ye Qingyu exclaimed in surprise, then looked at her sons with a hint of resentment. "When did he get back? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

As one of the few people in the family who knew the truth, Lin San and Yin Cheng exchanged a glance and decided to shift the blame to each other.

Lin San had just cleared his throat when Yin Cheng beat him to it, "Yeah, Third Brother, what's wrong with you? Why are you keeping such a big thing a secret?"

Lin San: "..."

Lin Nian quickly came to her third brother's rescue: "Little Father, Fourth Brother is returning to the capital secretly this time. He has important matters to attend to and cannot reveal his whereabouts."

"That makes sense," Ye Qingyu said. "Xiaohe, quickly go and have someone clean up Lao Si's yard and buy everything that needs to be bought."

Just then, Lin Yuntang returned.

He stood against the light at the doorway, and for a fleeting moment, Ye Qingyu seemed to see the shadow of her deceased husband in him.

He paused for a moment, then exclaimed happily, "Oh, Fourth Brother is back! Come sit down and eat!"

Lin Yuntang turned to the side, revealing Lin Siheng behind him, who was shivering from the cold.

Lin Siheng was soaked to the bone and walked into the dining room shivering.

He glanced at Shen Qingheng, opened his mouth as if to say something, but saw his father turn his head away, seemingly not wanting to see him.

He felt a pang of pain in his heart, then, as if remembering something, he walked towards Pearl.

"What happened?" Ye Qingyu was startled and quickly asked someone to fetch a dry towel.

Lin Siheng walked shakily to Pearl and took out an oil paper package from his pocket.

Although he was soaked to the bone, he had protected the oil paper package very well, with only some water stains on the edges.

"Little Pearl, I'm sorry, there are no candied hawthorns outside today. This is osmanthus cake I bought for you." Lin Siheng finished speaking with difficulty through trembling teeth and handed over the oil paper package in his hand.

Pearl still remembers the fear of having her candied hawthorns snatched away. She was afraid that her older brother would bully her again, and she huddled in her father's arms in fear.

Yin Cheng didn't say anything, but just pinched Pearl's cheek.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward, but Lin Siheng didn't move, continuing to hand over the oil paper package.

Pearl didn't know what to do, so she looked up at her father's expression.

"Do you want it?" Yin Cheng asked.

Pearl twisted his chubby little hands around his clothes without saying a word. He felt a little sorry for this older brother, but he was also a little afraid of him.

His older brother pushed him before, causing him to fall hard on his bottom, which hurt a lot.

Yin Cheng took the osmanthus cake from Lin Siheng and handed it to Zhenzhu, saying, "Here you go."

Pearl then picked up the oil paper package and whispered, "Thank you, brother."

Lin Siheng walked up to Lin Nian and took out a second oil paper package. "Uncle, this is for you."

Lin Nian was somewhat surprised, "I have one too?"