Chapter 26: Returning Home

It was September 4th, just past noon, when the sound of horse hooves echoed on Qiguan Street—clip-clop, clip-clop.

“They’re here! They’re here!” A cheer erupted from the crowd waiting at the Xiao family’s gates. Men, women, and children immediately perked up, their faces brimming with excitement.

Xiao Jingtai and Xiao Jingmin rode at the forefront, clearing the way. Several fine horses followed closely behind, trailed by a long procession of carriages. The grand parade was truly a sight to behold.

General Xiao was supposed to enter the palace first to report to the emperor, but the emperor, considerate of his long and arduous journey, allowed him to delay the audience until after his birthday.

Despite the slight fatigue from the long trip, General Xiao looked no different from how he had a year ago. He dismounted gracefully and strode confidently toward the crowd.

“Greetings, Master!”
“Greetings, Father!”
“Greetings, Grandfather!”

Everyone stepped forward to salute him, their eyes brimming with joy at the reunion.

“You may rise,” General Xiao said. Finally, he was home, where he could enjoy his twilight years, dote on his grandchildren, and live a life of leisure.

As a military man, he had never dared to dream of retiring unscathed. But now, not only had he returned safely, but he had also done so with honor and glory. A mix of pride, gratitude, and relief welled up in his heart as General Xiao looked up at the sky.

He felt blessed by the heavens.

“Is that you, Yan’er? Is my Yan’er really back?” Madam Qin’s voice trembled with emotion, her words spilling out incoherently. It must have been the result of her prayers to the gods that her youngest son had returned.

“Yes, Mother. It’s me. Your son has returned. I have been unfilial, making you worry so much,” a deep, magnetic voice full of emotion responded.

Xiao Yao craned her neck to get a good look at the legendary Fourth Uncle. He was known as the odd one in the Xiao family—a special existence.

The first thing she noticed was his white robe embroidered with bold plum blossoms. A belt made of gold and silver threads hung around his waist, adorned with a delicate pouch and a translucent jade pendant. In his hand, he held a folding fan.

Though it was still warm enough for a gentle breeze at noon, Xiao Yao noted that the fan might occasionally come in handy.

As for his face, if Xiao Yao had to describe it in two words, it would be “devilish charm.” His phoenix eyes sparkled, his skin was as white as snow, his nose was straight, and his lips were a striking crimson.

Before her stood the most handsome person Xiao Yao had seen since arriving in this world. No wonder she herself was so beautiful—she had found the source. Feeling a little smug, she watched as her grandmother opened her arms wide and rushed toward her beloved son.

“Ahem, ahem,” Xiao Jingyan held his mother’s hands firmly, turning her hug into support. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to indulge her affection, but he wasn’t bold enough to stage a public display of mother-son intimacy on the street.

“Mother, the wind is strong outside. Let me help you inside. You can scold or hit me all you want later.” Not only was he handsome, but he also had a way with words, which explained why his mother missed him so dearly.

But why hadn’t this dashing man returned home in years? Judging by his age, he was at most twenty. Could he still be going through a rebellious phase?

“Hmph!” General Xiao couldn’t stand the saccharine display between mother and son. As soon as his wife saw their youngest son, it was as if no one else existed. And this son of his? He spent his days wandering aimlessly, without a proper job, even at the age of twenty.

Oblivious to her husband’s displeasure, Madam Qin only had eyes for her son. She quickly ushered him into the courtyard, as if she hadn’t heard her husband’s grumbles.

General Xiao opened his mouth to reprimand them but thought better of it. He decided to let the mother and son have their moment, especially since his son had willingly returned with him this time.

“Let me see our little treasures! Come here, all of you!”

Turning his attention away from his wife and youngest son, General Xiao focused on his grandchildren. He was determined to dote on them to his heart’s content.

Four little ones lined up neatly, bowing to their grandfather with proper etiquette. Their eyes sparkled with admiration as they looked up at him, their reverence evident.

Though they had little to no memory of their grandfather, his towering, majestic presence filled their hearts with warmth and a natural sense of closeness. Such is the magic of familial bonds.

Even Xiao Jun and Xiao Qi were excited. Xiao Yuan clung to her grandfather’s leg, trying to climb up.

To outsiders, General Xiao was either intimidating or awe-inspiring, and few dared to approach him. Children usually cried in his presence, but these four eagerly clamored for his attention. His subordinates behind him couldn’t help but feel admiration. Truly, these were the children of a military family—bold and fearless.

General Xiao patted one child and hugged another, reluctant to let any of them go. In his heart, he silently identified each child: the prettiest little girl must be his granddaughter Ping’an, and the round, chubby one must be Ruyi. The two boys? The one resembling Ping’an must be Xiao Jun, and the other was surely Xiao Qi. Two chubby little ones—excellent!

But General Xiao vaguely remembered instructing his eldest daughter-in-law to ensure Ping’an grew chubby and healthy. Now, she was the thinnest of the bunch. He made a mental note to hold his children accountable later.

“Ping’an, come to Grandfather,” he said, picking up Xiao Yao in one arm and Xiao Yuan in the other. Their similar weights displeased him, and he silently resolved to personally oversee their care.

With two grandchildren in his arms and two more looking up at him expectantly, General Xiao wished he had more hands.

“General, the livestock have arrived. How should we arrange them?” Butler Feng reported.

“Let’s go! Grandfather will take you to see something exciting!” He carried his granddaughters, followed by two imposing officers carrying Xiao Jun and Xiao Qi.

The courtyard was abuzz with activity. A group of milk sheep and five dairy cows—three large and two small—gathered on a patch of open ground.

Xiao Yao was surprised. She knew little about this era but understood that dairy cows were rare. To have so many at once—where had her grandfather managed to find them?

“I heard these cows produce milk that’s good for the body, so I brought a few. Unfortunately, two died on the way. Goat milk isn’t bad either, though its taste is stronger. If you boil it with tea leaves, the smell will be milder,” General Xiao explained, teaching the children to distinguish between cows and goats.

Xiao Yao was deeply moved. Her grandfather had gone to great lengths to bring these animals back for them. She hugged his neck tightly and rubbed her face against his, only to be outdone by Xiao Yuan, who gave their grandfather a loud kiss and proudly showed off to her sister.

The sisters exchanged smiles, but no one was happier than General Xiao. Granddaughters were truly treasures, and he resolved to pamper them even more in the future.