As dusk settled in, the sky darkened, and both the convicts and the officers were each handed a large pancake to eat. Due to the effects of the Xisui Pill, Lu Xingyan had felt unusually warm throughout the day. However, he could distinctly feel that certain aspects of his body were undergoing a transformation. Just a few days ago, he was weak and frail, but today, he felt as though he had boundless energy.

His changes did not go unnoticed.

A low-ranking officer, planted by Du Hangwu to monitor the Lu family, hurried over to report. “Boss, I saw it with my own eyes yesterday. Lu Qing gave his youngest son something to eat. The boy was sickly and weak yesterday, but today, he’s as good as new!”

The officer spoke with conviction. “Whatever Lu Qing gave him must have been some kind of divine medicine!”

Since the Lu family was blessed by a divine being, it made sense that they would possess divine medicine. Who knows, maybe it could even extend one’s life!

Du Hangwu’s eyes gleamed as he glanced over at the Lu family in the distance. Divine medicine, he thought.

At that moment, Lu Qing personally brought the pastries that the ancestor had given him earlier in the day to Liu Xiangbai. He leaned on his cane, with Lu Xingyao by his side to support him.

Liu Xiangbai was holding a large pancake in one hand and his sleep mask in the other, feeling conflicted about whether to wear it that night. After all, it was just a dream, not the real thing. If he got too caught up in it, it wouldn’t be right.

Lu Qing bent down slightly and placed the paper package into Liu Xiangbai’s hands. “Nephew, here, take this.”

It had been a month since they had left the capital, and being able to eat something made by his wife at this time would surely keep him up with joy tonight.

Lu Qing couldn’t help but sigh. Their ancestor was truly too kind-hearted.

Liu Xiangbai was slightly taken aback as he looked at the paper package. “Uncle Lu, what’s this?”

Thinking it would be a pleasant surprise for him to discover, Lu Qing smiled warmly. “Open it and see for yourself.”

Liu Xiangbai quickly tucked the sleep mask back into his clothes, close to his body, and then took a bite of his pancake before opening the package. In the dim firelight, he saw several delicate pastries inside.

At a time like this, having a rough pancake was already a blessing, let alone something like this. Moreover, he was worried that if life became too comfortable, he might forget the principles he was holding on to.

He reached out to return the package to Lu Qing. “Uncle Lu, I don’t have a sweet tooth. Please, you take it back.”

Lu Qing was momentarily stunned, but before he could say anything, Lu Xingyao reached out to take the package, only to have his hand slapped away by his grandfather.

Lu Qing’s expression turned slightly odd. “Can’t you tell who made these?”

Liu Xiangbai was puzzled. “Who?”

Lu Qing hesitated for a moment, thinking that perhaps the taste would be more revealing than just looking at it. He suggested, “Why don’t you try one and see?”

Lu Xingyao, however, thought it was unnecessary. If Liu Xiangbai didn’t want it, there were plenty of others who did—like himself. The pastries looked delicious, and Liu Xiangbai’s wife seemed to have excellent culinary skills!

Liu Xiangbai remained silent. Under Lu Qing’s insistence, he took a piece and put it in his mouth. The fragrance was subtle, and it wasn’t too sweet—truly delicious.

Even so, he still handed the package back. “Uncle Lu, I’m really not into sweets. I appreciate the gesture, but you should keep it.”

He thought that such good food should be kept for the Lu family.

Lu Qing was speechless.

Even Lu Xingyao was taken aback. “Seriously? You really can’t tell who made this?”

How could this be? After being married for seven or eight years, shouldn’t he be able to recognize his wife’s cooking?

Liu Xiangbai was now genuinely confused. Should he have recognized it?

Lu Xingyao’s mouth twitched as he pointed to the package. “Your wife made this! She got up early to offer it to our ancestor, who kindly brought it back for you.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but silently praise their ancestor—a truly benevolent deity.

His mind once again solidified the image of their ancestor: white hair, white beard, holding a dust brush, with an ethereal aura.

Liu Xiangbai was stunned. His hands trembled as he held the package, looking down at the pastries. Could it really be that his wife made these?

His eyes grew teary, and hot tears fell onto the paper package.

His wife, who used to burn herself just making tea, could now make pastries. How much hardship had she endured during this time? As her husband, he had been completely oblivious.

No wonder she looked so haggard when he saw her in his dream last night. Wait—could it be that the wife he saw last night wasn’t just a dream?

Realizing this, Liu Xiangbai’s tears flowed even more freely. He clutched the package and suddenly knelt before Lu Qing, even bowing his head in gratitude. His heart was filled with endless gratitude towards the Lu family’s deity.

Lu Qing quickly motioned for his grandson to help Liu Xiangbai up. “Our ancestor mentioned that your wife and daughter are doing well. Your daughter is lively and full of energy, very endearing. You can rest easy.”

Liu Xiangbai wiped his tears with his sleeve. “Thank you, Uncle Lu. Please pass my deepest gratitude to your ancestor. I will never forget this kindness, and I will do anything to repay it in the future.”

He knew that at this moment, he had nothing to offer but words of thanks. However, he was determined that when his circumstances improved, he would repay the Lu family for all they had done.

Lu Qing stroked his well-groomed beard, which he had carefully cleaned with water that morning. “Our two families have suffered together. From now on, let’s consider ourselves one family.”

Liu Xiangbai was even more moved. The Liu family was in dire straits, and if not for the Lu family’s help—providing warm clothing and food—they might have perished on the journey, just like many of the other convicts.

Now, the Lu family was treating them as one of their own.

Liu Xiangbai also knew the real reason behind his father’s deathbed plea. In the eyes of others, his father had died because of the Lu family, and the Liu family suffered as a result. But in reality, his father’s actions were not only to help the Lu family but also to protect their own.

With a tyrant on the throne, Lu Qing had been a formidable ally for his father. Though they appeared to be rivals, they were actually each other’s shield in court.

As a censor and a self-proclaimed upright official, his father had offended many powerful figures. Without Lu Qing, he would have been isolated in court, and the Liu family would have faced a much worse fate.

A censor’s death in protest brought the tyrant under scrutiny, forcing him to step back. This allowed the Lu family a chance to escape and ensured the survival of the Liu family.

Failing to help those who fall on hard times only invites misfortune upon oneself. His father had taken a gamble with his life to protect more people.

Liu Xiangbai bowed deeply to Lu Qing. “I understand, Uncle Lu.”

From now on, the Liu and Lu families will be of one mind.

As the atmosphere grew warmer, Lu Xingyao suddenly spoke up. “Since you don’t want these pastries, I’ll take them!”

He reached out to grab them.

But Liu Xiangbai quickly wrapped the pastries back up tightly and offered the half-eaten pancake instead. “Young master, how about you have this instead?”

Lu Xingyao was speechless.

Liu Xiangbai, who had refused the pastries multiple times earlier, now seemed reluctant to part with them. Lu Xingyao waved his hand dismissively. “You should keep it for yourself!”

He was only joking earlier. After all, he had food gifted by their ancestor, so he wasn’t interested in someone else’s leftover pancake.

As night fell, when Gu Xingzhao arrived to deliver the tables, the old man was happily slurping instant noodles, snug in his down jacket.

Since Gu Xingzhao couldn’t always manage to deliver meals, the Lu family had resorted to making instant noodles themselves.

She thought to herself, after eating instant noodles for so long, the Lu family must be tired of them. Perhaps she should bring them something else to eat.

Just as Gu Xingzhao was pondering this, she noticed that Liu Xiangbai was also there—not only writing characters for Lu Youtang to copy but also teaching Princess Shunyu how to read.

She was surprised. “Why is he teaching?”