“Really, I heard it clearly outside the door!”

The old maid lowered her head and spoke in a hushed tone.

She hadn’t expected the third young master to be so vigorous—doing that in broad daylight…

It seemed like his health had truly recovered!

“That rascal! His body just recovered, and he’s already like this? Won’t it be too much for him to handle?”

Fang Lan muttered worriedly, unconsciously turning to glance at Lin Yuxin beside her.

She wanted to ask but felt too embarrassed.

Lin Yuxin had sensed something was off ever since the old maid entered.

Now, seeing her grandmother hesitating and looking at her expectantly, she figured there was a question that needed answering.

Putting down her chopsticks, she asked directly:

“Grandmother, if you have a question, just ask!”

“Well, Yuxin… your third uncle has recovered. Do you think he can handle… intense physical activity? Like… you know, that?”

Fang Lan hesitated for a long time, but even after speaking, she still hadn’t made it clear.

How could she possibly bring up such a topic in front of an unmarried girl?

That rascal had completely embarrassed her!

“???”

Lin Yuxin looked at her grandmother, full of confusion.

[What exactly was she talking about? Had her third uncle done something outrageous after she left?]

Why did her grandmother seem so exasperated?

“You old woman, can you speak clearly? How is Yuxin supposed to understand when you talk like this?”

Zhao Shijie, who had been listening, became anxious, thinking something serious had happened to his third son again.

“What do you know?”

Fang Lan shot her husband a glare. Can’t he read the room?

Was this something they could discuss openly in front of so many young ones?

The children around them were looking on curiously, eager to know what was going on.

Zhao Shijie was completely baffled by his wife’s glare, but he didn’t dare press further.

He could only wait anxiously on the side, muttering, “What could possibly be something I can’t know?”

Fang Lan ignored him. Instead, she leaned closer to Yuxin and whispered:

“Yuxin, does your third uncle have any lingering effects from his illness? If he… um… has intimate relations, will it affect his health?”

“Pfft! Cough, cough, cough!”

“Oh dear! Yuxin, are you alright?”

Seeing her granddaughter choking, Fang Lan hurriedly patted her back with concern.

Lin Yuxin was completely stunned by her grandmother’s words, coughing uncontrollably.

[My god! Third Uncle, you’re something else! You just recovered, and you’re already making babies? He’s using all that pent-up energy in bed? Heh, could it be that he’s trying to give me another little cousin?]

“Cough, cough, cough!”

Zhao Shijie finally understood his wife’s earlier glare. That rascal! So reckless? His body just recovered, and he’s already exerting himself like that? Clearly, his training had been insufficient—he needed to toughen up!

After composing herself, Lin Yuxin finally spoke:

“Grandmother, don’t worry. Third Uncle’s treatment left some residual medicine in his system. It’s good for him to release some energy. In a few days, once the medicine is fully absorbed, he’ll be completely fine.”

“Oh, that’s a relief!”

Fang Lan let out a breath, finally reassured.

She no longer cared what the young couple was up to and urged everyone to continue eating.

The young boys around the table, however, were completely baffled.

What happened to Third Uncle? Why won’t anyone explain? This is so frustrating!

They were so distracted that they barely focused on eating.

“Hurry up and eat! You need strength for training later. Don’t let Yuxin see that all your practice over the past month was just for show!”

Zhao Shijie, seeing the boys getting distracted, immediately glared at them with a serious expression.

Instantly, the boys started shoveling food into their mouths like a gust of wind.

As soon as he finished, Zhao Chenxi stood up and said, “Grandfather, I’ll take my younger brothers to the training grounds first. You and Yuxin take your time.”

“Go ahead! Train well, and don’t disgrace the Zhao family!”

Zhao Shijie’s tone was strict.

“Yes, sir!”

With that, the boys practically sprinted away, as if a ghost were chasing them.

Lin Yuxin found it amusing. [Are my cousins really that scared of Grandfather? They act like mice in front of a cat!]

She finished the last of her rice, set down her chopsticks, and prepared to leave.

“Yuxin, are you full? Do you want some more?”

Fang Lan noticed Yuxin putting down her chopsticks and asked with concern.

“I’m full, really!”

Lin Yuxin waved her hands quickly, refusing.

[If I eat any more, I’ll turn into a pig! Grandfather’s family is way too enthusiastic—I can’t handle it!]

Zhao Shijie chuckled at his granddaughter’s inner complaint and spoke up to ease the situation:

“Alright, since we’re done eating, let’s head to the training grounds. Your Fourth and Fifth Uncles should be back by now.”

Lin Yuxin’s eyes lit up. She stood up excitedly.

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

“I won’t be going. You all go ahead! I’m not interested in watching those boys spar. I’ll stay behind to prepare some things for Yuxin to take with her when she leaves.”

Fang Lan, seeing how eager Yuxin was, naturally understood what she was thinking. She didn’t expose her but simply excused herself.

“Grandmother, Aunt, we’ll be off then.”

Lin Yuxin bowed to them politely before following her grandfather to the training grounds.

As she watched Yuxin leave, Fang Lan sighed emotionally.

“That girl must be exhausted today.”

“Yes,” Shi Hui nodded and said softly. “When she first came in, her face was pale. She must have used a lot of energy treating Second Uncle.”

“Ever since she returned, she hasn’t stopped,” Fang Lan murmured with guilt. “Hanya told me that when Yuxin first came back, she spent every day trying to expose that scumbag’s true face. And once she arrived at the Zhao residence, she was even busier—constantly tending to the illnesses in this family.”

She felt deep remorse.

She knew that if Yuxin hadn’t come, their family would still be full of the sick, injured, and weak, surviving only on the Emperor’s past goodwill toward the Zhao family.

Although there were many young ones in the family, none of them were old enough to take charge. The eldest was only sixteen.

The fourth and fifth sons were technically adults, but they were just rookie soldiers.

For the past two years, there had been no wars, meaning no opportunities for them to earn merit. If they wanted to rise in rank, they needed battle experience.

But deep down, she hoped there would never be another war.

War had kept her husband away from home. War had taken her eldest son.

War had left her second son crippled for years.

Yet, except for the third son, whose frail health had prevented him from joining the army, all the other men in the family were determined to serve.

She was destined to live a life of constant worry.

Noticing her mother-in-law’s sadness, Shi Hui gently held her hand and comforted her:

“Mother, don’t be sad. Look at how things are improving—Second and Third Brother are recovering, and the younger boys are growing strong. As long as they learn from Yuxin, they’ll have a better chance of surviving on the battlefield. We must look forward.”

Shi Hui was a wise woman, but she was also a woman who had suffered much.

Fang Lan’s eyes reddened as she looked at her daughter-in-law.

“Shi Hui, you’ve had it tough… If you ever—”

“Mother, don’t say it! I was born a Zhao, and I will die a Zhao! If you ever say that again, I’ll leave and become a nun, praying for Yingbo’s spirit instead!”

Shi Hui’s face turned cold, cutting off her mother-in-law’s words.