Over the past few days, the heir of Yonghe Marquis had hardly slept.

He had already prepared himself for the possibility of sacrificing his son.

If the bandits brought his son to the battlefield, as a leader of Qi Guo, he had no other choice.

Between the country and his child, he could only choose the country.

Even if it meant dying in battle, even if this was his only son, he must defend Yongzhou to the end.

“Your Highness… Your Highness…” General Ao’s loud voice echoed from fifty meters away.

In a flash, he had galloped to the camp’s entrance, leaping off his horse and quickly running to the heir, “Your Highness, the little master has been rescued!”

The heir trembled as he took his son: “He…”

General Ao explained, “He should just be unconscious. We need to hurry and call the military doctor.”

The heir cradled his son as he headed towards his tent: “Quick, fetch the military doctor…”

He then instructed those nearby, “You go back to the marquis’s residence and inform the lady that the little master is safe.”

“Yes.”

After the military camp examined the little master, they reported that he was merely unconscious due to lack of food over the past few days, and he needed to recuperate his stomach.

Hearing this, the heir sighed in relief and then asked General Ao about the details of the situation.

A quarter of an hour later, Qin Fang and Han Zhen returned, with the five bandits either killed or captured.

An hour later, the heir personally beheaded the bandit leader, hanging the head outside the military camp.

In warfare, one should either come honorably or not at all; he detested such despicable tactics.

After hanging the head of the bandit, the heir felt a sense of relief.

He invited General Ao, Qin Fang, and Han Zhen into his tent, personally pouring three cups of tea for them: “Today’s matters, I can’t thank you enough. I raise this cup of tea as a toast to you.”

Alcohol was prohibited in the military camp, hence the tea. “In a couple of days, it’ll be the New Year. You’ll have time off during these days. On the third day of the first month, I’ll host you three at the marquis’s residence.”

“Understood.”

As the three of them exited the heir’s tent, they ran into the anxious Lady of the Heir.

The three quickly stepped aside.

Upon entering the tent, the Lady of the Heir immediately grabbed her husband and asked, “Where’s our son? How is he?”

The heir guided her around the screen, revealing their child sleeping inside. “Don’t worry, the military doctor has checked him. He’s only unconscious and is now asleep. The kitchen has already made porridge; once he wakes up, he can eat. The doctor said he hasn’t eaten well for several meals, so he can’t eat a lot right now; he can only drink some porridge to nourish his stomach.”

The Lady of the Heir had been tense, but upon seeing her son’s peaceful face, she gradually calmed down.

Having lived at the border with her husband, she naturally had more courage than ordinary women, allowing her to regain her composure quickly. “It’s good if he’s fine, it’s good.”

The heir said, “You haven’t rested well these past few days and must be exhausted. Why don’t you sleep next to the child for a while?”

Feeling relieved but also indeed tired, the Lady of the Heir nodded, “Mm, I’ll listen to you. By the way, how was our child rescued? Where did you rescue him from?”

When asked this, the heir didn’t hold back and explained Qin Fang’s battle plan, followed by Han Zhen’s rescue of the child.

The Lady of the Heir listened with her heart in her throat: “Thanks to Captain Qin this time; it really was thanks to him.”

The heir replied, “I’ve invited their three families to our residence on the third day of the new year. You must treat them well.”

“Of course, you can count on me,” she said.

---

Qin Fang and Han Zhen returned to the family quarters, and everyone went their separate ways to their homes.

Knock, knock, knock…

Late at night, someone knocked on the door.

Huang Huzi opened the door while asking, “Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

Hearing Qin Fang’s voice, Huang Huzi hurriedly opened the door. “Has the master returned?”

Qin Fang nodded, “How is everything at home?”

Huang Huzi replied, “Everything is fine. Madam Han is also at our residence.”

Qin Fang paused, “Go tell Madam Han that he has returned. If he finds the house empty, he will surely worry.”

“Understood,” Huang Huzi said, rushing out.

Kun Shi also woke up and came out.

Upon seeing Qin Fang, he said, “Master, you must be tired these past few days. Give me the horse; you should rest first.”

Qin Fang nodded, “Mm.”

The courtyard was not small; the movements in the front yard might not be heard in the inner yard.

When Qin Fang reached the main courtyard and saw that the door was closed, he knocked.

The gatekeeper was Aunt Yu, who was light of sleep.

As soon as she heard the noise, she got up, worried about intruders.

Upon seeing it was Qin Fang, she breathed a sigh of relief. “You’ve returned, Master.”

Apart from Granny Lian, Aunt Yu was also sleeping in the main courtyard, as she usually guarded the door.

Qin Fang nodded.

Yang Haiyan and Granny Lian also heard the commotion and got up.

Yang Haiyan rushed out, and just as she reached the door, she saw Qin Fang approaching.

She couldn’t help but say, “You’re finally back!”

It had been five days since he returned home, and she was genuinely worried about him, fearing he might have run into trouble.

Qin Fang embraced her, inhaling the fragrance on her body, and said wearily, “I’m back. I haven’t slept in several days.”

Yang Haiyan felt heartbroken upon hearing this and asked, “Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something first?”

Qin Fang replied, “Alright, I’ll go take a bath first.”

Yang Haiyan insisted, “Aunt Yu, prepare water for the master.”

Qin Fang interjected, “No need, just cold water is fine. I’m used to cold water; I’ve always bathed with cold water in previous years.”

Yang Haiyan disagreed: “That won’t do. Normally, your body is fine, so using cold water is acceptable, but you’re so exhausted today. If you bathe with cold water, you’ll catch a cold. You have to listen to me; otherwise, I won’t let you sleep on my bed.”

Qin Fang was helpless but felt warmth in his chest.

Aunt Yu went to prepare the water, while Yang Haiyan urged him to rest on the bed for a moment.

Hearing the commotion, Granny Lian had already gone to tell Aunt Fan to prepare noodles.

Noodles were the quickest meal to make at this hour.

Qin Fang closed his eyes on the bed but soon fell asleep.

Yang Haiyan hurriedly brought a blanket to cover him. Not long after, she heard him snoring.

This man, who usually didn’t snore, was truly exhausted this time.

After not sleeping for several days, how could he not be tired?

---

At the Han Residence

Han Zhen returned home, exhausted.

He knocked on the gate of the courtyard but waited for quite a while without hearing Yang Dahua’s voice.

Feeling anxious, he rushed inside.

Upon reaching the door, he was so eager that he didn’t notice it was locked from the outside and kicked the door. “Dahua! Dahua, are you there?”

There was no response from inside; it was utterly silent.

Han Zhen quickly took out a fire stick.

He didn’t need to light a lamp; he could see that the room was empty.

In an instant, a chill swept over him.

What if Dahua was in trouble?

Panic washed over him.

Just then, Huang Huzi’s voice came from outside: “Centurion Han… is Centurion Han there?”

Han Zhen snapped back to reality: “Here.”

His voice was hoarse, as if all the energy had been drained from him.

Huang Huzi didn’t notice his condition and said, “Han Baifu, Madam Han is at our residence. The master said you have returned, and if he doesn’t see Madam Yang, he will worry, so he sent me to let you know.”

Han Zhen suddenly dashed out of the house: “What did you say? Dahua is at your residence? She’s alright?”

Only then did Huang Huzi notice that Han Zhen seemed unwell.

He explained, “Yes. A few days ago, the master returned home and mentioned that there were bandits in the county. Madam was worried the bandits might come to the family quarters, so she brought Madam Yang over to stay. Madam Yang has been at our residence these past few days, and she’s doing very well, so don’t worry.”

Han Zhen let out a sigh of relief and felt reassured. “Since that’s the case, I won’t go to pick her up; I don’t want to disturb her. Tomorrow, I’ll come over to get her. Please thank your wife for taking care of Dahua.”

Huang Huzi replied, “Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Seeing that Qin Fang was sound asleep, Yang Haiyan decided not to wake him up for a bath or a meal, letting him sleep through until dawn.

By the time Qin Fang woke up, the sun had already risen high.

Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua had eaten breakfast and were sitting in the sun, working on clothing and embroidery.

Yang Dahua was naturally making clothes for the child, while Yang Haiyan was embroidering handkerchiefs and making socks.

Not far from the kitchen, the sounds of pigs could be heard, though they were somewhat distressing.

After a while, the sounds ceased.

The pig’s cries were indeed horrifying; someone from the adjacent household heard them and came over to inquire, only to learn that they were slaughtering pigs.

A few families were tempted and came to order a few jin of fresh pork to take home.

The pigs were purchased by Yang Haiyan from Uncle Hong in the countryside.

As it was the twenty-ninth day of the new year and the thirtieth was approaching, she planned to have a roasted pig feast; it would be much livelier than just the two of them, she and Qin Fang.

Stretching lazily, Qin Fang came out of the house and saw Aunt Yu guarding the courtyard. “Where’s my wife? I thought I heard pig cries,” he asked, sounding quite tragic.

Aunt Yu quickly replied, “They’re slaughtering pigs in the kitchen. Madam said she would prepare a roasted pig feast for tomorrow. I’ll go get hot water for you to wash up.”

Qin Fang said, “No need; I’ll do it myself.”

He preferred to handle things himself when possible.

Aunt Yu insisted, “Then I’ll bring you something to eat.”

Qin Fang didn’t refuse this time: “Alright.”

After Qin Fang washed up and had breakfast, he went to the kitchen to take a look.

Granny Lian, Aunt Fan, and Aunt Hong were all busy in the kitchen; some were washing pig offal, while others were plucking pig hair.

They weren’t plucking the hair one by one but rather scraping it off directly with a knife.

In the courtyard next to the kitchen, Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua were engaged in women’s work.

Kun Shi had drawn water from the well and looked up to see Qin Fang: “The master is here.”

Everyone hurriedly greeted him, “Greetings, Master.”

Qin Fang replied, “No need for formalities.”

Yang Haiyan also heard his voice: “You’re up, dear?”

Qin Fang walked over to her, nodded to Yang Dahua, and said to Yang Haiyan, “I woke up late.”

Yang Haiyan remarked, “I knew you’ve been exhausted these past few days. Why didn’t you rest more?”

Qin Fang pointed towards the pigs.

Yang Haiyan recalled the previous tragic pig cries and understood.