The lunch Zhao Wanfu had prepared was especially sumptuous.
Though it couldn't compare to the peerless delicacies Lin Xuan cooked, it still had the girls eating with delight.
The meal ended amid peace and happiness.
Afterward, Lin Xuan played and rested with his daughters in the living room.
Zhao Wanfu took out the offerings and paper money he had prepared for the tomb-sweeping, along with gold ingots and other items.
The four little girls' attention was immediately drawn to what he had brought out.
Xuanzhu asked curiously, "Daddy, what are those things Grandpa Fu brought out?"
Xuanxi tugged at Lin Xuan's hand and pointed at the offerings. "Daddy, we've already eaten. What are those foods for?"
Xuanhan looked around and shook her head. "There's nobody else who needs to eat."
Xuanyou said nothing. She kept staring at the offerings and paper money, her big dark eyes darting about as if she were thinking hard.
Lin Xuan smiled. "These are all things used during the Qingming Festival to pay respects to our departed ancestors."
"The food is called an offering. These things that look like silver notes are paper money, and there are also gold ingots made of paper."
"Every Qingming Festival, people bring out offerings, paper money, and gold ingots to pay respects to their ancestors."
"Oh~"
The four little girls nodded together.
"So the Qingming Festival is a holiday for our ancestors," Xuanzhu said.
Lin Xuan affectionately tapped her little nose. "Clever!"
Xuanxi raised her little hand. "I know something else! These offerings, paper money, and gold ingots are all for Grandpa!"
"That's right!" Lin Xuan ruffled her little head.
Xuanhan and Xuanyou hopped down from Lin Xuan's arms. "Daddy, Daddy, let's hurry and go see Grandpa!"
Seeing how eager the girls were, Lin Xuan took them to the Lin Family's carriage, and they headed to his father's grave.
When they arrived, Zhao Wanfu first cleared the weeds from the grave. Then he laid out the offerings and began burning the paper money.
Xuanzhu and the others stared wide-eyed as sheet after sheet of paper money and paper gold ingots turned to ash.
"So that's how you give paper money and gold ingots to Grandpa."
All four girls looked as if they'd suddenly understood.
Then they looked at one another and nodded together, as if they'd reached a silent understanding.
Next, Xuanzhu took out a string of precious spirit beads.
Xuanxi took out the top-grade jade she wore.
Xuanhan undid the purple-gold treasure bracelet on her wrist.
Xuanyou pulled a glazed treasure bead that radiated immortal energy from her pocket.
The four little girls stepped forward together and tossed their treasures into the fire.
"Grandpa, these crimson spirit beads are for you!"
"Grandpa, you can have my mystic ice jade!"
"Grandpa, my purple-gold treasure bracelet is worth a lot!"
"And my glazed treasure bead, Grandpa! You can take it and use it!"
Lin Xuan had been burning paper with Zhao Wanfu and hadn't expected the girls to do this.
Seeing all four treasures ruined by the fire, Lin Xuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "My darlings, Grandpa can't receive these things."
"Huh?"
"How can that be?"
The little girls were stunned.
These treasures were worth so much. What a pity if Grandpa couldn't receive them!
Lin Xuan had no choice but to get up and explain in detail how people paid respects to their ancestors.
The girls understood almost instantly.
Then they all looked a little dejected. They felt they'd done something wrong, and that Grandpa surely wouldn't know how they felt.
Lin Xuan affectionately gathered them into his arms and said gently,
"My darlings, even if Grandpa can't receive your things, he'll still be very happy."
"Really?"
Delight shone in the girls' eyes.
"Of course. When paying respects to our ancestors during Qingming, what matters most is the feeling behind it." Lin Xuan smiled. "As long as you mean it, that's the best gift."
"I see!" Xuanzhu and the others smiled in relief.
Ding!
The system's voice suddenly rang in Lin Xuan's mind.
"You and your daughters have celebrated a traditional holiday in the most meaningful way. Reward: Great Evolution Pill Scroll!"
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "That's amazing!"
According to the system, the Great Evolution Pill Scroll contained all the knowledge and techniques of alchemy.
With this scroll, he could instantly identify every material needed for alchemy.
He could even turn decay into wonder and refine all kinds of rare pills.
It was, in short, a super encyclopedia of alchemy.
He'd merely spent a holiday with his daughters and received such a reward. Lin Xuan felt that life was simply wonderful!
Ding!
"Would you like to claim your reward?"
"Claim it!"
"Successfully claimed the Great Evolution Pill Scroll! Importing data... 20%... 100%. Complete!"
In an instant, all the knowledge and information recorded in the scroll flooded into Lin Xuan's mind.
"You really are Daddy's good daughters!"
Overjoyed, Lin Xuan hugged each of his four daughters and kissed her.
Xuanzhu and the others were delighted. Clearly, what they'd done today had made Daddy very happy.
"Daddy, can we stay and play in the lower realm a little longer?" Xuanyou didn't want to return to the Northern Profound Heaven just yet.
Xuanzhu and the other two felt the same. The lower realm was still so new to them.
"Of course. Besides sweeping the tombs, there's swinging and flying kites during Qingming. Daddy will make sure you have a wonderful time." Lin Xuan gave them an affectionate smile.
"Yay!"
The little girls were overjoyed.
At dusk,
Lin Xuan returned to the Jade Carriage with his daughters.
From far away, he spotted an old man in splendid court robes standing near the carriage, anxiously pacing back and forth.
So Lin Xuan didn't enter the Jade Carriage right away. Instead, he landed with his daughters some distance away, and they walked toward it together.
Wu Jingxian heard the commotion and turned around. He saw that Lin Xuan looked like an immortal descended from heaven, with extraordinary bearing.
The four daughters beside him were all adorable, like little fairies.
Wu Jingxian immediately looked excited and hurried forward to bow. "Might you be the master of this Jade Carriage, young sir?"
Lin Xuan gave a slight nod. "And you are?"
Wu Jingxian's hands trembled with excitement. He replied respectfully, "I am Wu Jingxian, chancellor of the Blue Cloud Kingdom!"
"Young sir, you must be the Emperor Consort of the Northern Profound Heaven, correct?"
"You know who I am?" Lin Xuan asked with an amused smile.
"Not exactly. I have never had the honor of seeing the Emperor Consort in person."
Wu Jingxian shook his head.
"A friend of mine who studies the Dao of literature described the Emperor Consort's appearance and the four little princesses to me. So I took the liberty of making a guess."
"I see." Lin Xuan nodded. "What do you need from me?"
Wu Jingxian's smile vanished, and he spoke gravely:
"Your Highness may not know, but the Blue Cloud Kingdom is currently being oppressed by the Blazing Flame Tribe from beyond our borders."
"Today, warriors from the Blazing Flame Tribe will enter the imperial palace to demand cities and wealth. I fear they'll also forcibly take some of our innocent women."
"The entire kingdom is suffering under this burden. His Majesty therefore ordered me to come and beg Your Highness to save the Blue Cloud Kingdom from its dire plight!"
Happy May Day to everyone reading this!
Before you continue