Poor Wu Zhenhai, on his wedding night, was interrogating Zhang Qun.
As it turned out, Mingzhu's guess was indeed correct.
It was indeed someone stirring up trouble, and after they were caught, it was confirmed that they were from Beijing.
However, this person was just doing a service for money; the identity of their superior was unknown.
Wu Zhenhai was so angry he was itching to fight, but there was nothing he could do except continue investigating.
The day after Mingzhu's wedding, Song Jingyang and Xiu'er left the border town with several children.
"It's still different now." Xiu'er looked at Mingzhu, who was dressed as a married woman, and felt a mixture of relief and melancholy, like a daughter getting married.
Wu Zhenhai, who was talking to Song Jingyang, sighed silently upon hearing this.
What's the difference?
He interrogated Zhang Qun for half the night and arrested people for the rest of the night, but he didn't even touch Mingzhu's clothes. What difference could there be?
It's all tears when I think about it.
"Nothing's different," Mingzhu said. "I will always be Huo Mingzhu."
"Well said!" Xiu'er reached out and hugged her, then let a few children come over and hug Mingzhu.
Thinking of the children leaving and how they might not recognize each other when they met again, Mingzhu burst into tears.
"Look at you, you promised you wouldn't cry," Xiu'er said. "Isn't it the same as having someone by your side if we keep in touch?"
"Yes, same."
I've seen you off for a thousand miles, but we must part ways eventually.
Despite their reluctance, the carriage carrying the group slowly departed.
Mingzhu gazed intently into the distance, tears staining her long eyelashes.
"Stop looking, I'm the only one left." Wu Zhenhai said irritably, putting his arm around her shoulder. "From now on, you'll have to rely on me, understand?"
Mingzhu ignored him.
Wu Zhenhai wiped away her tears. "Alright, I spent half the day yesterday carrying you back and forth, and in the end I didn't get any benefit from it; I haven't even cried yet!"
Where can I go to seek justice?!
"Let's go," Wu Zhenhai said irritably, "We still have to go through the family reunion."
Although there are no other relatives in the family besides Wu Yu, the sense of ceremony is still important.
The most important thing is the sense of ritual.
"Let me tell you, although you may be impatient and don't care if other children call you 'Mom'," Wu Zhenhai's voice was cautiously pleading, "Wu Yu is still a child, and he also wants a mother... and you are his legal mother."
"Are you sure he wants a mother? And I'm the one?"
That kid is a master at feigning weakness, but he's got a lot of ideas.
Mingzhu dared to say that Wu Zhenhai didn't understand his son at all.
Wu Zhenhai: "If he dares to disown you or show you disrespect, I'll break his legs!"
You little brat, you've grown wings and think you can disobey me now that you're eating and drinking my food!
Mingzhu ignored him.
The two returned to the general's mansion, where Wu Zhenhai arranged for an incense table to be set up.
Even though their parents are gone, the two of them still have to kowtow to them properly, asking them to bless their descendants from the afterlife.
Everything is ready, except for Wu Yu.
Wu Zhenhai frowned and ordered someone to summon Wu Yu.
What time is it? He doesn't even bother to pay his respects. This child really needs a serious lesson in manners.
He didn't expect anything from Mingzhu — Mingzhu was too lazy to even care about him, let alone his son. He had to teach him properly himself.
A little while later, the maid came running in a panic to report that Wu Yu had gone missing.
Wu Zhenhai was so anxious that he sent someone to search for him, and then hurriedly prepared to leave himself.
None of them are easy to deal with.
It would be better to break their legs sooner rather than later!
Mingzhu stopped him, saying, "Let's go to his room first."
"Has something come to mind?"
"Let's go take a look first."
Mingzhu went to Wu Yu's room and, sure enough, found a letter under his pillow.
The maid was in a hurry and had no idea that he would leave a note and run away from home, so she didn't find anything.
After reading the letter, Wu Zhenhai was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed.
Do they all treat him like he's invisible?
A child who's not even as tall as two blocks of tofu dares to run away from home!
No, to be precise, it wasn't that she ran away from home; she mingled with Xiu'er and the others' large entourage returning to the capital and went with them.
"Should we let him go?" Mingzhu suggested. "My sister-in-law will help take care of him."
Wu Yu wants to see Yanran, but constantly keeping him away isn't necessarily a good thing.
"Get out, get out, tell him to get out!" Wu Zhenhai said angrily, then shamelessly came over and hugged Mingzhu from behind, "Now I only have you left."
Mingzhu: "..."
It feels like he's faking it.
He should be hoping Wu Yu leaves.
It has to be said that Wu Zhenhai has absolutely no patience for children.
Mingzhu said, "Have someone send a message to Song Jingyang, telling him to take good care of him; so he doesn't have to hide anymore and can live a good life."
This piece of junk!
I'm so angry!
And yet, I still have to clean up his mess.
Don't come back! If you do, beat him up first!
But for now, let it be. There are no more burdens, so he and Mingzhu can have some fun.
Xiu'er rolled her eyes at the new little guy in front of her. "He looks honest, but he's actually full of bad ideas. He's just like his father!"
Wu Yu lowered his head and fiddled with the hem of his clothes, looking shy and introverted, making it hard to criticize him.
"Playing the victim works exactly the same way," Xiu'er snorted again, telling him to go play with Guagua and the others.
Wu Yu, however, went to a corner and took out a book from his pocket to read.
Xiu'er: "..."
This is definitely not like Wu Zhenhai.
Wu Zhenhai was a rough man and didn't like reading.
After a while, Song Jingyang came in, looked at the group of children, and asked Xiu'er, "Are you exhausted? Time for dinner?"
Xiu'er yawned. "I'm not tired, just really sleepy."
Feeling guilty, Song Jingyang came over and massaged her shoulders a couple of times. "Then go to bed early tonight. Someone, set the table."
The maids and servants quickly entered, and a sumptuous feast was laid out on the table.
The last dish was mutton soup, which is said to be a local specialty.
Song Jingyang knew that Xiu'er didn't like mutton, so he said, "Take it away, take it away."
Who did this work? So careless!
Xiu'er said, "No, it's cold. Let the children have some. It smells quite nice to me today."
"Really, don't force yourself."
Some sheep have a strong, gamey smell, and Xiu'er can't even stand the smell.
"It's alright." Xiu'er got up and served soup to the children herself.
As she was serving, Xiu'er suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear!"
Song Jingyang was startled. "Xiu'er, what's wrong?"
"I'm sure I'm pregnant." Xiu'er beamed with joy.
Song Jingyang hadn't reacted yet. "What?"
"Of course it's the child!" Xiu'er rolled her eyes at him.
Song Jingyang stammered, "What child? Ah, Xiu'er, you're pregnant? When did the doctor come? Why didn't you tell me?"
Xiu'er: "I just found out the doctor didn't come."
Song Jingyang: "Huh?"
Xiu'er said smugly, "I've never liked mutton soup, but it smells so good today, I even want to try it. This is so unusual, I must be pregnant."
Song Jingyang: "..."
He felt that Xiu'er was obsessed with having a child.