Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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From removing Scholar Shangguan in Yunzhou to entering the Second Department of the Ministry of War, and now to the competition at the archery range, she and the cub had been fighting monsters for so long, almost all of which were to lay the groundwork for Mission Seven. Now that the cub had finally been able to get close to General Zhenyuan, Su Xi felt that the cub would definitely be able to finish it quickly.
Sure enough, within ten minutes, a message popped up on Su Xi’s screen:
[Congratulations on completing Main Quest Seven: Master better martial arts, military strategy, and physical strength, and gain the appreciation and support of General Zhenyuan!]
Congratulations on receiving a Gold Coin reward of +500 and a Points reward of +10!
Holy crap, this task is complete and I got 10 points?! Su Xi, watching from outside the screen, almost jumped up. She quickly checked her current points and found she had 54. The new points could unlock 5 more sections.
And a notification screen pops up again to remind you of the current status:
[Wealth and Assets]: The Emperor bestowed upon him a chest of gifts, a residence in the outer city, and two farms.
[Talented subordinates]: Changgong Wu, bodyguard Bing, master craftsman Ding, worker x30.
[Heroes to befriend]: Zhong Ganping (tenth richest merchant in the capital), Minister of Revenue (gray), Old Madam (gray), General Zhenyuan, Minister of War, Fifth Prince (gray).
[Friends]: Yun Xiupang.
[Reputation and Prestige]: Mysterious young divine physician, ninth-rank scholar, fifth-rank official.
[Expandable Harem]: Han Yue, daughter of the Minister of War.
Su Xi excitedly scanned the list line by line. The grayed-out characters in the “Heroes to Befriend” list were probably people who were using each other but couldn’t completely side with the cub, while the ungrayed characters were probably completely on the cub’s side and could be considered as one of their own.
In addition, this time the status had an extra line compared to the last time – expandable harem.
What?! Su Xi’s eyes lit up outside the screen. This game really lets you build a harem?!
She suddenly became incredibly excited.
But then she remembered what her son had told her before he shot the arrow: “I’ll grow old alone.” She immediately deflated. Oh well, she’d just leave it to fate.
….
The sun was about to set in the game interface when the cub finally emerged with two guards. Although Su Xi didn’t go in with him, she knew roughly what had happened inside.
However, when he came out, a cartoon girl with the same round face rushed out to see him off. It was unclear whether she had appeared in the conversation between General Zhenyuan and the Minister of War. At this moment, the girl had a name and was called Han Yue.
Han Yue twisted her handkerchief, not daring to look up, and asked shyly in a low voice, “I wonder how Young Master Lu will return to the city?”
The unspoken meaning behind these words was, “Could we go back together?” Although Su Xi, watching from outside the screen, was not entirely satisfied with this daughter-in-law earlier, the sunset and the beautiful scenery made her feel like she was watching a cartoon or idol drama. She couldn’t help but smile knowingly, like a loving mother.
She was just wondering how her son would answer, whether he would blush, when she saw—
The chubby-faced boy in his tight-fitting clothes focused intently on the horse being led over by a guard in the distance. As soon as the horse arrived, he strode down the steps and disappeared in no time. When Han Yue looked up again, she found herself alone, with only the cold wind around her.
Han Yue who was bewildered in the wind: “…”
The baby didn’t hear—
He really didn’t hear it—
After mounting his horse, he anxiously looked towards the empty space beside him and whispered to Su Xi, “Are you still there? Why didn’t you come in earlier?”
Su Xi was disappointed and frustrated: …
Kid, look in the mirror. Doesn’t your chubby face scream “I have no sense of romance”?
Su Xi tugged at the baby’s sleeve, and Lu Huan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he knew she wanted to push him towards the daughter of a high-ranking official, and he was extremely resentful, he couldn’t bring himself to provoke her by using someone insignificant. He couldn’t tolerate anyone else besides her.
Moreover, she might not even be angry— not only would she not be angry, she might even be genuinely happy for him.
Thinking of this, Lu Huan pursed his lips, only to be doused with a bucket of cold water again…
However, General Zhenyuan’s attitude towards him changed drastically today. He seemed to intend to recommend him to join the army and go to the northern border. This brought them one step closer to their previous goal. Su Xi excitedly counted points at the table, and Lu Huan was also happy.
The two returned to the official residence together.
There were many people and chatter on the road, making it inconvenient to talk. So after returning to the official residence, Lu Huan poured himself a cup of tea to quench his thirst before pondering how to bring up the matter of finding refuge with her.
While she wasn’t by his side, he consulted many books and found some solutions, but he didn’t know if they would work. Whether they would work or not, he would have to take her to see that sorcerer…
Su Xi, of course, had no idea that the cub had made such rapid progress and had already found a solution. She was still pondering the cub’s earlier words about “dying alone,” wondering if it was just the start of his rebellious phase or if he really intended to become a “lonely widower.” In any case, it was a very troublesome problem.
Lu Huan gazed into the void, his heart churning with emotions—if he could truly have her appear before him, then perhaps one day, the desires in his heart wouldn’t be so difficult to express.
All he wanted was to see her once in his lifetime.
Just as he was about to speak, someone outside called out, “Master, someone has brought you something.”
Lu Huan’s thoughts were interrupted. He frowned and said to the ghost beside him, “I’ll go get it. Wait for me, don’t leave.”
He then got up and went out, but before leaving, he looked back and said again with concern, “I’ll be right back. Don’t leave for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.”
Su Xi chuckled and flicked his sleeve, signaling him: Go on, I’m not leaving.
Lu Huan stood at the door, looking back at her, a hint of helplessness and bewilderment in his eyes. After a long pause, he finally left. Yes, he thought, the reason he so desperately wanted her to appear in his physical form was simply because he couldn’t see her, touch her, or reach her, and he didn’t know when she would disappear. This feeling was like a torment of constant anxiety and uncertainty, with no end in sight…
Su Xi waited inside for a while, then couldn’t resist and followed them outside. There stood two unfamiliar servants, holding something in their hands— a sachet personally sewn by the daughter of the Minister of War.
Su Xi: !!!
However, the next second, the cub closed the courtyard gate, looking very impatient, and with a cold expression, refused to let the two people in.
Su Xi: …
Su Xi secretly thought that once the cub closed this door, it would probably completely sever his connection with the daughter of the Minister of War.
Sure enough, she checked the status in the upper right corner of the screen and found that in the Harem section, “Han Yue” was gradually dimming and then disappearing from that section.
The boy’s harem was wiped out by his own hands, leaving the column empty and blank.
Su Xi: …
The cub closed the courtyard gate and walked back. As if he had also noticed that she had come out, his indifferent expression softened slightly. He looked into the void, and the candlelight under the eaves fell on his eyebrows, making him appear peaceful and gentle.
Looking at the changes in the cub’s expression, Su Xi suddenly realized that the cub could only let his guard down in front of her. Thinking this, she felt a sudden tenderness in her heart and didn’t bother to complain about the cub being such a straight man. She just went over and took the cub’s hand.
Lu Huan led her back, knowing that she had just witnessed that scene. Perhaps still unwilling to give up, he looked at the sleeve on his left side that was slightly fluttering in the wind, hesitated for a moment, and still asked, “You… I have already refused, do you still want the daughter of the Minister of War to be with me?”
The girl was nice, but the little one clearly didn’t like her.
Su Xi then tugged at the cub’s right hand, saying, “If you don’t like it, don’t force it.”
The little one’s mood seemed to have finally improved, a slight smile playing on his lips as he asked, “Why? Why don’t you want to give in anymore?”
There was a hint of anticipation in his voice, but how could Su Xi possibly express such a long string of words?
So Su Xi: …
Knowing she couldn’t express it, Lu Huan asked another question: “If another woman comes along, would you still want to play matchmaker and push me towards her?”
Su Xi, watching from outside the screen, suddenly felt that this little brat was holding a grudge too much. She had only meddled in other people’s business once today. Did he expect his mother to admit her mistake?
She slapped the boy’s right hand with obvious disgust, indicating: No, I’m no longer involved in your marriage.
The little one’s hand was a bit red from being slapped so roughly, but when the little one raised her hand and looked at the back of it, the smile on her lips became even more uncontrollable.
He tried his best to hold back, but a glint of light still shone in his eyes.
He stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back and his eyebrows raised, continuing to interrogate Su Xi: “Is it because you heard me say you wanted to grow old alone, and you stopped insisting, or…?”
The little one seemed slightly nervous. He looked away, lowered his head, kicked a stone on the ground with his toe, his ears turned slightly red, and asked softly, “Or is there another reason?”
Su Xi tugged at his left sleeve, indicating that this was the first reason.
Lu Huan stiffened, the glimmer of hope that had risen in his heart was abruptly extinguished by cold water and he couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He then forced a smile and looked into the void— he shouldn’t even be looking there, he couldn’t see her.
He said in a hoarse voice, “Is that so?”
“If one day I meet a kind and virtuous woman, and I fall in love with her, would you still hope that I can get married and grow old with someone else?”
Su Xi certainly hoped for that, but she noticed that her son seemed a little disappointed again, and she didn’t know whether he wanted her to answer “yes” or “no” to this question.
—No, why does this kid keep throwing a bunch of fatal questions at me out of nowhere lately?
She didn’t answer, so Lu Huan assumed her answer was “yes”.
He forced a smile, his shoulders slumped, the light in his eyes faded, and he silently walked into the house.
Su Xi watched the little dumpling’s dejected figure as she walked away: …
Are you unhappy again? Are you unhappy again?!
Kid, have you gotten your period yet?!
The author has something to say:
Su Xi: Han Yue, please wait! I think my child can still be saved!
The cub: …You’ll understand when I personally nip each one of them in the harem as soon as it appears.
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