Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power
Chapter 645: Three Happy Events

Chapter 645: Chapter 645: Three Happy Events

He couldn’t bear to turn back and return, especially with Brother Changhe so close by. If he returned now, he could only come back tomorrow, which was really frustrating.

After thinking for a bit, he came up with a plan.

He walked to the side of the road and, under Lian Musu’s curious gaze, shouted toward the rooftops on either side, "Good folks, pass a message to my wife for me. I’ve found Brother Changhe and his family, and I might not return home tonight. Tell her not to worry."

When he had left, it was with the help of Hu the Fatty, and naturally, the return would be the same.

He guessed that some of the Men in Black might be following him, so he decided to take a gamble!

After waiting a while, there was no movement.

Lian Bingcheng, persistent, called out again, "Good folks, if you agree, just drop a stone and squeak once. If you pretend you’re not there, then I might just go jump in the river, eh? When Hu the Fatty arrives, I’ll tell him it was your cold shoulder that drove me to do it."

Lian Musu did not understand and, hearing him mention jumping into the river, wanted to say something, but was stopped by a gesture from him.

After a long wait, just when Lian Bingcheng was losing his patience, a stone suddenly fell near his feet, its origin unclear.

Lian Bingcheng immediately beamed, knowing he had guessed correctly. After all, Hu the Fatty always seemed to know his every move; the idea that no one was following him was unbelievable.

With a joyful call, he beckoned Lian Musu, "Great-nephew, let’s go."

Lian Musu glanced at the rooftops of the houses on either side of the road, his eyes twinkling, as a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

He remembered Xiao Bao mentioning that they hadn’t seen Clan Uncle because Guo Neng had located him, and someone was protecting him...

Now, traveling was urgent, and he would discuss it more upon returning.

Putting aside the thoughts racing through his head, Lian Musu hurried on.

Meanwhile, at the unassuming residence they were heading to, there was chaotic preparation underway, busier than a festival with people bustling about.

In the kitchen, Lih Qingshu was in charge of cooking, Su Ran was assisting, and Lian Wanzhen was tending both the fire and his recently recovered mother, while Qian Chen, not quite knowing what to do, also helped with the fire.

Luckily, the new yard they had found was much larger than the last, including a sizable kitchen, otherwise, it couldn’t have accommodated so many people.

In the spacious courtyard, several large tables had already been set up, adorned with cold dishes, clearly in preparation for a feast.

Not far from the large tables, Skinny Monkey and others were busy.

Some split wood, others swept, hung lanterns, picked vegetables, slaughtered chickens, and drew water—no one was idle, and even the injured Wang San was hobbling back and forth to help.

Well, there was one idler, and that was Lian Changhe.

He tried to help in the kitchen, but got his nose full of ash and was chased out.

He tried to help split wood, but would stop to grin foolishly now and then, always splitting it wrong and was eventually taken over by Skinny Monkey.

He tried to help sweep, but while daydreaming, he accidentally swept ash onto the freshly washed vegetables.

Essentially, he was incompetent at everything, but the champion at wandering thoughts and foolish grins.

He couldn’t help but be distracted, not because of carelessness, but because he was overjoyed. Today was bustling with excitement because it was a celebration of three enormously joyful events:

The first event was that Uncle Ma had escaped danger and was gradually getting better. He was already able to get up, which was the news they had received from Qingfeng Tower today.

Although Lian Bao and Uncle Ma were left behind in the Internal Guard Bureau, the bureau wasn’t too bad. They had not mistreated them and had even helped them send messages to Qingfeng Tower occasionally. This was why Lian Changhe and Wang San were able to remain calm.

The second event was that Lian Musu had passed his re-examination, and the results had been posted today. His Majesty had declared to all under heaven that Lian Musu was innocent, and the huge boulder hanging over everyone’s hearts had finally landed.

The third event was that the heavens were spirited, and our ancestors looked after us—the Guo family was suddenly seized by His Majesty overnight. Their greatest enemy was no more, and they no longer had to worry about Guo Neng hunting them. The dangling sword above their heads was also gone.

These three great matters, each and every one, were joyous events worth celebrating. However, initially everyone was worried about Uncle Ma and Lian Musu, so they hadn’t celebrated.

Only today, with double happiness arriving and receiving the good news that both Uncle Ma and Lian Musu were alright, could they no longer contain themselves. Incited by Lian Wanzhen and others, approved by Lian Changhe, and organized by Su Ran, they celebrated joyously as if it were New Year’s, determined to have a grand celebration.

In addition, there was another small joy—the silver they had extorted from the Guo family was still intact. Previously, no one had the mind to care about this money until someone yelled out in the afternoon, and they finally remembered these delightful shiny objects.

Lian Changhe, with a joyous smile on his face, excitedly rubbed his hands, walking back and forth in the yard, occasionally instructing where the lanterns should be hung. The rest was up to him, just to wait for his eldest son, Lian Musu, to come home!

He had originally suggested buying some firecrackers to set off and dispel any bad luck, but the idea was vetoed. It wasn’t a festival or a season for it, and it was too ostentatious, so he had to give it up.

The courtyard was bustling with activity, one dish after another was served, and Su Ran broke out in sweat, though she was very happy, feeling an unprecedented ease. Despite the absence of Lian Bao and her little daughter, the days were getting better, filling her with many hopes.

Lian Wanzhen squatted by the fire, showing off his skills to Qian Chen while keeping an eye on his mother.

Seeing the sweat on Su Ran’s forehead, he immediately stood up and said, "Mother, why don’t you take a rest? We can handle things here."

With his large, imposing stature, he seemed like a small mountain, suddenly making the stove area appear smaller.

As he spoke, he wiped his sleeves against himself before going to wipe the sweat from his mother’s face.

Su Ran allowed him to wipe her, holding several dishes in her hands, her face showing a serene smile, "I’m not tired. I’m too happy to sit still."

"All right then," Lian Wanzhen didn’t insist. He was genuinely happy today; if it weren’t for some matters, he would have liked to challenge Qian Chen to a match: "If you get tired, don’t push yourself. Just tell your son."

"Hmm," Su Ran responded, passing the dishes to Lih Qingshu.

Lih Qingshu had a slight smile in her eyes. As she was about to serve the dish from the pot, Qian Chen, seeing this, dropped the firewood he was holding and quickly slid a small bottle from his sleeve, opening it in one fluid motion.

Just as Lian Wanzhen was about to crouch down, seeing him so excited, he leaned forward to take a look: "Oh, Spicy Chicken, add more."

Spicy Chicken was one of Qian Chen’s favorite dishes, and he knew it well. Even if the other dishes didn’t need chili powder, Qian Chen had gotten used to it, but this dish was essential.

Might as well add it, Lian Wanzhen had constantly reminded Qian Chen in his ear, so Qian Chen already knew which dishes his mother loved and absolutely could not have them, and which ones could go either way.

Qian Chen didn’t hold back, with a wave of his hand, he evenly spread half a bottle of chili powder over the dish in the pot, not missing a speck.

Then Lih Qingshu took the plates to serve, filling them with what was enough for three servings.

Lian Wanzhen wiped his hands and watched the serving, stepping closer to Qian Chen and slapping him on the back jovially: "Qian Chen, your skill in sprinkling chili powder has improved quite a bit. Look how good that is—every bite looks just as spicy."