Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 504: Grandfather, Let’s Go Home!

Chapter 504: Chapter 504: Grandfather, Let’s Go Home!

Bai Chen looked at his mother with an indifferent attitude, answering, "I’m not only worried about big brother, but also about sister-in-law!"

Prince Zhen Nan’s wife scoffed, "You never take anything seriously, no wonder Miss Liu isn’t interested in you!"

Bai Chen tilted his head towards the Princess, "Mother, I’m so misunderstood; I’m very proper in front of Liu Xi."

"You should settle down already, you weren’t interested in Miss Zhong Lianyi before, but she also wasn’t interested in you. I see Liu Xi as a cultured and sensible girl; since you like her, you should treat her well."

"Yes, mother, I understand." Bai Chen smiled faintly, lowering his gaze.

...

Mu Yan, Zhan Lan, and their party were rushing back to Lianbian City via the main road, carrying the coffin of Grandfather Zhan Xinzhang.

Zhan Lan placed her hand on the icy coffin of her grandfather, holding back tears in her eyes as she said, "Grandfather, we’re going home!"

She never expected this expedition would separate her from her grandfather by life and death.

The cold northern wind blew against Zhan Lan’s face, while Mu Yan beside her gently touched her cold hand.

"Lan’er, come into the carriage."

Zhan Lan nodded as the weather grew colder, the ice casket wouldn’t melt, allowing her to transport her grandfather’s body with peace of mind.

Grandfather surely wanted to be buried together with Grandmother in Ding’an City, and Zhan Lan wanted to fulfill his wishes.

Zhan Lan and Mu Yan got into the carriage, and with a heater inside, she felt much warmer. Leaning on Mu Yan’s shoulder, she asked him how he came to Western Rong.

Mu Yan told her about the events of these days in the most calm and steady voice.

Zhan Lan knew he was glossing over the difficulties, but she understood without exposing Mu Yan.

Mu Yan held Zhan Lan’s hand with one hand and embraced her with the other.

Zhan Lan nestled in his arms, feeling immensely secure and content. Fortunately in this lifetime, her heart wasn’t completely cold; fortunately, Mu Yan was still alive in this lifetime.

Gai Yina and Xiao Chen sat in the same carriage, Gai Yina holding the urn of her husband Xiao Yin in her hands.

Xiao Chen watched as his mother clutched his father’s ashes as if they were a treasure; if not for her daring to secretly bury them, his father might never return to his homeland.

Xiao Chen furrowed his brow looking at Gai Yina; her face showed few signs of aging, yet her body revealed them.

"It’s too exhausting for you to hold." Xiao Chen took the urn of his father’s ashes and placed it in the wooden box.

Gai Yina felt uneasy heading to Nanjin; holding the urn made her feel more at ease, but now with nothing in her hands, she clasped them together, lowering her gaze.

Suddenly, one of her hands was pulled over by Xiao Chen, and Gai Yina’s long eyelashes trembled as she looked up at him.

Xiao Chen lowered his head, staring at her hand, "Did the King of Western Rong mistreat you?"

He pulled up his mother’s sleeve to find lash marks, guilt and anger made Xiao Chen feel deeply disturbed.

Gai Yina nervously drew out her arm and said, "It’s nothing, how have you been all these years?"

She dared not meet Xiao Chen’s eyes, feeling she hadn’t been a good mother.

"Mother." Xiao Chen’s voice reached Gai Yina’s ears.

Gai Yina looked up sharply; Xiao Chen called her mother. Years ago, when Xiao Chen left Western Rong, he swore never to call her mother again.

"Son." Gai Yina looked at Xiao Chen, tears brimming in her eyes.

Xiao Chen choked up a bit, "You don’t have to worry, once we reach Nanjin I will protect you, no one will harm you again."

Gai Yina smiled softly, she knew Xiao Chen was a kind and loyal child. The King of Western Rong was cruel, rescuing her was not easy.

Years ago she spent her fortune to have assassins pursue Xiao Chen, forcing him to leave Western Rong to prevent him from being controlled and persecuted by the King.

"Back then, it was the only choice for mother." Gai Yina wanted to explain that the assassins were never meant to kill him.

Xiao Chen smiled, "Mother, I know, those assassins only aimed to force me away, otherwise how could I have left Western Rong alive."

Gai Yina looked at Xiao Chen remorsefully, "I’m sorry."

Xiao Chen held his mother’s hand, looking at her brown eyes and exquisite face. His mother was the most beautiful woman in Western Rong; even at forty, she was still stunning.

Yet such exotic looks were not unusual in Western Rong, but in Nanjin she would appear different from others.

Perhaps this was why his mother was anxious.

Xiao Chen reassured her, "Mother, Father’s name is now cleared; you are the wife of a hero. With me, with Zhan Lan at your side, no one in Nanjin will dare to bully you."

Gai Yina felt her eyes well up as a crystal tear fell.

Her son understood her concerns.

She didn’t want her presence to cause criticism for Xiao Chen.

"Son, is Miss Zhan Lan your main general? Your relationship with her is good, isn’t it?"

Xiao Chen smiled, "It has always been good."

"Do you like her?" Gai Yina asked, her clear eyes fixed on Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen’s heartbeat accelerated suddenly; his mother had seen through his affection for Zhan Lan in an instant.

He didn’t answer directly, so Gai Yina continued, "Is she married?"

Xiao Chen lowered his gaze, "She’s married, her husband is the Regent King who rescued you from the Western Rong palace."

Gai Yina observed Xiao Chen’s disappointed expression, "Son, your main general and that Regent King are a perfect match; you will find your happiness too."

She spoke frankly, hoping to cut off Xiao Chen’s unrealistic thoughts.

Xiao Chen awkwardly chuckled, "Mother, I made you laugh; whatever I could do for her, the Regent King can do just as well. Things I couldn’t do for her, the Regent King can still do; son understands."

This time he saw Mu Yan risking life and limb for Zhan Lan; even though Mu Yan never spoke of the hardships of the journey, Xiao Chen, who had traversed the same path in escaping, understood.

Surviving that path was fortunate, not to mention Mu Yan repeatedly ventured into Western Rong’s most dangerous tribes and the palace to clear a path for Zhan Lan; all this was witnessed by Xiao Chen, confirming his trust in leaving Zhan Lan with Mu Yan.

A man who loves a woman can overlook societal judgments to favor her, protect her, and regardless of her rejections, continue forward, even standing from her perspective to assist her, potentially risking life.

Mu Yan’s love was even more profound than his own.

Along the return journey, everyone was lost in their thoughts, most eagerly longing for home, but only one was absent-minded.