Chapter 66: Soaking in the Hot Spring Together

Once outside, Shen Xiyun pouted and began shedding tears.

His chest heaved with each sob—though small in stature, his tears flowed like a gushing stream, a truly pitiful sight.

“Young master, please don’t cry.”

Zhang Ke crouched before him, anxiously wiping away his tears.

“Your father is in a bad mood because he’s in great pain from his injuries. Please don’t be upset.”

But Shen Xiyun only cried even harder, his sobs growing more intense.

“A’yun.” A familiar voice called from outside the courtyard.

Shen Xiyun looked over through tear-blurred eyes, vaguely making out Liu Fuying’s figure. Immediately, his lips quivered, and he let out an even louder wail.

“Mother… Waa… Mother!”

He threw himself into Liu Fuying’s arms, clinging tightly to her neck as he wept bitterly.

“What happened? Who bullied you?”

No sooner had she asked than Liu Fuying felt the question was unnecessary. What else could it be?

Shen Xiunian had quite the temper.

That spineless man, venting his anger on a child as soon as he returned. So full of resentment, yet he didn’t dare confront Pei Zhouwu.

Crouching on the ground, Liu Fuying held the weeping child, her heart breaking.

Usually, it wasn’t so noticeable. In terms of appearance, Niannian actually resembled Pei Zhouwu more. But whenever A’yun cried, she was immediately reminded of Pei Zhouwu—the way A’yun’s eyes welled up with tears was entirely inherited from him.

Of the two children, one looked like him, and the other had his temperament.

A’yun’s nature was also calm and unhurried, gentle and mild, just like Pei Zhouwu.

This pair of twins had been difficult to carry, but they were worth every bit of the hardship.

The moment the two children were born, the worries she had carried for years were instantly resolved.

Heaven truly had shown her mercy.

And for that, she was grateful to Pei Zhouwu.

“Don’t cry anymore. Come back with Mother. Your sister is tired from playing at Aunt Jieling’s house and is now sleeping in the courtyard. Go wake her up, alright? It’s time for lunch.”

“Mm… okay.”

Liu Fuying picked up the child. She couldn’t be bothered to step back into Shen Xiunian’s room and turned to leave.

“Mother, does Father not like me?”

“He…” Liu Fuying hesitated.

Of course, Shen Xiunian didn’t like the children, but she couldn’t teach them to resent their own father. In name, Shen Xiunian was their father, and whether he liked it or not, he held that role.

How painful it was to be disliked by one’s own father—Liu Fuying had experienced it herself.

Such bitterness was something she truly didn’t want her children to taste.

With that thought, she glanced sideways at Shen Xiunian’s courtyard in her peripheral vision.

He had returned triumphantly from battle, his temper harder than before. But did he think he was the only one who could lose his temper?

He had sown this seed himself, and no matter how much he wanted to spit it out, he would have to endure it and swallow it whole.

“Your father is tired from the journey. Let him rest. He’ll be better in a couple of days.” She reassured Shen Xiyun.

Shen Xiyun obediently wiped his tears, then suddenly frowned as if remembering something.

“What’s wrong?” Liu Fuying noticed his change in expression.

He rubbed his eyes, wiping away the tears, and replied, “Mother, there’s a man at the gate who looks just like Father and Sister.”

“What?” Liu Fuying was taken aback.

“I called him Father, but he said he wasn’t.”

“You shouldn’t call strangers Father. That’s not right.”

“But… he… he looks like a great general on horseback. The Jade Beauty sister next door… also looks like her father. That general and sister really look so alike, Mother.”

Shen Xiyun’s words were mumbled and sticky, his articulation not yet clear at his age, making it all the more impressive that he managed to express himself so accurately.

Liu Fuying understood.

The meaning was that today, Shen Xiyun had bumped into a man dressed as a general at the door, and since he resembled his sister, he thought that man was his sister’s father—and thus his own father.

“Really, this Yuquan City is truly something.”

Liu Fuying muttered to herself. Was one Shen Yiliang not enough? Now there was another who looked even more like Pei Zhouwu?

She began to wonder if Pei Zhouwu’s father had hidden illegitimate children outside. One might be a coincidence, but another was unlikely to be an accident.

“What is Mother saying?”

“Nothing. How about Mother takes you and your sister up the mountain to soak in the hot springs?”

“Okay, I like soaking in hot springs. Thank you, Mother.”

Shen Xiyun kissed Liu Fuying on the cheek. Liu Fuying grinned, pushing aside the matter of Shen Xiyun calling the wrong man “Father” at the door.

Earlier, when Shen Xiunian entered, he had sternly warned those below not to spread the news of Pei Zhouwu sending him back. He even said there was no need to tell his own family, so naturally, the matter never reached Liu Fuying’s ears.

After lunch, while Old Madam Shen was fussing over Shen Xiunian, Liu Fuying took the two children and left.

Their destination was the hot spring inn on the Back Mountain of Yuquan City.

She hadn’t informed Old Madam Shen or Shen Xiunian about going up the mountain, and she even planned to stay there for several days.

Since Shen Xiunian wouldn’t let her live in peace, she naturally intended to repay him in kind.

He never seemed to learn his lesson, and Liu Fuying was thoroughly fed up.

At the Qingyou Pavilion in the southern part of the city.

Pei Zhouwu had just finished his medicinal bath and stepped out of his room when Kong Linyu approached him, walking alongside as he relayed a message: “General, the prepared medicine has been cooled to a suitable temperature. Would you like to drink it now?”

“Mm.”

“Also, I’ve inquired about it. The Back Mountain of Yuquan City is a well-known hot spring mountain, and there’s a very elegant inn built on it. Would you like to go soak in the hot springs, General? The physician also said that hot springs can promote blood circulation and dispel cold, which would be beneficial for your injuries. I know you’re eager to return home, so why not go up the mountain to recuperate? The mountain air is also better, more suitable for healing.”

Pei Zhouwu paused, raised his hand to pat Kong Linyu on the shoulder, and said, “You arrange it. Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s no trouble at all. This is what I should do. Then I’ll make the arrangements right away. We’ll go up the mountain today.”

Kong Linyu grinned and ran off, leaving Pei Zhouwu deep in thought, his steps slowing.

After the victorious battle, an imperial decree had arrived from the court in Shangjing, instructing him and Shen Xiunian not to rush back to the capital to report. Firstly, both were seriously injured and needed time to recuperate. Secondly, there was concern that the Western Jin enemy forces, unwilling to accept defeat, might turn back and launch a surprise counterattack.

The decree stated a return date three months later.

But since the war had already been quelled and Western Jin was severely weakened, it would be unable to stir up trouble again for at least several years.

He couldn’t wait three months. He planned to return quickly and personally search for Su Yueying.

Once his health improved a bit more, he would write back to the emperor, requesting permission to return earlier.

So, he didn’t refuse Kong Linyu’s suggestion of soaking in hot springs to aid his recovery.

The sooner he recovered, the sooner he could return.

He hadn’t brought much luggage to Yuquan City in the first place, so he didn’t need much time to prepare. Under Kong Linyu’s arrangements, he ascended the mountain before sunset.

The inn on the mountain was indeed elegant and tranquil. Kong Linyu thoughtfully selected the quietest guest room for Pei Zhouwu.

After dinner, he rested for a while before heading out lightly dressed to soak in the hot spring.

Kong Linyu insisted on personally preparing Pei Zhouwu’s medicine, unwilling to entrust it to anyone else. He mentioned that there were attendants waiting at the hot spring in the Back Mountain, and they would guide Pei Zhouwu to the spring.

But when he entered the woods of the Back Mountain, there wasn’t a single attendant dressed in the inn’s uniform in sight.

Pei Zhouwu searched alone for a long time before finally spotting the faintly steaming hot spring ahead.

He followed the stone path downward but abruptly halted halfway.

There were people in the hot spring below—two women.

One sat in the spring with her back turned, her shoulders bare, while the other stood by the spring’s edge in profile. It was Jin Li, who was by Liu Fuying’s side.