Chapter 314: Supreme Family Status
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Rong Che and Lu Chao Chao crouched outside the gates of the Zhu family courtyard.
“Let me see! Let me see!” Lu Chao Chao tiptoed, but she was still nowhere near Rong Che’s waist in height.
“Do you still want me to be your stepfather?” Lu Chao Chao placed her hands on her hips in anger.
Rong Che shivered in fear and hurriedly lifted her up, placing her on his shoulders. “Can you see now? What’s happening?”
“I see! I see!” Lu Chao Chao lowered her voice as her little head peeked over the courtyard wall.
“Wow! Aunt Rong is cupping his face! Uncle Zhu is stepping back…”
“Aunt Rong is crying—so sad…”
“Uncle Zhu is wiping her tears.”
“Heh… Aunt Rong just threw herself into Uncle Zhu’s embrace! Ah! Aunt Rong winked at me!”
Hearing this, Rong Che set her down. “Looks like it’s done. You little rascal, how do you even know Miss Rong?”
Rong Che had long known of Miss Rong’s existence. Her parents had been city guards, not part of the Rong family army, but they were still warriors who had died defending the city. Later, she was taken in by the Zhu family. Every time Old Zhu received his military pay, he would buy her some trinkets and occasionally bring home some snacks…
But Rong Che, whose mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Shi Yun in the capital, never noticed anything unusual.
“Chao Chao is super smart! Chao Chao knows everything!” Lu Chao Chao patted her chest proudly.
In the original story, Vice General Zhu was briefly mentioned. He and Rong Che had a strong bond. After Rong Che defected from Northern Zhao and led a campaign against Lu Jing Yao and others, Vice General Zhu followed him without hesitation. He harbored feelings for Miss Rong but hesitated due to his age and his status as a military man, believing himself less refined than scholars. Thus, he repeatedly rejected her.
Later, when the Old Madam and Miss Rong were captured by Lu Jing Yao, they met a tragic end. The two, despite their mutual affections, never confessed their true feelings.
Rong Che carried Lu Chao Chao away. “We’ll be returning to the capital in three days. Have you finished your assignments?”
Holding a skewer in one hand and fruit juice in the other, her mouth smeared with oil, Lu Chao Chao froze, nearly on the verge of tears. “Why didn’t you wait until I finished eating to bring that up?!”
Rong Che grinned—he couldn’t bear to see her too happy.
“Did you once say that if you became my dad, you’d do my homework for me?” Lu Chao Chao wiped her mouth and looked at him excitedly.
Rong Che: “??”
“I’ll split it with you! You really are my dear dad!” Lu Chao Chao sweetly called out, “Daddy, daddy, daddy…”
She swiftly dragged Rong Che back to the general’s manor, pulled out her assignments, and split them in two.
“Half for you, half for me.”
Rong Che stared blankly at the exam paper in his hand, his face twitching.
Three days before returning to the capital, the two burned the midnight oil to finish the assignments. Even battles hadn’t exhausted Rong Che this much—his eyes were darkened with fatigue.
“Done! Next time, don’t make me do this. If your mother finds out, she’ll kill me!” Rong Che looked terrified.
Just as he finished speaking, Vice General Zhu walked in, grinning ear to ear.
“Oh? Haven’t even entered the house, and you’re already scared of your wife?” Vice General Zhu smirked.
Rong Che lifted his chin. “Scared? Who’s scared? She wouldn’t dare sit if I’m standing! I have a high status at home!”
Vice General Zhu glanced at him—really??
He lifted his foot, pulling up his pant leg. “Notice anything different?”
Rong Che: “??”
“What’s different? Your feet stink?”
“Scram! You stink! These are new shoes, new socks—made by my fiancée!” Vice General Zhu lifted his chin, full of pride.
“So what if you have a fiancée? Big deal! I have one too! Look at this sachet… Yours has only one bamboo stalk, but mine has two!” Vice General Zhu smirked smugly.
Rong Che rolled his eyes.
Ah, the endless rivalry between men.
After a brief rest, Rong Che led the troops back to the capital.
“Zheng Yue, you’re bound to be promoted this time. With you in the Desolate City, I can rest easy.”
“Your mother constantly worries about you. His Majesty will likely allow you to stay longer this time—spend more time with her,” Rong Che said, growing more and more fond of Lu Zheng Yue.
“Yes. And thank you for your guidance, Uncle Rong,” Lu Zheng Yue responded steadily.
In just two years, Lu Zheng Yue had grown immensely. He had left home burdened with resentment, proving himself with keen insight and fearless determination, earning many military merits in the process.
Their journey to war had been swift, taking only three days. The return trip took half a month, allowing the imperial physicians to rest.
On the way back, they encountered the Eastern Ling delegation escorting their only royal bloodline, Xuan Ji Chuan, home.
Rumors said Eastern Ling had ceded land and paid an enormous ransom to reclaim their hostage prince.
“Look! It’s the carriage of the Eastern Ling prince.”
“I heard he will inherit the throne once he returns.”
“That boy is much smarter than the current emperor of Eastern Ling. His only fault was being born to a lowly concubine, which got him sent as a hostage. Letting him return is like releasing a tiger back into the wild!” Some soldiers frowned, watching the approaching convoy.
“That boy has ambition.”
“Not to mention, Xuan Ji Chuan once served as a retainer to Princess Zhao Yang. Such humiliation—won’t he exact vengeance on Northern Zhao?”
The troops halted on either side of the road, waiting for the Eastern Ling convoy to pass.
Yet, the grand procession came to a stop right before the army.
Xuan Ji Chuan lifted the carriage curtain and approached Lu Chao Chao. When his attendants attempted to follow, he raised a hand to stop them.
Rong Che and Lu Zheng Yue gripped their swords, their gazes dark.
After all, this future ruler of a nation had once been Lu Chao Chao’s retainer. It was not a proud past.
Before everyone’s eyes, Xuan Ji Chuan bowed deeply to Lu Chao Chao. “Ji Chuan thanks the princess for her protection in Northern Zhao. May you take care until we meet again. Ji Chuan… will always be your retainer.”
With that, he turned to leave.
“I will take good care of Sister Xuan Yin.” As their carriages passed, Lu Chao Chao whispered.
The young man abruptly turned, flashing her a faint smile.
Vice General Zhu nudged Rong Che. “Your luck is incredible! Even your stepchildren could shake Northern Zhao with a mere stomp.”
Rong Che beamed with pride. “This is my fortune.”
Entering the city, crowds of citizens lined the streets to welcome them.
Rong Che smiled, and Lu Zheng Yue stood tall, knowing that at last, he could make his mother proud—be her pillar of support.
“Dad, dear dad… Mother is surely furious that I snuck out of the capital. So, I sent a message saying you took me away! Hold strong, dear dad!” Lu Chao Chao whispered inside the carriage.
Rong Che: “???!!”
I’m doomed!
As the army arrived at the gates, a woman stood waiting, a feather duster in hand.
Before the entire capital and military, Rong Che—dressed in silver armor, sword in hand—suddenly lost all strength and slid off his horse.
With a loud thud, he knelt before Shi Yun, wailing.
“Wife! I was wrong!”
Capable of cutting down enemies in battle yet submitting to his wife—no contradictions here!
Vice General Zhu stared blankly at him. “Didn’t you say you stand while she wouldn’t dare sit?”
Rong Che sighed. “Yes, I stand…”
“She lies down.”
That counts as high status at home, right?