OFTLHFRO C114

Chapter 114: The Scheme

When Luo Mingchen returned to the General’s Mansion with the house deed and land deed, Liu Lanyun was already waiting in the back courtyard with her people.

“Where did you go?”

With Luo Mingchen, Liu Lanyun no longer bothered to put on any act, and her tone naturally carried little courtesy.

Her two sons had been beaten by Luo Mingchen so badly that they hadn’t been able to leave their rooms for several days. When she went to Huo Yuntao, all she got in return were words telling her to endure.

He even said that as long as she had a way, she could deal with Luo Mingchen however she liked.

But Luo Mingchen was that powerful. What could she do—call every single guard in the General’s Mansion to surround and beat him down?

At first, Liu Lanyun hadn’t wanted to cause them any more trouble. But Luo Mingchen truly seemed intent on taking all those valuables away from the General’s Mansion.

That left her with no choice but to gather most of the household guards.

Until the date of Huo Yan’s departure to the frontier was set, she could not allow the guards of the estate to grow lax.

Luo Mingchen glanced at the people behind Liu Lanyun and said,

“Bought a residence. Planning to move there tonight.”

Liu Lanyun was stunned.

“Tonight?”

“Yes. Once Huo Yan returns, we’ll move.”

As he spoke, Luo Mingchen looked at the guards she had brought and asked with a smile,

“Is the Madam General thinking of a fight?”

“Of course not. I’m merely offering advice.”

With a smile still on her face, Liu Lanyun looked at Huo Yuhui and the other two children.

“The children are still so young. Do you really mean to drag them around from place to place? Dalang will be sent to the frontier—it doesn’t matter where you go, but what of the three children?”

Luo Mingchen didn’t hesitate.

“Of course they’re coming with us.”

At this, Liu Lanyun smiled again.

“The two younger ones, fine. But the eldest? He’s already twelve, isn’t he? If he follows you to that bitterly cold land, there will be no teacher to guide him. If he wants to learn warfare, he doesn’t even have the physique for it… Do you really not think of the children’s future? If you ask me, since you’re living comfortably here, just let them stay and study. I’ll hire the best tutors to instruct them, so they won’t grow into backwater bumpkins.”

Luo Mingchen couldn’t care less about such things. Books could be bought in plenty, and the experiences gained along the way were precious in themselves. As for teachers—he didn’t believe that this was the only place they could be found.

The capital might have better schooling, yes, but if they weren’t there, leaving Huo Yuhui alone meant even his safety couldn’t be guaranteed, much less his studies.

But there was no need to explain any of this to Liu Lanyun.

So Luo Mingchen simply said:

“None of your concern.”

Liu Lanyun, who had prepared further words of persuasion: “…”

“If you’re not looking for a fight, then step aside.”

With that, Luo Mingchen led the three children back to Qiuyue Courtyard.

Seeing how firm his attitude was, Liu Lanyun could only return and report the matter to Huo Yuntao.

She wasn’t sure whether surrounding Luo Mingchen with so many men would actually hold him back.

What’s more, if Huo Yuntao didn’t give her clear instructions and something went wrong, she knew he would turn around and blame her.

Stepping into Qiuyue Courtyard, the place was much quieter than outside.

Looking at the somewhat desolate yard, Luo Mingchen had no desire at all to paste up the Spring Festival couplets and “Fortune” characters he had bought.

No matter how prettily the place was repaired, it could not erase the fact that someone had died here—

and that person, unfortunately, was Huo Yan’s own mother.

Even though Huo Yan had not spoken much of it, Luo Mingchen still felt an indescribable weight pressing on him.

When Huo Yan wasn’t there, even with three children around, Luo Mingchen felt suffocated. Let alone imagining a sick woman, unable to go out, trapped here.

“Little Daddy, my necklace fell off!”

At the words, Luo Mingchen, who had been staring out the window, came back to himself and looked in puzzlement at Huo Yuhui.

“Your necklace fell off?”

Huo Yuhui nodded, tugging his collar aside. The necklace that should have been hanging around his neck was nowhere to be seen.

“Mm. Must have fallen on the way back. Little Daddy, I’ll go look for it.”

“I’ll check.”

Expanding his perception, Luo Mingchen “saw” the pearl pendant lying in a patch of flowers near the lakeside.

Huo Xiang glanced at the red cord around his brother’s neck, then touched the black pearl that still hung from it.

“It’s by the lake in the front courtyard. I’ll fetch it for you.”

Just as Luo Mingchen was about to stand, Huo Yuhui tugged at his sleeve.

“Little Daddy, it’s not far. I can get it myself. Besides, you’ll be able to see me.”

He smiled at Luo Mingchen, then hurried off.

Watching him rush away, Luo Mingchen felt something was off.

“Then come back quickly.”

After he was gone, Luo Mingchen turned to Huo Xiang.

“Xiao Xiang, come, let me check your cord.”

“Oh.”

Obediently, Huo Xiang pulled out his red string. Some spots really did look worn and on the verge of breaking.

Inwardly cursing that merchant for cutting corners and refusing to provide even a proper cord, Luo Mingchen smiled at Huo Xiang.

“Be good. I’ll find sturdier cords for you later. For now, take this off and I’ll keep it safe.”

Head lowered, Huo Xiang answered softly:

“All right.”

Not noticing the faint guilt on Huo Xiang’s face, Luo Mingchen stored the necklace away in his space.

After waiting for a while, Luo Mingchen frowned and extended his perception to find Huo Yuhui’s location.

He discovered—the boy had fallen into the lake.

A gust of wind flung open the door, icy air pouring inside. As Huo Xiang looked up, Luo Mingchen’s figure had already vanished.

“Little Daddy?”

From far off came Luo Mingchen’s voice:

“Take care of your sister!”

It was rare to see Little Daddy in such a rush. For a moment, panic seized Huo Xiang.

Could it be… something really happened?

These past few nights, he had often seen his brother rubbing at the cord of his necklace.

No matter how he asked, his brother only told him to pretend not to know.

Huo Xinyue blinked her eyes in confusion.

“Daddy flew away!”

Huo Xiang: “…”

By the lake.

Huo Xu, his panda eyes not yet healed, stood there with a look of arrogance. When Luo Mingchen arrived, he even heard him telling the guards:

“No one is allowed to save that little brat. Best if he drowns!”

Luo Mingchen kicked him straight into the lake, while a water tendril pulled Huo Yuhui up.

“Second Young Master!”

Ignoring the guards who rushed about to save their own, Luo Mingchen carried the ice-cold Huo Yuhui—still clutching the necklace tightly—back inside.

“Little Daddy…”

Huo Yuhui’s lips were purple. Luo Mingchen could only hold him tightly and hurry faster.

Back in the room, Luo Mingchen shut the door, stripped off the wet clothes, and laid Huo Yuhui on the bed.

With his water ability, he could only draw out most of the water from his hair. Absorbing too much risked pulling the moisture from the strands themselves, leaving them brittle and dry.

Huo Xiang brought over a dry cloth to help wipe his brother’s half-damp hair.

Luo Mingchen injected a bit of energy into Huo Yuhui’s body.

Thankfully, with the experience of treating Yuan Mingjing’s injured arm before, he wasn’t at a loss.

As warmth slowly returned to his body, Huo Yuhui looked at Luo Mingchen, who held him tightly, and gave a pale smile.

“Little Daddy…”

Now, they would have ample reason to leave the General’s Mansion, wouldn’t they?

Luo Mingchen pressed his lips together.

“Once your father returns, we’ll go.”

Burying his head into Luo Mingchen’s chest, Huo Yuhui answered softly:

“Mm.”

Watching his weakened brother, then recalling what had happened, Huo Xiang’s tears fell in heavy drops.

If he had known, he never should have kept his brother’s secret.

But now, it was too late.

If Little Daddy found out, he might even be angry.

At that thought, Huo Xiang could only keep silent.