Luo Shou grinned and said, "My little niece."
Xie Jiang told him truthfully, "I don't have much experience treating children, and I might not be as good as the doctors in your village, but I can go and take a look, that's fine."
Luo Shou was happy to get her affirmative reply and ran off.
A child's craving and stomachache were not serious illnesses; they would get better with time. His little niece's condition was just a bit more complicated this time.
But who would complain about having too much security?
Lu Baohong hadn't heard what Luo Shou and Xie Jiang said. He only saw Luo Shou run back specifically to say a couple of words before quickly turning into a small black shadow and running away.
As long as there was no trouble.
Lu Baohong waved his hand.
The elite guards surrounding the small courtyard retreated, leaving only four on watch in the distance.
Xie Jiang and Xu Hengyan also returned to the house.
Xie Jiang said with a beaming smile, "It seems we've arrived at Yongfeng Village at its liveliest time. This trip wasn't in vain."
Xu Hengyan sat by the table and said, "Lu Xuan has quite an appetite. He wants to swallow Yongfeng Village in one gulp."
Xie Jiang said, "Why only say half? He not only wants to swallow Yongfeng Village, but he also wants to swallow those bandits."
Xu Hengyan shook his head, "The bandits of Huanglan Mountain are not so easily swallowed."
Xie Jiang said, "Lu Xuan isn't afraid of choking to death. Whether it's easy or not, we'll know if he tries to swallow them."
There was no door between the main hall and the bedroom. Xu Hengyan could see the large package that Luo Shou had brought in earlier and casually thrown onto the bed.
Xu Hengyan got up and walked over, opening the package.
Xie Jiang sat by the table, watching him work, and muttered to herself, "Lu Xuan wants to take both Yongfeng Village and the Huanglan Mountain bandits into his possession. He's showing rebellious intent and wants to claim the mountain as his own and slowly build his power."
Xu Hengyan tidied things up and replied, "Although Lu Xuan and his son hate you deeply, they both know very well who truly caused the downfall of the Lu family."
The package contained only two thin quilts and two sets of spare clothes.
Whether it was the quilts or the clothes, they were all heavily patched.
Yongfeng Village had little contact with the outside world, so the scarcity of supplies was understandable. These were already considered quite good.
Xu Hengyan folded the clothes and set them aside, staring at the only two quilts, unsure of what to do for a moment.
He had already cleared out the straw that had been used to pad the bed board. Now, only the bed board remained.
Lying on it like this would definitely be uncomfortable. Spreading a layer of quilts would surely make it more comfortable.
But wouldn't that mean he and Xie Jiang would have to share a quilt?
Xu Hengyan hesitated, which was rare for him.
Xie Jiang was still talking to herself, "If it were me, I would rebel too. What else is there to worry about after losing my family? If the dog emperor is not benevolent, then I will not be righteous..."
Xu Hengyan thought it would be better if they didn't share a quilt.
Each of them could have one, and they wouldn't interfere with each other. The bed board could be a bit uncomfortable, so be it.
Just as he put the quilts down, he heard her say something. Xu Hengyan instantly straightened up, turned around, and stared at her with a very serious expression, "How can you say such things so casually!"
Xie Jiang's words were interrupted halfway. She tilted her head and looked at Xu Hengyan for a while, then listlessly lowered her head and slumped onto the table.
"If I can't say it, then I won't say it."
Xu Hengyan vaguely felt that her mood was slightly off. However, when he tried to probe further into her expression, her face had already returned to its usual calm, without a ripple.
"Disaster comes from the mouth."
"Oh."
Xu Hengyan came out of the bedroom. "I was afraid that because you're usually so carefree and used to speaking your mind, you might accidentally blurt something out in other situations and cause trouble."
"Oh."
"Was I too harsh just now?" Xu Hengyan walked up to her and looked down at her.
"Hmph." Xie Jiang turned to face the other way.
"I didn't mean to be harsh. You were probably used to being unrestrained in Lan Yong. The situation in Da Yu is different, and some things cannot be said casually."
Xu Hengyan stood while she was lying down. Even if she changed direction, he could still see the little expressions on her face clearly.
Not even a harsh word was allowed. How did she develop such a temper?
What family would spoil a child like this and not turn them into a spoiled brat?
She kept saying she would rebel and calling him a dog emperor...
Why didn't she touch her own neck and see how many heads she had!
Xie Jiang continued to hum.
How could Xu Hengyan be harsh with her! Even if she said something lawless and treasonous, Xu Hengyan shouldn't be harsh with her!
Those who were qualified to be harsh with her had almost all died.
What right did Xu Hengyan have?
The current emperor was already worse than a dog. Calling him a dog emperor was just a habit. He really didn't think he was worse than a dog!
Didn't the events at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion back then have the emperor's tacit approval?
Xu Hengyan felt a headache coming on. She was truly a little ancestor, unable to tolerate even a slight displeasure.
He was doing it for her own good, yet it seemed like he was the one who had made a mistake, completely unreasonable. "I wasn't being harsh. I just look fierce. I'm always serious, you said it yourself, didn't you? Xu Hengyi and the others are afraid of me."
Why argue with her? She was the ultimate reason.
Fortunately, her bad temper came and went quickly, like summer rain. As long as they got through this moment, it would pass.
Xu Hengyan had actually realized that every time this happened, he was the one who backed down.
This was not good.
Very not good.
While he was mentally criticizing those who had spoiled her to this extent, he was also, like them, constantly indulging her without limit.
But...
Did he expect this little ancestor to yield to him?
"Are you really not being harsh with me?"
"Really not." How could he dare?
Little Ancestor Xie immediately became proud, "Since that's the case, I won't hold it against you. You'll make breakfast tomorrow. Wake up early, no sleeping in, and remember to boil plenty of hot water, I need to wash up."
Xu Hengyan: "Okay."
Little Ancestor Xie was actually very easy to appease.
Why make things more complicated when they could be resolved so easily?
Was this why he knew it was wrong to continue like this, yet he kept backing down?
How could he, for the sake of convenience, like her family members, spoil her so much...
She was so old, yet still...
If the little ancestor got married in the future, would his wife also have to coax her? What girl would jump into this pit of fire.
That couldn't be said either.
Although he was often exasperated by her, he didn't truly hate or dislike her. The girl probably felt both love and hate.
"There's nothing to do at night, let's rest early."
The two entered the bedroom.
Besides a wooden bed, the bedroom only had a very dilapidated cabinet in the corner, with one of its doors collapsed.
Xu Hengyan placed the oil lamp on the floor by the bed.
Remembering Xie Jiang falling off the bed in the ship's cabin, he moved the oil lamp further away from the bed.
Xie Jiang took off her shoes and sat on the edge of the bed, pointing inside. "Stop dawdling and get up quickly."
She had slept in the afternoon and wasn't sleepy yet, but the village was dark everywhere. Even if she wanted to go for a stroll, there was nowhere to go.
She had no choice but to reluctantly embrace the beautiful Xu.