Five days later, they finally arrived in Yancheng.
After getting off the carriage, Lin Luoluo paid the fare and even left some food for the driver before the carriage turned around and headed back.
She stood in place for a moment, stretching her stiff arms and legs before walking toward the city gates. After entering the city, she was wondering where to begin looking for everyone when a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
“Miss!”
Lin Da spotted Lin Luoluo near the city gate and rubbed his eyes in disbelief before crying out in shock.
Lin Luoluo turned around. Sure enough, it was someone she recognized. A smile immediately spread across her face.
Thankfully, they were still here. Otherwise, she would have had no idea where to start looking.
“Lin Da, it’s you! Is everyone doing well?”
“We’re good—everyone’s fine! I’ll take you back first. Young Master and Second Miss will definitely be thrilled to see you.”
His eyes reddened slightly. Despite his usually stern expression, the joy on his face was impossible to hide, making him look strangely awkward.
“If you want to smile, then smile. Stop forcing that ugly serious face,” Lin Luoluo teased. “We’ve already left the capital. There’s no need to keep acting so restrained anymore. Live however you want. Laugh if you want to laugh, cry if you want to cry.”
Her expression turned serious.
“But there’s one thing you absolutely cannot do—betray us. As for traitors…” Her eyes narrowed coldly. “I’ll make sure they regret ever being born. Can you do that?”
“Yes! I, Lin Da, will never betray you!”
He slapped his chest firmly in promise.
Then he smiled.
A genuine, carefree smile.
Bright and dazzling.
Without hesitation, Lin Luoluo smacked the back of his head.
“Alright, stop grinning like an idiot and lead the way.”
“Yes!”
Lin Da immediately straightened up and obediently walked ahead, though the corners of his lips refused to stay down.
Lin Luoluo shook her head.
Still just a kid.
None of the guards were over twenty. Even the oldest, Lin Da, was only eighteen, while the youngest, Lin Shi, was barely fourteen. Because of their duties, they always had to keep serious expressions plastered on their faces.
“Since we didn’t know when Miss would reunite with us, Uncle Zhong rented a two-courtyard house as soon as we arrived in Yancheng…” Lin Da rambled on endlessly, firing off question after question.
Lin Luoluo had no idea which one to answer first.
Had Lin Da completely let himself go?
“With that many questions, which one do you expect me to answer?” She rubbed her aching forehead. “Wait until we get back.”
They hadn’t walked for long before arriving at a courtyard house near the city gate.
“Uncle Zhong! Uncle Zhong! Open the door! Miss is here!”
Lin Da pounded loudly on the door.
“Coming, coming! Stop banging so hard!”
Just as Lin Da raised his hand to knock again, the door swung open.
The moment Uncle Zhong saw Lin Luoluo standing behind him, his eyes widened.
“M-Miss…”
“Uncle Zhong, I’m here,” Lin Luoluo said with a smile.
“Wahhh…”
The moment he heard her voice, Uncle Zhong finally broke down.
All the worry and pressure he had been carrying for the past two months poured out at once.
After crying for a while, he finally managed to regain composure and wiped his tears.
“Good… good… As long as you’re alive.” He sniffled. “I’ve embarrassed myself in front of Miss.”
“How could you?” Lin Luoluo smiled gently. “It just means Uncle Zhong truly cared and worried about me.”
She stepped inside.
The moment she entered the courtyard, two tiny cannonballs came flying at her.
“Big Sister!”
“Big Sister!”
“Waaah—!”
The two crying voices rang out at once.
Hearing the commotion, everyone came rushing out of the house.
When they saw the three siblings hugging each other tightly, everyone’s eyes turned red as they quietly wiped away tears.
“There, there, don’t cry anymore.” Lin Luoluo gently patted their backs, coaxing softly. “Big Sister is here now.”
“I-I thought… hic… I’d never see Big Sister again…” Lin Zirui said between hiccuping sobs.
“They all said Princess Consort Yu died after being assassinated…” Lin Wanwan cried as she spoke.
“Good kids, no more crying.” Lin Luoluo smiled warmly. “Our Zirui, Wanwan, and Ziyu are all so adorable—how could Big Sister bear to leave you?”
She tapped her chest proudly.
“Besides, your Big Sister is amazing. How could I die that easily? I’m like a cat—I’ve got nine lives.”
Warmth flooded her heart.
So many people had worried about her.
Cared about her.
Even after hearing the news of her death, they still waited for her.
Two whole months.
This…
This was family, wasn’t it?
Never giving up on one another.
Silently, Lin Luoluo swore she would protect every single one of them.
“Yiya~” (I want a hug too!)
Little Lin Ziyu finally couldn’t hold back anymore.
Hearing his tiny baby sounds, the three siblings loosened their embrace.
Lin Luoluo stepped forward, patted her hands, and held out her arms.
With an excited “Yiya!” Lin Ziyu threw himself into her embrace, clutching her face and smearing it with drool.
Lin Luoluo lightly smacked his little bottom.
“You stinky brat!”
The slap carried absolutely no threat whatsoever.
Still clutching her face, he happily gnawed at her cheeks while giggling nonstop.
Helpless, Lin Luoluo could only let him have his way.
Ziyu’s antics instantly made everyone laugh, and the heavy atmosphere quickly lightened.
Seeing Lin Luoluo looking slightly tired, Aunt Zhong stepped forward.
“Alright, alright, stop crowding around.”
“Miss, you must not have eaten properly during all that traveling. I’ll make you a bowl of noodles. Let Chun Tao take you to your room to rest first.”
Without waiting for Lin Luoluo to respond, she immediately sent Huzi to buy vegetables before rushing off to the kitchen.
Lin Luoluo really was hungry, so she didn’t stop her.
Chun Tao took Ziyu into her arms and led Lin Luoluo away to rest.
“Miss, this is your room. Uncle Zhong kept it ready in case you arrived at any time. The two rooms on the left belong to Young Master and Second Miss. This servant and Third Young Master stay in the room on the right.”
“You’ve all been very thoughtful.”
“Miss, then please rest first. This servant will take Third Young Master out.”
“Mm.” Lin Luoluo nodded before suddenly pulling Chun Tao into a hug. “Chun Tao, thank you for taking care of them for me.”
“Miss, what are you saying?” Chun Tao shook her head quickly. “Taking care of the young masters and young misses is this servant’s duty. Even if it cost me my life, I’d never hesitate.”
Her eyes reddened.
“If not for you, Miss, this servant would’ve been beaten to death long ago.”
“Yiya~” (One more hug! I want one too!)
Little Ziyu stared at Lin Luoluo with his bright round eyes, leaning sideways and stretching out both arms for attention.
Helpless, Lin Luoluo took him into her arms and placed him on the bed, playing with him.
Not long after, Aunt Zhong arrived carrying a steaming bowl of noodles.
Because she had spent the past few days rushing on the road, Lin Luoluo hadn’t had a proper hot meal in ages. The moment the aroma reached her nose, her appetite instantly flared.
“Miss, eat this bowl of noodles to fill your stomach first,” Aunt Zhong said as she placed it down. “Tonight I’ll make several of your favorite dishes.”
After speaking, she hurried back to the kitchen.
Seeing Lin Luoluo eating so happily, Lin Ziyu immediately began drooling.
“Ah… ah…”
“Oh my, look at our little chubby boy,” Lin Luoluo teased. “Drooling already, huh? Come on, Sister will feed you a bite.”
She picked up a few noodles with her chopsticks and fed them into his mouth.
Slurp—
In just a few bites, he swallowed everything down.
Just like that, the siblings took turns eating until the huge bowl of noodles was completely empty.
“Come here, let Sister check your little tummy and see if our chubby boy is full.”
Lin Luoluo gently rubbed his belly.
Ziyu burst into another fit of giggles.
“Miss, please stop teasing him,” Chun Tao hurriedly said. “He just ate noodles. If he laughs too much, he’ll throw up.”
“Oh… is that how it works?”
Lin Luoluo scratched her head awkwardly.
Forgive her—she had never raised a child before. How was she supposed to know these things?
“Then I won’t tease him anymore. Take him out for now. I’ll rest for a bit.”
“Yes, Miss. Then this servant will take Third Young Master away. Please get some proper rest.”
“Mm.”
After Chun Tao left, Lin Luoluo lay down on the bed.
Before long, she had fallen asleep.