Chapter 2839 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 44

The next day, as dawn broke, the group entered the capital city, which they had not visited for seven years.

The Ninth Prince had already returned to the capital to prepare for his enthronement, but Gu Fanghe was in no hurry to enter the palace. Instead, he turned his horse around and headed towards the General's Mansion in the west of the city.

That's where he grew up.

When he left seven years ago, he thought he would never come back.

But the locust trees on both sides are still the same, only they are taller and their branches and leaves are denser.

The gates of the general's mansion were tightly closed. Gu Fanghe dismounted, stood in front of the gate, and looked up at the plaque.

He reached out and lightly traced his fingertips across the door.

Long-forgotten memories suddenly surged back: my father's admonitions, my mother's love, and my younger brother's innocent face.

Later, my father died on the battlefield, my mother died of grief, and my younger brother... my younger brother died in the cold house.

Later, he left with a heart full of hatred, and seven years passed.

Now that I've returned, everything has changed.

Jin Chen walked to his side, reached out, and gently took his hand in hers; her palm was warm.

Gu Fanghe took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, and every tile is just as I remember it, only now it lacks human presence and has a touch of desolation.

Gu Fanghe led Jin Chen inside, his voice a little hoarse, "This... is my home."

Gu Fanghe slowly released Jin Chen's hand and walked alone into the depths of the courtyard.

Jin Chen didn't follow him inside. He stood at the doorway and watched Gu Fanghe stop under the old pear tree, tilt his head back, and let the sunlight filter through the leaves, casting shadows on his face.

Gu Fanghe slowly turned around and extended his hand to Jin Chen.

This is my home.

But without you, it is no longer the same.

So please... come in.

Come to my side.

Jin Chen took a step and walked towards the man who reached out his hand to him deep in the courtyard, step by step entering the past that belonged to Gu Fanghe, and also walking towards their future.

Gu Fanghe's eyes held a vulnerability that he only revealed in front of Jin Chen.

"Young master..."

Jin Chen took his hand.

Gu Fanghe, still in that position, took a step forward and threw himself into Jin Chen's arms, burying his face in Jin Chen's neck, "Jin Chen."

Jin Chen raised his hand and gently patted his back, making Gu Fanghe feel at ease.

Just like many years ago, when he returned from fighting on the frontier, exhausted, and stepped into the mansion gate, as long as he saw the lights of his home and his family waiting for him, a sense of peace would well up in his heart.

The home is still there.

[The villain's darkening value is detected -10, totaling 0! 】

Suddenly, a commotion came from the backyard, and an old figure, leaning on a cane, walked out unsteadily. When he saw the people in the yard, tears welled up in his cloudy old eyes.

"Young Master?"

Gu Fanghe shuddered and abruptly looked up, “Uncle Xu…”

His voice choked, "How...how could you have stayed here all this time?"

Uncle Xu was an old servant of the Gu family, and he watched Gu Fanghe grow up from childhood.

Seven years ago, the Gu family had an accident. The servants in the mansion were either dismissed or sold. He thought... Uncle Xu was no longer alive.

Uncle Xu, leaning on his cane, staggered over, tears streaming down his face. "Young Master...it really is Young Master! This old servant thought I would never see you return in this lifetime..."

“This old servant is not dead. When the manor suffered its misfortune, we old folks scattered or sold our possessions. This old servant was originally sent to a labor camp, but the Ninth Prince secretly sent someone to redeem me and settle me on a manor outside the city…”

He took a breath and continued, "The Ninth Prince said that you will definitely come back, young master! You will come back sooner or later, and he asked this old servant... to take good care of this house for you, and wait for you..."

"This old servant has been waiting and waiting... from black hair to white hair, from robust health to being unable to walk. This old servant is afraid... afraid that I won't live to see this day again, and that I will never see you again, young master..."

"Heaven has eyes... Heaven has eyes! In the end... in the end, this old servant has finally been able to wait!"

He stepped forward, trembling as he straightened his sleeves, and bowed deeply to Gu Fanghe and Jin Chen.

This ceremony was performed on behalf of the deceased master and mistress, as well as on behalf of himself and the general's mansion, which had been silent for seven years, to welcome back its new master.

"This old servant...welcomes the young master home, and also welcomes...the madam."

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, but did not deny it.

This house finally feels like a home again.

-

Summer has arrived in Beijing, and the weather is getting hotter every day.

It has been seven days since I returned to the General's Mansion.

The mansion had already been renovated and furnished by Wu Chengjing's men, with everything in place and many servants added, all of whom were reliable people who had been strictly selected. Xu Bo, as the steward, was in high spirits, as if he had become ten years younger, and he managed everything inside and out in an orderly manner.

Jin Chen was usually lazy and disliked socializing. Except for the occasional invitation from Wu Chengjing to enter the palace under the pretext of discussing important matters, he mostly stayed at home.

Ayan is still Jinchen's most trusted personal servant. He is more composed than when he was in Black Mountain Village, but he is still wholeheartedly devoted to his young master, as if he would pluck the stars and the moon from the sky.

Only Gu Fanghe was busy, leaving early and returning late. With everything in the court needing to be rebuilt, he, as a great general who had rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor, was naturally extremely busy.

No matter how busy he was, his two daily routines were always the same: returning home for dinner and, before going to sleep, always wanting to cling to Jin Chen for a hug, a kiss, and to hold him tightly in his arms, inhaling his pleasant scent before he could fall asleep peacefully.

This possessiveness and sense of aggression were no less than they had been in Black Mountain Village, and perhaps even stronger. Of course, Jin Chen enjoyed it.

Yan Qi came often, but he had little interest in court affairs. When there was no war, his goal was to enjoy himself in the capital.

Liu Mianfeng, Chen Xiaoshan, and Shi Meng each had their own duties and only came over occasionally.

Only Jin Chen had free time, and her complexion improved more and more, with a more and more obvious lazy and noble air between her brows and eyes, like a beautiful jade that had been carefully carved.

That afternoon, Yan Qi came again.

With his baby face and carefree grin, he barked as soon as he entered, "Brother Jin, tomorrow is my birthday, have you prepared anything?"

Jin Chen paused in turning the pages of the book.

He looked up at Yan Qi, his brows furrowing slightly. "Birthday?"

“Yes!” Yan Qi blinked. “When we were kids in the army camp, on my older brother’s birthday, Second Brother Chen would always secretly give him an extra chicken leg! Hahaha!”

Jin Chen had no idea that Gu Fanghe hadn't revealed a single word.

However, lately he's been preoccupied with important matters and... pestering me, so he probably hasn't taken his birthday to heart at all.

Jin Chen sat up and looked at A Yan, "Go to the street and buy me some things."

Ayan wrote it down, took the silver, and happily went out.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Seeing this, Yan Qi chuckled: "Brother Jin, are you going to give your elder brother a surprise? Don't worry, I'm tight-lipped, I definitely won't tell you beforehand!"

Jin Chen glanced at him, a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Yan Qi said he came to visit, but in reality, he came to secretly reveal this news. He drank a cup of good tea and then left.

Jin Chen lay back down on the bamboo couch, but lost all interest in reading. He lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, and then suddenly smiled.

No wonder Gu Fanghe has seemed hesitant to speak these past few days; it turns out his birthday is approaching.