Chapter 1092: All Kinds of People

"Zichuan, let's go, it's time to see my son," Liu Bei shouted from the courtyard of Chen Xi's house.

"Hold on a moment, let me change my clothes," Chen Xi's voice called out from the back yard. Liu Bei rolled his eyes and sat down on a recliner covered with bear skin at the entrance to Chen Xi's main hall.

By the time Chen Xi came out, tea and refreshments had already been set before Liu Bei. Even though they were close friends, the maids wouldn’t slack off on formalities—this was, after all, Liu Bei.

"Why are you so slow?" Liu Bei eyed Chen Xi up and down, then smirked mischievously. "Don’t tell me you’ve got someone hidden away here?"

Chen Xi’s expression shifted slightly. Lately, it seemed like his friends enjoyed teasing him about things like this. "It’s not that big of a deal, but if that were the case, would you, Lord Xuande, disapprove?"

"Hahaha, I would be glad to see it, though I must say it would be a bit improper," Liu Bei joked.

"I wouldn’t go that far," Chen Xi waved it off with a somewhat deflated expression. "But you’re right, it’s about time I brought my family over. This big courtyard feels empty with so few people living in it."

Liu Bei chuckled and took long strides toward the exit. "Others may already have arrived. If we’re late, it won’t look good. There’s a banquet tonight, one of the last before the New Year celebrations."

"Finally, we can have a peaceful New Year," Chen Xi said with a smile, following Liu Bei out the door.

After Chen Xi left, Lady Zhen appeared in the hall with a somewhat frustrated expression. She gave the recliner a nudge, then with a flick of her sleeve, left the house as well. It wasn’t long before her carriage arrived.

"I’ve had enough of this winter wind," Lu Su grumbled as he grabbed Guo Jia by the collar, shaking him lightly. "Guo Fengxiao, change the weather or I’ll tell your wife about your misbehavior over the past month."

"Alright, alright, I’m changing it, just let go!" Guo Jia, being much weaker, felt dizzy from the shaking and hurriedly complied.

Soon, the clouds parted, leaving a patch of sunlight shining directly on Lu Su. Even the cold wind twisted away as it neared him, thanks to Guo Jia's improved mastery of controlling the weather.

Bathing alone in the sunlight, Lu Su looked visibly awkward, while the rest of the group distanced themselves from him and Guo Jia, shaking their heads.

"Well, well, Zijing, how does it feel to bask in the sunlight all by yourself?" Chen Xi said teasingly as he and Liu Bei approached the group.

"At least it’s not cold," Lu Su replied expressionlessly, bundled in the thickest layers among them.

"I think this is a psychological issue," Chen Xi said with a mock-serious tone. "Zijing, I think you're ill—mentally, and quite severely."

"Cut it out. If I’m sick, then you definitely are too. When Hua Tuo arrives, we’ll find out," Lu Su retorted, paying no mind to Chen Xi’s comment.

Chen Xi rolled his eyes, choosing not to continue the banter. Just then, in the distance, flags appeared on the horizon, and Chen Xi could see Zhao Yun leading the group.

With a quick pull of the reins, Zhao Yun swiftly rode up to the group, dismounting and saluting. "My lord, Yun has successfully completed the mission."

"Zilong, hahaha!" Liu Bei burst out laughing, leaving Zhao Yun confused.

"May I ask what has amused my lord?" Zhao Yun asked, bewildered.

"You’ll understand later, you’ll understand later. Everyone, go ahead and greet your families," Liu Bei said with a smile, but kept the reason to himself.

"Did you sense it?" Jia Xu turned to ask Li You.

"Nothing major. Just a celestial being, it seems, and it appears to be on our side," Li You replied, glancing up at the sky before turning toward the approaching families. The previously orderly procession had now become somewhat chaotic with the clamor of voices.

"Greetings, my lord," came the simultaneous voices of saluting servants. Chen Xi couldn’t help but feel a headache as he realized, for the first time, that his entire family entourage consisted only of women—an endless array of delicate figures. At least his old steward, Chen Guanjia, was still there.

"Uncle Chen, you’ve had your hands full, haven’t you? Managing them can’t have been easy," Chen Xi said with a grin, bowing slightly in respect to the loyal steward who had stayed by his side during the hardest times.

"I don’t deserve such courtesy, my lord," Chen Guanjia quickly replied, bowing in return.

"Jian’er, Lan’er, how have you been?" Chen Xi asked his two wives, keeping his tone calm.

"Husband!" Both Fan Jian and Chen Lan struggled to suppress their excitement.

"Alright, alright," Chen Xi said softly, walking over to gently embrace them both. "It feels like it’s been so long."

"Husband!" Fan Jian’s voice carried a hint of nervousness, while Chen Lan’s tone was more languid and relaxed.

"Are you both well?" Chen Xi stepped back slightly, giving them a once-over. "You both seem fine."

At that moment, a maid approached, carrying Chen Xi’s infant daughter. Chen Lan carefully took her into her arms. "Husband, please name our daughter."

"Let’s call her Chen Qian," Chen Xi said softly, gently touching his still-sleeping daughter’s cheek, a trace of nostalgia flickering in his eyes.

Glancing behind Fan Jian, he noticed that the same number of maids were still present. No one had left, but no one had been added either.

"Let’s head home. It looks like we’ll be staying here for a few more years," Chen Xi said, waving to everyone before helping Fan Jian and Chen Lan into the carriage. "Uncle Chen, it seems we’ll need your help once again."

"It’s the least I can do for you, my lord," Chen Guanjia said with a mixture of sentiment and pride as he climbed into the carriage, just as he had done in the past, carrying Chen Xi toward Ye City.

Chen Yun, feeling a bit disappointed, noticed Chen Xi glancing in her direction. Yet, the clarity in his eyes, the same as always, told her everything she needed to know.

She smiled wryly at herself, shaking off her thoughts before resuming her usual composure. She followed the other maids into the carriage.

"Uncle," Cai Yan said as she disembarked from her carriage with Cai Zhenji, offering a respectful bow to Li You. Li You’s daughter also bowed to him alongside Cai Yan.

"Very well. I’ve already arranged your residence. If you don’t like it, feel free to let me know," Li You said, his expression as indifferent as ever.

But what was truly on Li You’s mind wasn’t the residence—it was that Cai Yan wasn’t getting any younger. He had promised to provide her with a lifetime of prosperity, yet now, finding a suitable match for her was proving difficult...

"Master Li, long time no see," Zhuge Liang said as he approached with Huang Yueying, bowing slightly to Li You.

"Kongming, it seems the battlefield has honed you greatly," Jia Xu remarked as he looked over Zhuge Liang. The once scholarly elegance now carried a hint of decisiveness and ruthlessness born of warfare.

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