Although Leng Yaozhu usually didn't care about public opinion, her high-profile entry into the Spirit Pagoda while holding Dai Yuhao was indeed intentional.
She was using herself as bait, placing this unexpected child under public scrutiny to see if the mastermind hidden in the shadows would react.
However, before the anticipated undercurrents could stir, a figure she expected had already come looking for her first.
Just after settling the sleeping Dai Yuhao on the bed and tucking him in, a clear knock sounded from the outer room.
Leng Yaozhu's brow furrowed imperceptibly. She rose quickly and walked to the outer hall.
Opening the door, she saw a tall man standing outside.
His face was as resolute as a stone carving, and his silver hair was meticulously groomed, shimmering with a cold luster under the corridor lights.
Only the fine lines etched at the corners of his eyes revealed that he was not as young as he appeared on the surface.
Leng Yaozhu did not invite the guest inside. Instead, she gently closed the door behind her before looking up at him and saying calmly, "For the Pagoda Master to come in person, is there something important to instruct?"
The visitor was none other than the current Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, Qian Gu Dongfeng—and also the legendary simp who appeared in every major version of the Douluo world!
Even though he already had a grandson, he was still obsessed with Leng Yaozhu. One can only say this place truly lived up to its reputation as the Continent of Romance!
"Yaozhu, I heard you brought back a..."
Qian Gu Dongfeng was only halfway through his sentence when he was curtly interrupted by Leng Yaozhu's cold voice.
"Pagoda Master, it is better to address me by my full name."
Faced with such an impolite Leng Yaozhu, Qian Gu Dongfeng showed no sign of anger or embarrassment. Instead, he seemed to have anticipated it, or was even accustomed to it.
Such scenes had played out many times over the long years of the past.
Qian Gu Dongfeng's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as if he had a thousand words to say, but they eventually turned into a cautious probe: "That child you brought back... is?"
Leng Yaozhu turned her face away, her gaze sweeping over him indifferently as she said succinctly, "Picked him up on the road. I just got back, I'm tired, and I need to rest."
Seeing her obvious reluctance to explain further, Qian Gu Dongfeng immediately nodded and replied, "Alright, then get some good rest. I won't disturb you."
He spoke decisively and then turned to leave without hesitation.
Leng Yaozhu quietly watched his figure disappear at the end of the corridor, whispering to herself, "It couldn't have been arranged by him... then who exactly sent the child to me?"
...Dai Yuhao felt that this sleep was exceptionally peaceful, as if he were sinking into soft, warm clouds; it was extremely comfortable.
As his consciousness slowly rose from deep sleep, he opened his eyes blearily. The first thing that came into view was a face close at hand.
That face was slightly pale, but it did not diminish its soft contours. Her eyes carried a warmth and maternal love that he was all too familiar with, which put his heart at ease.
Dai Yuhao was stunned for a moment, then a wave of immense joy flooded his heart.
He almost bounced up from the bed, his small body throwing itself into her embrace. His voice carried the soft sweetness and dependence of someone who had just woken up: "Mom! When did you come back?"
That's right, the person sitting by the bed gently holding Dai Yuhao was his mother—Huo Yuner.
Huo Yuner had a gentle curve on her lips, her fingers softly combing through the child's messy hair from sleep. She whispered, "I've been back for a while. Seeing Yuhao sleeping so soundly, I didn't have the heart to wake you."
Dai Yuhao broke slightly away from his mother's warm embrace, tilting his small face up with sparkling eyes, eager to share.
"Mom, I just had a very... very magical dream!"
He gestured wildly, trying to describe the incredible sights.
"I dreamed of buildings taller and brighter than the clouds!"
"And... and cars with wheels that can run by themselves."
...He spoke with great excitement, immersed in the novelty and shock of the dream.
He didn't notice at all that the bruises and pain on his body had completely vanished.
"In the dream, there was also a beautiful Auntie Leng who was very good to me."
Dai Yuhao's eyes curved into crescents, and he unconsciously smacked his lips, a trace of glistening saliva sliding down the corner of his mouth.
"She took me to eat so many... delicious things I've never had before."
He raised his sleeve and messily wiped his mouth. His previously high spirits suddenly dropped, and his small head hung low: "Unfortunately... it was just a dream. Otherwise, I would have definitely brought some back for Mom to taste."
Huo Yuner's heart felt like it had been lightly pricked by a needle. Looking at her son's childish but already sensible face, she couldn't help but feel a flash of self-blame and sorrow in her eyes.
This child had followed her since he was little. In this remote courtyard, when had he ever tasted anything decent?
To see meat once a month was already a rarity.
At that moment, Dai Yuhao suddenly remembered something else.
He looked up, and with a hint of curiosity, asked the question that hadn't been answered in the dream.
"Mom, when can I see Dad?"
Huo Yuner's hand stroking his hair paused almost imperceptibly.
Normally, Huo Yuner would mostly use vague words to gloss over this question.
But now, looking at Dai Yuhao's eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge and longing, and thinking that although this child was only 3 years old, he was already exceptionally well-behaved and sensible, even possessing a maturity beyond his years.
A gentle smile spread across Huo Yuner's face. Her fingertip lightly tapped Dai Yuhao's nose as she said softly, "Yuhao's father... he is a great hero. In two more days, you'll be able to see him."
"Really? Mom!"
Dai Yuhao's eyes instantly lit up, and his whole being glowed because of this sudden surprise.
"Of course it's true." Huo Yuner hugged him a bit tighter, her chin resting lightly on the top of his head. "When has Mom ever lied to you?"
She indeed hadn't lied to Dai Yuhao. While she was buried in work at the laundry room today, she heard others discussing that in a few days, the Duke of White Tiger would return to Star Luo from the front lines.
It was precisely this information that allowed her to give her son a definite answer today.
Two days later, the entire White Tiger Duke Mansion began a thorough cleaning from top to bottom, all to welcome the return of the Duke of White Tiger, Dai Hao. This proved that the information Huo Yuner had heard was correct.
Time flew by, and another 2 days passed. Just after noon this day, after a simple lunch, Dai Yuhao's hand was gently taken by his mother as they walked out of that remote and quiet little courtyard.
Dai Yuhao tilted his small face up and asked curiously, "Mom, where are we going?"
Huo Yuner looked down at him, her eyes shimmering with gentle light. She then leaned over, straightened his collar, and said softly, "Doesn't Yuhao always want to know who Dad is? Mom is taking you to see Dad now."
"Really?!"
Dai Yuhao was first stunned, then a surge of immense joy hit his heart. He couldn't help but cheer, his small hand tightly gripping his mother's cool fingers.
Huo Yuner led him from the most remote corner of the backyard, step by step toward the grand front court of the Duke Mansion.
The further they walked, the clearer and denser the voices of people became.
When they finally stepped onto the wide, straight main road in front of the mansion's gates, Dai Yuhao saw that both sides of the road were now lined with people in an orderly fashion.
From managers and guards down to ordinary servants and maids, everyone was dressed in clean clothes, standing quietly with their hands down.
It turned out that to show the Duke's benevolence and to celebrate with the entire mansion, the Duchess had specially permitted all the servants in the mansion to welcome the Duke back here today.
The air was filled with a sense of suppressed excitement and solemnity.
Huo Yuner held her son tightly, quietly merging into an inconspicuous corner at the edge of the crowd.
Her gaze, like many others around her, was fixed on the end of the mansion's main road.
There, the focus of all today's anticipation and gazes would gather.