After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 6

After chatting for a while longer, the warmth in the heated room was so comfortable that Luo Chuchen couldn’t help feeling drowsy, yawning several times in a row.

Liang Jue asked him, “Would you like to take a nap?”

Luo Chuchen responded groggily.

Liang Jue then stepped out of the warm room. Shechuan and Heqi were huddled together, whispering, and upon seeing him emerge, they both bowed respectfully.

Liang Jue said, “Chuchen is feeling sleepy. You two should take a break as well.”

“Sure thing,” Heqi replied, immediately pulling a still-confused Shechuan along as they headed out.

Shechuan blinked in confusion. “Is the young master tired? Don’t I need to attend to him?”

Heqi said, “Our general is here. Come on, I’ll take you to see something fun.”

Liang Jue watched their retreating figures with a helpless smile before returning to the warm room. Luo Chuchen was already propping his head up, nodding off, his head drooping toward the table.

Liang Jue softened his footsteps, moved the tea table from the nearby daybed, and fetched bedding from the room’s cabinet. After making the daybed, he went over to coax Luo Chuchen.

“Xiao Chen? Come sleep on the daybed. It’s uncomfortable at the table.”

Luo Chuchen didn’t respond, seemingly too deeply asleep. Liang Jue grew even gentler, calling his name a few more times before helping the half-asleep Luo Chuchen to the daybed. He removed his shoes and socks and tucked him in under the covers.

After a moment’s thought, Liang Jue also adjusted the charcoal fire in the room, lowering the temperature slightly to prevent Luo Chuchen from overheating while he slept.

Once everything was settled, Liang Jue breathed a sigh of relief. He stood by the daybed for a while, watching Luo Chuchen sleep, before turning to leave.

When Luo Chuchen woke again, he felt as though he had slept through day and night.

Startled, he quickly glanced at the window. Fortunately, the light outside the paper window was still bright, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Scanning the room, he noticed Liang Jue sitting at the desk in the corner, head bowed as he read a book, seemingly unaware that Luo Chuchen had woken up.

Luo Chuchen felt inexplicably awkward. He checked his health points and, finding them at 65%, felt slightly reassured.

“Ahem,” he deliberately coughed lightly to catch Liang Jue’s attention.

“Awake?” Liang Jue set down his book and walked over.

Luo Chuchen rubbed his nose and asked, “How long did I sleep?”

Liang Jue replied, “Not long, just two hours.”

Luo Chuchen said, “That’s still quite a while, I only meant to take a short nap, but the daybed was so comfortable, and the room temperature was just right.”

He offered a half-hearted explanation, but Liang Jue had already extended a hand to help him up.

How could Luo Chuchen refuse? He obediently grasped the back of Liang Jue’s hand and sat up at the edge of the bed, only then realizing his shoes and socks had been removed.

Luo Chuchen asked, “Where are Shechuan and the others?”

Liang Jue said, “Shechuan went off to play with Heqi. Later, I’ll take you for a tour of the general’s residence.”

Luo Chuchen didn’t feel comfortable asking who had removed his shoes and socks, assuming it must have been Shechuan. He lowered his head to put them on, and once he stood up straight, Liang Jue draped a fur robe over his shoulders. “It’s cold outside, and you just woke up. Be careful not to catch a chill.”

He even tied the knot for him.

Luo Chuchen followed Liang Jue out of the warm room. The temperature outside was indeed much lower, and he shivered, instinctively moving closer to Liang Jue.

Liang Jue had also added an extra outer robe. Noticing Luo Chuchen’s subtle movement, he glanced back and extended his hand. “Would you like to hold on?”

Luo Chuchen replied cheerfully, “Oh, sure.”

It had always been this way since childhood Liang Jue was like a natural furnace, radiating warmth all year round. Before winter even arrived, Luo Chuchen would cling to Liang Jue as if his life depended on it. During naps, he insisted on sharing a bed with Liang Jue, and while walking, he’d hold a small hand warmer in his left hand while stubbornly gripping Liang Jue’s hand with his right.

The Marchioness of Pingyang had scolded Luo Chuchen several times, warning him not to pass his ailments to Liang Jue. But as days turned into months and years, Liang Jue grew even stronger and healthier, and even Luo Chuchen’s winters became much more bearable. Eventually, she stopped mentioning it.

Liang Jue led Luo Chuchen on a stroll through the backyard.

His general’s residence wasn’t particularly large, and most of the courtyards were locked up and sealed off since no one lived in them. A quick walk around was all it took.

Luo Chuchen held Liang Jue’s warm hand silently as they walked. Just as they were nearing the front courtyard, a young servant came running up to them, panting heavily, and said, “General, the Old Madam has returned.”

Both of them froze in surprise.

Luo Chuchen instinctively let go of Liang Jue’s hand and asked, “A-Auntie lives here too?”

Liang Jue snapped out of his daze and glanced at him, seemingly amused. “My mother is back, what are you so afraid of?”

Luo Chuchen replied, “If you had told me earlier that Auntie would be here, I could have prepared some gifts. Showing up empty-handed is so impolite.”

“Since when do you care about such formalities around me?” Liang Jue waved his hand, dismissing the servant. “My mother has been thinking of you often. Now that you’re here, your presence alone is the best gift she could ask for. She’d be rushing to give you things, not the other way around.”

Luo Chuchen still seemed a bit flustered.

Liang Jue reassured him, “I didn’t mention it because my mother has been fasting and praying at Wanfo Temple for the past half-month. I didn’t expect her to return today. But this works out perfectly, you can stay for dinner and cheer the old lady up. How does that sound?”

Luo Chuchen reluctantly nodded in agreement.

When they reached the main hall of the residence, several maids and servants were already bustling about, preparing for the Old Madam’s arrival. He Qi was directing the arrangements while Shechuan watched curiously from the side.

Noticing them, Shechuan trotted over cheerfully and said, “Young Master, you’re awake?”

Luo Chuchen deliberately put on a stern face. “Your young master has been awake for over an hour, and you were nowhere to be seen.”

Shechuan replied, “With the General here, what use am I? I’ve been learning some massage techniques from He Qi, they’re really comfortable. I’ll try them on you when we get back.”

Luo Chuchen let out a noncommittal “hmph.”

Shechuan then turned to Liang Jue and pleaded pitifully, “General, please say something.”

Liang Jue waved him off. “I can’t help either he’s mad at me right now.”

Shechuan let out an exaggerated sigh and said, “In that case, this humble servant can only retreat in sorrow.”

Luo Chuchen couldn’t hold back a smile at that. Just then, Liang Jue leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, “Young Marquis, this general also knows a few massage techniques. If I use them to make amends, I wonder if the Young Marquis would forgive me?”

The warm, moist breath brushed repeatedly against his sensitive earlobe, and with Liang Jue’s lowered voice, it felt as if countless ants were tickling him there.

Luo Chuchen’s ears flushed bright red in an instant.

He quickly took a step back and said, “Alright, alright, I get it!”

Not long after, a maid came in to announce, “The Old Madam is almost at the gate.”

Luo Chuchen no longer felt like sulking and followed Liang Jue to the mansion gate. As Liang Jue stood waiting by the carriage, Luo Chuchen took two steps back, hiding behind him to observe.

Liang Jue’s mother, Madame Jiang, was in her forties, dressed in a simple, elegant light-blue brocade gown with a peacock-feather cloak draped over her shoulders. She held a string of prayer beads in her hand, and though the traces of time were visible in her features, she carried herself with grace and gentleness.

Leaning on Liang Jue’s hand as she stepped down from the carriage, she asked, “Why are you home so early today?”

Liang Jue smiled and replied, “Because we have an honored guest.”

Madame Jiang looked puzzled. “What honored guest?”

Luo Chuchen knew it was his cue to appear. He stepped out from behind Liang Jue and smiled. “Auntie, it’s me.”

Madame Jiang was first startled, then overjoyed. “Yu-ge, when did you arrive in the capital? Why didn’t you let me know?”

Yu-ge was Luo Chuchen’s childhood nickname. Hearing it after so long, he felt momentarily dazed.

After a pause, he answered, “I just returned yesterday.”

Madame Jiang took Luo Chuchen’s hand and patted it gently. “It’s good that you’re back. It’s cold outside, and your health isn’t the best. Let’s go inside to talk.”

With that, Luo Chuchen took Liang Jue’s place and followed Madame Jiang into the mansion.

Once inside, she showered him with questions about his well-being, carefully inquiring about his life in Yunzhou. Inevitably, the conversation turned to Luo Chuchen’s parents, and she couldn’t hold back her tears.

Dabbing the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, she said, “Forgive my impropriety. I shouldn’t have brought this up.”

Luo Chuchen could only console her. “It’s all right. It’s in the past.”

Liang Jue, who had been quietly observing, stood up and placed a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “Mother, don’t grieve too much. Why don’t you go change your clothes? I’ll take Xiao Chen for a stroll.”

“Very well. Be sure to take good care of him.” Madame Jiang allowed her maid to escort her to the rear courtyard.

Once she was out of earshot, Liang Jue said, “I’m sorry. Ever since that happened, Mother often becomes saddened by it. She always believed they were among the kindest people in the world, yet.”

He paused briefly before continuing, “That’s also why she often goes to Wanfo Temple to pray for them.”

Luo Chuchen didn’t know what to say.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, “My uncle told me that the Third Prince, who was behind the incident, is still missing.”

Liang Jue sighed and raised his hand to gently ruffle Luo Chuchen’s hair, his expression full of compassion. “The official in charge of investigating the Third Prince is my colleague, a very responsible and reliable man. You can rest assured.”

“Mm.” Luo Chuchen nodded firmly.