Madam Yan's Matchmaking Pavilion for Men

75 Returning Home, Spreading Rumors

The hunting party continued in a dampened mood. The ones who felt worst were naturally Mister Zhang and the older General Yu. The former didn't know how his son was doing and whether or not he was even still alive while the latter couldn't help but worry about his family's future.

He had always thought that the relationship between Yu Huang Rong and Luan Xin was very good and that nothing would be able to get between these two friends who had grown up together. So when he saw them argue that day, he had only laughed and felt that things would be well again soon enough. Who would have thought that things would escalate like this? Luan Xin had actually sent somebody to assassinate his son.

It hadn't worked this time but what would happen in the future? Would Luan Xin try the same thing again? Did this mean that his son would never be safe again? Actually, just what had happened for Luan Xin to go this far? Even if the two of them had argued in the past, it had never gone this far. At most, Luan Xin would be sulking for a few days and refuse to speak with Yu Huang Rong or try to beat him up unsuccessfully but that was it. There had never been any hard feelings between them and they had never tried to really hurt each other. How come things were suddenly different?

Regardless of how much the old general thought about it, he just couldn't wrap his head around it. He could only ask his son when he saw him the next time but he wasn't even sure if he wanted him to return. Maybe it would be better Yu Huang Rong just found a safe place to stay at for the time being. Even if he couldn't come back to his family and couldn't receive the honor he deserved as a person who had guarded the border for so many years, he would at least be alive. That was always the most important.

Finally, the autumn hunt came to an end and the people returned to the capital city. The two men went home but their mood turned even worse at the thought of having to tell their wives about what had happened to their sons.

When General Yu arrived home, his wife came out to greet him. She hugged him, patting his shoulder with a smile. "Finally back? I already thought you had forgotten about me!" She looked behind him, only to find that their son wasn't there. Her brows furrowed. "Don't tell me Ah Huang already sneaked off again! Can't he return home for once?"

The General glanced around, then took her arm and pulled her into the house.

"This ... What are you doing?" Madam Yu's brows furrowed but a sliver of fear entered her eyes. She had been married to this man for a good thirty years. She knew him all too well. And right now, his expression told her that something was wrong.

The General took a deep breath and let go of her arm. "We should better hope that that boy doesn't return too soon. I don't know what he did but ... he had a falling out with the emperor."

"With the ..." Madam Yu interrupted herself and then nodded. The emperor. Not Luan Xin. It seemed their families weren't close any longer. They could indeed only hope that Yu Huang Rong wouldn't return rashly.

While Madam Yu was able to accept the facts almost calmly, Madam Zhang took the blow much harsher. Hearing that the guests of the hunting party were returning, she rushed to the entrance of the estate as well, waiting for her husband and son to alight from the carriage.

Mister Zhang stepped down but the curtain of the carriage fell close behind him and wasn't lifted again and his expression also wasn't good. Madam Zhang tensed, anxiously waiting for him to walk the few steps over.

"This ... Where's Shi Lan?"

Mister Zhang looked at her, then lowered his gaze and shook his head, sighing lightly. "If only I knew. Let's go in and talk." He didn't say anything more but only went past her and into the house.