Chapter 86

Three years later.

After more than a year of recovery and building up reserves, the Great Zhou Dynasty once again presented a thriving and prosperous scene.

An exceptionally unique and eye-catching horse carriage was speeding down the road. Rather than calling it a horse carriage, it was better described as a massive, long metal fish being pulled along at a gallop by four fine steeds.

This was a travel carriage that Cheng Ruyi had spent three years of painstaking effort commissioning craftsmen to build out of ironwood. Its exterior took the shape of a fish, measuring roughly seven to eight meters long. The interior was designed by referencing the post-apocalyptic energy-efficient motorhomes, making it incredibly spacious. It was completely covered with carpets and cooling mats, featuring low tables, beds, cabinets for storing food, and a washroom.

It wasn’t luxurious, but it was simple and comfortable.

The four fine steeds pulling the carriage had been personally selected by Cheng Ruyi and nourished with her superpower. They were far more fierce, powerful, and enduring than legendary thousands-of-league steeds, and they possessed human-like intelligence. Covering a thousand leagues a day was no longer a dream.

The moment this horse carriage was finished, the Changle Marquis had flaunted it all over, drawing countless shocked, envious, and jealous gazes.

“Father, Mother, where are we going…” Second Baby, Chu Yongsi, leaned against the carriage window, gazing at the passing scenery outside with a face full of curiosity.

“The world is vast; we will simply go wherever our path takes us. Eldest Baby, Second Baby, Third Baby, don’t forget our goal is to eat all the delicacies under heaven.” Cheng Ruyi balled her hand into a fist and spoke with soaring heroism, her gorgeous face overflowing with excitement. She had finally waited until this day.

This wait had lasted a full three years. She had waited until the flowers withered and bloomed, and bloomed and withered again. She even had to use contraception; in order to ensure no unexpected events disrupted her culinary journey, she steadfastly refrained from having any more children for those three years.

“Eldest Baby, where do you want to go?” Standing to the side, the elegantly tea-drinking Rong Mo raised his eyebrows, asking in a rather open-minded manner.

After stepping down from his official duties under King Pingnan, his days had become increasingly comfortable and carefree. Two years ago, when the floods erupted, he had no choice but to leave the capital to handle disaster relief, separating from his wife and children for nearly four months. He never wished to experience the taste of parting and longing ever again.

He was the Heir of Prince Rong, possessing a vast amount of properties under his name. After the disasters concluded, the restaurants and shops under his name spread across the entire Great Zhou and even penetrated the surrounding countries and tribes. On this excursion, he could inspect his businesses while traveling.

“Why don’t we go to Dahu County first? I always hear Mother muttering about Dahu County, Dahu County…” Third Baby spoke excitedly.

As the only girl, the three-year-old Third Baby was exquisitely beautiful, looking exactly like a lovely porcelain doll at first glance. Who could have guessed that her inner nature was actually that of a fierce little tomboy? In truth, aside from Eldest Baby and Second Baby looking exceptionally similar to each other, the older Third Baby grew, the closer her appearance resembled Cheng Ruyi’s. Because of this appearance, Third Baby was deeply doted upon by Rong Mo.

“Very well, we will go to Dahu County first. Ruyi, what do you think?” Rong Mo scooped up Third Baby, gazing at his little wife with a smile.

Cheng Ruyi shrugged. Since it was all going out to travel and play, it didn’t matter to her where they went.

“Then let’s go to Dahu County first. Along the way, we can also check on Cousin Qingyao. I hear her days are going quite well now.”

With their first objective established, the eye-catching and attention-grabbing fish-shaped carriage sped off in the direction of Dahu County. Its speed was neither fast nor slow, allowing them to appreciate the roadside scenery along the way. The three little ones were the most excited.

On the road to Dahu County, they needed to pass through three towns. The drivers steering the carriage were two young guards from the mansion.

Around noon, the striking carriage stopped in a place that didn’t touch upon any villages ahead or settlements behind. The surroundings were entirely woodlands; whenever the wind blew, the tree leaves rustled and rattled aloud.

Once the two guards retrieved tables, chairs, pots, pans, and bowls from the carriage and set them up, the three-year-old Eldest Baby stood up, rubbing his palms together in anticipation, preparing to display his great skills.

“Father, Mother, I am going to hunt.”

As the eldest brother among the triplets, he was also an adult now; taking care of his parents and younger siblings was his responsibility.

Rong Mo’s forehead was covered in black lines: “…” He truly didn’t know what his eldest son had been taught by his little wife, carrying the burden of supporting the family on his tiny shoulders at such a young age. Furthermore, he was incredibly stubborn about it; correcting him was harder than ascending to the heavens.

Yet, his little wife felt this was completely normal. Remembering the troubles these three little rascals had stirred up in the capital, Rong Mo felt caught between tears and laughter. It was no wonder that upon learning their family was going to travel around the world, the Emperor had let out a sigh of relief, eagerly telling them to set off immediately.

Cheng Ruyi cast an appreciative glance at Eldest Baby: “Mm, Eldest Baby is a good boy. Mother will wait to eat the game you hunt.”

Eldest Baby smiled happily, his eyes narrowing into slits.

Second Baby stared expectantly at his parents, speaking in a childish voice: “Father, Mother, I also want to go hunt game to show filial respect to Father and Mother.”

“I also want to show filial respect to Father and Mother!” Third Baby, being a girl, refused to be left behind and declared her intent.

Three pairs of bright, sparkling eyes simultaneously focused on Cheng Ruyi and Rong Mo.

“Good, good, you are all good children. Go, all of you go! Mother will wait for your game.” Cheng Ruyi waved her large hand, immensely proud, smiling so widely her teeth showed while her eyes vanished.

She had begun supporting her family at the age of five; the triplets of her household were a case of the blue pigment deriving from indigo yet excelling it, capable of supporting the family at just over three years old. Their superpowers had already reached Level 2, allowing them to walk entirely unchecked. Even though this place was a desolate mountain range and wild forest, Cheng Ruyi wasn’t worried in the slightest about the triplets encountering danger. She waited with complete composure for them to ‘tribute’ their game.

Rong Mo: “…”

The two guards had long since grown accustomed to this scene and no longer found it bizarre. Back when the young masters were two years old, they had accompanied the Heir’s Consort into the mountain ranges to hunt, and the young masters had even cooperated to kill a massive wild boar.

The triplets were indeed formidable. The moment they entered the forest, it was akin to wolves entering a flock of sheep, causing the wild pheasants and rabbits in the woods to flee in all directions. Eldest Baby and Second Baby both possessed wood-attribute superpowers; the two little rascals worked together to manipulate plants, trapping all the fleeing pheasants and wild rabbits, while Third Baby stood on the side clutching her tiny fists to cheer them on.

Do not look down on Third Baby just because she possessed a healing-attribute superpower; her spiritual energy was remarkably powerful, and this violent little girl favored spiritual attacks above all else. In short, these three little rascals were all dangerous elements. Whoever encountered them could only blame their own bad luck.

“Only ten or so pheasants and wild rabbits—this is too little, it isn’t enough to eat!” Second Baby wrinkled his tiny nose in distress, scratching his head. He looked toward Eldest Baby, asking with a face full of anticipation: “Eldest Brother, should we look around some more? Perhaps there are wild boars frequenting this place.”

Third Baby’s eyes flashed with light. Thinking of delicious braised wild boar meat, she immediately nodded her head like a chick pecking grain: “Right, right! Wild boar meat is delicious.”

Eldest Baby, a tiny toddler, placed his hands behind his back, putting on a deeply profound expression as he nodded. “Then let us look around some more.”

The three little rascals deep-dived into the mountain forest with majestic strides, carrying a string of wild pheasants and rabbits.

Cheng Ruyi, who had been ‘watching’ them using her spiritual energy the entire time, spoke boastfully to Rong Mo: “Ah Mo, the temperaments of the three babies in our family are particularly like mine—they possess an adventurous spirit.”

Rong Mo was speechless: “…Have they gone deep into the mountain forest?”

“Yes, they went inside carrying a string of wild pheasants and rabbits. We can eat a massive feast this noon.” Cheng Ruyi spoke without the slightest hint of worry, even starting to look forward to the feast. Her heart was truly vast. The ones heading deep into the mountain forest were three tiny toddlers just over three years old.

Rong Mo could no longer sit still, immediately arising with the intent to look for the children, yet he was pulled back by Cheng Ruyi.

“Ah Mo, rest assured, I am paying attention to them. There won’t be any danger, so you don’t need to go in. Lest you encounter danger then, and the three little ones have to rescue you instead.” At the end, she ruthlessly jabbed a knife into Rong Mo’s pride.

The corner of Rong Mo’s mouth twitched: “…”

A piece of dark history from a year ago surfaced in his mind. At that time, he and his little wife had brought the three two-year-old rascals into the mountain range to hunt, but unexpectedly encountered a pack of wild wolves. No matter how high one’s martial arts were, one still feared a group assault. Thus, he had been rescued by the three little rascals who rushed over. Furthermore, he had been mocked by his little wife for an entire month.

To the side, the two guards who were busy scrubbing pots and bowls pricked up their ears to listen to the Heir’s Consort bury the Heir, their hearts twitching with suppressed laughter.

About half an hour later, the three little rascals returned. They brought back a massive wild boar and about ten wild pheasants and rabbits.

There really was a wild boar… These three little rascals were growing increasingly formidable. Rong Mo subtly raised his eyebrows.

“Father, Mother, I want to eat braised wild boar meat.” Second Baby tossed the pheasants in his hand onto the ground, eagerly ordering from the menu.

“Of course. This wild boar is so large, it happens to be just enough for us to eat.” Cheng Ruyi looked at the plump and sturdy wild boar, nodding with a face full of satisfaction. “Alright, Eldest Baby, go dissect the wild boar and hand it over to Ah Da and Ah Er.”

“Second Baby, Third Baby, you two clean up the wild pheasants and rabbits.”

Rong Mo watched his little wife calmly direct the three-year-old Eldest Baby to dissect and butcher the massive wild boar, while Second Baby and Third Baby slaughtered the pheasants and rabbits to pluck their feathers, devoid of even a shred of shame for exploiting tiny toddlers. Initially, he had tried to stop it, but later his little wife simply trained them in secret. Even after being caught by him several times, she remained completely stubborn. Every time he interfered, the three little rascals grew very displeased, so Rong Mo ultimately gave up.

Thus, this husband and wife duo possessed a very resounding title in the capital: the ‘Skin-Flaying Couple.’ He felt very helpless too!

Watching Eldest Baby proficiently gripping a large cleaver that was roughly the same height as his own body, moving it back and forth, up and down to butcher the wild boar, an ominous presentiment arose in Rong Mo’s heart for some unknown reason. He harbored a distinct illusion that their reputation for ‘skin-flaying’ was bound to echo across the entire world.

Eldest Baby, Second Baby, and Third Baby quickly processed the game, handing it over to Ah Da and Ah Er, the two guards driving the carriage. These two guards both possessed excellent culinary skills. Cough, cough—this was a requirement mandated by Cheng Ruyi and the triplets, which was why these two guards were permitted to accompany them on this trip.

Ah Da and Ah Er were names given by Cheng Ruyi, claiming it was convenient this way. Once the journey concluded, they would restore their original names.

The two guards busied themselves with building the fire and cooking lunch, arranging a table full of various seasonings, while Rong Mo’s family of five sat there drinking tea and chatting. Within roughly the span of a single cup of tea, the aroma of meat drifted out from the pot.

This meal consisted entirely of meat, eaten to everyone’s absolute satisfaction, leaving their mouths filled with lingering fragrance. The one who ate the most and the most fiercely was Cheng Ruyi; half of the meat dishes ended up inside her stomach. Next were the triplets. Rong Mo wasn’t the one at the bottom; there were still the two guards. A massive wild boar and about ten pheasants and rabbits were completely polished off just like that.

Fortunately, there was no anyone else around; otherwise, they would definitely have been frightened by Cheng Ruyi’s massive appetite.

“We have so few people and such an eye-catching horse carriage, yet not a single bandit has come to rob us. It’s too strange.” After eating and drinking their fill, Third Baby suddenly blurted out such a sentence. She had been preparing to display her great skills, so she was unhappy!

Cheng Ruyi patted Third Baby’s head, speaking in a slow manner: “Third Baby, you’ve read too many storybooks. In this desolate mountain range and wild forest, there aren’t many merchant caravans passing through, so there won’t be bandits robbing us.”

“Then where are there bandits robbing people? We want to rid the people of this evil.” Third Baby spoke with righteousness and sternness. Unfortunately, the eagerness to try flashing in her eyes betrayed her true thoughts.

Eldest Baby and Second Baby simultaneously looked toward Cheng Ruyi, their eyes sparkling with light.

Fearing that his little wife would seek out bandits to train the triplets, Rong Mo quickly let out a cough: “…It is best to just let nature take its course. Do not forget our goal is to eat all the delicacies under heaven.” In his heart, he secretly prayed that no blind bandits would come knocking on their door. The three little rascals of his household were incredibly formidable.

Cheng Ruyi silently nodded in agreement, yet on the sly, she covertly gave them a glance that conveyed ‘do not be anxious.’ “Ah Mo is correct. We cannot deviate from our goal. If we happen to encounter them, we will rid the people of this evil; if we don’t encounter them, then let it be.”

Their horse carriage was so eye-catching; encountering robbers and bandits was merely a matter of time. No rush, no rush!

Eldest Baby, Second Baby, and Third Baby understood their mother’s meaning, and simultaneously rolled their eyes: “…” Mother is way too unprincipled.

At this exact moment, the sound of galloping hooves echoed out from the distance. Cheng Ruyi’s spirit jolted. She exchanged a glance with the triplets, her eyes completely filled with excitement.

Could it be bandits? One adult and three little ones silently anticipated it in their hearts.

Sansukini: I’ll be posting 2 chapters tomorrow and the last 2 on Monday

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