Published at 7th of January 2026 7:54 am

Chapter 1996: A Stern Father’s Tender Love (Jingkong Arc)

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

In Yan Country, there is also the custom of burning incense on the first day of the new year. When Gu Jiao mentioned climbing the mountain, she was actually referring to going to the temple to burn incense.

They can’t be the first to burn incense, so they try to arrive at the temple before noon, burn a few sticks of incense, and then have a vegetarian meal.

The three little ones remembered they had an outing planned, so they woke up early. Xiao Hen had been tired out half the night, and he wasn’t awake when the kids came over.

Seeing her father who rarely lingered in bed, Xiao Yang couldn’t help but recall him carrying her uncle last night. She asked her mother if father hadn’t actually managed to carry her uncle because he got injured.

If father was injured, he definitely wouldn’t be able to climb the mountain today.

But father just said it doesn’t hurt!

Yay!

Let’s climb!

Xiao Yang quickly got up, first pulling Xiao Cong out of bed, then clumsily lifting the two-year-old Little Xiao Xuan down.

She giggled and said, "Father, you are amazing! Uncle Jing Kong is such a big guy, yet you could carry him!"

With such high praise, Xiao Hen didn’t have room to back down, or else he’d end up being not-so-great a father, right?

He needed to keep his pride in front of his wife and maintain his dignity before his children.

Clearing his throat, he said nonchalantly, "Ahem, that’s natural. Your uncle isn’t that heavy."

"Hee hee!" Xiao Yang cheerfully led her two brothers out of the room, "We’re going to climb the mountain!"

Gu Jiao looked at him, her brow and eyes arched in delight.

Xiao Hen clasped her hands, flipped over, and lightly pressed her beneath him, punishingly biting her soft lips as he said fiercely, "Did you do it on purpose?"

Gu Jiao blinked guiltily: "Are you going to punish me?"

Xiao Hen, already in the act of punishing her, was speechless.

If this didn’t count as punishment, then perhaps he’d need to punish her more deeply, but after doing so, he might not be able to leave the house today.

He took a deep breath, harshly demanded interest with another kiss on her lips: "Remember this. I’ll punish you when we get back tonight."

After speaking, he suppressed the easy arousal she had stirred early in the morning and let her go.

Then he watched as she took one, two, three small tatar packets from the first aid kit.

Taking the initiative to be punished, so obedient.

Xiao Hen: "..."

...

Xuanyuan Xi lived in Zhaoyang Palace.

After waking up their father, the three little ones then went to wake Uncle Jing Kong.

Xuanyuan Xi got a hangover from a night of drinking and woke up with a buzzing head.

"Uncle, uncle!" Xiao Yang bounced by his bed, "Wake up! Time to climb the mountain!"

"Um." Xuanyuan Xi groggily raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glaring light.

Just then, a young palace maid came in with a basin to help him wash. She caught a glimpse of the handsome and lazy youth under the morning light, and as her gaze swept across his slightly moving Adam’s apple, her heart fluttered.

Her steps faltered, spilling the water from the basin!

"Rise and shine! Wake up!"

Xiao Yang morphed into a little noise-maker, loud and incessant by Xuanyuan Xi’s ear.

Xuanyuan Xi pulled the blanket over his head, but she slipped her little head under it, continuing her relentless noise-making.

How the mighty fall! After having always tormented others, Xuanyuan Xi finally tasted the despair of his aunt and the others.

He was so annoyed by Xiao Yang’s noise that he sat up in resignation: "Fine, fine, Uncle will get up."

...

After breakfast, the group took a carriage to Lingyin Temple outside the city.

Shangguan Yun didn’t join the entourage, only Shangguan Qing and the whole Xiao Hen family were present.

There were too many pilgrims at the temple, and the carriage couldn’t move any further when it was still a mile from the base of the mountain.

The group got out and walked.

With so many eyes around, it was impossible to let the children walk alone. Shangguan Qing carried Xiao Cong, and Xiao Hen carried Little Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Yang peeked out from behind Gu Jiao, grinning as she called to Xuanyuan Xi, "Uncle Jing Kong!"

Xuanyuan Xi’s brow twitched, but he stiffly picked up Xiao Yang.

Xiao Yang babbled nonstop all the way, nearly making Xuanyuan Xi’s head explode.

Xiao Hen carried Little Xiao Xuan with one hand and held Gu Jiao with the other, leisurely trailing behind.

Seeing the former little monk being pestered by Xiao Yang until he had a headache, Xiao Hen couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased.

"Bad brother-in-law, you’re not allowed to gloat!"

Somebody said coldly.

Xiao Hen’s smile froze. Confirming that Jing Kong hadn’t turned back, he thought to himself, "Does that brat have eyes in the back of his head? How did he catch me gloating?"

The group entered the temple to burn incense, and the three little ones earnestly bowed to Buddha. Especially Little Shi Xin, wearing a little monk’s robe and a small Buddha bead necklace.

With one more bow, an outsider might even mistake him for a little master from the temple.

But this little master was just too cute!

"I need to pee," Little Shi Xin the little monk, also known as Little Xiao Xuan, tugged on his father’s clothes.

Xiao Hen pointed at Xuanyuan Xi: "Go to Uncle."

Little Xiao Xuan came over and looked up: "Uncle, pee."

"Bad brother-in-law, you are too lazy." Xuanyuan Xi had long been acquainted with his bad brother-in-law’s laziness and had zero expectations for him, taking Little Xiao Xuan to the latrine.

"Wait in the meditation room." Xiao Hen said.

"Got it!" Xuanyuan Xi pouted.

...

On the way from the hut to the meditation room, they had to pass through a small plum garden. Xuanyuan Xi was walking along the small path with Little Xiao Xuan in his arms when they accidentally encountered a lady dressed in a pink cape and wearing a veil.

The cobblestone path was narrow.

Xuanyuan Xi intentionally made way.

But unexpectedly, she did the same, moving in the same direction.

Xuanyuan Xi quickly moved to the right.

How coincidental, she did the same.

Back and forth, they couldn’t pass each other.

Xuanyuan Xi simply moved to the side: "Please, miss!"

The young lady slightly bowed to express her gratitude.

Then she turned and walked forward.

As they brushed past each other, Little Xiao Xuan mischievously reached out and pulled off her bead flower.

Xuanyuan Xi: "..."

"Apologies." Xuanyuan Xi first apologized to the girl and then looked at the little one in his arms, "Xuan’er, return the item to the lady."

Little Xiao Xuan refused to return it.

The young lady kindly said, "It’s fine, just a bead flower, it’s not worth much."

Xuanyuan Xi said, "Even so, if word gets out, it could harm the lady’s reputation."

No matter what he said, Little Xiao Xuan just wouldn’t return it.

Little Xuan’s body was frail, and he dared not let him cry for fear he might faint.

Finally, under Xuanyuan Xi’s insistence, he bought the bead flower for twenty taels of silver.

Back in the meditation room, he didn’t hide anything and recounted the garden incident in full detail.

Xiao Hen sternly looked at his young son.

Little Xiao Xuan shivered and sought refuge in Shangguan Qing’s arms.

Though he might seem clumsy, he knew finding solace in his mother’s arms was useless; she would surely side with his father. Only his uncle was reliable.

Shangguan Qing protected the little one in his arms and softly comforted, "Alright, alright, Xuan’er, don’t be afraid, Uncle’s got you."

Xiao Hen: "Your new firecracker is gone."

Shangguan Qing instantly handed Little Xiao Xuan over, solemnly saying to Xiao Hen, "Your child, you discipline him!"

Little Xiao Xuan: "..."

Xiao Hen took his son to the neighboring meditation room.

Mistakes needed to be corrected, but he had a principle of not reprimanding his child in front of others.

A quarter of an hour later, father and son emerged from the adjacent meditation room.

No one knew what Xiao Hen said to Little Xiao Xuan, but Little Xiao Xuan obediently returned the bead flower to Xuanyuan Xi.

Xuanyuan Xi: Why are you giving it to me?

Xuanyuan Xi didn’t want it either.

The classic narrative of a scholar meeting a beautiful lady by chance doesn’t spark any chemistry for Xuanyuan Qi. He thought the bead flower was ugly and immediately tossed it aside.

On the way back, Xiao Hen unusually didn’t take a carriage, choosing instead to ride a horse alongside Xuanyuan Xi.

Xuanyuan Xi glanced at his mischievous brother-in-law, "In such strong wind, if you’re blown away, I’m not responsible."

Xiao Hen was not that frail; he was just not versed in martial arts, but he secretly exercised nonetheless.

However, Xiao Hen gave up the chance to be close to his wife to accompany Xuanyuan Xi riding, clearly having something to discuss.

"What on earth is it?" Xuanyuan Xi asked.

Xiao Hen hesitated for a moment. Matters like this were awkward for Jiaojiao to bring up; he had to handle it himself.

He paused, moved his horse closer to Xuanyuan Xi, and subtly asked, "You haven’t been fooling around in the military camp, have you?"

"What fooling around?" Xuanyuan Xi didn’t comprehend.

Xiao Hen, recalling the bead flower incident, said, "You’re grown up, and many young men from great families understand worldly matters by your age, but I do not approve of that."

Xuanyuan Xi half guessed, half deduced, finally realizing what he meant through his somewhat indescribable expression.

Xuanyuan Xi’s face darkened, "What are you talking about, wicked brother-in-law? I’m still young!"

Indeed, he understood. Before going to the military camp, he was a simple child, but after mingling with veteran soldiers for a year, he gained a lot of knowledge.

The speed at which children grow truly is too fast. Before you know it, they are half adults.

Xiao Hen suppressed his many emotions and earnestly warned, "You must cherish your body, do not act recklessly."

I haven’t even thought about such things!

Inside, Xuanyuan Xi was still a kid.

But he wouldn’t admit it—probably how young men are, always pretending to be mature no matter how childish they are inside.

Raising his chin, he retorted, "Rather than worrying about me, worry about yourself."

Xiao Hen asked, "How am I affected?"

Xuanyuan Xi raised an eyebrow, "I heard a Liu minister from Wei Country, coming from a lowly background, emerged. Don’t blame me for not warning you; Jiaojiao had a confidant in Zhan Country with the surname Liu, named Liu Yisheng!"

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