Little Xiao Rong, where are you?

Back then, in the fire-protection chamber of Changle Palace, above the Southern Sea spirit rhinoceros pearl on the wall, “Poluoxiang” incense was embedded. This incense was normally odorless, but only after being scorched by intense flames could it emit a rich and exotic fragrance. This fragrance could neutralize all fire poisons in the world. As long as one stayed under the coverage of this fragrance for more than an hour, the scent would penetrate the bones and never fade for life.

Unless removed by other methods, but currently in this world, only she knew how to use such methods.

She had always been meticulous in her actions. The spirit rhinoceros pearl in the fire-protection chamber was used to avoid fires. If there was no danger of fire, that place would not be activated. Once the fire-protection chamber was used, it meant fire had broken out, and the Poluoxiang would definitely take effect.

She had planned ahead and calculated every step, all to protect her young son under the unpredictable ghostly depths of the palace, where swords, spears, axes, and halberds could appear at any moment.

In other words, as long as she could encounter a fragrant child whose scent pleased her, she would have found her son.

Her intuition told her that Xiao Rong should be in the capital. Back then, to protect herself, her main forces were all in the capital. She had also told her trusted allies about the principle of hiding in plain sight. They were close to the imperial city, able to communicate with the palace at any time. They should have been the first group to arrive back then. As long as they took Xiao Rong away, they could definitely raise him safely until now.

It was also possible they had taken Xiao Rong and fled far away to live in seclusion, though given the behavioral style of those few people she knew well, this possibility was small.

Her gaze focused only on street corners, wall bases, and alley turns, slanting downward, searching carefully.

A one-line four-corner symbol caught her attention.

A smile gradually spread to her eyes as Qin Chang Ge felt slightly comforted.

Judging by the mark, there should be their people nearby.

She was pondering whether to head directly to the secret stronghold or first meet with old acquaintances in the vicinity.

Suddenly she heard a sharp cry not far away.

Qin Chang Ge turned to look and saw a young woman staring with a frightened expression at a child who clung to her refusing to let go, sniffing all over her body like a little dog.

The child was plump and tender like a freshly steamed bun, with big eyes and long hair, both pitch black and bright, dazzling to behold.

Baozi was dressed simply yet exquisitely, his black hair tied with a jade-colored ribbon, his fair skin more delicate than a girl’s – clearly a child from a good family.

Unfortunately, his mind seemed a bit muddled.

He clung to the woman refusing to let go, his little nose constantly twitching, sniffing hard at the fragrance on her body, his face full of intoxication as he called out repeatedly: “Mother! Mother! This time I’ve finally found you!”

…

Baozi nuzzled and nuzzled, completely intoxicated: “Mother… you smell so good…”

The girl, clearly still an unmarried maiden, blushed all over her face. Being hugged and called mother by a child on the street made her so embarrassed and indignant she nearly wept. If not for the child being so adorable, she would have slapped him long ago.

Qin Chang Ge frowned. Was this little fellow truly looking for his mother, or using the pretense of seeking his mother to act like a little pervert?

Tsk tsk, Baozi looked only three or four years old, yet he already knew this trick at such a young age? The speed of Xiliang’s cultural enlightenment was truly jaw-dropping. This Baozi was certainly no worse than those precocious children in that modern world who were influenced by the rapidly developing information society to understand everything.

A crowd quickly gathered around, pointing and commenting. Qin Chang Ge vaguely heard someone say: “It’s this child again!”

“This child has mental problems… always loves to claim mothers…”

“Don’t even mention it, this is the third time this month…”

“Cough! I’ve been counting for him – the eighteenth time this year…”

“Where’s his mother? Doesn’t want him anymore?”

“Who knows… probably a fool that nobody wants?”

Qin Chang Ge slowly frowned.

Just as she was about to go over, she suddenly saw a large man rush over urgently, pushing through the crowd to carefully embrace the Baozi who was still clinging desperately to the girl. He reproached in a low voice: “Young master, didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t randomly claim mothers? How did you…” He sighed repeatedly, apologizing to the girl, saying repeatedly, “I’m truly sorry, miss… My young master lost his mother at a young age and desperately misses her. Seeing that your appearance resembles his mother, he was presumptuous… Please forgive him for the sake of this child’s pitiful background…”

The words flowed smoothly – he had obviously practiced apologizing frequently.

Baozi hugged the big man’s neck, pouted his mouth, and said angrily: “But she has the same fragrance as me!!! If she’s not my mother, why does she have the same scent as me? You’re lying to me!”

The surrounding people burst into laughter: “What is this child saying? Fragrance? How can you randomly claim mothers based on scent?”

“His mind really isn’t good…”

Qin Chang Ge had intended to leave, but hearing this statement, she immediately stopped. After thinking, she moved closer to the child in the crowd and sniffed carefully.

Poluoxiang – the unique fragrance with no other like it in the world.

She was immediately stunned on the spot, feeling somewhat dazed for a moment, unable to believe such good fortune had befallen her. Was it because her previous life’s ending was too tragic that heaven was compensating her with good luck in this life? She had only wandered for half a day, and her son had automatically appeared before her.

Although he had recognized the wrong mother, that didn’t matter. Qin Chang Ge decided she would work very hard to leave a deep impression on Xiao Baozi and make him remember very clearly who his real mother was.

Listening to the surrounding people’s laughter, Qin Chang Ge raised her eyebrows. What were they laughing at? Laughing at her son? Only she should be allowed to laugh at her son, right?

She stepped forward quickly. Indeed, as she approached, the strange faint fragrance became more obvious. Xiao Baozi must have detected the scent on his own body and arbitrarily assumed his mother must also have the same fragrance as him. Being young, he couldn’t distinguish the differences in scents – anything similar would make him pounce and claim as mother… Heaven knows how many mothers he had claimed.

The crowd was still laughing. Qin Chang Ge paid them no mind, walked to Xiao Rong’s side, reached out to embrace him, and called: “Son!”

This single cry, low, soft, and melodious, was like a melodious thunderclap.

It literally stunned everyone on the spot.

Including Xiao Rong and the household servant who had come to resolve the situation.

Qin Chang Ge smiled charmingly as she embraced Xiao Rong, waving her hand before his eyes. Seeing he hadn’t recovered his senses, she said quietly: “Little one, quickly call mother. If you don’t call mother, I’ll have Uncle Qi Fan give you candy!”

The effect was more immediate than anything.

Xiao Rong’s bright black eyes blinked, his long eyelashes fluttering. He raised his hands to hug Qin Chang Ge and called out loudly, sweetly and crisply: “Mother!”

Even pears weren’t this sweet and crisp.

He wasn’t satisfied yet, adding another line: “This time I’m definitely not wrong!”

Qin Chang Ge smiled. It seemed that fellow Qi Fan really hadn’t changed his bad habits over the years. His obsession with researching all sorts of strange candies had tormented everyone for so long, and now he was tormenting her son too?

“Good boy,” Qin Chang Ge smiled as she stroked her son’s big head, “This time you’re indeed not wrong… and I won’t give you another chance to be wrong…”

Xiao Rong shivered.

“From now on, you won’t need to eat Uncle Qi Fan’s candy anymore…” Qin Chang Ge smiled with ill intent, “It’s time he ate some candy I’ll give him…”