Chapter 97097 Long and Long

Chapter 97

Seeing the corners of his lips slightly raised, Meng Yuning felt a little sad in her heart.

She always felt that it was pitiful that Yi'er lost his mother at such a young age.

But what about Qi Jingyan? Isn't he suffering just as much? Not only did he lose his mother, but he was also constantly trapped in self-blame and guilt, like a thorny thorn, unable to escape.

But now, he was finally willing to face up to the Queen's departure and led everyone in mourning for her. The grief that had been suppressed for a long time was finally released. Perhaps this time, he would not ask for death so early.

She stood there, looking at him quietly, her eyes as gentle as water.

Qi Jingyan's heart moved slightly. He walked slowly closer and asked gently, "What's wrong?"

There was a smile on his lips, but there was a visible layer of sadness around him. His slightly red eyes and the dark circles under his eyes made him look like glass, as if it would shatter at the slightest touch.

Meng Yuning didn't answer immediately. She simply handed the food box to Mu Ying, who was waiting at the door. Then she turned around, raised her hand and gently patted his arm, saying softly, "Your Highness, everything will be fine."

Qi Jingyan nodded slightly and replied softly: "Well, everything will be fine."

Seeing that he responded to her words so obediently again, Meng Yuning couldn't help but feel soft-hearted. She couldn't control herself for a moment, opened her arms, and gently hugged him.

Qi Jingyan was startled when he suddenly fell into a warm and soft embrace.

His fingertips trembled slightly, and he was about to raise his hand to hug him back, but she had already patted him on the back twice, said "let's go", let go of him, turned around and left gracefully.

His arms hung in the air, staring blankly at the white figure that was getting farther and farther away.

The sunlight in the courtyard was just right, casting a hazy glow around her, making her look like an immortal, not an ordinary person.

He unconsciously took a few steps forward, from the shadow under the eaves into the bright sunshine.

The sunlight in the autumn morning is dazzling but not scorching, but it makes people feel warm all over.

He curled up his slightly cold fingertips, stood in the yard for a long time, and then turned back to the study.

He walked to the rosewood desk, reached out and removed the paper covering it, and a painting that was almost finished came into view.

The snow fell silently all over the sky, and the world was covered in white.

A man knelt alone in front of a mausoleum, wearing a dark cloak. His figure was as silent as a tombstone, and a thick layer of snow had accumulated on his shoulders, as if he had been kneeling there for thousands of years.

The wind and snow brushed across his cheeks, but he seemed unaware and just stared blankly ahead.

A few steps away, a woman came walking on the snow.

She was wrapped in a red cloak and holding an orange round flower and grass lantern in her hand, the light of which swayed gently.

That touch of fiery red, that touch of gentle yellow, like a suddenly blooming flame, suddenly tearing apart the world covered in ice and snow...

---

As soon as Meng Yuning arrived at Yanfu Residence, she saw Meng Zhu standing by the door, anxiously looking out. Upon seeing her, she hurried over and said, "Miss, the young prince has woken up and was looking for you."

"You woke up so soon." Meng Yuning was a little surprised. She picked up the hem of her skirt and walked quickly back to the main house.

As soon as she entered the bedroom, she saw little Yi'er wearing a white nightgown, sitting obediently at the head of the bed, looking towards the door. When he saw her coming, the little guy pouted and stretched out his arms: "An Ning, where have you been? Yi'er missed An Ning."

The delicate little dumpling looked so aggrieved that Meng Yuning's heart almost melted.

She ran over quickly, hugged Yi'er in her arms, rocked him gently, and said in a voice so gentle that it could squeeze water out of her: "Yi'er, be good. An Ning is going to bring breakfast to your brother."

Yi'er hugged An Ning's neck tightly with his two little hands, rubbed his little face on her shoulder, and said "hmm" obediently, then asked: "Brother, have you eaten yet?"

The little guy cried for too long yesterday and had a fever at night, so his throat is still a little hoarse and he looks listless, but he is still concerned about whether his brother has eaten.

Meng Yuning felt a pain in her heart and patted his back gently: "Brother, you've eaten your meal, a bowl of porridge, and an egg."

Yi'er nodded his little head, like a little adult, and said seriously, "That's good."

Meng Yuning asked gently, "Shall we go have dinner too?"

Yi'er said obediently: "Okay."

Meng Yuning carried Yi'er to the bathroom, while Mu Li and the others hurried out to prepare breakfast.

Not long after, Meng Yuning came out holding Yi'er, changed him into the plain white mourning clothes, and then took him out to the pavilion in the yard.

Seeing that Yi'er was not in good spirits and had no appetite, Meng Yuning ate a few bites herself in order to coax him to eat more.

After they finished eating, Meng Yuning took Yi'er's hand and asked him gently, "Yi'er, do you want to go for a walk in the garden?"

If a child is in a bad mood, it is better to take him out for a walk than to stay indoors.

Yi'er shook her head: "A Ning, Yi'er hasn't practiced sword yet today."

Meng Yuning squatted in front of the little guy and put her arms around him: "Yier was sick last night. Let's rest today and practice again when he's better."

But Yi'er shook his head again: "Brother told Yi'er that the way of martial arts is like sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat."

Seeing the little Yi'er insisting so solemnly, as if he had grown up overnight, Meng Yuning felt a strange feeling in her heart, but she stopped trying to persuade him. She just nodded and said, "Okay, then An Ning will accompany Yi'er."

Yi'er agreed, ran to the west wing and took out his small wooden sword, then stood in the courtyard and, as usual, slowly practiced each move...

The courtyard was silent, with only the sounds of Xiao Yier practicing sword skills.

Meng Yuning looked at the little kid, who was not even as tall as her legs, practicing sword-fighting seriously with a stern face. He was no longer as playful as before. Her heart ached and tears fell immediately.

Mu Ying and the others standing by also had tears in their eyes.

Meng Yuning was afraid that Yi'er would see it, so she quickly turned sideways, raised her hand to wipe away her tears, took two deep breaths, quickly adjusted her mood, then turned back and looked at Yi'er quietly.

Although there was no Qi Jingyan to supervise him, Yi'er practiced more seriously than usual. He practiced the sword technique several times and even squatted in horse stance for a while. Then he returned the sword to the west wing, walked to An Ning, and leaned on her legs.

Meng Yuning carefully wiped the sweat off Yi'er's forehead with a handkerchief, then used another handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his back, and put another towel under him. Only then did she hold the little kid in her arms and asked softly, "Yier, are you tired? Do you want to go back to your room and rest? Brother said that you don't have to go to school these few days."

Yi'er leaned his little head on her shoulder and whispered, "An Ning, I want to go see mommy."

Meng Yuning was stunned for a moment, then she kissed Yi'er on the cheek and said softly, "Okay, An Ning will go with you."

She stood up and walked out holding Yi'er. Mu Ying and others quickly followed. Soon, they arrived at Qingke Hall.

When they arrived at the main hall door, Meng Yuning took Yi'er into the house, while the others stayed outside waiting.

Qi Jingyan heard the noise and walked out of the study.

Meng Yuning glanced at Yi'er, then at the Queen's tablet. Qi Jingyan understood, nodded slightly, and extended his hand to Yi'er: "Yi'er, come here."

Meng Yuning let go of Yi'er's little hand and gently pushed him: "Brother is calling."

Yier walked over and grabbed his brother's hand.

The two, one big and one small, walked hand in hand to the queen's tablet, lifted the corners of their robes, and knelt down.

Yi'er was about to kowtow when Qi Jingyan turned around and extended his hand to Meng Yuning who was standing behind him: "A Ning, come, kowtow to your mother and burn some incense."

Meng Yuning quickly responded, "Okay."

The Queen is the mother of Qi Jingyan and Yi'er, which means she is her elder, so it is only right for her to pay her respects.

She walked over quickly, knelt down on the other side of Qi Jingyan, and kowtowed three times to the tablet along with the two brothers.

Then the three of them stood up, took the three incense sticks handed to them by Mu Yun, bowed to the tablet, and then walked forward.

Qi Jingyan first inserted his three incense sticks into the incense burner. After Meng Yuning had inserted the incense in her hand, he picked up Yi'er and asked him to insert the incense as well.

After Yi'er put the incense in the place, she lowered her head to look at the sweet-scented osmanthus cake on the table. Seeing that the sweet-scented osmanthus cake was in good condition, she pointed with her little hand and said to the tablet: "Mother, this is the cake made by An Ning, and Yi'er put the flowers there. You should eat more. After you finish eating, Yi'er will give you more."

After saying this, he stared at the vermilion tablet, as if waiting for an answer.

Meng Yuning couldn't bear to watch, so she touched Yi'er's little hand and said softly, "Okay, Aning will make osmanthus cake every day, and Yi'er will give it to the Queen every day, okay?"

Yi'er looked at An Ning, nodded and said, "Okay."

Qi Jingyan held Yi'er in his arms and asked, "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?"

Yi'er Yaoyao shook his head: "Yier is fine, brother, let's study."

Qi Jingyan: "You don't have to study these few days."

Yier shook his head again: "Yier wants to read."

Meng Yuning then told Qi Jingyan everything about Yi'er's martial arts training at Yanfu Residence. Qi Jingyan was silent for a moment and nodded slightly: "Okay, then let's go study."

Yi'er stretched out her little hand and touched Meng Yuning's face: "A Ning, then Yi'er will not accompany you back."

"It's okay, Yi'er, just focus on your studies. Mu Ying and the others are with you." Meng Yuning said with a slight smile, and then repeatedly reminded: "Yier, if you feel tired, tell your brother, don't force yourself to do it."

Yier nodded obediently: "Yier understands."

These two brothers are both stubborn. Meng Yuning was still worried, so she gave Qi Jingyan a few more instructions before turning around and leaving. Qi Jingyan stood at the porch at the door holding Yi'er, watching her walk out of the yard. When he could no longer see her, he returned to the house to attend class.

---

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed and it is the Double Ninth Festival.

Everyone in the palace was in mourning for the Empress, and there was no celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The day after the Double Ninth Festival, the tenth day of September, happened to be Qi Jingyan’s birthday.

In the afternoon, Meng Yuning went to the kitchen and made a bowl of longevity noodles and a few vegetarian dishes.

The autumn heat has passed, and we can already feel the slight coolness that should be in the autumn evening in the morning and evening.

Meng Yuning had the food placed on the table by the window. The three of them sat around it. Meng Yuning divided the bowl of longevity noodles into three portions and placed one bowl in front of each person.

She smiled and said, "Come, eat this bowl of longevity noodles, and we will all live long, healthy lives."

Qi Jingyan and Yi'er repeated in unison: "Long, long, healthy and long-lived."

Afterwards, the three of them held their bowls and quietly finished their longevity noodles.

Qi Jingyan drank all the soup in the bowl and said to Meng Yuning with a smile, "A Ning, thank you."

Meng Yuning took the pre-cooked red egg and rolled it on each of their foreheads. "Good luck and prosperity."

Yi'er smiled with his eyes curved, and took a red egg, rolled it on Aning's head, and imitated in a baby voice: "Aning is also lucky."

Qi Jingyan also took a red egg, rolled it on An Ning's head, and continued with the second half of the sentence: "Perfect and auspicious."

The three of them laughed, each knocked the red egg on the table, then peeled it and ate it.

After finishing the red eggs, Meng Yuning added some more dishes to their bowls, and said in an unquestionable tone: "We must finish these dishes today."

For the past two months, everyone in the mansion has been on a vegetarian diet. Qi Jingyan had originally told Meng Yuning that she and Yi'er could just continue their diets as usual, but little Yi'er insisted on following his brother's lead, so Meng Yuning followed suit.

She was fine. When she was a child, her grandmother's family didn't have much money and they didn't have meat to eat every day. Most of the time they ate vegetables grown in their own fields.

But Qi Jingyan and Yi'er lost weight visibly, especially little Yi'er. The little weight he had gained with great difficulty was lost in an instant.

She cooked different kinds of vegetarian dishes for the two brothers every day, but their appetites were never very good.

Today she specially made braised tofu, vegetarian fried eggplant boxes, mixed mushroom pot, and osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root.

Both of them nodded obediently, picked up their chopsticks, and slowly finished all the food in their bowls.

Meng Yuning was very satisfied. She praised each of them a few words and then had the table cleared.

The three of them held hands and walked in the yard for a while to digest the food. Then Meng Yuning carried Yi'er to take a bath. After putting Yi'er back on the bed, she and Qi Jingyan went to take a bath and change clothes one after another.

Soon, the three of them lay quietly on the bed.

Qi Jingyan habitually picked up his fan and fanned himself. Meng Yuning quickly reached out to block his arm: "Your Highness, autumn is here, and it's windy at night. If you continue to fan, Yi'er and I will be blown away."

Yi'er also said: "Brother, you want to slap Yi'er and An Ning away."

Qi Jingyan smiled and agreed, placing the palm-leaf fan on the bedside table. He turned sideways, looked at Meng Yuning, and discussed with her: "An Ning, after this New Year, Yi'er will be four years old. I want to give him a separate bed to sleep in."

Before Meng Yuning could speak, Yi'er knelt up, raised her little palm and slapped Qi Jingyan on the arm. Her little face was round and round, and she said fiercely: "No, we have to divide it. Brother will go out, and Yi'er and An Ning will go together."