Chapter 59
Ning Shiyu was seven years old that year, and his younger brother was not yet two years old.
Princess Qingyang's son, Zheng Ge'er, bought a golden oriole.
It has beautiful feathers, is intelligent, and can understand human commands.
He carried the bird around showing it off.
When they arrived at the Princess's residence that day, this oriole instantly captured the attention of all the children.
Whenever Liao Zheng had something to do, he would think of his cousin and generously catch a yellow oriole for Ning Shiyu to play with.
Ning Shixun was just beginning to speak when he broke free from his wet nurse and chased after his older brother.
Everyone's attention was on the birds.
He didn't even notice the grains of rice falling from the birdcage, which landed right on Ning Shixun's arm.
When the bird suddenly lunged at Ning Shixun, the children initially thought it was fun.
When Ning Shixun screamed in pain, bloodstains immediately appeared on his fair arm.
Ning Shiyu, eager to protect his brother, grabbed the oriole and gave it a good beating.
When Liao Zheng pulled it open, the bird was completely lifeless.
Liao Zheng held a grudge against Ning Shiyu for a long time because of this.
After his injury healed, Ning Shixun had two bird beak marks on his arm.
After a long silence, Ning Shiyu finally asked, "How did you know?"
Mu Li replied, "Two years ago, I went to the accounting office to retrieve the account books you requested."
"I saw it when Zhu Ping helped me pick it up after it accidentally fell to the ground."
Ning Shiyu slowly sat back down behind his desk and sighed, "I remember, you mentioned this."
At the time, Ning Shiyu didn't take it seriously at all, thinking it was just a coincidence.
They said the token should be the standard.
"Go tell Uncle Xiwu that Xun'er has been found and ask him to withdraw the search order."
The search for Ning Shixun wasn't limited to Jiu Shu's side; Xi Wu's side also sent people to look for him.
Ning Shiyu didn't let Mu Li follow him and went to the ancestral hall by himself.
The ancestral hall contains the memorial tablets of Princess Zhaoyang and General Ning.
Like Princess Zhaoyang's courtyard, it was a place Ning Shiyu dared not come to in the past.
When the maid who was cleaning inside saw her master enter, she was so startled that she knocked over the offerings on the altar.
Ning Shiyu reacted quickly and caught the offering tray.
The little maid stammered in fright, "Your...Young Master, I didn't mean to."
Seeing that she was at most twelve or thirteen years old and had her hair styled in the same double buns as Fu'er when she was a child, Ning Shiyu did not blame her and said softly, "It's alright, you may leave."
The young girl was on high alert and hurriedly left the ancestral hall.
When Ning Shiyu was the only one left in the ancestral hall, he lit incense.
He raised his hand and gently lifted the front of his long robe, then bent his knees and slowly knelt before his parents' memorial tablets, his expression respectful and sorrowful.
"Father, Mother, Yu'er is back."
"I've wanted to talk to you for a while, but I'm still a little afraid to face you."
"Is Yu'er very cowardly?"
He finished speaking and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
“Fu’er said that if I am sad, you will be sad in heaven as well.”
"Yu'er doesn't want you to be sad, so I've come today to tell you two pieces of good news."
"The great revenge has been achieved, the enemy is dead, and my uncle has also reclaimed the Li family's rule."
"You can rest assured now."
Despite promising not to be sad, Ning Shiyu couldn't hide the tears welling up in her eyes, which slid down her face.
The image of his parents dying in front of him more than ten years ago reappeared before his eyes.
That feeling of suffocating despair and excruciating heartache washed over me.
Ning Shiyu clutched his chest, and it took him a long time to calm down.
Although his great revenge has been achieved, his parents will never come back to life.
I was still somewhat forced to stand up when I came to the ancestral hall today.
To outsiders, he has always been seen as calm and reliable.
But whenever he thought of the tragic deaths of his parents, Ning Shiyu still couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart.
In the past, at this time, Fu'er would always be there to comfort and encourage him.
Now I'm all alone, and I think about how I might lose even Fu'er.
Ning Shiyu's body was like a leaky sieve, and no matter how tightly he wrapped his fur robe around himself, it was to no avail.
A chill seeped into my entire body, and my chest ached with pain and panic.
Only when he is alone will he fully release this vulnerability.
Mu Li, who had rushed over out of concern, saw Ning Shiyu lying prostrate on the kneeling cushion outside the ancestral hall, motionless for a long time.
Worried, he called out from outside, "Master, what's wrong?"
Ning Shiyu then slowly straightened up. "It's nothing, you may leave now."
After Mu Li's footsteps faded into the distance, Ning Shiyu calmed down.
He got up, picked up his parents' memorial tablets, and hugged them tightly.
She forced a broken smile. "Father, Mother, the second piece of good news I have to tell you is..."
"Xun'er has been found."
Are you happy?
“Yu’er doesn’t want to lie. If it were anyone else, she would wish to sprout wings and bring him to your side.”
A brief look of hatred flashed across Ning Shiyu's face. After glancing down at the memorial tablet in his arms, he continued, "But he... wanted to take away the person I cared about most."
"I cannot simply give it up."
“Father, Mother, if he wants anything else, I will not hesitate for a moment. This is what I owe him.”
“But not Fu’er. She is my precious treasure, hidden deep in my heart. I can’t even touch her.”
"Father, Mother, you won't blame your child, right?"
Half an hour later, Ning Shiyu came out of the ancestral hall.
Mu Li and Xi Wu stood at the entrance of the ancestral hall.
When Xiwu saw Ning Shiyu come out of the ancestral hall, she thought he had finally let go.
He took a few steps forward to greet him, "Your Highness, I heard that the young master has been found."
"That's truly something to celebrate."
"Knowing that the princess and the general are at peace, their spirits can rest in peace."
"Should I go and bring the young master back, so that we can reunite on New Year's Eve?"
Ning Shiyu looked tired and said in a low voice, "I will personally go to Lingyang to pick him up in a couple of days."
Ruyi Street.
Fu'er noticed that her father had been coming to the shop a lot these past two days, ignoring even her sister-in-law's complaints.
He didn't go far, but sat right at the door of Fu'er's room.
If Fu'er stayed in the incense room for a long time without coming out, Luo Linchun would use Fu'er's favorite fruits and snacks to lure her out.
That day, he took out half a basket of mascots, carried Le Ge'er on his back, and peeled them in front of Fu'er.
She even deliberately said, "Man'er, you said that stewed bone broth with diced mascarpone is also delicious."
"It's crisp and sweet when eaten raw, no wonder your sister likes it."
Man'er was choosing flowers; with the arrival of winter, fresh flowers became scarce.
The amount of fragrant dew produced has also decreased.
These plum blossoms and camellias were purchased by Fu'er at a high price.
Hearing her father teasing her like a child, Man'er just smiled and didn't say anything.
When Fu'er was little, she had no resistance to this mascot and only liked to eat it raw.
I don't like stewed food.
Fu'er was both amused and exasperated. She put down the fragrant dew in her hand and came out of the house.
"Father, what's wrong with you these past few days? You haven't been going to the tofu shop at all?"
"Why come here and stay by my side every day?"
Fu'er took the peeled horse meat from her father's hand.
He took only one bite and then put it down.
Luo Linchun looked at Fu'er, but couldn't muster any interest in the foods she liked to eat.
A look of worry crossed his brow. "Fu'er, what else would you like to eat? Daddy will go buy it for you."
"Father, I don't want to eat anything."
"You should go back to your tofu shop."
"You bought osmanthus cake yesterday, and brought horse berries today. You've used all the money your mother gave you to buy food."
Luo Linchun thought that Xu Yuan had returned to Lingyang, his shop was not open, and he was surrounded by ruffians, so nothing good could be going on.
He didn't tell his two daughters, but simply replied, "Father is tired and doesn't want to make tofu anymore."
"That shop will belong to your brother and sister-in-law in the future."
"Father, I just want to rest at your shop for a while."
"Run errands for your mother and deliver meals to you."
After Changge's private school at home closed for the year, Yang stopped coming to the shop.
She usually stays at home taking care of her two grandsons.
Meals were also prepared at home.
Fu'er knew that her father was able to rest because her mother had given her permission.
Otherwise, his father wouldn't dare to loiter around here all day.
During the day it was fine, but at night, his father insisted on squeezing into the bed in the storeroom with A-Gui.
The bed was small, but Luo Linchun was large.
Ah Gui was angry but dared not speak out.
Fu'er tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen.
"It's almost the end of the year, and thieves are out in force. Haven't you heard that the shop next door got robbed?"
"I can give you courage by being here."
Seeing that Fu'er wouldn't listen, Dongyue had no choice but to reveal the soft whip at her waist.
In the past, she used to hang a sword, but Fu'er was afraid that it would frighten the guests, so she asked her to change it to a soft whip.
"Uncle Luo, you should go back now. The thief will not dare to come after seeing my whip."
Luo Linchun laughed and said, "No matter how long your whip is or how good your kung fu is."
“Last time, my Fu’er was kidnapped.”
“These days, your soul has been sucked away by A-Gui, how can you have any mind to care about my Fu’er?”
Luo Linchun is a straightforward person.
They will get along well in the winter month.
Both of them are very direct in their conversations.
Dongyue felt that Luo Linchun had so bluntly revealed her innermost thoughts.
I felt a little embarrassed.
He glanced at A-Gui in the front yard but did not deny it.
In the past, Dongyue had always hoped to have a good outcome with Zhuqing in Chang'an.
Who would have thought that she couldn't resist Ah Gui's daily care and concern?
She even voluntarily handed over her wages to Dongyue.
A few days ago, Dongyue fell ill, and Fu'er and Cuiya were unable to take care of her.
It was A-Gui who bought and prepared the medicine, served tea and water, and took care of Dong-Yue wholeheartedly.
Even the hard-hearted Winter Moon Heroine couldn't stand A-Gui's constant nagging.
They had long forgotten about the bamboo shoots.
She agreed to write a letter to their master and marry A-Gui.
The two were deeply in love, and it was common for them to lose focus from each other.
“I’ve made sure that nothing is more important than my daughter.”
Dongyue blushed, wanting to argue, but felt guilty and couldn't refute.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade her otherwise, Fu'er wanted to go inside and continue making incense.
But Luo Linchun grabbed him, saying, "We have enough spices. Sit with your father for a while."
Fu'er had already figured out that her father felt sorry for her, so she smiled and agreed.
"Fu'er, this year is the first month of the lunar calendar. Your mother and I have discussed it and decided that we should come back to our nettle village to celebrate the New Year. How about that?"
Their family has been away for many years, and their parents have passed away.
The old houses are no longer habitable.
The couple planned to go back this year because they didn't want their daughter to keep thinking about that man.
Especially on New Year's Eve every year, Fu'er would sneak out with some food.
Wen could easily guess who she had gone to see.
Fu'er's smile froze, and she shook her head. "Father, I don't want to go back to Nettle Village."
"Silly girl, that person is gone and won't be coming back."
"That man's current position is so low that you can't even get close to the county magistrate, let alone him."
"You won't be able to wait for it to come back."
Fu'er felt a sharp pain in her chest, and the horse in her hand fell to the ground.
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