I knew from a young age that I was not my father and mother's biological child, but neither I nor they thought it was an important matter, and it did not affect the intimacy between us at all.

I was born in Pingduguan. My biological parents died in the war. I was too young and frightened at that time. I couldn't remember what they looked like, and even forgot my own name. But my mother told me that no parents would blame their children. They would watch over me in heaven, and as long as I was happy, that was enough.

I also have a foster father who saved my life among thousands of soldiers. My mother often talked to me about him, his erudition, his character, and how he saved the people of a city by himself. As she talked, her eyes would be covered with mist, and then she would turn around and cry secretly. I know they miss him very much. In fact, I miss him too. I always remember that at the last moment, he gently touched my hair, his eyes were full of calming power, and he said, "Don't cry, live well." Then he ran out. I hid in the haystack and heard the shouting and killing outside. I was very scared, but I didn't dare to cry out loud, but I remembered his last words. Later, I worked hard to study and do many useful things, because this was my promise to him.

When I was seven years old, my mother gave birth to a younger brother. I had never seen her so happy. The next year, my stepmother gave birth to a younger sister and a third brother. The house became more and more lively. They all liked me, the eldest brother, and followed me around every day, asking me to play with them. My mother would look at us and laugh. I was very curious, so I ran over to ask her why she was laughing. She hugged me in her arms, gently rested her chin on my head and said, "Because I have never thought that seeing you all around me like this, sometimes I am really afraid that it is a dream." I felt something cool falling on my hair. Later, I realized that when a person is extremely happy, he or she will also shed tears.

My mother would only smile the happiest at two times: one when she was looking at us, and the other when she was looking at Dad. But when she was looking at Dad, her smile was a little different, no longer full of tenderness and kindness, but with a little girl's shyness. Even after we grew up and got married, her attitude towards Dad did not change.

If you mention my father in Qingzhou City, everyone will show admiration. Everyone praises how the loyal and brave king killed the barbarians in the battlefield and how he implemented many benevolent policies to make the people of several states live a good life. But in my eyes, my father is not as high and mighty as they say. Every time my mother frowned, he would scratch his ears and cheeks anxiously, asking us to plead for him, and he would also make fun of her in various ways to please her.

I often hear people talking about how it is a little unreasonable for Daddy, as a prince, to have only one wife. Some country gentlemen in the city would secretly send some beauties to him in order to please him, but he would throw them all away. Those country gentlemen were so embarrassed that no one dared to send beauties to him anymore.

Many people don't understand why my mother, who looks weak and not particularly beautiful, can control the loyal and brave king. Only I can see that my father can't live without my mother. She is even more important to him than us. Sometimes when my mother goes to Yunchong Mountain to visit Aunt Cui, he will become particularly irritable and look like he has lost his soul. When my mother comes back, he will drag her into the room and won't let her out. I don't know how he punishes her.

I also know a little secret of my parents. They would meet up on the mountain to watch the sunset at regular intervals. During that time, no one could disturb them. One time, my little sister suddenly had a fever. I followed the servants' instructions to find them and happened to run into them at the foot of the mountain. I saw my father carrying my mother down the mountain. The faint red clouds cast their shadows among the flowers and plants on the mountain. My mother lay on my father's back and smiled like a shy little girl. Occasionally, she would whisper something to my father. But my father just listened seriously and smiled softly, as if he only had room for my mother in his eyes. I stood there in a daze, not wanting to go up and disturb them.

When they got closer, I heard my mother say with a smile: "I'm getting older and older. I'm afraid you won't be able to carry me anymore."

My father raised his eyebrows and said, "You look down on your husband! How can I not carry you? As long as my legs can still walk, I will always carry you even if I have to use a cane."

I saw my mother smiling sweetly, and the setting sun gradually lengthened their figures. That picture has stayed in my heart ever since, and made me understand what happiness looks like.

By the way, I have an aunt in the capital. She sometimes comes to Qingzhou to visit us. Every time she comes, she complains about what her husband did to make her run away from home. But I can see that she is actually very happy, because when she mentions that man, although her tone is full of resentment, there is a hint of smile in the corners of her eyes. When I was fifteen years old, my aunt brought my cousin Xia Wanrou. It was March at that time. She stood in a flower field, smiling softly, and called me "brother". At that moment, I suddenly found what I really wanted to pursue.

Later I told my mother that I wanted to go to the capital. After she asked me the reason, she touched my head with great satisfaction and said, "My little Zhuzi has finally grown up." Then she seemed to think of something, and whispered softly, "If your adoptive father knew that you are so brave to pursue what you want, he would definitely be proud of you." I felt that my mother seemed to remember something, and her expression became sad and emotional. I don't know why she was like this. Perhaps, that is another story.

When I was 20, I finally married Wanrou. Although her father was very fierce and used many ways to make things difficult for me, fortunately we were always firm and did not miss each other. One year after marriage, Wanrou became pregnant. Just when we were extremely happy about the upcoming little life, a big event happened in Qingzhou City. I received a letter from the border, which said: Dad was seriously injured in a battle and has been in a coma for several days.

My aunt and I took Wanrou back to Qingzhou City. When I saw my mother again, I could hardly believe that the always gentle and strong mother had become like this. Her cheeks were deeply sunken, and there was no light in her eyes anymore, as if her whole world was empty.

As soon as she saw me come back, she rushed up and hugged me tightly, but she said nothing and didn't cry. I have never seen her shed a tear since I came back. Even when my aunt lay in front of my father's bed and cried for a long time, she just sat there staring at my father. Her empty eyes would only show a gentle light when they fell on my father, but would soon sink into the deep pool of despair again.

After I came back, I stayed with my mother. As my father was unconscious for longer and longer, my mother became more and more silent and thinner. One time, I heard my mother talking to my father. She said, "You must be pretending to be unconscious to trick me like you did last time. Get up quickly, or I will be really angry!"

As she spoke, she deliberately put on a stern face. However, she had waited for a long time, and Dad didn't get up to comfort her like he used to. I watched her face change from hope to despair, and then her whole face collapsed. That was not the mother I knew at all. It seemed that even her soul had been lost along with Dad.

A few days later, my mother called my brother, sister and me to her side and calmly explained to us all the businesses under my father's name. She even smiled, touched our heads and said, "You've all grown up, started your own families and careers, and I can rest assured now." At that moment, I suddenly felt very scared, because I realized clearly: If my father really left, my mother would probably not be able to survive.

A few days later, my little sister ran to me in a panic and told me that mom was missing. I suddenly thought of where mom would go. So I ran to the back mountain. Sure enough, when I climbed to the top of the mountain, I saw mom sitting on a rock, staring at the setting sun in the distance. Under the brilliant clouds, her back looked so lonely and desolate. I finally heard her crying. I had never seen mom cry so sadly. Her voice seemed broken and fragmented in the wind. "I'm sorry, A'du, I promised you that I would live well even if you were gone, but now I find that I can't do it at all. I'm sorry..."

I was panicking, so I rushed over to hug her tightly, telling her that Daddy would definitely wake up and he would not leave us. After a long time, my mother finally calmed down. She straightened her hair that was messed up by the breeze, and showed a strong expression again, saying: "Yes, he will not bear to see us sad for him, and he will not let go of those people. He will definitely wake up!"

Later I learned that during that time, people from several states were praying for my father. They went to temples and set up longevity tablets at home, praying to God to let the loyal and brave king wake up soon. I looked at those pious people and suddenly felt proud of my father. He often told me that no matter what, we should remember to put the people's hearts first. And now, his people have not forgotten him and are always grateful for everything he has done for them.

Perhaps the prayers really worked, or perhaps he heard my mother's constant calls day and night. After being in a coma for half a month, my father finally woke up. The moment he opened his eyes, my mother seemed to be alive again. My father reached out and touched her face, asking her why she had become so thin. That was the first thing he said after he fell into a coma. But my mother just held his hand tightly and asked softly, "Have I become ugly?"

I saw my father smile and then said, "It's not ugly, and it will never be ugly."

After my father was able to walk, they started to go to the mountain to watch the sunset. I was worried about my father's health, so I secretly followed them. When going up the mountain, my father insisted on carrying my mother on his back, but my mother smiled and shook her head, saying, "I will support you in the future." I looked at their tightly clasped hands and suddenly understood one thing: their lives have always been closely intertwined, because they have each other's color, and they will continue to walk like this, even death cannot separate them.

Later, Wanrou and I stayed with my parents for a long time until Wanrou's child was born. It was a boy, white, chubby and very cute. I asked my mother to give him a name, but she smiled and shook her head, saying that these should be decided by ourselves.

By the way, my name was given to me by my mother. That year at Pingdu Pass, I forgot what my parents looked like, and I also forgot my original name. My mother said that it was my adoptive father who saved me with his life, so she let me follow him.

My name is Luo Huai'en.