Qin Shou lived in Tianshui Town for a month.
For a month, he acted like an ordinary person, doing laundry, cooking, sweeping, going to the market to buy groceries, and accompanying Wenqing to visit the places where she lived as a child.
Whenever Wenqing recounted her mother's past in detail, Qin Shou would listen with extra care.
"My mother said that when you were little, your favorite dish was her braised pork..."
"My mother also said that when you were little, Master, you were incredibly well-behaved and clever. Every time you wanted to have all of my mother's braised pork, you would pretend to say that your eldest grand-uncle was ugly and ruined your appetite. Then, your grand-uncle would kindly kick your eldest grand-uncle off the table..."
My mom said she saw right through your little scheme. Back then, she thought her little junior brother was incredibly cute, adorable, and fun…”
"My father also loves my mother's braised pork. They first met in autumn, in a maple forest as red as fire. My father was being chased by his enemies, and my mother saved him."
My dad said that it was from that moment that he fell in love with the fairy who liked to wear red...
"My mother liked to eat mulberries, so my father planted two mulberry trees in front of the door..."
"My mother liked to wear red, so my father bought her all the red clothes in town..."
"When my mother misses my grandmaster, my great-uncle, and you, my master, she gets completely drunk. My father then watches her quietly under the moonlight. Once she's drunk and asleep, he gently carries her into the house, covers her with a blanket, and stays by her bedside until she falls asleep..."
"When I was born, my mother said that girls should take their father's surname. My father smiled and said, 'But I want to take your surname.' My mother said, 'Then you can take my surname.' My father said, 'Okay, Wenqing, Wenqing, Wenqing, I've already taken your surname, haven't I...'"
"When I was little, I loved riding on my dad's shoulders to pick mulberries..."
.........
"Your Highness, why do you come here every year?"
"Waiting for someone."
"Who is it?"
"Someone who always liked to boss me around and bully me when I was little."
"If Your Highness wishes to take revenge, you only need to give the order."
"It wasn't about revenge, it was about wanting to see her again, but I guess I won't be able to."
Why?
"She's been gone for seventy-three years. If she were to return, she should have done so long ago."
"Then why does Your Highness still make this trip every year?"
"Perhaps... it's because of a fantasy."
On this day, just as dawn was breaking, two people walked towards us from outside the secluded courtyard.
The leader was a young man with a fairly handsome appearance. He wore a black robe with gold thread stitching on the cuffs, giving him an air of nobility.
However, his appearance was rather refined, and there was always a lingering melancholy in his deep pupils.
"Huh? How come those two mulberry trees by the door seem to have come back to life?"
The young man let out a surprised exclamation.
Squeak!
Just then, the courtyard gate opened, and a woman in a purple dress walked out.
"Master, hurry up, we're going to the early market!"
Wenqing called out to those behind her.
"Here I am, here I am!"
A response from the Qin beast followed.
"Wen... Wen... Wen..."
The black-robed youth was speechless, staring blankly at the person in front of him, and even began to stammer.
"Who are you? "
Wen Qing frowned her beautiful brows and asked tentatively.
"I...I...I..."
"Your Highness, what's wrong? Why are you stuttering so much today?"
"Don't speak."
The young man in black robes turned serious, and the people behind him immediately fell silent, retreating to the very back.
He had never seen his prince so distraught as he was today.
"Sister Wen...it's...it's me, Zhang Duan!"
The boy in the black robe gradually regained his ability to speak, and a bright smile appeared on his face.
"Zhang Duan?"
Wenqing frowned, then suddenly realized.
"Oh, it's you! You little slug who lived next door to me when I was a kid!"
"Yes, yes, that's me, Slug."
Zhang Duan nodded excitedly, "Sister Wen, I never imagined that after so many years, you would still be alive, and even come back."
Warmth: ? ? ? ? What do you mean by "still alive"? This little snot-nosed creature is getting worse and worse at talking.
"But little snotty-nosed brat, judging from your current state, you must have embarked on the path of cultivation. Congratulations!"
He exchanged a few warm and polite words.
She remembered that this little snotty-nosed child used to cry a lot and was very messy when he was little, so he got this nickname.
She still remembered that when this little snotty-nosed child was little, he loved to run after her while calling out, "Sister Wen, can you take me to play?"
Actually, this little slug was two years older than Wen Qing, but boys develop slowly when they're young, and this little slug developed even slower, so he looked much smaller than Wen Qing. Plus, Wen Qing was quite assertive in fights and conversations when she was little, so the little slug always called her "Sister Wen, Sister Wen"...
Back then, if Wenqing asked him to climb a tree to steal bird nests, he would climb a tree to steal bird nests; if Wenqing asked him to go down to the river to catch fish and shrimp, he would go down to the river to catch fish and shrimp; if Wenqing asked him to go east, he would go east; if Wenqing asked him to go west, he would go west. His main trait was being obedient.
Over time, Wenqing accepted this little follower, and whenever he was bullied by other kids, Wenqing would stand in front of him to protect him.
Little did anyone expect that, more than sixty years later, that ordinary little kid had grown into a handsome and dashing young cultivator.
Boys really do change a lot as they grow up.
Unfortunately, no matter how she changes, she can't be even one ten-thousandth as handsome as her master, hehe.
"Ha, actually... it's not so bad..."
Zhang Duan scratched his head. "Sister Wen, I remember telling you when I was little that I was actually the illegitimate son of a wealthy family. In the seventh year after you left, I was taken back home by my biological father. It was only later that I came into contact with cultivation."
I remember when I was little, my wet nurse told me that my parents were both cultivators and that I was a cultivator too. At that time, I didn't understand what a cultivator was until I came into contact with cultivators later.
That's why I know that Sister Wen might come back here someday, so I come back every year to see if you've returned.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Wen Qing revealed a hint of doubt.
Zhang Duan suddenly became flustered.
"Sister Wen, I said when I was little that when I grew up and became rich, I would build you a huge house, even more magnificent than the emperor's palace. Now I can do it. You must..."
"Oh, Master, why are you so slow? If we're late, the best cuts of meat from Old Wang's pig will be snatched up again."
At this moment, Qin Shou came out of the courtyard. Seeing this, Wen Qing quickly went up and hugged Qin Shou's arm, pouting and complaining, "Really, Master, you're always the slowest when we go out, like a tortoise, no, a million times slower than a tortoise!"
"Okay, okay, I'll be faster next time. Men need to dress up before going out, you know."
"Hmph, Master, you're already so beautiful, why do you still need to be so vain!"
"Haha, oh? And who is this?"
"Oh, sir, let me introduce you. This is my childhood neighbor, Zhang Duan. We just happened to run into each other today, so I said hello."
Wenqing introduced it to Qin Shou.
"Zhang Duan greets you, senior!"
Zhang Duan bowed respectfully.
"Wow, young man, you're quite the catch!"
Qin Shou smiled and praised him.
Zhang Duan: ? ? ? ? ? "May I ask, senior, what is meant by 'half a memorial'?"
"Oh dear, a half-man is still half a man less than a full-man."
Wen Qing explained with a smile.
"Yes, yes."
Qin Shou smiled and nodded.
? ? ? ?
Zhang Duan was a little confused by the explanation; he had never received this kind of education before.
"Then...why is it still half a watch short?"
Zhang Duan humbly sought advice.
"Giggle giggle."
Wen Qing covered her mouth and chuckled, "Of course, it's still lacking in looks."
"Am I right, Master?"
Wen Qing turned her head toward the Qin beast.
"Yes, yes."
Qin Shou nodded with a smile.
Zhang Duan: ? ? ? ? ?
"Alright, you little snotty-nosed brat, I'm going to the market with my master now. Bye-bye!"
Wen Qing waved goodbye, then hopped away, arm in arm with Qin Shou.
"Bye-Bye. "
Zhang Duan stood there dumbfounded, waving his little hand for a long time.
"Your Highness, the person has already gone far away."
At this moment, his subordinate stepped forward and whispered a suggestion.
"oh! "
Zhang Duan lowered his hand and frowned deeply.
"Zhang San, didn't you think that man was a little too handsome?"
"Your Highness, I also think that man is excessively handsome."
Have you ever seen anyone more handsome than him?
Zhang Duan turned his head and looked at Zhang San.
Zhang San shook his head with a serious expression.
"Your Highness, I have never seen it before."
"Sigh... Why is he so handsome? Do you think Sister Wen will stop looking at other people when she sees someone this good-looking every day?"
Zhang San: ? ? ? ? ? So His Highness has fallen for this girl?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com