Lulu quickly stretched out her hand with great trepidation and shook hands with her fingertips.
"Come back every year to see the young lady, and report safety on your journey. If you encounter any problems, write back." Yan Mo reminded her worriedly, "It would be best if you could have someone accompany you and look after you."
Ling withdrew his hand and nodded, "I'm leaving."
Her sleeves fluttered in the chill of the winter wind as she stepped out of the palace gates. The black egg in her sleeve popped out, and she took a deep breath of the cool air. "Finally, I'm out. It was so suffocating staying in there."
Ling strode forward, in a happy mood and with light steps. When she heard what Heidan said, she curled her lips and smiled, because these words were also what she felt in her heart.
"Let's go." Without looking back, she strode towards the city gate, to the end of the world.
Heidan jumped and rolled all the way, chasing his sister from behind, "Wait for me!"
Yan Mo stood under the willow tree, watching her sister's back as she walked away. She turned around and said to the curious Lu Lu standing beside her, "Let's go back. I'll explain things to you after the ladies have rested."
Lulu swallowed her doubts, and followed Yan Mo back to Chenxin Palace, looking back every few steps.
The two masters in the palace were still having their meal. The taste of the pregnant fairy Liu was becoming more and more in line with her own nature. She liked to eat dried fish, fresh meat, and sweet corn.
Xie Xuanzhao asked the imperial physician and was told that there was nothing wrong with the food, so he let Liu Xiaomao eat as much as he wanted without worry.
Liu Qinglan leaned against the Beauty Queen, resting her legs leisurely on the soft couch, holding a small heater in her hands, and peacefully enjoying the delicious food that the Beauty Queen handed to her mouth with chopsticks.
Xie Xuanzhao watched her eat mouthful after mouthful with a mewl, his sparkling eyes filled with love and satisfaction, "Our kitten is so good, eating obediently and with a good appetite."
Liu Qinglan felt the warmth from the small heater on her belly, her little tail raised proudly. "Of course, I want to raise the cubs. They need to eat plenty so that they can grow up big and plump, okay?"
Xie Xuanzhao lowered his head and kissed the corners of her mouth like raindrops, licking away the remaining sauce and gravy on it. "Okay, okay, you are the best kitten."
During the leisurely pregnancy, the sweet days passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was New Year's Eve.
The palace had already prepared delicious food and fireworks for the reunion night. Xie Xuanzhao arranged everything and then returned from the front hall.
"Because of the national mourning this year, there will be no grand celebrations on New Year's Eve. Everything will be kept simple." Yan Mo reported the situation. "The palace servants have all gone back to celebrate the New Year. Your Majesty, you should also rest early."
Xie Xuanzhao nodded and looked at Yanmo, "Yanmo, how long has it been since we went back to the Xie family?"
Yan Mo paused, then said, "About four or five years."
"It's been so long." Xie Xuanzhao stood up, "Let's get ready and go back to the Xie family on reunion night."
Under the warm tent, Liu Qinglan, who had slept for an afternoon, was sitting on the quilt, holding needle and thread in his hands, clumsily sewing small clothes for the doll.
Xie Xuanzhao sat on the edge of the bed, watching her needlework, and smiled helplessly, "After practicing for so long, how come your cat paws are still so clumsy."
Little Willow put down her needle and thread and scratched her ears. "My claws are for catching fish and insects. I'm lucky I can even hold such a thin embroidery needle."
"Take your time with this needlework. Let's get ready and then leave the palace for Xie's house." Xie Xuanzhao helped her out of the quilt and carefully changed her into casual clothes.
Liu Qinglan has already grown a bit taller, and the food has been good these days, so she has become plump and plump. Her eyes and eyebrows are gradually showing charm and maturity. Because she is going to be a mother, her behavior has also become much more stable.
But in front of the beauty queen, she is still a cute little girl full of energy.
Xie Xuanzhao gently pinched her chubby face, which felt very good. "Xie Mansion is where I grew up. My boudoir is still there. We will stay there tonight."
Liu Qinglan asked her to help her put on her sleeves and asked curiously, "Besides Brother Xie, who else is there in the mansion?"
"The Xie family is a large one, and my uncle's family lives next door. My brother is currently the head of the main house. He hasn't married yet, so he's the only one in charge of the family right now." Xie Xuanzhao finally put a fluffy white hat on her. "It's snowing tonight, so dress warmly. We'll set off now."
Yan Mo had already arranged her travel arrangements, but because she wanted to travel in a low-key manner, she did not inform anyone.
Sitting in an exquisite small carriage, escorted by the Xie family guards, Xie Xuanzhao and Liu Qinglan traveled through the streets and alleys and finally arrived at the gate of Xie's mansion.
The snow was falling, and every household in Kyoto was closed for the holiday, so the streets were deserted. On the roadside, red plum blossoms were in full bloom, their double petals were red, and they emitted bursts of fragrance.
Xie Xuanzhao jumped off the carriage, then reached out to help Liu Qinglan down, and stood with her in front of the gate of Xie Mansion.
A layer of white snow had already covered the stone lions in front of the door, which sparkled slightly and was transparent and clear under the light of the glazed lanterns.
The Xie Mansion is a century-old family. The mansion is solemn and ancient, quiet and stable. The trees planted in the courtyard are lush and dense, towering into the sky.
Liu Qinglan was very happy when she smelled the scent of grass and trees. She followed the beautiful queen and entered the ancient house with her.
Because it was past mealtime, the Xie residence was quiet and peaceful at this moment. Only the closed doors and windows reflected the figures of servants who had gone to bed early to play and have fun. The sound of laughter and the passing of cups could be heard faintly.
Xie Xuanzhao reached out and held Liu Qinglan's slightly cold hand, "Let's go see brother, and then go back to my boudoir to rest."
Liu Qinglan nodded, followed the beautiful queen closely, and stayed beside her obediently all the way.
The corridor was long, lanterns swaying, and light and shadow danced. The two walked across the corridor together, and outside the corridor was flying fine snow. The years were quiet and peaceful.
The hall was brightly lit with candles. Before he even got close, he heard the girl's sweet and soft voice pleading, "It's just for a little while. Master, please agree and let me go and play."
"No, it's snowing outside." Patriarch Xie spoke in a cold and arrogant voice.
"I've been preparing for a whole month and finally got these fireworks. I'm going to set them off right away." The girl continued to beg.
Patriarch Xie seemed to be about to say something, but his voice became unclear and broken, as if blocked by something.
Liu Qinglan's cat ears were very sensitive, and she smelled a familiar scent. She hurriedly grabbed the beauty queen's hand, and then signaled her to stop outside the door secretly and take a look at the scene inside first.
I saw exquisite lotus lanterns filling the table, the small candle lamps in the lotus hearts swaying slightly, and two figures were reflected on the wall.
The head of the Xie family was sitting on a mahogany armchair, with a young girl sitting on his lap. Her long hair fell to her waist. She was hugging his shoulders and kissing his lips gently with careful flattery and pleading.
Finally, Patriarch Xie said, "Go ahead, but be careful."
Xie Xuanzhao was very pleased when he saw this scene, "Brother finally has a flower that can speak."
She took Liu Qinglan's hand and stepped into the hall, startling the two men.
The girl, who was about to excitedly set off fireworks, saw the person coming and her eyes lit up. She immediately flew in front of Liu Qinglan and said, "Boss Liu, you're here to see me!"
Liu Qinglan reached out and tugged at her belt, "Little Fatty, are you going to set off fireworks? Take me with you."
Patriarch Xie stood up and wiped his lips nonchalantly. "Sister, why are you back?"
Xie Xuanzhao looked at him with a half-smile, "I came to see my brother. Now it seems that my brother has a beautiful woman by his side. I was worrying too much."
Patriarch Xie smiled slightly and said, "They are going to set off fireworks, don't you want to go and see?"
"Of course we have to go and see it, but we won't disturb brother." After Xie Xuanzhao finished speaking, she went out and saw Liu Qinglan standing under the corridor with an excited look on her face. She reached out and pulled her over, "Let's go to the backyard."
Liu Qinglan watched the fat little bird dragging fireworks out of the courtyard, reluctant to leave, "But..."
"Her brother is here to accompany her. Let's go to the backyard. There are fireworks there too. I'll set them off with you." Xie Xuanzhao stroked her fingers with a soft voice, and finally succeeded in leading the little beauty to the backyard.
The layout of Xie Xuanzhao's boudoir is similar to that of Chenxin Palace, with an elegant and simple layout, and luxury in a low-key manner.
Snowflakes continued to fall. Yanmo and Lulu had already lit the small stove and placed it under the corridor, then retreated in tacit agreement.
Xie Xuanzhao squatted beside the fireworks and lit them with a tinder. When the fireworks bloomed in the night sky, she quickly ran back to the corridor and hugged the sitting Little Fairy Liu from behind.
They looked up at the gorgeous fireworks in the night sky together. Liu Qinglan's eyes sparkled, "This is my first New Year's Eve. I'm so lucky to be with my beautiful sister."
Xie Xuanzhao held her close, offering her warmth. "We'll have countless New Year's Eves to spend together. I promise I'll watch the fireworks with you every year."
A huge, dazzling firework suddenly bloomed in the cold night sky, and the fireworks and silver flowers, against the backdrop of snow, looked like a world of glass.
Fireworks were setting off outside the window. The little fairy Liu lay on her bed, feeling the atmosphere where the beautiful queen had lived when she was waiting to be married.
Xie Xuanzhao sat in front of the bronze mirror, slowly took off his hairpins, loosened his hair, then put on only his undershirt, stepped barefoot on the soft blanket, and walked towards Liu Qinglan.
"Did you live in this house when you were a child?"
Xie Xuanzhao crawled into bed, sharing the same quilt with her. Then he lay down, resting his head on the pillow, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar top of the bed curtain. "Yes, I've lived here since I was three years old, and lived here until I got married. Nothing here has been moved, and it's still the same as before."
Liu Qinglan turned over, put his hands under his head, looked sideways at the beautiful queen, and watched her face reflected in the fireworks outside the window, flickering. "Come to think of it, the last time we went to Huoshan, I didn't take you to see the little house where I used to live."
"There will be a chance in the future. What does your Feifei's nest look like?" Xie Xuanzhao suddenly became curious.
Liu Qinglan smiled sheepishly, "It's just a nest made of dry grass and branches. Little Fatty taught me this, but she built it on a tree, and I built it in a cave."
"So, is this nest still there?"
"I didn't pack it when I left, so it should still be here." The little fairy Liu looked at the beautiful face of the beauty queen, and her feet under the quilt began to touch and caress her calves restlessly.
Xie Xuanzhao turned around, facing her, and reached out to hold her restless little hand. "Is it okay?"
As he was speaking, the last firework just happened to bloom outside the window, illuminating the beautiful Liu's face with a rosy blush and her watery eyes sparkling.
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