When Jiang Xian came over and saw the baby, he was still a little stunned: "I was only gone for two days, how did you give birth?"
Jiang Chuting asked him to hold the child, but he waved his hands repeatedly to avoid it, saying awkwardly, "He's too small, and I'm clumsy; I'm afraid I'll hurt him."
That's what I said, but I couldn't resist the urge to give it a try. After a while, I rubbed against her again, rubbing my hands together, and asked if we should give it a try. Once I hugged her, I didn't want to give her back.
"I never knew newborn babies could be so beautiful. I thought they all looked like monkeys." Jiang Xian teased the baby in his arms, whose eyes were half-open and half-closed, and said with a smile, "Xing'er, Xing'er, grow up quickly, and when you grow up, drink with your Uncle Jiang."
Jiang Chuting couldn't help but smile, while Xing'er closed her eyes and went to sleep, not wanting to pay any attention to this silly-looking Uncle Jiang.
Jiang Xian laughed and gently stroked his baby hair, saying, "He's so well-behaved, he hardly ever cries."
The wet nurse also said that the child was well-behaved, sleeping after eating and not making a fuss.
Jiang Chuting said, "If he's asleep, put him in his crib."
Jiang Xian felt a little reluctant, but he did as he was told. After settling the child in, he blurted out, "It's more convenient for me to come now. I can come and see Xing'er every day."
Jiang Chuting asked, puzzled, "Were you unavailable before?"
Jiang Xian choked. He originally meant that Lin Zhi's men who were watching him had all left, so they must have given up looking for this place, and he wouldn't need to go through all that trouble to come back. He didn't expect to almost let it slip. He quickly smiled and said, "No, no, I was just saying. There's no inconvenience at all."
Jiang Chuting smiled slightly, not taking it seriously, and chatted for a while longer before having lunch together.
Jiang Xian told Jiang Chuting that Ling Guang had sent another letter, asking his friend to come and help with the delivery, since he had experience. Unexpectedly, he had already given birth.
"This child is quite thoughtful; he's always thinking of you."
Jiang Chuting hummed in agreement. He couldn't contact Ling Guang directly, so he asked Jiang Xian to reply.
Jiang Xian took a sip of soup, glanced at the guards outside the door, and asked in a lower voice, "Chu Ting, that person didn't send Xing'er away, did he?"
Jiang Chuting shook his head and said, "No." If he wanted to send them away, he would have done so long ago.
Pei Jing absolutely disliked Xing'er, but he knew that if he sent the child away, the superficial peace between them would completely shatter, so he ultimately chose a gentler approach. Jiang Chuting was greatly relieved by this.
After all, it's not the right time to fall out with him yet.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xian's expression relaxed considerably, and he said, "That's good, that's good."
With the child being obedient and someone helping to take care of him, Jiang Chuting was able to rest and recuperate in peace for more than half a month, and his health gradually recovered. During this time, Pei Jing came to see him once, but he didn't stay long and didn't even glance at the child.
He came over again after Xing'er's full moon.
When he entered the room, Jiang Chuting was sitting crookedly on the carpet next to the small bed, his hair as black as ink, his blue robe trailing on the ground, shaking a small rattle in his hand to amuse the child: "Xing'er, Xing'er, look at Daddy."
Pei Jing stared at his gentle, smiling profile, stood still for a moment, and waited for Jiang Chuting to turn around and notice him before continuing to slowly approach.
Jiang Chuting gestured to the wet nurse next to her to take the child away, and then stood up.
The two sat facing each other at the table. Jiang Chuting personally brewed and poured tea for him, glanced at him, and asked, "Why haven't I seen Wei Jia in so long? How has he been lately? Has he gotten into any trouble?"
"Him?" Pei Jing picked up his small teacup and chuckled. "Not only has he not caused any trouble, but he's also doing quite well. Recently, my mother has summoned him several times."
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager?" Jiang Chuting's eyes widened slightly, a hint of doubt in her eyes. "Why?"
It wasn't that he was belittling his little apprentice, but Wei Jia was such a fool, how could he possibly catch the Empress Dowager's eye?
"I guess he's just a fool with good fortune. Anyway, my mother likes him quite a bit." Pei Jing didn't finish his sentence.
From as far back as he could remember, his mother had always had a trusted confidante named Yuanxi, a mysterious and taciturn woman. His mother trusted her exceptionally much and kept her by her side all these years. Half a year ago, she even appointed her as a lady-in-waiting.
In Pei Jing's memory, Yuan Xi seemed to never age; her face always looked the same as when she was young.
Pei Jing knew she knew some divination techniques. After she met Wei Jia by chance, she turned to his mother and said that this child was a rare person with a destiny to become a deity. His mother then frequently summoned Wei Jia, as if she liked him very much.
The only place in this world that can be associated with immortals is the legendary Penglai Island.
Influenced by his mother, Pei Jing believed that Penglai Island existed and that there were indeed elixirs there that could prolong life, but he did not believe in any gods or immortals, let alone any kind of destiny with immortals.
However, his mother's belief was deeply ingrained; she was willing to believe that he wouldn't try to correct her, nor could he.
Besides, it's not a bad thing that she likes Wei Jia.
Seeing Jiang Chuting deep in thought, Pei Jing smiled and said, "Your little apprentice is so happy he's forgotten all about you, his master. You're still worried about him... Don't worry, my mother won't eat him."
Jiang Chuting took a sip of tea and remained silent. Pei Jing then reminded her meaningfully, "By the way, my mother may have taken an interest in you. She might come over to meet you one day when I'm not looking, so you'd better be prepared."
Jiang Chuting: "Hmm." As expected, Pei Jing had been hiding him outside the palace for almost half a year, and then ran out of the palace on the night of their wedding. It would be hard for the Empress Dowager not to notice something strange about it.
Pei Jing said with dissatisfaction, "Hmm, hmm, what's with the 'hmm'? Don't you have anything else to say?"
Jiang Chuting gazed at his face with her clear, dark eyes. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Xiao Jiu, have you stopped practicing your martial arts?"
Pei Jing frowned, slammed the teacup back onto the table, and said coldly, "You're really boring." He then got up and left.
Jiang Chuting also stood up, wanting to call out to him, "Xiao Jiu, wait a minute."
Pei Jing ignored him completely and walked extremely fast, his figure quickly disappearing outside the house.
Jiang Chuting had already written back to the Nine Heavens about Xing'er's birth, but when his two senior brothers left last time, he had instructed them not to come to Jincheng for the time being.
When Xing'er was a full moon, they didn't come in person, but they sent someone with a gift, which included a copy of the Wuji Book that Jiang Chuting had asked Chonghua for. This was a treasured internal cultivation method from the Nine Heavens, which could calm the mind and spirit, and it just so happened that it wouldn't conflict with Pei Jing's own cultivation level, making it the most suitable supplementary method for him.
Originally, it was not supposed to be passed on to outsiders, but since Pei Jing called him "Master," it was reasonable to give it to him.
Jiang Chuting had been trying to persuade him to stop, but he stubbornly refused to listen, so this was the only way; it would at least somewhat mitigate his ferocity. But before she could say anything, he stormed off in a huff.
Jiang Chuting was deep in thought when he looked up and found that Mo Lin was still there. He walked in, his expression complicated, and said, "His Majesty has already done you a great favor by keeping the child. Why do you keep making him angry? It shouldn't be difficult for you to get along with him."
Jiang Chuting smiled as she looked him over before saying, "Are you lecturing me?"
Mo Lin was taken aback and said, "I wouldn't dare, I just feel... you really don't need to do this. You just need to be a little softer in your attitude, and His Majesty will continue to treat you well."
Jiang Chuting didn't argue with him much. He calmly walked past him with his hands behind his back, rummaging through the box and saying, "You're very good at being loyal to your master."
Such words of praise, when uttered by him, always inevitably carried a hint of sarcasm, even if he didn't actually mean it that way.
Mo Lin turned around, looking at his back with slight embarrassment. After a while, he couldn't help but say, "What are you looking for? I'll help you find it."
"No need." Jiang Chuting had already flipped to the top, and he handed the manual to Mo Lin.
Mo Lin took it and read, "The Book of Limitless?" Mo Lin looked up at Jiang Chuting in surprise. This should be the internal cultivation method of the Ninth Heaven, which is not passed on to outsiders. Why would this person suddenly give him this?
Could it be...?
Jiang Chuting gestured, "Take this back to the palace and give it to Xiao Jiu. Let him practice according to the instructions. If he has any questions, he can ask me."
Mo Lin felt his face stiffen. He stood there for a moment, holding the book, and said "Oh," but didn't move.
Jiang Chuting paused for a moment, then asked him, "Aren't you leaving?"
Mo Lin tightened his grip, nodded with an unreadable expression, and said in a low voice, "Farewell."
The next day, Pei Jing, who had already received the Wuji Book, did not come to find him. Instead, he asked Wei Jia, who had left the palace, to deliver a letter.
The letter unfolded, revealing two large, elegantly written characters: "Read."
It seems they've accepted his method. Jiang Chuting chuckled and sighed softly. In any case, at least a troublesome matter has been temporarily resolved.
Wei Jia played happily with Xing'er for a while. After Xing'er fell asleep, he reported to Jiang Chuting what had happened in the palace, mainly focusing on eating and drinking. Jiang Chuting wanted to ask him a few questions about the Empress Dowager's side, but he only knew that the Empress Dowager rewarded him with delicious food every day and treated him very well; he knew nothing else.
Faced with his little apprentice's bewildered eyes, Jiang Chuting felt a headache for the first time, but he was helpless and had no choice but to let him go.
When Xing'er was a little over two months old, Jiang Chuting stopped just taking walks near Changning Pavilion and started going out more often, carrying Xing'er to stroll through the market so he could experience the lively atmosphere of the outside world. However, since the baby still needed to be breastfed, these outings usually didn't last too long.
Pei Jing had practically tacitly approved of his regular departures and punctual returns. However, on several occasions, when he finally managed to find time to come, Jiang Chuting was not there, and he ultimately couldn't see her because he had to rush back to the palace, which made him somewhat angry.
On one occasion, he missed his target again, and in his anger, he went to arrest the person directly.
As they walked, it started snowing halfway through. Pei Jing quickened his pace and saw a pale blue figure shrouded in the white snow mist in the distance, spotless and like an immortal.
Pei Jing felt the world before him become clear and bright in an instant. He was already a little stunned by what he saw, but when he saw the little bundle he was still holding in his arms, he couldn't help but frown.
He strode over, only to see Jiang Chuting suddenly carrying the child to a corner where an old man, dressed in thin clothes, was shivering from the cold, all alone, guarding a basket of goods and calling out to sell.
Pei Jing slowed his pace slightly.
Jiang Chuting paid for the remaining wild fruits, then took off his cloak and gave it to the old man, saying gently, "Go home quickly."
The old man was moved to tears. He wiped his tears with his withered hands, wrapped his cloak tighter, and left in the wind and snow with his hunched back and empty basket.
Jiang Chuting was holding Xing'er in one arm and a bag of fruit in the other. He turned around to go home when he saw Pei Jing walking towards him.
The first thing Pei Jing did upon reaching him was to take off his cloak and drape it over him, his expression and tone extremely harsh: "How healthy are you? You're so concerned about others that you don't care about yourself?"
Jiang Chuting smiled and said, her eyes crinkling. "It's alright."
In fact, his internal energy began to recover little by little last month, and now he is not so afraid of the cold.
Xing'er, who had been quietly burying her face in Jiang Chuting's shoulder, suddenly sat up straight when she heard the sound of talking. She turned her face and stared straight at Pei Jing with her clear, bright eyes.
He was wearing a blue cotton-padded jacket and shoes, and a hat that looked very warm with a pom-pom on top. He looked cute and playful. His small, fair face was chubby, and his cheeks were flushed red from the cold wind. He looked at people with a serious and focused expression, as if he was sizing them up.
Even though Pei Jing was caught off guard by his gaze, he couldn't help but twitch his lips and his words froze in his mouth.
Before he knew it, the child was already more than four months old, and Pei Jing hadn't even looked at him properly. Now, seeing his face without any warning, he found himself unable to look away for a moment.
Because... his eyebrows and eyes really resemble Jiang Chuting's.
Pei Jing didn't know why he was being so silly as to argue with a baby who was still breastfeeding. He gritted his teeth and glared back, trying to scare the baby. Xing'er, however, wasn't afraid at all. Instead, he waved his little hands and smiled, revealing his pink teeth.
Pei Jing: "..."
Xing'er laughed and laughed, and started to wriggle in Jiang Chuting's arms. Jiang Chuting was not careful, and the big bag of red wild fruits he was holding in his other hand fell to the ground, scattering everywhere.
Jiang Chuting bent down to pick them up, but Pei Jing stopped him and said, "They're just a few wild fruits. They're gone, so what? There's no point in picking them up."
"Don't waste it."
Pei Jing took a deep breath, truly defeated by him, and compromised, "Alright, alright, I understand. Don't waste it, you're right." He even personally bent down his noble waist to pick up two, the burning anger he had before coming had long since dissipated.
The rest were quickly picked up by Mo Lin and his guards. After tidying them up, Mo Lin invited them into the carriage and they returned to Changning Pavilion together.
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