Two years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Looking at the swing in the courtyard, which resembled Shen Xi deep in thought, Ertai's eyes were filled with longing.
Nian'er, I listened to you and lived a good life.
Two years ago, after returning and talking for a long time with Fu Yuxing, Ertai finally accepted Shen Xi.
Children forget things easily, and Fu Yuxing taught her very well. Even though he raised the child, he never took the title of father. He told her from a young age that she had two fathers, and he was her godfather.
She was absent for those three years because another father was busy and couldn't be with her.
Due to their blood relation, Shen Xi was very close to Er Tai. Later, when Er Tai took her home, the two quickly became acquainted.
Ertai often took Shenxi to the Fu residence. Shenxi lived in both places, spending some time at the Fu residence and some time at home with Ertai.
"Xi'er, come here, Father will take you to play with Fu Yu."
"Yay, Father is the best."
Upon hearing Ertai's words, Shenxi jumped off the swing and ran towards Ertai.
Fu Yu is the orphan of one of Fu Yuxing's subordinates who died in battle.
Fu Yuxing remained unmarried throughout his life due to his deep longing for marriage.
It was only at the funeral that everyone realized Fu Yuxing's kindness.
My feelings at that moment were incredibly complex.
No one expected that Fu Yuxing had hidden his feelings so deeply. If Chen Nian hadn't passed away, they probably would never have known.
"Yu'er, Xi'er has come to see you."
Xinrong, who was playing with Fu Yu at the General's Mansion, waved to Fu Yu, who was practicing calligraphy, when she saw the two people who had arrived.
Xinrong never married in her life.
Anyone with eyes could see Xinrong's affection. The Empress Dowager had privately suggested to Xinrong that she arrange a marriage between the two of them, but Xinrong refused.
It's good to just stay quietly by his side.
"Aunt Xinrong—"
Shenxi was put on the ground by Ertai and ran over with her short legs, calling out in her childish voice.
"Xi'er, Auntie hugs me."
Seeing the person running towards her, Xinrong smiled gently, squatted down, and opened her arms.
"Does Auntie miss Xi'er?"
Held in Xinrong's arms, Shenxi kissed Xinrong's face and asked in a childish voice.
Shen Xi and Shen Nian look very alike, and everyone dotes on Shen Xi, pouring all the love they have for Shen Nian onto Shen Xi.
"I miss her so much, I miss our Xi'er so much. Has our Xi'er been a good girl and listened to your father?"
Xinrong also turned her head and kissed Shenxi's fair and tender face.
"Xi'er, yes."
Shen Xi uttered four words.
"Good girl, come play with your brother Fu Yu, Auntie will go and make you something delicious."
Xinrong had just finished praising him when she felt a force pulling on her skirt. Looking down, she met Fu Yu's usually cold and indifferent face, which was now softened with tenderness. He smiled and put Shenxi down.
"Yu'er, please take good care of Xi'er~"
Xinrong smiled and gave her instructions.
"Um."
Fu Yu nodded seriously.
"You've arrived."
Hearing the noise outside, Fu Yuxing, as always, was dressed in white with a faint smile on his face.
"Father Yuxing—"
Seeing the person coming out, Shen Xi scurried over to Fu Yuxing on her short legs, calling out in her childish voice.
Fu Yuxing raised Shen Xi for three years, making him Shen Xi's second father.
"Slow down, Father is here."
Seeing the person running towards him, Fu Yuxing squatted down, caught the little dumpling who was running very fast in his arms, and responded with a light laugh.
Ertai is the father Shen Xi calls him, and Fu Yuxing is the father Shen Xi calls him.
“Father.”
Fu Yuxing teased Shen Xi, then handed her over to Fu Yu, who was watching eagerly from the side, before walking over to Ertai.
"They're here."
Ertai looked away from Shen Xi and smiled at Fu Yuxing.
"Want to grab a drink?"
Fu Yu pointed to the pavilion next to him.
"OK."
Ertai nodded and followed him into a pavilion.
As soon as he sat down, a glass of wine was pushed in front of him, which Ertai took and drank in one gulp.
Who would have thought that the two people who were so easily defeated by just one drink would become so despondent after losing the same important person, and would often meet up for drinks afterward, and now they drink as easily as drinking water.
Fu Yuxing finished his drink and then poured another glass for the two of them.
This time, neither of them rushed to drink, but sipped their drinks slowly.
Have you found Cai Lian?
Ertai asked.
After the little princess's funeral, Cailian disappeared, leaving only a letter for Benjamin with the words "I'm sorry" written on it. After settling all her assets and leaving them to Shenxi, she vanished.
Benjamin searched for four years without success. Last year, his parents called him back to China, telling them before he left that they must tell him if they had any news about Cailian.
They all knew how important Cailian was to Chen Nian. After Cailian disappeared, they sent wave after wave of people to search for her. Even the emperor personally sent people to search for her. Over the years, he had traveled all over the country, inquiring about her in every place he went. But five years had passed, and there was still no news.
"No."
Fu Yuxing shook his head.
Cai Lian vanished as if into thin air.
So much has happened in these five years.
After the passing of Chen Nian, the Empress Dowager's health deteriorated, and she passed away two years later.
The blow of being lost in thought was too great for her.
The Empress also locked herself in the Buddhist hall. The person she wanted to protect had left, so she no longer wanted to care about the harem.
She managed the harem in the hopes that Chen Nian could live more comfortably in the oppressive palace.
Finally, she would only leave the Buddhist hall to sit for a while when Shen Xi came to visit her.
...
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