“Ying’er, let’s take a break today. We don’t have much time left here. The next time we come will be in winter. There are few plum blossoms in the manor, but lotus flowers will do.”
"Are you going to become a fangirl?" I moved closer. There was no sun shining here, and the wind carried the sweet fragrance of lotus flowers.
It's rare to have such a peaceful time. We leaned against the cabin, smelling the flowers and chatting from time to time. It felt wonderful. If we can have this when we're old, I would ask for nothing more.
"Ying'er~ This kind of life is too easy. Don't worry, we will always live like this."
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Even if things change in the future, we've loved each other passionately, so we won't have any regrets."
"You just like to overthink things, and you don't believe me~"
I whispered in Xie Yuancheng's ear, "I don't want to put too much pressure on you. Even if you live a simple life, you'll be happy as long as we're together."
Xie Yuancheng pinched my nose and chuckled, continuing to lean against the cabin. The small boat drifted with the water, and when we reached the shore, we discovered that he had actually fallen asleep.
"Daddy, I want to sit too~" Yu'er shouted from upstairs. Why did he run over here? Xie Yuancheng told me not to move yet, and he went ashore and carried Yu'er away.
"Daddy~Mommy~" Yu'er struggled in his arms. He couldn't sit in this. If he was happy in the future, he would get on the boat by himself and end up in the water without even knowing how.
I tied the rope, went upstairs and told the steward to hide the small boat, and that I would take Yu'er on a boat ride when he was older.
Yu'er was running around the room, his face either streaked with tears or puffed up with anger. I held up a newly embroidered little pillow at the door to tease him.
"Waaah~ Mother~" Yu'er ran over and hugged my leg: "I want to be a boat."
"That's for adults. If Yu'er goes up there, the boat will capsize and we won't have Yu'er anymore."
I picked him up, and Yu'er, that little rascal, rubbed against my clothes until his face turned red and all his tears were gone.
"Yu'er, when you're older, Daddy will take you there. You're not allowed to go with anyone else, understand?"
Xie Yuancheng came over and took his little hand. Yu'er suddenly giggled and hugged his little pillow, laughing foolishly.
“My good son is a little silly, but so cute.” I said, and Xie Yuancheng and Yu’er turned to look at me: “Sometimes he’s silly, but he’s very lucky.”
"Yeah, Ying'er is a bit silly sometimes~" Xie Yuancheng had been holding back for a long time, and he actually gave me this evaluation. I wanted to punch him.
"Ying'er~ Who was it that said they wouldn't put pressure on me? Look, if I don't become stronger, how can I control you?"
"Stop trying to change the subject!" I remembered that Yu'er was in my arms, so I held him tight before chasing after Xie Yuancheng.
"Haha~" Yu'er patted his little pillow, thinking we were teasing him.
In the end, Xie Yuancheng was the first to admit his mistake. I'm magnanimous and won't hold a grudge against the petty Marquis. For the next few days, I slept with Yu'er in my arms, not letting Xie Yuancheng touch me.
On the morning of our departure, I held Yu'er tightly, just like I had chased Xie Yuancheng to the battlefield back then. Yu'er chattered away in my arms, and I really wanted to take him with me.
Xi Zhi came and took my hand. Xie Yuancheng had already told Su Ling and Xi Zhi to say goodbye to Yu'er. But they were still young and didn't understand what saying goodbye meant.
Yu'er kicked his short legs, and Xi Zhi reached out to hug his feet: "Brother~"
"Xizhi, you can call me brother now. Yu'er, what should you call Xizhi?" I held Yu'er and looked at Xizhi.
Yu'er's little feet were held, and he started to struggle, crying and fussing. I quickly coaxed him back to his feet. Xi Zhi wanted to come along, but Xie Yuancheng carried him back to the car.
I've been here for so long and haven't seen Wan'er. I'm worried Xie Yuancheng might be petty, but I don't want to ask him directly. Qiao'er wasn't around for the next few days either, so I had no one to talk to.
"Mother~" Yu'er propped himself up on his hands and looked at me. That little rascal probably already knew.
"Ying'er, come here and let Mom hug you." Mom came over and hugged Yu'er. Dad said this morning that he was going to the study. I guess he can't bear to see this scene of parting. I can't bear to see it either.
"Mother~" Yu'er reached out his little hands to pull me. Xie Yuancheng was already calling from behind. I told Yu'er to go back to the mansion with me and that I would bring him something delicious when I returned.
Yu'er looked at me with wide eyes. He probably didn't believe me, but there was nothing I could do. It's all my fault for making the decision too early. Now that we're parting, I know how painful it is.
I squatted down and started crying as soon as they entered the house. I was just so sad that I couldn't take my beloved son with me. Xie Yuancheng helped me to the side and tried to comfort me, but I just couldn't be happy.
"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng hugged me and patted my shoulder: "You are the mother of three children, and there are two more in the carriage waiting for us to take care of them."
"I want Yu'er~" I cried, leaning against his chest. My parents aren't going to Linyang, and I don't know if they'll ever go.
"I know, I'll definitely bring you back before the New Year, don't be sad."
Xie Yuancheng returned with the troops stationed in the capital, so the formation was very similar to when I first went to Linyang.
He wiped away my tears, blew away the messy hair on my head, and then led me to the carriage. As soon as I got in, I realized that Xizhi and Suling were not there.
“You’ve been crying like this, how could I let them ride in the same carriage? We’ll go pick you up when you’re feeling better.”
"Let's go pick them up now, I need to see them." Xie Yuancheng disagreed. The carriage had already started moving, and the clattering sound was unpleasant to hear.
I lifted the carriage curtain, and the plaque of the Ji family mansion grew smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared. Xie Yuancheng closed the curtain for me. I was indeed in a bad mood. If Xizhi and Suling were here, the three of us would probably be crying our eyes out.
"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng hugged me and gently patted my face: "Yu'er is more sensible now. If he knew you were crying all the time, he would definitely call you a little crybaby."
He's different in public and in private. He's just heartbroken about being separated from Yu'er. I hugged his back and leaned close to him. Let him grieve first. Once he's calmed down, we'll bring the two little ones over.
The journey was peaceful, and I counted the sound of the wheels as I passed the time. As soon as we left the city gate, I could clearly feel the carriage speeding up, but it was very stable.
"Have you done something again?" I whispered to Xie Yuancheng, guessing he was planning something good again.
"It's only because they changed the horses, improved the carriages, and added the red cloaks that the caravan is moving so fast."
"What about those who walk? They can't just run after them, can they?"
"Now you're more considerate. Didn't you notice that everyone was riding horses this time? Even with normal rest along the way, it will only take us less than half a month to reach Linyang."
Xie Yuancheng was playing with my hair, and all I could remember were the three little ones; I didn't even bother to look at them.
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