I was really worried that he would run out of energy; I could easily hug him with just his tiny waist. "Are you tired? Let me walk with you."
"No, I will carry you every year. If we are no longer here, I will build this place for you."
"Okay." I leaned against him, feeling so happy. With him around, I was so happy I couldn't tell which way was which.
When I reached the high platform, I found that there were quite a few people from Linyang. We went into the Fairy Lotus Lantern to rest and reward his capable subordinates.
The lamps weren't lit until 7:45 PM, so there was still an hour left for him to speak. I had never been in a high place before, and this was the first time I had seen Xie Yuancheng talking to the people below. A surge of inexplicable excitement welled up inside me.
"Thank you, Lord Marquis!" I was so excited that I didn't even hear what he said clearly. I wasted the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn before I heard these people thanking him.
"Ying'er~ You were so dazed just now." Xie Yuancheng poured me another drink, and I felt that he had an ulterior motive tonight.
"I won't drink it. You bad man, are you planning something naughty again?"
"Hey~ I've already told you what I need to do."
Xie Yuancheng tugged at the jade tassel hanging from my shoulder. I snorted and drank the wine he offered. I'd seen this scene before in the palace, but it wasn't as casual as here.
It was like a casual family gathering. I listened to Xie Yuancheng talking to the people around him, laughing along with him from time to time. No wonder he likes Linyang so much; I like it too. The people here are so much more humane than those in the capital.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and lively conversation, it was soon time to go. Xie Yuancheng lit the long pillar lamp for me. When we went out, the people below were still there; I thought they had all gone to the lantern festival.
The lights around me all lit up. It was a huge fairy lantern. I don't know how it was made. When I stood next to it, it felt like a real fairy was standing beside me.
The point we touched was the line at the top. We touched it together, and when the fairy lantern was lit, the platform lit up as well, and the little lanterns on the side lit up one by one.
"Ying'er, we have to go back." I saw the fairy lantern ascend into the sky, but before I could even see it fly to a high place, Xie Yuancheng took me away.
I looked around on horseback and realized I hadn't seen Xizhi and Suling: "How could I, their mother, have forgotten about them!"
"They're watching you. It's going to be lively tonight, and things could easily go wrong. Wait until they're older before they show up in public."
"Yeah, next time I'll hold two good kids in my arms~"
“They’re not well-behaved at all. If they were sitting in your lap, they’d probably run around everywhere.”
"My good lord~ Our child is very well-behaved." I had drunk a bit too much, and Xie Yuancheng handed me more than twenty wine glasses.
“Ying’er, we need to spend time alone together often to nurture our relationship. In the future, we’ll be able to know what the other is thinking with just a glance.”
Xie Yuancheng was restless in the carriage. I waved my hand several times, feeling dizzy. When we arrived at the mansion, I saw rouge and face powder on the table. He had promised to paint them for me.
Xie Yuancheng is such a man of his word. When I was doing his eyebrows, I was absolutely smitten with him.
"Ying'er, it's getting late, we can't waste this precious night."
When I saw him under the lamp, it was just like the first time I saw him on the street behind the Ji residence. It was that first meeting that felt like a lifetime commitment.
"Ying'er is too modest. I will stay with you in every life!"
"Yeah." He shouldn't go and harm anyone else. He can stay with me. Next time, I'll protect him and give him a lifetime of peace.
No matter how many sweet words we said, I still felt a little dizzy when I woke up in the morning. I held Xie Yuancheng and continued to sleep. We couldn't use either of our outfits anymore. We just love to be crazy and won't let go of each other until we're both driven to the brink of death.
"I won't let you get up, I'm going to hold you!" My hand was moving, wondering where Xie Yuancheng was going so early.
"Hehe, Ying'er, you still can't hold your liquor. Next time I'll switch to a different kind of wine, and I'll make you some hangover soup. You'll feel better after drinking it."
"No, I want to feel terrible, and I'll remember every single day from now on."
"Ying'er, how can I be happy if you're in pain?"
I opened my eyes and saw Xie Yuancheng's anxious face: "I'll make you suffer, I'm not letting you leave." I hugged him and wouldn't let him get up, and Xie Yuancheng hugged me back. The sun was shining outside, coming in through the window, it was so beautiful.
We didn't get up until the afternoon. I saw the sun was already setting in the west, so I quickly got up to check on the children. Luckily, Xizhi and Suling were playing on the little swings, and Yan'er was taking care of them.
"Yan'er, Xizhi, Suling." I came out while Xie Yuancheng was away, and the three little ones ran over happily when they saw me.
"Waaah~ Auntie was so beautiful yesterday, she didn't even look at us!" Yan'er grabbed my hand and shook it back and forth.
"Where were you yesterday?" I bent down to look at them. Xi Zhi and Su Ling couldn't speak in long sentences, they just clapped their hands and laughed. Their little teeth were already very neat.
"We're inside the lanterns, they're so beautiful! I want to marry a man who's even more handsome than my uncle, or a man who's even more beautiful than my aunt."
"What are you thinking about with that little head of yours?" I pinched Yan'er's little face, and she smiled sweetly and broke free to the side, saying that she wanted to get married.
I'm starting to facepalm. Xie Yuancheng would never have imagined that while he can be considered as marrying, I can only be considered as being married off.
"Mommy~" Xi Zhi hopped around with her short legs, wanting me to hold her. Su Ling also wanted to be held, so I had no choice but to squat down and let them hold her.
They were so nice, one of them holding onto my side and refusing to let go. It's rare to see them so enthusiastic, enjoying the afternoon sun with their two little ones by their side.
"Madam, I knew you'd come to the courtyard. The Marquis is looking for you." Bizhu came in and said. I wanted to take Xizhi and Suling to the courtyard, and they all blinked their big grape-like eyes at me. Even Yan'er came to join in the fun.
"Aunt, Yan'er wants to go~" Yan'er's little face was all scrunched up, she looked so pitiful.
"Yan'er, please help take care of your younger siblings. Your aunt will take you there."
I was worried Xie Yuancheng would ramble on again; he's just too fond of the little ones. As soon as I finished speaking, tears welled up in the eyes of all three little ones. I kissed them one by one, and only then did they cheer up.
"Have fun, no fighting!" I reminded them, worried they might start fighting.
"Yes~" Yan'er's smile really reminded me of Li Ruowei. Xi Zhi and Su Ling were a little less like her, tilting their heads and puffing out their cheeks for me.
I touched their adorable little faces and then went back. Xie Yuancheng had something to say, so I had to talk to him about it when I got back. The kids are growing up and will start chasing after adults, so they need to live together.
"Yuancheng~ my little Chengcheng~" I made up my mind, and when I saw him in the yard, I happily ran over and hugged him.
"Ying'er~ Teacher is in the yard." Xie Yuancheng was very cooperative. He said this just as I was about to get closer, which made me quickly let go.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com