Chapter 69 Extra 4
Extra 4: First published on Jinjiang Literature City
The parents of the young prince Xiao Qi are like most families, a combination of a strict father and a kind mother.
He has the most gentle mother in the world and the most strict father in the world.
His mother told him to take care of his health, and his father told him to take care of his studies and the country.
When he was three years old, his father selected a group of teachers with outstanding literary talents to teach him how to read and write.
When he was five years old, his father selected the most agile general and taught him the basic skills of martial arts.
When he was six years old, his father discussed with the cabinet about passing the throne to him, but was strongly opposed by the cabinet.
That night, he heard his father, the Emperor, and his mother, the Empress, complain, "I ascended the throne at the age of five, and Qi'er is already six. Why can't he ascend the throne? I think those old men in the cabinet are targeting me and want to tire me out."
The Queen Mother gently soothed the Emperor, "You are in your prime. How can you abandon your duties? Besides, the circumstances of your ascension to the throne are nothing compared to the present. Be good and stop making a fuss."
The emperor was silent for two breaths, then changed the subject: "You just can't let go of Qi'er, you're afraid he'll get tired."
The Queen Mother choked and said, "When you say that, I naturally feel sorry for you."
The emperor then asked, "Who do you care more about, me or him?"
Queen Mother: "...Are you serious? Aren't you really tired of asking this after all these years?"
Father: "It's not annoying, you say it."
The Queen Mother: "...Okay, I feel even more sorry for you."
After that, the emperor and the queen said something else, but the little prince didn't hear it. Aunt Xia He covered his ears and quietly led him away.
However, he had a deep feeling about his father's dependence on his mother since he became the governor.
At first, he didn't quite understand why his father always liked to compete with him for his mother's hand. Then, one Mid-Autumn Festival night, his mother fell asleep drunk. As his father took him to admire the moon, he said to him with a look of emotion, "Your father lost his parents at a young age and grew up alone and helpless. For years, I spent all day among wild beasts. It wasn't until I met your mother that I truly found someone who protected me, loved me, and walked into my heart. And you, Qi'er, have your father, your mother, your grandmother, your Aunt Lanchun, your cousins from the Gu family... And Steward Yu, Grandma Qiurong, Aunt Xiahe... So many people loved you and grew up with you, but your father only has your mother. You're much happier than he is, aren't you?"
The little prince nodded, seeming to understand: "Yes."
The emperor continued, "So your mother should spend more time with you and care for you, isn't that right?"
The little prince nodded: "...Yes."
The emperor looked at him and said, "From now on, I will stay with your mother. Do you know what to do?"
The little prince thought for a moment, then opened his round, dark eyes and tentatively replied, "I should leave and not disturb my father and mother."
Upon hearing this, the emperor smiled slightly and stroked his head: "My son is sensible, and I am very relieved."
Many years later, the young prince realized that his father's words, using his mother's professional definition, were called PUA, commonly known as deception.
But by the time he reacted, it was too late. His father had already handed the imperial seal to him, patted him on the shoulder, and gave him earnest advice on the principles of being a king. Then he left the capital with his mother and went traveling around the world.
The young prince ascended the throne at the age of fourteen, chose a concubine at the age of eighteen, and had a pair of children at the age of twenty.
When he became a great-grandfather at the age of fifty, his parents, who had been traveling for most of their lives, had become too old to travel anymore, and finally chose a scenic palace to spend their old age.
When people come together, they will also have to part ways eventually.
At the last moment, the first one to close her eyes was Empress Dowager Lu. She passed away in her sleep, without any illness or disaster, and very peacefully.
According to Daxing historical records, the retired emperor and the current emperor were deeply saddened, weeping over the corpse and fainting several times, losing consciousness. Three days later, the retired emperor passed away. The current emperor, in accordance with the retired emperor's will, buried the two together in Chongling.
***
On the eve of Dragon Boat Festival, the sun was shining brightly and the city was bustling with traffic.
In a shopping mall supermarket, Lu Zhizao was standing in front of a shelf filled with a wide variety of goods, choosing a gift box of rice dumplings, when the phone in his pocket suddenly rang.
He picked it up and saw it was from Lu's mother, so he pressed the answer button and clamped the phone between his ear and shoulder. While answering the call, he compared which rice dumpling gift box was more exquisite: "Hello, Mom, I'll be back soon, twenty minutes -"
"Zhi Zao! Your sister...your sister..." Mother Lu's voice on the other end of the phone was hurried, and trembling with excitement. Unfortunately, she stumbled for a long time and couldn't speak clearly.
This matter involved his sister. Lu Zhizao frowned, his heart tightening. "Mom, don't worry. What happened to Wanwan?"
Ever since Lu Zhiwan chose to return to the Daxing Dynasty four years ago, her body had lost its soul and reverted to a vegetative state. Over the years, Lu Zhizao had been paying for her hospital stay, maintaining her most basic vital signs.
At the beginning, the Lu family was not quite used to Lu Zhiwan's departure again, but time is a good medicine. Since they knew that Lu Zhiwan's soul had gone to another time and space, they had something to rely on in their hearts, and gradually they got used to the presence of a vegetative person in their family.
Over the years, her mother had never mentioned her sister so anxiously. Lu Zhizao was startled by her sudden anxiety. He thought something had happened to his sister, and his heart was in his throat. Finally, her mother on the other end of the phone stopped panting and cried with joy, "Zhizao, your sister is awake! She's back, really back!"
"Really?" Lu Zhizao's eyes widened in shock at the sudden good news. He quickly put down the gift box and clutched his phone tightly. "When did this happen?"
"Just now!" Mother Lu cried with joy: "Your father and I are in the hospital now. She just woke up and is still a little confused. Please come to the hospital quickly!"
"Okay, I'll be right there!"
Lu Zhizao agreed immediately without choosing any gift box. He just paid the bill with both of them and then rushed to the hospital excitedly.
The hospital ward is bright and clean. In the midsummer, there are lush greenery and cicadas chirping.
Lu Zhiwan leaned on the high pillow, looking at his parents' happy faces, and he was still in a trance as if he was having a big dream.
I spent my entire life in the Daxing Dynasty, and only four years in modern times.
She still clearly remembered Xiao Jingting and Xiao Qi, father and son, crying their hearts out beside her bed. She didn't expect that when she opened her eyes the next moment, she would find herself back in the modern ward.
This strong sense of gap made it difficult for her to adapt for a while.
After sitting on the bed for a long while, Lu Zhiwan finally came to her senses. Looking at her parents in front of her, she couldn't help but feel tears welling up in her eyes. She choked out, "Dad, Mom, my unfilial daughter is back."
Both Mr. and Mrs. Lu were surprised by her flowery words and looked at each other in bewilderment.
Lu Zhiwan realized it belatedly and raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes with a bit of embarrassment: "I've spent most of my life in ancient times, so my speech and language have been slightly affected. Dad... Oh no, Mom and Dad, please don't blame me."
Father and Mother Lu nodded in understanding: "No wonder."
The two of them surrounded their little daughter, feeding her water and food, and were extremely happy.
Seeing her parents caring for her like this, Lu Zhiwan couldn't help but think of her child, and she sighed with emotion: "I used to hear people say that only when you have children do you understand the kindness of your parents. Now it seems that this is true. Now that I have my own children, I can better understand the love my parents have for me... Dad, Mom, thank you for giving birth to me and raising me, and for tolerating my willfulness and allowing me to return to ancient times."
Although this half-literate way of speaking still made Mr. and Mrs. Lu feel a little uncomfortable, they were deeply moved when they saw their little daughter was grateful to them.
The child has grown up and become sensible...
Wait, what did she just say? She had a child in ancient times?
"Wanwan, you said you have a child?" Mother Lu's face was full of astonishment, and her eyes subconsciously swept to her daughter's flat belly. In her opinion, her daughter has not yet had a boyfriend or got married, so how could she have a child.
Lu Zhiwan also knew that her parents were so surprised because they didn't have a specific understanding of the flow rate between the two time and space. She drank the half cup of warm water in her hand and glanced at the clock hanging on the white wall. "When my sister arrives, I will tell you in detail about my experience in ancient times."
About half an hour later, Lu Zhi, dressed in a smart suit and wearing eight-centimeter red-soled high heels, rushed to the ward.
When she saw her sister sitting on the hospital bed drinking milk tea, she clenched her fists and took a deep breath: "You heartless little girl, you finally woke up! The ancient times were so good, and your dog man was so good that he stayed there for so long!"
Lu Zhiwan knew her sister was also a tsundere person with a tough exterior. She swallowed the pearl milk tea in her mouth and gave her sister a sly smile: "My life in ancient times was indeed quite comfortable."
As soon as Lu Zhizao saw her expression, he knew that this damn girl had really returned. He snorted coldly and said, "Why did you come back when it was so comfortable?"
Lu Zhiwan: "In ancient times, living to seventy-two was considered a long life!"
Lu Zhizao: "You are really great, old lady."
Lu Zhiwan: "...Mom, look, my sister is bullying me again."
Seeing her two daughters bickering as soon as they met, Mother Lu was at a loss for words. "Alright, alright, I think you two were enemies in your past life. Zhizao, please sit down quickly. Wanwan was waiting for you to come before she told us about her life in ancient times."
Hearing this, Lu Zhizao raised the corner of his mouth: "At least you have some conscience. Remember to wait for me."
Lu Zhiwan: "I'm just being lazy and don't want to repeat myself twice."
Lu Zhizao didn't argue with her. He moved a chair and sat in a row with Lu's father and mother in front of the bed.
Looking at the familiar and friendly faces in front of her, Lu Zhiwan relaxed, cleared her throat, and told her family everything about her second return to Daxing Dynasty.
This process of calmly and slowly retelling one's life is unique and wonderful.
Looking back on her life in the Daxing Dynasty, Lu Zhiwan felt that if life was an answer sheet, she could give herself 99 points, and the one point deducted was the damn torturous plot gravity.
But she had to admit that it was because of the hardships brought about by the gravity of the plot that she was able to recognize her own heart and understand how deep her love for Xiao Jingting was.
Joy and sorrow always go hand in hand. Only after experiencing joy and sorrow can we realize the value of joy.
"...Anyway, I don't regret going back." Even if she could never return to reality, she was content.
After listening to their little daughter's life in ancient times, Mr. and Mrs. Lu felt as if they had watched a TV drama.
When they heard that their youngest daughter was getting married and crowned queen, they were overwhelmed with emotion.
When they heard that she was pregnant and had given birth, they were worried about her and happy for her.
Hearing that their grandson was so cute and sensible, the two elders smiled lovingly and sighed, "It's a pity that we can't see him, otherwise we would have prepared a big red envelope for Qi'er."
Hearing that their grandson had ascended the throne early and become a diligent and wise ruler, while their daughter was taken away on a tour by her unreliable son-in-law, the Lu family's parents shook their heads in disapproval. "This Xiao Jingting is really something! How can he be a father like that? Qi'er is only fourteen, and would still be in junior high school now. Shouldering such a heavy responsibility so early, how much psychological pressure must he be under?"
Before I knew it, an afternoon had passed.
Because Lu Zhiwan had been in a coma for many years and needed to stay in the hospital for a week, the family of four had a reunion dinner in the ward that night.
After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Lu talked with Lu Zhiwan for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, they drove home to rest.
Lu Zhizao sent his parents to the elevator and returned to the ward.
The bright moonlight quietly shone into the ward. The sister on the bed looked at the windowsill. Her profile was soft and beautiful, but her eyes were quiet and meaningful, which was not in line with her age and the vicissitudes of life she had experienced.
After all, I have spent most of my life in another time and space. Once I wake up one day, my state of mind will naturally not be able to return to the state of my twenties.
“Ahem…”
Lu Zhizao coughed twice to bring his sister back to her wandering thoughts.
Lu Zhiwan suddenly came back to his senses, looked at his sister who walked into the ward, and smiled softly: "Mom and Dad are gone?"
Lu Zhizao nodded lightly.
Lu Zhiwan waved his hand: "Then you should go back and rest early. I'm awake now, so I don't need anyone to keep watch."
"Who wants to keep watch for you? Don't be so self-indulgent." Lu Zhizao said this, but his footsteps reached the bedside.
Those quiet and sharp eyes fell on my sister's still young and beautiful face, scanning back and forth several times, seeming a little hesitant.
Lu Zhiwan felt uncomfortable with her strange gaze: "Sister, why are you looking at me like that?"
Lu Zhizao pursed his lips and pondered for a long time before speaking again: "There is something I'm thinking about whether I should tell you."
Lu Zhiwan was puzzled: "What's the matter?"
Lu Zhizao looked at her and said, "Do you remember that you first wore a book?"
"Of course I remember."
Lu Zhiwan's eyes were clear: "If it weren't for that damn plot being so powerful, Xiao Jingting and I wouldn't have to suffer so much."
Lu Zhizao hummed, then said seriously, "During the years you were in a coma, I used my connections to find the original novel you were reading, and also the author who created that world."
Lu Zhiwan's heart skipped a beat. This was something she had never thought of.
After all, she herself couldn't remember when she read that old online novel, but her sister actually found the original work and the author!
"Sister, please tell me the author's name and where he is from?"
Lu Zhiwan immediately became interested and sat up straight: "When I'm discharged from the hospital, I'm going to ask him if he feels guilty for giving Zhao Wenshao such a big golden finger!"
Unexpectedly, Lu Zhizao's expression suddenly became complicated. He looked at her and said, "I'm afraid you won't be able to ask."
Lu Zhiwan was puzzled: "Why?"
Lu Zhizao said calmly: "He's dead."
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