"Of course they don't want to leave us, but... the two old people have been proud for most of their lives. The more they get to this point, the more they are unwilling to stay with us. We regard them as our closest relatives, but we are afraid that they will feel that they are a burden all the time. Instead of letting them live a miserable life in the capital, it is better to let them live comfortably in Ningguta, a place with high sky and vast land," said Xiao An softly, freeing one hand to pat Xiao An's arm, and said, "Besides, this place is not far from Mr. Gu's hometown Yanshe, and the old man can rush back home from time to time. With Guard Xiao Kong and Cheng Yin here, everything will be taken care of, so you don't have to worry too much."
"I'm not worried, I'm just sad," Gu Qingtong lowered the curtains, leaned on Xiao An's shoulder, and choked up, "Sister An, sometimes I feel that chance is really amazing. If it weren't for the fact that my master was demoted to Ningguta that year, and if my cousin and I hadn't happened to be neighbors living on the mountain, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet my master and his wife, nor would I have met you, Brother Pang, the big and small guards Kong, and even more so, I wouldn't have met Mr. Gu and Mr. Ding, and... Qin Chong, but now you are the most important people in my life."
"Yes, I think so too. So we must look forward to everything. There will be more wonderful people and things waiting for us ahead." Xiao An said softly.
…
October 27, 1934
The capital.
Jingren Palace.
Tomorrow is the coronation ceremony, so Zhong Mingwei naturally has a lot of time to spare. There are so many things waiting for him to decide, and he also has to try on the dragon robe and so on. But it doesn't prevent him from having a family dinner with King Hepingxi and Mei Ya.
"Daddy, I made all this myself. I don't know if it suits your taste." Seeing Zhong Mingwei and Zhong Zhiling coming to the kitchen together, Mei Ya hurriedly went to greet them with a smile on her face. Mei Ya had followed Zhong Mingwei in calling the King of Pingxi "Daddy" since early morning. She, a girl who had never called him "Daddy" before, now found it more comfortable to call him "Daddy" than Zhong Mingwei.
The three of them then sat down at the round table.
"Everything you do is to your father's liking," Zhong Zhiling smiled happily when he saw Meiya. He didn't look like a great general at all, but rather like an old father who loved his daughter too much. He didn't shy away from it and directly took a square box with carved rosewood from the guards and handed it to Meiya, saying with a smile, "Before you leave, your mother asked me to prepare a gift for you. Take it, good girl."
"Thank you, Daddy! Thank you, Mom!" Mei Ya wiped her hands quickly, then happily took it. The box was about a foot long, with exquisite carvings on it. She was a little curious about what was inside, and wanted to open it and see, but she was embarrassed to do so in front of Zhong Zhiling. She took a look at the box and was about to hand it to the palace servant, then she heard Zhong Mingwei speak.
"Bring it here and let me see it." Zhong Mingwei stretched out his hand towards Mei Ya.
Mei Ya was startled, then handed the box over, slowly moving towards Zhong Mingwei. Seeing Zhong Mingwei open the box, her eyes lit up immediately. She saw a layer of red silk inside the box, on which was a pair of original mutton-fat jade bracelets. The bracelets were translucent and very simple, without even a pattern carved on them, but anyone could tell that they were rare ancient jades. Not to mention Mei Ya, even Zhong Mingwei, who was well-informed, nodded continuously, and said to Zhong Zhiling, "It really cost mother a lot of money."
"It doesn't matter whether it's expensive or not, it's for our own child anyway," Zhong Zhiling waved his hand, picked up a piece of ginger fish fillet with chopsticks and ate it. He immediately gave Mei Ya a thumbs up and said, "Just for the girl's craftsmanship, it's reasonable to give her ten pairs of bracelets."
"Then please eat more, Dad." Mei Ya was so happy. She was worried about her cooking skills, but now she can finally put her mind at ease.
Zhong Mingwei put the box aside, and then his eyes fell on Zhong Zhiling who was eating heartily. After a long while, he frowned and said, "Dad, are you really unwilling to lead the army?"
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