Chapter 73073 Happy Every Year
Chapter 73
Qi Jingyan: “…”
Yier hugged An Ning's neck and put his face close to hers affectionately: "Yier misses An Ning."
The chubby baby said in a soft voice that he missed her. Meng Yuning's heart melted. She carried him to the bathroom and said in an unspeakably gentle voice, "Let's go wash our hands first, then have dinner."
Qi Jingyan watched the two, one big and one small, leave him behind and walk away. He sighed helplessly, turned his wheelchair silently, and followed them.
Meng Yuning fetched some water to wash Yi'er's hands. Turning around, she discovered Qi Jingyan had followed in, so she called out to him, "Your Highness, come and wash your hands. Dinner is ready."
Qi Jingyan agreed and turned his wheelchair over. Meng Yuning held Yi'er's hand and waited for him to finish washing. Then they walked out together and sat at the table.
Meng Yuning first served each of them a spoonful of mushroom and chicken soup. "Today is Yi'er's official start of school. Let's have a small celebration. Come, let's use soup instead of wine and wish our Yi'er good health and many years of peace."
Yi'er picked up the soup bowl with her two little hands and smiled with her eyes curved: "Thank you, An Ning."
Meng Yuning raised the soup bowl and said, "Come on, cheers."
The two of them tapped their bowls lightly and were about to drink when Qi Jingyan spoke: "An Ning, are you only wishing Yi'er and not me?"
Meng Yuning wanted to say that today's celebration was for Yi'er, why are you fighting with the child? But looking at the man next to her with an inexplicably resentful look in his eyes, she couldn't say it out loud.
She thought for a moment, then raised her bowl to him: "I wish His Royal Highness Prince Shen good fortune in all seasons, good health on all eight festivals, success in everything, and a long life."
Yi'er also held the bowl and raised it to his brother: "Brother, live a long life."
Qi Jingyan smiled, picked up the bowl and clinked it with An Ning's first: "Then I also wish An Ning to smile often and be happy every year."
Meng Yuning smiled and said, "Thanks to your highness's good words, I will definitely do it."
Yi'er blinked her big eyes: "Brother, where is Yi'er?"
Qi Jingyan passed the bowl over An Ning and clinked it with Yi'er's bowl: "Brother, I hope Yi'er will be both virtuous and talented in the future, and be remembered for generations to come."
Meng Yuning remained silent and looked at the two brothers quietly.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see the expectation hidden in Qi Jingyan's words. He still intended to push Yi'er to the throne.
Meng Yuning could never understand why Qi Jingyan, both in books and outside of them, insisted on letting the young Yi'er shoulder the heavy imperial power.
The dragon throne is cold and the court is treacherous. A young child sitting there will probably never be able to feel relaxed and happy in his life.
Especially in the later part of the book, Qi Jingyan died, leaving Yi'er alone and helpless.
After Qi Jingyan's funeral, Yi'er sat alone in the empty Golden Palace, holding the cloak left by his brother, for three days and three nights, without drinking a sip of water, eating a grain of rice, or even saying a word.
When he returned to court, he seemed like a completely different person. His eyes were like cold ponds, icy and ruthless. No one ever saw a smile on his face again.
Thinking of Yi'er like that, Meng Yuning felt distressed.
But this was ultimately a matter between them as brothers, she couldn't get involved and could only show respect.
But many things are different now. For her, it doesn’t matter at all which of the two brothers will carry the empire. As long as they are both well, it is enough.
For a moment, Meng Yuning was lost in thought, but Yi'er raised her little face, her dark eyes full of curiosity: "Brother, what is eternal fame?"
Qi Jingyan replied gently, "Even for thousands of years, the world will praise your name."
Yi'er asked again: "Then can Yi'er, An Ning, and my brother be remembered forever?"
The child's words were innocent, but Meng Yuning's heart trembled when she heard them, and she couldn't help but look at Qi Jingyan.
Qi Jingyan was silent for a moment, then reached out from behind An Ning and stroked Yi'er's soft hair: "Some roads must be walked alone, Yi'er."
Unexpectedly, the little girl shook her head like a rattle and said crisply, "Then Yi'er doesn't want to be remembered forever. Yi'er just wants to be with An Ning and brother."
Qi Jingyan didn't reply, but looked at Yi'er quietly. Yi'er also looked back at her brother without fear.
Meng Yuning looked left and right, but couldn't see what the two brothers were communicating with their eyes. She just noticed that the atmosphere was a little depressing, so she spoke to smooth things over: "Your Highness, Yi'er, let's have a toast first, the food is getting cold."
The two brothers came back to their senses and raised their bowls forward, clinking them with An Ning's bowl.
Meng Yuning said cheerfully: "Cheers~"
Yi'er also imitated An Ning's tone and said loudly: "Cheers~"
After both of them finished speaking, they saw that Qi Jingyan didn't say anything, so they looked at him together.
Being stared at by two scorching eyes, Qi Jingyan finally had no choice but to open his thin lips and say, "Let's drink together."
Meng Yuning and Yi'er both laughed, and the three of them raised their bowls and drank the soup in one gulp.
As the hot soup went down my throat, the serious atmosphere just now disappeared along with the hot steam.
The chicken soup was delicious, and it had the aroma of wild mushrooms. The three of them were still wanting more, so Meng Yuning scooped another spoonful for each of them. "Drink this spoonful, and then we'll eat. Otherwise, we'll be too full and have no room for the dishes."
Both of them agreed.
After drinking the chicken soup, Meng Yuning introduced today's dishes to the two of them, and then asked Yi'er, "Which one do you want to eat?"
Yier pointed to the basket of crystal clear, small and exquisite half-moon shaped shrimp dumplings and said, "A Ning, Yier wants to eat these beautiful dumplings."
Meng Yuning picked up two shrimp dumplings for him and said, "This is specially made for our Yi'er. Come and try it."
Yi'er scooped one up with a spoon and put it into her mouth, puffing her cheeks and chewing it: "It's delicious."
Meng Yuning picked up a few more for him and said, "Shrimp are nutritious, Yi'er, eat more."
Qi Jingyan waited for a while, but An Ning didn't pick one for him, so he had to pick one up with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, chewing it slowly.
The thin dough had a wheaty aroma, and the large shrimp pieces were smooth and chewy, with a rich meaty aroma. Qi Jingyan ate them and nodded repeatedly, "These shrimp dumplings are delicious."
"If Your Highness likes it, please eat more." Meng Yuning was watching Yi'er eat with a kind face, and answered perfunctorily without turning her head.
Qi Jingyan felt helpless and picked up a new pair of chopsticks to pick up two shrimp dumplings for An Ning: "Don't just focus on Yi'er, eat too."
Yi'er raised his little head from the bowl and said, "Aning, eat."
Meng Yuning said okay and picked up the chopsticks to eat.
Each person ate a few shrimp dumplings, and Meng Yuning gave two pieces of braised lamb chops to the other two and herself.
The lamb chops are fat but not greasy, soft and tasty, and tender and juicy when you bite into them.
The three of them devoured the lamb chops with relish, not caring about talking for a while.
By the time the three of them finished eating, the basket of shrimp dumplings on the table was gone, the plate of braised lamb chops was finished, and half of the chicken soup was drunk.
Although Meng Yuning and Yi'er had eaten a lot, today's victory was mainly attributed to Qi Jingyan. Meng Yuning smiled and said, "Your Highness has a good appetite today."
Qi Jingyan put down the teacup in his hand: "Well, today's dishes are to my liking."
Yi'er said, "Brother is practicing Kung Fu in Qingke Hall and he is hungry."
Meng Yuning glanced at his legs, frowned, and asked, "Your Highness, are you using your legs recklessly again?"
Qi Jingyan hurriedly explained: "No, I just practiced some martial arts."
Meng Yuning was skeptical: "Really, you didn't use your legs?"
Seeing An Ning's cold face, Yi'er helped and said, "An Ning, brother didn't use his legs. He was just playing with the gun in the yard, and he was lifting the stone pillar like this."
As Yier spoke, he stood on the chair and raised his two little hands up one by one.
Meng Yuning's expression softened: "That's fine. Yi'er, help An Ning watch over my brother and don't let him use his legs recklessly."
Yi'er nodded and said yes, then asked worriedly, "When can I use my brother's legs?"
Meng Yuning leaned close to Yi'er's ear and whispered, "We have to wait until Uncle Tang says it's okay. But even if brother's leg is healed, we can't let outsiders know."
Yi'er didn't understand and asked in a petty voice, "Why?"
Meng Yuning: "Because there are bad guys who want to harm my brother, and I don't want to see my brother's leg healed."
Having experienced so many things in Lingnan, Yi'er actually understood everything. He nodded his head seriously and said, "Yi'er remembers."
Qi Jingyan looked at the two girls, one big and one small, whispering to each other with their heads pressed together. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he reached out and rubbed each of their heads: "Let's go back to the house."
"Okay, let's go to bed." Meng Yuning picked up Yi'er and walked to the west room first. Qi Jingyan followed behind in his wheelchair.
Meng Yin and Meng Yu, who were waiting at the door, came in, cleared the table, and left silently.
Meng Yuning carried Yier to the bed, took off Yier's outer shirt first, then took off her own outer shirt, and both of them lay down in their inner clothes.
Qi Jingyan moved himself to the bed and sat down, then moved his legs onto the bed one by one and lay down with his clothes on.
Meng Yuning fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan in one hand: "Your Highness, please take off your clothes too. It's too hot to sleep in them."
Qi Jingyan took the palm-leaf fan from An Ning's hand and slowly fanned them: "Lie down for a while, I'll be out soon, no need to bother."
Meng Yuning knew that he was going to be busy, so she said okay and patted Yi'er gently.
Not long after, when Yi'er fell asleep, she said, "Your Highness, when it's cooler in the afternoon, I want the guards to open up the wasteland outside the gate."
Qi Jingyan: "Just arrange it."
Meng Yuning agreed, closed her eyes, and slowly fell asleep.
---
In the past, Meng Yuning and Yi'er would sleep as long as they wanted, but today, thinking that Yi'er had to practice calligraphy, Meng Yuning woke up in less than half an hour.
When I opened my eyes, I found that Qi Jingyan had left at some point, leaving Yi'er still sleeping soundly with his bulging belly.
Now that things have settled down, Yier has started to eat more. He has gained a lot of weight and become rounder, looking very cute.
Meng Yuning couldn't help but touch his little hand, then touched his little face, and then called softly: "Yier, get up."
After calling out twice, Yi'er didn't wake up, so she kissed his little face again, and finally he woke up.
As soon as the little guy opened his eyes and saw An Ning, he smiled and crawled into her arms, nestling in her arms and refusing to open his eyes.
Meng Yuning smiled and patted his chubby little butt: "Yier, wake up, we still have to practice calligraphy."
Yi'er nudged herself in her arms, then raised her head and said sleepily, "Okay."
Meng Yuning changed the little guy into a set of short-sleeved shorts, then took out a set of loose and light summer clothes for him to change into, put on her outer clothes, and took Yi'er's little hand to go to the east room.
Hearing the commotion, Mu Ying and Meng Yin, who were waiting in the south room of the west wing, came out and asked, "Miss, do you have any instructions?"
Meng Yuning waved from the window: "Mu Ying, go tell Mu Jiang and the others that His Highness has agreed to let the brothers who have nothing else to do go and open up the wasteland."
Mu Ying agreed, turned around and went out to pass on the message.
Meng Yuning said to Meng Yin again, "Go and bring some fruit."
Meng Yin responded and went to the small kitchen in the southwest corner. He picked a plate of lychees that Mu Shan had bought this morning, washed a plate of grapes, and brought them over.
Meng Yuning and Yi'er each ate a few lychees, and then stopped feeding him: "Eating too many lychees will make you get a sore throat, let's not eat them anymore."
In fact, it would be fine for her to eat two kilograms, but Yi'er was still young, so she didn't dare to let him eat more. Yi'er said okay obediently.
Mu Ying came back with the message and entered the east side room, "Miss, Mu Jiang said he knows about it and will send people to open up the wasteland later."
Meng Yuning nodded and said okay: "You go and grind ink for the little prince." Mu Ying agreed, walked to the little prince's desk, and began to grind ink.
Meng Yuning tasted another black wild grape, which was very sweet. She placed the plate of grapes in front of Yi'er and said, "Yi'er, have some grapes."
Yi'er obediently ate the grapes and did not forget to feed one to Aning.
Meng Yuning gave a few of the remaining lychees to Mu Ying and Meng Yin: "You can try some too." The two thanked her, took them, and started eating while standing aside.
After the two of them finished eating, Meng Yuning and Yi'er were also full of grapes. Meng Yin went to the bathroom to get some water and asked the two of them to wash their hands.
Yier walked to his small desk on his own initiative, sat on the chair, picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and began to write according to the copybook beside him.
Mu Ying sat on a low stool, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan. Seeing this, Meng Yin also took a palm-leaf fan and fanned herself on the other side.
Meng Yuning thought that they had nothing else to do at the moment, and it would be boring to always wait in the west wing for assignments, so it would be better to let them help fan the room here, so she didn't drive them away.
She sat aside and watched Yi'er write quietly.
As Yi'er wrote, he explained, "A Ning, my brother said that I have to write the words on this piece of paper ten times before it will work."
Meng Yuning looked at the calligraphy and saw that it contained some simple characters. She thought it was okay and clenched her fists: "Come on, Yi'er."
Yi'er also clenched his fists: "Come on."
Meng Yuning took a closer look at the calligraphy. It was vigorous, powerful, majestic, and very beautiful. She asked, "Is this my brother's handwriting?"
Yier nodded: "My brother wrote this to Yier."
Meng Yuning patted his little head and said, "Okay, Yi'er, write it."
The little guy then grasped the pen and began to write carefully, stroke by stroke.
Looking at the words written by Yier, Meng Yuning was very surprised. She thought that a three-year-old child could not hold a pen steadily, and the words written would be crooked. She didn't expect that Yier could write so well.
The horizontal strokes are horizontal and the vertical strokes are vertical. Although the force is insufficient, the shape of the characters is 40% to 50% similar to Qi Jingyan's.
This is much better than anything she, an adult, could write.
She didn't want to disturb Yi'er from writing, but she couldn't help asking, "Has Yi'er ever written before?"
Yier nodded: "Brother taught Yier in the palace."
Meng Yuning thought to herself, no wonder. She couldn't help but sigh, Qi Jingyan is really a good brother, and he loves Yi'er with all his heart.
She was a little envious of Yi'er, wishing she had a brother like him.
After reading for a while, she saw that although Yi'er wrote slowly, he was quite methodical. Without her reminder, Meng Yuning got up and took out a copy of "Lingnan Customs" from the bookshelf, then sat back next to Yi'er to read it.
She had just finished reading it haltingly when she saw Yi'er put the pen back on the pen stand and clapped his hands: "A Ning, Yi'er has finished writing."
Meng Yuning put down the book and looked at the clepsydra in the corner. She found that only three quarters of an hour had passed. She then looked at Yier's handwriting, which was neat and tidy, without any perfunctoriness.
Meng Yuning was once again surprised at Yi'er's self-control. She reached out and hugged the little girl in her arms and kissed her: "Yi'er is awesome."
Yi'er hugged An Ning's neck: "An Ning, Yi'er wants to go out and play."
Such a well-behaved child, whose mission was completed, so why couldn't he play? Meng Yuning put him on the ground, took him by the hand and walked away: "Let's go play."
---
Thinking that his fellow guards had gone to open up new land, Meng Yuning planned to take Yi'er to take a look. Mu Jiang got the news and caught up with them with a few guards.
Meng Yuning was curious: "You didn't go out together before?"
Mu Jiang clasped his fists and bowed: "In reply to Miss Meng, I will follow you and the young prince."
Meng Yuning didn't ask any more questions and continued walking with everyone. Halfway through, they met Qi Jingyan who had returned from Qingke Hall. He also said that he wanted to go out for a walk, so the group left the mansion.
When we arrived at the wasteland, we saw that a large area had been cleared.
A group of guards holding swords flew through the grass, swinging their swords and cutting the weeds and trees with a whoosh.
That clean and neat force can leave no grass growing wherever it passes.
Meng Yuning found it amusing and couldn't help but tease, "The guard brothers are simply the chosen pioneers."
Yi'er was too short to see much of the scene. He first looked at An Ning, then at his brother, and finally walked over to Mu Shan, the tallest of the group, and tugged at his sleeve: "Mu Shan, I want to see."
Mu Shan quickly picked up the little prince and lifted him onto his shoulders. "Little prince, can you see clearly like this?"
Yi'er was so excited when he saw the guards jumping up and down in the bushes that he clapped his hands: "Fly, fly, Yi'er wants to fly too!"
Mu Shan looked at Qi Jingyan: "Your Highness?"
Qi Jingyan nodded slightly: "Go ahead."
Mu Shan received the order, responded with a smile, put the little prince on his neck, and ran into the bushes.
As Mu Shan rose and fell, Yi'er's excited and nervous laughter floated in the air: "Haha~, An Ning, Yi'er is flying~"
Meng Yuning was so anxious that she subconsciously took two steps forward and said, "Mu Shan, be careful. Hold on tight."
Mu Shan responded loudly: "I understand."
Qi Jingyan held An Ning's wrist and comforted her gently, "Don't worry, you won't fall."
Meng Yuning was still worried: "Is there a snake in the bushes?"
Qi Jingyan: "There shouldn't be any more."
Meng Yuning was puzzled: "How could there be no snakes among all these weeds?"
Mu Jiang explained, "Don't worry, Miss Meng. Before we cut the grass, we had already burned some herbs and let the wind fumigate them. Even if there were any snakes, they would have been driven away."
Meng Yuning finally felt relieved, but she still stood on tiptoe to look around, trying to see where Yi'er had flown to.
Seeing this, Qi Jingyan hugged her thighs with both hands, lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders: "Is it possible to see it like this?"
This person's action was too sudden. Meng Yuning was frightened and let out a low cry. Then she subconsciously looked around and saw shock and gossip-seeking smiles on everyone's faces. They looked at her, and then turned their backs in an instant.
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