Entrust
On the third day after Pang Linqiu's death, he stayed by her coffin for three days, as if he had made a decision.
He had not eaten for three days, and was weak and powerless. His white clothes stood out conspicuously in the night, and his eyes were already swollen and red. His eyes were filled with despair, and the youthful spirit he once had was gone. He sat quietly with his back to the coffin.
He raised his left hand, and tied a red string to his ring finger—the same red string that had bound them together in the beginning.
It's clearly a light red color, so why is one end lighter while the other remains red?
One end was being held, but the other had vanished without a trace.
Just like that time when we fell into the water, one end was tightly holding onto him, but the other end loosened, disappeared, and faded... Our fate was over.
She left behind only three things: a red rope, Xiao Qiu, and memories.
His hands trembled slightly. Looking at the red string, he seemed to see her hand, a vague sense of familiarity. He saw that her fair ring finger was also holding the red string.
Is she going to take him with her when she leaves?
A strange smile crept onto Peng Xuan'an's haggard face. He drew a dagger from his waist and, gritting his teeth, ruthlessly slashed his wrist. He leaned weakly against the coffin, panting heavily. His eyes ached terribly, but his heart ached even more.
He hung his head, blood gushing from his wrist, leaving a pool of blood on the ground. He let the blood flow freely, wanting only to be free as soon as possible. His heart was empty, and every time he recalled the past, it would turn into sharp blades piercing his heart.
"Squeak—the door was pushed open by someone."
"Whoosh—" The cold wind whipped around him, and he became somewhat more awake.
He vaguely heard footsteps, and with his eyes closed, he felt a surge of annoyance. He had clearly given the order that no one was to approach the mourning hall, and he didn't want any food or drink from it!
"Dad—" came the child's anxious, tearful voice.
Peng Qiumo placed the porridge on the ground and shook Peng Xuan'an. Seeing the blood on the ground and the bleeding wrist, she cried out in fear, took off the white silk from her forehead, and hurriedly wrapped it around the wound.
Her crying was heartbreaking, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at him: "Father! Don't you want Xiao Qiu anymore either?"
Peng Xuan'an's vision blurred. After hearing her words, he fell into deep thought, his eyes numb and lifeless. He saw Peng Qiumo's youthful face and subconsciously hid the dagger and his bleeding hand behind his back, afraid that she would see them and leave a bad impression on her.
He raised his right hand and gently stroked her head, forcing a smile: "Xiao Qiu, how did you get in?"
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears with her sleeve, sobbing, "Father, Mother doesn't want Xiaoqiu anymore, do you not want her either?"
Peng Xuan'an was taken aback, but then she thought that it was normal for her to be young and not understand death.
He wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips, and smiled gently. He said softly, "Mother doesn't abandon Xiaoqiu. Mother just wants to see you from heaven and wants to accompany you in a different way."
“But they said that Mother didn’t want Xiaoqiu anymore, and that Mother was selfish and wanted to take Father with her.”
Peng Xuan'an was speechless for a moment.
"They said if Xiao Qiu doesn't come in to see her father soon, he won't want her anymore."
He fell into deep thought, looked at his young daughter, and pondered what to do next.
If she leaves, she will lose her parents, and Linqiu will hate him.
He seemed to want to leave her with the last bit of tenderness in his life, so that he could leave without regrets. He stroked her head and said, "Little Qiu, Daddy didn't abandon you, and Mommy isn't that kind of person. Daddy just wants to go and keep your mother company."
"But..." she wanted to say something else.
"Your father is gone, but Xiao Qiu still has her grandparents to keep her company. You can also go to your aunts; the family has enough money for your wedding day."
She threw her head back and wailed, "Xiao Qiu doesn't want to! Xiao Qiu doesn't want Grandpa and Grandma, and she doesn't want Auntie! They don't like Xiao Qiu! They all like boys! They don't like girls!"
She hugged Peng Xuan'an tightly, trying to keep him with her.
She cried and pleaded, "Xiao Qiu doesn't want Daddy to leave, Daddy, please don't leave! Okay?"
Peng Xuan'an was clearly somewhat shaken, his Adam's apple bobbing as he struggled to swallow his emotions. Perhaps he was moved by the feelings in Xiao Qiu's words, or perhaps he felt he owed her too much.
He recalled Pang Linqiu's words and asked himself, "Just like that, I left... Don't I feel any guilt at all?"
He remembered Pang Linqiu's last words before she left: to take good care of Qiu Mo as an adult.
He owes her so much, so much that he can't possibly repay it all!
I already owe Madam a debt. If I leave, Xiao Qiu will be left without anyone to take care of her. She will only hate me more, and I will never be able to make up for what I owe her...
He seemed to have made a decision, and touched her: "Okay... Daddy won't leave, Daddy will stay with Xiaoqiu." He chose to stay.
The father and daughter clung tightly to each other, and the flames of longing for their separation gradually died down.
The white silk on his wrist was stained red with blood, and the strong smell of blood still lingered in the air, but it also meant that he had a reason to live again.
A few days later, on the day of burial, Peng Xuan'an buried her coffin under the lilac tree in the main courtyard, erected a stone tablet under the tree, and planted some of her favorite flowers...
Three desolate months passed. The plaque of the Minister's residence was removed, and a new plaque reading "Major General's Residence" was hung up. Something seemed to be missing from the residence, causing no one in the entire household to dare to laugh or joke.
The main gate of the courtyard was sealed off, and a strict order was issued that no one was allowed to approach or enter...
His once handsome and dashing face is now only marked by the vicissitudes of time. How can he be spirited after losing his lover?
It is autumn, a time of sorrowful partings.
Many things happened that year. The emperor, being old, chose to abdicate, and Peng Xuan'an supported the ninth prince to become emperor.
Not long after the new emperor took office, the entire Prime Minister's family was exterminated for treason and collusion with the enemy, led by the young Peng Xuan'an. However, on that day, he claimed to be unwell, citing a recurring old ailment, and chose to have his subordinates handle the matter.
Of the fifty people in the Prime Minister's residence, only forty-eight were executed; only one woman and one wet nurse escaped. The new emperor was furious, and Peng Xuan'an was demoted.
Some time later, he brought his four-year-old daughter, Xiao Qiu, to the palace to meet the retired emperor.
In the pavilion above the lotus pond in the palace's back garden.
Peng Xuan'an sat opposite the Emperor Emeritus. Autumn had deepened, the lotus flowers drooped their heads, and the lotus leaves turned yellow.
He handed Peng Qiumo over to the seven-year-old tenth prince, thinking that children of the same age would get along well, so he didn't intend to interfere much.
The tenth prince's name is Qin Yixiao. He is the younger brother of the current emperor and is seventeen years younger than him.
Peng Xuan'an sat opposite the retired emperor. His face looked weathered, as if he were in his forties. He looked down at the tea on the table.
"I wonder what business Xuan'an has with me?"
Peng Xuan'an clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your Majesty, I have a request to make..." He then explained his thoughts and concerns.
The Emperor Emeritus frowned, "Xiao Qiu is only four years old. How can you abandon her?" He took a sip of tea, his expression clearly showing his disagreement.
"Your Majesty, I wish to entrust Xiao Qiu to you for a few years."
"Xiao Qiu is still young and needs her parents' company. You rashly left to guard the border. Have you thought about the child's feelings? Have you thought about that girl Lin Qiu?"
He hesitated, but gritted his teeth and remained resolute.
“Your Majesty, I know this is a bad thing. I will do my best to make it up to her when I return, but it is not possible now…” After he finished speaking, he turned around and knelt on the ground. “But I am still grieving the loss of my wife. I request to be reinstated to the frontier so that I can calm my mind and guard the country.”
"If I remain in the capital, I fear I may once again contemplate suicide, which is why I have no choice but to plead with Your Majesty!"
The retired emperor quickly helped him up, placed him back on the stool, and thought for a moment.
"Why didn't you take her with you? Xiao Qiu is still young and can't be separated from her father."
Peng Xuan'an took a sip of tea and sighed with worry, "The borderlands are dangerous, and I dare not bring her with me rashly. Xiao Qiu is now my weakness. If I take her away, I fear that other countries will hold her hostage, and I fear even more that I will lose my only child."
The Emperor Emeritus stroked his white beard, thought it over and over and felt that it made sense, so he reluctantly agreed: "I can take care of Xiao Qiu for you, but you must return safely and not keep the child waiting too long."
Peng Xuan'an was extremely grateful and clasped his hands in thanks, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful..."
A loud cry startled them both, causing them to turn towards the garden altar, wanting to know the source of the sound.
At the garden altar, a group of palace maids were circling around, but the two men looked down on the situation. The Emperor Emeritus glanced at the maid beside him and calmly asked, "What's going on? And what's with the crying?"
The palace maid half-knelt and bowed, "Reporting to the Emperor Emeritus, it is because Miss Peng and the Tenth Prince had some conflict. Miss Peng is currently biting His Highness's hand."
Peng Xuan'an was startled upon hearing this and quickly stood up.
The Emperor Emeritus remained calm and composed, gesturing for Peng Xuan'an to sit down. "Xuan'an, sit down. There's no need to take the children's play too seriously."
"But Your Majesty, Xiao Qiu bit her..."
The Emperor Emeritus simply waved his hand, and Peng Xuan'an shut his mouth. The Emperor Emeritus then looked at the palace maid beside him and ordered, "Call those two over."
"Yes." The palace maid hurried towards the garden altar.
Then two little ones were brought in, one crying and wiping away tears, the other defiant, followed by several palace maids kneeling on the ground in fear.
When the Emperor Emeritus saw Qin Yixiao's aggrieved expression, he frowned and reprimanded him in a heavy tone: "Yixiao, how can a prince cry like this?"
Qin Yixiao seemed very afraid of his father, and quickly stopped crying. He held up his right hand, which was deeply bitten, with his left hand and said, "Father, I'm just in too much pain..." He sobbed a few times.
Peng Xuan'an pulled Peng Qiu Mo over, grabbed her face and asked, "Xiao Qiu, how could you be so rude to the prince?! Apologize now!"
Peng Qiumo was clearly unconvinced, pointing at him and throwing a tantrum, "Father, he said it to me first! I don't want it!"
The Emperor Emeritus looked at Peng Qiumo with loving eyes, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Oh~, what did Xiao Qiu say about you?"
Peng Qiumo instantly looked aggrieved, gazing at the Emperor Emeritus with pleading eyes, "Uncle Emperor, he said I'm a man who stole women's clothes, shameless!"
Qin Yixiao was stunned for a moment and wanted to retort, but then he noticed his father's warning look and shut his mouth in frustration.
The Emperor Emeritus smiled. Peng Xuan'an felt it was no big deal and gently advised, "Xiao Qiu, be good and apologize to your brother, the prince."
She pouted, "I..."
"No need, Xuan'an. I don't think Xiao Qiu meant it. It was Yi Xiao who spoke rudely and deserved to be taught a lesson." He liked Xiao Qiu's favoritism towards her, and he beckoned to her, "Xiao Qiu, come here, come to your imperial uncle."
Peng Qiumo looked at his father, as if waiting for his consent, and nodded.
Peng Qiumo walked up to the Emperor Emeritus, who smiled happily and picked her up, placing her on his lap. He took some fruit from the table and handed it to her, saying, "Xiao Qiu, have some fruit."
"Thank you, Uncle Royal!"
Seeing Peng Qiumo's radiant smile, the Emperor Emeritus was overjoyed. He exclaimed, "So alike!" He looked at Peng Xuan'an, "Xuan'an, Xiao Qiu is truly a spitting image of you. Look at her..."
Left out in the cold, Qin Yixiao stared at Peng Qiumo, who was enjoying the fatherly love she had never experienced before, her face dark. She felt a chill run down her spine and noticed his gaze.
Peng Xuan'an was talking to the retired emperor.
His golden eyes were filled with tears and glared at her with hatred, like a frustrated little golden retriever.
"Uncle, Xiao Qiu wants to go play by herself."
The Emperor Emeritus reluctantly put her down, saying, "Alright." He then looked at Qin Yixiao, his voice steady, "Yixiao, be more careful with your words in the future, and treat Xiaoqiu better!"
"Your subject knows his mistake, your subject understands," he said through gritted teeth, his displeasure evident from the bottom of his heart.
Peng Qiumo then left, and the Emperor Emeritus ordered Qin Yixiao to follow her and not cause any more trouble, or he would be confined to his quarters.
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