Chapter 997 New Year's Eve Reunion (Jingkong Fan)
Xiao Heng stayed in the room for a full quarter of an hour before coming out.
He had deliberately given Gu Jiao an excuse to leave; it wasn't that Gu Jiao really wanted to see the couplets.
Sure enough, he went next door, where Gu Jiao sat motionless.
His quiet demeanor was heartbreaking to see.
Gu Jiao heard him push the door open, got up and looked at him, her tone calm but her eyes filled with worry: "How is Jingkong?"
Xiao Heng entered the room and placed the empty bottle of wound medicine on the table.
The answer is already quite obvious.
Such a large bottle would take their whole family a year to use up, which shows just how many injuries Jingkong has.
Gu Jiao sullenly pressed her forehead against his firm chest.
He raised his long, slender hand and gently rubbed her head.
He always comforted her like this when she was feeling down.
Xiao Heng said softly, "Don't be too sad. I checked carefully, and your injuries have all healed."
He was able to calmly explain things to her now; he had almost lost his composure several times in the room earlier.
Fortunately, Jiaojiao didn't see his disheveled appearance, otherwise he would have been too ashamed to face anyone in the future.
She whispered, "When he had smallpox before, I didn't want him to have even a small pimple scar, so I tied his little hands together. He secretly ran out to scratch the itch, but Gu Changqing caught him red-handed."
Now that he has so many scars on his body, how much pain must she feel?
"Also, he would tell me even if he hurt his fingers cracking walnuts."
Xiao Heng didn't know how to comfort her.
That's how boys are. When they're little, they always stick to their mothers, but as they grow up, there are some things they can only tell their fathers.
This is probably the price of growing up.
It's the child's way of protecting his mother.
...
Dinner was served to Shangguan Yan.
Because Xiao Cong had just vomited and his body had not yet recovered, he needed to be held. Xiao Heng had already been holding Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuan, so Gu Jiao went to hold Xiao Cong.
How could Xuanyuan Xi let Jiaojiao get tired?
He has to be the one to hold the baby!
Xuanyuan Xi decisively took Xiao Cong back.
Xiao Cong sat in his lap with a dark face: Uncle, can you please be a decent human being!
Tonight is the New Year's Eve dinner. Duke Anguo has been invited to the palace, and Feng Wuxiu has also come.
Feng Wuxiu is quite puzzling. Why is he or the two brothers always invited to the New Year's Eve dinner at the palace?
However, since the imperial chef's food was delicious, he was happy to come.
Xuanyuan Qi, Liaochen, and Daoist Qingfeng were all stationed at the border and were unable to return to the capital.
During dinner, Xuanyuan Xi finally learned that he had been granted a marquisate. To be honest, he wasn't particularly interested in official positions. He hadn't gone to war to become an official. However, he would be very happy if he could show off to his wicked brother-in-law!
He picked up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks and said in a pretentious tone, "Oh dear, some people only become the top scholar at the age of nineteen, while others are already marquises at the age of thirteen!"
Everyone at the table except Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuan didn't understand. Everyone else's lips twitched. The familiar recipe, the familiar taste, that arrogant little monk was back again.
But what exactly is this Versailles?
He only became the top scholar at the age of nineteen? How are the other top scholars supposed to compete?
Also, should I remind you that your wicked brother-in-law became the Junior Chancellor of the Imperial Academy at the age of thirteen?
You two have truly broken through the ceiling of academic excellence and martial prowess.
Xuanyuan Xi raised his chin and snorted: "I don't care, I'm better than my bad brother-in-law!"
Xiao Heng placed a piece of deboned fish on his plate: "Eat yours."
Xuanyuan Xi stopped being so nauseous about meat when he was ten years old. At first, he could only drink a little meat broth, but later he was able to eat a little small fish and shrimp, and now he can eat a little lean meat.
There can't be too much.
Xuanyuan Xi hummed and began to eat heartily.
At this time, he was a carefree child again.
New Year's Eve was also Xiao Heng and Xuan Yuanxi's birthday. The imperial kitchen cooked longevity noodles for the two of them, and Xuan Yuanxi slurped them all up in one go.
He never went hungry at home, but he was often hungry on the battlefield, which made him crave everything he ate later.
Seeing him like this, the adults at the table couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
Duke Anguo smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "I almost forgot about the gift."
Xuanyuan Xi took his head out of the bowl of noodles: "Hmm, there's another gift? Is it for me?"
Duke Anguo smiled and said, "You and Aheng both have them."
The gifts given to Xiao Heng were mostly books, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings, while the gifts given to Xuan Yuanxi were much more varied.
Gu Jiao gave him a newly made nine-section whip, on which Gu Xiaoshun had designed hidden weapons that could be used for offense, defense, and surprise attacks.
Xuanyuan Xi immediately went outside and showed off a couple of times. The weight and length were just right, and the flexibility was perfect. He liked it very much.
He tucked the whip into his waistband, returned to his seat, and asked Xiao Heng, "Brother-in-law, what do you have for me?"
Xiao Heng said calmly, "No, I didn't know you were coming back."
No sooner had the words been spoken than a whooshing sound came from outside the hall, followed by a golden firework bursting into bloom in the endless sky.
"fireworks!"
Xuanyuan Xi opened his eyes wide and flashed away!
Xiao Yan was frantic: "I want to see it too! I want to see it too! I want to see it too!"
The doors and windows were wide open, the reunion dinner was set in an excellent location, and the angle of the fireworks was carefully calculated, so you could enjoy a spectacular fireworks display even while seated.
But the dazzling fireworks drew everyone to the small garden outside the palace.
The dazzling golden fireworks burst forth again and again, illuminating the entire night sky, and the whole palace witnessed this magnificent fireworks display.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Xiao Yan excitedly shouted, "So beautiful! So beautiful!"
Even the quiet, handsome Xiao Cong found the fireworks tonight quite beautiful.
Two-year-old Xiao Xuan was so frightened by the explosion that he burrowed into Shangguan Yan's arms.
There were thirteen rounds of fireworks in total.
Xuanyuan Xi looked up at the dazzling sky, unwilling to blink.
Gu Jiao appeared beside him at some point, also gazing at the dazzling fireworks overhead, and said softly, "Your brother-in-law made this especially for you."
"Huh?" He was taken aback.
Gu Jiao said, "Last year when you came back from Liang, didn't you say that the fireworks in Liang were beautiful? Your brother-in-law made some for you, planning to set them off for you on your twelfth birthday, but you went to join the army."
Xiao Heng didn't say it, but he kept it in mind. Jing Kong had grown a year older, and he had made more fireworks.
We're just waiting for Jingkong to return safely.
Gu Jiao smiled and looked at him, saying, "Your brother-in-law dotes on you."
Just like loving one's eldest son, I am strict and critical, but if you want the stars, I will give you the whole galaxy without hesitation.
Xuanyuan Xi tugged at his slightly reddened little ears, glanced at his naughty brother-in-law who was also watching fireworks not far away, and hummed softly, "Jiaojiao loves me the most!"
...
After watching the fireworks, Shangguan Qing brought over the osmanthus wine brewed by the imperial winemaker.
Xuanyuan Xi drank alcohol for the first time in his life.
Yes, he was forced to drink by Shangguan Qing.
He perfectly inherited Gu Jiao's drinking capacity; he gets drunk after just one drink!
He also perfectly inherited Gu Jiao's drinking habits.
He was seen holding a wine jug in one hand, staggering across the grass in the small garden, taking a deep breath, and beginning to sing.
"...What does it matter if the lyrics are sung to the bitter end? White bones and ashes are all me. Drifting like duckweed in troubled times, I endure the flames of war that burn the mountains and rivers. Though my position is humble, I dare not forget my duty to the country. Even if no one knows me..."
He raised his right hand in a flourish, turned his body, and began in a theatrical voice: "The audience walks by, the old faces gone, the performers on stage sing a heartbreaking farewell song, the word 'love' is hard to write, she sings with blood, the curtain rises, the curtain falls, in the end, we are all just guests."
The young man was slender and tall, with a handsome face. He had a slightly tipsy and hazy feeling after drinking, his cheeks were slightly flushed, and his singing voice was melodious and unforgettable. He was incredibly handsome and dashing.
Such a young man is truly captivating.
The palace maids' hearts pounded, and before they knew it, they all blushed with embarrassment.
Shangguan Qing was also drunk, and while listening, he tapped his leg to the beat.
When the song ended, he raised the wine jug and shouted, "Bravo!"
Gu Jiao sat down next to Xiao Heng, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at the handsome young man who had grown into a celestial being, and smiled gently: "So handsome."
Xiao Heng: "..."
Honey, look at me.
...
Xuanyuan Xi drank two more sips and became completely drunk. Xiao Heng came over and carried him back.
“I can walk by myself!” he waved his hand in refusal.
Xiao Heng looked at him, both amused and annoyed: "Take a couple of steps and show me."
Xuanyuan Xi: "..."
Xiao Heng carried him up on his back.
Xuanyuan Xi lay on his back, pinched his shoulder, and muttered, "Bad brother-in-law... I feel like... you've shrunk..."
"You've grown up!"
How could he possibly shrink?
An eight-year-old child and a thirteen-year-old child will naturally have different feelings when lying on the same back.
Even in his drunken state, Xuanyuan Xi asked with concern, "Can you...can you carry me?"
Xiao Heng carried him towards the palace, saying, "I'm only twenty-seven, very young. How could I not be able to carry a thirteen-year-old kid like you?"
"Oh." Xuanyuan Xi buried her face in his shoulder and said indistinctly, "Then promise me... you won't get old... you and Jiaojiao... you're not allowed to get old..."
Xiao Heng smiled and said, "Okay, I'm not old."
Xuanyuan Xi hugged Xiao Heng's neck, mumbling drunkenly, "It doesn't matter if we get old..."
You raised me when I was young, I will take care of you when you are old.
The song in this chapter is "Red-Clad Ladies" by HITA.
(End of this chapter)
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