Chapter 153 Zhou Congxian is gone
When the first snow fell, Little Fatty learned to walk.
Danniang is making small slices of meat for Xiaopangxi, which smell delicious as they are cooked over the charcoal fire.
Then they heard Yao Shisan scream from inside the house.
She rushed into the house in fright, still holding a small piece of meat that she had just coaxed.
Little Fatty Xi didn't know what his mother was laughing at, so he also grinned while holding onto the stool.
He turned his head and saw the fragrant slices of meat in Dan Niang's hand. He let go of the stool with his little hands, opened his little arms, and wobbled toward Dan Niang.
Dan Niang's eyes widened as well, "Little Fatty can walk!"
She slowly squatted down and opened her arms.
Little Fatty, however, stared intently at the small slice of meat in her hand.
After tightly gripping the small piece of meat with both hands, she stuck her bottom out and sat back down.
This caused Dan Niang and Yao Shisan Niang to burst into laughter.
Little Fatty also smiled and stuffed the small piece of meat into his mouth.
When Zhou Congxian returned from Jianzhou, he heard one joyful laugh after another.
The little bone was nestled in its warm little nest. Hearing his voice, it wagged its tail and came out, circling around him twice.
He patted Little Bone's head, and Little Bone squinted, rubbed against his leg, and then went back to its little nest.
Zhou Congxian slowly approached Huanxiao.
The door to the room was tightly closed.
But the laughter couldn't be contained.
He longed to push open the door and go inside; he wanted to blend in.
She had said long ago that he would leave one day.
She was right; it was time for him to leave.
He never truly belonged to them; the children were his, yet not his.
It seems like it doesn't matter whether he's there or not.
She said he was a net that made her breathless.
Now that this net is finally about to leave, will she breathe a sigh of relief?
Zhou Congxian gazed at the fine snowflakes falling from the sky and slowly exhaled from his chest.
He had already received the imperial decree when he was in Jianzhou.
He did not return directly to Beijing, but instead traveled to Ding County.
He wanted to take another look.
He traveled day and night and finally arrived.
Separated by a door, the person he longed for was inside.
He stood outside the door, but lost the courage to push it open and go in.
He took out a gold bracelet from his pocket, the one she had worn when she was in Beijing.
He had someone restore it.
He placed the bracelet on the windowsill.
Then Dan Niang's voice came from inside the house, "Little Fatty can walk now. When Lord Zhou comes back, let him take the child out to play a few more times, and he will naturally want him."
Yao Shisan's soft voice came out, "He has his own things to do. Pangxi will grow up as he grows up. It doesn't matter whether he's there or not."
Zhou Xianxian's heart trembled slightly, and his hand in his sleeve slowly loosened.
Then he moved his somewhat numb legs.
How did he come back, and how did he leave?
Silently.
Only a trail of wet footprints on the ground proved that he had returned.
Wei Xun stood at the door, leading his horse, looking at the silent Zhou Congxian.
"Your Highness..."
He has been serving the Crown Prince for nearly ten years.
Now it's time for the real parting.
Zhou Congxian patted his arm, saying, "All good things must come to an end."
"Once you've made your choice, stick to it. Remember to invite me to your wedding."
"good."
Zhou Congxian is gone.
Braving the wind and snow, the figure gradually disappeared.
*
After nearly a year away from Beijing.
Zhou Congxian felt only a sense of unfamiliarity.
Ji Xiaoman, standing at the city gate, had grown taller again, almost as tall as Zhou Congxian.
The eighteen-year-old boy has grown up.
He was only sixteen years old when he changed his fate.
In the blink of an eye.
She has been gone for two years.
Now, in the entire capital, apart from Ji Xiaoman, probably no one remembers her anymore.
The entrance to the British Duke's Mansion was packed with people.
Even Old Madam Zhou came out.
The snow on the street had been swept away, and a person and a horse slowly stopped at the door.
Old Madam Zhou stepped forward shakily, "Xian'er, you're finally back."
"She's gotten darker and thinner."
She held her grandson's rough hands and couldn't help but shed tears.
"He was promoted, so why did he have to suffer in such a place?"
"I heard the bandits massacred the city. Were you injured?"
Zhou Congxian withdrew his hand. "The bandits didn't massacre the city, I'm fine."
Zhao Shi also secretly wiped away her tears, "What kind of clothes are these? They don't look warm at all. Let's go inside first, the underfloor heating is already on!"
"I've also made a new sable fur coat, hurry up and put it on!"
Zhou Congxian entered the Duke of England's mansion surrounded by a crowd of admirers.
Jiang Shiyao's former courtyard has been bulldozed.
He stopped in his tracks, somewhat stunned.
The pear tree that was planted in the yard didn't survive, so after she left, he planted a new one.
Before he could even see if the flowers had bloomed, the courtyard was gone.
Her pear tree seems to have never blossomed here.
Zhao said, "This courtyard was already old. In the autumn, a corner of the west room collapsed."
"Mother was afraid of hurting people, so she had someone push it away."
Zhou Congxian lowered his eyelids slightly, then simply murmured an "Mmm" before continuing to walk towards his courtyard.
His silhouette still seemed so forlorn.
The British Duke and Lady Zhao remained where they were.
The Duke of England nodded, looking at his son who had calmed down considerably.
"It's good to gain experience outside; I've improved a lot."
If this courtyard had been demolished a year ago, he could have demolished the entire mansion.
Zhao was still very worried.
"Xian'er seems unable to move on. If only I had known..."
"If only we had known," the Duke of England said displeasedly. "She sought her own death."
"When has the manor ever mistreated her? She has no worries about food or clothing! What else does she want? Does she want the position of Xian'er's principal wife?"
Zhao sighed softly, "But her brother..."
The Duke snorted coldly, "A mere county magistrate dares to seek revenge against the Duke's mansion! If he wants to be promoted to the capital, he'll have to wait another twenty years!"
His voice softened, "I heard that the Duke of Zhenguo has found his long-lost grandson and granddaughter."
"General Meng will be going to Beijing to report on his duties during the Spring Festival. I'll try to find out what he has to say then."
Zhao glared at him, "The Song family girl, the Li family girl, the He family girl, you've looked for so many, which one has worked out?"
"Even now, don't you want to ask Xian'er's opinion?"
But then the Duke spoke up.
I don't know why.
My son's marriage is going so badly.
All the scions of prominent families who were his age had large families!
Unfortunately, he is still all alone.
His heart began to pound. "Go to the White Horse Temple tomorrow and ask Master Huineng."
Zhao is now comparing her son's marriage prospects.
She was more worried about her son's health.
Zhou Congxian's courtyard hadn't changed much, except it was much quieter.
He was all alone now.
"Your Highness, your servants Yu Ke and Yu Zhu greet you."
Two more maids appeared, and their features bore a striking resemblance to Jiang Shiyao.
Madam Zhou said, "Xian'er, this was specially chosen for you by your mother."
"You can take it after your wedding."
As she spoke, she pulled Song Jiyun, who had been quietly following behind her like an invisible person, to her side.
"Xian'er, let's not dwell on the past, but when Jiyun's bridal sedan chair arrived at the Duke's mansion, she had no choice but you in her life."
“I have already discussed this with your father. Even if you don’t have a legal wife, you should still bring her into the household.”
Song Jiyun knelt down, his face showing a peace he had never seen before.
"Jiyun only wishes to serve the old lady; nothing else is something Jiyun can dream of at this moment."
Zhou Congxian tightened his grip on his knees.
Then he let go dejectedly.
"Whatever you want."
His voice was devoid of any emotion, not even a hint of joy or sorrow.
Both maids' eyes lit up with joy.
They've really risen to the top.
Madam Zhou breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, Jiyun's two years of waiting had not been in vain.
"Then you should rest well. Grandma will go back first."
"Grandma, walk slowly as the snow makes the ground slippery."
Song Jiyun helped Old Madam Zhou walk away.
Yu Ke and Yu Zhu immediately vied with each other to curry favor.
Madam Zhou paused, "Jiyun, do you hate me?"
“No.” Song Jiyun’s eyes were calm. “It is already a blessing that Yun’er survived. I will never be able to repay my brother’s sins, even if I spend my whole life with a Buddhist lamp.”
Madam Zhou sighed softly.
"Let's have a child in the future and live the rest of our lives together."
"yes."
The gently falling snowflakes have once again paved a white path along the cleaned trail.
Zhou Congxian pinched his brow, looking somewhat tired.
"You may leave."
Yu Ke and Yu Zhu were taken aback at first, then both stepped back.
*
The snow in Dingxian is not thick; it falls for a while and then stops.
Fu'er walked ahead with a proud and imposing air, followed by Xuan'er and Xiuzhou.
Wei Xun was not yet married, but he was already taking care of children.
I brought three more!
"Uncle Wei, I want a candied hawthorn!"
Fu'er saw the candied hawthorns in the distance, her eyes lit up, and she turned around and hugged Wei Xun's leg.
Xuan'er followed suit and hugged the other leg.
"Candied hawthorn!"
"No, your mother said she can't buy you any more." Wei Xun had already been warned many times.
Fu'er pouted, "Daddy will just buy it."
Xuan'er imitated her again, saying, "Father will buy it."
Wei Xun thought of the Crown Prince's departing figure today.
Lonely and desolate.
He clearly has children and a family.
Yet he lived a life of solitude.
He patted the two children on the head.
"What your mother said, even if it's your father, it's no use."
Fu'er shrugged helplessly, "Fine, what can I say, Mother is the best."
"My uncle hasn't been buying me snacks lately."
Wei Xun was holding a little girl's hand, with a little tail following behind him.
"Your uncle's money is meant to be saved for your aunt's wedding."
Fu'er hopped around and turned to ask Wei Xun, "Is Uncle Wei saving his money to marry Sister Shuang'er?"
"Should I call you brother-in-law, or should I call Shuang'er sister and aunt?"
Wei Xun, “…”
The question of what to call them is a historical issue.
None of that matters.
What hurt him the most was that Shuang'er had no intention of getting married at all!
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