Mu Houchu decisively pushed her head down and kissed her fervently. The morning light painted the sky red, and on the desolate, barren grassland, nearly no trace of humanity could be spotted, only two horses and a couple.
The man was dressed in a dark robe, the woman in a red cloak. They kissed, appearing even more radiant than the bloody dawn.
Xin He wrapped her arms around his neck, responding fervently to his kiss. After what seemed like an eternity, Xin He’s face flushed, and Mu Houchu slowly released her: "I’m leaving."
Xin He nodded gently.
There were no additional salutations or farewells, because more words had already been thoroughly conveyed in that lingering kiss. Understanding each other tacitly had always been their forte. Speaking more would only add to the reluctance to part.
Mu Houchu turned around, mounted his horse, and decisively urged his horse to leave.
Xin He stood under the dazzling morning light, leading her horse, watching as Mu Houchu’s figure gradually faded into the horizon, merging with the dawn until he was no longer in sight. Only then did she lower her gaze, feeling slightly desolate.
She stood still for a long time until the sky was completely bright, and then Xiao Chaihu slowly came over: "Your Highness, it’s time to return to the mansion."
Xin He stared at the direction where Mu Houchu had disappeared, and uttered: "He will come back, won’t he?"
Xiao Chaihu pursed his lips:"You said you would believe him."
Xin He said flatly:"Saying it is one thing, thinking about it is another. After all, we are human, who wouldn’t worry?"
Xiao Chaihu didn’t say anything.
Xin He turned around and looked at him, smiling: "Why am I saying this to you? You don’t understand anyway. You’re still too young. When you grow up, you’ll understand, or perhaps, when you have a woman you love, you’ll understand."
Xiao Chaihu had his head down and still didn’t answer.
Xin He, used to his quiet demeanor, didn’t find it odd. She mounted her horse: "Let’s go back. If Ah Guai woke up and found that both her father and mother were not around, she would be scared."
Xiao Chaihu nodded his head, also mounted his horse, and followed her back to the mansion.
When Xin He returned to the mansion, it was indeed in chaos. Ah Guai was crying, and the nanny couldn’t soothe her.
The moment Shulan saw Xin He, she was as if she had seen the Bodhisattva: "Thank heaven, the princess has finally returned. If she didn’t come back, the little princess wouldn’t stop crying!"
Xin He’s heart tightened at the words, she hurriedly walked towards the mansion: "Is Ah Guai awake?"
"Yes, she woke up early today, and started crying as soon as she woke up. She insisted on seeing the Prince and the Princess, but neither of you was in the mansion. I guess she was scared, she has been crying and we just can’t soothe her."
Xin He quickly entered Ah Guai’s room, and true enough, a little porcelain-like girl had been crying until her eyes were red and her face was flushed. Upon seeing Xin He, she immediately jumped off her high chair and threw herself into Xin He’s arms, her soft voice was still accompanied by sobbing, "Mother."
Xin He’s heart ached as she quickly picked her up: "Ah Guai, stop crying. Mother’s here, why is Ah Guai crying so sadly?"
The moment Ah Guai was in Xin He’s arms, it was as if she had found a sense of security, halted her crying, and said sobbingly: "When Ah Guai woke up, she didn’t see father and mother, she thought father and mother didn’t want Ah Guai anymore, Ah Guai was afraid, afraid of never seeing father and mother anymore."
Xin He sat down, placed her on her lap, and took a warm, wet handkerchief from Shulan to gently wipe Ah Guai’s face. She was so delicate and tender, that Xin He didn’t dare to go over it too hard for fear of rubbing her skin raw.
"How could mother not want Ah Guai? Mother just went out for a while, why are you in such a hurry? Look at you, our Ah Guai is turning into a little crybaby."
Ah Guai complained: "I’m not a crybaby."
Xin He gave a soft smile.
Then, Ah Guai asked: "Where is father?"
"Your father is on business and might take a few days to return. Mother is here with you, let’s wait for father to come back together, okay?"
Ah Guai seemed to be reassured, and burst into a laugh: "Okay!"
Xin He gave a soft laugh. There were mixed feelings in her heart. The world of children was indeed pure and simple. She was soothed easily, and she didn’t have to worry or overthink. As long as the mother said "don’t be afraid," she would not be afraid. If she said that father was just out for a few days, she would believe that her father would definitely be back in a few days. Maybe he would even bring back her favorite candy man.
She never thought that father might never come back, or that mother might be lying to her.
All these were never considerations in Ah Guai’s world.
Xin He held her in her arms and thought quietly. For her whole life, she must not fail Ah Guai’s trust in her. She must make Ah Guai firmly believe that what mother said was true, and that father was really just away for a few days and nothing bad would happen.
Xin He eyes got even more determined. She took a deep breath.
As soon as Xin He showed up, Ah Guai no longer needed comforting. In an instant, she was all cheerful and energetic again. Despite the distinctive redness around her eyes, she was excited to go to school, laughed joyfully, hugged Xin He’s face and gave her a loud kiss: "I’m going to school now!"
"Go ahead." Xin He smiled and stroked her little head.
Going to school meant simply moving from the inner courtyard to the outer courtyard. The royal mansion had a tutor, and Ah Guai would learn with Xiao Bei, Xiao Chaihu, and Song Xi. Xin He didn’t expect much from Ah Guai, who was only five years old.
As Ah Guai was about to run out, she bumped into Xiao Bei. On seeing Ah Guai’s red eyes, Xiao Bei teasingly laughed: "Oh, why did our lovely Ah Guai cry? Isn’t Ah Guai the best behaved?"
Ah Guai’s face blushed, she pouted: "Ah Guai didn’t cry!"
"Your eyes are red, and still you’re deceiving me?" Xiao Bei laughed while teasing her.
Ah Guai pouted her lips, pretending to cry again.
Xin He immediately glared at Xiao Bei: "You should behave yourself! She’s just recovered and here you are provoking her again."
Xiao Bei felt wronged and could only squeeze Ah Guai’s little face: "Did your little uncle make a mistake?"
And then in a lower tone: "You little cunning girl, now you even know how to threaten me."
Ah Guai snorted lightly, her face full of triumph, and laughed joyfully, then happily hopped off with the little book bag Xin He had made her, towards the school.
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