The next morning, sunlight streamed through the thin curtains into the quiet courtyard. Qi Zi'ang, like a cheerful little bird, hopped and skipped after Tie Chunsheng as they walked towards Xu Yuehuai's house.
His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he wondered, "Why hasn't Mother gotten up yet today?"
They arrived at Xu Yuehuai's house. Tie Chunsheng gently pushed open the door, and the two of them peeked inside. They saw Xu Yuehuai still lying on the bed, her eyes closed and her face slightly pale.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Qi Zi'ang approached the bedside and asked softly, "Mother, what's wrong? Why are you staying in bed so late today?"
Upon hearing Qi Ziang's voice, Xu Yuehua opened her eyes slightly. Seeing that it was him, she forced a smile and struggled to sit up.
Not wanting her children to worry, she made up an excuse, "It's nothing, I'm just feeling a little unwell, probably from eating something bad last night."
Just then, Zhou Wan carried a steaming breakfast into the room. She was startled when she saw the two children and Xu Yuehuai lying on the bed.
She immediately concealed her worry, smiled and took Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng's hands, saying gently, "Alright, you two little ones, go have breakfast first. Mother is just a little tired, I'll be fine after a rest."
Although Qi Ziang was somewhat puzzled, Zhou Wan still pulled him out of the house. Tie Chunsheng obediently followed them to have breakfast.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat somber. Qi Ziang absentmindedly fiddled with the porridge in his bowl. He kept thinking about Xu Yuehuai, glancing at Zhou Wan every now and then, trying to glean some clues from her face.
Zhou Wan noticed his gaze, gently patted his head, and whispered, "Zi'ang, don't worry, your mother is just a little tired."
After the meal, Qi Zi'ang finally couldn't resist any longer. He took a meat bun and headed towards Xu Yuehuai's room. He gently pushed open the half-closed door and saw Xu Yuehuai leaning against the headboard, her face still pale.
His heart tightened, and he walked to the bedside and sat down, asking worriedly, "Mother, are you really alright? You don't look too good."
Seeing Qi Ziang's concern for her, Xu Yuehuai felt a warmth in her heart. She suppressed the pain in her heart and smiled, saying, "Silly child, Mother is fine. I'm just a little tired."
Qi Zi'ang stared intently into Xu Yuehuai's eyes, as if trying to see through her thoughts. He hesitated for a moment, then finally asked the question that had been bothering him, "Mother, are you injured? Are you keeping this from us because you don't want us to worry?"
Xu Yuehuai was taken aback by Qi Ziang's question. She paused for a moment, then sighed and said gently, "Silly child, there are some things you won't understand now. Your mother is really fine, she just needs to rest."
Although Qi Ziang still had some doubts, seeing Xu Yuehuai's determined eyes, he knew she didn't want to say anything more.
He sat silently by the bed and handed the meat bun to Xu Yuehuai. "Mother, have something to eat. No matter what happens, we will be by your side."
Xu Yuehuai took the meat bun, her heart filled with emotion. Looking at the meat bun in her hand, the plump filling and steaming hot skin seemed to symbolize the child's boundless love for her.
She knew that although these children were young, they were her strongest support.
"Thank you," Xu Yuehuai said to Qi Ziang with a smile, "I'm grateful for your help in bringing it to me."
"No trouble at all!" Qi Zi'ang replied in unison, "As long as Mother likes it, I'll send it to you every day!"
Xu Yuehua felt a warmth in her heart and smiled as she took a bite of the meat bun. The sweet taste filled her mouth, as if all her worries and fatigue had vanished in that instant.
She closed her eyes, savoring this brief moment of tranquility.
Just then, Qi Ziang, with a determined and resolute look on his face, clenched his little fists and looked at Xu Yuehuai. He made up his mind that he must follow Uncle Tiexiong to learn martial arts well, and then become a man to protect Xu Yuehuai.
“Mother,” Qi Zi’ang’s childish voice revealed a hint of determination, “Don’t worry, I will practice martial arts diligently with Uncle Tie Xiong and will definitely protect you in the future.”
Xu Yuehuai opened her eyes and looked into Qi Ziang's clear eyes, a warm feeling welling up in her heart. She reached out and gently stroked Qi Ziang's head, "I'm very satisfied that you have this intention. However, practicing martial arts is not something that can be accomplished overnight. You need to persevere and not be afraid of hardship."
Qi Ziang nodded vigorously, "I know, I will try my best!"
The next morning, Qi Ziang followed Tie Chunsheng to the training ground.
Tie Xiong had been waiting there for a long time, and when he saw Qi Ziang arrive, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Zi'ang, Chunsheng, you're here." Uncle Tiexiong beckoned Qi Zi'ang and the others over. "Practicing martial arts requires patience and perseverance. Are you ready?"
Qi Ziang straightened his chest and said, "I'm ready, Uncle."
Tie Chunsheng also imitated Qi Ziang's movements, acting like an adult.
Tie Xiong nodded slightly. "Good boy. Let's start from the basics and take it one step at a time."
And so, Qi Zi'ang began his martial arts journey. Every morning, he would get up early and practice basic skills with his Uncle Tie Xiong.
Kick, bend over, squat, punch... every movement needs to be practiced repeatedly until it is standardized and accurate.
Although the process was arduous, Qi Ziang never gave up. Tie Xiong was deeply amazed by Qi Ziang's talent and perseverance.
He often said to the other guards on the training ground, "Look at Zi'ang, he has such perseverance at such a young age. You should all learn from him!"
As time went by, Qi Zi'ang's martial arts skills improved day by day. He had a certain foundation in fist techniques, swordsmanship, and lightness skills. However, he did not become arrogant or complacent because of this, but instead practiced even more diligently.
He knew that to become a real man and to protect Xu Yuehuai, he needed to put in even more effort.
Under the warm sunshine, Xu Yuehuai felt gratified to learn of Qi Ziang's extraordinary perseverance in practicing martial arts.
A faint smile graced her face, and her eyes sparkled with admiration. She turned gracefully to Zhou Wan, chatting and laughing as if sharing her inner joy.
Zhou Wan responded with an understanding smile; the unspoken understanding between the two was evident.
Afterwards, Zhou Wan gently helped Xu Yuehuai to the place where Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng were practicing martial arts. Their steps were light and steady, as if they blended into the surrounding scenery.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a golden glow on their figures. As they approached, Tie Xiong stood to the side, his eyes fixed on Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng's sparring match.
His eyes revealed his appreciation and expectations for the two young people.
Upon seeing Xu Yuehuai approach, Tie Xiong immediately stepped forward and bowed to her, saying, "Your Highness! Why did you come here in person? Your injuries..." His tone was filled with concern and reverence.
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