The moment Huo Xiaolong and Da Nier sat down to eat at the dining table in the grassland king's palace, Wang Da Niang finally understood the meaning of shame. Eating is nothing; we've conquered this place, what's wrong with having a meal?
The main thing is that the two kids were eating her sesame seed cakes at the table, slurping down their wonton soup, and then Da Ni'er even took off her shoes.
After a day of fighting, the boots weren't breathable, and my feet felt stuffy; the smell was indescribable.
They used the chair as a makeshift kang (heated brick bed), crossed their legs on it, and ate with great relish alongside Huo Xiaolong.
To be honest, Huo Xiaolong was also a little disgusted by the smell, but he was exhausted after a long day, and who cared about that now? Besides, there was really no way to solve the problem of military boots making one's feet sweat.
The woman smiled at the grassland king, a smile filled with embarrassment and awkwardness. After a long pause, she finally uttered a sentence.
"I'm sorry."
It seems like I've taught your daughter a little too far astray.
"What's wrong, Mom? I want more sesame seed cakes. Can you give me two more?"
"What is she eating?" the Grassland King asked, pointing to the sesame seed cake in Da Ni'er's hand.
"A sesame seed cake, with filling inside," said Aunt Wang.
The old man looked at his bland wonton soup, then at the shiny, oily sesame flatbread, and couldn't help but swallow hard. He then said...
"Could you give me two?"
"Okay, wait."
The grassland king loved to eat the flatbreads he made himself; it was something he was very proud of.
After the meal, the three girls, having changed into casual clothes, climbed onto the roof of the royal palace to gaze at the stars, just as they had done in their childhood. The sky was dotted with stars, without a single cloud, as if celebrating the newly enthroned grassland king. The continuous rainy days had vanished, and the moon shone like a silver platter.
"The stars here are prettier than the ones at home."
"Yes, it's noticeably big."
"How much longer can my father live?" Da Ni'er's sudden question left Hou Xiangxiang at a loss for words.
The little girl pursed her lips and said
"Don't worry too much. If it doesn't work, I'll shake my master over for him to see."
"Just tell me the truth." The dark-skinned girl could accept bad news; that was fate, her father's fate.
She was definitely sad, but she wanted to spend the rest of her time with him. Her father was seventy years old; he had lived so long, it wasn't a wasted life.
"Even if my master came, he would only give me ginseng pills to prolong my life, at most a month."
"He was so weak and exhausted, he must have been given strong drugs."
"It's the kind of medicine that helps you have children."
At this point, Da Ni'er suddenly understood. Her dark face didn't show any redness in her eyes; she simply twitched her nose to suppress her emotions. Two clear tears streamed down her sharp eyes.
“It must have been the Imperial Advisor who did it,” Huo Xiaolong said from the side.
"Why?" the little girl asked.
"Because Da Ni'er's fourth brother died, and the Imperial Advisor couldn't deal with the Second Prince, so the only option was for Da Ni'er's father to have another child."
"But he's already this old..."
"That's why strong medicine is needed!"
The final decree of the grassland king was not to make Da Nier ascend the throne, but to give a bowl of abortifacient medicine to the concubines who had served him this year.
Summer was approaching, and the Grassland King sat in his wheelchair as Da Ni'er pushed him out for a walk. The father and daughter didn't talk much, and the old man even felt that it was good enough to just watch his daughter practice martial arts and do things.
The way he wields those twin swords, you can tell he's one of his kind.
The old woman was smiling happily, and Aunt Wang was smiling too.
"Over the years, I'm so grateful for your care of A-Qing," said Wang Da-niang, the grassland king.
The woman shook her head. Fine wrinkles had appeared at the corners of her eyes, which became more pronounced when she smiled. However, her eyes were still bright and alert, showing no signs of fatigue despite traveling thousands of miles with her daughter.
“God brought her into my life. I love this child very much and treat her like my own.”
“Her husband also adores her, mainly because we don’t have any children of our own, she’s our only child.”
The old man took a key out of his pocket and handed it to her, saying...
"Consider this my reward for your help. People from the Central Plains believe in repaying kindness tenfold. Show the key to Aqing; she'll know where to get it."
"What's in here?" Aunt Wang asked.
"Gold."
“I can’t have her. She’s my child, and it’s only right that I raise her.”
The woman has a strong sense of crisis. When the grassland king gives her money at this time, is it because he wants her to break off her relationship with Da Nier?
"Please don't overthink it, it's just a thank you, please accept it."
"I can't stay with her for much longer. After she gets married and has children, I'll have to trouble you to take care of her."
As a dying man, having reigned as the king of the grasslands for so many years, all I've left my child is this little bit of gold—it's almost shameful to admit. But… looking at the girl running towards me, I truly feel content.
These past few days, she has often come to keep me company, read to me, take me out for walks to clear my head, and even help me put on my shoes.
Unlike the Fifth Princess when she was a child, Ah Qing is much more likable now.
She would listen to the suffering of the people in the grassland tribes and then do her best to help them.
Yesterday, my daughter, dressed in princess attire, stood proudly before the tribal chiefs and spoke...
“In the past, the Grand Preceptor only gave you food and money. I am different. I will teach you farming and find out what is most suitable for your tribe. In the future, whether you sell or trade, I will be able to keep you alive, even if you leave me.”
"However, I would prefer you to be obedient. If you have any improper thoughts, I don't mind using my fists."
With that, the stone was crushed in the dark-skinned girl's hand, and the powder scattered in the wind.
Thinking of this, the old man felt very gratified. His daughter, who used to ride on his neck and babbling, had finally stood at the highest point of the grassland.
To be a woman and become a queen.
He was proud and honored.
My son, you are the wolf king of the grasslands, proud, brave and resourceful. May all your wishes come true and may you soar to great heights.
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