Chapter 357 Mother can finally let go (3000 words)
In the kitchen of a courtyard in the Xiao residence, Zhou Ruoxi was cooking, and her maid Cuicui was helping her mistress.
Normally, Zhou Ruoxi would only cook one or two dishes to eat with Cuicui. Since it was just the two of them, they didn't eat much.
But today's dishes are very plentiful.
Zhou Ruoxi knew that her child would definitely come home for dinner after returning to Beijing.
"Mother, your child is back."
As the sun was about to set, Xiao Mo's voice came from outside the courtyard.
Upon hearing the child's voice, Zhou Ruoxi quickly transferred the food from the pot to a porcelain plate, wiped her hands, and hurried out, saying, "Mo'er is back, and Her Highness the Princess is here too."
"Aunt Zhou."
Qin Siyao bowed slightly, her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Mo'er, please have a seat with Her Highness the Princess. The food will be ready soon," Zhou Ruoxi said with a gentle smile.
"Aunt Zhou, I... I'll help you too." Qin Siyao lifted her skirt and hurriedly ran towards the kitchen, looking like a little daughter-in-law trying to impress her mother-in-law and hoping to gain her approval.
Xiao Mo sat on the stone bench, looking at everything in the courtyard.
Since Xiao Mo was born, everything in the courtyard seems to have remained unchanged, exactly the same as before.
Every time Xiao Mo returned home, looking at all this familiar surroundings, he felt extremely peaceful, as if he could slowly let go of everything in the world.
It's as if the carnage on the battlefield is a world away from me.
In fact, how could Xiao Mo not know?
The reason why my mother refused to live in the Frost Prince's Mansion, or even move out of this courtyard, was largely because she wanted to have a familiar home that "never changed" every time she came back, a place where she could rest and stay.
"Mo'er, have you been waiting long? The food is ready."
About an incense stick's time later, Zhou Ruoxi and Qin Siyao came out carrying the food.
Xiao Mo stepped forward and helped take the hot dishes from his mother's hands.
Cui Cui brought out the bowls and chopsticks, and the family sat around the stone table in the courtyard to eat dinner.
The food my mother cooked still tasted the same as before, without any change.
But how can time possibly keep everything the same?
Xiao Mo raised his head and could vaguely see a strand of white hair growing among his mother's cascading hair.
Only then did Xiao Mo realize that his mother was forty-seven years old, nearly fifty.
How long is the lifespan of an ordinary mortal?
"What's wrong, young master? Why do you seem a little troubled after your triumphant return?" Cui Cui asked with a smile, noticing the young master's lowered eyes.
"It's nothing." Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head. "I was just thinking, Aunt Cui is already over forty years old, isn't she going to find someone to marry?"
"Young Master, you really are something!" Cui Cui pouted. "Why would I go looking for some random family? What if I meet a bad one? Wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life? It's better for Cui Cui to stay with Madam and live a more carefree life."
“You…” Zhou Ruoxi shook her head and sighed, then said to Xiao Mo, “I introduced a few marriages to your Aunt Cui before, but she didn’t agree. So let’s just leave it at that. It’s better to let Cui Cui stay by my side and keep me company.”
"Young Master, Madam has said so, you can't send me away." Cui Cui quickly hugged Zhou Ruoxi's arm.
"How could I dare to send Aunt Cui away?" Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head.
In Xiao Mo's opinion, it was a good thing that Aunt Cui didn't get married.
"Speaking of which," Cui Cui glanced at her young master and then at the princess, "although the young master is a cultivator, he is already over twenty years old. When will he get married? Cui Cui is still waiting to hold the young master."
As Cui Cui finished speaking, Qin Siyao, who was already a little shy, lowered her head even further and ate her food in small bites.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Ruoxi and Cuicui exchanged glances, sensing that something had happened between them.
"Today, I actually have something else to tell Mother and Sister Cui Cui." Xiao Mo smiled as he took out the imperial edict, stood up, and respectfully handed it to his mother. "Mother, His Majesty has already bestowed a marriage upon me."
"Huh?" Zhou Ruoxi was stunned for a moment, then quickly wiped her hands on her body and accepted the imperial edict.
As she looked at them, tears welled up in Zhou Ruoxi's eyes. She glanced at her child and Siyao with a look of relief, her voice trembling:
"Okay, okay, okay, that's really great!"
Cui Cui quickly leaned closer to look at the imperial edict, then happily bowed to her young master and princess: "Congratulations, young master! Congratulations, princess! Cui Cui wishes you both a happy marriage, a long and happy life together, and seven or eight healthy and chubby sons!"
"Aunt Cui." Qin Siyao blushed and tugged at Cui Cui's arm.
The once lively and cheerful girl has now become somewhat shy, but she already seems to be taking on the appearance of a married woman.
"Let's eat." Zhou Ruoxi gently tugged at the tears at the corners of her eyes. "This is truly a wonderful thing."
Zhou Ruoxi gently stroked the imperial edict, a joyful smile on her face.
Xiao Mo hadn't seen his mother so happy in a long time.
After the family finished dinner, Xiao Mo first took Qin Siyao back to the princess's residence.
Xiao Mo will not return to the Frost Prince's Mansion these days, but will stay at the Xiao Mansion with his mother.
Not long after, Xiao Shi called Xiao Mo over.
When Xiao Mo returned to the courtyard, it was already late at night, but his mother was still sitting in the courtyard with the imperial edict of marriage bestowed by the Emperor on her lap, her eyes looking at the stars in the sky.
"Mother." Xiao Mo entered the courtyard and bowed. "Mother, you haven't rested yet?"
"No." Zhou Ruoxi smiled and shook her head, patting the seat next to her. "Would Mo'er like to chat with Mother for a while?"
“Of course.” Xiao Mo nodded and sat down next to his mother.
"Mo'er, do you know what your mother worries about most every day?" Zhou Ruoxi looked at her child tenderly.
"Is my child safe?" Xiao Mo asked.
"Um."
Zhou Ruoxi nodded.
“No mother in the world is not worried about the safety of her child. When you went to the Iron Tiger Army, I was worried. When you went to war, I was even more worried.”
When your mother learned that you were guarding Yanmen Pass alone, she inquired about your whereabouts day and night.
Thankfully, you are safe and sound.
When I learned of your triumphant return, I thought I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
But later, Mother discovered that there was something else she couldn't let go of.
That is your marriage.
Zhou Ruoxi gently stroked the imperial edict placed on her lap and said softly:
"My mother is just a mortal, and her lifespan is only a hundred years."
But Mo'er, you're different.
You are a cultivator with amazing martial arts talent. They all say that your future realm will reach a level that ordinary people cannot imagine.
Your mother should be happy for you.
But her mother became increasingly worried.
I worry that you'll drift further and further away, and no one will be there to accompany you.
I'm worried that you'll be left without anyone to take care of you.
I worry that something might be wrong with you, but I can only keep it to myself and have no one to confide in.
And now, Mother can finally let go.
As she spoke, Zhou Ruoxi gently rubbed her child's head, just like she had when the child was three years old:
"You are cold-hearted and rather stubborn."
Although many girls like you, and many more people come to your mother to arrange marriages for you.
But what's the point of marriage if you don't like it?
And how many of those girls wanted to marry you because of your power?
Fortunately, you met a girl like Siyao.
Siyao is a good girl, and she has a very good personality.
When you're hard, she's soft.
Once she's had a good cry, your anger will subside.
Moreover, Siyao is easy to coax. As long as you say a few nice words, she will happily return to her former self.
And did you know that Siyao originally did not believe in Buddhism or worship Buddha?
But during the time you were away on your campaign, Siyao set up a Buddhist shrine at home and prayed for you.
When she has free time, she even asks me to teach her how to cook, chats with me, and worries that I'm lonely.
When Siyao learned that you had almost met with disaster while guarding Yanmen Pass alone, she secretly ran away from the city. Upon her return, she was punished by His Majesty and could only reflect on her actions behind closed doors.
During my confinement, I visited Siyao several times. Siyao told me that she noticed your shoes in the army were a bit worn out and wanted to make you a new pair.
Her mother taught her.
Siyao is actually quite quick at learning things, but she's a bit slow when it comes to cooking and needlework.
But no matter how many pairs of shoes Siyao ruined, she never gave up.
As she spoke, Zhou Ruoxi smiled and said, "I suppose this little temper of yours is also influenced by you."
Xiao Mo lowered his head, recalling the time he saw Si Yao making shoes earlier that day.
"Now it's all right."
Zhou Ruoxi looked at her son with a smile.
"Siyao is also a cultivator, and her talent should be no less than yours, Mo'er."
In the days to come, the two of you can keep each other company.
Even if Mother passes away one day, I can rest in peace.
"Mother, please don't say such things," Xiao Mo said, shaking his head.
"Hehehe, what's so unspeakable about this? Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all ordained by fate."
Zhou Ruoxi raised her head and looked at the night sky.
"Mo'er, I've heard that after people leave, they turn into stars."
Years later, when you look up at the sky, perhaps your mother will be watching over you and Siyao.
"mother"
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Zhou Ruoxi put the imperial edict back into her son's hands. "It's getting late, you should go and rest. I'll sit in the courtyard for a while longer. Remember, you're not allowed to bully Siyao in the future, or I won't let you off the hook."
"Mother, you should rest early too." Xiao Mo stood up with the imperial edict in hand, bowed, and slowly walked into the bedroom.
In the courtyard, Zhou Ruoxi placed her hands on her knees, quietly watching the inky night.
Soon after, Zhou Ruoxi seemed to sense something and reached out her slender hand.
White petals drifted down from the sky, landing in the lady's palm and gradually melting.
"Cough cough cough"
Zhou Ruoxi coughed a few times, raised her head, looked at the white flowers floating in the air, and gently smiled.
It's snowing!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com