Leaving the capital, Gu Sui’an, usually so lively, was teary-eyed.
She couldn't bear to leave this or that, wishing she could take everyone with her and embark on a journey together.
Qin Tingxue coaxed her, "Your uncle is still too young to travel far."
"Can't he just grow up faster!" Gu Sui’an was quite melancholic.
Why was there only Yue Hua? She had asked Yue Hua if she could go to her uncle's place, so that her uncle could grow up quickly like her. But Yue Hua said no, which was a great pity.
Qin Tingxue was amused and exasperated, "When An’an returns, your uncle will have grown up."
Gu Sui’an had heard her father and mother say that when one is in command outside, they are not bound by the ruler's orders. Once they leave, they will never return.
So, when would she be able to come back?
With tears in her eyes, the little girl leaned on Gu Sinian's shoulder, listening to her father and mother bid farewell to many people.
She didn't want to cry.
But why were her tears so disobedient?
It was so annoying.
"You guys go have fun first, I'll come find you later." Qian Yuanbao said with reluctance.
He wished he could take his wife and children on a trip, but unfortunately, he was being used like a donkey by Emperor Chongwen and was swamped with work.
It would probably take ages before he could be as carefree as A’nian.
—
At the foot of the misty Qinglian Mountain, Gu Sinian was chopping wood.
Behind him were several bamboo houses built on stilts.
Qi Zhenzhen lifted the curtain and emerged from a bamboo house.
Hearing the movement, Gu Sinian immediately got up to help Qi Zhenzhen, "It's still a bit cold outside, why did you come out?"
"I wonder where An’an is now?" Qi Zhenzhen sat down on a bamboo chair, supported by Gu Sinian, and gently placed her hand on her slightly bulging belly.
Gu Sinian went inside, retrieved a blanket, and said, "Didn't Master Yuankong say that he would send Sui’an back before you gave birth?"
Speaking of which, in the second year after they left, at the border between Da Feng and Xi Qin, they encountered Yuankong, who was also traveling.
For some reason, Master Yuankong persuaded An’an to accompany him.
Although An’an was young in actual age, her true age was sufficient for her to make some decisions.
Coupled with Yue Hua and Ye Bai, Gu Sinian and Qi Zhenzhen agreed without much hesitation.
Originally, the couple had planned to continue their travels.
However, Qi Zhenzhen became pregnant.
They followed Master Yuankong's advice and stayed temporarily at the foot of Qinglian Mountain.
In Master Yuankong's words, this place had excellent feng shui, which was very beneficial for Qi Zhenzhen and the fetus in her womb.
Gu Sinian personally built the bamboo houses and settled down.
As for Gu Sui’an, who was following Master Yuankong, her hair was tied up on her head in a small bun, adorned with a small sandalwood hairpin. She wore a green Taoist robe, looking exactly like a little Taoist nun.
Yuankong took her with him because of her Buddhist affinity.
However, Yuankong underestimated Yue Hua, and little Sui’an ended up becoming a Taoist practitioner.
There was no other way, given her exceptional talent in this area.
After a bout of high fever that left her unconscious, when the fever subsided, the little girl began to murmur. Upon inquiry from Yuankong, it turned out she could see 'people' whom others could not. She could communicate with them, thereby helping them fulfill their unfulfilled wishes, or conveying 'last words' to their loved ones.
In short, it was a good deed to accumulate merit.
This merit not only blessed Gu Sui’an herself but also made Yue Hua's soul form more solid.
And Gu Sinian and Qi Zhenzhen, who were connected to Gu Sui’an by blood, also benefited.
After all, when they first met Gu Sinian and his wife, Qi Zhenzhen was facing a disaster involving bloodshed; either she or the child in her womb would be lost.
Now—
Yuankong asked Gu Sui’an, "Don't you miss your parents? I'll take you back."
Gu Sui’an grinned happily, "Really?"
Yuankong nodded, "Monks do not lie, of course, it's true."
Three months later.
As Yuankong brought Gu Sui’an to the foot of Qinglian Mountain, Qi Zhenzhen went into labor.
Two hours later, Qi Zhenzhen gave birth to a son.
He was named Qing Ning.
Gu Sui’an circled Gu Qing Ning three times to the left and three times to the right, then tapped his forehead. She then took out a small token from her satchel and solemnly tied it to Gu Qing Ning's ankle.
"Parents, this is my见面礼 for my younger brother," Gu Sui’an said with a small smile. "He will grow up safe and sound."
(The End)