"I miss my Imperial Sister."
Perhaps, if she found her Imperial Sister, she could find her own answer. The days when her Imperial Sister was around were her happiest. Back then, her life was quite fulfilling, not solely revolving around Wen Tang Gege.
Was her love for Wen Tang Gege truly that deep, or was it just obsession? She couldn't tell anymore.
All she knew was that perhaps her heart had truly died. She no longer desired to see him.
All desires were gone.
"I want to find my Imperial Sister. I must find her. Only by finding her can I live on..."
Tu Lang's expression changed, his voice laced with resentment, "Princess, think thrice!"
Liu Donghuai raised his hand to stop him.
Lingxi seemed possessed, her eyes holding an abnormal gleam.
"I will take you to find your Imperial Sister," he said softly.
"Really? Do you know where my Imperial Sister is?"
"I do. Let's go."
"Lord Liu," Tu Lang blocked him, "The Emperor ordered this subordinate to escort the Princess back to the palace."
"You can return and report. I will write a letter to explain to the Emperor."
Liu Donghuai was a trusted confidant of the Emperor, a young man who had already attained the rank of a third-grade scholar. Though his words were gentle, they were irrefutable.
He intended to take the neglected Princess Lingxi away, and Tu Lang had no reason to stop him.
With a few escorts following their carriage, they soon disappeared from Tu Lang's sight. He didn't know where they were going, nor did he care to find out.
Looking at Ling'er's expressionless face, he murmured, "It's not that I won't escort her back to the palace, but she is obstinate..."
Liu Donghuai was returning to Donglin to take up the post of county magistrate.
He had requested the demotion himself. The capital had gradually stabilized, and the Emperor had more capable individuals around him. He also wished to fulfill his promise to benefit his hometown.
Coincidentally, the position of Donglin county magistrate was vacant, so he seized the opportunity.
The Emperor had agreed readily, and the unspoken reasons were clear to all.
The Imperial Sister that Princess Lingxi sought, the one the Emperor could not forget, was in Donglin.
This was Lingxi's first time entering Bozi Village. The ground was uneven and unclean, with potholes and cow dung.
The trees were also irregular and unkempt, unlike the meticulously pruned ones in the imperial palace.
Her mind was filled with the image of her Imperial Sister, who was like an immortal, living in the beautiful and magnificent Fengque Tower, surrounded by lush greenery.
She couldn't imagine what life would be like living in such a place.
Yet, this place inexplicably made her feel at ease.
The sky was high, the land vast, the mountains soared, and smoke curled from cooking fires everywhere.
She heard the loud calls of women summoning people for meals, the humming of farmers leading old oxen home, and the chirping of various unknown birds, the barking of dogs, and the crying of children.
Here, there were only sounds of life.
The most conspicuous house at the village entrance had a family planting saplings at their doorstep. Two children, as if from a painting, held onto the tree trunk. A tall, strong man held tools, tamping soil around the base. The woman, seen only from behind, had a graceful and slender figure, her hair cascading to her waist. She was bending to scoop water from a bucket, waiting to pour it.
"Alright, May your years be prosperous and your wishes fulfilled."
The man clapped his hands, laughing heartily, "Wife! Water it!"
May your wishes be fulfilled.
May your years be prosperous.
"Imperial Sister..." Lingxi burst into tears.
The twins were confused. Why did everyone cry when they saw their mother? Why did such a grown person need their mother's comfort, preventing them from staying close to her?
They were the children, after all!
Their father and this seemingly gentle uncle were also chatting about building schools and repairing water channels, which was quite boring.
When the uncle left, he gifted each of the twins a set of brushes and ink. They thanked him obediently.
In front of outsiders, they had to be well-behaved.
These two little darlings were truly ideal children.
Liu Donghuai was filled with envy.
"Uncle lives at the county yamen in the city. You can come find Uncle to play anytime."
"Okay, Uncle."
What was so fun about the county yamen? Their father had taken them to the city before, and it wasn't new to them. It was noisy with a large crowd, arguing and bickering, and they hadn't even found the lost cow.
Lingxi stayed here.
Xiao Shan was extremely frustrated. He and Xue Niang just wanted to return to their old life, not to be disturbed by so many people, yet everyone kept coming.
Had Donglin become a blessed land?
There was one more person at the dinner table!
"Brother-in-law, I'll only stay for a few days and then leave. I won't bother you and Sister too much."
Lingxi was observant and cautiously expressed herself.
"Ignore him. Stay as long as you like."
Lingxi didn't know martial arts. She wouldn't be able to hear sounds from thirty meters away anyway. Since there was an empty room, it wouldn't hurt to recuperate from her emotional distress here.
She brought a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Xiao Shan.
Xiao Shan pursed his lips, remaining silent.
"Drink it quickly!" a sharp voice commanded.
Xiao Shan picked up the bowl without hesitation and gulped it down.
Third Brother ate calmly. The twins quietly pushed the vegetables they had set aside back onto their plates.
Lingxi stared with her mouth agape for a moment before also beginning to eat earnestly.
What was Brother-in-law drinking just now? It seemed only he had it.
What had he drunk? Xiao Shan didn't know either.
He had asked once, and Xue Niang had fiercely replied, "It won't kill you!" After that, he dared not ask further.
He had been drinking it for many days. It should be the same as before, for strengthening bones, though the taste was different. There were two prescriptions.
Whatever, it wouldn't kill him.
This was his wife's way of showing him affection.
After dinner, Xue Niang was going to take Lingxi to the city to buy some clothes. Yu Liu and Yu Shan accompanied them. Before leaving, she warned Xiao Shan and the two children not to go play in the mountains.
Last time they went fishing, their clothes were soaked upon their return, and they had narrowly avoided a fever. Children were so fragile; a father truly had a carefree attitude.
"Xiao Shan, come into the house."
Xue Niang gracefully entered the room, and Xiao Shan followed closely behind.
Upon entering, he received a great surprise.
Xue Niang leaned on his shoulder and kissed his nape. Then, she adjusted his clothes and smiled, "Be careful when watching the children."
Xiao Shan's blood boiled. He made a loud promise. If this situation was interpreted favorably, was he to be rewarded?
He was delighted.
Xue Niang took Lingxi to the city. This remote small town indeed had few rare items, but the people were simple and honest, and the shopping was done with a sense of freedom.
The shop owner was familiar with Xue Niang, calling her "Xiao Niangzi" one after another.
"Today, Xiao Zhuangshi isn't accompanying you?"
"No, he's at home watching the children. I'm accompanying my sister to buy a few outfits."
Watching the children at home.
In all of Donglin, only Xiao Niangzi could say such a thing so generously.
For any other man, it would be too embarrassing to say.
But they were Xiao Zhuangshi, and no one dared to look down on him.
The last time some ill-mannered young master came to flirt with Xiao Niangzi, Xiao Zhuangshi had taught him a harsh lesson. He was reported to the authorities, then beaten by the county magistrate. Everyone said the Xiao family had strong backing.
"Oh my, this is Xiao Niangzi's sister. She's also beautiful and refined. Come and see how this fabric is. It's smooth and delicate, and it really enhances your complexion."
The shop owner was very flattering. She was far from her Imperial Sister.