"I am the sister and you are the brother!"
"I am the brother and you are the sister!"
Three-year-old Song Yanchao and Song Yanmu were arguing over their identities. The two little guys pinched their waists and glared at each other fiercely.
Seven-year-old Song Yanqing and Song Shuyue were lying on the futon with their legs crossed, eating melon seeds with leisurely expressions, um... watching the show openly and openly!
Song Yanmu pinched her waist, her face was pink and she looked very cute.
"The queen mother said that when I was born, I was riding on you, so I am the sister!"
"Huh, no! Father said that our names together are Chaochaomumu. My name is Yanchao, your name is Yanmu. My name is in front of yours, and I am the elder brother!"
Not to be outdone, Song Yanchao repeated his father's words.
"I'm my sister!"
"I'm my brother!"
The two little guys held each other's waists, leaning forward, nose to nose, neither letting go of the other.
Song Shuyue, who was watching the show on the side, raised his eyebrows and looked at his younger siblings in front of him with a playful expression.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you two argue about this matter every day, isn't it interesting?"
"Shut up!"
Song Yanchao and Song Yanmu both turned their heads and shouted angrily in unison.
"Don't imitate me!"
The two snorted coldly, turned their heads and glared at each other again, their noses touching each other like calves, and continued to argue about who was bigger and who was smaller.
Song Shuyue spread his hands. Although he was young, he was quite angry!
He turned to look at Song Yanqing who was standing aside: "Sister Huang, do you care?"
Song Yanqing's expression remained unchanged as he threw the melon seeds in his hand into the lacquer box next to him: "I can't control them at all. Do you think they will listen to me? Well, the person who can control them has already arrived."
As soon as Song Yanqing finished speaking, the palace servant's voice sounded outside the door.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived——"
The next moment, Song Ceyan's figure appeared outside the hall.
He was wearing Yunyan Brocade Clothes, with a dark black belt tied around his waist. The light and shadow were whirling, reflecting on his body, giving off a faint golden light.
Although he was only eight years old, Song Ceyan's innate aura of kingship should not be underestimated. His brows were cold and there was no unnecessary expression on his face, and his appearance was very similar to Song Wenjing.
Seeing Song Ceyan, Song Yanchao and Song Yanmu immediately stood up obediently.
Song Yanchao lowered his head and clenched his clothes tightly with a look of embarrassment, while Song Yanmu ran towards Song Ceyan with his short legs.
Xiaotuanzi came to Song Ceyan, grabbed the corner of his clothes with her wet little hands, and looked at him eagerly with her little face raised.
"Brother Crown Prince."
Song Ceyan lowered his eyes and looked at the little dumpling in front of him, his heart felt so soft.
He leaned over and held Xiaotuanzi in his arms, looking at her lovingly.
"Didn't Mu Bao clamor for dumplings yesterday? Come on, the emperor will take you to Kunning Palace to find the emperor's grandmother and queen mother."
When he heard the dumplings, Song Yanmu's eyes lit up and he immediately forgot about what happened just now.
After Song Ceyan carried Song Yanmu out of the palace door, Song Yanchao quietly raised his head and breathed a sigh of relief watching Song Ceyan's leaving figure.
In the huge palace, Song Yanchao was most afraid of two people, one was his father Song Wenjing, and the other was his brother Song Ceyan.
Song Yanqing and Song Shuyue stepped forward, took Song Yanchao's hand, and said with a smile: "I heard that there are big money dumplings in today's dumplings. Let's see who can eat them!"
When he heard the big money dumplings, the awe on Song Yanchao's face disappeared instantly. He broke away from Song Shuyue and Song Yanqing's hands and ran out with a smile.
"Hey, Brother Chao, slow down!"
Today is New Year's Day. Song Wenjing did not instruct the palace people to hold a palace banquet, but gave all officials and courtiers a day of annual leave to go back to spend time with their families.
The Queen Mother likes to nostalgic as she gets older. These days, she often talks about making dumplings with her own hands on New Year's Day, and Song Wenjing rummaging through a pot of dumplings to find big-money dumplings.
Jiang Jingyu simply asked someone to move the prepared dumpling fillings to Kunning Palace, and started making dumplings with the Queen Mother.
Song Wenjing finished handling the government affairs early today. After coming out of the Imperial Study Room, he drove directly to Kunning Palace. As soon as he arrived in front of the gate of Kunning Palace, Song Yanmu's voice sounded behind him.
"Father!"
Song Wenjing paused, turned around and looked over.
Song Ceyan behind him put Song Yanmu down, and Mu Bao instantly ran towards Song Wenjing.
Looking at the little dumpling running towards her, Song Wenjing curled her lips, bent down and opened her arms.
"Father, Mu Bao misses you so much~"
Song Wenjing picked up the dumpling. Song Yanmu hugged Song Wenjing's neck and rubbed her pink face against his.
Song Wenjing felt so weak that she grabbed Xiaotuanzi's face and kissed her twice.
Song Ceyan walked up to Song Wenjing and saluted him as if he were a young adult: "I have met my father."
Song Wenjing touched Song Ceyan's head with one hand and looked forward.
"Big money dumplings, big money dumplings!"
Song Yanchao kept mumbling this sentence and ran over panting.
"Chao Di, Chao Di, slow down!"
Song Shuyue followed closely and forcibly grabbed Song Yanchao's hand.
"You kid, you run very fast!"
Song Shuyue held Song Yanchao with one hand and put the other hand on his leg, breathing heavily.
Song Yanqing, who was at the back, also caught up. When he saw Song Wenjing's figure, he smiled and waved to him.
"Father, father, your Majesty is here!"
Song Yanqing took Song Yanchao's other hand and said to the two of them: "Let's go find Father!"
The three little guys held hands and jumped towards Song Wenjing.
Song Wenjing is a veritable daughter slave. She loves the two little princesses extremely and will satisfy them no matter what they ask for. The two of them like to stick to Song Wenjing very much.
When Song Yanqing came up behind him, Song Wenjing waved his arms and effortlessly held her in his arms.
Song Shuyue and Song Yanchao were also tired from running now. They hugged Song Wenjing's legs for support and breathed in the fresh air greedily.
Song Wenjing looked helpless: "Why are you running in such a hurry?"
"Big, big money dumplings! I want to eat big money dumplings!"
Song Yanchao was still thinking about the big money dumplings. While Song Yanmu was being held in his arms by his father, the boy's big eyes were flashing, so Yazi ran towards Kunning Palace.
Song Yanmu was stunned for a moment, then recovered and pointed at Song Yanchao in front of him and said, "Stop, stop! Father, hurry up! Mu Bao also wants to eat big-money dumplings!"
When Jiang Jingyu heard the sound outside the door, she stopped rolling the dough and said with a smile: "I said Cao Cao was here, and just now the Empress Cai was talking about a few children. No, she's already here."
The Queen Mother and Jiang Jingyu looked towards the door together.
Song Yanchao was the first to rush in: "Grandma Huang, Chao'er misses you so much~"
When Song Yanchao came in, he acted coquettishly at the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother hurriedly put down the dumpling wrapper in her hand, smiling so hard that she couldn't close her mouth.
"Hey, dear grandson, come to grandma quickly!"
Song Yanchao got into the Queen Mother's arms. He raised his head to look at the Queen Mother, and the little tug on top of his head swayed with his movements.
"Grandma Huang, can you tell Chao'er quietly which one is the big money dumpling?"
Song Yanchao put his hands on the Queen Mother's legs and whispered to her.
Jiang Jingyu, who heard clearly: "..."
A gloom appeared outside the door. Jiang Jingyu raised his eyes and saw Song Wenjing walking in with Song Yanqing and Song Yanmu in his arms.
The two people's eyes met in mid-air, they looked at each other and smiled, with only each other in their eyes.
Song Yanqing and Song Yanmu slipped out of Song Wenjing's arms and ran towards the Queen Mother.
"Royal Grandmother~"
After Song Ceyan pulled Song Shuyue in, he walked straight towards the Queen Mother.
Several children gathered around the Queen Mother, chattering non-stop, and Kunning Palace instantly became lively.
Song Wenjing came to Jiang Jingyu and wiped the flour from her face, looking at her with a half-smile: "Auntie, which one is the big money dumpling?"
Jiang Jingyu: "..."
Song Wenjing chuckled, stopped teasing her, took a piece of dumpling wrapper, and wrapped the dumplings skillfully.
Jiang Jingyu raised an eyebrow, can you make dumplings?
Men who can cook, go to Oita!
Jiang Jingyu lowered her head and continued to roll out the dumpling wrappers. She caught a glimpse of the man's movements from the corner of her eye and curled her mouth.
Song Wenjing looked down at her, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.
"Ajing, Zhou Huaiqian is dead."
Jiang Jingyu made a movement and raised his head in disbelief: "Dead, dead?"
"Well, he was killed by a pair of children."
The people sent by Song Wenjing had been secretly watching Zhou Huaiqian's actions. Zhou Huaiqian was very tolerant and stayed in Miao territory for nine full years without making any next move. He had been lingering in Miao territory and did not even come back after the death of his mother Zhang.
At first, Zhou Huaiqian's children and father-in-law were very surprised as to why he gave up his official position in the court and came to live in Miaojiang. Zhou Huaiqian explained that Miaojiang was the place where he and his first wife met and fell in love. She was here and he could not forget her.
They all believed Zhou Huaiqian's words and acting skills.
Zhou Huaiqian's two children have grown up. When a businesswoman came to Miaojiang with her father to do business, she met Zhou Huaiqian's son Yasuo, and the two had a similar mind.
Yasuo immediately decided to marry the woman. Before she left, he asked her where she lived. After preparing the bride price, he was not afraid of traveling long distances and took people to the girl's house to propose marriage.
The girl's family lived near the Imperial City. During the marriage proposal, the girl's parents asked about the identity of Yasuo's parents. After learning that Yasuo's father was Zhou Huaiqian, they immediately changed their attitude and kicked Yasuo out!
Yasuo looked confused and sent people to the imperial city to find out what happened. Later, he learned from the people about the bastard things Zhou Huaiqian had done and the real cause of his mother's death.
After Yasuo returned, he told his sister about the incident, and the brother and sister teamed up to kill Zhou Huaiqian.
Zhou Huaiqian never imagined that he would die at the hands of his own flesh and blood!
Song Wenjing told Jiang Jingyu the whole story, and Jiang Jingyu quickly recovered from the shock.
"He deserves it."
This is Jiang Jingyu's attitude.
"Well, you deserve it."
Song Wenjing's lips curled up slightly, echoing Jiang Jingyu's words.
The two have spent nine years together, so naturally they won't worry too much about irrelevant people.
Their attention quickly turned away from this matter and placed it on the Queen Mother and several children.
Song Yanchao and Song Yanmu held their little faces in their hands and looked at the Queen Mother expectantly.
"Royal grandmother, am I Chao'er's imperial sister?"
"Royal grandmother, am I Mu Bao's royal brother?"
The two little guys looked at the Queen Mother eagerly, waiting for her to reply.
The Queen Mother pinched their cheeks and said with a smile: "Mu Bao is the elder sister and Chao'er is the younger brother."
After hearing the Queen Mother's words, Song Yanmu jumped up excitedly. She leaned in front of Song Yanchao and said, "Hehe, I am the elder sister. Chao'er, please call me Sister Huang!"
Song Yanchao felt aggrieved and said: "Royal Grandmother, are you really remembering correctly?"
The Queen Mother touched his head with a kind face: "Of course I remember correctly. When Chao'er was born, the Imperial Grandmother was the first one to hold him."
Song Yanchao looked up at her: "Okay."
"Uh-huh?"
Song Yanmu blinked at Song Yanchao, waiting for him to call her imperial sister.
Song Yanchao turned to look at her and whispered, "Sister Huang."
"Hey! Imperial brother!"
Song Yanmu jumped up excitedly. She finally won this battle of seniority!
"Oh, oh, oh, mother, I want a sister, I want a sister!"
Song Yanchao held his nose full of snot and ran towards Jiang Jingyu.
Jiang Jingyu put down the rolling pin, spread a handful of flour on his apron, and lifted the crying Song Yanchao up.
"Chao'er, what's wrong with being a younger brother? Isn't it good to have four older brothers and sisters who love you?" Jiang Jingyu wiped Song Yanchao's nose and coaxed softly.
Song Yan shook his head: "Oh, oh, oh, sister, I want my sister!"
No matter how Jiang Jingyu tried to coax her, Song Yanchao kept crying for his sister, but Jiang Jingyu had no choice but to put Song Yanchao into Song Wenjing's arms.
The crying stopped suddenly.
Song Yanchao sobbed and looked at Song Wenjing: "Father, I want a sister."
Song Wenjing wiped his tears: "Well, father knows."
…
It's night, and Kunning Palace is brightly lit.
"The dumplings are here!"
The table was filled with delicacies, but Song Ceyan and the other little guys didn't move their chopsticks, just waiting for the dumplings to be served.
"Big money dumplings, oohoo! Big money dumplings are here!"
Song Yanchao and others quickly grabbed dumplings and ate them, vying for big-money dumplings.
"It's a big money dumpling! I, I, I got it!"
Song Shuyue was the first to eat the big money dumpling, and Song Ceyan spit out a silver coin shortly after.
"I ate it too!"
"I have it too!"
A few little guys were chirping and showing the copper coins in their palms.
Jiang Jingyu knew that several children loved to compete for big-money dumplings, so he simply put one on everyone's plate, including Song Wenjing and the Queen Mother.
The children who had eaten the big money dumplings were very satisfied, and their laughter filled the entire Kunning Palace.
After the reunion dinner, several children gathered around and took the Queen Mother to the outside of the palace. At this time, the people in the city had begun to set off fireworks and Kongming lanterns.
"Wow, what a big firework!"
"Grandma Huang, look, that Kong Ming Lantern flies so high!"
Several children looked up at the fireworks and sky lanterns above their heads and screamed with excitement.
The Queen Mother smiled and touched Song Yanqing's head: "Yes, Qing'er, do you want to light the Kongming Lantern?"
Song Yanqing's eyes lit up: "Royal Grandmother, can you let me go too?"
"certainly."
The Queen Mother responded and waved to the palace people on the side, who hurriedly came over with the prepared Kongming lanterns.
"Wow! What a big Kongming Lantern!"
Several children gathered around excitedly, eager to try the Kongming Lantern in front of them.
The palace people lit the candles and handed them to each of the children.
Their little faces were flushed in the firelight, and they were very cute.
"Royal Grandma, we are going to light the Kongming Lantern!"
Several children looked up at the Queen Mother, who nodded, with every fold on her face exuding joy and happiness.
Several children moved in unison, raised the candles under the Kongming Lantern, and lit the Kongming Lantern together.
The palace people helped lift the Kongming Lantern and slowly made it rise into the sky.
Song Wenjing held Jiang Jingyu's waist and stood in front of the hall, her eyes falling on the grandparents and grandchildren in the courtyard.
Song Wenjing turned her head and looked at Jiang Jingyu: "Auntie, do you want to see more clearly?"
Jiang Jingyu was stunned: "What?"
Before she could react, Song Wenjing held her waist and flew to the sky above the eaves, instantly closing the distance to the Kongming Lantern.
"So lovely."
Jiang Jingyu looked up at the sky full of Kongming lanterns and felt sincerely.
She was looking at the light, and he was looking at her.
Song Wenjing held Jiang Jingyu's shoulders and sat on the floor. Jiang Jingyu tilted her head and leaned on Song Wenjing's shoulder.
The voices of the Queen Mother and the children came from below.
"My dear grandchildren, make a wish."
"I want a sister!"
"I want to grow up quickly!"
"I hope I can release the Kongming Lanterns with my father, the Queen, my Queen, and my Grandmother every year!"
…
In front of you are the lights of thousands of homes, and around you are your loved ones.
Jiang Jingyu leaned on Song Wenjing's shoulder, her eyebrows curved and her face filled with happiness.
She raised her head and looked at the man beside her: "Your Majesty, do you have anything you want to say to me in the new year?"
Song Wenjing lowered his eyes and looked at her with affection in his eyes.
"In my life, I have traveled through mountains and waded through water, and I have seen all things revive and come back to life again and again. Now the mountains are you, and the water is you too."
After Song Wenjing finished speaking with a serious look on her face, she asked her, "Where is Ayu, do you have anything to say to me?"
Jiang Jingyu raised her hand to cover the man's face, and outlined his eyebrows with her fingertips.
"When I hold your sleeve and hold your hand, I will give you all my life, whether it is life or death."
A smile appeared in Song Wenjing's eyes, and he lowered his head to kiss her red lips. He didn't let go of the woman in his arms until her breathing became rapid and her face turned red.
Song Wenjing clasped the back of Jiang Jingyu's head with one hand and pressed his forehead against hers.
"Auntie, there are three thousand things in this world, but I love three things: the sun, the moon, and you. The sun is morning, the moon is evening, and you are morning, evening, and evening."
