next day
It was a gloomy day with a steady drizzle.
The old village chief put down his pipe and handed the gray-brown bundle in his hand to Sun Ping: "My dear, this is your parents' thing, keep it as a thought!"
Sun Ping took it with both hands and turned to look at the small courtyard.
Gu Qi held an oil-paper umbrella, lowering the umbrella head slightly toward Sun Ping. The drizzle wet her shoulders, and her bright eyes were filled with moisture. She took Sun Ping's hand and patted Sun Ping's back gently: "Say goodbye to your parents."
Sun Ping raised his head and handed the bundle in his arms to Gu Qi. He knelt down respectfully, put his little hands on the ground, and kowtowed seriously. Gu Qi moved all the umbrellas over. Seeing this, Yuan Zhe raised his hand and held the oil-paper umbrella in the magistrate's hand, and directly covered Gu Qi's head.
"Ouch..." The county magistrate, fearing that he might wet the noble prince, quickly raised his sleeves to block Yuan Zhe's shoulders.
The drizzle hit the oil-paper umbrella, making a dull "squeak" sound. After Sun Ping kowtowed, he knelt quietly. Although he didn't know what parting meant, he still showed a lot of reluctance at this moment. The girls in Hongxiulou were sitting in the car, and they all shed tears when they saw this scene. The old village chief picked up his pipe and took a puff, letting his long sigh disappear with the white smoke in the rain. Yuan Zhe and Gu Qi's eyes were red, looking at the empty yard in trance.
"Rumble"
The county magistrate looked up at the sky and said more gloomily: "Your Highness, sir, it's getting heavier and heavier today. It's better to set off early!"
The two came to their senses.
Gu Qi helped Sun Ping up and said softly: "Let's go."
The rest of the people all got into the car. The driver, wearing a raincoat, raised his hand and waved his whip: "Drive!"
Several carriages creaked and moved, heading towards Tuzhou. Sun Ping got in the car and ate some dry food, then fell asleep. Although he was young, he was still very heavy. After hugging him for a while, he felt his arms were sore.
"I'm here to hug you."
Gu Qi raised his eyes and saw Yuan Zhe approaching, stretched out his big hand to support Sun Ping's body, and carefully took it into his arms. His mood had been in a mess these past two days, and he had never noticed Yuan Zhe until he leaned over and took a quick look, as if he saw a little more tenderness in those deep eyes. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot, thick and thin green stubble appeared on his chin, and his stern face became even thinner.
"Has the fever gone?"
Gu Qi looked at Yuan Zhe and smiled slightly: "Go back to your highness and retreat."
"Is the wound on your hand okay?"
"Well, it doesn't hurt anymore." Gu Qi raised her hand, made a fist gently and then slowly unfolded it: "When the scab falls off and new flesh grows, it will be completely healed."
Yuan Zhe teased Sun Ping's pouty cheeks with his fingers and paused when he heard Gu Qi's words. He turned to look at Gu Qi, with a serious face and reproachful eyes: "Pei Qihuan, do you know your guilt?"
Gu Qi was shocked and lowered his head: "I wonder what your highness is talking about?"
"Who asked you to take responsibility for Sun Hao's death? You even acted with Yan Churong!"
Hearing Yuan Zhe mention Sun Hao, Gu Qi raised his eyes to look at the sleeping Sun Ping and saw that Sun Ping was sleeping deeply. Gu Qi smiled helplessly: "Your Highness, this matter originated from me. If I am wrong, the root cause lies with me. What's more, you have a noble status, and you cannot admit such things and let others spread them out. The prince who governs the country and oppresses the people will only make things worse."
Yuan Zhe turned his head and stopped talking.
"Your Highness, do you really want to accept Sun Ping as your adopted son?"
"I gave you all the jade, so of course it's true."
"That's the jade that Princess Zheng gave you. Don't you think it's a pity to give it to someone else?"
Yuan Zhe lowered his eyes and looked at the round jade tied around Sun Ping's waist, feeling a little sad. At the same time, doubts suddenly arose, and he frowned slightly, raising his eyes and staring at Gu Qi: "I never told you that this jade was given to you by Concubine Zheng."
"Does this need to be said?" Gu Qi met Yuan Zhe's questioning look: "Every time I mention Princess Zheng..."
He glanced downwards and pursed his lips slightly: "You will unconsciously rub this jade."
Yuan Zhe lowered his head, his hand unconsciously grasped the jade, and his fingertips gently scratched the Suan Ni beast on the jade.
"Since it was a gift from the concubine, how could she be willing to give it away?" Gu Qi looked at Yuan Zhe's face and said softly: "Children don't understand this. Kuang Chen has already given you a piece of jade. Your Highness doesn't have to do this..."
"It doesn't matter." Yuan Zhe let go of his hand, and Yuan Yu lay quietly on Sun Ping. "Since I gave it as a gift, this jade is his."
When he was in Yun Kingdom, no matter who described Prince Yuan Zhe of Zhenguo, he always had a fierce look and kept strangers away. When he first fought against Yuan Zhe, he managed to escape, but saw him shoot a man in black. Coupled with his suspicion and fickleness, he seemed to be a murderous devil. But after getting along with him for a long time, I discovered that he is a loyal and kind person. Although he has a cold and majestic appearance and wraps up his pure heart, he always reveals his softness unconsciously. This is true for himself and the people.
"Pei Qihuan."
"ah?"
Yuan Zhe looked at Gu Qi's face, which was fair but not rosy. It was now stained with wind and cold, and his whole face was as weak as a piece of paper, which would break at the slightest touch.
"Your body should not be abused any more. Great sorrow, joy, and exhaustion are not a sign of longevity."
Gu Qi couldn't help but laugh when she saw his serious face. How weak can a person who practices martial arts get? It was just Yan Churong's medicine that made him feel cold. Although he understood that Yuan Zhe's words of comfort were good intentions, his words made people feel uncomfortable. They secretly blamed him for not being able to speak, but on the surface he agreed with a smile: "Your Highness is right, I should pay attention to it."
The ground was slippery and the carriage moved slower than usual. Gu Qi opened a corner of the curtain and looked out. The rain was much lighter than before, but the sky was still gloomy. The earthy smell penetrates into the nose along with the fragrance of flowers and plants, refreshing the heart and mind. Gu Qi put down the curtain and said quietly: "Looking at the weather, I'm afraid it will rain all day before I give up."
"It's June now, and I'm afraid there will be more and more rainy days."
Yuan Zhe's indifferent words made Gu Qi worried: "When we go back, we need to clear the mud and build embankments as soon as possible."
"Yes." Yuan Zhe lowered his eyes, thought for a while, and said to Gu Qi: "Don't get involved in the matter of abducting women. When you return to Tuzhou, copy a few copies of the list and give them to Zhao Dexun. Just go to Guodu, Luozhou and Zezhou and ask the experts to pay more attention to them."
How could Gu Qi, with her exquisite thoughts, not know what Yuan Zhe was thinking. She grinned and said: "Thank you, Your Highness! In this way, I can control the water with peace of mind, solve the problem in Tuzhou as soon as possible, and restore peace to the people."
"This is just one of them." Yuan Zhe pursed his lips, hugged Sun Ping upright, and loosened his sore arms: "You are too soft-hearted and will cry when something happens. Finding a kidnapped woman is the most troublesome. If If you meet the second Zhou Suping, your life will be decided."
Gu Qi rolled her eyes unconsciously: "Oh."
Just as he was talking, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Hearing a knock on the side, Gu Qi opened the curtain.
Yan Churong moved the umbrella closer, fearing that Gu Qi would get caught in the rain, and said loudly: "Your Highness, it's noon. You and Mr. Pei need to change the dressing. Let's see if we can rest here for an hour?"
Gu Qi's stomach growled.
Yuan Zhe sat up straight: "In that case, let's rest for an hour."
Yan Churong held an umbrella, set up a tent with the coachman, set up a simple shed in the distance, set up a fire and started boiling medicine. Gu Qi gently woke up Sun Ping in the car and got out of the car with Sun Ping in his arms.
"grown ups."
Gu Qi turned around and saw that it was Zhang Xiaolan, the girl from Hongxiu Tower.
"What's wrong, Miss Xiaolan?"
Zhang Xiaolan looked ashamed and did not dare to meet Gu Qi's soft gaze: "You are injured and you have caught the cold. Why don't you leave the young master to me and I will take care of him."
Sun Ping put his small hands on Gu Qi's shoulders and looked at Zhang Xiaolan curiously.
"Ping'er, go to dinner with sister Xiaolan, and daddy will take medicine. I'll come look for you later."
"Okay." A milky voice made Gu Qi's heart feel softer.
She gently put Sun Ping down, and Zhang Xiaolan led Sun Ping to the group of girls.
"It's so smooth to call me daddy."
Gu Qiyi was excited and quickly turned around and lowered his head: "Your Highness is laughing!"
"Now I and you have given this child a jade pendant. Should he call you daddy, or should he call me daddy?"
"Haha, of course..." Gu Qi stammered. How could a little minister stand shoulder to shoulder with King Zhe? Secretly blaming himself for his arrogance, he hurriedly laughed and said: "Of course it is Your Highness. How can I compare with His Highness King Zhe and take the jade back later!"
"No need." Yuan Zhe looked at Gu Qi's embarrassed look and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. I don't know why, every time I tease her and make her show this embarrassment, I always feel happy in my heart. "From now on, Ping'er will call me my adoptive father and you my godfather. It will be easier for both parties."
"Yes, yes." Gu Qi bent down slightly and agreed, "Everything is at your Highness's discretion."
Yan Churong was holding the steaming medicine. He felt unhappy when he saw Yuan Zhe and Gu Qi sticking together again. He immediately lost his face and said, "Master Pei, drink the medicine."
The voice was extremely cold, and one could tell he was angry.
"Your Highness, I'm going to take some medicine first."
"Um."
Gu Qi held an umbrella and ran after him, and she tried to coax Yan Churong away. In order to make it easier to talk, the two of them went to the small shed where the medicine was boiled. Gu Qi drank up the bitter medicine in one breath, jumped on his feet and stretched out his hand towards Yan Churong.
Yan Churong took the medicine bowl with an innocent look on his face: "What are you doing?"
"You know what you're asking, honey!" Gu Qi stomped his feet repeatedly, and his beautiful features seemed to be twisted together: "Hurry up! It's too painful!"
Yan Churong laughed out loud, and calmly took out two candied fruits and put them in Gu Qi's hand.
Gu Qi chewed the candied fruit quickly, puffed her mouth and spit out the core into the rain.
"Did you give the jade that Han Zizheng gave you to the child?"
"Ang," Gu Qi pointed at Sun Ping eating steamed buns in the distance and said proudly, "My son, isn't he cute?"
"Nonsense." Yan Churong shook his head helplessly: "How old are you, and you are so brazen that you recognize your adopted son?"
Gu Qi lowered her head, with a hint of bitterness in her throat: "This is the best way I can think of to make up for it."
"What did you and Yuan Zhe do at that time to make you both feel so guilty?"
Gu Qi looked at her toes and held back her tears: "I went to pick fruits from Sun Hao's stall and got into an argument with him. Later Yuan Zhe kicked him. I was afraid that the situation would be serious, so I paid him a piece of silver. Wait. After returning to Luzhou and looking for his wife again, Sun Hao thought we were arresting his wife, so he became furious and..."
"No wonder." Yan Churong stood next to Gu Qi and comforted softly: "I can't blame you for this matter. If Sun Hao can seek medical treatment in time, he will be fine. The ingot of silver you gave me is probably their annual expenses. It was the reluctance to part with the flowers that caused Sun Hao to fall ill."
"If I didn't conflict with him, there wouldn't be so many things happening. Alas..." The tears finally couldn't be held back and fell onto the shoes.
"I seem to understand the reason why Zhou Suping committed suicide."
"Huh?" Gu Qi raised her head and looked at Yan Churong.
Yan Churong looked at Sun Ping playing with the girls in the distance through the drizzle: "If Zhou Suping were alive and took her children back to Tuzhou, life might not be much easier. But if she died, you would definitely bear the burden due to guilt. Here comes the kid."
Gu Qi smiled with tears in his eyes: "So, I must recognize Ping'er."
After that, he patted Yan Churong on the shoulder: "On the night of the wake, Zhou Suping told me her story, so I should have expected that she wanted to commit suicide. It was just that her mood was too complicated at the time, and she didn't realize it until she went out. late."
"What do you think of this?"
"If you were a girl, you would know the pain." Gu Qi looked at Yan Churong, sighed, and stopped talking.
